Part Sixty-Seven: Accidents Happen

I cut my wrist while slicing a sandwich. I didn't do it on purpose, but everyone freaks out, mostly Mickey who screamed at three nurses, security, and two doctors about getting to be with me while they stitched me up. They wouldn't let him because he's not family.

I had just finished making the most delicious looking sandwich and was going to cut it to make it easier to eat and the first knife I tried was dull. So I tried another, granted it was a bigger knife, but I thought it would cut the massive sandwich better. I had no idea I would slip and cut my arm open right as Carl and Debbie were walking in the door.

"There now, all stitched up," says the doctor, "You're going to have a nasty scar there."

"That's okay," I say. He wraps my arm and sticks a smiley face sticker on it. I smile at him. I look at Fiona and Lip who are not smiling and are not happy. The doctor leaves and Fiona slaps me in the back of my head.

"What the fuck were you thinking, Ian? Who uses a fucking butcher knife to slice a turkey sandwich?"

"It was an accident," I remind her.

"We'll just have to keep a closer eye on him," Lip says as if I'm not in the room. They start talking over me about 'how to handle me' and 'what to do about me' as if there is something wrong with me. "We shouldn't leave him alone, and definitely not leave him with Liam."

"What about Yev?" Fiona asks.

"He's Mickey's kid. I for one don't give a shit, but that's Mickey's call," says Lip.

"I'm going to have to quit my job," Fiona says, "Maybe he can stay and help V while I'm at work during the day. That could work. She could use an extra hand."

"Do we really want him around children though?" Lip asks. I stand up. They either remember I'm in the room or it suddenly dawns on them.

"I am fine. It was an accident. Fiona's cut herself in the kitchen before. Carl poisoned Cousin Patrick, Debbie beat Frank with a pillow case full of soap, yet I cut myself one time and everyone freaks out."

"Ian, we're worried about you."

"I'M GOING IN THERE!" I hear Mickey's voice.

"I will call security."

"FUCK OFF, LADY!" Mickey says, he opens the door and walks in. He pays no attention to Fiona and Lip. He just hugs me. "Are you alright?"

"Miss Gallagher, I'm sorry, he just barged in," the nurse tells Fiona.

"It's okay," Fiona says giving me a concerned look.

"He's my boyfriend," I tell the nurse, "That makes him family."

"I told her that five fucking times," Mickey says,

"We need to do something," Lip says, "I can't worry about Ian and go to school."

"You don't need to worry about me," I tell Lip.

"Ian, please stop talking, I am really fucking mad right now and I don't want to hear your whiny bull shit."

"He's not whining, you are, and I can take care of him. It's her who insisted we stay at your fucking house."

"You're the one who won't let us get him help," Fiona shouts at Mickey.

"Because we're his family. We're supposed to help him."

"We're not equipped to help Ian. I blame you for this," Fiona says pointing at me. The three of them start arguing over each other. Lip and Fiona are ganging up on Mickey in the argument, but Mickey is able to hold his own.

I get up and walk out. I'm tired of listening to them. Yev is asleep in Debbie's arms. I bend down to stroke his head. Debbie hands Yev off to Carl as she stands up to hug me. He hands the baby back to her when it's his turn to hug me.

"They're really mad," Carl says, "What are they screaming about?"

"Me, I think," I say, "You guys want to get something to eat?"

Carl and Debbie nod. The three of us take Yev to the second floor to the cafeteria. We put our money together to buy ourselves lunch. It's not the best but it helps. I hold Yev and eat with one hand. Yev gurgles on my shoulder. Debbie smiles at him.

"He's cute," Debbie says.

"Are you sure he's Mickey's? I bet his first word will be fuck," Carl says, laughing.

"Most likely," I say. Debbie opens my mustard packets since I can't do it with one hand. I thank her and cover my cheese burger with mustard. I get ready to take a bite when Mickey, Lip, and Fiona show up.

"Fucking food here is ridiculous," Lip says putting his plate on the table.

"How'd you find us?" Carl asks.

"Gallaghers always tend to migrate to a food source in times like this," Lip says.

"How's your arm?" Mickey asks me as he slides in beside me. I scoot over and try not to wake Yev. Mickey ignores him. I won't force it. Mickey will come around to Yev in his own time and in his own way.

"Better."

"Be more careful," Mickey says. He puts his hand on the back of my head and kisses me on the cheek in front of everyone. Fiona and Debbie are smiling really wide, and Lip is rolling his eyes.

"So who's wiener goes in who's ass?" Carl asks. I nearly choke on my burger.

"Carl!" Fiona says.

"We're all thinking it," Carl says.

"Ian's taller," Debbie says, "Physically it would make more sense for Ian to be the top, however, Mickey seems to be the more dominant partner, so really it could go either way."

"Debbie," says Lip.

"I think it's important to give them some privacy," says Fiona.

Mickey releases the breath he was holding. I rub his shoulder. Mickey and I sit together the whole ride back to the house. I call in to work. I shouldn't dance with my hand like this, it's really unflattering.

Instead I stay home while Mickey takes Yev back to his house for the night. He brings back a pillowcase full of his clothes. He slides down on the couch beside me and puts his arm around me. Kev is sitting in the arm chair holding one of his twins and staring at the television. He smiles at us.

"Why is he here?" Mickey asks.

"He had a fight with V," I whisper, "Lip's also here so you and I are back with Carl. Lip and I put the bunk beds back together. I'm in my old bed. We'll have to snuggle. I know how much you hate that," I tease.

"Fuck off. Is this a fucking Van Damme movie?" Mickey asks.

"What's wrong with Van Damme?" Kev asks.

"Everything," Mickey says.

"What do you see in him?" Kev asks me.

