WARNING - MENTIONS OF SELF HARM
Once the girls arrived, they instantly wanted to know everything that Nate had said about Kyle's condition. He still hadn't woken up, but Nate had been keeping an eye on him, and said it was good that his body was getting some rest. Bianca noticed Brax place some leaflets down after reading through them, so asked what they were for.
"They're leaflets about different mental health clinics in the area for Kyle. Nate said he will be put on one here, or we can choose a private one for him. The two closest ones are an equine centre and a canine centre. We need to choose which one would be best to send him to." Brax says.
"The canine centre." Casey says, them all looking over at him. "What? Dogs are better than horses, I'm sure Kyle would feel the same. And what's he more likely to go near?" He says.
"You've got a point." Heath says. "There's no way I'd go near a horse if I had to choose."
"Right, that's sorted then. I'll go and let Nate know." Brax says, walking out of the room.
"You didn't just say that because you've always wanted a dog, did you?" Heath asks.
"No!" He quickly says.
"You so did." Denny smiles. "But I think Kyle would thank you for it. He's never been interested in the horses at the farm."
"Yeah, I have a good feeling about this. At least he can get the help he needs now." Ricky says, glancing down at Emilia, who had finally fallen asleep.
"How do you think he's going to react when he finds out?" Casey mutters.
"Well he won't have a choice in whether he wants to go or not. Nate said he has to do it because he's been self harming for a while, and if he wants to argue with Nate about it, that's his funeral." Heath says.
"Heath! Use better words." Bianca glares.
"Yeah, sorry." Heath frowns. "He's going to be fine, Nate saved him." He mutters.
It had been a couple hours since the canine centre for Kyle had been decided, and Nate had already called ahead to book Kyle in with them. Brax had spoken with the man who runs the centre and felt more reassured about sending Kyle there. He didn't want Kyle to be far away, but it was the closest clinic near them that could help him, so he knew it had to happen.
"Do you think they have lots of dogs there?" Casey asks as they sit around the hospital room Kyle had been placed in not long before.
"Well it is a canine centre." Heath says, frowning at his brother.
"Yeah, I just meant… Don't worry." He frowns, noticing Kyle was starting to wake up, Brax also noticing.
"Kyle?" He says, Ricky taking Emilia from him.
"I'll wait outside with her." Ricky says, heading out of the room with Bianca and Denny as they knew the brothers would need some time to themselves.
"Hey!" Heath smiles as Kyle looks up at them, trying to lift an arm up to take the oxygen mask off, when he notices his right arm being held up. "Here." He says, moving the mask to the side for him.
"I'm sorry." Kyle weakly mutters, sensing how upset they were, he thought it would be like the other times where he wouldn't bleed as much.
"You nearly died, Kyle. How could you do something like that and hide it from us for weeks?" Brax asks.
"I-" Kyle starts, stopping himself. He didn't have an answer, at least not one they would want to hear. "It helped me forget about the pain of losing Lillie."
"We could have helped you with that, we thought we were." Casey sighs.
"I didn't mean for it to go that far."
"You tore an artery in your right arm. Nate had to do emergency surgery in the resus room because they wouldn't have got you into surgery in time." Brax says. "You were lucky Heath thought to barge the door down." He says, Kyle glancing down at his bandaged arm.
"Okay, I think he knows it was stupid. Let's focus on getting him discharged." Heath says, not wanting an argument to break out, but at least Kyle wouldn't be able to run from it this time.
"Can't I come home now? I don't want to be here." Kyle mutters.
"You don't have a choice. And you won't be coming straight home." Brax says.
"Why?"
"You've been referred to a mental health team by Nate. When he discharges you, you'll be going to a canine centre to help get you through this. And don't even think about arguing against it, you don't have a choice. It's either the canine centre, or the mental health ward here." Brax firmly says.
"Okay, I'll go." Kyle mutters, knowing he didn't have a choice by the tone Brax used, and he liked the sound of the dogs better.
"Kyle, you're awake." Nate lightly smiles as he walks in. "How are you feeling?" He asks as he walks to the side of the bed.
"We'll wait outside." Heath quietly says to Brax before lightly shoving Casey towards the door.
"Fine." Kyle lightly shrugs.
"You're feeling fine after losing pints of blood? You've got to be the first patient I've had tell me that." Nate says in light humour. "Now do you want to tell me the truth?" He asks, getting silence in response.
"Kyle, tell the truth." Brax firmly says. "Nate's only trying to help."
"My arms hurt and I feel lightheaded." Kyle mutters.
"That's more like it. I'll give you something for the pain and you should start to feel better soon." Nate says, administrating the painkillers into Kyle's IV cannula that had been placed in the back of his left hand. "You're extremely lucky your brothers found you in time."
"I know. I don't need a lecture." Kyle moans.
"Kyle!" Brax reprimands. "Seriously, stop with this attitude, we're all fed up of it. We know you miss Lillie but you can't keep taking it out on everyone else."
"I'm sorry." Kyle mutters. "I never meant to hit an artery or end up here but I didn't know what else to do. I've got nothing left and I don't need people in my ear all the time."
"Kyle, we just want to help you. We understand you miss Lillie, but you can't keep it to yourself anymore." Nate says. "I'm sure you've been told about the clinic you will be going to once you're discharged, and they'll be able to help you."
"Why do I have to go to a clinic?" Kyle asks.
"Because you've been self harming for some time and your behaviour is deteriorating. If this doesn't get brought under control, things could escalate. You've already ended up in hospital due to cutting an artery, you might not be as lucky next time." Nate explains. "This clinic will be able to help you through these impulsive feelings you are getting and be able to help you have alternate things to do instead of self harming. And I heard they let you look after the dogs whilst you're there." He lightly smiles, noticing Brax shake his head.
"Just don't go banging on to me about getting our own dog, I've had that talk for years with Casey." Brax says, getting a small genuine smile brother his brother.
"Okay." Kyle says, glancing at his right arm. "How long does it have to be in this thing? It's uncomfortable."
"I'd like to keep your arm in it for the next day or two just to make sure the blood flowing through the artery we repaired has time to heal and doesn't form any blood clots." Nate says.
"And when can I be discharged?"
"Not until I see improvements in your blood pressure, which is still a little low, but the meds will help with that. I also want to make sure you haven't done any permanent damage to your arm when you cut the artery but that will be done when I think you're stronger."
"I am strong." Kyle frowns.
"I meant due to the blood loss." Nate says, sharing a smirk with Brax. "I'll come back and check on you soon, get some rest." He says, leaving them to check on other patients.