Chapter 17
Back at the Camden's
Matt had called earlier to let everyone know just how well Brian was doing now.
Annie and Eric were so relieved. He also told them a little bit of what Bridget had told him earlier, Matt made sure Brian was not in hearing range when he told them.
Annie spoke privately to Eric "It makes a lot more sense now why Brian is how he is. We really have to make sure no one treats him like that especially now. With the brain injury it is going to make him even more vulnerable to people being able to take advantage of Brian."
Eric added "I talked to Kevin because we both know how financially secure he and Lucy are, I went ahead and explained Brian's situation that Matt told us about the loans and other bills and also about how he needs to continue his health insurance through COBRA. Well Kevin is taking care of that today and he has paid his rent for the next 3 months and looking into his other bills to take care of those. That will leave Brian in the clear and able to concentrate on getting better."
"Thank God for Kevin." Annie said "I will let Bridget and Matt know."
Mary and Sarah came in the kitchen where Eric and Annie were talking so they had to change the subject.
Mary said "I just talked to Carlos, he and Simon have everything under control at Brian's apartment building He also said to tell you that Kevin had stopped by to get Brian's bills and go over them to get ready to pay for them. He found a lot of bills for some of Brian's friends too that it seemed Brian had been taking care of too.
Especially for Dave and Deena. He also has a to-do list a mile long that Brian has to help his friends do a lot of things for them. Kevin said by the looks of things we should start calling him St Brian. Kevin doesn't think Brian ever tells anyone no."
"Wow we need to let Matt know this, on second thought I should have Kevin call Matt to tell him." Eric said
"Ok then I won't need to call Matt and Bridget" Annie said.
Eric dialed Kevin and told him to call Matt with all the information he had relayed though Carlos. He agreed, Kevin was still at Brian's. Kevin dialed Matt's cell. Matt saw that it was Kevin calling
Matt answered "Hi Kevin what's up" "Are you in the room with Brian I don't want him to hear this conversation."
Matt said to Brian and Bridget, "I have to step out and take this real quick I will be right back."
He walked down to the family lounge at the end of the hall it was empty
"Ok Kev I am alone."
"Ok well just so you know mom and dad told me a lot of the stuff about Brian's situation the financial stuff because they know that I am more than financially able to help, so everything is or will be taken care of and I do mean everything well at least Brian's finances anyway including the COBRA for the health insurance and the loan he took out to bail out something called Zap Monkey however there is some stuff we have to talk about I didn't mean to look at more than just his bills, But he has a lot of stuff mixed together."
Kevin went on to tell him all that he had found and how much Brian was trying to help everyone else all the time including his to do list.
"Oh my God Bridget was right" Matt said, "With all the responsibility he has taken on no wonder he feels he has to go home to take care of things no wonder he is under such stress. Hey I am going to get Bridget; I wonder if she knows all this, plus I want you to tell her about the financial stuff hang on Kev."
He walked back to Brian's room, "Hey Brian can I borrow Bridget for a few minutes. Don't worry nothing is wrong I just have to ask her some stuff nothing you need to be concerned about just health insurance stuff among other things oh and by the way you still have your insurance we found out so that you don't have that to worry about. We will be right back,"
They walked to the lounge. "Here Bridget talk to Kevin,"
"Whose Kevin again?" Bridget asked. "Oh sorry Kevin is my brother in law Lucy's husband."
"Oh Ok" She took the phone. "Hi Kevin,"
Kevin told her about all that he and Lucy were doing as far as helping with Brian's finances and to reassure her that they completely had the financial ability to do got all emotional and replied.
"I don't even know what to say, thank you doesn't seem to be enough."
"Don't worry about it that's what real families do for each other" Kevin said. "We take care of each other. By the looks of things it seems Brian has been the one doing all the giving and taking care of everyone and a lot of others have been doing a lot of the taking, I don't mean you, but how much are you aware of what he does for a lot of his friends?"
"I know he gets walked on a lot so too are always going to him for one thing or another." Bridget simply stated.
Kevin went on to tell her about the to do list and the list of bills he was taking care of for other people. Then he said "We are going to start calling him St. Brian"
"Oh my God I had no idea he was doing all that" then Kevin said "Listen, I have all of his information in a file and I will be in later after dinner to go over it with him, if you think he is up to it."
"Let me ask Matt what he thinks hang on "
Bridget asked Matt if he thought it was a good idea.
Matt said "We should have Kevin do this so Brian will be able to stop worrying and relax and concentrate on getting better."
"Kevin, Matt said to come in so we will see you at what 6:30ish"
"Yeah that's fine, see you then," with that Kevin hung up and Matt and Bridget walked back to Brian's room.
