Chapter 7
Shaun sat down on Clark's couch in his pajamas and his favorite socks. Clark rolled into the living room.
"Hey," Clark said. "Couldn't sleep?"
"No," Shaun replied.
Clark rolled over to the couch, carefully got out of his wheelchair, and propped his feet onto the coffee table.
"Cannot wait to get these casts removed," Clark said. "You take something so simple as wiggling your toes for granted, and then you get hit by a bus and realize how important feet are."
"I have to go back to San Jose tomorrow," Shaun said.
"I know," Clark said. "I really wish you didn't have to go. I'm sure going to miss you."
"I'm going to miss you too," Shaun said.
"You're a good friend to talk to," Clark said.
"Yeah," Shaun said. "And you talk a lot."
"Yeah," Clark agreed. "Sometimes I talk so much and I don't realize I'm doing it. I mean it literally happens all the time and I seriously have no clue when…"
"You're doing it right now," Shaun said.
"Sorry," Clark said.
"It's okay," Shaun said.
"The holidays are quickly approaching," Clark said. "This year went by so fast."
"Not for me," Shaun said.
"The due date for the twins is supposed to be either by or right after New Years," Clark said.
"Wow," Shaun said.
"2019 is going to be an interesting year," Clark said.
Shaun noticed the sad look on Clark's face.
"Max?" Shauna asked.
"2019," Clark said. "Paul died in 2009. It'll be 10 years since his death. It's doesn't seem like it's been that long. He would've turned 21 in 2019. I won't be taking my baby brother to the bar on his 21st birthday for his first drink."
"Max," Shaun said.
"Yes, Shaun?" Clark asked.
"Rest your head on my shoulder," Shaun said.
Clark rested his head on Shaun's shoulder and sighed.
"It's okay to miss him," Shaun said. "I miss Steve everyday. Sometimes it doesn't hurt, but sometimes the pain hurts so bad that I cry myself to sleep."
"I know the feeling," Clark said.
"Do you have other friends besides me?" Shaun asked.
"Shayna," Clark replied.
"Besides Shayna," Shaun said.
"Carisi and Olivia," Clark replied.
"They live in New York," Shaun said.
"I don't really make friends that easily," Clark said.
"I know," Shaun said. "It was hard for me to make friends too. But now I have Lea, Claire, Dr. Glassman, Dr. Melendez, and Dr. Lim. I thought I was a friend with Kenny, but he was just using me for pizza, Chinese food, and my television. He was arrested."
"I know," Clark said. "I may or may not have had something to do with that."
"You did?" Shaun asked.
"No one messes with my best friend," Clark said.
"Anyway," Shaun said. "If I can make friends, so can you."
"Okay," Clark said. "Okay."