Chapter 10 Looking to the Future

I wake up in a hospital bed hooked to an IV. Ian is sitting next to me, his hand in mine.

"What happened?" I ask

"You passed out." Ian says, I see tears in his face. "You just collapsed in my arms. You had a panic attack and passed out."

"Mandy?" I ask

"Still in surgery." Ian says as he helps me sit up "The IV is for fluids. You were dehydrated too, not to mention that sucker punch your father gave you was pretty hard. Tony's booking him as we speak."

"Terry's a fucking moron." I say. I'm trying to pass it off like what just happened with Terry doesn't matter but Ian knows better.

"We don't have to talk about it." Ian says "You've spent weeks taking care of me. Let me take care of you." He gets up and closes the door. "It's just you and me right now Mickey. You and me." He climbs into the bed careful not to bump my IV drip and kisses my forehead. I lean into him as we both fall asleep.

When I wake up I was surprised to see Lip sitting in my room.

"What the hell?" I asked

"Ian went to sit with Mandy when she got out of surgery, thought you might want that." says Lip "He asked if I'd stay here and make sure you don't do anything stupid."

"That's a tough job." I tell him

"I know, but I'm up for the challenge." Lip tells me in with a smile

"You like my sister don't you?" I ask

"Yeah." says Lip "Maybe if I had asked her out, maybe I would have been there to protect her."

"Or maybe you'd be in a hospital bed to." I told him "Look I don't know what I can fucking do for her if anything. But if you can help her get through this then I'm all for you being with her."

"After everything you've done to help Ian, you know our whole family will do whatever they can to help Mandy." Lip says, the look in his eye tells me he's genuine. "Mickey I will protect her until I take my last breath."

"You better Gallagher." I tell him "I'm grateful to Ian for sitting with Mandy, but I need him."

"I'm here." Says Ian walking in the door "The nurse thought it might be better if a woman sat with Mandy so Fiona's in with her now, she sent me for coffee."

"I'll get it." Lip says as he gets up "You want some bro?"

"No I'm good, I've probably had half a dozen cups." Ian tells his brother as Lip nods and leaves, closing the door behind him "Move in. Permanently." I look at him like he's crazy "Don't look at me like that Mickey. We practically are living together now, and I love it. I already talked to Fiona about it and she's fine with it."

"I'd love to, but how the hell are we gonna get any fucking privacy?" I asked

"Fiona's officially kicking Frank out." Said Ian "She and Jimmy are moving into his room. We get hers."

"Can she do that? Legally?" I asked

"Frank's barely home." Said Ian shrugging. "Lip and I are adults, Fiona is the legal guardian of Debbie, Carl, and Liam. Now that I'm back on my feet, Linda gave me my job back. We can save up for a place, a small apartment. No one will have a key but you and me."

"Our families can't just barge in on us." I say with a smile

"How fucking nice would that be?" Ian asks as I move over to make room in the bed for him

"Fucking amazing." I tell Ian pulling him into a kiss.