Rehashing the Past
Carrie's P.O.V.
I was in that state where you're still sleeping, but you can hear the things going on around you. Someone was moving around the room and making a bunch of noise. My eyes opened when someone touched me on the back of my hand.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you sweetie, I was just switching out your IV." A nurse walked to the other side of my bed and was messing with whatever was in the bag. I smiled back at her and saw that no one else was in the room. Where had Sebastian gone? My question was answered when he walked through the open door with another coffee in his hand and a water bottle.
"You're awake! How're you feeling?"
"I'm okay, I can't really feel it yet, I'm still on the medicine, but the nurse told me it's going to wear off soon, so I'm really looking forward to that." I said sarcastically.
"Please tell me that coffee is for me?"
"Unfortunately, no. But the water is. Your doctor said clear liquids until this morning, then you can do soft foods, like yogurt, applesauce, stuff like that." I would not be a happy camper without my coffee. I was frustrated. I just wanted to get out of the hospital and go back to the city.
"Did he say when I can leave?"
"He said probably tomorrow, but he said you're going to need to take it easy for the next few days, which means no work."
"No work! How can I do that? I have deadlines!" I was really upset now, knowing that people would have to cover for me.
"They'll understand Carrie, I think you'll appreciate it when the pain medicine wears off and you're in pain. Do you want to call them?" I nodded and he pulled out his cell phone. I pulled the antenna up at called Larissa's cell phone. She was supposed to be on some lavish trip to California for the weekend with some boy.
"Hello?" She answered in her adorable accent.
"Larissa! Glad I reached you! How's California?"
"It would be better if I was doing the nasty with my friend, but I'm on the phone with you, so let's make this quick." She said in true Larissa fashion.
"I just wanted to let you know that I won't be able to come into work next week. I had an emergency appendectomy last week and I'm still in the hospital." I explained the situation to her.
"Oh Carrie, darling, what happened?"
"Just a bad case of appendicitis I guess. I hope I'm not putting you guys out too much."
"No, don't worry about it, just work on getting yourself better!" I hung up the phone and felt a little better that I wouldn't be letting people down. I called Joe and asked him to reschedule all of my meetings for the next week and told him to go to the events I was scheduled to be at and take diligent notes on everything going on. He was a little worried, but I told him he'd be fine and I let him enjoy the rest of his holiday. I drank my water slowly and couldn't help but laugh.
"What's so funny over there Bradshaw?"
"It's just, I can't imagine that this was what you had in mind when I invited you home with me this weekend."
"I'm just glad you're okay. You scared me Car. I thought I did something."
"Nope, you were perfect." I winked at him and he blushed.
"Carrie, I have to tell you something." He got serious all of a sudden.
"What is it?"
"You know how I told you I spent a semester at UCONN?" I nodded.
"Well, I lied."
"What do you mean?"
"The only reason I didn't tell you was because I knew you'd be upset and worried or something."
"Sebastian, just tell me. What is it?"
"After graduation and you moved to New York, I joined the army."
"The army? Are you nuts? Why didn't you tell me?"
"Honestly, I didn't tell you because it's hard to talk about, but I knew that I couldn't keep living a lie." I felt bad for my outburst when he said how hard it was for him to talk about.
"Well, can I have a little more information? Were you deployed? What happened?"
"Well, I was sent to Fort Drum, in upstate New York. From there, I was transferred to Fort Bragg and then I was deployed to Iraq. I was there for six months and then my tour was over. But those six months were the worst thing I have ever had to do. I saw a lot of people die; my guys, their guys, civilians, there was no mercy."
"I cannot believe this! How- were you okay? You didn't get hurt or anything right?"
"I was fine physically, but mentally, it was awful. It was just you had to constantly be on edge all the time. I got back about a month ago."
"A month ago…does that mean you have to go back?" I asked, nervously.
"I hope not. I don't plan on it. I mean, my tour ended so I'm done. I lost too many people out there."
"I'm sorry, that's awful. But why are you telling me this now?"
"I didn't want to have to hide anything from you. And my buddy called and is coming to visit me, and I didn't want you to find out from someone else. But I've also been thinking of something else."
