Operation

A few days later he was out of the ICU like they'd said and in a normal private room on a normal ward. Much to his annoyance he wasn't going to be let out for another week. Yes his stomach and legs still had to heal but he wanted out of here.

It also annoyed him that his legs were basically useless for the moment. Thanks to those damn dogs he wouldn't be able to walk out of here. He knew they'd been sewn up even though they were completely covered by bandages for the time-being. He'd had a look one night just to see where all the bandages were. He'd seen they covered his wrists, abdomen and the whole of his legs. When he'd seen them he slammed his hands on the bed and laid his head on the pillow frustrated. He was just thankful he had a pair of boxers on.

Thinking about his boxers he looked up to his father remembering something. "Dad?" he asked nervously.

"Yes son," she answered looking up to see him looking curious.

"Why? Why do you still have your...?" he asked nervously tipping his head down at his privates. She looked down so he added, "You don't have to tell me."

"No, I do," she answered looking up swallowing the lump in her throat and feeling tears prick her eyes. She turned away and added, "I couldn't make the complete change without the people that meant the most to me. I knew I couldn't be completely happy with them even if I wasn't anatomically complete. My dream was to have my family by my side as I gained my coveted vagina."

He tried to reach for her hand and when he succeeded he answered, "Oh dad, book the operation. You have me back now plus a grandson and I know the team will stand by your side. We're all basically family."

"Oh Aaron, are you really alright with all this? Are you really alright with me being a woman?" she answered looking back at him.

"Dad, I'm glad to see you so happy at last. I can clearly see this is the real you and I'm enjoying getting to know you finally. I can see from my childhood that you were battling an inner battle and you've won that, dad, by becoming the woman you are today."

"Oh Aaron, I'm so sorry for the way I treated you as a child..." she answered looking down.

"Dad, you don't need to," he answered attempting to sit up but his stomach wouldn't let him. Neither would his dad who pushed him gently back down reminding him he could pull his stitches if he succeeded and be rushed back in for even more emergency surgery. He conceded reluctantly but knowing he didn't really want to go back to ICU. "I can see it from the moment we reunited. You don't need words, dad, I've seen it in your actions. I've seen it in the way you've cared for me over the last few days. You've more than made up for it."

"Oh Aaron."

"I love you, dad."

"I love you too, son," she replied carefully hugging him.

"Dad, go and get that operation booked. The sooner it's booked the sooner you're finally complete and I want that for you as much as you do."

She smiled. "Thanks son."

"Anytime," he smiled back.

She left just as Jack, Jessica and Dave came and he smiled even more to see them. He looked forward to his son's visits every day and hoped soon he'd be able to go home to him.

"Dad," he shouted hugging him carefully.

"Hey buddy," he smiled hugging him back.

"You feeling any better today?" he asked letting him go.

"A little but just wish I could get back home to you."

"You will be soon enough, dad. You just need to become a little stronger and then you'll be home and I can take care of you..." Aaron smiled at how sweet his son was and nodded. "Grandpa too..." That made him smile even more then Jack looked concerned and a little upset.

"What is it, buddy?" he asked worried.

"Will grandpa stay with us? I don't want her to go away again," he answered vulnerably.

"Why don't you ask her herself?" he asked smiling up at his dad and Spencer as they walked through the door.

Spencer also hadn't really left his side since he was admitted into hospital and his dad seemed to be backing him up to the doctors. He was glad of that fact because it lifted his heart that Spencer was also there for him all the time. Maybe there was a chance for them. He had to admit there was no-one he loved more than Spencer and it seemed he felt the same for him. His father seemed to encourage it as well.

"Of course I am," she smiled. "There's nowhere I'd rather be than with your dad and you."

Jack beamed back at her while Aaron asked, "So is it booked?"

She nodded beaming. "Two weeks Tuesday I'll be completely and anatomically correct," she beamed.

Dave hugged her close to him and smiled, "I'm so happy for you, darling..." He kissed her hair and she snuggled up to him. They hadn't quite confessed their feelings to each other yet but they knew something was there. She didn't want to enter any relationships until she was anatomically correct and she was a little wary about entering a relationship with him even though she'd fallen for him due to him being Aaron's best friend. She didn't want to cause any awkwardness between them.

"Thanks," she smiled blushing up at him. They all smiled back at them thinking they'd make such a great couple. Aaron knew they were worried about how he'd take it but he just wanted to see the two of them happy. He'd even encourage it if he had to.

"What does anatomically correct mean?" Jack asked confused.

"It means grandpa will be and look like a complete woman," Aaron smiled.

"Yay!" Jack exclaimed. "High five grandpa!"

Everyone smiled as they shared a high five.