Disclaimer: I don't own Shameless.
A/N: So, I had to come back to my favorite fandom, Shameless. I've written numerous Suits stories and have recently ventured into Teen Wolf, but you guys are the most appreciative and responsive fans. I always get plenty of alerts, favorites, and reviews from you guys. So, here is the next chapter. Hope you guys like it!
A/N2: I'm not a medical expert, but I tried my best with the medical related stuff.
Never Look Back-Chapter 4
Mickey is repeatedly hitting the back of his head against the wall. He, Gallagher, and his sister have been sitting in the waiting room for what he feels like forever.
"Stop that," Mandy says.
Mickey ignores her and continues making a steady beat with his head, against the wall. "How long has it been?" Mandy asks aloud.
Lip sighs as he mutters into his hands, "He's been in surgery for almost six hours."
"What the hell is taking them so long?!' Mandy says exasperated.
"You heard what the doctor said. They're gonna be in there awhile fixing the damage."
Mickey remains quiet, maintaining the steady beating of his head against the wall. He's content on ignoring the conversation that his sister and Lip are having. He's busy listening to the steady rhythm he's making. Thump…thump…thump…It sounds like the beating of Gallagher's heart. He closes his eyes as he thinks about last night. How after he and Gallagher got shit faced and smoked a shit ton of weed, Gallagher passed out before he did and in the unusual silence of his house, all he could hear was firecrotch's soft snores and the steady beating of his heart. It was probably the best night sleep he has gotten in well….ever. To think that was just a couple of hours ago. It feels like a fucking lifetime ago.
A punch to his shoulder jerks Mickey out of his trance, his eyes shoot open to see who it was that disturbed his peace. He sees Mandy's retreating hand. "What the hell bitch?! Was it bothering you that much?"
"As a matter of fact-" Mandy starts to say but is cut off when she sees Lip getting up from his chair. The siblings turn to see what has Lip on the move. They see that Lip is looking at a doctor who has just made his way into the waiting room.
"Dr. Henry?" Lip asks hopefully. Kerry told them that a Dr. Henry was in charge of Ian's care when she checked in on them a little while ago. And the nametag on the doctor who is standing in front of them says that is exactly who he is.
"You're here for Ian Gallagher?" The physician asks.
Both Mandy and Mickey get up to stand next to Lip. "Yeah, we are. How's my brother?"
The doctor rubs the bridge of his nose. "He's stable now. But, it was critical for awhile. The bullet to his shoulder nicked the brachial artery. That's where he lost a lot of his blood volume. The bullet also hit some bone and lots of muscle. We were able to pull out all of the bone fragments from his shoulder. But, it's too soon to know what type of nerve damage was done. Dr. Cheema, a specialist, will be assessing your brother's condition over the next couple of days."
Gallagher was shot in his right shoulder. Nerve damage? If his arm is fucked then he will surely not be able to join the military. "Shit." Mickey thinks to himself. But, based on stares he's getting from his sister and Lip, he guesses that he must have said it aloud.
"Then there's the wound to his chest. That bullet hit a rib and splintered. We were able to remove the bullet fragments as well as the splintered bone fragments, but unfortunately one piece punctured his lung and it collapsed," Dr. Henry says. "The good news is that with a chest rube, his chest is reflating successfully."
"But, he's going to be okay? Right?" Lip asks.
"He's still suffering from shock but he is doing much better. It's going to take time for his body to heal and he will be sore for awhile. We'll have to wait and see what's going on with his shoulder. But other than that, as long as there are no complications Ian should be fine," Dr. Henry says with a tentative smile.
"Oh thank fuck!" Mandy curses as she kisses Lip sloppily on the cheek.
"We're getting him settled in the ICU as a precaution. A nurse will come and let you guys know when you can see him," Dr. Henry says.
"Thanks, doc." Lip says as the doctor nods his head and leaves the waiting room. He turns to the Milkoviches. "I'm gonna call Fiona and let her know what's going on. That okay?'
"Yeah, go. We'll stay here," Mandy replies as she kisses Lip again before the genius leaves the waiting room to make his call.
Mandy and Mickey sit back down to wait for either Lip or the promised nurse. "Don't you fucking start banging your head again. That's annoying as fuck."
