Kyle gets up to try and calm down Stan. "Stan, squeeze my hand, you're okay." He reaches over to hug him gently.
Stan pushes him away. "No, I'm not. I can't do this. Give me a month at least. No."
Aaron holds up a hand and talks calmly. "Stan, I know what your fear is. So, I just want to explain to you I will not be using needles to numb your gums."
"No, I have another newer fear now. No. No fucking way!" Stan yells again.
"Stan, I promise you this won't be quite as scary as you think. Will you let me show you what I plan on using?" Aaron says soothingly.
"I can't do this. I'll die. They'll kill me. Please Kyle, don't let them." Stan can feel blood rushing to his head as he tries to sit up, crying out in pain.
Kyle decides on tough love. "Stan, calm the fuck down. Everyone here is on your side. No one is going to kill you. Calm down, regulate yourself. You're fine. Just see what your dentist has to say. Then you can freak out if you want."
"Fine, tell me. Then I can say no to it." Stan coughs a little bit as he tries to get himself to calm down.
Aaron nods to Kyle and goes into a drawer to pull out an instrument that looks like a syringe but instead of a needle at the end there is a bent straw like piece. "See this, Stan? I'm going to fill the syringe with numbing medicine which I will apply directly onto your gums. Sort of like a blue gel. No needles at all. The nice part about this is it works instantly! You don't need to wait around for ten minutes for the medicine to kick in like a normal injection."
Stan shook his head. "No, even if you numb my mouth, it's too much like a hospital. I'm going to freak out and die. No please? Kyle?" Stan holds his hand out for Kyle's again.
Kyle took his hand, holding it firmly and looking him in the eye. "Stan, c'mon. He said you won't feel anything. Just do this. You've done everything else. And everything else was much worse, I'm sure."
"Oh god. I'm going to freak the fuck out. Don't touch my chest. You can't just make me go to sleep or something?" Stan chokes out.
Aaron shakes his head. "Sorry, son. This is a pretty common and easy enough procedure and it's best if we have you awake and conscious. Especially given your recent heart surgery. Did you want Mom in here?"
"Ugh I'm such a baby. Yes, bring my mom in." Stan says, trying to stop shaking in fear.
Maya steps out to alert Sharon. Aaron leaves Stan alone with Kyle.
Kyle gives him a careful hug, making sure he doesn't touch his chest. "Hey man, just breathe and chill out. It'll be quick."
"They're gonna do some procedure on me and I'm scared. This place is already too much like a hospital." Stan hugs Kyle back, trying to force himself to relax.
Sharon appears a moment later, she's at Stan's side. "Stanley, baby. What's wrong?"
"Mom I'm just reminded so much of the hospital before…. everything went wrong. Can't they give me a month or so? Please? It's not my fault I couldn't clean my teeth, I was really sick." Stan wipes his eyes and hugs his mom back.
Sharon looks him in the eye. "No one is blaming you for what you could and couldn't do at the hospital, Stan. But you heard what Aar- um, Dr. Steels said, this needs to be taken care of now. If you wait a month, then you might develop actual cavities and you don't want that right?"
"I don't want any of this. They can't even put me to sleep because of my stupid heart surgery." He pulls Sharon closer and buries his head in her shirt.
Sharon hugs him for a second before taking his face in her hands. "Stan, you need to do this. And I am giving Dr. Steels the okay for him to do this. I know you don't like the dentist. No one does. But you need to do this. I know you can do this."
"Mom, I don't know." Stan wipes a tear and lays back on the chair. He hugs his pillow, looking away from his mom.
"We need to do this today, Stan. I promise you this won't be like a filling or root canal. You'll be in good hands." Aaron says, preparing his tools.
Sharon touches her son's hair, looking at Aaron. "Stanley baby let's get it over with. We can go to the hobby shop next door after sweetie. Pick something fun over there."
"I'm too tired for a bribe after this. Fine, get it over with. It can't be any worse than that fucking pacer. Ugh. I'll have nightmares about it." Stan grumbles.
