.
Link refused to leave his house so Rhett asked Stevie to bring the kids over.
It was a drama fest. Lando and Shepherd clung to Link like he was going to disappear if they blinked and the older kids were no better.
Link was stuck in a giant group hug filled with sobbing kids. He was patting whatever head or shoulder he can reach and mumbling a loop of: "I'm fine. Everything is ok. We will all be alright."
After five minutes of this, Rhett gave up and joined the group hug while Link sighs loudly: "Not you too!"
Rhett whines: "I need comfort too! Now shut up and pat my back."
That earned a laugh from the kids and after sitting together in the living room and answering every possible question they might have, they finally calmed down.
At 9pm, Rhett walked in on Link lying on the couch with Lando and Shepherd practically sleeping on top of him and asked: "Aren't they heavy? Want me to move them to their beds?"
Link rubs Lando's back when he squirms a little: "Let them stay. They were so freaked out today. Lando didn't even freak out that much when Christy died."
Rhett sits at the table in front of him and whispers after watching Link rub the kids' backs as they sleep for a while: "What do you want to do about work and their school tomorrow? The media is still camped outside the door. We need to have a game plan."
Link looks sadly at him: "I don't want to go anywhere. I'm putting this front for the kids but I'm not fine with what just happened, Rhett. I feel vulnerable and violated. I feel like the whole world is laughing at me.."
Rhett frowns: "No one is laughing at you."
Link sighs loudly: "That's how I feel.. I don't.. I don't want to go anywhere.. Can we take a break? I want to take a break, please."
Rhett smiles at his friend: "Yeah, we can take a break. I'll call Stevie. She can put something together to please the beasts while we figure shit out."
Link looks sadly at him: "Thank you."
Rhett nods at him and leaves the room to make the call.
The FBI took Link's phone and he hasn't turned the TV on all day. He can only predict what kind of storm is brewing outside. At this moment, all he wants to do is hug his kids and stay where no one can see him. He wanted to be home where it's safe.
Three weeks passed by with no change.
The kids went to school and back without a hassle.
Rhett would leave with an escort from time to time to do errands and go check on things at the office.
Link refused to leave even for a walk outside.
It's not like the media gave him a chance.
They were vultures who initially set up camp outside the house until the cops came and moved them far away.
Rhett and his kids moved into the house once again.
The doctor came every other day and they decided to move the treatment to in-home instead of the hospital. Given the circumstances, they had no other choice.
Link sat in his room, looking at the medication dripping down the tubes and into his body. He had nothing else to do but read books and help his kids with school stuff.
They were at school and Rhett had a physical therapy session for his back.
Link coughs a little, feeling like the walls are closing in on him.
Gabby knocks on the door and steps into the room: "Link, Rhett called. He wants to know what you want for lunch?"
Link points to the seat near his bed and she sits on it: "What's your favorite food?"
Gabby laughs before saying: "You won't like it."
Link shifts in bed to face her fully and coughs a little before asking: "How would you know what I wouldn't like?"
Gabby crossed her arms: "I'm an FBI agent. I know everything."
Link stares at her, clearly not believing her at all. She sighs loudly: "I saw it on TV. They did an extensive review of the foods you don't like."
Link tsks: "That's boring. They need to find better things to talk about. So.. what is it?"
Gabby: "Sushi."
Link chuckles at her: "I don't like Sushi."
She smiles at him: "I know."
Link: "Tell Rhett to bring Sushi."
Gabby frowns: "Will you eat it?"
Link sighs, rubbing his aching chest and pointing at the medication hanging above him: "I'm on soda and toast diet today."
Gabby nods her understanding.
After a few seconds of silence, she leans forward and asks: "Link, why aren't you going out?"
Link: "It's a hassle."
Gabby: "To whom?"
Link sits up, hoping to get into a better position to take a deeper breath: "Everyone.. especially you guys."
Gabby: "You know I got your back. We can go anywhere you want so don't use us as an excuse."
Link looks up for a second then whispers: "I'm embarrassed. I don't feel comfortable enough to face the world."
Gabby: "Ok. Whenever you're ready, we will be ready too."
Link looks at her then takes out three letters from under his pillow and hands it to her: "I know it's not your job but I don't have any other way of delivering these.."
Gabby looks at the envelopes in her hands: "This is your employee's rent money?"
Link swallows hard and whispers: "They're not bad people, Gabby. They need this and I know Rhett will yell at me if I ask him to do it. Please.. can you make sure they're delivered on time?"
Gabby reaches out and pats Links hand: "I got this. Don't worry."
Link smiles at her: "Thank you."
He rubs his chest and winces when he feels like his lungs are tightening up.
Gabby notices it and asks: "Should I call Sandy?"
Link closes his eyes, trying to take even breaths and nods.
.