Chapter 21: Saving Kenny
Wednesday, March 18 Year 1
Kyle
It was a rough night camping in the car. Kyle allowed Damien to curl up on the back seat, though his legs hung off at an awkward angle. Kyle slept sitting up in the front passenger's seat. The headrest had been nice at first, but on multiple occasions he woke up to a stiff neck. The pain lasted through morning, and as Damien and Kyle crawled out of the vehicle, the redhead was beginning to regret the hasty drive over.
"So what's the plan Sherlock?" Damien stretched, his back cracking and popping.
"We leave my car here, out of the way, and head in to town. When we drove in I'm pretty sure I saw a grocery store."
"Great idea. If it's the only place to buy food in town he probably shops there, and we can grab grub. It's win-win."
The walk through the small sleeping town was brisk. The higher elevation made Kyle regret not dressing in more layers. He wore his green jacket zipped all the way up, though his black slacks did little for warmth. Damien didn't seem to mind the cold, never once complaining despite not having a jacket of any kind.
The grocery store had only been open for thirty minutes, according to their painted sign, when the two of them walked in. They made a beeline for the cashier and asked her questions. She claimed she'd never seen Darrell, or anyone who looked like him.
"You can try asking Andrew, he has the second shift of the day."
It was a long wait. Damien insisted they had a proper meal, which they ate in the privacy of their car. They considered doing a type of stakeout on the town, but they didn't want everyone to be aware of them, not like the place. It was hard waiting, and as hours ticked by they two grew ever restless. They headed to the only diner they could find for lunch. The service was crap, as was the food, but both men were able to charge their phones.
Damien spent his free time chatting with Bebe, who was on her own lunch break. It was mostly Bebe doing all the talking, Damien just content to sit there and listen.
Kyle knew Stan was also at work but he still sent him a text update. While he was thinking about it, he texted one to Ike too. Both had expressed the need to stay in the loop, and Ike really was meant to be backup.
It was nearly one o'clock when they finally made their way back to the grocery store. This kid, because he couldn't have been much older than Ike, greeted the two of them with a smile. Kyle immediately went through the same round of questioning he had with the other cashier.
"Yeah, I know who you're talking about. Weird fella."
"Do you know where he lives?" Kyle tried to keep his voice down, but it was difficult because of how excited he was.
"No clue." The kid shrugged.
Kyle wasn't about to give up. "Well what kind of vehicle does he drive?"
"Why don't you take a look for yourself, it just pulled in." The boy pointed out the storefront window to a white truck with a red stripe. It had a canopy on the back and a deer guard mounted on the front.
"We weren't here," hissed Damien through his teeth as he dragged Kyle away from the register and back behind a row of shelves. Both of them tried to stealthily peek out, both sets of eyes narrowed as the man entered the store. Just like always he wore his gray coat, top hat tilted slightly on top of brown hair. There was no mistaking the fact that this was Darrell Valley.
Kyle wanted to break the guy's neck, his fingers flexing at just the thought. He made to go confront him but was immediately pulled back before he could reveal himself. Damien cut off his protest, whispering harshly, "If we intercept him now we might never find Kenny."
Shit. I knew that. I know that.
Kyle took a calming breath, regaining his sense of self. He could hear the man walk around, his footsteps receding to the other end of the store where the freezers were.
"He'll notice our car following him, I say if we're going to do this we climb in the back of his truck."
It was a terrible idea, since there was no way of telling if the man used that space for groceries, but Kyle didn't have any better suggestions. He sure as hell wasn't letting the guy just walk away. And if worse came to worse... Kyle felt for his gun where it was strapped snug to his side. If he needed to, he could shoot Darrell, but that would make it harder to find Kenny.
Damien watched the man move, waiting for the perfect opportunity for them to escape out the emergency exit. Several agonizing minutes passed before he motioned Kyle to get moving. The door opened, without blaring alarms, to the back parking lot where one car sat. Sticking low to the ground, mindful of the store's large windows, the two of them approached the truck out front.
"See if it's locked, I'll keep an eye out."
Kyle needed no further prompting. With shaking hands he fumbled the latch, pushing up the window of the canopy. He was surprised it was unlocked, but didn't look a gift horse in the mouth. Kyle climbed onto the truck's bumper and hoisted his leg up and over the tailgate. He ducked down low, slipping through the canopy's window.
Kyle backed up to make room and watched as Damien began to follow, lifting himself up. It all happened quickly. Kyle watched as his companion aborted the action, hands instead slamming down the glass window. Damien disappeared and before Kyle had a chance to call out he heard movement at the front of the truck.
Darrell was done shopping.
Adrenaline spiked Kyle's veins. With a calm, clear mind he reached for his cell phone and muted the device. Next he sent a quick text off to Damien, telling him not to worry and instructing him to instead call the police. 'I'll try to keep you updated.'
'Sure, just be safe and find Kenny.'
'I will.'
I will.
The canopy didn't offer much space, and Kyle was forced to stay low so he wouldn't be spotted out of the rear-view mirror. Where ever they were headed it had to be along dirt roads, because each bump sent Kyle smacking into the cold metal of the rear fenders. It smelled like he was stuck in a gas can, but all he could see was a spare tire and a small tool box. The tool box shifted with each turn, but the tire kept it from slamming into Kyle.
It was a long ride, one that Kyle had wished he'd been better prepared for. When he tried to message Damien again he noticed his signal was lost.
There goes that bright idea.
When the grinding of tires on gravel became muffled, Kyle figured they'd reached high enough elevations for there to be snow. Blessedly, the trip didn't last much longer after the transition. The truck stopped and the engine was killed. Kyle listened with bated breath as the door of the truck opened and slammed shut.
Kyle waited several seconds before daring to peek out of the small side window of the canopy. He watched as Darrell made his way over to a log cabin, disappearing inside. Another thirty seconds passed before Kyle was climbing out of the truck bed. His feet hit the snow, the frosty temperatures biting through his clothes. He dashed into a thicket of trees close by, only then daring to consider his surroundings.
The cabin was one story and barely the size of Kyle's own apartment, at least as far as he could tell. It was completely surrounded by trees, the only clearing straight above it. He could only see the one door, but there were a couple of windows.
It was freezing. Despite his best efforts, Kyle couldn't keep himself from shivering as he waited. He wasn't sure what else he could do in this situation, as Darrell had all the advantages. He was familiar with the terrain, had the only set of keys, and he knew where Kenny was.
The sky had drown darker during the trip up the mountain, and even now the shadows pooled denser as the sun disappeared completely. Oddly enough, none of the windows lit up, so Kyle couldn't even see inside. He passed the time by thinking through different scenarios of confrontation. He came up with half a dozen, but one setup didn't plan for was Darrell leaving his cabin and getting back in the tuck.
Kyle watched with rapt attention, eyes never leaving the truck until its tail lights disappeared out of sight. He knew this would be his only chance.
Kyle dashed to the door, his stiff legs and cold feet slipping slightly in the snow. He tried the handle first. Locked. Without any hesitation he found the biggest rock he could and hit it against one of the side windows that didn't face the road. The glass cracked, he hit it again, then splintered before completely shattering. Kyle used the rock to knock away the remaining glass on the edged before unlocking the window and hoisting it up.