Sharon squeezes his hand before letting go. "It's the right decision Stan. Do you want me here or do you think you'll be okay with just Kyle, sweetie?"
"Mom, I need you here, I'm scared. I'm just so scared even if I know I shouldn't be. It's going to give me a fucking heart attack." Stan kicks his legs a bit.
Sharon sighs at her son's melodrama. "I think you're ready now, Stan."
Stan looks up at Dr Steels. "Okay, what are you gonna do? Don't touch my chest, don't kill me."
Aaron smiles. "I'm going to use the special numbing gel and numb the areas where there is more buildup. Once that is done Maya here will take over and give you a thorough cleaning, scaling around each tooth to get any plaque. Once she is done with that, she will use a special high-tech instrument that will clean away any remaining debris at an ultrasonic speed. Then some traditional flossing and possibly fluoride treatment and you'll be good to go for your braces adjustment!"
"Can we do it in two weeks? I still hurt." Stan says knowing it won't matter.
Aaron laughs. "You're a funny kid, Stan. Okay, let's get started. Did you want the TV on? Headphones? You can hook up your phone to them and listen to your music if that's something that might make you calmer."
"You know what? Yes, I'll take headphones and something with animals on tv. Stupid distractions." Stan grumbles and opens his Spotify to his 'fuck the world' playlist
Sharon clicks on the Netflix icon on the TV and types in 'animals'. She scrolls down. "What looks good honey? Penguins? Lions? Here's a documentary on animals in the desert. Or the Arctic. I know you like both."
"Don't care. Ummm maybe lions, I'm feeling something fast and violent. I don't want something cute right now." Stan grumbles.
Sharon clicks on the documentary.
Aaron goes over with headphones. "Okay Stan, let me just sync these up with your phone."
Stan pulls up Bluetooth on his phone. "Oh, you got me the Broncos headphones. That's nice of you, dude."
Aaron turns a bit red now. "Funnily enough, my brother-in-law got me these for my birthday last year. Little did he know I owned the same pair at home. So might as well put them to some use here!"
"These are pretty cool. Glad they're getting use here." Stan connects the Bluetooth. "The Wi-Fi password is go Broncos, isn't it?"
Aaron winks at him. "Close, it's gobroncos24."
Stan smiles a bit and hooks his phone up. "Thanks for being understanding, Dr Steels. I've had a bad month."
The doctor pats him on the shoulder. "I do what I can kiddo. Maybe I'm just in an extra good mood lately. What with the adoption process in full swing. Things should be looking up for all of us. I can feel it."
Sharon shakes her head at Stan. "Are you sure you want to change dentists when you turn fourteen, Stan?"
"I want to make it to fourteen." Stan says, glaring at his mom before slipping on the headphones, heavy metal blasting in his ears.
Maya looks at Dr Steels. "Let me guess, you're going to try and adopt a little boy?" She smiles at him.
"I don't want to spoil anything but... there is a little girl out there... They've been trying to get her into a foster home but there's been difficulties placing her since she has a few behavioral problems. She's six and let's just say Marissa and I are remaining hopeful." Dr Steels grins as he gets to work.
"A little girl, how sweet. I hope all goes well for you and your wife, Aaron." Maya says.
"Thank you. Okay Stan, let's sit you back." Aaron gestures to the pillow. "Hold onto Mr. Pillow there now as we get going."
"Pfff Mr. Pillow, Mr. Thirsty. Dumb names for everything." Stan thinks for a moment. "Not gonna name the pillow. Might burn it once my chest is healed all the way."
Stan's eyes flick over to his mom. He sighs as she gives him a dirty look. she's probably sick of his shit. Maybe a weekend at his dads would give her a break, but Stan didn't want to be in pain trapped on that lonely farm with his dad and sister. "I'm sorry, mom." He says as he watches Dr Steels get the numbing stuff out.
Sharon squeezes his hand. "Don't be sorry, sweetie. Let's just get this done and you can rest at home. I know you don't like the dentist and already aren't feeling well."
