Chapter 18

"Now Aaron, are you sure you're ready to come home today?" Liam joked, re-packing Aaron's holdall

"Yes, Smart Mouth. I'm fine!"

"You decided on where you're going? Your Mum's or back at Paddy's?"

"Mum's. Rhona's due to drop her sprog at any minute, and if i'm supposed to have rest and not do anything stressful..."

"Ok. I tell you what Aaron, Im buying you some new trainers. Look at the state of these!"

Liam held up Aaron's black Lonsdale trainers, which were thickened with mud, motor oil and god knows what else.

"Oh they're fine! Stop being such an old woman!" Aaron laughed as Liam handed them over.

Aaron attempted to put on his trainers, but let out a scream as he leaned down to tie the laces.

"Aaron? What's wrong?"

"Cant..tie..them" Aaron gasped through the pain.

Liam crouched down in front of Aaron, conceren etched over his face "Look at me babe..Just breathe, ok?"

Aaron nodded and rested his head against Liam's shoulder. "Sorry, that just winded me a bit."

Liam nodded and bent down and tied Aaron's shoes for him. He could sense that Aaron felt pathetic, felt like a child again who didn't know how to tie his shoes.

"Is this how it's going to be from now on?"

"Only for a while babe. You were only stabbed a week ago. You're gonna be sore for a while. Trust me, I've been stabbed myself, I know what it's like!"

"You were stabbed? How?"

"Someone coming at me with something sharp seemed to work!" Liam laughed

Aaron was about to push Liam for more answers but was cut off by Dr. Cameron entering the room, carrying a large white bag and a pink peice of paper.

"Ok, Mr Livesy, I've got your medication here. There's three different types, so I want you to listen very carefully. These ones here, in the white and blue box, are your painkillers. You must take these three times a day but ONLY with food, These ones, in the green box are to fight against the infection. take them at the same time as the pain killers, and finally, these ones, in the blue box, are sleeping pills, just incase you need them. You've also got some sterile wipes, liquids and a few bandages in there. You must change the bandage every week. Clean each cut extremley well, but only AROUND the stitching. You cant get the stitches wet, I'm afraid."

"So what do I do about my head, when I want a shower?" Aaron asked, indicating to his head

"You've got surgical staples in your head, They'll be ok. When you do shower, wrap cling film all the way around your stomach, until you are sure both wounds are fully protected from any soap and water."

"Blimey. Ok."

"Now if you do forget what tablet you have to take when, it says it on the box. what they are and what you need to take, ok?"

"I don't think his mum will LET him forget!" Liam laughed

"Now all i need to do is to sign your discharge form, and then you can be on your way! Is there someone coming to pick you up? Or do you want to go in the ambulance?"

"Can we go in the ambulance Aaron? I wanna play with the siren!"

"You wanna what? How old are you? 5? It's ok Dr. Cameron, I'll call Paddy. Thanks though."

"Awh!"

"Liam, stop whining!"

"Well, I wish you all the best boys, Aaron, please take note of what I've said. I know what you're like, Bedrest, and plenty of it, ok? Goodbye." Dr Cameron smiled, waving and leaving the room.

"Right, Let's call Paddy and get you home. 'Ey Does Paddy have a siren in his car?"

Aaron rolled his eyes and eased himself off the bed. Ignoring Liam's question and heading for the door. The sooner he was out of here, the better.

eeeeee

Chas smiled as she stood at the door of Victoria Cottage

"Aaron love, Welcome home!" She smiled, running towards her son and pulling him into a cuddle as soon as he got out of the car.

"Woah Mum, easy. I'm still delicate you know!"

"You're gonna be in my room, Aaron, I've bunked in with Gennie."

Aaron nodded and walked into the house.

"I'll run this upstairs, shall I?" Liam asked

"Yes please love, its the third door on the left. I'll make us some tea, eh?"

"I just wanna go to bed. I'm knackered already."

"You will be love. Come on, I'll help you up there and I'll bring something up for you soon. What time do you need your tablets?"

"Lunchtime. Need to take them with food."

Chas peered inside the white bag left on the table "There's a lot here love. What do you need to take and when?"

"Oh I dunno, Liam will tell you. Li what are you doing up there?" Aaron shouted up the stairs

"Unpacking for you!"

"Great. You both gonna be making a fuss over me? You know i hate fussing!"

"Shouldn't have got yourself stabbed then kid! Get used to it, It's gonna be happening a lot!"

Aaron didn't realise at that point just how painful walking up the stairs would be. He had to stop halfway to catch his breath. It seemed to take forever but he was finally at the top where Liam was waiting.

"I'll go and make that tea. How do you have it, Liam?"

"Can I be a complete pain and ask for coffee? Don't really like tea."

"Of course love. Milk? Sugar?"

"Two sugars but no milk please, Chas."

Chas nodded and walked back down the stairs

"She's gonna be a nightmare." Aaron groaned

"Yeah, Me too. Toxic aren't doing anything at the minute, Lucky for you that gig in Bar West was the last of the Unsigned Bands Tour."

Liam helped Aaron into the room, helped him strip off and guided him to the bed.

"Right. One thing I want. Change the bedcover! I am not sleeping under a duvet covered in flowers!"

"It's ok, Nothing wrong with it! It's a bed aint it?"

"It's pink!" Aaron grimaced, sliding under the covers.

"At least you've got a TV and DVD player up here! I'll go to Paddy's later on, get you some bed covers from there and bring over a few DVDs...Unless you wanna watch girly films?"

"How Girly?" Aaron asked

"Ooh, we've got Just Like Heaven..."

"What's that about?"

"Mark Ruffalo plays a widow...blah blah blah..Reese Witherspoon is in a car accident, leaving her in a coma, her spirit walks the earth.,..that Mark geezer falls in love with her ghost..."

"Sounds crap!"

"Or we've got The Bridges of Madison County, Monster-In-Law, Steel Magnolias..."

"Ugh. Yeah best go over to Paddy's."

"I will later. You need to get your rest!"

Aaron sighed and nodded. God knows how long this was going to go on for, he didn't think he could cope, but for now, he'd just have to bite his tongue and bear it. It was going to be an absolute nightmare.

TBC