TW- implied child neglect and abuse.
As Sonny's awareness grew so did his irritation and embarrassment at his situation. His cheeks were a bright red and every time a nurse or doctor entered the room the teen would curl in in himself as if trying to make himself smaller. When the doctor checked him over Sonny didn't utter a single word and he kept his eyes glued to a random spot in the room, but thankfully the doctor was a kind man and he made no comments about Sonny's peculiar behaviour. Kelly was pretty sure any comments would have only added to the boy's embarrassment.
Despite the teen being visibly miserable he hadn't made a single complaint, unless you counted his questions about the numerous wires and tubes hooked up to him. Kelly would never forget the look of shock on Sonny's face when they explained to him what the catheter was.
"I don't want that" the teen had grumbled and Kelly almost burst out laughing at how much the teen mirrored his father. Over the years there had been many arguments over what help Matt did and didn't need while in the hospital, Kelly was just relieved Sonny wouldn't be able to discharge himself, he'd lost track of the amount of times he'd returned to the hospital to find out Matt had left after deciding he didn't need any more treatment.
"I can go fine on my own" proclaimed Sonny before clumsily pushing himself off the bed, as soon as he began to put weight on his shaky legs they buckled and Sonny found himself tumbling towards the floor. Luckily Kelly had been right in front of the teen and managed to catch the boy before he could cause himself anymore damage.
"Maybe not" mumbled Sonny as he rested his forehead against Kelly's shoulder, he let out a few short breaths as a wave of nausea washed over him, after seven days of drifting in and out of consciousness trying to stand unassisted definitely wasn't Sonny's best idea. Once the teens breathing settled Kelly gently eased the boy back up onto the bed conscious of the wires and tubes tangled around him.
" I really messed up" Sonny groaned before collapsing against the pillows that had been piled up behind him. When a nurse appeared to check him over again the teen held his hands over his face in a feeble attempt to block out the world around him. Kelly really felt for the boy, his still healing wound, the loud noises from the ICU and all the different people coming and going really did make for a miserable time. The boy truly was in his own personal hell.
"It's ok, you're healing. We've all had our fair share or trips to the hospital Sonny. You'll be good as new before you know it" comforted Kelly but the boy let out another groan in response . Kelly was running out of comforting things to say because Sonny wanted the same thing he did, to finally go home. It was strange to think that not so long ago Kelly had dreaded going home every night as the large house always felt so empty but now it was somewhere he deeply longed to be. He wanted nothing more than to go home with the people he loved more than anything in the world.
The next day they found themselves in a quieter room on a significantly calmer ward; Sonny's condition was no longer severe enough to need the extra care the ICU provided, but the doctors still didn't feel comfortable discharging him quite yet. Just before lunchtime the doctor dropped by to check over Sonny once again, which was why the boy was scowling at a potted plant in the corner of the room, his hospital gown had been draped over his bottom half to preserve his dignity, while the doctor inspected his healing wound. Sonny hummed softly to himself as he tried to pretend he was back at the cabin listening to Matt and Kelly's stories about their previous adventures. The feeling of hands touching his side made his skin crawl and the unfamiliar voices drifting around the room made his heart race. He kept reminding himself that it was only the doctor and the friendly nurse but Sonny was having difficulty separating past from present. He could hear Kelly's voice cutting through the fog clouding his mind but he struggled to decipher the man's words. The few times he'd gotten badly injured while living with Ryder flashed through his mind. Apart from the dog bite incident the injuries themselves weren't traumatic, the trauma had been caused by the fact Ryder was unable to take him to the hospital meaning the medical attention Sonny received was unconventional and incredibly painful. Ryder's limited medical knowledge was based on his time in the army and a few things a friend had taught him. Sonny remembered being held down as Ryder shoved a flannel in his mouth for him to bite down on, and the horrific burning sensation that enveloped his body when Ryder hydrogen peroxide in his wounds. He remembered begging Ryder to make the pain stop until it became unbearable and he eventually blacked out. As Sonny got older any non-life-threatening injuries were his responsibility to fix, Sonny wondered how badly Ryder would've reacted to Sonny letting his cut get infected. The man probably would have seen him as a disgrace and left him behind. Sonny knew Matt was nothing like Ryder but he couldn't shift his fear that he'd finally pushed Matt too far.