I look at Mickey. He doesn't like it when I stare at him too much, but I can't help it. He's so beautiful. I like Mickey's eyes. He has beautiful eyes. "What the fuck are you staring at?" Mickey asks, just like I knew he would.

"You."

Kev crashing on our couch after Fiona takes Amy back to Veronica. I have no idea what Kev and V fought about but it worries me. I mean, if they can't make it work what chance do Mickey and I have? Kev and V have been together forever.

I lie beneath Mickey's arms. His butt is against my wall and his head is on my shoulder, but he his hand is holding mine. He's breathing into my neck. "Were you trying to kill yourself?" Mickey whispers.

"No," I answer.

"Promise me you won't," Mickey says.

"What?"

"Fucking promise," Mickey says squeezing my hand a little too tight.

"Mick," I say.

"I swear to fucking God," Mickey growls.

"I promise," I tell Mickey. I turn my head slightly to meet his lips in a kiss. Mickey gives me an extra peck before he nods off. I don't know how long I sleep, but it isn't very long. I am up and gathering everyone's clothes. I do four loads of laundry, wash all the dishes, read every magazine I can find, jerk off in the bathroom, work out, play X-Box, pick up Liam's toys, and throw a blanket over Kev.

"Ian," says Mickey sleepily. He runs into the wall from his eyes being adjusted to being awake. He nearly stumbles down the stairs. I catch him. "What the fuck are you doing up?"

"I can't sleep," I tell him, "Go back to bed."

"Come with me," Mickey says sleepily. He let's out a big yawn. I take Mickey by the hand and help him up the stairs. The second we get upstairs he pulls me into his arms and down into the bed, where he goes instantly back to sleep. I snuggle into him. Maybe listening to his breathing will help me fall asleep.

Mickey isn't beside me when I wake up; instead I am startled by Carl and Liam staring at me. Carl smiles and puts Liam on the floor. "Don't go downstairs, Mickey, Lip, and Fiona are arguing."

"What about?"

"You," Carl says, "We can listen from the stairs."

I nod. I pick up Liam and we walk as slowly and quietly as we can to the stairs and sit at the top to listen to them arguing. Carl's right it is about me. Mickey's voice is not surprisingly the loudest. Every third word he drops is "fuck" or "Fuck" related. I can almost picture him turning red and pointing his "f" finger at Lip.

"HE'S NOT FUCKING CRAZY!" Mickey says.

"He fucking cut himself, Mickey, what's next? You have never seen this before, but we have. We saw Monica go from being happy one minute and fucking depressed the next. Did you know Ian watched her cut her fucking wrist? Right here in the kitchen," Lip says.

"He's not Monica."

"Yes he is."

"Do you hear yourself? He's your fucking brother."

"Oh, and like you were there for Mandy when her douche bag boyfriend used her as a punching bag," Lip says.

"I nearly fucking killed him," Mickey says.

"Have you ever hit Ian?" Fiona asks.

Yes. Once.

Mickey hesitates. I can almost see the smug look on Lip's face. He knows the answer to this question. He knows the truth. "Yes," Mickey responds.

"Often," Fiona asks.

"Once," Mickey's voice cracks. "He confronted me about marrying Svetlana and I beat the shit out of him. I thought it might make him hate me so he'd move on."

"That's why he was depressed and drunk off his ass when you when on your camping trip," Lip says.

I can't listen to this anymore. I kiss Liam on his head and leave him at the top of the stairs. I start to walk down them. Mickey is the only one who doesn't look at me. I'm not sure he can. He instead walks out the back door. The yelling and everything has woken up Kev and Debbie who are watching from the living room.

"Ian," says Fiona wiping a tear from her eye. "How many times has Mickey hit you?"

"Once," I tell her.

"You don't have to lie for him."

"I'm not lying. Mickey's a good person."

"Ian, I watched the shit he put you through for two years. I picked up the pieces. You expect me to believe that guy is a good person," Lip says.

"I wouldn't expect you to understand," I tell Lip. I walk out the door. Fiona yells after me to put on shoes. I don't listen. I chase Mickey down the street. It's not long before I catch up with him. He hasn't gone far. It looks like he's walking back to his house.

"Are we over?" I ask.

Mickey doesn't answer. He stops walking though. He still won't look at me. I watch him wipe his eyes. He's trying so hard not to cry.

"I hurt you," Mickey says.

"That past is in the past," I tell Mickey.

"I'll never fucking hurt you again," Mickey says. He's looking at me now. He's giving me a hard, blazing look. Mickey takes a step close to me. He puts a hand on the back of my head and pulls me down for a kiss. When it's over he stares into my eyes. "My word is my fucking bond. I will never hit you again. Ever."

"It was one time," I tell Mickey.

"Ever," Mickey repeats, "If anyone fucking touches you I want you to fight the fuck back and then I want you to tell me, because no matter where I fucking am or what I'm fucking doing I will have your back. No one, including me, will ever lay a fucking finger on you ever again."

"Frank?" I ask.

"What the fuck did I just say? Where are you fucking shoes?" Mickey asks finally looking down. He turns me around and frog marches me back to my house. Fiona and Lip start in on Mickey again. I roll my eyes. I get I should get used to this. I shouldn't have expected them to get along.

"I'm hungry," Carl says.

"Let's go over to Sheila's and get something to eat, we can let them sort it out," says Debbie, pulling out her phone to call Sheila.

"Where are you going?" Kev asks.

"Sheila's for breakfast," says Carl.

Kev tags along. The three arguing in the kitchen barely notice us leaving, Mickey does. He nods at me. I nod back. He doesn't follow me. He stands his ground against Lip and Fiona. I pick up Liam and we pile in Kev's truck.

"Are you okay?" Kev asks me.

"Yeah," I say.

"Good," Kev says, putting his hand on my back.