The Greco's
Dave was a little bit more than worried about his Brian's condition, Bridget had called earlier to let them know he was better but he had a long road of recovery, Dave had all but sealed the deal that Brian would start at KC Gaming. Natasha Drew the new CEO knew all about the work the two of them had done at Zap Monkey more importantly Throttle Autobon. But it seemed she wanted the Davis Greco team, because Dave was having trouble cutting it without Brian and he knew his job could be on the line.
He called Natasha she answered Hi its Dave Greco I was wondering if I get the HR paperwork for Brian. Then I could have him complete it and I could bring it in for him. Then he could work from the hospital."
He tried to sound like it would be an urgent matter for Brian. "I mean I know he really needs the job ASAP and this would really help him out and well I could go to the hospital and we can do a lot of the work together."
"Sure that's fine Dave, Natasha replied, "I will call HR and they will have the paperwork ready for you in an hour. Pick it up today because HR will not be here tomorrow because it is Saturday, I want you and Brian to work on a new angle for Berry town. Gotham Gaming is coming in to size things up a week from today I want expect something fantastic by then." And she hung up.
Deena came in the room. "Who was that, more news on Brian?"
"No but it is GOOD news for Brian. I got him the job at KC Gaming. I have to leave to go there now to pick up paperwork from HR, he will be able to work from the hospital or home or wherever until he is up to going into the office."
"Do you think he is up to that yet?" asked Deena, "He has a head injury Dave."
"I know he does but this is why it will be so good for him let his creative juices start to flow again it could be I don't know therapeutic. I have to run to the office. See you later."
Back at the Hospital
Bridget and Matt were back in Brian's room. "So what was all that about?" Brian asked,
"Oh we just had some stuff to go over with Kevin" Matt told him
"Kevin? Oh Lucy's husband, why Kevin?" Brian asked.
"He was at your apartment helping Carlos and Simon with some stuff," Matt told him
"But I thought you said you were talking to Bridget about my health insurance and stuff what does that have to do with Kevin?"
Matt and Bridget looked at each other not sure what to say.
"Ok out with it what's going on!" Brian was getting agitated heart rate going up again.
"Brian relax" Bridget said to him as she went over to him and touched his cheek. "It's ok honey, it's actually a good thing. Your family is so wonderful I can't even get over are making sure everything is being taken care of. I am actually in a state of shock myself when I realized what they meant when they said that everything will be taken care of.
"What do you mean?" Brian asked "Well Kevin will be here after dinner to go over all that with you he has all the details. He created a file folder of all you paperwork, bills and stuff you keep in your desk and is bringing it in. He told me to tell you not to worry about anything financial it is all set including the COBRA payments for you insurance"
"What are you saying?" Brian asked
"She is saying" Matt told him. "That this family takes care of its own, You are family Brian you don't have to worry, Just wait until Kevin gets here he is the financial brain and well he is the Bank of Kevin let's just say and let's just leave it at that OK"
The nurse came in with a food tray and told him "You are now on full liquid diet instead of just clear liquids so that is a step in the right direction. If you tolerate it you can have soft solid tomorrow after your procedure scheduled for 7:30am. However nothing after midnight but we will have breakfast here for 9:30 since you will only have a local anesthetic is shouldn't affect your stomach."
As the nurse left his room, Annie and Eric walked in they had food for Bridget and Matt. "When was the last time you two ate I bet you can't remember can you." Annie asked them they both said thanks,
"Sorry Brian I called the desk I wasn't allowed to bring you food or I would have sweetie" she went and kissed him on the forehead,
"You look much better"
"I feel better and I was told I get this thing out of my head tomorrow morning" Brian said enthusiastically.
Eric said to Matt and Bridget "Why don't you take a break, take your food and go to the lounge we will be here for a while"
"Ok Dad thanks; we will be back in a bit Brian."
They visited with Brian for a while. They were so happy to see him
Brian looked at his food, "Well I guess it is better what they gave me before but it doesn't look to appetizing , yogurt and strained cream soup Yuk Ahh but they gave me a chocolate Frappe, I think I will go with that."
Matt and Bridget walk in the lounge, and toke out the food, and the soda out of the cooler. "Wow your mom prepared a feast for us but I don't know if I am up to eating it. I think maybe all the stress I have been under is just getting to me. I am sick to my stomach all the time, but don't tell Brian huh, He has enough to worry about." Bridget said "Your mom is so great for doing all this. I love your family do you think they will adopt me?"
Matt had just taken a sip of soda and started to laugh as she said it. He choked on it and it came out his nose and everything went all down the front of his shirt,
"I didn't think what I said was that funny?" She said.
