Chapter 3

…For a while, nothing changed. But he could tell his mum and dad were so desperate for him to be better, so he lied. Each night after they had safely tucked him into bed, he get up and hunt for something, anything that could reach the itch, to stop the ringing. Eventually it got too hard for him to handle…

Hands shaking, she tried to raise the cold cup of tea to her lips, splashing most of it into the saucer in the process. It didn't take long for her to grow weary of the task, slamming it back on the table in defeat, a bigger problem distracting her.

"Why?"

Tugging at his slight fringe, he took a deep, hopefully soothing breath. He wasn't sure how long they'd been arguing now. Hours most like. Though the TV had been switched off, the curtains remained undrawn, allowing the front garden to bathed in the dining room light. If anyone were walking by, he wondered if they could see the tense family meeting happening.

"Mum, my grades are failing. I need this assignment as extra credit or-"

"Or what?" she snapped, fingers curling towards her palms, "You'll get held back? What's so wrong with that? Personally I wouldn't care. If it means keeping you around the house for another year, I say fail!"

"Do you really want him to fail than to step back in that hospital?" Mr Moon mumbled sadly, watching as his wife's shoulders tensed.

"Any hospital. They took away his hearing-"

"Mum!" Austin yelled in disbelief. She just glared at them both before titling her gaze towards the table top. It was no secret she despised that place. After the accident, she had looked for someone to place the blame on other than her son, whom had been the real culprit. Unfortunately, the hospital had seemed the most likely option. He was glad that she hadn't turned against him or his father, as the doctors and therapists had warned them may occur, but Mimi Moon had set her distraught sight on the industry and has made no progress in coming to terms with it since. Personally, Austin believed that somewhere in her mind, she was still stuck in a time before the accident, a place she reverted to whenever faced with anything related to his hearing impairment. It was because of this, every time she became confused, conflicted and incredibly stubborn, insisting that her little boy had grown up into a well behaved, healthy young man. With full hearing. It was usually accompanied by tears of frustration and self-blame when she finally broke, leaving his father to grip at his thinning hair and the neck of the nearest bottle. But it was only on rare occasions did the anger override any other emotion, and she became like this.

"Mimi, dear, you know that's not true." Mike sighed, fingers itching to hold something. He settled on reaching for her hand, but she yanked it back, scowling.

"They might as well have. We got him there on time. He could still hear us when we called for the ambulance. If they had gotten here faster, maybe they could have healed him faster."

"You know that's not true dear."

"Mum, it's only for two months. I'll be done just after the New Year. Besides, I visit the hospital all the time."

"You do what!" she screeched, flinching away from them both in shock. The shaking had gotten worse, and she stared at him in disbelief and, what looked like, fear. "You dare go back there? After what they did to you?"

"Mum, they helped me-"

"They've been filling your head with all sorts of nonsense-"

"-And this is my chance to return that favour. I'm-"

"-Favour? You think it was a favour that they took away your ability to hear?"

"-volunteering through the school at St. Margaret's and I'm happy about it." Austin growled though gritted teeth, her actions starting to get on his nerves.

"Well, if you really want to pass so badly, I'm sure we can find you some other extra credit assignments that don't involve that place." She sniffed, "Anywhere other than there."

"What about the Army? Or the Air Force? Would you rather that I ran off and joined them? Donned their uniform and left you here? Is that what you want, cause if it is, then I'll just go get my bag-"

"No! Don't you dare leave me!" she cried, lunging for him over the table as he half rose out of his seat. She shoved him roughly into his seat before turning to her husband for support. "Mike! What do you have to say about this? Do you hear what's coming out of his mouth?" His father wisely remained silent, head in his hands as mother and son glared at each other. Squaring her shoulders, Mimi turned on what Austin liked to call her 'Medusa' glare and slowly started to sign, emphasising each word.

You will not join the Defence Force for as long as I shall live. The same will be said about that hospital or any other, do you read me? Her hiss made itself felt through the words but Austin just continued to match her glare. After a moment she softened her look and sighed, "Austin, I love you, you know that. But have you really thought this through? You're deaf. Have you thought of all the complications that can arise while volunteering? I…I just don't want to see you get your hopes up only for everything to crash and fall. Volunteering at the hospital isn't one of your greatest ideas."

He just sat there, fuming, not wanting to admit she had a point. Sweeping his hands over his head and down behind his neck, Mr Moon finally raised his head and sighed.

"What if everything goes well Mimi? Or what if he gets ill again?"

"Then I'll look after him."

"But what if he gets really sick honey? Will your grudge still hold over them then?" Mike asked, watching as she shut down for just a second. It was all he needed. "Remember, we've talked about this. We may have skipped out on all the check-up appointments, and the therapy, but Austin hasn't. I know because the doctor's bill gets sent to me each month. Why do you think I shut myself in the god forsaken room for so long? Because I enjoy it? Our son is more than capable of making his own decisions, and we should be proud that he is seeking out extra credit curricular to try and pass his sophomore year. We only have two more years with him then he's off to college. Yet we sit here arguing about how he's volunteering for something? Any parent's ego should be puffing up with this news, and you should be out there, ruffling people's feathers as you brag about our smart, talented and unbound son. He's not out there doing drugs, or getting girls pregnant. He's not running off either. He'll be back each night. He's just doing what he has to do."

