Northern Districts Hospital
"I'm not talking back, I'm just saying I was told I was allowed to be discharged if I did well in my physio, and if I did my meds by myself. I've done great at both of them so why can't I leave?" Kyle moans, starting to get angry.
"You've already been told why, Kyle, and we won't be going through it all again!" Brax huffs. "If Nate doesn't think you're ready, then you're not ready, just accept that!"
"No! If Nate doesn't discharge me then I'm going to discharge myself, I'm not staying in here another night!" Kyle firmly says.
"Kyle, I would really advise against discharging yourself. All I said was I think you should stay in for another day or two until the pain in your skull has subsided. The pain meds we give you here are stronger than the ones given to outpatients so you would benefit greatly staying here." Nate explains. "You are going to find it extremely hard trying to navigate anything at home with the pain you've been getting and we can monitor it closely here in hospital. I'm not asking for a lot, it's one night, maybe two at the most and you're the one that would be grateful for the results."
"I don't care if I'm going to be in a lot of pain, I won't be here! I know it's going to hurt, it does all the time anyway but you said my skull is healing really well and shouldn't take much longer, so I am going home." Kyle says.
"Seriously, Kyle!" Brax hisses. "Will you just listen for once in your life!"
"Okay, why don't we all take a breather and talk about this another time?" Emily suggests, thinking it was best to get involved before it got any more aggressive between the two brothers. "Baby, is it really that bad to stay here one more night?"
"You're siding with them?" Kyle glares.
"No, I'm siding with what's best for you. Nate knows what he's talking about and I don't want to see you in any more pain. I don't think an extra night is going to do you any harm." Emily says.
"It won't do me any harm in going home either! That nurse didn't give me any pain meds last night and no one else would, so I think I'll be fine to go home. It can't be any worse than the treatment I've got here!" Kyle huffs.
"I'm sorry that happened to you Kyle, but you slept through most of it." Nate says, needing Kyle to understand that discharging himself isn't the best thing to do.
"I slept through it because the pain was enough to knock me out. Maybe you should be out there telling your staff how to do their jobs instead of telling me I'm not allowed to leave." Kyle glares.
"Are you listening to yourself?" Brax asks. "You just said the pain was enough to knock you out, so why do you want to go home where the pain meds are nothing like you'll get here?"
"I'm sure I could ask Heath to get some stronger stuff from his dealer mates, or even some River Boys might help me out. They seem to like me a bit better now."
"Don't even joke about that! I don't care if I have to hold you hostage here all night, you are not leaving until Nate agrees that it's safe!" Brax says in a tone to end the conversation, but Kyle was too wound up to care about the trouble he could get in.
"I'm 21 now, which means you can't control me! I want to go home and I will whether you like it or not!" Kyle says.
"You won't be coming back to my house, so where does that leave you? Heath won't let you stay at his, he's not stupid enough to go against something this serious." Brax says.
"There's the motel, the caravan park, or I could stay at Emily's." Kyle says.
"I can't allow that, I think this is the best place for you." Emily says.
"So you do side with them!"
"You're not ready to leave yet or Nate would agree to discharge you. I'm thinking about what's best for you, Kyle, maybe you should as well." Emily says, knowing Nate wouldn't be so against it for no reason.
"Well I'm leaving this hospital today whether you're with me or not. It's my choice and nothing is going to stop me." Kyle says.
"Why can't you just listen for once?" Brax asks.
"Because I don't want to stay here, is that not obvious enough?" Kyle shouts. "I was just starting to get my life back on and now I'm stuck here all the time and you don't understand how lonely it gets in here! I'm missing out on so much and I just want to feel normal for once!"
"Why didn't you tell me that in our chat the other day?" Nate asks.
"I think when I said I want to be discharged would have made it clear." Kyle retorts.
"Kyle, stop with this attitude. We just want to help you." Brax says.
"How about I make you a deal?" Nate says, seeing Kyle look a little confused.
"What deal?" Kyle asks.
"I'll let you go home for the day, as long as you stay in overnight for another review tomorrow?" Nate says.
"But I want to go home for good." Kyle says. "Discharge me for good or I'll discharge myself."
"You should have taken the deal. What's wrong with staying one night just to see if you'll be better tomorrow?" Brax asks.
"I'm getting fed up with saying the same thing over and over so all of you just get out!" Kyle glares, shifting to the edge of his bed to stand up when Brax grabs the crutches first.
"Won't get far without these." Brax says, Kyle glaring harshly at him.
"When did you become so horrible?" Kyle asks.
"Since you decided to not listen to a doctor on what's best for you." Brax says. "I can stand here and argue with you all day if I have to, I know I won't be backing down."
"If you're worried about being alone outside of visiting hours, I can arrange for you to have a visitor stay with you. You've got options. I know your counsellor is keen to get a session in, maybe we could arrange for that to take place this afternoon?" Nate says, not getting a reply. "Kyle, did you hear what I said?"
"Giving us the silent treatment now?" Brax scoffs. "That's fine, just know that I won't be letting you out of my sights, so don't even think about doing anything stupid like discharging yourself."
"I hate you all!" Kyle huffs. "What's the difference between going home today, and going home tomorrow? Cause I don't see one. I've done great in my physio, and I'm doing great at doing the meds myself. I will deal with the pain myself, I don't need hospital grade stuff when I'm in pain even with it."
"I'm taking that as you're not on about physical pain?" Nate asks. "Are you starting to struggle more than you're letting on to us? I know you're lonely, but what else are you feeling?"
"You're not my counsellor so back off." Kyle glares, just as Heath walked in with Lucas.
"Woah, what have we walked in on?" Heath asks.
"Do not even go there." Brax warns before turning back to Kyle. "You're going to that counselling session this afternoon and you will be staying here another night, maybe two if needed. I will not stand for you being like this, so this ends now."
"I don't know why I ever thought you were the best brother to have, you're just like dad in a lot of ways and I'm glad he's dead. But at least he let me make my own choices." Kyle snaps.
"Kyle!" Lucas gasps, Brax shaking his head before walking out.
"What the hell has been going on?" Heath asks, wanting an answer as to why the room was extremely tense.
"Kyle's threatening to discharge himself even though he isn't quite ready." Emily says. "We've been trying to tell him it's best for him to stay another night, it's not going very well."
"If Nate says you need to stay another night, it's happening." Heath says.
"You out of everyone does not get a say in my life." Kyle glares, not happy he was on their side as well.
"You can say whatever you want to me, I can take it. So go ahead, tell me I'm like dad, tell me I'd be better off dead, and even tell me you'd kill me just to get discharged, I'm not letting it happen so toughen up baby bro, cause you're staying put!" Heath hisses, enough to make Kyle stay quiet for good. "Don't worry about this Nate, he's not going anywhere, I'll watch over him tonight to make sure."
"What about Bianca and Rocco?" Lucas asks.
"Well looks like I've got to miss a night with my newborn son because someone can't grow up." Heath says.
"I'll go and help her tonight, don't worry about them." Lucas smiles, excited to spend more time with his nephew, although he was worried about Kyle as well.