Chapter 3: Reuniting

The drive seemed to take forever. About thirty minutes into the drive when Kevin asks me why I was going, I'm at a loss for words, more so than usual. Lip covers, telling him that I was there when he got Fiona's call and said I'd help, then tells the bar tender to fucking drop it. I was still trying to figure out how the hell I was going to keep it together when I saw him. I could barely hold my feelings in these past three days, and that was before I saw Ian hurt. Shit what'll happen when I see the kid injured? Cry? No way that's out of the fucking question.

After we get to the hospital, Kevin and I both stay back as Lip goes in to see his brother. I hadn't seen him yet, but the doctor tod us that Ian had been badly burned and his leg was fucked up. Kevin looks at me and he sees the worry in my face, there's no hiding it at this point.

"So you two just friends or more than that?" Oh fuck, leave it to Kevin to be smarter than he appears.

I take a deep breath before opening my mouth. "We've been hooking up on and off for a couple of years. Kevin leaves it at that. He knows when people want to shut up, and I that's exactly what I want to do.

I look up from starring at my feet when I hear Lip come out. "Milkovich go on in, he wants to see you."

I edge my way into the hospital room. Ian is sitting up in bed, his left leg propped up in a cast. He has burn marks on his chest that crawl up over his right shoulder, and I wouldn't be surprised if they were on his back to. The nurse is changing Ian's bandages, so I try to stay out of the way.

"Shit Gallagher." I say trying not to let my guard down

Ian's not stupid, he reads right through me, but doesn't act on it. "Glad your ass is out of the joint."

"Been out three months, nothing stupid yet." I say with a grin

"Good for you Mickey." Ian smiles, as the nurse leaves.

"Hey what did I tell you?" My guard comes down, and I immediately take Ian's hand in mine

"That I better come home." Ian smiles and pulls our intertwined hands to his lips, placing a kiss on my hand "Well I came home."

"Ian." I say, my voice is cracking…shit...there's no hiding my worry now. "When Lip told me what happened, the thought of never seeing you again, the thought that I never, that we had never really, my stupidity-" I kept rambling on until Ian placed his free hand on my face.

"Mickey shut up and kiss me." I happily oblige, Ian's lips on mine have never felt so good as they do right now.

"Sorry." A voice from behind throws us out of our own world. We look up, its Ian's doctor with Lip and Kevin not far behind. "Didn't mean to interrupt the reunion, but Gallagher your tests from this morning came back, I'm confident enough that you can go home. You'll still have to take it easy on that leg of yours, crutches, and I want you to start Physical Therapy in two weeks. You do have a good support system at home right?"

"Yes sir." Ian smiles "It may be dysfunctional at times, but when it matters we all come together."

"Good," said the doctor "because it's going to be a long hard road. Now skin graphing isn't an option at this time, but maybe within a year or two." I see Ian's face fall, that look makes my heart sink.


A/N: So this is it for now. I'm working on Chapter 4, I am getting ready to start exams so I apologize in advanced if it takes me a while to get Chapter 4 up. Reviews are always appreciated. ~2Rats