"No not so much what you said but what went through my mind when you said it, I had the funniest thought that if you were adopted by my parents you would be dating your brother"
They both laughed again when he said that. "Hey Bridget, you know Brian better than me, how do you think he is going to react to Kevin tonight?"
"I honestly don't know probably overwhelmed, I know I was when Kevin told me. I am just a bit worried he is not used to be on the receiving end of things, he has a hard time when I do stuff for him. If you knew his dad, again I mean adoptive dad you would understand remember I worked for him so I know. I am also worried with about his responses, if he gets overwhelmed will it trigger another panic attack?"
"Crap I didn't think of that." Matt said, "Well I know his doctor put in a PRN order which means as needed by the way for Lorazapan an anti-anxiety medicine I can see that he gets it before Kevin gets here to take the edge off you know as a preventative precaution."
"Good idea Matt, oh it is almost 6 pm we better finish up and get back to the room." They finished their dinner and headed back at the room. Matt stopped at the nurse's station to tell them to give Brian the Lorazapan in his IV port.
They walked back in Brian's room and Brian almost seemed like his old self laughing and joking with his parents.
Eric looked at Matt and laughed. "Had it been so long since you had eaten that you forgot where you mouth was?" pointing at the stain on the front of his shirt.
"Ha ha ha you're hilarious dad." He told them what Bridget had said in the lounge and then the thought he had after she said it. They all laughed pretty hard after hearing it.
The nurse came in to give him the medicine. Brian was so used to getting medicine by now that he didn't even question what he was getting he just assumed it was time for his pain medicine. Although he all of a sudden felt strangely relaxed. The nurse took his vitals and they were normal she then took his tray away he ate most of it. A short time later Kevin arrived He was still shocked to see what Brian looked like. He looked nothing like the man that was at his in-laws house just the other day.
"Hey Brian how are you doing"
"Much better thanks so much better I am told that they take this thing out of my head tomorrow morning although I am stuck in this place for a while I am told. So what is it exactly that you wanted to go over with me? I am told you are the financial brain in the family."
"Yeah just call me the bank of Kevin .Do you care if everyone is here for this or would you rather it be just you me and Bridget in here for this?"
"No everyone can stay, it's ok with me "Kevin proceeded to go over all his finances with him. Yeah I know pretty depressing huh until the mess happened with my dad's firm everything was looking good and back on track. Now however, well you see the mess. Normally I would be bothered by even going over this with anyone its private for me. But for some reason I am not freaking out"
"That's because the medicine you got before Kevin came in was an anti-anxiety drug I thought it would be a good precautionary measure to have it administered to you before Kevin came" Matt said.
"That was a good idea. I sure didn't want to have one of those Panic attacks again. Any way now that all this depressing mess is on the table, what do you suggest I do about it? The only idea I had was to sell my car for starters."
"You my friend, don't have to do anything at all" You are all set you are no longer in debt. It is all taken care of. That is what I spent the better part of the day taking care of. And you have money in your bank account. All your bills and loans are paid in full and actually paid up through the next 3 months" Brian's jaw dropped. "How… how is that possible? What did the money fairy drop by my house or something, you do see what the totals are on this stuff, I owe like $100,000 or more"
"Not any more you don't" Kevin said
"How? Were you able to get any of the money I was owed from Davis Realty is that it?"
"Oh now honey that's gone "Bridget said "that ship sailed when your dad fled and left the mess."
"I don't understand. Again I ask how? "
"Welcome to the bank of Kevin and I do not expect it back so don't even try." You can't that's too much, It's too overwhelming. You don't even know me."
"You're family that's all I need to know." Kevin told him "anyway, financially Lucy and I have more than enough for this .When my dad passed away years ago he left my brother and I and my mother VERY WELL OFF."
"Brian openly wept "I don't even know what to say except thank you."
"You're welcome." Then Annie said, "All we want you to do is focus on getting well. That's all that matters to us."
"I also want to say something else" Kevin said. "You had a lot of other stuff mixed in with your bills and stuff. I didn't mean to look at it but it was hard to miss. I noticed you take care of a lot of other people and that To Do List I saw ,God Brian you can't keep doing that especially now. I am about to call you St Brian."
"Oh cut it out I just try to help my friends that's all,"
"well for now promise me you will just take care of yourself for a while,"
"Ok. I will you are right I don't have a choice" Well I am going to get going now I want to get back to Lucy and Savannah. Good luck with your procedure tomorrow. Lucy and I will try too stop by in the sometime tomorrow and probably so will the rest of the family. "
"Thanks again Kevin" Brian said "see you tomorrow."