Chapter 22

Monday Morning

Brian awoke before Bridget did. He lay there just looking at her, and he thought to himself "I can't believe she really said yes, I want to tell the whole world."

It was about 630 am in the morning; he knew the nursing staff would be in soon so he figured he should wake her up. He said out loud "Hey sleepy head good morning."

She stirred a little and then slowly opened her eyes, kissed him gently and she said.

"Good morning honey. Then she looked at her hand. "We really did get engaged last night didn't we?"

"Yes we did." He replied with a smile. "I hate to be the one to make us move but it's 6:30 the nurse will be in to check my vitals soon."

Bridget got up and grabbed her bag and went into the bathroom. A few minutes later he was right the nurse came in to check his vitals and give him his medicine.

The nurse left and 10 minutes later Bridget came out. All freshened up. "Hey honey do you need to get up and go in the bathroom? I have clean sweat pants and a button up shirt and everything else you need."

"Yeah" he replied "but I still need help I am too unsteady to walk over there yet without help." She helped him and he was all ready within a half hour and back in bed it was about 8 am,

"Hey I ordered double of the food so you wouldn't have to go downstairs, breakfast is the only meal the hospital can actually make look like food," He laughed as he said it.

"I know the food isn't here yet but I know there is coffee in the kitchen can you go get us some?"

"Yeah I will be right back I will get the coffee but I don't know if I can eat the food."

She was back in a couple of minutes. Just then his phone cell phone rang. Since it was on the charger across the room on the charger

Bridget told him "I will get it for you honey." She looked at the caller ID. "It's Dave do you want to talk to him?"

"No not really tell him I am in the shower and will call him back"

She answered. "Hello Dave Brian's in the shower can he call you back later?"

"Yeah actually tell him I will stop by before I go to work roughly 9 am bye" He replied and they hung up

Then Brian said, "I just didn't want to get into anything with him this morning, I am feeling too good and I don't want a panic attack or anything I would rather wait until Matt is here you before I talk to him."

"It's Ok Bri you don't have to explain anything to me, I understand but I hate to break it to you he said he would be here around 9 am before he went to work."

"Oh great just what I need, more stress." Brian said. Then the phone rang again, this time it was Matt, Bridget answered in a much too cheerful voice "Hi Matt, you're calling earlier than usual today."

"Yeah I have been up for a while. Matt said, the boys are still on east coast time. Plus it's late enough around here that Mom has gotten Sam and David to school already. Hey can I talk to Brian real quick?"

She handed the phone to Brian. Brian answered, "Hey Matt how are you doing today? What are you…..?"

Matt cut him off. "Enough with the small talk already; you know what I am calling for. Did you ask her or not?"

"Yeah" is all Brian said

"Oh come on well?" Matt said exasperated.

"Hold on" Brian said he put his hand over the phone, "Bridget, Matt knew I was going to ask you he was the one I sent to the apartment for the ring. He is calling to find out what you said, can I tell him or should make him wait?"

"Give me the phone I want to tell him." Bridget said excitedly,

Brian handed her the phone. "Hi Matt, now what was your question again?" she giggled when she said it. "I am just teasing I said yes"

She heard Matt yell "Whoo hoo" on the other end. Matt came back to the phone and said. "I am so happy for the two of you, but don't worry as much as it is going to kill me not to say anything to anyone I promise I won't, it's your news but tell people soon or I don't know how long I can keep from telling people."

Bridget handed the phone back to Brian and told him "I have to step out for a second to call my new job"

"Hey Matt it's me again I can't even begin to tell you how happy we are."

"I am so happy for you Brian, and you know once mom hears about this she will want to have an to start planning for the wedding and probably some kind of party."

"I don't know whether I will be up for a party or not, I can't think about anything beyond going home, and as much as I want to get out of here I am kind of overwhelmed about going home. I am still having trouble with my balance just walking to the bathroom, not to mention how do I do anything with just the one arm. Brian was getting himself all worked up.

Matt had to cut him off. "Whoa slow down there Bri, take a breath it will be fine. There is enough family to make sure you won't be alone, Mom already has a schedule posted, and why are you getting all worked up about this?"

"It's not really going home that's bothering me." Brian told him. It's just well Dave called this morning and…."

Just then Bridget came back in told Brian. Are you going to be ok honey if I run out for a few hours my new job wants me in for a bit today and I thought if I do it now, I will be available for you in the afternoon if they discharge you or at least give you a discharge plan. I know that won't be at least until this afternoon. I will stay if you want me too but….."

Brian kissed her and said "No Bridget you go take care of you job situation, I will be ok."

