Chapter 3: Recovery Road
Three weeks later…
Thomas steps out of his fathers car still feeling sore from being shot just three weeks ago. "Here mate I can help," Bandit said, getting out of the car and helping his son. "It's okay dad I think I got it," Thomas said looking at his father. But Bandit insisted on helping his son into the house. "I'll carry you if I have to," Bandit pleaded. "Dad!" Thomas protested. "I just don't want you to hurt yourself mate," Bandit said, now letting his son walk up the steps of the house. "If I need you I'll ask," Thomas said, putting his hand on the rail. "The doc said you might need physical therapy after the hospital," Bandit pointed out. "Dad, we'll do that if I need it," Thomas said, now trying to get up the steps. Thomas tried putting one foot in front of the other and lifted himself up onto the steps. Thomas made a face for how much pain he was in but didn't want to show weakness.
Thomas then slipped on his footing and fell backwards. "Going down!" Thomas shouted, trying to grab the railing. Bandit quickly jumped at his son and caught him before he could fall. "That was close… thanks dad," Thomas said as Bandit helped his son back on the steps. "Now, can I carry you?" Bandit asked in a concerned tone. "Alright, but just to the porch I want to walk into the house," Thomas said. "Deal," Bandit said as he carried his son up the steps and placed him down on the porch. "Much better," Thomas said, now looking out to the yard. "Hey, isn't that Uncle Stripes car and aunt Friskys car too?" Thomas asked, looking down the street seeing their cars. "Um… no," Bandit said with a nervous chuckle. "And we didn't get a fourth car," Thomas said, also now noticing the car next to the driveway. "Um well…. Maybe we did," Bandit said again with a nervous chuckle. "Dad, the only cars we have are yours, mine and moms," Thomas said as he walked into his house.
Once Thomas opened the door, he was welcomed by his family with "Welcome home!" Everyone shouted. "Aww, thanks everyone," Thomas said, leaning against the door for Leverage. "Here mate, have a seat," Uncle Stripe said, moving over to let his nephew sit. "Thanks uncle Stripe," Thomas said as he sat down. "Mate the reason that extra car is here…" Bandit started to explain but then someone beat him to it. "Thomas honey!" Willow said coming down the stairs. "Grandma?" Thomas said confused as the old husky walked over to him. Stripe then got off the couch to let Willow sit next to her grandson. Willow then hugged her grandson with tears in her eyes. "Grandma, it's okay, I'm okay," Thomas said, hugging his grandmother. "Your grandfather and I were so worried," Willow said, kissing Thomas on his head.
"Is Grandpa here too?" Thomas asked. "All the grandparents are here mate," Bandit spoke. "Even your Granddad Mort," Chilli added as she stood next to her husband. "Really?" Thomas asked about ready to cry. "Yes, everyone else is upstairs," Willow said softly. "Okay I'll go upstairs where everyone else is," Thomas as he sorely got up from the couch. Thomas then made his way over to the stairs and then looked up. Thomas wanted to show he was still him and could still do the everyday things he used to do. "Um… dad?" Thomas asked waving him to come over to him. Bandit walked over to his son who then whispered to him. "I need help," Thomas said in defeat. "It's okay mate just one day at a time," Bandit said as she helped his son walk up the stairs. There were more tears in Willow's eyes as she saw her grandson struggle. After Bandit helped his son into the main living room upstairs and sat him down on the upstairs couch.
Richard, Bob and Mort were talking out on the pad until they saw Thomas sit down on the couch. "There's the dog of the hour," Richard said walking the house with the two other grandfathers. "Hey mate, how are you doing?" Bob and Mort both said while coming into the house. "I'm good, sore but good," Thomas said with a smile. Richard sat down next to his grandson and lightly hugged him. "Hey son, you scared me and your grandmother," Richard said while hugging his grandson. "I know and I'm sorry but uncle Rad…" Thomas started to say but Richard cut him off.
"I know, your uncle told me what happened," Richard said with a soft smile. Thomas now knowing what he knows about the history of his mother, father and uncle Rad felt strange see everyone in the same room. "Grandpa?" Thomas whispered to his grandfather. "Yes son?" Richard asked with a whisper. "I know this might be personal, but does uncle Rad being here bring back memories of how he was with my mom?" Thomas worried his grandfather would be mad at him for asking. Richard chuckled. "I guess you know everything about that don't you?" Richard asked.