To say he was amazed would be an understatement. He hadn't really talked much to his dad over the last few years, but to see what he just saw, he couldn't help but want to run over to him and hug him, however unmanly it may be. Stunned he turned to face his mother, who was staring at the odd grain in the table, but she made no move. After a while she sighed and pushed her seat back, excusing herself quietly before storming off to the den. The slam of the door rattled the floor beneath his feet, making him wince.

"Maybe I should…"

"No, just…let her calm down. Also, you need to calm down yourself." Mr Moon said, getting to his feet himself. Stretching he walked over to the large windows and grabbed for the curtains. "How about we figure out what to eat for dinner then you head off to bed? It's been a long day."

Austin didn't see his mother for the rest of the night. The door to the den remained in its familiar sealed position, but it didn't stop him from murmuring a soft 'goodnight' through the wood. The next morning he had woke to find her car already missing from the driveway, and his father sitting at the desk busy scribbling away. He had looked up, smiled and greeted him, before handing the signed permission slip over, wishing him a good day at school. He had lingered there, feeling an unfamiliar state of shock, even as his dad had ushered off him off to school. He felt zombie-fied throughout the rest of the day; he hardly remembered the final Spirit Week events, the Homecoming Game or Dance. Did he even go? He wasn't sure…hell, he wasn't even sure where the weekend went. All he knew was that he finally snapped out of it when Dez slammed his locker door shut late Monday afternoon.

Dude! Where have you been?

Startled, Austin blinked at him as his brain slowly processed what had just happened.

"You're hopeless." Dez slumped with a sigh, a pitying expression on his face. "What happened to you man? You've been off in 'La La' Land all day. You didn't even laugh when Michael O'Leary spewed his mash potato all over Oliva- One Eye Oliva- today at lunch. In fact, I'm pretty sure I saw you…doing math." He whispered with a shudder.

"I…" He honestly didn't know what to do. It's possible he would have stayed that way if he hadn't seen Mrs Francois sauntering their way, smirking in a way that made his blood run cold. She was holding something awfully burgundy and khaki in colour.

"Oh no." He groaned.

"Right o Austin, time for work." She announced upon approaching them, holding out the uniform to the reluctant boy. "Go get changed in the boys' bathroom then meet us all at the front of the school. We'll be walking over to the hospital in twenty minutes, so I suggest you get a move on."

He unwillingly accepted the bundle of clothes as Dez snickered beside him. Their teacher shot the young red head a withering look.

"There's always room for more volunteers Mr-"

"I'll be silent." Dez interrupted quickly before turning to his best friend, shoving him none to gently towards the bathroom. "Go on Austin, go. Don't want to be late for your first day of work now do you?"

Austin only had time to shoot him a quick glare before being shoved into the pristine bathroom. Standing there, he looked at the bundle in his arms taking in the volunteers' uniform he'd be wearing for the next eight weeks.

"This is not what I signed up for." He muttered at his reflection.

Ten minutes later, he stood in front of the sinks, tugging with some annoyance at the burgundy top. The school's logo had been printed onto the left breast, signifying to everyone who would indubitably see him that he belonged at Marino High. If a Manatee jumping from a teal and yellow patch into a horribly dried blood coloured background didn't scare them off, then maybe the khaki pants would.

"No pockets." He muttered, patting the sides if the three quarter trousers sadly. Even though he knew cellphones weren't allowed around the more serious equipment at the hospital, he hadn't realised what it would be like to be this detached from it for so long. Grumbling he tugged at the collar of his shirt one last time, before quickly styling his hair. Once satisfied he slowly marched out to his locker again, and a still jeering Dez.

Looking fly Moon.

Signing something that didn't need any translating, Austin grabbed his bag before heading outside to join the others. He was seriously starting to regret volunteering now, but it was too late to back out. Also he had something to prove with it now. Pushing open the school doors, he blinked in the afternoon sunlight before scanning the courtyard for the rest of the Health class. Sure enough he saw eight other students in matching colours, lingering around the shadows. He didn't blame them.

Hitching his bag across his back, he started towards them, trying to see who exactly he'd be spending these next eight school weeks with. Tony Rogers made his presence known first with a leering grin, closely followed by a girl busy tapping away at her phone. Stephanie if he remembered correctly. She sat behind him in class, so he never really did put a name to the face. The same could be said about another four members of the group, but he did recognise Michael O'Leary, the Potato Mash King and Damian Fields. Placing himself near them, he returned their 'sup' nods briefly before looking for their chaperone. One awkward minute later, she appeared in her own burgundy and khaki glory, hands poised on hips, a manic glint in her eyes.