"This is the worst. Well not the worst dental appointment but just, everything hurts and I'm sad. I just want to sleep the rest of the day." Stan groans.
Aaron feigns sadness. "Sorry I put you to sleep each time bud. I know, I talk a mile a minute." Flicks on the light overhead.
"I just…. it's okay, I guess. Everything is tiring. My body is adjusting to this new heart rhythm. It's exhausting. Wish they hadn't found it." Stan closes his eyes now.
Sharon glares. "Stanley Don't say things like that. What if they hadn't found it? I would hate to imagine if they never…" Her eyes start to water, but she tries to hide it quickly.
Aaron opens the left side of his mouth. "Okay Stan, I see you getting a little sleepy now so I'm going to put in the bite block to keep your mouth open."
"Mooom I would be fine. It was fine till they started treatment." The bite block is put in his mouth, and he just looks sadly at his crying mom. "Sorry."
Aaron fixes the bib, careful to not touch his chest. "You just relax there Stan. You're going to feel pretty numb starting on the right here and then I'll go over. Focus on your music and- oh wow, that lion just obliterated that gazelle!"
Stan tries to focus on Red Jumpsuit Apparatus and watches the screen. His eyes go over to his mom trying to collect herself in the corner and the dentist putting the stuff in his mouth. He feels his pulse raise and his head swim again. Stop it. This isn't the hospital. Your mom is crying since you're being an asshole, not because you're dying. Stan squeezes his eyes now, feeling guilty. He holds the pillow to himself, so he feels the pain in his chest, he deserves this.
Aaron carefully goes over his gums. "Starting to feel numb yet bud?"
Stan runs his tongue over his teeth and gums. Something about the cut off between his emotions and body scares him. Like when people were talking to him when he was in a coma. He nods but tears fall. He looks over at his mom again and hugs his pillow.
"You can do this, baby. It's just a cleaning. You've done this many times before." Sharon's voice is crackly like she's trying to hold back tears and failing miserably.
Was this how it was when he was being cardioverted? Just laying helpless surrounded by all these asshole doctors with his mom crying and watching. Stan takes in a sharp breath and shifts a little in his chair. Don't think don't think don't think. Just watch the lions and listen to your music. More tears fall as Stan lets out a little cry as Maya starts to clean his mouth.
Maya pulls back. "You okay, Stan?"
Stan shakes his head. "Mom, bring Kyle back. I'm sorry for making you cry."
Sharon goes to wipe her tears with a tissue. "you're doing good so far. Don't worry about me."
Stan let's out another frightened cry and closes his eyes. "No, no, no. Please no. Sorry mom. Sorry. I don't want to die." His hands start to shake now. "Just go, mom. Bring Kyle."
Sharon nods and leaves. A few tense moments as Maya and Dr Steels resume their work on his teeth.
Stan can't help but think of everyone he's hurt. He crashed and stressed Wendy out so badly he made her pass out. What kind of asshole does that? Everyone would be better off without me. Stan watched a lion tear into a carcass of a gazelle on tv, he started to cry over his own impending doom. The blood on the screen, was his surgery like that? Stan puts a shaking hand to his neck, feeling his pulse again, trying to make sure he wasn't just imagining it or was something wrong. "Kyle?" He says with a muffled voice.
A hand reaches out and grabs his as he can see Kyle looking over him. "Dude, you need to calm down. Deep breath, in and out. Hold my hand. Listen to your music. Watch the lions. I'm sorry but we need to do this, so it doesn't get any worse."
Stan looks at more of the blood on screen, imagining his own disgusting surgery and death. He starts to hyperventilate a bit. He shakes his hands and closes his eyes, trying to count backwards to calm himself down. He feels his stomach turn as Maya scrapes away at his teeth and gums. "Turn it off." He says. "Turn it off, I can't see that blood. Please."
Kyle looks alarmed at Stan's words. "What are you talking about? there's no blood. You're okay, calm down, you can do this."
"There's blood there's blood they're gonna cut me open and there's blood everywhere. It's disgusting." Stan stares ahead. "Please."
