Alright, I need to address something. I received this guest review on the last chapter. "Took fucking forever, Quit making promises you cant keep about posting the chapters. Love the story, so much, in fact, that that's getting on my fucking nerves"
Here's what I have to say. I have done my best to update Broken and Recovery daily. Meaning, I sat down for over an hour, and wrote 1,300+ words every single day, just so you guys would have something new to read each day. Now, I have school, I have finals in 13 days, and honestly guys, my mental state is shit right now. Unless you guys want dark, dark chapters, with horrendously suicidal characters, and a couple more suicide attempts- I don't think I can give you any more than what I am. I write what I feel. I was sick over the weekend, and literally had no energy to even do my homework, let alone edit a chapter for you guys. And quite damn frankly, I'm spoiling you all with the daily updates- but I do it because you're some of the most loyal, dedicated readers ever, and I appreciate you all so much. But I'm not a machine- and I never will be. I try to get chapters up by the time I promise them, but sometimes, things get in the way. My goal is 5 chapters per week, and sometimes its met, other times, it isn't. But that's okay, in my eyes. Because I've seen writers update weekly, bi-monthly, etc. Or- their updates are extremely sporadic and only come when they finish the chapter. So, here it is, in black and white. If you're pissed about how I'm late with updating, fine, I don't give a damn. But you need to know that I don't spend all my time writing- I would, if I could, but I don't, and you need to learn the art of patience.
Sorry about the rant- that review just pissed me off so much... Anyway, trigger warnings- depression and mentions of self-harm.
"Everything just hurts…I feel awful…"
Austin moans in my arms, squeezing his eyes shut. "But I just wanna go home…this place is depressing…"
"You've been here over a week, I think you're ready to go home," Riker mutters.
"C'mon Rik, let's go see if he can get out of this hellhole," Rydel offers, standing up and holding out a hand to her twin. He takes it, and she pulls him up, before he wraps an arm around her shoulders.
"Ell, why don't you go get something to eat? You're looking a little faint…" I suggest, pulling Austin closer to me. He nuzzles his nose into my chest, and I smile.
Ratliff sighs and nods. "Yeah. Money?"
I remove one of my arms from Austin's body, and reach into my pocket- to grab my wallet. Sliding it out of my jeans, I reach over and hand it to him. "I think there's a five or something in there. If I don't have enough, go find Riker, he's got most of our money."
Ratliff nods again, leaning down to brush his fingers through Austin's hair. "How're you doing, love?"
"I feel like shit," Austin mutters. "Everything hurts."
"I know," Ratliff says sadly. "We're gonna take you home, get you settled in, and it'll just be the five of us, yeah? No worries."
"Sounds nice," Austin murmurs.
"It'll be perfect," I promise. "Just try to relax, Aus. And Ell, stop stalling and get your ass to the cafeteria."
"I hate this so fucking much…why was I such an idiot?"
Austin grumbles to himself, as I place him into the wheelchair, wincing at the pain in his ribs.
"It doesn't matter why, and damn, you're still an idiot," Ratliff chides, dropping a kiss on his messy hair. "What hurts?"
"My head," Austin cringes slightly. "My head hurts real bad…"
"That's to be expected- your skull isn't fully healed yet," Doctor Grey says gently. She turns to us, glancing at her clipboard. "He's very fragile right now- you guys need to be careful. I'm most concerned about his ribs and head- his legs as well, but they'll heal on their own. For right now, he's on strict bed rest- and in a wheelchair otherwise. I'd suggest icing his ribcage- that'll numb the pain. And elevation is key- for both his legs and his ribs. Keep them elevated- it'll bring down swelling and inflammation- which, in his state- would be quite painful."
"Ugh…" Austin groans. "I feel horrible…"
"Oh, also. He might also contract a slight fever, it'll be low-grade, but if he does get one, you shouldn't be concerned. I wouldn't give him fever reducers- just let it run its course. He'll be feeling miserable, but it's better to let the fever go away on its own."
Rocky nods slightly. "Thank you. Anything else we should know?"
Doctor Grey shakes her head. "I'd like to see him in a couple weeks, for a check up- but that's pretty much it." She turns to Austin, crouching slightly to his level. "Get better, honey. Don't try to do too much at once. You're gonna feel better soon."
"Thanks…" Austin croaks.
"Aus, you good?"
"Yeah…just drive…" I mumble, squeezing my eyes shut. "I'm dizzy, and not even standing up…"
"We need to get some meds into him," Riker says, and I feel his hand run through my messy hair.
"Hang on, we're almost home," Rydel mutters, hitting the brakes abruptly. White-hot pain sears through my abdomen, and I wince, wrapping my arms around my ribcage.
"Rydel!"
"I'm sorry," she sighs. "The car in front of me stopped short."
"Please…don't do that again…you're jarring my ribs, they hurt…" I whisper. "Every sudden movement is agony…"
"I'm sorry, love," she says apologetically, glancing at me through the rearview mirror.
