The door opens and Clay enters the room.
"So... " he smiles "you want the good or bad news, first?"
"Um..." Kelsey frowns both concerned and confused by his question. Watching as he places one of the paper cups on the cabinet next to her bed "err...bad news first, I guess"
"Well, there was no tea. But I did get you a coffee, and the good news .. ta dah!" he holds up the packet "They had chocolate cookies"
"Oh, thank you!" She smiles, relieved that cookies is all his news involves. She continues to stare at him, watching as he places one of the other two, cups of coffee in front of Alex.
He's able to dart a quick glance in her direction as Clay settles himself down in the high backed chair, beside her bed. Sipping from his own hot drink.
"You know what..." Alex stands up, picking up the cup from the table. "I think I'll ... I'll leave you two alone. Give you some time together. I mean, you probably have things..." he hesitates giving Kelsey a hard stare " to um... to talk over." he coughs, glancing at Clay.
Clay looks up at him. He quickly averts his eyes, so that they don't make eye contact. His expression gives Clay cause for concern and he frowns. Something feels off and there's an air of awkward tension. He hadn't noticed it earlier, but now it's more than obvious.
He turns his head; his expression is questioning of Kelsey but she can't look at him. Dropping her eyes downward so she doesn't have to look at him.
"Okay, what the hell's going on?" Clay's frown deepens with worried concern "Why am I getting the feeling that I'm missing the punch line on a joke between you two?"
"What?" she smiles shaking her head. Reaching out to take Clay's hand in hers "Why would you feel like that? There's nothing going on."
"Look..." Alex frowns, staring directly at her now "...I'll leave you two to talk"
Clay sighs staring first at Alex and then back to Kelsey. The looks they exchange between each other give him more cause for concern. He has a bad feeling churning over in the pit of his stomach. Something about the way Alex is hesitating and hovering in the doorway. His whole demeanor seems on edge.
"No, wait! You.. you just wait, right there. There's something going on here and I've got a feelin it's something to do with you?! So, c'mon let's hear it"
"Clay really, it's nothing. Please just sit down. Alex is right, it would just be nice for some time alone"
"No! No, that's bullshit. What's going on?" his frown deepens as Alex shifts apprehensively from foot to foot in the doorway. "I'm waiting. So, who wants to start?"
"Kelsey ..." Alex sighs looking up at her "just tell him"
"Alex, shut up! Clay, it's nothing. It'll keep, it's not important. Just..." she hesitates, biting her lip nervously ".. really, it's nothing."
Alex shakes his head. He's annoyed by her lack of response to Clay's questioning "Oh, I'm going!"
"No!" Clay steps forward and slams the door shut "You, start talking, right NOW!"
"Clay, it's about..." Alex sighs, his eyes focused on Kelsey sitting up in the bed.
"Alex stop!... Stop." Kelsey sighs interrupting them "I'll tell , sit down, we need to talk to you"
"Okay..." he folds his arms not moving from where he's stood "so talk! C'mon Kelsey, I'm waiting!"
"The um..." she sighs, hesitating again before nervously continuing "the doctors, they spoke to me and said that I might ... might, be able to get out of here by the weekend. If things keep improving. They still have a few tests to run but they're hopeful that things are going in the right direction. I mean, I'll still have to come back for physio and follow up appointments and um... there may be some surgery if my leg doesn't start to heal properly but..."
"Wait! What? They're going to discharge you from here. That's it?" he sighs relieved having built up so many other scenarios in his head "So, what's the problem, why didn't you just tell me that? Why would you be worried about telling me?" He frowns looking at her and then at Alex who still won't make eye contact "Kelsey, what's the problem here? This means you can come home, right?"
"Clay..." she's very hesitant and sighs loudly "they're um...they're not going to let me fly yet and not being funny, I don't have health insurance in the states and it's not like the Navy will cover me there so... well, we can't afford the treatment. I'm going to need to stay here at least for a while longer. So, um..." she takes a breath as she looks at Alex staring at her "so.."
