Chapter 4: Losing Patience
Thomas woke up hearing giggling next to his bed as he turned over and looked to find his sisters standing there with a tray of food. "What are you guys doing?" Thomas asked with a yawn. "Mum and Dad said to bring your brekky to you," Bluey said, placing the tray of food on her brother's bed. "Oh… Um… thanks," Thomas said as he sat up. "Can we get you anything else?" Bluey asked, hoping to help her brother. "Look guys, I'm not that helpless, I can eat breakfast with you guys," Thomas said looking at his sisters. "But dad wanted you to stay in bed," Bingo spoke up. "Oh he did huh?" Thomas said as he tried to get out of bed. "Should you be doing that?" Bluey asked as she and Bingo moved out of the way. "Come on, I want to eat in the dining room with everyone else," Thomas said as he grabbed the tray of food and started to head into the dining room. "But, you should be resting!" Bingo protested.
"A little exercise wouldn't hurt Bingo," Thomas said as he walked along. "Oh okay," Bingo said, worried for her brother. Bandit and Chilli were in the dining room eating breakfast until they saw Thomas walk into the dining room with his tray. "Mate! You should be resting," Bandit said, worried for his son. "I'm okay dad I promise," Thomas said, placing down his tray on the table. "We tried to tell him dad," Bluey said as she and Bingo sat at the table. "Are you sure honey? You're still recovering," Chilli said, looking at Thomas. "You guys worry too much," Thomas said as he started to eat his breakfast. Bandit and Chilli exchanged worried looks before they started eating breakfast. After breakfast Bandit grabbed his son's plate before he could get up. "Dad, I can do my own plate," Thomas said, trying to get up. "Nonsense son I can help you," Bandit said as he helped with the dishes. "Oh, okay;" Thomas said, sitting back down. Everyone went on to do their own things while Thomas sat there at the table.
Thomas sighed as he stood up from the table and went into the living room and watched some TV. A few hours passed and Thomas started to get bored with just watching TV. Thomas then looked at his phone and noticed he had a Therapy appointment in an hour. Thomas then turns off the TV and gets ready for his appointment. Still being sore Thomas moaned and groaned as he made his way down the stairs. "Are you ready for your appointment mate?" Bandit asked his son. "Yeah," Thomas said, grabbing his car keys. "No you don't," Bandit said, grabbing his son's keys. "Dad! I can drive myself," Thomas protested. "Your still recovering son, I can't let you drive yourself," Bandit said, putting his son's car keys in his pocket. Thomas grumbled under his breath as he went outside to his fathers car.
Bandit drove his son to Marcus's office and entered his appointment. "How are you feeling Thomas?" Marcus asked. "I feel like a child!" Thomas said, crossing his arms. "How so?" Marcus asked. "I'm sore! sure! But I don't need to be treated like a pup! I'm not a kid anymore!" Thomas said angrily. "You are still seventeen so technically you're still a kid," Marcus pointed out. "That's not the point! I can't even do my part in the dishes or drive myself anywhere!" Thomas explained. "I see, but you were shot just a few weeks ago," Marcus explained. "I know, and I know my family was scared of that," Thomas said, letting down his guard. "They are just trying to help you," Marcus said while writing down his notepad. "Yeah, I know," Thomas said with a sigh. "But?" Marcus asked. "I'm not the only one who needs help," Thomas spoke up. "You're talking about your uncle Rad aren't you?" Marcus asked. "Yeah… does he see you too?" Thomas asked. "He does… but I can't discuss what we talk about," Marcus said looking at Thomas. "Yeah… I understand," Thomas said, having an Idea about what they talk about anyways.
