Secrets Lies and Retribution
10
It was just after midnight, technically the start of a brand new day. Robert hoped it would be a lot less traumatic than the previous one.
Right now he was sitting in the Intensive Care's waiting room, sipping on a coffee. It was steaming hot and as he had added three sachets of sugar it was especially sweet too. He was hoping that small dose of energy would help recharge his batteries. He was exhausted both physically and emotionally, it really had been a gruelling day.
His heart broke for Aaron, he wished he could make everything right for him, make the horrors in his past just disappear. But wishing had always been a futile exercise. Sitting here on his own, in the peace and quiet of an empty room, he was starting to realise the enormity of the situation, knew the repercussions could prove endless. He wasn't going to dwell on that now though.
Aaron was safely tucked up in bed, his earlier escape bid hadn't gone unpunished, his temperature had climbed a little, his blood pressure had dropped a little, still he was classed as stable at the moment and Robert was taking some comfort from that. He was now asleep, one of his medications apparently had a sedative effect and it had kicked in about an hour ago. Up until then Aaron had just been dosing, the least sound waking him up. Knowing he was finally settled Robert had stepped outside the hi-tec environment, he didn't like it, it reminded him too much of his own brush with death. He'd been in need of a toilet break and even more in need of some caffeine. In fact he could have done with a shot of whisky right now, Paddy was due to arrive at any minute and he wasn't looking forward to a face to face meeting with him.
Robert had had trouble getting hold of Paddy. Having discretely getting his number off Aaron's phone, he'd rang him but it had continuously gone to voice mail. Wherever he was he was out of signal range. Paddy had answered eventually, and he'd kept his message brief saying Aaron was in Hotten General's casualty department and that he needed him there. He'd also asked him to keep it to himself, he could only hope Paddy would honour his request and not bring Aaron's whereabouts to the attention of anyone else. Aaron was still insisting no one know about his admission to hospital. Casualty staff would send Paddy up here and he would tell him what he could then.
Robert had left the waiting room door open and through it he could see the lift doors, it was making its way up to his floor now and he guessed it was Paddy arriving. As the doors opened he got to his feet ready to greet the other man.
"Is he alright? Why's he here? Has he had an accident or something?" Paddy demanded as he hurried over to Robert.
Robert could hear the dread in Paddy's voice, knew he had to reassure him, "He's doing ok."
"Right. Well that's good, but that doesn't tell me why he's in Intensive Care."
"It'll probably only be overnight," Robert gestured to a chair, knowing this was a sitting down kind of conversation.
"Well?" Paddy demanded as he dropped into a chair opposite Robert.
"He's started cutting again, and he's developed sepsis."
"Sepsis!" Paddy was shocked, being a vet he knew how dangerous a medical condition that was. He knew all about the complications that could arise if not treated early enough, the main one being multiple organ failure... and death! "You said he was doing ok so why does he need to be here?" Intensive Care beds were reserved for the desperately ill, those needing highly specialized care, just how ill was Aaron?
"Apparently there was a bed available and to use the doctor's exact words 'its more a precautionary move than a necessity.'
Paddy felt a bit happier on hearing that but was soon hit by a wave of despair, "I had no idea he was self-harming again, I knew there was something wrong, he hasn't been himself not since, well not since his dad turned up. Has it got anything to do with him?"
"It's got everything to do with him!" Robert hadn't been able to keep the anger out of his voice and knew Paddy had picked up on it.
"What's he said?" Paddy demanded, Robert's reaction told him that whatever was going on it was something he should know about.
"That's got to come from him." He could so easily have told Paddy, Aaron desperately needed his understanding and support right now. He could do with some guidance himself for that matter.
Paddy nodded, Robert was right, it wasn't for him to tell him. "So how is he, really?" He was in need of reassurance again.
"Obviously he's pretty ill still, but the antibiotics are doing their job, he is getting better."
"I want to see him." Paddy knew setting eyes on the lad was the only thing that would ease his mind."
"Yeah, but before you go in. He doesn't want anyone knowing he's here, and he doesn't know I've called you. I know you had a bit of a fallout, Aaron was really torn up about it. I don't know the details, I just know you should be here."
"Thanks." Paddy really appreciated that of Robert. Suddenly remembering about Chas Paddy asked, "What about his mother, she should know?"
"No, he doesn't want her here Paddy, he's adamant about that. He's even told the nurse not to let her in should she turn up."
"Rght." Paddy wasn't sure what to make of that, although he had warned Chas about Aaron's feelings where his dad was concerned. Chas seemed to have brushed them to one side. Still she couldn't brush aside her son's current state of health so easily. She wasn't his concern right now, Aaron was and he wanted desperately to see him. "That door there is it?"
