Chapter 19: Together Makes Sense
"I'm on the long way home..." Thomas sang using his guitar in his room. Thomas wrote down some more lyrics until there was a knock at the door. "Come in," Thomas said getting ready to play more strings. Bluey walked into the room and greeted her brother. "Hey, there, Thomas, Mum said we're leaving soon," Bluey said standing in the door. "Okay, tell her I just need to get ready and I'll be outside in a jiffy" Thomas said as he put down his guitar and grabbed his pills from his night stand. "What do those taste like?" Bluey asked looking at Thomas's pill bottle. Thomas stopped what he was doing and looked at his pills and then at Bluey. "They're nasty," Thomas said putting them away. "Are they like candy?" Bluey asked. "No little sister they're not like that," Thomas trying to shoo his sister out of his room.
"Then why do you have to take them?" Bluey asked as she and Thomas left his room. "Because... um... I just do..." Thomas said as he grabbed Bluey and Bingo's bag from the living room after they came downstairs. "Why can't I know!" Bluey protested, as they got out of the house and headed towards the car. "Because your too young to know," Thomas said as he placed his sisters bags in the car and then went to go get his bag. "But I want to know now!" Bluey begged. Thomas groaned before thinking of an idea. "Here take these ones," Thomas said as he handed his sister ticTac's.
"Breath mints?" Bluey asked looking down at them. Thomas should've have known Bluey was too smart for this. "Trust me those ones are made just for you and Bingo," Thomas explained hoping Bluey with understand. "But they're breath mints," Bluey said looking up at her older brother. At that moment, Bingo arrived. "Why do you have Thomas's pills?" Bingo asked walking up to her sister. "See, Bingo gets it," Thomas said as he went for his bag. "But Thomas!" Bluey cried out to her brother.
"Okay, kids let's get some food in the belly's and then we're off!' Chilli said as she was finishing making their breakfast. Thomas walks up to the kitchen and sits down at the chair, while putting down his bag. "Is dad coming?" Thomas asked as Chilli placed down some eggs and bacon. "Your father has a meeting at the museum for some bones he found," Chilli said, getting the girls breakfast ready. "Go dad," Thomas said eating his breakfast. "Did you take your pills? You must take them with food," Chilli reminded. "Yeah I got them," Thomas said taking two pills out and took them with food. Bluey saw this and took the breath mints and did the same as her brother with her breath mints.
After they have finished breakfast, Chilli and the kids got into the car, with Thomas sitting on the front and the girls at the back seat, each one on their respective child seat. As they were on the way to Chilli's dad's, Thomas decided to take a sleep, so, following the advice Dr. Beagle had given him before the end of their first therapy session, he put his phones on, connecting them to his phone, and put on play a calm song that would help him relax and have a good sleep. It didn't take long for him to fall asleep. Noticing his stepson sleeping peacefully, Chilli couldn't help but make a smile, as she was happy to see Thomas was having the rest he deserved.
Meanwhile, Bluey continued to think about Thomas' pills, while looking at the breath mints. She didn't understand why Thomas wouldn't let her take some of his. "Mum, Thomas won't let me try some of his pills," Bluey said. "And he did the right thing, those things are not for you, Bluey," Chilli said, while driving. "But why can he take them, but I can't?" Bluey asked. "Because he needs them, sweetie," Chilli told. "Why does he need them?" Bingo asked. "He didn't have to take them before," she observed. "Well… do you two remember when Thomas went to the hospital?" Chilli asked, while trying to find the right words to use. "Yeah…" the two girls said at the same time. "It was scary…" Bingo told. "Well, those pills help him to get better, so he doesn't get sick again," Chilli explained. "Oh, so they're magic?" Bingo asked, with an excited smile. "I guess you can say that… but those pills are not little kids, so don't even try to take them, okay?" Chilli said. "Okay, mommy" Bingo replied, promptly. "Yeah…" Bluey said, still a little puzzled.
After some time, Chilli finally arrived to her father's farm and, while parking, she noticed he was cutting some wood. "Seriously, that grandad of yours doesn't really know when to take a rest," Chilli said, while getting out. "Dad, what are you doing?! You still haven't recovered completely from your surgery." Noticing them, he said. "Oh, hey, Chilli, hey, girls!" he greeted. "Hi, grandad!" the girls greeted from inside the car, while they got out. "Don't worry, sweetie, I'm just preparing some wood for the fire, we need to do lunch somehow," he replied, as the girls came to him. That caused Chilli to roll her eyes, while smiling. "Some things never change…"
She then went to Thomas' side, opening the door and then taking his headphones out. "Thomas, sweetie, wake up…" she said softly. Despite she tried to wake him up as quiet as possible, Thomas woke up a little agitated. "It's okay, it's okay, it's just me," Chilli said. "Mom… I'm sorry, I… I was just expecting it," Thomas replied. "It's okay, sweetie, I just wanted to tell you that we're here," Chilli told. "Oh really?" Thomas asked, while looking around, taking out his seatbelt and getting out. "Wow, this place is beautiful, I've never seen so much green," Thomas admired. "I grew up here, so my opinion is a little bias, but I guess you're right, this is beautiful," Chilli said.