After the session was over, Thomas scheduled the next appointment and met his dad in the parking lot. "How was your appointment?" Bandit asked. "Good… can I drive now?" Thomas asked. "Nope," Bandit said as he started the car and drove. Thomas sighed as he sat back in his seat. The two Heelers then drove to the grocery store and picked up a few things for dinner. Thomas sighed as he walked along the store with his dad picking up vegetables. Thomas checked his social media and noticed Tori was having a good time with her college life. Thomas really wanted to text or call her about the things that happened to him but couldn't do it. "Are you okay mate?" Bandit asked, looking at his son. "Yeah… does uncle Rad talk to you about seeing Marcus?" Thomas asked. Bandit then stopped and looked at his son. "Did Marcus tell you he sees him?" Bandit asked. "I kind of guessed it," Thomas answered. "Well mate your uncle is a proud dog who doesn't like to be seen doing that stuff, I told him for years to talk to someone after Charlie and he wouldn't," Bandit explained.
"Then what makes this different?" Thomas asked. "Well mate, you almost died in his arms and I almost considered talking to Marcus myself," Bandit said, placing his hand on his son's shoulder. Thomas knew his family was hurting from almost losing him but he didn't know how bad it was. "Come on mate, let's get what we need so we can get home and make dinner," Bandit said as he moved on from the fresh produce area. After going to the store the father and son drove back home. Bandit started to get the bags as Thomas tried to help. "It's okay mate I got it," Bandit said, grabbing all the bags. "Dad, I can help," Thomas said trying to help his dad. "It's okay mate, really I got it," Bandit said. "Fine!" Thomas shouted as he walked into the house. "Mate!" Bandit said as he watched his son walk into the house. Thomas walked into the house and slammed the door. "Hey sweetheart how was-" Chilli started to say as Thomas walked past her. "It was fine," Thomas said as he walked past Chilli and went to his room.
"Mum, how come Thomas was upset?" Bingo asked her mother. "I'm not sure sweetie ," Chilli said, confused about her son's behavior. Bandit then walked into the house with all the Groceries. "Bandit? What's wrong with our son?" Chilli asked, looking at her husband. "I think he's upset because of the car or him lifting things," Bandit explained taking the bags to the kitchen. "Maybe we're a little too protective of him," Chilli explained as she followed her husband to the kitchen. "Are we? He was shot babe I don't think he gets it," Bandit said as he started to put away the food. "I know he was, but maybe we could try a different approach to this situation," Chilli said, placing her hand on her husband's back. Bandit sighed and knew his wife was right. "Okay, we'll both talk to him tonight," Bandit said looking at Chilli. "Good," Chilli said, giving her husband a kiss. Bluey was coloring by herself until she heard Thomas go into his room and slammed the door. Bluey then got up from where she was coloring and walked over to her brother's room and knocked on the door. "Go away dad!" Thomas shouted from behind the door. "I'm not dad!" Bluey said at the door.
Thomas then opened the door and looked down at his sister. "What do you want?" Thomas asked. "You don't have to be rude about it big brother," Bluey said with a frown. "Sorry blue, I'm just not in the mood," Thomas said, crossing his arms. "Well maybe this will help you," Bluey said, handing her brother a drawing. "For me?" Thomas said, looking at the drawing. "Yep!" Bluey said, wagging her tail. "Me as superhero huh?" Thomas asked raising an eyebrow and then looking at his little sister. "Yeah, your my hero," Bluey said with a smile. "Thanks blue," Thomas said, giving Bluey a hug while wagging their tails.
(Flashback)
Three year old Bluey was playing with her toys while Chilli was feeding Bingo. "Mummy?" Bluey asked, looking at her mother. "Yes sweetie," Chilli said while trying to get Bingo to eat. "Can I talk to Thomas?" Bluey asked as she stood up from the floor. "You'll have to ask your dad," Chilli said, now getting Bingo to eat. "Okay," Bluey said as she ran up to her fathers study. "Daddy!" Bluey said, running into her fathers study. "Hey mate," Bandit said with a smile while looking at his daughter. "Can we call Thomas?" Bluey asked as she jumped into her fathers lap. "I'm sorry mate but he's sleeping where he's at," Bandit explained. "Can't we wake him up?" Bluey asked. "No, it's really late where he is," Bandit said. "Oh," Bluey said with her ears down. "You miss your brother don't you?" Bandit asked as he made his daughter look at him. "Yeah… why can't he live with us?" Bluey asked.
