Ian was sat in the doctors, months, months it was going to take. He was on crutches to help him walk, but he couldn't do it for long with his arm. Mandy Milkovich had led Mickey to believe that it was more serious than she should. Yes, it was bad, but she didn't even know what the doctors had told Fiona. He had a one broken leg, a broken arm which was almost healed, 5 rib fractures which were almost healed too, and a skull fracture. Yes it could have been worse, but Ian was just thankful that he was able to start to become independent again.
Physiotherapy on his leg was annoying to say the least. He knew what to do, he didn't need to be spoken to like a child. He had been to work to get him out of the house for a while, but with his head injury he couldn't be relied on. Mickey was still working there, so they at least got to hang out, but it wasn't the same. A new guy was in charge of the sort, a cousin of Cash. He could still sit at the till, he could still order Mickey around, but always under supervision.
"What you up to tonight?" Mickey casually asked Gallagher. They hadn't been alone, not properly since he had been in hospital. That somehow seemed just as painful as the look on Mickey's face everytime he saw Ian limping in pain.
"Nothing, probably just some rest." Ian said casually, he didn't want to allow himself to get too close to quickly. Not because he didn't trust Mickey's best intensions, but because he couldn't yet rely upon himself. He knew Fiona would go nuts. "What were you thinking?"
"Svetlana is working tonight, want to come over and watch a movie?" There was a look between them, of what happened the last time. "Lip and Mandy. Lip and Mandy will be there too."
"Maybe. But I'm not sure I want to see those 2 kissing all night." Ian added looking at Mickey's lips himself.
"It'll be good for you." Mickey allowed himself to smile, he knew that he was going to get his way. He knew that at last he could be with Ian, he could allow himself to be near him.
"Hey, I didn't say yes. I said maybe." Ian said laughing, he wasn't going to be that hard to convince though. "I'll get the popcorn."
"Done." Mickey said as yet another alcoholic came into the store to exchange food stamps for liquid food.
"By the way, I got you something." Mickey said as he walked over to the store room. Ian was confused, he hadn't ever gotten him anything before... Well nothing with a price on it.
"What is it?" Ian called out, as the alcoholic left with his usual vodka bottle. Where had this happy playful version of the psycho of Southside come from? Where ever it came from, it made him happy. It was like the first time they started to see each other.
"Here. Open it." Mickey Milkovich was beaming. He was still being when Amir walked past suspiciously, until he noticed it had a receipt... And didn't come from his store.
As Ian opened the white and blue bag, he noticed a little box. It was a new phone. He'd never had a brand new one before, well one that had actually been paid for. He noticed that it had already been open. Maybe not new, but had Mickey actually gone out of his way to pay for it? He'd have been happy with a snickers bar right now, if it had come from him.
"It's a phone. You smashed yours, and it'd be cool if we could actually talk..." Mickey tried to explain, but slightly resented that he had mentioned talking. "Well you can text me later, if you want to join us."
"Wait, I don't have your number." Ian said as Mickey walked out the back to help Amir lift in some crates of beer.
"Yes you do."
As he picked up the box and opened it, he noticed that everything had been set up. It was charged, it was still switched on. He had never known someone being so thoughtful to him before. Sure Fiona had always made an effort at Christmas when he was little. Sure Cash had bought him trainers, and Lloyd had bought him army equipment, but they had money to spend. This was money that Mickey should be saving for his kid, but instead had willingly spent on him. Would he text him later? They both knew the answer to that. Maybe.