"Only some of the story, but I just didn't know how it works him being my uncle when he was supposed to be your son in law," Thomas confessed. Richard chuckled as he turned and looked at Rad who was cooking out on the grill. "Rad is a special dog son and he still is, I'm just happy that he's happy with the one he loves," Richard said looking out to the grill and seeing Rad kiss his wife. "Thomas!" Bluey and Bingo shouted as they ran over to their brother. They jumped on him and caused him to yelp in pain for a second. "Hey guys, careful with me I'm still recovering," Thomas said with a chuckle. "We're sorry," Bluey said, scared she had broken her brother. "It's okay, but I'm glad to see you two," Thomas said as he hugged both of his sisters.
Bluey and Bingo then got down from their brother and went to go play with Socks and Muffin out in the backyard. Thomas then noticed Willow and Chris both taking over the kitchen like how grandmothers do. Chilli and Trixie both tried to continue cooking but knew they were outnumbered by the grandmothers. "Looks like your grandmothers are taking over," Richard said while sitting back on the couch. "They may taking over the kitchen, but they're not like my dad and his brothers on the grill," Thomas said, looking out on the grill seeing his father and uncles going at the grill. "Has Rad talked to you yet?" Richard asked, looking at his grandson. "No, not yet," Thomas said. "Do you think he's keeping his distance from me?" Thomas asked, looking at his grandfather. "If I know your uncle he's trying he's best to keep his cool," Richard said. "Well I want to go see him," Thomas said, trying to stand up. Richard stood up and helped his grandson stand. "Thanks Grandpa," Thomas said as he made his way outside. Trixie and Chilli were out on the picnic table with their husbands and brother in law while Thomas walked out to them.
"Hey sweetheart, do you want some lemonade?" Chilli asked as she watched her son sit down. "Sure mom, that sounds good," Thomas said as he sat down. Chilli nodded as she went inside to get a glass of lemonade for her son. "How are you honey?" Trixie asked her nephew. "I'm better," Thomas said with a smile. "Good, if you need anything, me and your uncle Stripe are here for you," Trixie said with a smile. "She's right mate," Stripe spoke up. Thomas smiled at that as he nodded. Thomas noticed Rad still hasn't said a word to him since being home as he continued to grill. Frisky noticed this and decided to encourage her husband to talk to their nephew. "You should talk to him and tell about the nightmares," Frisky whispered to her husband. "I don't know Frisk, I don't want to ruin a good moment with the family," Rad whispered back. "Just let Bandit or Stripe handle the grill for a bit and talk to him." Frisky said as she kissed her husband's muzzle. Rad sighed knowing his wife was right. "Here mate take over for me," Rad said, handing over the Stripe. "Really? you're trusting me?" Stripe asked, now taking over. "Yeah, just don't burn it," Rad said before sitting with his nephew. "Hey mate," Rad said looking at his nephew. "Hey uncle Rad," Thomas said with a smile. "How are you?" Rad asked. "Heh, you're the tenth dog who asked me that," Thomas said.
"Well everyone is trying to make sure your comfortable mate," Rad explained. "Yeah, I know but I'm fine, really just sore," Thomas explained. "Here you go sweetheart," Chilli said, placing down the lemonade next to her son. "Thanks mom," Thomas said looking at the cup and then back at his uncle. "Something tells me your not fine uncle Rad," Thomas said softly looking at his uncle with his kind eyes. "No mate, I haven't been fine lately," Rad answered. "Then tell me what's on your mind uncle Rad," Thomas said, placing his hand on his uncles. "Who's ready to eat!" Stripe said with a smile. "Let's talk about it later mate," Rad said, trying to dodge the question. "No, please talk to me," Thomas pleaded. "Mate.." Rad said as he stood up. Thomas then moved his arm and knocked the glass down to the ground breaking it causing a loud crash. Rad jerked himself backwards and started breathing hard. "Uncle Rad," Thomas said, seeing his uncle in the familiar state of a panic attack. "Rad?" Frisky said, looking at her husband.