Rocky grabs my uninjured hand, lifting it up to his lips and kissing the skin, before beginning to draw small patterns. "Calm down, love," he soothes. "We're almost home, you've got this."
Rydel turns onto our street, and speeds down the road, until she comes to our driveway. Pulling into the driveway, she parks the car, before turning back to us. "Rik, go get his wheelchair, Ell, go open the front door, clear a path for his wheelchair, and you, Rocky, are gonna help me get him into the chair without causing him any more pain."
"This is gonna be fun," I grumble, as Rydel slides open my door.
"Breathe," she comforts. "Take deep breaths."
When I try, more pain sears through my abdomen, and I grasp the fabric of the seat in front of me, trying not to cry. "Oww…"
"Fucking hell," I whimper. "This hurts."
"Let's just get you inside," Rocky says gently. "I'm gonna pick you up- it may hurt a bit."
He slips an arm behind my back, and the other under my legs, lifting me out of the van. I wince and curl closer to him, as he leans down to set me in the wheelchair, adjusting my feet on the footrests, and helping me settle in. "You good, love?"
"Yeah," I sigh. Riker presses his hand to my forehead, and clucks his tongue.
"He's running a fever."
"That's just great," I groan, dropping my head and staring at my lap.
"Hey now." Rocky lifts my chin, shaking his head. "We're gonna go in there, and get you settled on the couch, and Dez said he'd stop by for a bit to see you. How does that sound, Aus?"
"Tell him to bring Ally," I reply. "You have his number?"
"Stole it from your phone," Riker cuts in sheepishly. "I'll text him."
"Austin wanted you to come, relax, Als," I say, pressing the doorbell of the Lynch's house.
Before Ally has a chance to answer, the door is swung open, and Ratliff greets us, his face lined with worry. "He's a mess, guys. Thought maybe if he could see you both, it'd help him."
Ratliff leads us both into the living room, where Austin is lying on the couch- lazily flicking through crap TV. Riker's sitting next to him, with Austin's broken legs in his lap, and Rocky is sitting in the armchair, tapping through his phone.
"Hey guys," Austin says hoarsely, catching sight of both me and Ally. He stretches his arms up for a hug, and I comply immediately, leaning down to wrap his fragile body in my arms.
Ally hugs him next, and I watch him whisper something in her ear- to which she chuckles softly. "No, Aus, Trish is working overtime. Her parents got angry that her phone bill was so high, and she can't hang out with us until she pays it off."
Austin shakes his head fondly. "That's Trish alright…" He glances at his older brothers. "Rocky, Rik, you guys mind leaving us alone for a bit? I wanna talk to them about some things…"
Rocky nods slightly. "Yeah." He rises to his feet, and walks toward us, passing Ally, and stopping in front of Austin. Leaning down to kiss his forehead, Rocky smiles at him, and looks over to Riker.
The other blonde slips out from Austin's legs, and turns to me. "Come here, take my place. He needs to keep his legs elevated, to prevent swelling and inflammation."
I give him a small affirmation, slipping back into his previously taken spot.
After his brothers have left, Austin turns to Ally. "Come, sit."
When Ally makes a move to take Rocky's previous seat, Austin rolls his eyes. "Sit with me, you dork. There's room for both of us."
He reaches over and pulls her onto the couch, nuzzling his face into her neck. "I've missed this."
"Austin, what if I hurt you?" Ally protests, trying to lessen body contact between them. I sigh heavily. She needs to stop worrying- he doesn't look like he's in any pain.
Austin meets my gaze, and gives me a look. I return it, shaking my head, and he exhales a heavy breath. "Als, you are not gonna hurt me. Rydel's done this with me before, and she's taller than you. It'll be fine, I promise."
Without waiting for Ally to react, he pulls her onto his chest, and kisses the side of her head. "There we go."
It's really nice- to see them acting so friendly again. He's her big brother- the protective one, and even though she has me- Austin will always be the best thing that's ever happened to her.
"Are you okay, Ally?" Austin asks, rubbing his larger hands down my arms- like he always used to. A comforting gesture, whenever I was sad or in pain.
"Yeah," I lie, my voice laced with the tears I'm desperately trying to hide. "I'm fine."
"I think you're forgetting that I know you better than you know yourself," Austin says gently. "What's wrong?"
"N-Nothing…"
One of Austin's fingers catches on my sleeve, pulling it back a bit. I stiffen in his arms, my eyes going wide. In a hurry, I try to pull my sleeve back down, but a hand catches my wrist.
"Dez," I whisper. "Let go."
Dez shakes his head. "He needs to know, Ally. Let him do it."
I brace myself for the worst, as Austin slides my entire sleeve up, hearing his gasp.
"Oh, Ally…"
So, I know a lot of you wanted this. Here you go. Thoughts? Let's try for 190 reviews, shall we? Thanks for reading- I hope you enjoyed.
-Neha