The feeling of someone gently shaking his shoulder brought Sonny back the present. The teen blinked slowly a few times before turning to see Matt looking at him with kind eyes.
"All done Kiddo" informed Matt and that's when Sonny realised both the doctor nurse were nowhere to be seen.
"Home?" He inquired hopefully, he didn't think he could take being trapped in the hospital much longer.
"A few days Sonny", the teen struggled to hold back his tears at his dad's reply, but before he could dwell on it too much Kelly picked up a bag from next to his feet and pulled out a book, it was the same book Kelly had been reading to him back at home. Since waking up in the hospital Sonny had deeply missed drifting off to the sound of Kelly reading.
"Fancy reading chapter five, I really want to find out what happens next" the man smiled, Sonny nodded eagerly in response. Matt helped him readjust his hospital gown before Matt climbing up onto the hospital bed beside him. Matt then proceeded to drape a thick blue blanket Sonny recognised from the cabin over the two of them. As he listened to Kelly's soft voice and leaned into Matt he felt his horrible memories drift away. He may have been going through hell but he definitely wasn't going through it alone.
Later that day Kelly and Matt quickly went to the canteen to get something to eat, leaving Boden behind with Sonny. The man had found a pack of cards in the gift shop to keep Sonny's mind off his surroundings when he wasn't asleep. Boden was sat in a near by chair dealing the cards out while Sonny watched from his position on the bed.
"Everything's a mess" mumbled Sonny out of the blue and Boden smiled a sympathetically. Matt had warned him that Sonny had a tendency to blame himself for things that weren't his fault, Boden definitely didn't have to wonder where he'd gotten that trait from.
"Oh sonny these things happen, both Matt and Kelly have had their fair share of hospital visits" informed Boden. The chief briefly contemplated telling Sonny about Kelly's shoulder injury but decided against it after all it wasn't his story to tell.
"You've known them a long time?" questioned Sonny with a thoughtful expression that reminded him of Hallie, it truly was amazing how many similarities the teen shared with both his parents.
"I've known Matt since he was a candidate at fifty one, Kelly joined a few years after him" he explained, as his mind flashed back to a young Matt he found himself wondering if Sonny would ever follow after his father. The boy was definitely determined and caring enough but those were also good qualities for a doctor, but maybe the boy would choose a path completely different to his parents, Boden supposed they would just have to wait and see.
"What were they like?" , there was a curious look in Sonny's eyes that made the boy seem so much younger.
"Matt was quiet and hard working, he was a good cook too" replied Boden with a fondness in his voice. He remembered being worried about Matt during the blonde's first few weeks at fifty-one, he'd been an excellent candidate but Boden wasn't sure he'd be able to cope with the other firefighters. They were a family but Matt had seemed intent on hiding himself away. You could be better the fittest and fastest firefighter alive but if you didn't have your teams trust you were as good as gone. Even after Herman took Matt under his wing the blonde still remained withdrawn. It wasn't until Darden was transferred to fifty one that Matt finally began to come out of his shell. "What about Kelly?",
"He was stubborn but really good at his job, they're two of the finest firefighters I've ever met" admitted Boden and that certainly wasn't a statement he threw around. Matt and Kelly truly were his best lieutenants. Losing Matt had been an incredibly tough thing to deal with, because Casey was more than just another firefighter at fifty one he was like a son.
"I'm lucky" admitted Sonny with a hint sadness that made Boden angry, what had Ryder done to the poor to make him so insecure? He was so much like Matt that it physically hurt because Boden knew many of Matt's qualities were caused by the pain he'd been through, the same pain that Boden knew Matt had wanted to shield Sonny from.
"It's got nothing to do with luck, they're good people and you're a good kid" stated Boden in a warm voice he'd used with Matt many times after a rough call. Boden expected the boy to answer back, he certainly wasn't prepared for the boys next question,
"Have they always hidden their feelings for each other or is that my fault?" Asked Sonny casually and Boden just stared dumbfounded at the boys forwardness. Thankfully teen continued talking as Boden tried to recover from his initial surprise.
