On day four of his hospitalization Clay was feeling better and going stir crazy. Bravo had quickly made a rotational schedule that allowed Clay to almost continuously have a visitor. He knew who to expect and when but that only increased the monotony and his boredom. His day started each morning with a visit from Brock who would coach him through eating what the hospital called food for breakfast. Next Ray would stop by and update him on anything he could think to chitchat about, currently a project on rockets Jameelah was so excited to enter in the science fair. Jason would bring something edible for lunch and if Clay was lucky run scenarios to end the boredom for at least five minutes. Trent would stop in on his way home or like yesterday grab Serena first and visit until 'Wheel of Forture" started. Then it was Sonny's turn to attempt to occupy him. Sonny would either talk constantly or not at all, instead just watching the T.V. and being near.
The rotation was both comforting and an irritation, until today when Brock didn't come for breakfast. Clay tried to reason that he was doing better and possibly being released today, therefore he didn't need a visitor. He watched the clock until Ray should have come and that time passed too. He tried not to worry about what was happening or why no one had let him know about the change.
He was just resigning himself to eat hospital lunch when the nurse stepped into the room. "No brothers today?" Her smile was kind but her words stung in a way he wasn't expecting.
"Nah, not today." His mind flashed to weeks spent alone in the hospital. A time when Swanny would remember to visit most days and Lisa brought a stuffed seal that became his only constant.
"That's okay, you'll be going home later anyway!" She again smiled kindly but this time it seemed almost patronizing to him.
The nurse left him alone once again. He watched the clock for what seemed like forever before he drifted to sleep mostly from the boredom. Distantly he smelled a cookout.
"Clay, hey Clay wake up." She stood at the far wall until his eyes cracked open. "Good morning, well afternoon."
"Hey." Clay sat up more as Serena stepped closer. "You brought food!" He smiled broadly.
"I did. Burgers and fries although I included a salad to pacify Trent. If he asks we had salad." She laughed softly while handing him a drink. "And smoothies not milkshakes, okay?"
"Deal." He laughed along with her. "Where is everyone today?"
"Honestly I'm not sure. Trent texted asking me to stop by with lunch but didn't say why and hasn't responded back." She unwrapped her burger with one hand the other casted now and in a sling.
"Probably can't." Clay took a bite of his burger.
"Yeah that's a thing." Sipping her milkshake she smiled around the straw.
The knock as the door opened caused them both to turn. "Mr. Spenser, I'm Dr. Faria from orthopedics. I've been asked to do a consult before you're discharged." The doctor was looking down as he stepped into the room.
"I'll go." Serena stood and turned to leave avoiding the doctor's line of sight.
"You can stay. Help me give Trent the right details." Clay looked between the doctor and Serena.
"It can be helpful to have someone to make sure the information is correct." The man looked up for the first time. "Oh, Mrs. Sawyer how is the cast feeling? First couple days it can be a bit strange."
"It's good." Serena tried to remain calm while screaming inside. She avoided looking toward Clay knowing she would not be able to hold a steady expression as he reacted to news they had decided to wait on telling.
"Good. Anyway Mr. Spenser I have reviewed all your xrays and scans and they look good. I don't see any orthopedic involvement so I went ahead and cleared you from our service." Dr. Faria smiled. "Take care and Mrs. Sawyer I'll see you next week."
"Yeah." She looked at the floor as the doctor left the room.
"So..." Clay smiled at her as her eyes remained on the blue and white tile. "Mrs. Sawyer?"
"He must have been confused." She glanced up at his smile. "You should eat."
"I am too then." Clay laughed. "You got follow-up treatment at a military hospital as a civilian? That must have been interesting."
"Yeah." Serena sipped her milkshake.
"For what it's worth I think it's good. He is different when you are around. I saw that when I first met you. That morning he seemed more relaxed and himself than I had ever seen him." Clay set his food aside.
"Everything is such a mess right now." She looked away.
"Is that?" Clay carefully moved to sit on the edge of the bed. "I mean do you regret it?"
"No! Not at all. Honestly marrying Trent is probably the smartest thing I've ever done." She exhaled while leaning forward.
"So not everything is a mess then." Clay sat closer. "I assume I'm not allowed to tell anyone?"
