Enjoy. No trigger warnings- this chapter's light on the angst.
"Oh, love…" Riker mutters. He lifts me, and I cry out, as my leg is shifted. The apology on his face is easy to read, as Rocky crowds around me.
He reaches for my injured limb, and I shake my head in fear. "Don't…please don't touch it…"
"Aus, we're going to the hospital. Rydel's gone to pull Ratliff from gym, and we'll be off as soon as she does. This looks broken…" Rocky whispers.
My eyes widen. "Broken?! How is that possible?!"
"You probably broke your kneecap," Riker says gently, kissing my head. "I did it a couple years ago. Hurt like fucking hell."
"God, your face is bright red…"
"Happens when I cry hard," I whimper, shoving my face farther into his neck.
"And you're running a fever again…"
"That happens when the body is in extreme pain. Adrenaline pushes veins closer to the skin, since the heart's beating faster, and it causes the body temperature to heat up," Rocky recites, brushing my bangs from my face, and leaning down to press his lips to my forehead. "You're gonna be okay, Aus."
"Let's get him into the car. We already signed you both out- you're good. Forget about changing back, that would cause you more pain than anything," Riker says.
I latch onto Riker's neck, hiding my face in his skin. The bell's about to ring, and there is no way in hell that I am letting the kids at school see my red, blotchy, tearstained face. And Riker's comfortable. He rubs my back in soft, small circles- which calms me a bit. Rocky's got my leg- he's holding it out straight, so it doesn't bump into anything and send tides of agony up the appendage.
"Guys!" Rydel rushes up to us, Ratliff behind, carrying both of our bookbags. They both look extremely worried, and Rydel pales at the sight of my knee.
"How the fuck did this happen?!" Ratliff growls. "I'm gonna fucking kill something!"
"You can plan your murder in the car, let's just get Austin to the hospital," Rocky mutters, herding us through the halls, and out the main doors of the school. He leads us to where their car is parked, before turning to us.
"Riker, you sit back with him. Ratliff, you can join them, and Rydel, you need to sit up front because I have no idea how the fuck to get to the hospital, and I believe you do."
Rydel nods wordlessly, leaning back to kiss my forehead. She slides into the passenger's seat- while Riker and Ratliff get into the backseat, and I rest my legs on Ratliff's lap- torso on Riker's.
"You're gonna be fine," Riker murmurs into my hair. "You'll be alright."
"His patella is dislocated- which in turn caused a fracture in the bone. His MCL is also torn- but it isn't enough to require surgery. I'm going to put his knee back into place, and then we'll take another x-ray- to see if the break needs surgery, if it isn't that serious."
Austin looks up at me with fear in his eyes- his lower lip wobbling slightly. I sigh, glancing at the doctor. "Could you give us a minute- if you don't mind?"
"Of course. Take your time," Doctor Parker replies, gathering up his clipboard, and stepping out of the room, closing the door behind him.
Riker already has Austin in his arms, rubbing the crying blonde's back gently. "Shhh. It's all gonna be okay- he's just gonna put your leg back."
"It's gonna fucking hurt!" Austin cries. "I don't want it!"
"Hush, love," Riker whispers. "I've got you- you're gonna be fine. It'll just be two seconds- and then you'll be fine. We're gonna be right here."
"Yeah, Aus." I join the conversation, running a hand through Austin's hair. I press a kiss to his forehead, and he buries his face in my neck, whimpering softly. I can't imagine what he's going through right now, and I fucking hate that he's feeling so goddamn awful.
"I'm scared," he whispers. My heart breaks at that- he looks like an innocent child, and I just want to magically heal everything. He deserves that much- at least.
"Listen love, the doctor's gonna come back in soon, and you gotta let him put your knee back into place. Trust me- if it's not broken, it'll hurt a lot less once the bone is back in place. I promise- I had the same thing done- I wouldn't lie to you." Riker's words seem to relax Austin. The smaller blonde sighs and slumps back into my younger brother's chest.
"Rocky?" he mumbles.
"Yeah, Aus?" I walk over, and lift his chin- pressing a kiss to his heated forehead.
"Get Ratliff and Ry? And can you also get me water?"
I nod, chuckling. "'Course. I'll be right back."
"Alright, Austin."
The doctor re-enters the room, and Austin immediately presses impossibly closer to me, his eyes wide and full of fear, as tears of pain roll down his flushed, fevered cheeks.
A nurse follows him in, carrying supplies- which I assume are to help splint Austin's knee once it's back in place. The doctor steps up to the examination table- which I've got onto- Austin is in my lap, with his face in my neck, and his knee stretched to the right.
"We need to do this now. Riker- you need to hold him tight, and steady. He cannot move, otherwise there will be consequences."
"Hear that, Aus? Stay very still. You can move a bit closer, if you wa-"
I don't even have to finish my sentence- Austin presses even closer- and I can feel him trembling, shaking violently- against my body. I sigh, kissing his hair and trying to calm him down. He can't have a panic attack- that's just gonna cause him more pain.