"So, we talked and I said she could stay with me." Alex interrupts her dithering hesitation "Look, I have room at my house. I can turn the dining room into a bedroom, and I have a downstairs shower room. So, it makes sense"
"What?!" Clay frowns. Realizing this is the punchline he turns around glaring at Alex "You want her to come live with you?! Oh...oh, now I see. Oh my god!" he gasps "Oh yeah...yeah this is exactly what you wanted, isn't it!" his anger bubbles up under the surface as he turns to face Alex and aggressively steps forward "Well I hate to burst your bubble but...NO! No, it's not gonna happen. She's coming home, with me. Casey needs her at home."
"Clay please..." Kelsey tries to reach out to him, worried that things with him and Alex might get out of hand. "Clay, I'm not going to be able to fly, I told you that."
"Fine... alright, well we'll stay here until you are ready to go home."
"Clay c'mon, I don't wanna stay in here. I want... I want to be with you. Clay please listen, it makes perfect sense for me to stay with Alex. He's off work as well right now so he'd be around, to help me"
"I bet he would." he sighs again "No! No, the only person this makes sense for, is him. He gets what he wanted all along. No.. aAnd anyway, if you do this then what about me? Where am I gonna stay?"
"You can stay with Kelsey, at mine. Look Clay, there's room for a double bed and..." he sighs "The offer's there. Now, it's up to you."
"Clay..." Kelsey sighs. She's also very frustrated by his attitude "you're going to have to go back to the States, at some point. You said you already have Jason on your case to give them a date when you'll be back. That command is pushing for your return. Clay, we all know how this works and we know they won't wait forever, for me to get better. And, if nothing else, Casey needs you at home. He needs one of his parents to be with him"
"Casey's fine. Sonny and Audrey are looking after him. He's safe. I'm staying here, with you, until you can come home."
"I know you want that, I do too. But, really Casey needs you more. I need you to go home and be with him, because I can't right now." She sighs "Please! I wish to god I could come with you, be with you both, but I can't. Not yet anyways"
"No, no we're going back together"
She rubs her head, frustrated by his stubbornness "Look, if I move in with Alex and then maybe in a couple of weeks, you can bring him over, to stay with me for a while. After all you'll have deployment to think about soon"
Clay's anger is starting to fester and churn as he looks up at Alex. He still hasn't spoken. Just standing quietly by the door but even just looking at him, right now, it annoys Clay
"Oh Jesus!" he loses it and shoves Alex hard in the chest, pushing him backwards "This...was it your idea? Her moving in with you. Did you suggest it?" he laughs, rubbing his head "Yeah, of course you did. This is your way of wheedling back in, cutting her off from me and you then you'll suggest Casey moves in too? Well let me tell you, that is not gonna happen, ever!"
"Clay, don't be stupid. You know, I thought we got past this, me and you this rivalry thing. This is not what I want at all. I want her to be able to go home to her baby, but you know as well as I do, what I've suggested, it's for the best"
"No, understand this, we had a truce, while she was in here, while all this was going on. It's over! I should have seen this coming. Let me put you straight about some things, she's going nowhere until she comes home with me. I'll find a way to fly her back. I'll speak to Blackburn. He got me a flight here, he'll get us a flight back!"
"Clay... you know that's not gonna happen. She's not US Navy, he has no authority to bring her back to the states"
Clay takes a breath rubbing his head frustrated, Alex is right, and it irks him. "You know what, I need some fresh air" He pulls at the door
"Clay please! " Kelsey calls out, begging him to stay. "Don't leave. Stay and talk this through."
As he opens the door they all look up. The doctor and a nurse walk into the room.
"Oh..." he frowns "Hi! Am I errm...interrupting something?" he looks at Kelsey he can see she looks upset and the fraught, strained faces on the guys "Is everything okay in here?"
"Why don't you ask them..." Clay frowns "cos they seem to have it all figured out!"
"Clay..." Alex frowns "stop acting like a child. You know this for the best"
"You...you shut your mouth! I'm not discussing this with you. This is exactly what you wanted!" He sighs loudly, he can't control his anger and storms out, slamming the door behind him.
"Clay..." Kelsey sighs, her head droops and tears start to well in her eyes. She looks up at Alex. He's now stood beside her bed "I told you. I knew he wouldn't like it"
"Oh, for god sake, he needs to get over himself. He'll have to like it." Alex is just as annoyed, and just as frustrated "Kelsey, what other choice do you have? There is no way you can take care of yourself in that flat, not alone. And we both know he's going to have to go. At some point, they'll order him back."
