Chapter 26
When we got to the kitchen, Wolf forced me into a chair, despite my weak protests. And with the glare he gave me, it was obvious that if I moved, I would die. He's quite friendly ain't he?
I sharply looked up as the door flung open and Eagle emerged, panting and gasping for breath. Wonder how far he had run...
When he saw me, he immediately ran over, frantically looking me up and down, "What happened? Are you hurt? Injured? They mean the same thing right? I think they do...But what happened man?".
"Eagle, deep breaths" I replied, "Everything's fine, just got into a bit of trouble, that's all".
"Cub you're... You're... Like... Jeasus man... You're FAR from ALRIGHT!" He shouted, "Look at you! You can hardly breathe, and you've got a split lip, and a small cut across your forehead and... And... And... And YOU'RE NOT OK!".
"EAGLE" Wolf snapped, "Calm. The fuck. Down".
"But he's hurt!" he protested and Wolf frowned, "For FUCKS sake, I KNOW he's hurt. But I can't do anything. And neither can you. Now, where the fuck is Snake?".
"Right here" the medic replied smoothly, calmly walking into the room and giving me one, long, look before coming over, "Explain".
"... Do I have to?" I asked quietly and Wolf growled at me, "Damn righty you fucking do".
Snake shot him a glare, roughly translated into 'SHUT THE FUCK UP', before dragging a chair over next to me and... And... And when did he get bandages?
"You don't have to if you don't want to, but it would be rather wise" he replied and I nodded slowly, but remained silent as he went about his work.
"Quick question" I said suddenly, "What does coughing up blood mean?".
Snake frowned, "... It generally means you've got blood in your lungs".
"Oh... And how could you get blood in your lungs?" I asked again.
"Well... The most common injury is a broken, or sometimes just a cracked, rib that punctures your lung".
"... Broken and cracked ribs... Huh..." I muttered, "And, just out of curiosity of course, how would you fix a punctured lung?".
"Hospital. Or else a very good medical doctor on hand... Why?" He asked and I frowned, "... I may or may not have accidentally maybe gotten a possible punctured lung... Just a random thought".
He immediately froze, "... You coughed up blood?".
"On the way over here, yea" I replied quietly.
"... You're finding it difficult to breathe?".
I nodded and he sighed, "Then you're probably right... Why didn't you say something sooner?".
Both Eagle and Wolf were long gone, leaving me alone with the fretting medic.
I shrugged, "Didn't see it as important?".
"So what makes it important now?".
"... Now it's REALLY difficult to breathe" I finally replied.
"Then you have to go to hospital... Or at least see an experienced and qualified doctor" Snake said slowly and I frowned, "Your an experienced and qualified doctor".
"Yea but... Well... I'm not that good of a doctor".
I grinned, "Well, you've stitched me up pretty well so far".
"Yes but this is all basic stuff. A few cuts here and there. The odd bruise or two. But broken ribs with a possible life-threatening injury on the other hand... Is a completely different story".
I stared at him, "... Snake you're trained to fix severe bullet wounds... What's so bad about a few cracked ribs?".
He glanced down at his hands, "... You'd have to remove your shirt".
I tensed up immediately.
I couldn't help it.
The fact that he'd already seen the scars...
"Ok" I finally said and he looked up surprised, "What?".
I took a deep breathe, wincing slightly, "Ok. I'll do it. I'll... Take off my shirt... But nothing leaves this room alright?".
"Patient confidentiality. You have my word" he replied, smiling slightly, "Now, about those cracked ribs...".
Half an hour later Snake was finally happy with my physical condition and he let me go. Well... Happy wasn't as... Suitable... A word to use... I had four stitches across my forehead, five cracked ribs with three broken, a semi-collapsed lung, a soon-to-be black eye, and your usual batch of bruises here and there.
(((Not that bad when up against three Scorpian's)))
Where the FUCK have you been?
(((Oh you know... Out and about)))
Yea. Well. Thanks. For the support and all.