Kyle is torn with giving into his cries and going through with this. He couldn't continue going about this way. "Stan, you're at the dentist. You're just having your teeth cleaned. Take deep breaths in and out. There is no surgery. I wouldn't be able to talk to you if you were in surgery."
"I'm gonna pull through. I know I had a hard time coming back but dammit keep that fucking pacer away from me." Stan closes his eyes.
Maya looks at Dr Steels. "Should we keep going? He's making me worried."
Aaron places a hand on the boy's shoulder. "Stan? Be honest. Do you think you can have us finish up? Your mouth is already numb so it's up to you if you want to go home with a full numb mouth without having any more work done. We still have to adjust your braces as well."
Stan has his eyes closed. "Don't kill me, don't. I'll come back please. I know I'll come back. Don't give up." He's muttering to himself.
Aaron shuts the tv off and tries to ignore Stan's muttering. "Hang in there Stan buddy, we are almost done. Maya? Hand over the ultrasonic wash. We should be finished in ten minutes tops kiddo."
Stan just moans and shakes as he's getting his teeth worked on. He reaches a hand out for Kyle, the other hand across his pillow.
"You're almost done. You are being so brave." Kyle tells him.
"I'm tired of being brave, I'm just tired." Stan curls his legs up slightly and shuts his eyes.
Kyle keeps hold of his hand. "When we get home you can sleep and relax as long as you want. But they're almost done. Let's follow through with this."
"Maya, suction." Came Dr. Steel's voice.
Maya suctions Stan's mouth. "You're doing great, we're just finishing up the top right.
"I'm gonna make it, it'll be tough, but I'll come back. My heart." Stan sobs a little bit again.
Aaron frowns as he works. "I know kiddo. I'm sorry. But hey, looks like your bottom right premolar is finally lifting into place. That's good, isn't it?"
"I guess. Crappy health, crappy teeth, now a bad heart." Stan gags a bit as he quickly suctioned.
Aaron moves the tools away. "Doing okay Stan? Feel like you might get sick? Or can you stick it out for a few more minutes?"
Stan shakes his head and quickly sits up and starts to throw up over the side of the dentist chair.
Kyle sighs and helps sit up Stan quickly, trying not to look at the pained expression on his face. He hands him a trash can to throw up in.
"Let's clean you up Stan. It's okay, no worries. Happens often." Aaron tells him gently.
Stan coughs painfully and groans. He opens his mouth to let the dentist clean out his mouth. "I just want to go to sleep." He says.
Kyle puts an arm around his shoulders. "You can sleep as soon as they're done here."
"Sometimes I think you'd be better off without me." Stan sniffs as a tear falls.
Kyle glares and takes his arm away. "don't you ever ever say that or think that ever again. Stupid asshole."
"K…. are you done yet? I feel terrible." Stan asks Dr Steels.
Aaron moves the tools aside and clicks off the light. "Okay, I think that does it Stan. We are all done for today. Dr. Zephyr will be in soon."
Dr Steels gives one last grin, but it's tinged with sadness and concern. Maya leaves to take the trash to be cleaned.
"Well, you're almost done, how does it feel?" Kyle said, trying to stay optimistic.
"Jesus Christ, that's horrible. I feel like I'm back in the hospital and someone's going to give me more bad news." Stan uses Kyle's hand to pull himself up.
"Well what bad news can they really give you here? It's just a cleaning and changing up a few things to your braces, isn't it?"
"I know I just can't shake it that the heart doctor is going to come in and tell me I need something else scary I've never heard of. I know it's stupid." Stan wipes his eyes.
"It's not. It's a lot to take in still. You just got out a few days ago. I know you're having…nightmares still." Kyle gets up to hug him carefully.
"I know when we have to actually go back to the hospital for appointments it will be hard on me. I hate that place. I could've never left." Stan starts to cry now. "I don't want to cry in front of the hot dental assistant. Goddammit." He wipes his eyes on his pillow.