She frowns looking at the doctor as he checks her chart at the bottom of the bed . "Sorry..." she sighs "Did you have some news, about my scan?"
"Um.. yeah. Yeah, we got the results back. Look it's really none of my business, but is everything alright? Only I couldn't help but overhear"
"Oh you mean Clay? Yeah, yeah he'll be fine. We were just discussing options, for when I get out of here. That's still on the cards, right?"
"Yes, well maybe. There's good news and, well...some not quite so good" he smiles trying to reassure her "try not to worry, I'm gonna talk you through it." he points to the chair beside the bed "May I sit?"
"Yeah sure." she frowns " So, can I still get out of here?"
"We'll see"
"You want me to leave?" Alex frowns
"No! No Alex please stay." she sighs hurt by the fact that Clay left the way he did. Though not surprised, she's still worried how badly he's taken the suggestion of her staying with Alex.
"Well.." the doctor smiles as he open up the file on his lap " the good news is, you're certainly a lot better than you were but... the scan did throw up something. It confirmed what we discussed, there is a possible blood clot. We can treat it though, with medication and an injection. So, as long as you take it slow. Don't rush it and do too much, then I can't see why you couldn't get out of here. Just as long as you have suitable arrangements in place"
The smile drops from her face. They had a very similar discussion about this last night "So, what does that mean?"
" It's like he told you, last night. It means ... " Alex sighs loudly, rubbing his hand over his face "that you won't be able to fly for a good couple of weeks"As he says it he looks up, he can see Clay's back and standing in the doorway listening.
He sighs questioning the doctor "Is it right, what he just said that she can't fly?"
"Yes, he's correct but to be honest, I wouldn't have signed off on a flight yet anyway. Look, just because we said you might be able to leave the hospital, that doesn't mean you're ready for anything too physically demanding, just yet"
Kelsey takes a deep breath, sniffing as tears fill her eyes and start to roll down her cheeks. She looks up at Clay, her lip quiver and she has a pitiful look on her face "Oh Clay... I'm sorry. I'm so sorry"
"Hey .." he sighs feeling guilty about his earlier behavior "it's okay. It's not your fault. Look, we'll work something out. C'mon." he sits on the side of her bed, and gives her a kiss, taking her hand in his to reassure her "It's alright."
"So, if I organise with my discharge nurse, about you getting out of here for the weekend, will have somewhere to stay? You'll need someone to be with you"
"Um..." she gulps, nervously questioning him "I don't know, I need to sort things out first"
Clay sighs he swallows his pride and looks up at Alex "Yeah! Yeah she does, have some where to stay, well if Alex's offer is still open?"
"Um.. yeah, yeah of course it is. For both of you, for as long as you need" he smiles "you know that"
Kelsey lays quiet with her arm covering her eyes so she can hide her tears. Alex already talked this through with her yesterday, when they discussed the plan he had, but now, the actual reality hits her. "Oh god! she sighs, sobbing into the crook of her arm "This means, I won't get to see Casey. I was supposed to be coming home"
Clay strokes her cheek. Taking hold of her hand he squeezes it "Hey c'mon, it's not gonna be for long. Then you'll be home, and you can see him. Kelsey please don't cry"
"You do realise this will be for a least two to three weeks? It will depend how things progress" the doctor frowns "Look I do understand how hard this will be for you, given the circumstance and I wish I could say something more positive"
"It's fine." Clay nods "She's on the mend, that's the important thing, right? Hey.." he smiles at her "let's get you out of here first. Your right, I can bring Casey back and he can stay here with you for a while. How about you stay at the flat? I mean, you still have baby stuff there and.. "
"Clay..." Alex sighs interrupting him " don't be stupid. She can't look after herself, let alone a baby as well. They can't be alone in the flat. They can both stay at mine, I told you that. You're all welcome. Just accept the offer"
Clay sighs. He hates the idea so much. The idea of his son staying with Alex of him getting his hand on what he wanted all along. A perfect family, his family. "Well, we've got time to sort all that" he frowns.
"So..." the doctor smiles again" so you have somewhere to stay then?"
"Yes" Alex nods "I have a house; I mean, it has a dining room I can convert into a bedroo, and a ground floor shower room that she can use, It will be perfect."
"Yeah" Clay smiles making a sarcastic dig " Yeah this is perfect for him!"