Guess I learned something from the last adventure.
Kyle allowed for his eyes to adjust to the darkness before running through the house looking for Kenny, calling out to him. The place was as small as it had appeared from the outside, with only one bedroom and bathroom.
No Kenny.
No one answered Kyle's calls. He checked the closet in the bedroom, under the bed, in the bathtub and behind the modest sized TV. He searched for a basement and looked for an attic, but as far as he could tell it lacked either.
No Kenny.
At a loss for what to do he began opening anything and everything, his search leading him to throw back the door marked 'pantry.'
"Hello." Kyle looked at the exposed set of stairs, his heart pounding furiously. This was it, he knew it was. He bolted down the stairs two at a time. There was a monitor lighting the handle of the door, with numbers posted on its screen. Kyle's cell phone may have been fairly useless, but it could still take pictures. He took a picture of the numbers and entered them into the keypad below. Surprisingly, it worked.
The door clicked open and he entered the room, noting that the place looked like an entirely different house. As soon as he stepped inside he noticed the air was thick with the pungent odor of sweat and sex.
"Kenny?"
Kenny
Weeks of slow torture, of sense deprivation and bondage had Kenny in a constant state of numbness. Today Dale had left all the gear on, the blindfold, the ear plugs the gag and of course Kenny's bindings which kept him pinned to the bed. Dale's plan of making Kenny fall in love with his touch, with him, was admittedly having some results. When everyday was filled with nothing but Dale, it was hard not to appreciate those moments of respite, to be able to see and hear properly. To be able to relax his arms. Even the hand-jobs were becoming more tolerable. Kenny still hated it, but hours of vibrations against his prostate had him nearly screaming for release, at least he would be if he wasn't always gagged. His jaw had ached at first, but as weeks passed—he used meals as a way of telling time—even his jaw had gotten used to it. Kenny was numb, inside and out. He laid there, as if he had any choice, his insides no longer writhing. Today had been especially bad when Dale stuck the vibrator in, but that had been hours ago and now Kenny could only feel the shaking, the only indicator he was still alive and not in some state of limbo.
The vibrator was slowly pulled out. Kenny's sphincter clenched down as soon as the intruder was removed. He vaguely wondered if today he'd finally be raped or if Dale thought his spirit needed to be broken further.
Kenny could hear a voice above him, but the earplugs prevented nearly all of it from getting through. All he could tell was Dale was talking, which was strange because he usually only gloated when Kenny could hear. Otherwise what was the point?
Then a hand not as badly calloused as Dale's landed on Kenny's ankle. The fingers were soft, skinny, as they moved around the ankle cuff. When the pressure of the cuff went away Kenny realized this person wasn't Dale.
Kenny tried to say something but couldn't because of the red ball keeping his lips and tongue immobile. Help please!
The new hand was on his knee, giving it a squeeze, before it disappeared. Kenny tried to cry out but calmed when he felt more of his bindings be tugged at. They were freeing him! Next came the hand bindings. It was hard to wait.
What if Dale is still around? What if this is his friend? Maybe they'd be willing to help me...
Kenny hadn't been completely free of the bindings for days, always tied-up to some degree even when eating or using the bathroom, which was the only time he wasn't strapped to the bed. As soon as the rope around his wrists went slack Kenny could feel his skin pin prick as blood rushed back into his hands. The gag was removed next, followed by the ear plugs and finally the mask.
The overhead light was bright, and Kenny immediately squeezed his eyes closed. Only when he opened his eyes and saw Kyle standing beside the bed did he realize this was all a dream. The worst kind of dream because it gave him hope.
Dream Kyle's face was hard set, like he was keeping his emotions at bay. He shrugged off his green jacket and offered it out to Kenny. The fabric was cold to the touch, a little damp, but oh so very real. Kenny tried to speak but couldn't. Nothing came out of his mouth but a dull whine.
"It's alright," Kyle's voice was low, like he was also struggling to make his vocal cords work. He helped Kenny get his arms into the sleeves before zipping the jacket closed. With Kyle's help, Kenny stood. The end of the jacket came to rest at the base of his ass, offering comfort more than warmth.
"We have to get out of here quickly, I'm not sure how long he'll be gone."
Kyle moved toward the door and Kenny tried to follow. Only his legs wobbled like a newly born fawn and Kyle had to catch him before he fell to the ground. It had been a long time since Kenny walked, as Dale preferred carrying him around the small space.
Together, the two of them made their way to the outside door as quickly as Kenny's legs allowed. When they reached it, Kyle used his free hand to pull out his cell phone and began pressing numbers.
Kenny waited for the inevitable beep of failure.
'BEEP'
"Shit!" Kyle looked at his phone again. "Dammit, switched the seven and nine."
Kenny knew they would be waiting ten minutes, the redhead swearing again when he saw the timer.
"Kenny?"
Kenny forced himself to look up into Kyle's deep brown eyes. The shadows of the room made them appear nearly black. In his eyes Kenny could see all the worry, the fear, the relief. All of it was so overwhelming, and not something he could process all at once. What he could do, however, was reach for Kyle's hand and intertwine their fingers. He squeezed them, and Kyle squeezed back.
The ten minute grace period passed painfully slow. When Kyle went to type the password for the second time, he double checked each and every number. Kenny looked over his shoulder to do the same. When the door opened Kenny had to hold back a sob.
Kyle guided him up a flight of stairs, each wooden board creaking caused Kenny to cringe. They closed the pantry door behind them.
"Do you hear that?"
Kenny tried to listen, his own heartbeat drowning out all other sounds. Kyle pulled at their combined hands, leading him into a bedroom and straight into the closet. Seconds later Kenny did hear something, a door banged shut and someone with heavy boots walked across the wood flooring.
Sweat gathered on Kenny's skin. His whole body began to shake, just like the vibrator had.
He's going to find us. He's going to find us and kill Kyle. Or worse. Oh God is there a worse? He's going to find us and violate us and- not Kyle. Why Kyle. It should just be me. I should be the only one who has to suffer.
Strong arms pulled Kenny into Kyle's chest. The redhead's breath ghosting his ear, "Deep breaths." Kenny could feel Kyle rubbing his back, the motions meant to be comforting but all it did was make him sadder.
"We've come this far," Kyle whispered. "You have to trust me though."
Kenny took in that much needed breath of air and nodded to indicate he did. He did trust Kyle.
They stayed in the closet listening until Kyle heard something Kenny missed. Next thing he knew they were racing to the door. It was open, the cold air chilling Kenny's skin, before a bellow roared through the house.
He knows I'm gone.
Kyle bolted out the front door pulling Kenny along. They ran into the forest, ignoring the truck which most likely didn't have keys. Kenny's feet were freezing, the snow biting at his exposed toes, but he didn't dare slow down. He'd take frostbite over capture any day. Plowing through undergrowth and running around trees, the two of them were headed down the mountainside following the direction of the road. The path ahead of them was dark, but as Kenny glanced back he could see a beam of light cutting across the forest.
