Becky stared at her fellow trainer in shock. "Mick, I really can't ask you to do that."
Mick just glared at her. "I'm not asking for your permission. I want you to come live with me, that way I'll be able to take care of you." Becky turned to Dr Richards in despair, and Dr Richards cleared his throat.
"It would take round the clock care for Becky, Mr Coulter." He said slowly. "It would be a hard job and it would be time-consuming, meaning it would leave not much time for anything else... especially for the first few months as Becky has to get used to being in a wheelchair and getting around without the use of her legs." Mick just rolled his eyes. "I'm sure you mean well, but I don't think Becky living with you would be the best thing for either of you."
"Well I'm all she's got here dammit." Mick growled, glaring at Dr Richards. "I don't want her living in some cripple home, or just living all on her own with nowhere to go. I know how hard it'll be and I'm willing to put up with it." Becky felt tears in her eyes at her friends sincerity. "I want to look after her. I know I can look after her so what's the Goddamn problem."
Dr Richards glanced at Becky, who shrugged helplessly. "I'm sure we can work something out for the first couple of months. If by then it's not working out, Becky there are two beautiful lodges that are especially for disabled people, you would love it there."
While Becky didn't exactly like the thought of being among a bunch of crippled people just like her all of the time, the thought of being a burden to Mick 24/7 was even less appealing to her. "Mick, I really don't want to be a burden to you. I don't want to drag you down."
"Kid, you won't-"
"Yes I will!" Becky burst out angrily. "If you have to look after me all the time it will affect your center and it'll affect your promotion and I can't do that to you Mick! I can't stop you from travelling the world. I can't keep you away from the business. Let me finish." She added as Mick opened his mouth to speak. "You don't know what it's like to be ripped away from doing something you love but I do, okay? And I know how it feels and it sucks. So I am not being the reason that you get ripped from what you love to do, I'm not gonna do it!"
Mick was beginning to get angry, Becky could tell. But before he could speak, the three of them heard another voice join in the fray.
"Is everything okay in here?"
Becky glanced to the door and was relieved to see Shawn standing there, Cameron by his side. "Hey Becky."
Becky smiled and accepted Cameron's hug. "Hey Cameron."
"Are you excited?" Cameron asked with a grin. "To be getting out of here on Friday I mean?"
Becky smiled half-heartedly. "Once I find out where I'm going then yeah, I will be." Cameron looked confused. "Don't ask kid."
"Michaels, would you rather Becky be in a halfway house or living with me while she gets better?" Shawn looked confused and Dr Richards quickly jumped in. "It's not a halfway house."
"It might as well be." Mick spat angrily. "I don't want her living with a bunch of cripples and having no proper freedom or life. I want her to live with me and then when she's confident in taking care of herself, she can move out! It's simple!"
"Would you stop with the whole cripple thing?" Becky said angrily. "In case you haven't noticed, I'm a cripple now too."
"Becky, calm down." Dr Richards instructed.
"Why don't we all calm down and sit down and talk about this rationally?" Shawn reasoned. Mick and Dr Richards both sighed before taking seats next to Becky's bed. Shawn and Cameron sat on her left side. "Okay, now, Becky, where do you want to go?"
Becky balked as all their attention was suddenly on her. She tried to collect her thoughts before speaking. "Well, I mean, I don't really like the idea of going to that lodge place-"
"HA!" Mick said triumphantly, but shut up after recieving a death glare from Becky.
"BUt I don't want to be a burden to Mick either." She countered. "And before you say it, yes I will be." Mick scowled. "I don't want to stop you from living your life the way you want to Mick and that's what I'll do. I don't really have much option but I think I'm gonna go to the lodge."
Dr Richards seemed pleased, but before he could get a word in, Cameron spoke up.
"Why don't you come live with us?"
They all stared at him in shock. Becky was staring at him warmly while the doctor and his father both stared at him in surprise, Mick just smirked at him in sheer amusement.
"Live with you?" Becky repeated. "Cameron, that's not a good-"
"Why not?" Cameron asked, turning to his father. "Why can't she come live with us dad? We've got room. We've got plenty of room and Cheyenne and I can keep her company when we come home from school and mom can look after her while I'm away." He turned back to the doctor with pleading eyes. "My dad could carry her upstairs if she ever needed to go up there. He's strong enough, aren't you dad?" Shawn still looked shocked, but Becky could see something stirring in his eyes, and she didn't like it.