"Right team. I don't expect you all to be best of friends during these next few weeks, but here's your first rule; help each other with the course work. While we maybe volunteering at St. Margaret's, we're also there to learn. So at the end of each week I will be testing you on Health related issues. They maybe things you will learn during your shifts, illnesses and their medical companions. I've asked the nurses and doctors to help with these tests, so pay careful attention to what they're saying or doing. Who knows, maybe you'll be taught how to draw blood or administrate a dose of morphine. Just, remember that if you do, the skills you learn with a syringe are strictly for medical purposes only and if I hear that any of you are drugging up I will hunt you down and kick your butts. Understood?"

No one dared to speak, just nodding along in terror. She pulled herself up to her full height, looking smug. "Good. Now remember, be polite, be considerate, be helpful. Also, be attentive. If you have a problem, seek me or any of the hospital staff. Pay attention during their welcoming speech. They're most likely to repeat what I've said, but more seriously. You are representing Marino High School over these next few months, so wear your uniform with pride. There will be no skipping shifts unless of a dire emergency, and of that I expect you to still be at the hospital, but in one of the beds. If the need to skip does arise, come see me and we'll see what we can sort out. Also, uniforms are to be kept clean. You're wearing them every day this week, and most days for the following. A second uniform will be sent home with you tomorrow. They're still pressing the last of the logos on them. So, with that said, let's get going."

As the group slowly started to trudge towards the hospital, Austin tried to remain in the shadows of the group, avoiding Tony's sharp elbows and Stephanie's snickering stares. Unfortunately, that left time for him to think. Now that he was wearing the uniform he was starting to realise just what he had signed up for. Maybe his mum had a point. What if a patient called out to him because he was the only one around, and he couldn't help? What if some alarm went off and he didn't know? What if he was asked to help assist in some kind of surgery and he mucked everything up simply because there was no time to sign during a surgery and everyone's faces were behind surgical masks so he couldn't lip read? What someone got trapped in a room with mass murderer and was screaming for help? He'd walk right past that room without even knowing what was going on. What if….

He paused, frowning at himself. He really needed to stop watching those hospital dramas.

Someone lightly nudged him from behind, causing his head to snap up. The girl nodded kindly towards the front, indicating that Mrs Francois was talking to them. They had arrived at the hospital and she seemed to be lecturing them one last time about cleanliness and upholding the school's image. Gulping down his fears and self-doubt, Austin squared his shoulders and followed the others into the front lobby. They were quickly whisked away to one of the office staff meeting rooms, where Austin presumed they were lectured about the rules of the hospital. It was hard to tell when the guy kept mumbling and turning his back to the group to point at the charts. Just because he visited St. Margaret's regularly didn't mean everyone there knew about his hearing impairment. Residing to talk to someone about the rules later, Austin pulled the roster they had been handed out to see where he would be this week. With a small chuckle to himself, he realised he was assisting the Elderly Services Department. A week of being told to speak up and war time stories. He could deal with that.

An hour later, uniform covered in flecks of spittle, liquid medication and water, his worries on the walk over reappeared. He knew this job wouldn't be easy, but dear gods, was he really cut out for it? The elderly lady in front of him turned pale again, before grabbing onto his shirt as she pulled herself into a sitting position, emptying her stomach into the bag in her lap.

"It's okay," he soothed, rubbing at her back as she spluttered and choked like a little girl. A nurse came bustling back into the room with a stack of fresh bags as she went over her notes on her clipboard.

"Mrs Delwaney, how are you now?" she asked the shaking lady, who just glared back at her in response, wiping her mouth on the back of her hand. The nurse muttered something, but he didn't realise it was towards him until she glared at him.

"Oh, sorry, I…didn't hear you. Can you repeat that?"

"I said Mr Moon, has she stopped vomiting? And if not, is it constant?"

Dumbfound he tried to formulate the best answer to give but she didn't give him time to as she snatched away the full sick bag, swapping it for a clean one nearly in time for Mrs Delwaney to puke again. Great, add vomit to the list of things to clean out of his shirt later that night.

"Great. Mr Moon, can you go get some clean sheets out of the storage cupboard and make her bed while I go clean her up? Put the used bedding in the cart outside. Storage cupboard is down the hall and to the left. Make it snappy. I don't want her to catch a cold on top of everything." The nurse sighed, gently ushering the crying woman out of bed and towards the bathroom. With a heavy sigh himself, Austin pulled the dirty sheets off the bed before trudging off to do as she said, seriously reconsidering his desires to be a doctor.

On his way to the cupboard, he passed the girl who had nudged him earlier, moving quickly down the hallway with a cart filled with dirty sheets. She saw his armload and nodded towards her already overflowing stack.

"Just add them on. I've got another two loads to pick up yet." She instructed. Thanking her, he placed them carefully on top before stepping back quickly as she shot off like a bullet. He continued on his way, locating the new bed sheets easily enough, but he must not have been fast enough for the nurse in charge. She stuck her head out the door as he trooped back, trying not to get the still drying vomit on these new sheets, and snapped at him for not moving fast enough.

His heart sank as he realised he still had another three hours to go. It was going to be a long eight weeks.