Challenge Word: Mind Games - Part 2

For those that wanted more. This is what my muse provided…I think another chapter is coming…just not sure how soon. Hopefully all errors have been caught.

Disclaimer: not mine, I just play with them.

Rating: Kt

Word Count: 892

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Alan watched his firstborn sleeping somewhat peaceably. Thankfully his lungs had healed enough that he would soon be weaned of the ventilator…but for now his body still needed help to survive.

Worry tugged at his soul. Donny usually was the strong one, the glue that kept everyone going. But now he would be physically weak for some time to come. Alan held on to hope. He had to recover Alan couldn't believe anything else.

How long would Donny be stuck in a hospital bed still remained unclear? How his firstborn would hate feeling so dependent and unable to do the simplest things for himself.

Stepping closer to his son, he couldn't bring himself to touch him yet, for fear of adding to the pain Don had experienced. His body had been battered, bruised and broken. His right side sported most of the damage. Trying to ignore the unnatural rhythm of the ventilator, he once again considered the list of injuries and the reality of the situation. A few of his injuries might mean life changes.

Oh, Donny what will you do if you can't go back…how will Charlie let go of the guilt if that happens? He almost grabbed Don's left hand, but pulled back at the last moment. A badly sprained left ankle, a broken right ankle, and a badly fractured right thigh, which required his whole right leg to be elevated. A bruised kidney, two broken ribs, damage to his lungs, internal bleeding which they finally got under control, several fractured fingers to his right hand and a dislocated right shoulder.

Tears rolled down his cheeks as he focused on the many times his son must have been brutally hit to create all of the damage. Needing to touch his son, he gently grabbed his left hand and gave it a simple squeeze. "Donnie…you've got to come back…I don't care how long it takes…you've got to come back to us."

A shiver ran down his spine as the Doctors words haunted him.

"We don't know the extent to the damage to his spine…we won't know till he wakes up. He could be fine when the swelling goes down…or he could be paralyzed."

Alan carried this small burden by himself. Since Charlie had gone out to get some lunch for the two of them, he hadn't heard the information and Alan just didn't feel it wise to share it with his youngest at this time.

"Don…no matter what happens…I love you. I may not have always shown it and I know we made so many mistakes…but you won't go through this alone." He squeezed the hand once more. "You're certainly a mess…and you're going to have to face that for now you'll be dependent on us but that doesn't mean you can't get back to your old cranky self."

"Cranky…interesting choice of words…father." A voice interrupted his words.

"Well, at times he is difficult, but Charlie how do I miss his smile…the one that can light up a room."

Charlie placed the Alan's lunch on a small table and crossed over to his father. "Dad, he's getting better each day. We've got to hang on to that for now…he needs time to heal. Don just needs time and soon he'll be calling me Chuck and we'll have to wait on him hand and foot."

Charlie gently touched his father hand. "You need to eat and I know there is something you're not telling me…you can when you're ready…but for now you're going to eat something besides coffee. Then you're going to let Larry take you home and get a much needed nap."

"Who put you in charge?" Alan smirked because it felt good to be taken care of for the moment.

"Since I got a good night's sleep and you stayed here, I figure it's my turn to take over."

Both were interrupted by a mumbling and could see that Don was experiencing another nightmare. Charlie quickly crossed over to his brother and touched his left hand. "Don, you're safe…it's okay just rest…you're safe now."

In a few minutes the crisis passed and Don slipped back into a serene drug induced sleep.

In a choked up voice he whispered, "We got him…and he's going to jail for a long time…you've just got to focus on getting well. Now sleep, brother…just sleep." Charlie turned to his father with tears in his eyes still holding his brother's hand.

"Charlie I can stay"

"Dad, you stayed last night and you haven't been sleeping well…I need you to take care of yourself. So please go home and get some rest. I'm stronger than I look…I promise I'm not going off on the deep end." Through misty eyes he smiled at first his father and then his older brother. "We'll be fine…and I ate breakfast so I'm good. I've got my laptop...so I can do some work."

"All right, you win. Charlie I'm proud of you. I can rest because I know I've left him in good hands."

For a moment only the machines made any noise as Alan ate in silence and a younger brother watched over his brother knowing that soon he would be fussy and awake, but oh the joy of dealing with those problems. For it meant Don would be almost back to normal and everything else would come with time.