Chapter 10.
Moths passed very slowly for Lucas, but his bruises had almost faded and his wounds had started to heal. His emotional wounds hadn't. Lucas still wasn't talking, even though he had been seeing a psychiatrist almost every day. The doctors who examined him were sympathetic towards him, making Lucas feel like a baby and Baz and Matt came to visit Lucas every day, until he was allowed to come home.
Baz and Matt were animatedly talking to Lucas, who was sitting in a wheelchair, looking pale and tired. Although he had been released from the hospital, Lucas still hadn't fully recovered but the hospital needed the bed and so Lucas was finally allowed home.
Baz signed the forms, which released Lucas into his care and watched as Matt talked to Lucas, while Lucas stuck his thumb into his mouth, cocked his head to one side and listened carefully to everything his elder brother was saying. In that instant, Baz swore to himself that he would never let anything happen to Lucas ever again. Watching Matt hug Lucas, he knew Matt was just as determined to do the same.
"You guys ready to go?" Baz cheerfully asked.
The pair nodded their enthusiasm and Baz chuckled at their relieved faces.
"Can you leave the wheel chair over their please?" The nurse accompanying them pointed to a group of chairs. Baz lifted Lucas up onto his hip, while Matt pushed the chair to its rightful position. The nurse began to chat to Baz about the medication Lucas would need. Matt was almost bouncing with impatience at this point.
"Now I'll come by and see you, to change the stitches and make sure everything's ok. Is that all right?" The nurse concluded.
"That's fine. Thanks, Jenny." Baz smiled and began to walk away.
"Bye Lucas!" The Nurse waved, and was rewarded with a tiny smile and a wave of his hand.
'Ah! What a cute kid?' Jenny smiled to herself.
Lucas didn't remember much about the journey home from the hospital. All he remembered was Matt's voice talking to him, before he floated away into a dreamless sleep
****
When Lucas woke up, he was surprised to find himself in a strange bed, all to himself. Then he realised he wasn't in the hospital anymore and cheered up immediately. Lucas began to look around the room and was surprised to see Baz, sound asleep on a chair. Lucas felt a twinge of guilt as he realised Baz must have watched over him the whole night.
Lucas gently swung his feet over the side of the bed and gasped in shock as he felt a burning sensation in the pit of his stomach, then he remembered about the stitches. He would have to be more careful in future.
Slowly, Lucas descended down the side of the bed and crept over to where Baz was sleeping. Somehow Lucas managed to climb onto the chair and into Baz's lap, using Baz's legs and the chair as a foothold. Lucas stared into his rescuer's sleeping face, before he felt the man stir beneath him. Baz slowly opened his eyes and nearly jumped in surprise as he noticed the youth sitting on him.
"Hey, how you doing?" Baz yawned and stretched. A look of surprise crossed the older man's face, "And what are you doing up here?"
Lucas just shrugged his shoulders in reply, making Baz sigh.
"You know, we're gonna have to sort this language barrier out. This could get a bit tiresome." Baz picked the youth up high above his head, making him squeal in delight.
"How about something to eat? You hungry?" Lucas nodded ecstatically. "Come on then." Baz carried Lucas downstairs, where he found Matt had already discovered the cartoons and had begun to watch them. Leaving Lucas with Matt, Baz began to make a light breakfast whistling as he did so.
****
Lucas was very tired for the first couple of days, but after that he began to get restless. He was tired of sleeping, and was curious as to what changes had been done to the house since he had last stayed there. Grabbing a worn and much loved teddy bear from off the bed, Lucas began to wander around the apartment, noting all the changes. He eventually heard Baz in the study, typing furiously on the computer.
Chewing the corner of his bear's arm, Lucas entered the creaking door and the typing stopped. When he saw Baz staring in shock at him, Lucas ran towards him his arms open wide. Baz picked the kid up and spun him around, before asking in a stern but joking manner,
"What are you doing up? You should be in bed, young man." Lucas pulled a face of disgust, which made Baz laugh. "Come on, you. Let's find something for you to do." Baz started to talk to Lucas about learning sign language, to which Lucas nodded enthusiastically. Lucas sighed, happy to be home at last.