He's coming!
As much as Kenny feared Dale, nothing could keep his body moving at the pace it was and eventually his legs gave out. Kyle did all he could to support him, which at most kept him from face planting the snow.
"I can't-" Kenny gasped, forcing his voice out. He needed Kyle to know. He needed Kyle to keep running.
"We're leaving together."
"Just go." Kenny futilely pushed at Kyle, his efforts only causing the man to strengthen his grip around Kenny's waist.
They could hear Dale approaching as branches were snapped back and snow compacted down. Their footprints were obvious in the snow, and the man was coming straight for them. Kenny could see it in Kyle's posture, the moment he realized they weren't escaping this.
Instead of fleeing alone like Kenny wished he would, Kyle instead pulled out his handgun. Kenny was pulled taunt against the redhead's side, the body heat doing little to warm him. Still, they were together and that was something.
"I'm sorry I didn't have a better plan." Kyle kissed the top of Kenny's head before calling out. "Come any closer and I'll shoot!"
With his face pressed into Kyle's side, Kenny couldn't see anything, but he heard rustling.
A gun went off and Kenny cried out. Another shot, this one louder, rang in his ears. Kenny could feel Kyle's body crumple. He couldn't hold him up, but Kenny was able to lower the man to the ground instead of letting him drop.
"Kyle!" Kenny's voice was hoarse, but he pushed through. "Kyle, can you hear me?"
There was blood splattered in the snow.
Kyle had been shot. Kenny tried to find the wound. He first looked at the man's stomach, then his chest. He knew he needed to apply pressure. Blood was pooling around Kyle's shoulder, which is where Kenny's hands flew to.
"?"
Kenny dared to look at Kyle's face. He realized the man was saying something. He could see his lips moving but he didn't hear anything.
Why can't I hear him? Please don't let him die. Please. Not Kyle too.
"Breathe."
Kenny tried to slow his breathing, unaware that he'd been hyperventilating. He would rather get shot than the people he loves. It would be so much better if it was him on the ground.
"Kenny-"
"Don't talk."
"No Kenny, I'm fine. Really." Kyle's hand reached for Kenny, latching on to his thigh and giving it a squeeze.
"But you're bleeding."
Kyle looked at his own shoulder, eyes going wide before they rolled back into his head.
"Kyle? Kyle!" Kenny tried to calm himself down. He knew Kyle had fainted, but it was hard to just sit there when he knew blood was still coming out. He could feel the warm liquid squish between his fingers. And Dale?
Kenny whipped his head around, cerulean eyes peering into the darkness. He couldn't see the beam of the flashlight.
Where is he?
Kenny sat there, hands pressed into Kyle's shoulder, his eyes and ears working double time. He didn't hear Dale, but he did hear the distant wail of sirens. The police were coming.
It was all a blur. The cops had found them thanks to Kenny's weak but persistent hollers. Somehow, by some miracle, they had thought to bring an ambulance. Three of them, actually. Kyle was placed on a stretcher and rushed away. The same treatment was given to Dale, who was found only yards away. Apparently one of the gun shots came from Kyle, who managed to hit his target. No one said it, but there was a good chance Dale was dead.
Even after getting shot Kyle had protected them.
Kenny was taken to his own ambulance, blankets placed around his shoulders, hot chocolate careful placed in his shaking hands. He tried to keep the brown liquid from sloshing out of the cup. At this point he wasn't sure if it was the cold or fear that kept his body moving.
He was alone. He was surrounded by people, cops and EMTs, but Kyle was gone and he was alone. Kenny sat at the entrance of the ambulance on one of the narrow built-in benches. Red and blue lights flashed all around him lighting up the night sky. Multiple police officers had asked Kenny questions. After investigating the cabin they had a few more. One of the EMTs shooed them away, noting that questions could be asked later. Kenny was barely aware of their existence though. He realized that despite being free he was still numb.
"Hey."
Kenny looked up from his cup, the liquid long since grown cold. He couldn't believe who he was seeing, but there was Damien. His friend looked rough, but he wore a crooked smile, the relief evident in his eyes. He approached the back of the ambulance.
"I'm glad he found you."
Kenny began to feel something. Anguish. "He's been shot. Dale was chasing us and I- I couldn't run anymore. Damien-"
Damien placed a hand on Kenny's shoulder, his head shaking, "I overheard he'd been shot in the arm, which sucks, but he's not going to die from that." Damien let go and stepped back. "Look, I'm sure Kyle would have taken several bullets to get you back."
Kenny tried to hold back a sob. He hated looked weak in front of Damien.
"I'm here for you if you need me."
Kenny took a deep breath before answering, "I'm fine." It was obviously a lie, but Damien was kind enough not to call him out on it.
Kenny fell asleep in the back of the ambulance, the EMTs insisting he ride in one to the nearest hospital, which was miles away at the closest major city. When he woke up he found he'd been transported to his own room and given hospital garb in place of Kyle's jacket. He wasn't alone in the room though, a woman sat by the edge of the bed and explained that she was a registered sexual assault nurse examiner. She was kind, sympathetic even, as she explained how the police had suggested Kenny go through an examination.
Kenny tried to speak but failed. The woman, Alice, offered him a paper cup filled with water. He guzzled it down, cleared his throat and tried again. "You mean a rape kit?"
She gave a slight nod.
"I wasn't raped."
She bowed her head, lips forming an apologetic smile. "This is fully your choice, but it was clear in the report that your body has experienced trauma. I think it would help your recovery if you knew the extent of the damage."
Kenny didn't want to be poked or prodded. He didn't want people touching him. He didn't want to know the extent of the damage, because that would make it all the more real. He had to be projecting his thoughts, because the woman made a hum of understanding.
"I know it's hard, I've been through this myself."
Kenny looked away from her, choosing instead to eye the health posters on the nearby wall. They were pretty fucking cheesy.
"But you know, by using a rape kit the police can use that information against your assailant. Every piece of information helps."
"He's dead." Kenny argued.
"The police are still going to investigate."
He sighed, defeated, "Fine. Let's just get this over with."
Alice stood and walked over to the door. Before she left she asked, "Would you like anyone with you? For the examination."
Kyle's probably in his own hospital bed. Or maybe in surgery? Either way I'm sure he can't. "Is Damien out there?"
"Damien?"
"Damien Thorn." Kenny nodded. "Tall guy, black hair. He looks like a grump but he's harmless."
She smiled. "I'll check."
What Dale had done to Kenny was humiliating, but it was mortifying having the doctors comb over every inch of him, asking him to relive it. Multiple times Kenny wanted to quit, once smacking a nurse when she was too rough. They were all women, a blessing. Kenny was sure Alice had requested as much after reading his report.
The entire examine lasted two hours. Swabs were taken, pubic hairs plucked out and then there was what Kenny called the anal probe. He might have laughed at how the doctor was like the stereotype of a visiting alien if he hadn't been on the receiving end of it. They took photos, jotted notes and thoroughly went over everything.
