History repeating – Part II
Chapter 20 – 6 months later.
"So ya have fun kids?" Don turned around from his place in the passenger seat to grin at them.
"Great" Matthew and DJ said in unison, both exhausted and sitting further back in the large new car, while Mollie eyed her father with disgust and Rosie waved and laughed at him, babbling baby nonsense.
Kate checked them through the rear mirror and smiled to herself as she saw Mollie's sulky face.
"I wanted to go on the aeroplane" she sulked.
"Well, daddy can't fly" Kate cut in.
"I got it" he muttered, turning back to the front and giving Kate a wounded look, she laughed at him.
"I'm just stepping in before you promise to buy her an aeroplane" she said with a smirk.
Don glared through the side mirror, in an attempt to hide his amusement. Kate shook her head.
"And you wonder where she gets it from" she sighed dramatically.
"Oh shhh woman" he sulked theatrically and then laughed "Was a fun vacation though"
"Yes it was" she turned her head slightly to smile at him as silence reigned from sleeping children in the back.
"Road!" he commanded severely.
"You hate it when I drive don't you?" she asked him.
"No" he shifted uncomfortably "It's when you don't look at the road I get nervous"
"Well suck it up, buttercup" Kate laughed "Because the hospital only said you could come on this vacation if you took it easy, and if you didn't drive long distances, and if you didn't fly"
"I don't know why" he huffed "I'm fine"
She leaned over and patted his thigh "And I want you to stay that way"
Don smiled and thought about the past 6 months, since the day he had woken up on an ICU unit to today, the day they headed home after the long awaited and much anticipated vacation that had almost been scuppered.
It had been a slow recovery, much to his frustration. He'd initially been touched by all the help and support, especially from Kate and Danny. Danny had used his own insight into Don's condition to help, and it had worked. Kate had put up with so much from him too.
He'd sunk into depression when things had returned somewhat to normal. Feeling left out and sidelined as the after effects of the head injury kept him at home, alone, most of the time, while the world got on without him. He remembered the day Kate had removed every trace of alcohol from the house, throwing a razor and a bottle of shower gel at him and telling him it was that, or she'd tell the doctors what he was really like, and let them do what they wanted.
He'd raged and slammed about and then slowly, the dark cloud had lifted and he'd put more effort into speeding his recovery than wallowing in self pity.
He was however, waiting for the fall out from Kate. She'd been running on fumes since the day he'd been shot and she was tense, but hiding it. He knew it would happen.
The children had settled into the new routine after some teething problems, but it irked him that he wasn't even 'allowed' to care for Rosie all day by himself, due to the blackouts that had been with him for a month or so. They had faded slowly and he found himself gradually thrust into the role of house husband. He couldn't wait to get back to work.
"You OK?" Kate asked quietly.
"Yeah" he smiled "Jus' thinkin'"
"Careful" she warned with a smirk.
…...
Two weeks later Don sat before the doctor that had cared for him during and after his stay in hospital. He had his best 'bored' face on, but his mind worked over time. He'd sat and listened to Kate and the doctor chat, it seemed odd to him that although this guy had seen more of his insides than he'd like, he knew Kate so much better than he did Don himself.
"So Don" the doctor turned to him "How have you been?"
"Fine" Don replied, boredom resonating through his tone "No black outs, no tremors in my hands and arms and no bad dreams. Can I go back to my life now?"
"You've done exceptionally well" the doctor nodded.
"For someone you gave no hope to?" Don finished with his usual sarcasm. He ignored the warning look from Kate.
They'd discussed this, the guilt that hung heavily on Kate for agreeing to turn the machines off when as had been proved, there was hope for him. That discussion had been the catalyst for Kate, she'd almost lost it completely when he'd told her that he would have done the same, in the same circumstances, and that guilt had no place here. He had been furious at the medical staff for putting her in that position, but overall he was just glad to be alive. She'd shut herself away from him while she came to terms with everything, and for once, he'd let her. It had worked, slowly they were talking about things and they were getting back onto an even keel again.
"Like I told Kate" the doctor remained calm "Life sometimes has a will of it's own"
Don looked over the doctors shoulder at the skyline he'd seen when he first opened his eyes and sighed. They were moving forward now, and things though not perfect, were going in the right direction.
"So what now?" Don asked.
"I see no reason why you should not return to work, and everything you enjoyed before that" the doctor beamed at him "Restricted duties for a month or so though"
"Ridin' a desk?" Don frowned "Sorry, not my thing"
"I'm not happy to sign you off fully until you've had a staggered return to your usual activities" the doctor warned.
Don huffed.
"Just take it" Kate said "You can play the hero at the precinct for a month"
Don gave her a sideways look and raised his eyebrows.
"And it'll get you out the house" she added "Because you are driving me nuts!"
"Fine" Don said, taking the letter from the doctor to give to the department doctor that he would have to see before he could return to work in any shape or form.
"I'll see you in a month" the doctor beamed, standing and showing them out.
"I dunno why they're bein' so stubborn about it" Don remarked as they left.
Kate suddenly stopped and faced him, and he fought the urge to back up a little, concerned that she was going to launch a tirade at him. She didn't.
She suddenly threw her arms around his neck, laughing and kissed him.
"I love you" she said.
He laughed too, catching her waist "I love you too" he replied "What was that for?"
"Because I can" she said simply and kissed him again before releasing him, turning and taking his hand, pulling him towards the exit.
"Come on, lets round all the kids up and go to central park, play games and eat junk food" she said happily.
"You're on" he grinned back.
He looked up again at the skyline as they left and smiled to himself before grabbing the car keys from Kate and diving in the car, grinning smugly, before she could protest.
…...
Thanks to all readers, followers, reviewers and those who have favourited :) and just the epilogue to go now and I'm done! Wow – long road this one with a mind of it's own!