"I don't think she'll care if you do Stan. But let it out now before the ortho dude comes in." Kyle pulls him into a tighter hug.
Stan keeps the pillow between them but grabs Kyle and cries into his jacket a bit.
Kyle holds onto him for the next few minutes, ignoring the looks he got from a couple passing teens.
A moment later a man with graying black hair arrives. "Stan? Hey there son, how are you today?" Says Dr. Zephyr in his softer voice.
Stan looks up and wipes his eyes. "I've been better."
Dr. Zephyr smiles at Kyle. "And who's this young man?"
Kyle takes out a hand to shake. "Kyle. Stan's best friend."
Dr. Zephyr shakes his hand back. "Hello then Kyle, nice of you to show up for Stan today."
Kyle nods. "Yeah, least I could do."
Dr Zephyr sits down and looks over the notes in the computer. "So, Stan, I hear you recently had heart surgery. I'm sorry to hear that."
"Yeah emergency. That and so much more." Stan clutched at his pillow again.
Dr. Zephyr clicks on a few things on the computer screen nearby. "Okay. Seems as if no negative reaction to your medication. That's good. We've missed you kiddo. It's been seven weeks!" He gives a little chuckle.
"I was also in a coma for a bit. Heart stopped a lot. Uhhh, I have my reasons, go easy on me." Stan sinks in his chair, eyes going between Kyle, Maya, and the Doctor
Dr. Zephyr nods. "of course, of course. I won't touch your chest area at all. Is it all right if I take a look, son?
"Fine." Stan sighs.
"All right then. Let's see how things are looking this time around." Dr Zephyr snaps on gloves, and slowly leans chair back. "Feeling okay so far Stan?"
"Uh huh." Stan holds a hand out for Kyle.
Great. The score clicks on the light and makes some adjustments. "Now open up for me, son."
"you're doing great dude." Kyle reassures again.
Stan feels a tear go down his cheek. Something about the smell of the doctor's gloves, the light, and the environment he lets out a little cry as more tears fall.
Kyle pats the back of his hand. "Hey, you got this dude. If you, didn't you wouldn't even be here or would have done it all the other times. You're doing great Stan."
"Ah haah." Stan says, squeezing Kyle.
"Maya? Would you mind wiping Stan's tears for him please?" Dr Zephyr hums as he pulls back his lips and feels around each bracket.
Stan is embarrassed but Maya takes a Kleenex and gently wipes his eyes. She leans over and puts a hand on his forehead. He reminded him of something his mom would do, he did not like this.
"Looks like your bottom right lateral incisor does not want to pair up with your canine Stan!" The doctor Chuckles slightly as he moves his explorer over the small gap between the teeth. "We've been having trouble trying to close this gap."
Kyle leans to look.
"Ah hah?" Stan didn't know what the fuck the doctor was talking about. Stupid Kyle. He squeezes his hand again
"What will you do about that?" Kyle asks the doctor.
Dr Zephyr rolls back in his chair. "I think I'll start off with a stronger wire, a niti 18x25. Then throw on a power band on the bottom row to hopefully add some more tension to bring this tooth here up. Maya? Can you get me the niti 18x25?"
"Here you go doctor." She passed him the wrapped wire. "Doing okay Stan?"
"Uh huh." More tears dripped down Stan's face.
Kyle grabbed a Kleenex to wipe his face. "you're doing good dude. Really good. When I tell your mom she'll be really happy too."
"Hah." Stan almost starts laughing at this. "Thanks, other mom." He mumbles.
"You see Kyle, when a person first starts off with braces the first few adjustments use a thinner flexible wire since the teeth are still learning to move in their new positions. But later on in the treatment we move up the wire size to something like this." Dr Zephyr holds up wire. "To add more tension to the teeth. This wire is springier than those first ones we use."
"Wow, that's pretty neat." Kyle says halfheartedly.
Stan shuts his eyes; tears are overflowing now. He looks up embarrassed as Maya wipes his face again, like he's a little kid.