She kissed him again and left for work. Brian went back to talking with Matt "as I was saying I wasn't ready to take the call from Dave. I don't know why I am dreading talking to him I have been friends with him since I was in grade school I guess I am not ready to start full filling everyone's demands again. I think it took my injury to wake up to even realize I was doing what I was doing for everyone. I mean I really want to work on the Berry town project but well I even have some great ideas for a presentation, but I can't get stressed over it and being around Dave put me under a lot of stress. I used to be able to handle it no problem, but now I don't know. It's funny I used to bounce a lot of this stuff off of Adam, he never was too much help though come to think about it and I just can't believe he blew me off like this they all did."

"Brian don't worry about it. You have your family now. Hey Brian, do you want me to run well interference for you as far as Dave goes today?"

"Well I wish you could, but there is no time if you wanted to do that. He is going to be here at 9 am. At least that's when he said he would be here and it's 8:15 now, so you would never make it."

Then Matt said "Watch me. Let me go now so I can be there before Dave" with that he hung up the phone.

Within 25 minutes Matt came strolling in the room. As Brian was eating breakfast, Brian looked at Matt and said "What did you do fly"

Matt laughed and said "Pretty much." He looked a Brian's tray and saw the double portions of everything and said. "What are you feeding an army; I thought you didn't like hospital food,

Brian said "Well I had ordered this much because Bridget was supposed to be here to eat it but she had to go to her job this morning, Hey here have half."

"Thanks" Matt said "Don't mind if I do. I left the house so quick I didn't eat"

Brian glanced at the clock. The smile left his face "God it's almost 9"

"Hey Brian relax it will be fine." Matt reassured him.

Shortly after that in walked Dave. "Hey what's up? I got to make this quick because I need to be there about 9:30. He showed some sketches to Brian, So what do you have for me buddy" He picks up Brian's Lap top

"What do you mean. I didn't do any more work on it just what we did Saturday."

Matt chimed in "Brian is still recuperating I told you before he isn't up to working full time, and I didn't exactly see you working on anything when I stopped by yesterday for some of Brian's stuff. Oh did you clean up his apartment by the way?"

Dave sort of stood there speechless then Matt said "Yeah that's what I thought"

Brian felt bad at the way this little POW WOW was going. He had to think really quickly. He knew he needed to save Dave's ass again. "I have an idea lets go with a live presentation"

Brian said in a panicked voice "You should hire actors to dress up as the Berry town characters and I know go to my neighbors downstairs the blonde one Stephanie she is an actress she liked me see if she will be the Molly Marmalade character. We can have her come out of a Birthday cake."

"Oh that's great Brian" Dave wrote everything down quickly "I will run this by Natasha our boss oh and I will hand in your paper work to HR well got to run talk to you later bye" with that he was gone.

Matt shook his head "Is this always how it is Brian? You always saving his behind, you know he spent the afternoon playing video games at YOUR apartment. Not working and not coming to visit you or see how you were doing yet you feel sorry for him"

"Well I had to do something. He needed my help Matt"

"You can't keep rescuing him. At least not right now maybe when you are back to 100% but until then knock it off Brian"

"Old habits die hard Matt but I will try I promise. Ok now to change the subject think you can find out if they are going to spring me from here today?"

"Hey do you think you are ready to leave?" Matt asked. "You are still a bit wobbly walking around besides the family has to make sure your apartment is ready for you after Dave trashed it again and Mom and Lucy already went grocery shopping for you and are busy making a ton of meals for you and Bridget of course to stock up your refrigerator. Plus Kevin went to the medical supply store to get you a shower chair and safety bars and then mom and Lucy were going to install them in your bathroom and put the nonskid stuff so you wouldn't slip Kevin was also bringing over a couple of cots in case someone needed to sleep there if you needed extra support. So give them time to do it."

"Oh come on Matt go see if you can find anything out"

"No just wait, your case manager or Dr. Fitzpatrick will be in. Don't be in such a rush."

Matt helped Brian walk to get more balance he even helped put socks and sneakers on to walk up and down the hall. They hung out until about noon. Lunch was brought in and Brian ate Then about 1pm the physical therapist came in with his case manager and Dr. Fitzpatrick to discuss discharge planning, Matt explained all that their family was doing to get the apartment ready for him and that they had as schedule to make sure he was never alone 24/7. The physical therapist made appointments for him to come back for outpatient Physical therapy. Dr. Fitzpatrick gave him a full exam Well everything looks good his follow up appointments made with the orthopedist and his Neurologist Dr. Fitzpatrick were made. Matt and Dr. Fitzpatrick consulted about all Brian's aftercare and thought Brian was safe to be discharged as long as he was under Matt and his family's care at home.

The doctor said "let me get his paperwork going and his prescriptions filled out I will be back in an hour and we will see if we can get you out of here Brian. So I will see you at 4 pm"

Then Matt said "let me call mom to see where things are in getting everything ready"

He dialed mom's cell Annie answered "Hi Matt are you with Brian?"

"Ya mom I am, Brian is getting discharged today is everything ready for him?"