"What?"
"I was thinking about getting a place in the city, so I could be closer to you. But I don't want you to think we're moving too fast or feel like I'm crowding your space. I know how much you love the city."
"I would love it if you moved to the city, then I could see you all the time. Plus I'm not that powerful, I can't keep somebody from the city. Not yet anyway." I giggled and he grinned.
"Can I use your phone to call Walt? I just want to see how his holiday is going. And could you maybe go get me some soup from the cafeteria? I'm starving!" I asked of my boyfriend. It felt so weird to say boyfriend again in relation to Sebastian.
"Yeah, go ahead. I'll be back." He kissed me on the top of my head and he left my room. I quickly dialed Bennet's number and he gave me to Walt.
"Carrie, how's it going?"
"Good, well, so-so, but that's a different story. But anyway, why I called, I was wondering if you would have any objection to Sebastian moving in with us? He hasn't asked or anything, so he won't know if you say no, but he said he's looking for a place in the city, and he would share my room and that's an extra person to help pay rent and for groceries and stuff? I questioned Walt, hoping he wouldn't have a problem with that.
"Yeah, that's fine with me. I feel like I'm never home anyway." He laughed before continuing, "but why are things only so-so?"
"Well I'm in the hospital, I had appendicitis and had to have an appendectomy last night, but other than that, I'm having the time of my life with Sebastian."
"Car, are you sure you aren't moving too fast?"
"Walt, I've been waiting for him for the past year and a half! I just want to spend all of my time with him. He joined the army after I moved to New York because he didn't know what to do with himself. I'm finally ready to have a normal relationship." I explained to Walt who understood. We hung up the phone a few minutes later because I didn't want to use up all of Sebastian's minutes. He came back with some chicken broth and sat and helped me eat it. We were both laughing because I was getting it all over myself and he had to help me when my dad walked in.
"Well, it certainly looks like you're feeling better."
"So much better actually. I just want to leave. I hate it here!"
"Well they're just trying to keep you safe Car." My dad pointed out and I nodded my head.
"So did they say when you could come home?"
"Tonight hopefully. But he said tomorrow probably."
"You'll make it. Well I just wanted to stop in and see how you were doing. What have you been up to?"
"Just making work calls and trying to eat soup, but that's not working out very well." I looked down at the hospital gown I had on and saw that it was covered in hot liquid. Sebastian had a few splashes on him too.
"Oh, by the way Dad, Sebastian told me what I said last night, and I promise you, that was the drugs talking." Sebastian blushed at my bringing up the conversation again and my dad did too. I was just laughing.
"I believe you honey." He smirked. We talked for a few more minutes and then he left to go make sure Dorrit was behaving, which she probably wouldn't. The doctor came in to check on me around 2pm.
"Well Carrie, I'm happy to say that your incision seems to be healing nicely. If you aren't in too much pain would you like to leave tonight?" My eyes lit up. Of course I would like to leave tonight.
"I would love that!"
"Alright, I'll get the discharge papers ready. You should be out of here by 5." He left to get the paperwork together and I turned to face Sebastian.
"Do you think you could just take me back to the city tonight? I just want to sleep in my own bed, I think I'll be much more comfortable there."
"If your doctor says that's fine then of course I will."
"And you'll stay with me?"
"If that's what you want."
"It is." The doctor walked back into the room and gave me my discharge instructions.
"Okay, take it easy for the next week, no work, no exercise, and especially, no sexual activity," He looked at me and then Sebastian, who nodded, "You can start soft foods whenever you want and gradually get back to normal foods over the next few days. Nausea is completely normal, vomiting too, as long as it's not excessive. That may happen tomorrow when your pain medication has completely worn off. If you experience any bleeding of any kind, or extreme pain or discomfort, come back to the hospital." I nodded and Sebastian asked him a question.
"We don't live here actually, we live in New York City, and Carrie wants to know if it's okay if we go back tonight, so she can rest at home and be more comfortable?" The doctor pondered for a few seconds before answering.