"Not really, no."
"Okay." He sat back and ate a French fry.
"It's just none of you really know me. I don't want you all to think I'm using him or something. It seems sudden, it was sudden. I want you to know me enough to know he didn't do this without thinking, to know this isn't a mistake." Serena rocked slightly as she spoke.
"Serena, we know Trent. We saw him when we weren't sure you would make it home and we know him. So no we really don't know you but... but we know him." Clay took another bite of his burger.
"You're a good friend, Clay Spenser."
Clay laughed as the door opened and Bravo moved into the room. "Healthy." Trent smiled as he shook his head at their lunches.
"Busted." Serena put three fries in her mouth before sipping her milkshake while smiling.
"There is lettuce on this burger and strawberries in the milkshake. Perfectly healthy." Clay laughed as he said it. "Also salad!" He held up the untouched and unopened side salad.
"And these?" Sonny stepped forward and grabbed Clay's fries. "Let me guess potatoes are a vegetable?" He ate a fry.
Ray smiled. "You ready to get out of here?"
"Four days ago." Clay sat forward.
"Well then let's get going." Trent waved his discharge paperwork at him.
"Uh umm I was sort of thinking maybe I could go stay with Sonny." Clay looked at Trent knowingly.
"You still need IV antibiotics. Your options are stay here for three more days or come home with me. What's the issue?" Trent's voice showed more annoyance than he expected as he wondered if Clay felt that the infection was his fault.
"Nothing. It's just you're taking care of two people with me there. Sonny can do an IV" Clay felt like an ass but also felt like their first week of marriage shouldn't include him.
"No. You stay with me or you stay here." Trent was tired and irritated. "I don't know what the damn issue is with me 'taking care of two people' is I've done it multiple times. You think landing back here is on me?"
"Trent, calm down." Jason stepped in to stop what was rapidly becoming an argument. "Clay if you don't want to go to Trent's you are staying here, up to you, Kid."
Trent stood to leave the room as Serena watched the exchange knowing the reason Clay was objecting. Suddenly it occurred to her that Clay was quite possibly just as stubborn as her new husband. Not knowing what to do or where the line was in this very new situation she sat quietly trying not to step on toes or mess with brother dynamics.
"I'm leaving call me if you decide not to stay here." Trent walked to the door.
"Trent, wait." Serena stood. "Clay isn't trying to be an ass... in fact he's trying not to be one. But you don't seem to mind filling that role." Serena took a step closer.
"You don't get it, Rena. You don't get how this works." Trent stepped closer to the door now angry at both.
"No, Trent. You don't get it. Your brother over there has wanted out of this place for the last four days but he's willing to stay here for you because he knows." Serena turned to look at Clay for an instant as she said it.
"Serena, you don't have to." Clay said it quietly like a guilty child.
"What? What does he know?" Trent looked between the two.
"He knows we got married." Serena said in softly but loud enough for the room to hear. "He's trying to be a good brother and you're pissed."
"Wait what?" Sonny looked around the room to see who else knew. "The Kid got the inside scoop?"
"Dr. Faria from orthopedics called her Mrs. Sawyer. She didn't just tell me." Clay looked like a kicked puppy for unintentionally causing them to share something they wanted to keep private.
Trent stood still watching his brother's reactions. Ray smiled, Brock smiled and nodded, Sonny looked slightly annoyed he hasn't known first, and Jason moved to give a gentle hug to Serena before pulling Trent into a hug as well.
"Congrats, brother!" Jason spoke.
"Thanks."
"So when's the party?" Sonny smirked.
"Oh umm. Do you want a party?" Trent turned to Serena having not considered having an actual wedding at all.
"I hadn't really thought about it. Not really. I'm good with my slipper wedding." She laughed.
Ray lightly smacked Sonny's arm as he grumbled about not having a party before adding. "We'll have a Barbeque at my house this weekend. Sound good?"
"It does, thank you, Ray." Trent smiled as Serena spoke. "And Clay stop being stubborn so we can all stop living in a hospital. Might even convince him to get us Indian for dinner."
"You sure?" Clay looked so childlike it made her heart sad.
"We're sure." Trent stepped forward while sighing. "Even if that means Indian tonight."