Damien sat beside Kenny's bed, his left hand crushed by the blonde the entire time. He'd tried to offer more support, but Kenny shook off his other hand. Looking back on the moment, Kenny would be embarrassed for dragging Damien through it, but in the moment he was so thankful to have a friend there.
When the examine concluded Kenny went through a general checkup by a normal doctor. It didn't take nearly as long, but x-rays had to be taken. Kenny had fractured ribs, some in the process of healing still. His lower torso was dotted in bruises of varying severity. He was dehydrated, a little malnourished, but overall he was fine. The injuries he still carried weren't anything that time wouldn't heal. The doctors wanted to keep him in the hospital, at least for a day, in case more tests had to be done.
Finally Kenny was taken to a room where he could rest for the remainder of the evening. A nurse offered him a meal, which he shot down. There was no way he felt like eating. Instead, he asked for Damien, and despite visiting hours having ended hours ago, the nurse allowed him to be brought in. She left them alone, instructing Kenny to hit the call button on the side of his bed if he needed anything.
"Hey. How are you feeling?" Damien stepped closer. The man was slouched more than usual, most likely tired. Kenny felt guilty and promised himself not to keep Damien there long.
"Better?" Kenny was still stuck in a bed, but just being out of that house did wonders for his psyche. "How's Kyle?"
"I heard he had to go through surgery, nothing major. A nurse said he was out like a light after that. He hasn't been sleeping well, so I'm sure he's just exhausted."
Kenny nodded. He'd figured that would happen. "Who knows?"
"About you being kidnapped? Potentially the whole world, though probably not that many. You can imagine the news picked it up pretty quick. So far we're the only ones who know you're safe though."
Kenny took a deep breath, held it, and released it. He had no reason to feel panicked. As Damien said, he was safe now. "Could you do me a favor and tell Karen I'm okay?"
His voice was still hoarse despite all the water he'd drank since arriving at the hospital. The doctor said it was just because his vocal cords had gone unused for so long. The more he talked the faster they would return to normal.
"Why not call her yourself?"
"Not ready."
"...fine. I'll contact Kevin too."
"Kevin?" That surprised him.
"I guess Kyle talked to him. It's thanks to his assistance that we were able to find you. His, Stan's and Ike's. Kyle already gave me their numbers, in case something happened." Damien fished for his cell phone. "I'll let all of them know."
"Please."
Damien stepped away and began typing out a message on his phone. Kenny watched from the bed. He watched Damien's thumbs rapidly move across the screen, getting lost in the movement because it was a lot easier than thinking about his current situation.
Barely a minute passed after Damien sent the message before his phone jingled to life with heavy metal. He answered, immediately shaking his head and rolling his eyes.
It didn't take a genius to know someone had called him back, most likely asking for more details. Kenny was sure it wouldn't be Karen, she would be too polite and understanding. He doubted Kevin was brave enough, most likely still sore about their last encounter, and Stan was probably already up-to-date or asleep and thus dead to the world. It had to be Ike.
Kenny held his hand out, fingers begging for the phone. Damien wordlessly handed it over.
As soon as Kenny had the phone pressed to his ear he realized he didn't know what to say. Luckily he didn't have to say anything, because Ike was still going off on Damien, apparently mid rant.
"I knew I should have been there. As if some stupid college course was more important? I can pass this class in my sleep, but did Kyle listen? No. And why the hell did neither of you call when shit started to go down? You should have told someone as soon as you located the creep. No. Instead I get a lame-ass text saying Kyle got shot rescuing Kenny and now they're both being treated at the Deaconess Hospital three towns over." Ike barely stopped to breathe. In the background there was a jingle of keys and an engine starting. The sound quality changed a second later, as if Ike switched devices and was further from the speaker now. "Well? What do you have to say for yourself?"
"... 'm sorry…"
Ike's end of the phone call went silent. Kenny was worried the call had been dropped, but seconds later the speakers crackled to life.
"Kenny?"
"Hn."
"I-" Ike sounded like he didn't know what to say either. "I didn't realize the phone had been passed to you."
"Sorry."
"Stop apologizing. I've been wanting to hear your voice," Ike's own voice was steady, relaxing. Kenny could picture the nonchalant Ike from Thanksgiving, the boy never changed. "I heard what happened to Kyle. I'm on my way to the hospital to see you both. It'll be awhile, but I'll be there."
Kenny nodded as his throat clogged with emotion.
"Still there?"
"Talk a little more?" Kenny had spent so much time alone with Dale that any outside voice was welcoming. But it was different than with the nurses or Damien. The younger Broflovski's words submerged Kenny in sereneness, his voice lulling the blonde to and fro like a buoy bobbing on the sea. It was strange, but a strangeness he was willing to embrace.
A stretch of silence passed and Kenny worried he'd overstepped their acquaintanceship, but before he could take back the request Ike began talking about his life at university.
Most of Ike's classes were relatively easy, only the ones connected to his major ever proved a challenge. "I'm actually ahead of the rest of my class and should be graduating next spring." It wasn't a prideful boast, just Ike stating the facts. He talked about his friends group, which included Annabelle. "We hang out with her friends sometimes too, but I'm only really friends with her, Firkle and Filmore. We're all pretty different, but we get along alright." Ike explained that Firkle only has to go to university twice a week, the rest of his classes were online. He lived in the city because that's where the art scene was, apparently he wanted to be an illustrator. Ike said Filmore was a politician in the making. He sounded a bit disgusted by that but admitted that he just liked giving his pal a hard time.
Kenny listened, humming his input when it was needed. When Ike ran out of things to say Kenny would feed him another question. "I've never been on a university campus before. What's it like?"
"Boring as hell. It's basically high school on steroids, with more building and more people. The library is pretty chill during its off hours, and there's a smoothie place just off campus that's good but not too well-known. I'll have to take you there some time." Ike paused before quickly adding, "The center of the university is like a mall with the campus store and food court inside. I think it's pretty excessive, but it's on the cover of most brochures for the place, so people must like it."
"Is the library your favorite place?" Kenny stared up at the ceiling trying to picture the university.
"Nah, I prefer the rear plaza. It's outdoors but close enough to wifi, it's far enough from most of the foot traffic and it's surrounded by cherry trees. This time of year it's especially pretty when all the flowers bloom."
"Sounds lovely."
"Hang on, need to double check directions."
Kenny had been wondering this for awhile now, but, "You're driving?"
"Speaker phone."
"Oh. That makes sense. Is it safe though?" A sense of worry began to gnaw at Kenny. "Aren't I distracting?"
"Yes." Ike laughed, the sound jarring Kenny from his melancholy. "But that has nothing to do with driving. Do you need to get off the phone though?"
"I probably should. Damien left the room awhile ago, and this is his phone."
"I don't think he minds. Though honestly I'm just saying that so you'll stay on the line."
There was Ike saying how he felt without hesitation. Kenny wished it was that easy all the time. He thought about how Damien had left the room smiling and waving. Bebe, about the only person Kenny knew called the doctor, was most likely asleep. He was sure Damien wouldn't mind if he borrowed it longer, and if Kenny was also being honest, he selfishly wanted to keep talking too.
"Tell me more."
"Like what?"