"I normally wouldn't recommend it, but I agree with you that she will be more comfortable in her own bed at her own home. It should be fine, since the trip isn't too long, just be precautious." HE answered and I did a happy dance in my mind. A nurse was going to be in to take my IV out and redress my incision before I could leave, but I asked Sebastian to call my dad and let him know we wouldn't be able to stay for the actual holiday. He stepped outside to make the call while I starting getting dressed into the clothes I came in. Sebastian came back in a minute later and told me that my dad was fine with that and he agreed, going home would probably be better. He helped me pull the t-shirt he put me in to come to the hospital back on and I slipped into the shorts. By around 4:45, we were on our way to my dad's to get my things.
"Do you mind if we stop by my dad's place real quick before we head out? I just need to grab a few things if you want me to stay for the next few days.
"That's fine, but I talked to Walt earlier, and we both agreed that, if you want, you could move in with us? I mean we'd have to share a room, but it'd be cheaper for everyone, and I could see you whenever I wanted to.
"Are you sure Car? Because then you'd have to see me even when you don't want to."
"I always want to see you!" He laughed and told me he would love that.
"Good thing most of my stuff is still packed, I came home and dropped my stuff off and have been living out of my duffel bag mostly." He chuckled. I waited in the car as he grabbed he things and put them in the trunk of his car. I caught a glimpse of his bag, which was a canvas green color with "Kydd" stitched into it. He was carrying a pair of boots, which I could only assume were his army boots because I have never seen him wear them any other time. I wasn't going to lie, him with all of his army things made him really sexy. He hopped into the driver's seat and we were finally about to go home.
The drive took only about an hour, and I was unlocking my, our, apartment only minutes afterwards. Since we lived in Queens, Sebastian found parking easily in our building's garage. I was feeling tired from all of the day's activities and went to bed around 8. Sebastian made himself dinner from our surplus of takeout leftovers because I wasn't hungry. I heard him turn the TV on in our small living room and I felt him come to bed about an hour later. I snuggled up next to him and fell into a deep slumber until I stirred around 3. I felt awful. I had that feeling in the back of my throat that I knew I was going to throw up soon. I was as still as I could be and crawled out of bed, trying not to wake Sebastian. I shut the bathroom door silently behind me and locked it, out of habit. I knelt down at the toilet and waited, that's all I could do. I laid down on the cool tiles of the floor that kept my cheeks from feeling like they were on fire. About two minutes later, I could feel the vomit traveling up my throat, almost like in slow motion. I pulled my head up from the floor and knelt over the toilet bowl. I heaved all of the day's contents out of my stomach and into the toilet. Tears were coming from my eyes, not because it hurt that bad, but that's just a bodily function I think, to cry when you're throwing up. It actually made me feel better, at least it made my stomach feel better. After two minutes of throwing up, I pulled away, thinking I was done. I heard a knock on the door, but before I could answer, another wave of nausea hit me.
"Carrie? Are you okay? Can you let me in?"
"Carrie, I'm worried, please, let me in."
"Alright, I'm unlocking the door and coming in." He was talking so fast, and I would've let him in, but I was pretty sure he didn't want to see this and I was a little busy at the moment. I heard the lock pop open and then felt a hand on my back, holding my hair from my face as I continued to throw up. After a solid two more minutes of vomiting, I knew there couldn't be much left to throw up. I slowly leaned back from the toilet and leaned against the wall.
"Brush your teeth and then we'll get you back to bed, alright?" He suggested as he helped me stand up. I brushed my teeth as he cleaned up the toilet and then he led me back to my bed.
"So you're sure you're okay? We don't need to go to the emergency room?"
"No, I'm fine, I just want to sleep." I said, smirking at his worried expression.
"If you're positive."
"I am." He tucked me into bed and kissed my forehead before he went out into the kitchen to do something. I didn't even hear him come back to bed because I was out like a light.