"Clay stop it! Please!" Kelsey sighs, still sobbing into the back of her hand "Please, just stop getting at each other. Do you really think this is what I want? Because it's not! I want to come home; I want my baby! I want to see Casey, so much! " she starts to sob louder now. He face a wet tear stained snotty mess "I miss him so much! Oh, I wish to god I'd never gone back to the Navy now; I wish I'd stayed with him. This is all my fault!"
She can feel her chest tighten; she can't stop crying. Loud, deep sobs that make her feel hot and dizzy. The anxiety overwhelming her, and she starts to gasp for breath. The monitor she's attached to starts bleep as her and blood pressure goes up.
"Woah!" the doctor frowns standing up. "Please, you need to calm down" he presses the help button "Kelsey you need to relax. Guy's, really this arguing it's not doing her any good. You need to take it outside... I said outside, NOW!"
Clay and Alex look at each other and then both step out into the empty corridor.
Alex sighs, pacing back and forward walking off the griping pain in his knee while Clay thumps hard against the wall with his fist. Frustrated he pulls his hands through his hair. Fuck!
"You know, this is you!" Alex points at him "Why do you have to be such a stubborn arse? You want everything on your terms. The worlds against me! " he sighs loudly, staring as he mocks Clay "For god sake Clay, wake up! This is about Kelsey, about getting her better. Why don't you go home, and sort your son, get your job straight and then thing about bringing her child back to her. Forget all this bullshit about me trying to take her off you. She loves you, get that in your head you dumb idiot!"
Clay sighs, grinding his teeth. He's so angry, Alex talking down to him like this even if he is speaking the truth. Clay hates it and once again losing his temper, he shoves Alex against the wall. He's quite prepared to hit him but as he closes his hand into a fist he's stopped by the sound of his cell phone.
Jason! Stepping back, he sighs "I need to take this but... this is not over!"
"Oh yes, yes it is. Clay, she's going to stay at mine and that's all there is to it!"
Shit! Alex is annoying him, but the phone keeps buzzing and so stepping away he heads down the corridor to answer it.
As he leaves the door to Kelsey's room opens, the doctor's standing in the doorway "You can come back in now."
"Yeah um... sorry about that. Clay, he's just taking a call, but I'll come" He smiles as he steps into the room "Hey." he sighs. Kelsey looks much more settled, although she looks pale and very tired. Alex smiles. "You okay?"
"We've given her some extra pain relief, so she'll be a little groggy. I'm just going to sort this medication and injection, so we can get the treatment for the blood clot started. Please.. try and keep everything calm in here"
"I... we will, and ... thanks" Alex smiles "I'm really sorry about earlier, he's a little hot headed at times. But there's a lot going on"
"Its fine. I can imagine it's pretty stressful, with the distance issue, work and the baby. Complicated situation. We are going to try and get her home as soon as is possible, but you have to understand that a flight right now, with a blood clot, it's just too risky"
"Oh yeah, yeah I understand perfectly. She's my priority. Don't worry she won't be going anywhere until it's safe to do so." The doctor leaves and Alex smiles as Kelsey opens her eyes. "Hey there. You okay?"
Mmmm! She nods. Her eyes heavy with tiredness from the pain medication.
Alex strokes his hand gently over her forehead, dropping a kiss on her cheek "I'm sorry. I really thought he'd understand. I just thought it made sense, I thought he would too."
"It's okay. It's not your fault. I should have talked it over with him first" she smiles wearily as her eyes closes "Alex...I just need to sleep now"
"Sure. Don't worry. We'll sort this. He'll come around. You just rest"
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o.
"Okay, will you two just be careful! Look... Alex, it's not going to go through here. Alex the table. Mind my leg, Alex you can't just..."
"Kelsey will you shut the hell up!" Alex loses his patience and snaps at her "Just stop whinging! I can see the damn thing!" he sighs lifting the small table from its position in the hallway and moving it " Jeez... all you've done since we left the hospital is keep complaining. You know, this is not easy, for any of us. So, just shut up!"
She takes a deep breath. Her lip wobbles. She's sat in the wheelchair and turning her head, she looks over her shoulder at Clay. Waiting for him to say something in her defence.