"Cameron, no, shut up. Stop this." She felt bad at seeing Cameron's face fall, but she plowed on anyway. "I can't live with you guys okay? As Dr Richards said, for the first couple of months I'll need constantly looked after. I can't do anything for myself yet! And I need to get used to using that..." She gulped and struggled to spit the word out. "That thing. So really, the lodge is the only logical option."
"But Becky," Cameron whined. "We would look after you, we could do it!"
Becky turned to Shawn helplessly, hoping for support.
"You know, it's not a bad idea."
Becky gaped at him. Was he serious? "You have got to be kidding me!"
"No, Becky, think about it." Shawn said quietly. "Becca and I are home all the time, and like Cameron said, we have the room, he have the abilities. Money wouldn't be an option when it comes to looking after you and I'm sure it'll do you good to be around people you know everyday." Becky held her head in her hands in despair. "What do you think Doctor?"
Becky stared at the Doctor, begging him to disagree. "It would be entirely yours and Becky's decision... but as long as you have the time and willpower to help her, then I really don't see much of a problem, at least for a couple of months anyway."
"Please Becky." Cameron stared at her with sad eyes, just one glance at them had her breaking. "Please come live with us. I promise we'll look after you. You'll enjoy living with us more than living in that lodge, and if you live with us it means you can see Mick whenever you want to." Cameron glanced to Mick, who nodded thoughtfully. "Mom wouldn't mind would she?" Cameron asked, turning to his father.
Shawn shrugged. "I'd need to talk it over with her but I'm sure she'd agree. We all care about you Becky and we want to make sure you have the best care possible."
"Which would be in this lodge." Becky said again, feeling exhausted with merely the conversation. "I don't want to be a burden on anyone Shawn and while I really appreciate it, I don't want you to think you owe this to me just because I helped your son."
"That's not it at all." Shawn said sharply. "We care about you, all of us and I think it's clear to see my son loves you." Cameron blushed slightly but they all pretended not to notice. "We want you to be happy and I think Cameron's right when he says you won't be as happy in that lodge place than you will living in San Antonio with us."
"Becky, please." Cameron gave her those eyes again, and her resolve finally crumbled.
"Alright fine!" She threw her hands up in the air. "Fine, if Rebecca doesn't mind then yes, I will come live with you." She stared Shawn right in the eye. "The moment I become a problem to you, I want you to tell me."
"Deal." Shawn shook her hand then left with the doctor for them to discuss just what exactly went into taking care of Becky on a daily basis.
"So you won't come live with me but you'll go live with the heartbreak kid?" Mick said, a teasing smile on his face.
Becky rolled her eyes playfully. "Mick, you and I both know you never stick in the one place for long. At least this way you can come see me and take me out for the day." Mick nodded and wished her well, hugging her goodbye before leaving, ruffling Cameron's hair on his way past. Becky glanced at Cameron and saw a huge goofy grin on his face, which caused her to laugh.
"You are lucky I can't move man, otherwise I'd toe your ass so bad." Cameron just giggled. "I can't believe I let you talk me into this."
"Don't try deny that
you won't have fun." Cameron said with a grin. "You're
gonna love living with us." He noticed that Becky was rather
quiet, and he frowned. "What's wrong?"
Becky started
slightly and smiled at him. "Nothing, I'm just thinking."
"About??"
"About what it'll be like never walking again." Becky said, a frown taking over her face. "I'm trying to imagine what it'll be like just having to be wheeled around all day everyday... it's kinda weird to think about it." She closed her eyes for a few moments, and Cameron felt apprehensive. Usually Becky kept her sadness away from him and always tried to stay upbeat when he was around, to try spare his feelings or something. It wasn't like he was fragile or anything. He just wasn't used to seeing her so down... it was slightly unnerving. "It's gonna be a long journey and it's gonna be so hard and to be quite honest I don't know if I have enough willpower to get through it."
Cameron frowned sympathetically and gripped her hand tightly. "You will get through it, we'll be here to help you get through it."
Becky smiled and squeezed his hand back. "I hope so." After a few moments of silence, Shawn came back in the room, the doctor behind him.
"I just spoke to Becca." Shawn could barely contain his excitement. "And she says she's happy to have you come live with us. She said she'll do anything and everything she can do to help you get better."
Becky smiled, beginning to feel slightly excited herself. It was growing contagious from the way Cameron was bouncing around the room, goofy smile still plastered to his face.
"So it's settled." Dr Richards said with a small smile. "On Friday, you're going to live with Mr and Mrs Hickenbottom."
Cameron squealed in glee and Becky laughed.
"Yeah.... I guess I am."