"Alright- Austin- it's going to hurt, but it's just one motion, and then it'll be over." The doctor steps up, and places one gloved hand on Austin's lower thigh, and the other just below his injured knee. He waits for a second, before removing his hands and sighing. "He's tensing up. He can't do that- it'll make it that much harder for me to move the bone back into place, and hurt ten times as much."
"Aus, love," I whisper. "You need to calm down. You can cry, but just hang onto me. It'll all be over really fast, if you relax. Please, lil' bro…" I can feel Austin nod, and I sigh in relief, as his body relaxes, but I can feel his tears on my neck, and it breaks my heart.
The doctor places his hands on Austin's leg again- and with one, smooth, fluid motion, snaps Austin's knee back into socket.
But my little brother screams.
Hysterical sobs tear through his throat, as he reaches for his leg, breathing heavily, hiccupping into my neck. I sigh, rubbing his back gently. "That was it, love. It's all over. You're all done. You did an awesome job."
"Still hurts!" Austin wails, and my eyes widen. I can assume it's broken, and my heart wrenches for him. He doesn't deserve this…
"You did a great job, Austin." The doctor smiles at him, grabbing an icepack from the nurse's supplies, and pressing it to the injured knee. Immediately- Austin whimpers loudly, but relaxes against me, sighing in content.
"Feels good," he whispers- voice hoarse from the amount of crying he's done.
"See? It's all okay," I reassure him, kissing his hair. "You're so strong, love. So strong."
When we enter Austin's hospital room, my heart breaks. My youngest brother is sobbing hysterically into Riker's neck- his sobs painful and choking. His knee is obviously back in place- and there's ice on it- so I wonder why he's crying so hard.
"Rik? Is he...okay?" I ask my twin, stepping up, and brushing my fingers through Austin's hair.
Riker sighs. "He was trying to shift position, and ended up banging his leg against the table. He's in a lot of pain."
"Oh, baby…" I coo, stroking Austin's hot cheek gently. "That had to hurt…"
"Ry…" he whispers, turning toward me, and stretching his arms out for a hug. I nod slightly, collecting his fragile body into my arms, and kissing his head.
"I love you, baby," I whisper. "You're gonna be okay."
"Don' feel okay…" he croaks. "Hurts…"
"I know, love. I know. The doctor's gonna make it better. Shhh," I sigh, rubbing his back.
Austin whimpers loudly, and another sigh escapes me. My poor little brother…he deserves none of this- a fucking dickhead is the reason he's trembling and crying in incessant pain. I'd take it for myself if I could- in a second- it would be a whole lot fucking better than watching my baby brother suffer.
"What else did the doctor say?" Ratliff mutters, his gaze lined with obvious worry and heartbreak.
"X-rays soon. Fucking hell for him- they're gonna have to twist his knee like a fucking pretzel, and it's gonna really hurt."
"Ugh…" Austin groans against my body, sighing heavily. "Don't wanna…"
"Shhh," I whisper. Ratliff glances at me, and I give him a nod, pulling away from Austin, so he can have his turn. Ratliff smiles faintly, and takes his turn to envelope our little brother into his arms, rubbing his back and murmuring into his ear.
"We love you," Rocky says gently. "We love you so much- and we'll never let you go."
"Alright, here you are."
Doctor Parker hands me a pair of crutches, and I sigh. I don't want to be on crutches for two months- that's pure hell and I just don't want to deal with it. Exhaling another breath, I let Riker help me up, supporting myself on the crutches. Pain shoots up my knee, and I wince, letting a curse slip.
Riker and Ratliff flank me on either side, while Rocky continues to badger the doctor with questions on taking care of me- and Rydel has joined him. I don't understand why they're bombarding the doctor- but it's a gesture of love, and I do appreciate it.
"Right, Aus. Let's blow this joint," Rocky says, as he and Rydel walk over to us.
"I don't know why you just said that- but please- never say it again."
"Shut up, Ratliff."
"Make me." The sixteen-year-old sticks his tongue out at Rocky. I grin, hobbling forward and wincing. My knee is wrapped and braced, but I haven't had painkillers yet, so my knee still fucking hurts.
"Nope," Riker smiles. In one motion, be sweeps my body into his arms, allowing the crutches to clatter to the floor. I squeal, hanging onto his neck.
"What was that for?!"
"You are not limping all the way back to the car, my brother. Lemme carry you. Don't want you in more pain than you already are."
"Riker…"
"Hush it, Aus. Love you. Let me help you, yeah? You're legally my lil' bro now- and I wanna take care of you."
Thoughts? I hope you liked it- hospital stuff isn't my thing- so I wasn't too sure about the nedical aspect of things. Speaking of things- the next chapter's heated- fights and arguments galore. Fun, right? If you want those scenes- and trust me- you want them- review like mad!
-Neha