"I'm going to size the wire just right." Dr. Zephyr snips off ends. "And now I'm going to slide it in. See these tiny holes to the bands in the back? The wire slips right in. I will slowly and carefully adjust the wire over the brackets, so it fits right where it needs to go. Then snip the wire in the back so it's not poking your friend's cheek."
"Stan I'm sorry just a little more time. You should see how cool it looks." Kyle says.
Stan shakes a little as he lets out another cry. The universe took pleasure in his suffering. He let Kyle's hand go and hugged at his pillow. Trying to not get upset and just breathe against the soft fabric. What a baby he was.
Dr Zephyr adjusts the new wires quickly. "Okay Stan! Now the fun part! What color do you want for your elastics and power band this time?"
"Violet and...green." Stan says bitterly. He looks at Kyle.
Kyle grins back at him.
Dr Zephyr nods. "Nice choice. Do you want all violet on the top and bottom with a green power chain? Or a pattern?"
"Pattern." Stan says flatly.
Dr Zephyr begins to loop the new violet ties on. He then loops one long strand of what looks like ties to the bottom row in green.
"Looking good, Stan." Kyle says.
"I'll think of you when I smile. I might not smile much if you're too annoying, Kyle." Stan says, rolling his eyes.
Dr Zephyr pulls back now. "Okay, I'm all done here son. Now this is your first power chain so you might feel a little more tension and pressure on your bottom teeth for a couple days but that's normal, Stan."
"Done? Thanks. Kyle, can you help me up?" Stan asks.
Kyle helps Stan sit up carefully. Stan holds his hands to his eyes for a minute, then goes over to look at his new braces in the mirror. "Green is so weird. I look ready for Halloween in May. Oh well."
Kyle claps a hand on his back. "It looks cool dude. The green you chose isn't too bright. It goes well with the violet."
"I guess it's a reminder of everything." Stan puts an arm around Kyle in a quick hug. "Okay let's get the fuck out of here." Stan smiles his Halloween smile at him.
Sharon looks up to see her son coming around the corner. She gets up to greet him.
Stan flashes a grin at her. "All done. Can we leave now?"
Sharon gives him a kiss on the cheek. "Oh, you look so cute sweetie! Just a minute, I need to schedule your next appointment."
Stan sits down. He sees the little girl still playing as her own mother is getting her older sister with braces ready to leave. Stan pulls Kyle with him and goes to sit with her at the toys. "Thank you, little girl. That was really nice of you. You sure you want me to keep your cupcake?" Stan asks.
"I want you to get much better and smile mister boogerface." The little girl tells him as she plays with Legos.
"That's not my name. My name is Stan. You did make me feel better." He puts the heart pillow to his chest but opens his arms up so he can hug the little girl. She smiles as she hugs him back.
Sharon returns a moment later. "Okay Stan, your next appointment is in four weeks. Ready to go?"
Stan looks up from making a Lego house with the little girl. "Ok, mom. Thanks. Nice seeing you, Victoria. You always stay so kind." He gives her a little hug again and she smiles. She goes to hug Sharon around the legs and hugs Kyle as well.
"Be nice." She tells Kyle, frowning.
Kyle laughs. "I'll try to, just for you."
"Sorry I have no more toys for you, Kyle." Victoria says.
Kyle shakes his head, getting down to her level. "that's fine, I get plenty from my little brother."
She smiles and runs back to her mom and sister. The sister also smiles a metal mouth smile at Stan. He returns the smile as he asks Kyle for help off the floor.
Kyle reaches over carefully. "Just tell me if you hurt, Stan."
Sharon bends down as well. "Do you want an extra hand, sweetie?"
"Yeah, I can use the support from both sides. Sorry I got on the floor." Stan holds his arms up to his mom and Kyle.
Sharon goes to his right and Kyle takes the left and they slowly help Stan to his feet.
Stan winces in pain but doesn't want to cry out and scare the little girl and her family. He waves and makes his way to the door.
He can hear the girl tell her sister. "He has a broken heart, but I helped make it better."
He tries not to tear up as he leaves the dental office.