The weekend ended and Walt came home on Monday. I was feeling a lot better, the only pain I was having was the incision, which was healing nicely. I get my stitches out next Monday, so I'm looking forward to having all of this behind me. I was pretty bored the following week because I couldn't go to work and Sebastian had gotten an HR job in the city through a program for soldiers whose tours ended. I was home alone most of the day, but usually we either ate just me and Sebastian, or the three of us, but sometimes Bennett would come over, too. Larissa came to visit me one day and to check up on how I was feeling. I could do a little work at home, but it was either typing stories that I already had the information I needed or talking on the phone with people. Joe had brought the notes I needed by on Thursday, so I could type some short pieces on the gala events that he attended in my place. I feel like I have seen every single episode of Cheers and Growing Pains.
After I ad recovered and gone back to work, I learned of a black tie affair for veterans in the city on Veterans Day. Larissa asked me to go to cover the event, and I told her that would be great, considering my boyfriend was a veteran.
"Wait, that 20 year old boy toy of yours is a veteran? That's sexy. You wouldn't mind if I borrowed him, would you?" She joked after I filled her in on the story.
"How romantic. Carrie, do you think he's going to ask you to marry him?"
"Larissa! We've only been actually dating this time for like 5 weeks! There's no way!"
"But he obviously loves you!"
"Stop it! You're embarrassing me!" I giggled before leaving the office for the day. I got home and Sebastian was already there, and so was Walt. I put my purse down at the door and practically ran to the bathroom. I emerged from the bathroom a minute later and both boys were staring at me.
"What?" I asked as I went to get a glass of water.
"Are you alright? You just sprinted to the bathroom…" Walt asked, laughing.
"I'm fine! I just had to pee really bad. I drank my first cup of coffee in 2 minutes and I haven't gone since. I've been trying to drink more water lately too. And I have my period, so I have to go to the bathroom like all the time. I didn't know it was strange for people to go to the bathroom these days Walt." I explained from the kitchen to where the boys were watching TV in the living room while going through the mail.
"Carrie, you realize you live with two boys, right? I mean, I know I'm gay, but I also know I don't want to hear you say those things!" I giggled at their discomfort.
"Alright, I'll keep that in mind, but one last thing! I know it's not my turn to go grocery shopping this week, so whoever is going is going to have to pick me up a few things." I said as I went back into my bedroom to change out of my work clothes. I heard those two mumbling to each other out in the living room.
"Dude, she's your girlfriend!"
"Yeah, but it's your turn to go to the store!"
"I'm not even into girls, why should I have to do that? It's like your civil duty or something." All I knew was that I was not going to the grocery store for the second week in a row.
"Oh Kydd, I almost forgot! There's this blank tie gala in the city on Veteran's Day, and I have to go for work and I'm supposed to bring a veteran. So guess whose lucky enough to have one as their boyfriend?" I wrapped my arms around his waist and laid my head on his chest because he was so much taller than me.
"I'm not a veteran, what are you talking about?"
"Of course you are, you served in the army, that's like the definition of a veteran."
"But veterans are like old guys who have half of their bodies blown up. I'm not a veteran. I did a six month tour. I'd be happy to go, but I'm not a veteran."
"Sebastian, you served overseas! You meet all of the qualification for a veteran! Plus you have to wear your fancy little uniform, do you have it here?" Sebastian groaned.
"I haven't worn that for a while. Plus, they'll all judge me for my long hair, they're very strict about that. Can I just wear a suit and pretend I'm not a veteran? I don't want the recognition. There's going to be guys there who have done great things and I don't want to look stupid. I'm just a sergeant, these guys are going to be like lieutenant generals Carrie!"
"Please, I've never seen you in your uniform!"
"It's not my uniform, it's what I have to wear to dressy occasions, I don't actually do anything worthwhile in that uniform. Now, my day-to-day uniform is great. I could live in that thing. Well, I practically did."
"You'll probably know some people there! And Larissa said you should invite some of your buddies, she can get all of them in! I think it'll be fun! I'll get to know this other side of you that I haven't seen before."
"Fine, I'll call some friends, but if they say no, I'm not going to bug them. And if they aren't wearing their dress blues than neither am I."
"You've got a deal Kydd." I laid my head back against his chest and we stood their swaying for a few seconds.