"I Remember that they were always together before Ryder. They seem happier in my memories" the boy admitted softly and Boden found himself sighing. The boy was far too observant for his own good.
"It's complicated were a lot of obstacles in their way even before you were born. They've faced a lot of hate", Boden struggled to find the right words ; he wasn't sure how much Matt and Kelly wanted Sonny to know about their past.
"It doesn't bother me whether they're together or apart, I just don't want to loose them" replied Sonny and Boden's heart clenched at the boys fear of abandonment. In that moment Boden felt the same need to protect Sonny that he'd felt for Matt many years ago. Just like his father Sonny was a beautiful soul who didn't deserve any of the pain he had endured.
"You're not going to loose them Sonny".
Meanwhile Matt was glaring at Kelly in annoyance,
"Hurry up " pleaded Matt as looked at the half full plate of food in front of Kelly, Matt's own plate had been empty for quite a while. He was desperate to get back to Sonny as soon as possible which was why he was losing his patience with the man opposite him.
"It's not my fault you inhaled your food, besides you heard what Boden said if we spend less than fifteen minutes in the cafeteria he'll drag us straight back down here" said Kelly in a poor imitation of Boden.
"Sonny needs me" stated Matt but Kelly continued to take small bites of his food. Instead of acting out of annoyance Matt took a deep breath before shooting Kelly a pleading look but it had no effect on the other man.
"He's happy playing cards with Boden, before you know it Sonny will be sat at the squad table beating Capp at cards" chuckled Kelly and Matt couldn't help but smile.
"Squad table? he's not even started high school yet and you're already pushing him towards squad" laughed Matt. There was no malice to words, their arguments about work were a thing of past for obvious reasons. Matt missed his and Kelly's cigar breaks and the thrill of being on a call together, but he definitely didn't miss coming to blows over differing opinions on how to carry out a rescue.
"As long as he's happy I don't care what he does in the future, but if he does become a firefighter then squad is the best place to be" Kelly responded finishing the last part with a cheesy grin.
"We'll agree to disagree" smiled Matt before looking off into the distance, despite how much he adored being a firefighter the protective side of him didn't want Sonny to follow in his footsteps.
It wasn't until that moment he realised how little he thought about his own time as firefighter, he thought about the people of fifty one constantly because they were family, but the actual job had become a distant memory to him. Of course there were calls he'd always remember, faces that would forever be engrained in his mind, but Matt no longer felt a deep yearning for action.
"I loved truck but I don't miss it as much as I used to" admitted Matt softly, his confession was followed by a loud clatter when Kelly dropped his fork in surprise. But when the blonde locked eyes with Kelly he was positive he saw relief flash in Kelly's eyes.
"Guess we have other more important things to focus on now" mused Kelly a few moments later.
"Yeah but we're not doing very well, we spent all the day with Sonny and we didn't realise-" Matt was abruptly cut off by Kelly shaking his head.
"Matt you can't keep dwelling on that",
"I just miss the little boy who had no filter and used to tell us everything", as soon as the words left his mouth guilt welled up inside Matt. He knew he shouldn't think of Sonny as two different people but sometimes he couldn't stop himself; understandably four year old Sonny was drastically different to fourteen year old Sonny.
"Yeah, but Matt he's a teenager now. Ryder or no Ryder there was always going to come a time when he stopped telling us everything". Matt mulled over Kelly's words before letting out a sigh, he truly didn't know what he'd do without Kelly.
"You're right, now eat up" instructed Matt causing Kelly to shake his head in amusement. Suddenly a playful look appeared in Kelly's eyes as he leaned in close towards Matt so no one else could hear him,
"You know I'd eat faster if you-"
"No whatever dirty things are going on in your mind I don't want to hear them" interrupted Matt and he knew his suspicions had been right when Kelly pouted at him. Even in his darkest moments Kelly always knew how to make him smile, he truly didn't deserve the dark haired firefighter.