"Tell me what it was like growing up in the Broflovski family."
"I'm adopted, right? I obviously don't remember much as a toddler, but I do remember idolizing Kyle and being utterly rejected."
"What? No way." Kenny felt himself crack a smile. Smiles had been a rare occurrence for him. He was pretty sure he'd been too shocked to smile when Kyle rescued him. And after the redhead was shot there was nothing to smile about. Yet here he was, smiling like a fool.
"Don't let his sweet face fool you. The guy can be a real jerk. Whenever I wanted to follow after him he'd lock me in my room, push me in mud puddles or send me on nonsensical errands only for me to return and he'd be gone." Ike shared a couple of specific stories, each painting Kyle in a childish nature. It was impressive that Ike had kept his adoration for his brother.
"What a jerk," agreed Kenny, holding back his laughter.
"I know! But I guess I grew on him because he started treating me more like a person and less like a football. He and Stan started including me in their camp outs in the backyard, and he wasn't too ashamed to be seen with me in public. Of course that all changed when he became an angst-y teenager. I didn't think any of use were going to survive that phase."
"It couldn't have been that bad."
"Oh but it was! He was constantly moody, grouching on me whenever I disturbed his studies. I think in a way he resented me. My own fault really."
Kenny waited, wanting to hear more but not wanting to press the issue either. Ike did not disappoint.
"I'm pretty smart, and so is Kyle, but he worked really hard for his grades. I did too, only I never let him see that." Ike sounded a tad remorseful. "When we were younger he used to praise me all the time—did I mention this entire conversation is confidential?—telling me how much of a genius I was. I didn't want the praise to go away, so when I finally needed to study I did it in secret. Silly, I know, but back then it mattered."
Kenny could hear the love in Ike's voice.
"And it backfired. He was always comparing us, assuming everyone else did too. It got so ridiculous that he was comparing our freckles. I think his fat friend had something to do with that one though."
Wait, what? "You have freckles?"
"Yeah? Mostly just on my face, though some on my shoulders. Kyle has way more of them."
"How have I never noticed that?"
"Not looking close enough, clearly," Ike chuckled, his voice deep though cracking a bit at the end. "They tend to be lighter in the winter when they see less sun, and it's not like I've been topless around you, so I guess I'll forgive you."
Kenny snorted, which caused him to giggle. Kenny McCormick did not snort.
"Anyways, I always knew I was adopted but it never felt that way. Mom has always been crazy over protective. I swear she wanted to send me to school in bubble wrap after I scraped my knee on the playground. And dad…he's pitiful but we still love him. They're an easy family to get along with, most of the time."
"I like your family."
"They like you too."
"I had that kind of family once, one that loved each other unconditionally, one that was there for you no matter what. We were a bit broken and dysfunctional, but at the end of the day we still had each other." Kenny had to blink away tears. He wasn't sad, not really, he'd come to accept their deaths a long time ago. And he had Karen, his precious baby sister.
"You still have that," Ike assured him. "Families aren't just something you're born into, they're made. We're your family too."
Those words meant the world to Kenny, but he couldn't find his voice to express as much. His tears were back in full force and he tried to keep himself from sniffing. It was bad enough he'd roped Ike in to being his emotional crutch, the boy didn't need to know he was crying.
It was quiet, but if Kenny strained his ears he could make out the purr of the engine. It was the only sign that Ike hadn't hung up. Kenny rubbed out the tears with the heel of his palm, trying to think of something more to say. Instead a yawn came out.
"You should get some rest."
"Don't want to."
"I'm sure you need it," Ike countered. "Go to sleep and I'll be there when you wake up. And if you still want me to talk your ear off I will."
"Okay. I'll be waiting." Kenny said, punctuating his sentence with another yawn.
He ended the call and looked at the time on the screen. Four minutes to midnight. "Shit." He looked around the dark room. He debated pressing the call button to ask a nurse to return the phone to Damien, but also considered just getting up and finding the man himself.
In the end, Kenny drifted to sleep with the phone by his pillow. It was a restless sleep, one that had him tossing and turning all night. Several times he woke up shouting. Sometimes he woke up with nurses next to him, other times he was alone in the dark.
Thursday, March 19 Year 1
It was barely 4 a.m. when Kenny decided he'd give up on sleep for now. He slipped off the bed, thankful he'd been given shorts to cover his ass. The shirt had a slit down the back, but it was something he could live with for now. He shoved his feet into a pair of slippers, which were left by a nurse, and wandered out into the hall.
The lights were dimmed in the corridor and all Kenny could hear was a hum of machinery. His trip to the room had been a blur, and now that he was outside of it he didn't recognize his surroundings. He randomly picked left and started walking until he found an interactive map on the wall. After scrolling through options, following the 'you are here' marker, he was able to deduce he went the wrong way. Backtracking, Kenny eventually came to the nurses' station.
Just beyond the station were seats for visitors, half of them filled, though several people appeared to be sleeping. Kids huddled in a pile on the floor with their toys, apparently waiting to see someone. Kenny spotted Damien asleep in his seat. He plodded over to him and left the phone on his lap where Kenny was sure he'd see it.
After that Kenny approached the nurses' station. The nurse behind the desk, a man who appeared to be in his late thirties, looked up from his book in surprise.
"You're-" He looked down at her computer before continuing. "Kenny?"
Kenny nodded.
"Do you need help?" He stood, his body braced for action. "Are you in pain? Need something to eat? Water?"
Kenny realized he was wobbling, though not because of the strain of walking. He was nervous, over a nurse of all things. He berated himself for being so ridiculous and tried to talk normally, like he had with Ike.
"No, none of that, I was actually hoping to see my friend Kyle Broflovski. He should have been checked in the same time I was."
"It's the middle of the night," the man deadpanned. "He's probably sleeping."
"I know." Kenny could feel his face heating under the scrutiny, but he forced himself to keep eye contact. "I haven't had a chance to see him, and I can't sleep."
The man's eyes grew wide with pity. He asked,"Are you a relative?"
"No, not exactly."
"I'm sorry sir, but if you're not a relative-"
"He took a bullet for me," Kenny interrupted. His fingers dug into the scratchy fabric of his shorts as he willed his hands to stop trembling. "I should be allowed to see him."
Kenny could hear someone else approaching the station, their footsteps loud on the tiles. He tensed, worried that it was a nurse preparing to escort him back to his room. The person stopped beside Kenny, telling the nurse at the station, "It's alright, he's with me."
Ike!
Kenny turned to see the boy dressed in his usual dark colors, this time a pair of black jeans and a dark grey jacket. Kenny got the impression Damien's text had woken Ike up. His hair stuck out at odd angles like a sea urchin and—the smoking gun to his theory—Ike's shirt was inside out and backwards. The white tag hung out below the boy's chin going unnoticed by Ike whose eyes were staring back at Kenny.
A second passed before Kenny found his face pressed into Ike's chest, the tag tickling his face. The hug was abrupt, but not unwelcome. Kenny found himself returning the embrace. It was a familiar place. Ike's shirt smelled like stale chips. Kenny wrinkled his nose but didn't move away.