Mickey wants to bite something back, but all he feels is relief at the moment. Relief that Gallagher is going to be okay. And that outweighs his feeling of annoyance with his sister.
"Anyone here for Ian Gallagher?"
They look up to see a nurse standing in the entrance of the waiting room. Both of them quickly stand up. Mandy says "We're his friends."
She gives them a small smile. "I'm Becky. Ian is all settled if you guys want to follow me, I'll take to him."
Mickey looks at his sister uncertainly. Should they wait for Lip? He is Gallagher's brother.
Mandy gives him a small smile. "Why don't you go see him first? I'll wait here for Lip."
Mickey appreciates what his sister is doing. It's going to be tough enough seeing firecrotch lay up in bed. He definitely doesn't want an audience there to witness it. "You sure?"
She nudges him with her shoulder, "Go, Mick. Go see your Gallagher," Mandy says quietly.
Mickey nods his head and follows Becky silently to the ICU. As they get close to a cubicle, the strong smell of disinfectant and the sounds of countless monitors begin to overwhelm him. His anxiety must show in his face because Becky turns to him and says with a reassuring smile "Here he is. Don't be alarmed with the amount of machines that are monitoring him. Don't get nervous if he doesn't wake up. We have him on some pretty strong painkillers. But, don't worry he will. He's a fighter that's for sure."
Mickey nods his head in agreement and walks into Gallagher's ICU cubicle. Gallagher's still form and the sounds of the heart monitor and oxygen being pushed into his nose greets him. "Ah shit, firecrotch."
But, Gallagher remains silent. Mickey moves closer to the bed. As he gets closer he sees that Ian's right arm is bandaged and in a sling. Gallagher's breathing shallowly with the aid of an oxygen mask that is strapped to his face. When he reaches Gallagher's side he takes in the bruises that are littering Gallagher's face thanks to his father's fists. He gently taps Ian's wrist, careful to avoid the IV line that is there. "You better be okay, firecrotch. I didn't kill my father just to have you die on me now."
He takes a seat in the uncomfortable chair that is next to Gallagher's bed. He sits there listening to the monitors and watching Gallagher breathe for awhile. He's so engrossed in what he's doing that at first he doesn't hear someone clearing their throat in the doorway. He doesn't even hear the second attempt, it's his sister's snicker and "Hope I'm not interrupting some love connection," that gets his attention.
He turns to see Mandy standing in the doorway, "Fuck off. I thought you were waiting for Lip."
She cautiously moves further into the ICU cubicle. "I did. Lip had to leave for a bit."
Mickey snickers. His brother is laying in the damn ICU and fucking Gallagher leaves. And people say that the Milkoviches have fucked up values.
"Don't start, Mickey. Fiona got emergency visitation rights. Fiona's telling Debs and Lip is going to see Carl and Liam."
That stops Mickey from making anymore rude comments.
"Jesus, Mick," Mandy says sadly as she looks at Ian's still, pale form. "Look at him. He looks like he's dead!"
"Don't fucking say that!" Mickey bites back "He's going to be fine. Everything is going to be fine." Maybe if he says enough, he'll start to believe it.
"Fine? How is everything gonna be fine, Mick?! Dad's dead because you killed him."
Mickey stands up so fast that his chair nearly falls back. "I did what I had to do! What was I supposed to do when dad caught us? Huh? Let him continue to beat the shit out of Gallagher like he was doing until I jumped on his back? Let him put another bullet in Gallagher because two wasn't enough since Gallagher was still breathing?!"
Mickey looks away from his sister's tear stained cheeks and stares at Gallagher's peaceful face. He feels a small cold hand on his hand. "Jesus, Mickey. I'm sorry….I didn't realize…"
Mickey's voice hitches, "You weren't there, you didn't see dad. He would have killed Gallagher if I didn't do what I did."
Mandy nods her head, "You're right, he probably would have."
"So then just don't give me shit about it, okay? As far as I'm concerned I did us all a favor."
Mandy nods her head again, but before she can reply another female voice is heard from the ICU cubicle's door way. "Mickey… can I talk to you?"
Mickey's head snaps up away from Ian and into the face of Fiona Gallagher. Fuck!
Wow, I literally got this chapter done in less than two hours and I feel pretty good about it. I hope you guys agree!
Chapter 5 Preview: Fiona and Mickey talk and come to an understanding.