"Oh that's great honey." Annie said. "Yes his apartment is ready Oh and Bridget is here too should I send her back to the hospital to help?"

"No I can handle getting him home. Hopefully we will be out of here between 4:30-5:00 Then we will go through the pharmacy Drive thru to get his medicine and maybe home by 6 pm but I will let you know Let me talk to Bridget."

He filled her in on the details in regards to Brian's discharge and told her that he could handle getting him out of the hospital. "Ok see you soon."

He let Brian know he told Bridget to just wait for them at the apartment instead of going back to the hospital.

"Hey Brian while we are waiting why don't I bring all you stuff down to my car I will be back in 10 minutes

About 4:15pm everything was ready for Brian to be discharged Dr. Fitzpatrick came in with all Brian's paperwork and discharge instructions. Matt was back up to Brian's room and they were ready to go. Matt was given all the wound care supplies and prescriptions as well all the paperwork.

The nurse came in with a wheelchair, Brian wasn't happy about having to go down in a wheelchair but since it was hospital policy and the only way they would let him leave he agreed.

"Ok are we ready?" Matt asked.

"You have no idea how ready." Brian said

They went down and Matt already had the car pulled into the patient loading area. Matt helped Brian in the car and buckled him in and they were off.

Brian's apartment

Eric and Annie and the whole family were there getting things ready for Brian's arrival home. They left a space in the driveway so Matt could pull up close to make it easier for Brian to get in. Nic, Dave and Deena had arrived there about 4 pm so they could be there too when he got home.

This was a welcome home party for Brian. Sam and David again made a giant banner that he would see when they pulled in saying WELCOME HOME BRIAN. It was 5:30 and Matt and Brian would be there soon.

Bridget had been hiding the ring. She wanted to tell everyone when she was with Brian. Matt phoned Bridget to let her know they had just left the pharmacy with Brian's Medicine and would be there in 5 minutes.

Bridget told everyone and went outside to wait for them. They pulled in a short time later; Brian saw the Banner and knew it was Sam and David's handy work. Bridget went over to the car and opened Brian's door kissed him and unbuckled him.

"Hi honey Welcome home" she said "I didn't say anything about our engagement yet I wanted you to be with me when it was announced."

Matt and Bridget both helped Brian up stairs everyone was so happy to see him home. Everyone took turns hugging him.

"Ok ok let me sit I am still shaky on my feet you know." Brian said as he sat in his recliner

Kevin and Matt brought all Brian's stuff in from the car and put it in his room and out his prescriptions in the medicine cabinet with a list of instructions on when to take them on the mirror. Bridget sat on the arm of the recliner kissed him and whispered "shall we tell everyone."

He kissed her back "Yes I think we should" Matt was standing next to them and over heard them.

He asked them "Do you want me to get everyone's attention."

They shook their heads yes

Matt then said in a loud voice. "Can I get everyone's attention please"

Everyone quieted down Matt then looked at Brian and Bridget, and said "You two have the floor."

Brian started by saying. "I think my injury really made me take a long look at the people important to me and of what I want out of life. I want the people I care about the most to share in Bridget and my happiness. I love Bridget very much and last night I asked her to marry me and she said YES"

Bridget held up her hand to show everyone her engagement ring. Annie and Eric were the first over to congratulate them, everyone congratulated them.

Nic went and hugged both of them, "it's about time little brother."

Everyone stayed until about 8:30 but then left so Brian could get rest Matt hung around in case Bridget needed help and of course Dave was there because he was staying on the couch still.

"Boy am I ready for bed." Brian said.

Matt had gone into the bathroom and came out with Brian's medicine and a glass of water, "Here you go Bri" Bridget and Matt started to get everything ready for Brian in his room.

Dave had waited until they left the room to seize the opportunity to corner Brian into talking about work"

Oh Brian Natasha loved the idea we had for Berry town, she wanted to know when you could be in I told her you were getting out of the Hospital today. So how soon can you go in with me to work?"

Matt over heard what Dave was doing. He knew that if Dave worked on Brian long enough he would be having him at the office tomorrow.

He came out. And said "Brian won't be going back to work just yet at least it this week. So just give it a rest Dave ok Come on Brian let me help you up Bridget and I will help you in the bathroom and then get ready for bed oh and I think I will stay out here on the cot just in case you need me."

He was staying in order to make sure Dave didn't convince Brian to go to work in the morning Brian and Bridget were in bed by 9:30.

Matt called Sarah from the bathroom to tell her he was staying at Brian's and why. Sarah agreed she didn't want Brian to have a guilt trip laid on him that would make him go to work tomorrow either and thought it best if Matt stayed too He hung up with her then went to the living room where Dave was who was again playing with video games. He pulled out the cot to sleep on. "Well goodnight Dave." Dave didn't say anything he just kept playing the video game. Matt just went to sleep.