"Did you pull this from the dirty laundry?"
Kenny could feel the laugh ripple through Ike's body before the boy indignantly objected.
"Don't sniff me! And yes, I may have put on less than ideal clothing to come and see you guys." Ike stepped back, just enough to make eye contact with Kenny. His eyes were analyzing, but his lips formed a smirk. "Cut me some slack?"
Kenny nodded fiercely, his hair jumping about his head.
"You want to see Kyle right? This way," Ike indicated a direction with his head and started walking slowly that way.
Kenny looked back at the nurse, whose nose was once again pressed in the pages of whatever book he was reading, before following after Ike. "Were you just with him?"
Ike's eyes gained a far off look to them before he responded, "Yeah."
"How is he?"
"His arm's okay but..."
A lead weight dropped in Kenny's stomach.
"He's super worried about you. I mean, we all are."
Kenny let out his breath. He tried to keep his eyes straight ahead as they walked. It helped with his balance and that way he could avoid the side glances he knew Ike was shooting him.
"I'm alright."
"Liar."
Kenny just nodded in agreement.
They eventually came to a stop outside a door in a separate wing from where Kenny was staying. Kenny waited for Ike to open the door, and when he didn't, he looked up at the boy. Ike was staring at him, his expression unreadable. Finally he said, "Mom and dad will be here soon enough so I'm going to go wait for them. Go ahead and go in."
Kyle
"Did you forget something?" Kyle asked as the door to his room swung open. Ike had stopped by less than twenty minute ago and he was having a hard time getting back to sleep.
His heart nearly stopped when he saw instead of his brother it was Kenny. He hadn't expected their reunion so soon. He'd have jumped up to see the blonde but the IV in his arm forced him to stay in bed.
"You idiot!" Kenny made his way to the bed. Even in the low lighting Kyle could see the water in the man's eyes. "I told you to leave me, but you had to go acting cool."
There was the sob Kyle had been expecting. He leaned forward, reaching out to Kenny. His hand brushed strands of hair from Kenny's face before moving to the smaller man's wrist to try and pull him closer. It worked, but the metal guard on the bed kept them apart.
"There's no way that was going to happen. I love you," Kyle said as he attempted to pull Kenny into a one armed hug. He would have liked to use both, to hug Kenny tightly and never let go, but his other arm was in a sling strapped to his chest.
"I missed you. The whole time... I-I-" Kenny tried talking through his tears.
"Shhh," Kyle began rubbing circles on Kenny's back. He knew the blonde liked it from past experiences. "You don't have to tell me about it right now."
"No," Kenny pushed in closer until his head rested between Kyle's neck and shoulder. "The whole time I regretted never telling you how I felt."
"Don't worry, I knew."
"You did? What gave me away?"
"Actually, Cartman informed me." Kyle continued the rubbing motion. He could feel Kenny's breathing calm. "Of course it means nothing if you don't tell me yourself."
Kenny pulled back and grasped Kyle's good hand between his own. "Kyle Broflovski, I'm not the best person in the world, I'm pretty much a screw up, I'm poor and a little broken, but you have showered me with kindness and given me hope. I love you."
Kyle was thankful for the darkness, or else his bright red face would be on display. He tried to play off his embarrassment with a joke, "Gosh, where's the ring?"
"What?"
"You're too sweet," Kyle murmured as he reached up and pulled Kenny down for a kiss. The blonde startled, his body stiffening, so Kyle aborted the kiss and instead pressed their foreheads together. Kenny might not be ready for that, but it didn't mean he couldn't physically express his feelings. "A simple 'I love you' would've sufficed."
They locked eyes, staring into one another. It was as if they were the only two people in the world, until they weren't. The door to Kyle's room flew open. Kenny jerked away, fleeing to the other side of the room where the shadows were at their darkest.
"Bubbe!" Sheila Boflovski blew into the room like a hurricane, Gerald a step behind her. She scooped up as much of Kyle as she could before squeezing the life out of him. "When I heard you were in the hospital I nearly fainted!"
"I told you it was no big deal." Pipped Ike from the doorway.
"Getting shot is a big deal." She snapped as she continued to smother Kyle, though careful of his arm. "How did this happen to you? Oh I knew the city wasn't a safe place to live. That's it. You'll move back home as soon as you're discharged."
"Dear, I think you're being a little unreasonable," said Gerlad, an apologetic smile on his face.
"Actually, I do want to move."
"What?" Everyone in the room asked all at once. It almost made Kyle laugh.
"But not back home." He pulled away from his mother's bosom, trying to pry her fingers off his shoulders but it was difficult with just one hand. "I'll have to think of where, but it'll still be in the city."
"But Bubbe..."
"I'm fine mom, really."
"Tell us son, how did this happen?"
Kyle's eyes grew wide, surprised his parents hadn't heard yet. "I went to get Kenny."
Both Broflovski parents followed Kyle's line of sight to where Kenny was standing awkwardly in the corner.
"Oh my! Kenny-" Sheila moved over and enveloped Kenny in a hug next, despite his look of unease. "Oh you poor baby, we've all been worried sick about you."
"I'm sorry your son got shot because of me." Kenny's words were soft.
"What are you saying?" She pulled back, her mouth wide in a gasp. "Our Kyle would have gone to the ends of the Earth for you."
She tried smoothing back Kenny's messy hair as her eyes traveled his face as if trying to read about all the things that had happened to him while he'd been missing. Kyle was sure Kenny was emotionally drained, too tired to be fawned over.
"Mom..."
"Sorry, a mother's instinct." She moved back over to Kyle.
"Excuse me." A nurse appeared in the doorway, her face set in a fake looking smile. "Visiting hours are not for another five hours."
Sheila protested the "rough treatment" promising to see Kyle as soon as she could. The nurse led them away, both of them leaving just as noisily as they came. Kenny was still there though, lingering by the bed.
"How are you?"
"Tired," said Kenny. "Being on my own two feet is a lot harder than I remember."
"How long…?" Kyle couldn't finish the question. It wasn't one he'd meant to ask, as he wanted to give Kenny all the time he needed before talking about it. If he ever did want to talk about it.
Kenny shrugged, "No way to tell time."
Kyle nodded. Right, that makes sense.
"I should get back to my room. I haven't officially been discharged yet, and it is still the middle of the night."
Kyle nodded again.
"Try and get some sleep." Kenny left Kyle with a smile, though it noticeably didn't reach his eyes.
Kyle felt like for the first time in forever he would get a good night's sleep just knowing Kenny was safe. It didn't matter that he knew his arm would ache when the painkillers were out of his system, or the fact that he had an itch he couldn't reach. Kenny was safe.
Kenny
Kenny closed the door quietly behind himself. When he turned, he was surprised to see Ike leaning against the opposite wall. It seemed the boy had been waiting for him because as soon as he emerged Ike stood up straight.
"Sorry about mom," Ike said immediately. "I tried to delay them as much as possible."
"I appreciate your efforts." Kenny got the impression no one could stop Sheila Broflovski on a mission. Ike matched Kenny's slow pace, making the blonde wonder, "You escorting me back to my room?"