"I hate to ruin the moment…but what's for dinner?" I interrupted the silence, once feeling a pang in my stomach, signaling my hunger.
"I could do anything, really." Walt chimed in.
"We should order Chinese!" My eyes got big and hopeful. We all agreed and Walt called Bennett. We ordered and Bennett would pick it up on his way over.
"So what's the deal with Halloween? Is Larissa having her annual Halloween party?" Walt questioned while we sat at the table, laughing and chowing down on our lo mein and fried rice.
"Larissa always finds an excuse for a party, doesn't she?" Sebastian questioned and Bennett and I gave him serious nods. Larissa was a huge partier, and I couldn't really keep up nowadays.
"What's everyone going as?"
"We're going as Daisy Buchanan and Jay Gatsby. It'll be lavish!" I was excited about our costumes. I was just about done with them.
"I think I'm going to be a ghostbuster." Bennett added.
"I want to be Marty from Back to the Future."
"You could totally pull that off! You just need like a red vest!" I was already planning Walt's outfit. Halloween was in a week, but I was already excited. Larissa's party was this weekend though, so I had to go out tonight and grab a few things for my costume.
"Alright boys, I'm heading out, you sure none of you want to go with me?" All of the boys shook their heads no, even though Sebastian thought about going, but changed his mind. It was pretty cold out.
I wrapped my coat around me even tighter when I felt the cold air blow across my face. I headed to the subway station and got on the subway to Brooklyn. I normally wouldn't go to Brooklyn to find things to wear, but they have the best vintage shops, and I'm looking for some accessories for my costume. I got off the subway ten minutes later and found myself in the heart of Brooklyn, which really was beautiful, but it was stereotyped as an awful borough. I loved it though. I held my purse close and walked the sidewalk to a shop that Larissa showed me one day. It looked different at night though, so I went a few blocks out of the way of the store. I turned around, trying to figure out where the store was. I stood in place and looked up at my surroundings, trying to figure out where I was from landmarks.
"Don't scream, I have a knife." I heard a whisper in my ear. I froze. The voice automatically gave me chills. My eyes stayed forward, I was looking and praying that someone else was around. There wasn't anybody I could see, but maybe somebody was close. I debated screaming, but then I remembered that he had a knife.
"Now, you're going to give me everything you have on you and then you're going to let me walk away, no problem." The creepy voice said in the ear. All I could do was nod and raise my hands in the air.
"Those earrings look pretty nice too darling." I could feel the tears in my eyes as I took them off. They were my moms. I never took them off.
"Please, take anything but the earrings. They aren't worth that much, but they were my mom's and she died. Please, I'll give you anything else."
"Yeah right, what do you think I'm a sympathetic mugger? Take them off!" He was yelling now and I was shaking I removed them and he gathered all of my things, my keys, my purse, my wallet, my earrings, my bracelets, my necklaces, basically everything except my clothes.
"Now, you're going to count to one hundred and then walk in the opposite direction." He instructed and I knew I should follow his directions if I didn't want to get hurt.
"One…two…three…" I started counting, but I didn't hear his footsteps leaving. The next thing I knew, I was shoved hard to the ground and his footsteps were getting faster and harder to hear. I just laid there for a moment, before getting up. My hands were scraped and my knee. My tights were ripped and he had taken my coat. I was freezing. I had no phone, no money, no subway pass, and no way of getting home. While I laid there on the ground, I silently hoped that someone of decent morals would come and help me. I prayed while I laid down there too. I couldn't even remember the last time I prayed either, so God probably wasn't listening.
"Ma'am are you alright?" A police officer asked as he pulled his squad car over to the side of the road, near me on the sidewalk. I breathed a sigh of relief and began to stand up.
"Um, yeah, I'm okay, I think. I was just mugged though. He took my purse, wallet, coat, earrings, necklace, bracelets, everything and now I don't know how to get home. Not that I would be able to even if he hadn't taken my things. Can you help me?"
"Of course!" The nice officer was getting out of the car and he helped me brush off and he let me sit in the front seat of the squad car with him.
"What're you doing in Brooklyn, an area you don't know well, at nine at night anyway?"