He smiles, gently stroking the back of her neck. "Hey, he doesn't mean it, it's just...well you have complained quite a bit." he feels a little bit guilty for siding with Alex and he gently kisses the top of her head. "Just give him a minute, to sort things out" he sighs. Cocking his eyebrow as he and Alex, exchange a knowing look and wry smile with each other
She sniffs, taking a breath. It feels like they're both against her. "Do you have to be quite so .. abrupt?" She sighs "This is not easy, being stuck in this thing. Not able to do anything for myself" she hastily wipes the tired tear from her cheek.
"I know, and I'm sorry" Alex sighs "Kelsey I mean it, I'm sorry! I'm tired and my knee bloody hurts. But I shouldn't take it out on you" taking hold of her hand he smiles. "C'mon, let's look at this bedroom we made you"
"It's okay I guess we're all tired. I know I am. It feels like its been a long day already but...I am glad to be out of there. Thank you, both of you, for sorting this out"
"Okay, well we made the bed up in here"
Alex moves the hall table further from the doorway as Clay pushes the wheelchair through, what's a tight squeeze of the hallway and into the hastily redecorated bedroom, what was previously Alex's dining room.
They've brought the double bed down from the spare guest room and put a small TV on the table in front of the window. In the corner they have a chest of drawers, on which Alex placed a vase of flowers to welcome her home.
"Oh, this is nice" She smiles acknowledging the effort they've made "Thank you"
She's tired and the thought they put into the room together, for her, makes her feel emotional and she starts to weep again. Something she's done a lot of the past few days as everything starts to get on top of her.
The fact she can't go back to see Casey upsets her no end and every time she thinks about it too much she cries. And then there's the physio they've started her on. It hurts and it wears her out, making her feel even moretired and vulnerable than she has in a very long time.
Alex ignores her tears. His military training takes over and he thinks practically. Taking the side off the wheelchair "Okay then, let's get you out of here and onto the bed. Clay you wanna give me a hand"
Clay nods. He an Alex had a talk; they've come to another truce of their dislike of each other. Clay still doesn't trust his motives, but he knows that there was no other choice and Alex is still unhappy with Clay's attitude. His constant need to keep taking every suggestion as a personal slight against him.
But ...for now, they're both just happy that Kelsey's doing well enough to leave hospital.
"Clay, c'mon help me. I can't lift her by myself, my knee won't hold up enough to support her weight. You'll need to lift her"
"Yeah um... sure" he sighs, snaking his arm around her waist to take the strain and help her up while trying not to hurt in the process.
"Awww! She groans. A pain shoots up into her hip "I can't ... Clay stop! I can't do it." She grimaces at the discomfort. Trying to use her good leg to take her weight as she forces herself up out of the wheelchair.
"Okay you have to trust me alright. I've got you. I'm not gonna let you go so just push yourself up, like the physio showed you."
"I can't, it hurts too much." She sniffs as her emotions overwhelm her Oh shit! "Just leave me in here!"
"No! You can do this!" Clay sighs frustrated with her. They've already had this discussion, at the hospital, earlier "You can do it Kelsey. But, you have to trust me. I promise, I'm not gonna let you go, alright" he kisses her, staring her deep in the eyes, trying to reassure her.
"Oh, Kelsey c'mon you can do this. Stop being so pathetic" Alex frowns, he's becoming less sympathetic. Instead barking orders in a more commanding tone. He knows they have to get tough with her, force her to do somethings for herself "You did it before, so come on, do it again. Clay told you he's going to take your weight. So, just push yourself up. I've got hold of the chair, it won't tip. Now get the hell up!"
She frowns, taking a deep breath. She's annoyed by him bossing her around but using her good right arm, she attempts to push herself into an upright position.
Clay holds her steady until she balances and then he helps lift her around, on to the bed. "You okay?" he smiles
Mmmm! She closes her eyes ignoring him. The pain in her hip surges down her leg "Oh god...that really hurt!" she takes a deep breath in, holding it for a few moments while the discomfort wears off.
"At least you got up, that's good! Alex smiles "I'll go get you a couple of those painkillers and some water" He disappears from the room leaving her and Clay alone. It's the first time in weeks they've been in the same room, totally alone.
"You okay?" he smiles sitting himself next to her on the bed. Watching as she looks around her new surroundings "So this has gotta be better than the hospital, right?