Ike startled from his own thoughts. "Actually, yes."
"Did Kyle ask you to?"
"No. I just wanted to."
Kenny perked up at the young man's frustrated expression. It, all of this, was refreshing after the weeks of suffering he had gone through. "Thanks for looking after me, but it's unnecessary."
Ike must have taken that as teasing because he bristled up, eyes scowling. "Look, hospitals can be dangerous places. It's when you least expect danger that you're the most vulnerable."
"I don't want to be treated differently," Kenny's plea was strained, his voice cracking at the end. "Not by you or anyone else."
"I would do this regardless. A knight's duty and all that."
Kenny's face cracked with a smile. Leave it to Ike to remember that bit of playful banter. "Fine, but I'd rather not be the princess next time. Being the princess sucks."
It was a good thing Ike was there, because twice Kenny tried to lead them the wrong way. The blonde didn't question how Ike knew the path to his door, and instead thanked him when they got there.
"I feel like I just told you goodnight."
"You kind of did. Though technically last time you didn't say goodnight."
Kenny smiled at the exact response. It was so very Ike. "Well let me say it this time, goodnight Ike. See ya later?"
"Night Kenny."
Kenny found the bed in the dark without stubbing his toes on anything. He was tired, and now that he had seen Kyle, he was fairly relaxed. He drifted to sleep with no problem, but his dreams were cruel to him.
Just like before he woke up hollering. Unknown hands were on his limbs, trying to keep him from thrashing about. Kenny squirmed more, trying to break free. He didn't want to be touched, didn't want them grabbing him. There were voices, people talking at him, but he didn't care what they had to say.
Get off me!
"What's happening?"
Ike? Ike- "Ike!"
"What are you doing in here? You shouldn't be here-"
"Wait, look! He's calming down. You, come here."
The hands went away and Kenny was able to pull air into his lungs again. His eyes darted around, blinded by the light above. He was unaware of when it had been turned on, but it hurt his eyes and he squeezed them close.
"Kenny?"
Kenny gradually opened his eyes back up. Standing above him was Ike, whose eyes were blown wide. Kenny had never seen him scared before, but imagined it looked similar to this. He didn't want Ike to be scared though, and so reached out for the boy's hand. Finding it, he gave the pale fingers a squeeze.
The pained expression on Ike's face remained as he asked, "Do you need me to get Kyle? I'll find some way, maybe FaceVideo?"
Kenny wanted to laugh but he was still trying to breathe normally. He still wanted to comfort Ike. He squeezed Ike's hand again, trying to reassure the young man. Breathe, breathe, breathe…
Kenny's eyes flew open and they were met with darkness. He only had a vague recollection of the last time he woke up, and might have passed it off for a dream if Ike hadn't still been there. The boy, now seated in one of the hospital's metal chairs, was using the side of Kenny's bed as a pillow. He appeared to be in a deep sleep, because he didn't stir as Kenny shifted. Ike's left arm was half draped over Kenny's right leg, their hands conjoined next to Kenny's hip.
It was hard to say how long they'd been like that. Kenny went to rouse him, to tell Ike that he was fine, but both of them would see it for the lie it was. He wasn't fine. And holding Ike's hand? While embarrassing, it was fine. It was fine because Kenny hadn't woken up from a nightmare, the first time in forever.
Kenny settled back down, his fingers curling over Ike's fingers. They weren't long and skinny like Kyle's, they weren't overly calloused or super soft. They weren't anything special, as far as Kenny could tell in the dark. But holding on to that hand made him feel grounded, very much like his ear cuff had. And with anchoring thoughts Kenny fell back to sleep.
A nurse woke Kenny up sometime around nine in the morning claiming there was a police officer there to see him. Kenny only had seconds to make himself look presentable. As he ran his fingers through his hair, he realized how empty his right hand felt. Ike was nowhere to be seen.
Stan popped his head in through the door and Kenny sat up straighter, excited to see him.
"Hey stranger," Kenny greeted.
Several emotions flickered across Stan's face, going from stoic to emotional. After the nurse was gone emotional won out.
"Kenny, I am so happy to see you." Stan moved closer and by reflex Kenny flinched back into his pillows.
Stan was anything but threatening, but Kenny's body wouldn't listen to him.
"Sorry." Kenny broke eye contact as he cast his gaze downward. "I think the adrenaline yesterday helped, but I seem to not be used to people."
"No, I'm sorry, I should have been more thoughtful." Stan pulled out the seat Ike had used, taking off his police cap to fiddle with it in his hands. It was unusual to see Stan in his uniform when he wasn't on duty. Or maybe he is?
"What brings you to my wing of the hospital? More questioning?" Kenny heard the door open and only half wondered if the nurse had left something.
Stan looked guilty, lips tugged into a frown, "I'm sorry I wasn't there to help."
"It's the lover's job to do the rescuing anyways," Kyle said as he waltzed over. Without the metal guards he was able to plunk himself down on the foot of the bed.
Stan looked surprised, blue eyes wide like a guppy's, "Should you be up?"
"I'm fine." Kyle brushed his friend's hand away. "Instead you should be congratulating us for becoming an official couple."
"Official?" Unreadable emotions flickered across Stan's face before he beamed at them. "Well congratulations."
Kyle was all smiles and sunshine, the sight warming Kenny's heart. He'd missed the man so much that all of this felt too good to be true.
"Wait a minute," Kyle gasped, his good hand flying to his chest. "Stan. You're my best friend, why did you visit Kenny first? You're not trying to steal him from me are you?"
"Of course not." Stan's smile suddenly fell. "Actually," He sat back in his chair, shoulders straight. He looked like an officer of the law as he said, "I came to inform you that Darrell Valley made it through surgery. He's going to live."
Kenny felt his world spinning as Stan continued.
"Kyle, you won't be charged for shooting him after we prove it was self-defense, which should be easy, and after you both testify he'll be sent away to prison for good. Well, I don't actually know what the sentencing will be, but they're trying to pin him for murdering his brother too."
Kenny could feel Kyle's hand on his own, "Kenny?"
He looked up into brown eyes, blurting out, "I'm going to be sick."
Kyle was fast, grabbing the wastebasket from beside the bed and swinging it over to Kenny. Everyone watched in dismay as mostly water came out. When he was finished, Kenny wiped at the strands of saliva stuck to his chin with a tissue Stan gave him. The cop was look a little green in the face himself.
Throwing up didn't help, and eventually a nurse came in, ushering Stan and Kyle out so Kenny could rest. Kenny spent time drifting in and out of sleep after that. It wasn't like there was much to do when the world was spinning. Next time he woke up Karen was beside the bed.
"Afternoon sleepy head."
"Karen."
"You look awful."
"So do you."
Her eyes were all red from crying it seemed. She had a pile of tissues on her lap, some of them dislodging as she reached for Kenny.
"I was so worried I would never get to see you again." She hugged him, and he found he didn't mind her soft touch. "You've always been my tough, reliable older brother, but not even you can take on everything alone. Next time let others help you."
"Are you- are you reprimanding me?"
She huffed, pulling back and placing her hands on her hips, "I'll do more than just that. I could have lost you!"