Chilli then got a broom and dust pan and started to clean up the glass. Rad was still in a trance of being in his panic attack and breathing hard. "Uncle Rad!" Thomas said, standing up, making his uncle snap out of his trance. "I'm sorry," Rad said before running into the house. "Uncle Rad, wait!" Thomas said, trying to go after his uncle. "Mate, maybe you should let him be," Bandit said, stopping his son. "But dad, he's in the same state I was in when I lost mom, I have to talk to him," Thomas said looking at his dad. Bandit Hesitated about letting his son go to his uncle but knew he should do it. Bandit then nodded and let his son go. Thomas then went into the house and went where Rad had gone. Rad went into Bluey and Bingos room which used to be his, Bandit and Stripe's room. Breathing hard with the room starting the spin, Rad felt his body ache and felt like he was drowning.
"Uncle Rad," Thomas said walking into his sister's room. Rad turned and looked at his nephew with eyes red from crying. "Mate… I'm… so… Sorry…" Rad said, trying to breathe normally. Thomas walked up to his uncle and placed his hand on his muzzle and whispered. "Uncle Rad, just breathe, breathe with me," Thomas said while taking in deep breaths. Rad then tried to breathe with his nephew and it started working. With Thomas's hands on Rad's muzzle, he remembered the first time Thomas placed his small hands on his muzzle when he was a baby. Rad's breathing started to be normal and Rad started to calm down and feel normal. "Okay, just slow down, okay?" Thomas asked softly. Rad nodded as he sat down on Bluey's bed. "Are you okay?" Thomas asked while sitting down on his sister's bed.
"Yeah, I think so," Rad said, taking a deep breath. "Talk to me Uncle Rad please," Thomas asked, placing his hand on his uncle's knee. "Mate… I've been having nightmares… about losing you and I can't shake the feeling that I will," Rad confessed. "Uncle Rad, I'm here I'm right here," Thomas said softly. "I know you are mate… but I…" Rad started to say until Thomas hugged him. "You're not going to lose me, not like Charlie," Thomas whispered to his uncle and hugged him tightly. Rad then broke down into his nephew's arms. Thomas held his uncle close to him hoping to get through to him that he's going to alright. This feeling of hugging his nephew felt like he was back in Emily's arms. It wasn't a sense of the intimacy love he had for her, but the comforting kind they had when they were knocked down.
Thomas then broke the hug and looked at his uncle. "Let's go join the party uncle Rad with our whole family," Thomas said with a smile. "Yeah, let's," Rad said as he stood up. Thomas stood up and joined his uncle back at the welcome home party. Rad and Thomas walked back into the party with everyone looking at them. Rad was a little nervous because of his panic attack but Thomas reassured him that it was going to be alright. The rest of the party went well with more laughs than sad moments and worrying about Thomas's pain and being sore. After the party everyone went home and Richard and Willow went to their hotel. Thomas walked into his room and laid down on his bed. "It's so nice to be in my own bed," Thomas said to himself. Thomas then sat up and opened his laptop and checked his email. Thomas noticed there as a new email from Tori. Thomas opened the email and read it. Tori talked about in her email about her college life and sending in some pictures. Thomas smiled seeing his ex-girlfriend's photos and hearing about her time at college.
Although Thomas wanted to write to her about him getting shot and saving uncle, he felt he didn't want to worry her and just closed his laptop. "Hey mate," Bandit said, coming to his room with a cup of hot chocolate. "Hey dad," Thomas said looking at his father. "Thought you might like this," Bandit said, handing his son the cup. "Your famous Hot chocolate with toasted marshmallows," Thomas said with a chuckle. "Yeah, I thought you might like this," Bandit said while sitting down on his son's bed. "Thanks dad," Thomas said, taking a drink of the hot chocolate. "Your welcome mate," Bandit said softly. Thomas placed down the cup on his night stand and then made a face from the soreness. "Do you need some pain meds mate?" Bandit asked while standing up. "Yeah, that would be great dad," Thomas said, trying to get comfortable in his bed. Bandit then left the room and then came back with the pain meds. Thomas then took the meds and laid down.
"Are you going to be okay mate?" Bandit asked while standing at the doorway of his son's room. "Yeah, I'm just really tired," Thomas said with a yawn. "Alright mate, good night," Bandit said as he left the room and closed the door. Thomas sighed as he turned off his lamp and turned on his side that didn't hurt and laid down. Thomas took in a deep breath which hurt and then closed his eyes and went to sleep.
Kodiwolf321 A/N: Hey guys, it looks like it's gonna be a long recovery for Thomas and Rad. Let me know what you think about this chapter! There is way more to come!