"Yeah just knock on it, I told the nurse you were coming. It's just one visitor to a bed at night so I'll wait outside."
Robert breathed a sigh of relief as Paddy disappeared from view. It had gone better than expected, they had been more than civil to each other, it was like nothing had happened between them, hopefully it would stay that way for Aaron's sake.
/
Aaron opened his eyes to see Paddy sitting beside him, he could see the concern in his eyes, the love he had for him there. He'd been so angry with him the last time he'd seen him, he'd been so hostile had said some horrible things. He was regretting them now though but knew Paddy had already forgiven him, but had he forgiven him for betraying him? Well he was here wasn't he!
"How you feeling?"
"Better" He wasn't really but he didn't want to give Paddy any more reason to worry about him.
Paddy was smiling at him now and once again Aaron's emotions surged to the for. "Why couldn't you have been my dad?"
"I am." Paddy insisted catching hold of Aaron's hand and squeezing it reassuringly, "In all the ways that matter." He was really concerned now about Gordon's Livesy's part in all of this.
"Yeah." How could he have forgotten that?
"I'm always here for you Aaron, always. You could have come to me, whatever it is that's started you self-harming again, you could have come to me about it."
"I know but..." Aaron's voice trailed off, how to explain to Paddy without giving anything away.
"But what?"
"Can you drop it for now Paddy, I'm not ready to talk about it yet."
"Well as soon as you are ready you come find me, ok?"
Aaron nodded, although he couldn't see that day coming any time soon. There was something else he wanted to say to Paddy maybe now was the right time. "I know you hate Robert."
"I don't hate him. I hate what he did to you, the fact that he hurt you."
"He's been so good with me, more than good. If me and him, if we..."
"Is it looking that way?"
"Yeah. Paddy give him a chance please." Aaron begged, this was so important to him.
Paddy's initial reaction was to say no, noway. But with him being so ill it was proving impossible to dash Aaron's hopes, "Ok, but he's going to have to prove himself where you're concerned and if he does then I'll be ok with it. Now how about you get some sleep."
Aaron closed his eyes obediently knowing he had one less thing to worry about
/
Once again Robert got to his feet on seeing Paddy approaching, "Did he wake up?" He hoped Aaron had been aware of Paddy's presence even if they hadn't got to speak at any great length. He was taken aback when Paddy invaded his space and pointed a warning finger at his face.
"You hurt that boy again, in anyway and I'll have yer! You'll rue the day you were born!"
Standing his ground and fighting down the urge to slap Paddy's finger out of his face Robert said "I'm not going to.. I love him."
Paddy was thrown by Robert's admission even more so on realising the sincerity in which his words had been spoken. Still he wasn't going to back down, "We'll see!" He retorted before turning around to head towards the lift.
Robert dropped back into his chair, he couldn't believe he'd just said that to Paddy. Not that it wasn't true because it was, he did love Aaron, but it was him he should be telling not Paddy. Had Aaron mentioned something to Paddy about the two of them or had Paddy just put two and two together? Either way it didn't matter, he was looking at this as a positive step. If the two of them did get back together they really needed Paddy to be onside.
/
It was almost 7am, and Aaron had just woken up from a deep and restful sleep. Robert thought he looked a lot better this morning and the nurse had not long since told him Aaron's vital signs were looking healthier too. Knowing that he was going to go home for a bit. "I'll have a shower maybe get my head down for a couple of hours. Then I'll head back here."
"You don't have to." Aaron was sure Robert had other things he needed to do.
"It's not a matter of having to, I want to. Do you want me to bring anything in?"
"Something fizzy and I don't mean sherbet! Coke or something." His mouth was so dry and hospital tea just wasn't satisfying his thirst."
"Ok, something fizzy it is then." Getting to his feet Robert's gaze moved to one of the monitors, suddenly leaving Aaron didn't seem like a good idea. "You going to be ok?"
"Yeah, fine." He'd probably sleep most of the day if he didn't have any distractions, he just felt so tired all the time."
Somewhat reassured Robert said "You are going to behave aren't you?" He was making reference to yesterdays show of rebellion on Aaron's part. he was teasing and hoped Aaron saw his comment for what it was.
"If I must." Aaron grinned."
"Yeah you must!" Robert grinned back enjoying the light hearted banter. "I'll be off then."
"Ok."
Ten seconds later Robert was still standing there looking down at Aaron, he wasn't happy about leaving him but it wasn't that preventing his feet from moving. It was something else entirely, something he was longing to do, something he felt he should do before leaving. He just wasn't sure about his timing.
"What?" Aaron asked, mystified by the way Robert was hovering over him.
Robert decided to go with his heart and leant down dropping a gentle kiss on Aaron's lips. It felt right, it felt good and seeing a smile spread across Aaron's face he knew he felt the same way too.
tbc