Her tears started to pour again.
"Hey now, none of that. I'm fine. See?"
"I'm worried about what I can't see." She rubbed at her eyes with the back of her sleeve. "I think you should talk to someone about what happened. A professional."
"One kind of doctor at a time, please."
"Actually, I came to help you get discharged."
Kenny perked up. "You're saying I'm free to go?"
"Yup." She laughed at his eagerness.
Kenny had always hated hospitals. Partially because they could only make him think of death. He hadn't spent much time in them as a child, but whenever he was in one there was always a corpse by the end of the visit. And partially he was really sick of being stuck in bed. Thanks to Karen he was able to dress in regular clothes before signing paperwork. He had to promise he'd call a doctor if his condition changed, but after that he was able to join everyone in the waiting room.
The entire Broflovski family was still there, as was Stan, Damien, and two dozen other people there for their own business. Kenny stopped walking, forcing Karen to stop with him. The dizzy sensation was returning. Kenny took a step back, suddenly feeling claustrophobic. He heard Karen cry out as he slumped to the floor, causing himself to be the center of attention and making him feel worse.
Everyone rushed toward him. Kenny curled into a ball, arms over his head and legs pulled close. It was strange. He didn't want to be alone anymore, he wanted to be with his friends and his makeshift family. But he couldn't. It was just too much. They were too much.
"Maybe it's too soon?" Someone, it sounded like Damien, echoed his thoughts.
"Call a nurse." Sheila bellowed.
"No, just everyone step away." There was Kyle, the voice of reason. "He just needs some space, everybody back off. Mom, you too."
Kenny felt Karen move away. He wanted to call out to her, to ask her to stay, but he couldn't make his voice work. Somewhere in the background he could hear the nurses asking if he needed a wheelchair.
No dammit. I just need… I just want...
Kenny didn't know, and it frustrated him.
Scruffy skate shoes came into view and Kenny lifted his head enough to see they belonged to Ike. The boy crouched down to be on the same level as him. Instead of asking if he was okay, or trying to figure out what was wrong, Ike said, "I knew hospital food was notoriously terrible, but no one told me it would taste like scrotum."
Kenny blinked once. Twice. And then he snorted.
Ike, encouraged by the reaction, continued with, "Jello is supposed to always be a safe bet, but I'm pretty sure they make theirs with dishwater. I hope no one made you eat any."
Kyle joined them, kneeling on the tiled floor beside Ike. "I remember when Ike had his tonsils removed and we had to stay overnight in a hospital. They actually had a decent bakery, and when I told the cafeteria staff about my brother, they gave me as much pie as I could eat. Of course mom didn't like me being away for long, so I had to eat my pie in front of Ike. The look on his face… it was priceless."
"I'm still mad about that," Ike elbowed his brother, his lips turned into a pout. "You know I love blackberry pie."
Kenny laughed again at their antics. At some point the tightness in his chest had vanished. He uncurled his arms and tried to relax his legs. Kenny was sure everyone in the room, even strangers, were still staring at them, but he could see beyond the two brothers.
"Would you like to take a vacation? It would be a chance to get away, to relax and recuperate." Kyle smiled at him warmly. "Just you."
"Just me?" Kenny felt the panic return.
Kyle grabbed his hand, intertwining their fingers together. "Well only for a few days. I was thinking I could pack up and move all our stuff out of that apartment and then join you."
"No. I want to go home."
Kyle scooted closer to the point where his knees were touching Kenny's. "I no longer feel my apartment is a safe place. I don't want us there."
"Okay." Kenny felt dejected.
"But I do want you with me." Kyle assured him. "If you don't want to go on a vacation would you be okay with living in Stan's house until we find a new home? It's a pretty big place and he wouldn't mind the extra company. I know having you around all the time improved my life."
"Yeah. Stan's one of the nicest guys I know, aside from you and Ike." Kenny looked over at Ike who hadn't moved an inch from his spot on the floor.
"What about me?" Damien called from somewhere nearby, clearly close enough to hear their somewhat private conversation.
"You're the biggest asshole I know." Kenny shot back, the old banter feeling good on his tongue. He might have hear Sheila gasp at the foul language.
"Well this nice guy has his car parked out front if you two want to hop in."
Kyle and Ike helped Kenny off the floor. Damien and Karen decided they would leave first, both of them making promises to visit with Kenny later.
"We'll see you boys later, no ifs ands or buts." Sheila insisted before she and Gerlad left the hospital.
"Ike?" Kenny looked over at the boy who was still waiting there in the lobby, shirt still on backwards and inside out. "You drove all night to get here…"
"I'm fine, I got a nap in." Pink dusted the boy's cheeks.
Kenny leaned in closer, inspecting Ike's face. He snapped his fingers and pointed at Ike's nose. "You do have freckles!"
"What?" Kyle tugged on their conjoined hands, trying to keep Kenny moving.
"Now you notice," Ike's face turned even redder. "Both of you take it easy for now."
With that the boy zipped out of the lobby ahead of them, leaving Kyle, Stan and Kenny.
Together the three of them made their way through the twisting halls of the hospital. Kenny nearly cried tears of joy when they stepped outside. The sky was the bluest blue he'd ever seen, the air ripe with the sweet smell of pollen. The warmth of the sun kissed his skin, the breeze played in his hair. He stood stock still, breathing it all in.
Stan and Kyle waited for him, and when Kenny was ready, all three piled into Stan's car. Kyle sat beside Kenny in the back seat, his good arm on the same side as the blonde so they could hold hands.
"Is Damien a good driver?" Kyle asked after they'd been on the road for a few minutes.
"Yeah, though he's a bit of a speed devil. Why?"
"He's driving my car back."
"Hope you have insurance."
Kyle did a good job of talking, his voice filling the car and then some. He talked about what Kenny had missed so far, noticeably shielding his words. Kenny didn't mind the censorship, catching on quickly that Kyle was just trying not to upset him. He talked about meeting up with Kevin, and how Craig was a secret badass—which Kenny already knew because of the Halloween party—who actually knew his brother.
Kenny fell asleep at some point and by time he was awake again they were driving into Stan's garage.
"Home sweet home," Stan said as he opened the front door and held it open for the others. "I'll have another key made as soon as possible, but until then you guys are stuck sharing the spare."
"I don't see us adventuring a lot in the next few days anyways." Kyle indicated his arm, still kept secure in its sling.
Both Kenny and Kyle noticed Stan's abnormally large smile. Only Kyle called him out on it though.
"What's with that goofy grin?"
"Well it kind of feels like I just brought home two wives."
"Stop joking." Kyle rolled his eyes as his face turned beat red. "Besides, I'm not sharing."
"Neither am I," quipped Kenny.
Stan raised his hands in defense. "I meant nothing by it, it just feels nice, knowing I won't be the only one around."
Kenny felt his heart melt a little at that, "Okay Stan, if you want we can be a three man team."
It was Stan's turn to look embarrassed. Kyle quickly pulled Kenny into a one armed hug, which the blonde welcomed. All three of them laughed, the sound reverberating around them.
It's good to be home.