"Come, my dad is there with the girls, he can't wait to mee his new grandson," she said. "Grandson… So I have a new grandfather…" Thomas said. "Is that okay…?" Chilli asked, hoping she was not forcing things with her stepson. "Actually, yes, it's okay, I guess… there's no such thing as too much grandfathers," Thomas replied, causing Chilli to get very happy. The two of them approached the girls and the grandfather. "Hey, dad, there's someone special I want you to meet," Chilli said. He turned to Thomas, who raised his hand. "Hey there, it's nice to meet you, sir," Thomas greeted. "Sir? Come on, mate, don't be so formal, call me grandad… or grandad Scout… or whatever grandfather name you want to call me," the old heeler said, going for a hug. "After all, we are family… even if not blood related," Scout added. "Oh, okay… grandad," Thomas said, while making a smile.
"Grandad, can we show Thomas the canoes?" Bingo asked. That caused Chilli to look immediately to her father with a warning look that Thomas knew well. "Why not wait until after lunch for that? We can show the farm to Thomas instead" Scout asked. "Yeah!" the girls exclaimed, as they started running and Scout followed them. "That was weird…" Thomas commented to Chilli. "It's just grandad Scout had heart surgery some months ago and he needs to go easy a little bit," she told. "Oh, I see…" Thomas said. "But don't worry, he is still full of energy, let's go, you'll love the farm."
Thomas walked around the farm with his family, as Bluey and Bingo were showing him around. Chilli and her father were talking while following. "Thomas play with us in the hay!" Bingo said said jumping in the hay with Bluey. "I think I'm good over here," Thomas said with a smile while watching his sister playing. "I see," Scout said looking at his daughter. "How's Bandit taking it?" Scout asked. "You know him, dad, very high mighty when it comes to his kids taking medication, but he's taking it quite well," Chilli said "Good I'm glad," Scout said before looking to his grandchildren. "Alright kiddos whose ready to eat?" Scout said with a smile. "We are!" Bluey and Bingo said jumping out of the hay. Scout chuckled before saying. "I'll race you back to the house!" Scout shouted as he started to go.
"Dad you really should take it easy!" Chilli called to her father. Scout and the girls were already half way to the house. "Mom?" Thomas said beside Chilli. "Yes sweetheart?" Chilli said looking to her stepson. "I heard you and dad talking about losing your mom," Thomas said as he and Chilli walked to the house. "Oh, so you weren't asleep huh?" Chilli chuckled. "Well not exactly but I just wanted to know how did you do it for all these years of now having her around?" Thomas asked. "Well I had my dad as my main support and time gets easier as it goes along," Chilli explained. Thomas nodded in response. "Does ever bother that I call you mom?" Thomas asked. Chilli stop in her tracks and looked at Thomas. "No, because you are just as much as my son as Bluey and Bingo are my daughters. Just like granddad Scout said blood doesn't make family," Chilli said, placing her hand on Thomas's shoulder, causing him to smile. "Come on! You slow pokes!" Scout said from the house.
"We better get to the food before your granddad has a cow," Chilli said with a laugh. Thomas laugh in response as he and his stepmom went down to the house. After lunch Bingo and Thomas went outside to play while Bluey stayed inside with her granddad. Bluey then noticed that her grandfather had to take some pills for his heart. "Granddad? Do you take pills like Thomas's does?" Bluey asked. "Well, we take pills for different reasons, but… yes, we both take them so we can get better," Scout replied. "But, if this pills make people better, why can't I take them too?" Bluey asked. "Well, Bluey, think about this, pills can make sick people become better, but what do you think that happens when healthy people takes them?" Scout asked. "They… get sick?" Bluey said, while Scout nodded. "Exactly, that's why you can't take them," he replied. "Oh… okay, now I understand, thanks for explaining it to me, grandad," Bluey replied, while hugging him. "You're welcome, Bluey," he replied, while hugging her back.
Outside, Bingo and Thomas were playing tag. At that moment, the former was it, but she managed to tag Thomas (with him allowing her to get him in order to not make her feel bad. "Tag, you're it!" she exclaimed, giggling, while starting to run. Thomas was about to go after her, when he felt an urgent need. "Bingo, I'm going to the bathroom, just hang on a second, okay?" he told her. "Okay," she replied. Thomas went inside and, after coming out of the bathroom, he noticed something in the living room. Going there, he saw that Chilli, sitting on an armchair, while looking to a framed picture. Even from where he was, Thomas could see the picture clearly: it was the picture of a much younger Chilli, hugging a red heeler that looked a lot like her. She could only be her mother. Chilli was watching that picture with a tender smile, but also with some sadness in her look.