(((Ah, ah, ah, now, now, no need for sarcasm)))
Fuck you and your 'sarcasm'. I NEEDED you back there!
(((And I am dreadfully sorry, but I'm afraid right now it isn't me who you should worry about)))
... What?
(((Well, currently, your best friend is in his room, contemplating on the idea on wether to leave or not)))
Tom? Why?
(((Can you see it? You're pushing everyone away. EVERYONE!)))
... No I'm not.
(((You know it too don't you? You know you're building up walls. You know your forcing everyone out of your life. And you KNOW it's slowly KILLING YOU... And you're just too damn stubborn to change anything)))
I paused, my hand on the front door. How the hell had I gotten here? Why was I here? What could I possible do if I went back out there again?
"You're leaving again?" Someone asked and I slowly turned around to find Tom standing at the top of the stairs, an impassible look etched across his face to untrained eye. The key word there was 'Untrained'. I, on the other hand, WAS trained. And I could see all his emotions behind the facade, from the fear in his eyes, to the worry as he chewed his bottom lip, and even the anger in his set jaw. He didn't want me to go.
"... No" I finally replied.
He nodded slowly before suddenly realising what I had said, "Wait, what?".
I smirked, "No... I'm not leaving... MI6 can fuck off".
I swear to god the grin that spread across his face as he ran down the stairs was bigger than Buckingham Palace.
He ran straight over to me, pulling me into a tight hug, "Thankyou,thankyou,thankyou,thankyou".
I laughed, "Hey, come on man, injured person here".
He immediately pulled back, but the grin stayed, "Sorry. Right. So... What now?".
"... No idea" I admitted and he frowned, "What about the SAS dudes? What'll they say?".
"What will we say about what?".
We both looked up as Wolf walked in from the sitting room, Eagle bounding after him.
I turned back to Tom frantically, begging him to NOT try and explain. Thankfully, he got the message and he simply smirked, turning to face the two soldiers, "Alex and I have come to an agreement... Sort of... But it does not yet concern ye so don't worry".
"Nicely put" I muttered and he grinned, "Thanks. I do try".
Wolf stared between each of us, looking from me, to Tom, and then back to me again, "You do realise everything you do concerns us?".
I nodded, "I do".
"And you also know you're going to have to tell us?" He asked again.
"Yep" I replied.
"Plus there's the fact you'll be stuck with us for a while... So you really do have to say something now rather than later".
I grinned, "Got it".
"... And?" Wolf asked.
I frowned slightly, "As Tom said, it does not yet concern you".
"...But it will eventually" he realised and I nodded slowly, "Possibly. The actual probability of this happening is pretty slim... So... I guess... You don't really have to know".
He glared at me, "Cub. Start. Talking".
I glanced over at Tom, ignoring Wolf, "You do know this will take quite a long time right? If it's even possible at all?".
He nodded, "I'll be happy as long as you try".
I grinned, turning back to Wolf, "Can I ask you something?".
"Does it involve this matter you're refusing to tell me about?" He asked and I nodded slowly, "... It does".
He shrugged, "Then sure. Go on".
I paused, "... Which one of ye has legal custody over me?".
He looked up at me strangely, as did the other two, before Eagle slowly raised his hand, "Guilty".
I stared at him for a minute before turning back to Wolf, an amused smirk forming across my mouth, "You made HIM my legal guardian?".
Wolf smirked as well, "Well I know it isn't ideal, considering he can't cook, can't clean, was rubbish at school, and will probably end up killing you himself, but yea, if any of us die, he's has custody over you. If he happens to die, you'll be send to live with his family. We all thought you'd get on better with the crazy fucked up 23 year old than with me or a doctor".
"Hey, I am NOT fucked up!" Eagle protested, "I'm simply... Energetic...".
We all ignore him as Wolf continued talking, "So you're stuck with him if anything had was to happen. Not that it should. Or would. Or even could. You're safe with us... But why did you want to know?".
I grinned, "Because for this job, I need my guardian's signature".