Mmmm! "Yeah. Yeah, I suppose" she smiles biting her teeth against her lip nervously. Two huge tears rolling down her cheeks "Clay, I don't want you to go!"
"Hey, hey I'm not going anywhere, not yet. I told you, at least not until after the weekend. Let's just see how you go first, get you settled in properly. Then I promise..." he presses his lips against hers, kissing her softly "give me a couple of weeks to sort training and speak to Blackburn about coming off deployment. Then I'm gonna come back, with Casey. It's going to be so good"
He smiles, brushing the loose strands of hair away from her face and tucking them behind her ear "I promise, you're gonna see him really soon and we're all gonna be together again" he drops another kiss onto her lips while brushing his nose against hers. His fingers smoothing gently over the plaster cast on her arm, down to find her fingers, stroking them "You want me to help you get undressed, so you can sleep"
"No.. no, lay with me. Clay, just hold me" she sighs exhausted, laying down on the bed as he gently moves her legs around, so they're fully on the bed. Trying to make her more comfortable
"Ahh!" she cries as she tries to position herself. It's awkward and uncomfortable the fracture in her hip, even though small is painful. Her movement then restricted by the plaster castings on her arm and lower leg.
Clay comes around the far side of the bed, laying himself down next to her and wrapping her into his arms as best he can.
"Clay, what's the time in the states?"
"Um.. I think it's about 4am. Why?"
"I just ..." Kelsey sniffs "I just thought, we might be able to call. See how Casey is?"
"Just give it a couple of hours" he kisses her forehead "Casey's usually awake by six. We'll call then. I don't think Audrey will appreciate it too much if we wake her right now"
He strokes his fingers against her cheek. He can see how tired she is and gives her another more passionate kiss. This time his tongue finding hers as she holds him against her.
Her good right-hand tugging at his curls, pulling him close. They make the most of the precious alone time, Clay's hand sliding around her waist holding her tight against him. But as he does, the door to their new temporary accommodation, opens.
Holding a glass of water, and two small tablets, Alex hesitates, frozen to the spot in the doorway "Oh shit!" he sighs realizing what he just interrupted "I'm sorry, I err.. I guess I should knock from now on."
"It's okay" Clay gestures him in. Both of them feeling slightly embarrassed. This is, after all, Alex's home and they are just guests here. "Um... we were just, well.. just. Look Alex, it's not a problem, honestly. Do you want me to take that?" he indicates at the water and pills.
"Yeah, two painkillers and the tablets that she needs, for blood clot as well." he stands them on the dressing table just inside the door. "Look, I'll leave you to it. I need to go put some ice on my knee and rest it for a bit, anyway"
"Alex..." Kelsey turns over to face him. She can tell how awkward he feels from the uncomfortable tone in his voice. She knows he never enjoyed people being in his private space. "Thank you, for letting us both stay here. And I'm sorry if I was pain in the arse earlier. I know you're only doing the best for me, even if I don't seem to appreciate it"
"It's fine. This is gonna be an adjustment for all of us"
"Yeah!" Clay nods "Yeah well, we do appreciate it and I mean that Alex"
"Look..." Alex sighs " how about I make some dinner in a while. I think I've still got some beers in the fridge. There anything else you need before I go?"
"You know.. " Kelsey frowns as she looks at Clay " sorry to be a pain but I need a wee!." She smiles awkwardly "And something else, I would really like to wash my hair. It still smells of hospital disinfectant"
"Yeah sure.." Alex nods "Clay, why don't I show you where everything for the shower room, and then you can both do what you want"
Clay nods. Getting up from the bed he follows him out of the door.
Kelsey sighs. She's really tired but pushing herself back into the comfort of the pillows behind her head, she checks the calls and messages on her phone. Skipping randomly through stored photographs of smiles.
Then with a small emotional rock stuck in the back of her throat she hovers her finger over the call button on Sonny's name in her contact list. She doesn't get to call him, sighing again as Clay comes back in the room.
He smiles as he looks down at her laid on the bed "This is going to work out alright; you know that. You're gonna heal up and then you're gonna come home, in no time " he sighs "So... you still wanna use the bathroom?" he frowns while he works out the logistics of how he's going to get her there.
She nods as he moves her legs, pulling them around, getting her into a sitting position "C'mon on, I'll wash your hair for you"