"I was getting an outfit for Halloween, I had been to the store before, but during the daytime, and I got lost. It was a stupid idea of me anyway. I'm just glad you showed up because I honestly don't know what I would've done."
"That's my job. So I'll take you back to the station and I can get your full report and get your scrapes cleaned up. Do you have somebody that we can call to come get you?" I was thankful that I was safe, I was still pretty shaken up from the whole ordeal.
"Yes, my boyfriend." I gave him the number when we got to the precinct and he had his assistant call while he got my statement. I told him everything I could and he took me to a back room and pulled out their first aid kit. He rubbed antiseptic on my scrapes, which burned very bad. He wrapped some gauze around my one hand, but band-aids sufficed for my other hand and my knee. Now all I could do was sit and wait for Sebastian to get here.
Sebastian's P.O.V.
It was getting late and I was a little bit worried about Carrie. I knew she was a big girl and could handle herself, but the store closed at nine thirty and it was already ten thirty.
"Hey man, we're going to get ice cream, do you want to come with us?"
"No man, thanks, I just want to make sure Carrie gets home safe."
"Okay, do you think she'd want us to pick her up something?"
"I have a feeling she wouldn't mind a chocolate milkshake." I responded to Bennett's questioning. Then, the phone rang. I told the boys I would get it because they were getting their shoes on to go out.
"Hello?"
"Is this Sebastian Kydd?"
"Yes, it is."
"This is Officer Jones from the 75th precinct in Brooklyn. We have Carrie Bradshaw here and she needs picked up?"
"From the police station? Is she alright? What happened?" I started waving my hands around to get Bennett and Walt's attention.
"She was mugged tonight. She's fine though, a little shaken up. I'd bring a coat for her too, it's pretty cold out."
"Okay, yes, we'll be right there, thank you." I hung up the phone and got my leather coat out of the closet.
"The police station?" Bennett questioned.
"Yeah, Carrie got mugged, she's okay though, just a little shaken up he said." I filled them in and we departed the apartment. We rode the subway into Brooklyn and left the station. Bennett knew the area very well, so he took us the safest way to the station. I opened the doors to the precinct and saw her. She was sitting on a counter eating a banana. Before she noticed me, I checked her over. She looked fine from what I could tell. She got up to throw her banana peel away and noticed us. She smiled and walked over to us.
"Hey. Hi." I said as she approached.
"Hey. HI." She responded. I wrapped her in a hug and held her for a moment.
"Are you okay?" She nodded, but I checked her over once just to double check.
"What happened?"
"I got lost, I couldn't find the store and I was looking around to try and find some sort of landmark that could clue me in to where I was and I heard this voice a few inches from my ear and he said to give him everything I had on me and then he ran away. Thankfully, Officer Jones was in the area and helped me out."
"What are the band-aids from?"
"He pushed me when he ran away, so I couldn't see him or turn around."
"I'm so sorry this happened to you. Here." I shrugged off my leather jacket and put it around her shoulders. She smiled and said thanks. Officer Jones approached us.
"Army, huh? What unit?" He motioned to my gray t-shirt that read 'army.'
"Yes sir, sixth division Sergeant. Trained at Fort Bragg and deployed to Iraq. I'm on extended leave, released from active duty almost three months ago."
"Reenlisting?"
"I have yet to be discharged, but I don't plan to extend my tour. I have other things to worry about here." I motioned to Carrie who smiled.
"Well, thank you for your service. I hope things work out well for you. Well Carrie is free to go, and if we get any leads, we'll let you know." Officer Jones walked them out and promised to keep an eye out for the man Carrie described.
The two couples got back on the subway, and headed back to Queens.
"Well, I know it's been a long night, but we were going to grab ice cream, do you guys want some?"
"Well, I can't really say no to a chocolate ice cream…" Carrie trailed off and looked up at me.
"That's fine with me. I know you love your chocolate milkshakes." I smiled and grabbed her hand.
"I'm really glad you're okay Car."
"Me too." She tilted her head up to meet my eyes. I smiled and pulled her in for a kiss.