At that moment, Thomas couldn't help but feeling himself thinking about his own mother and how sad he would get when seeing a picture of her, smiling happily while by his side. Unwillingly, he started to let that thought to take over him, starting to find breathing harder to do, causing him to be at the edge of hyperventilating. He knew what was happening, he was at the beginning of a panic attack. "Mom…" he called, using as less air as possible. Chilli turned and saw Thomas. Realizing what was happening, she got up and went to him. "Thomas, sweetie…" she said. "I think… I'm having…" he said. "I know, I know, just take deep breaths, not short ones, I'll help you," Chilli said, as she took deep breaths with Thomas.
Thomas started to take control of his breathing, but he was still in a panic state. "Where're your pills?" Chilli asked. "My bag…" Thomas replied, while keeping his deep breaths. "Bluey, can you come here?" Chilli called. "Yes, mum?" Bluey said, as she approached. When she saw what was happening, she started to remember the day Thomas went to the hospital. "Mommy, is Thomas okay?" she asked. "He just needs his pills, can you go get them to his bag?" Chilli asked. "Yeah…" she said, while getting out. As she got out, Scout came in. "Dad, I need your help," Chilli said. "Of course, let's get him to the couch," Scout replied. He and Chilli were able to bring Thomas to the couch and, by the time they had him sitting there, Bluey was back with his pills. After taking one, Thomas just let it take effect, while keeping making deep breaths.
"Are you okay, sweetie?" Chilli asked Thomas. "Better…" he replied. "I'm sorry, I just couldn't help it…" Thomas said. "You don't have to excuse yourself, kid, you're still healing, it's normal things like these happen" Scout said, noticing then Bluey looking at Thomas, scared. "Hey, Bluey, why don't we go get Bingo and have a snack?" Scout asked. "Okay…" she said. As they went out, Chilli articulated the word 'thank you' to him, with her father nodding to her in response. "Do you want to talk about it?" Chilli asked Thomas. "It all started when I saw you watching that picture… the one with your mother… it made me remember the times I would see the picture of mine mom, I could remember the sadness I used to feel and once that thought came to me… it was like trying to stop a rolling snowball," Thomas told. "I'm sorry if I made you feel like that," Chilli said. "It's not your fault, mom, I just related your pain with mine, I just couldn't handle it…" Thomas told. "But you will, with time and care, you will get control over your own emotions," Chilli replied. "With a family like this, I don't doubt that," Thomas replied, causing Chilli to give him a big smile and then a kiss on his forehead.
At the kitchen, Scout was with the girls. While Bingo was eating her snack, Bluey was just staring at hers. Her grandad noticed that. "Are you okay, mate?" he asked her. "No… I can't stop thinking about Thomas," she said. "I know, kid, it can be pretty scary, but Thomas is strong and he'll be okay," Scout told her. "Now I know why the pills are important to him, and I'm not going to bother him again about it," Bluey said, while looking to the breath mints Thomas had given her. "That's good, very good," Scout said. "Bluey, can I get a breath mint?" Bingo asked. "Of course, Bingo, you can have them all, if you want," Bluey replied, while giving the mints to her little sister. "Thank you, Bluey," she thanked, while taking a mint.
Later that night Thomas laid in between his sisters with Bingo on Thomas's left side and Bluey on his rights. Bluey toss and turned with a whimper or two. "Bluey?" Thomas said, waking up his little sister. "Huh?" Bluey said as she yawned. "Are you having a bad dream?" Thomas asked. "Yeah I guess I was," Bluey said sitting up. Thomas sat up and made sure Bingo was still sleeping before talking to Bluey. "What's on your mind little sister?" Thomas asked. "I'm sorry for bothering about your pills today," Bluey said looking down. "Hey, it's okay you were just curious and you know what?" Thomas said pulling his sister closer to him. "What?" Bluey asked looking up to her brother. "I was curious about them when I first got them," Thomas confessed.
"Really? How so?" Bluey asked now interested. "Well, I've never taking them before and so I doubted them at first because I thought I was too good for them," Thomas said. "Oh," Bluey said "but I hope you never have to take them," Thomas said kissing his sister on the head. "For real life?" Bluey asked. "Yes for real life, you know why?" Thomas asked. Bluey was now confused. "Why?" She asked. "Because I love that why you are, so bright and ready to take on the world," Thomas said with a smile. Bluey's worries seemed to go away as she hugged her brother tightly Thomas hugged his sister back and then lays her back down. "Good night little sister," Thomas said with a smile. "Good night big brother," Bluey said with a smile.
In the distance Thomas's phone was changing until it lit up from a text message.
Prince
Hey…
Kodiwolf321 A/N: Hey guys hope you enjoyed this chapter as much as we did making it for you I know this chapter probably got personal but the thought of it came from some experience as for the next chapter we're doing a Christmas swim remake! So see you in the next chapter soon!