"Because he lives with his mum," Bandit said. "Why can't she move here and live with us too?" Bluey asked. This made Bandit chuckle, "sorry mate it doesn't work like that," Bandit said. "Aww why not?" Bluey asked. "Well… Thomas's mum lives in the United States with your brother of course," Bandit explained. "Maybe she could get a house here," Bluey said with a chuckle. Bandit chuckled at that but knew it wouldn't happen since Emily made it clear when they got divorced she didn't want to come back to Australia. "Sorry mate, I think Thomas's mum is happy where she is," Bandit said Softly. "Oh," Bluey said with a sad tone. "Don't worry mate, I'll see if Thomas's mum will let him come visit some time," Bandit said with a smile. "For real life?" Bluey said, wagging her tail. "Yeah," Bandit said, rubbing the top of his daughter's head. "Then can I play with my brother?" Bluey asked, still wagging her tail."Yes mate, you can finally play with your brother," Bandit said softly with a smile.
(End of Flashback)
Bluey and Thomas were in Thomas's room laughing and playing. "Thomas stop please!" Bluey said while laughing as Thomas kept ticking her. "Not until I have my Bluey sandwich!" Thomas said in a deep voice. "Thomas!" Bluey said while laughing. Thomas laughs as he lets go of his sister and then makes a face from some pain he was feeling. "Are you okay Thomas? Did I hurt you?" Bluey asked worriedly for her brother. "No Blue, it's just me," Thomas said as he stood from his bed and took some pain meds. "When will you not hurt anymore?" Bluey asked. "Well, blue it just takes time," Thomas said while sitting back down on the bed. "Will you be better before school?" Bluey asked. "Maybe," Thomas answered. "Are you still mad at dad?" Bluey asked. "Well… I just… I shouldn't have been mad at dad, it's not fair to him," Thomas confessed. "Then why were you mad at him," Bluey asked. "I know I'm sore but I still want to be treated like everyone else," Thomas explained. "Oh," Bluey said looking down. "What's wrong blue?" Thomas asked. "I was really scared to lose you," Bluey said, choking up. "Hey, it's okay blue, I'm right here," Thomas said as he held his sister close to him. Bluey hugged her brother tightly as then there was a knock at the door.
"Come in," Thomas said, looking at the door. Bandit then opens the door and comes into his son's room. "Dinners ready kids," Bandit said with a smile. "Alright blue, go on ahead I have to talk to dad," Thomas said as Bluey got off her brother's bed. "Okay," Bluey said as she then went out of her brother's room and went to the dining room. "Dad?" Thomas said, looking at Bandit. "Yes mate?" Bandit asked softly. "I'm sorry for earlier, I'm just losing patience to be normal," Thomas said looking down. "Hey mate, it's okay," Bandit said as he sat down next to his son. "Bluey told me she was scared of losing me," Thomas said, still not looking at Bandit. "We were all scared mate, and I can see why she was scared, you're her brother for life mate," Bandit explained. Thomas nodded in response. "Come on mate, let's have dinner," Bandit said as he stood up from his son's bed. Thomas took a deep breath and stood from his bed and followed his father into the dining room with the rest of his family.
Later that night Thomas took a shower and went into his room to dry off. As he dried off his fur, Thomas felt his bullet wound. Thomas felt himself shiver thinking about that day at the convenient store. Flashbacks of hearing the gunshot and then falling down with blood on the ground entered his mind. Thomas started to breath hard, still keeping his hand on his Chest where he was shot. Suddenly breaking out of his thoughts there was a knock at Thomas's door. "C-come in," Thomas said nervously. "Hey sweetie," Chilli said as she and Bandit entered their son's room. "Hey guys," Thomas said, sitting down at his desk. Bandit and Chilli then sat down on Thomas's bed. "Listen mate, I wanted to apologize for not letting you carry things or letting you drive yourself today," Bandit said, rubbing the back of his neck. "It's okay dad, like I said earlier I'm just losing patience to be normal right away," Thomas said. "And you will be a normal honey, it just takes some recovery time," Chilli said. Thomas nodded knowing his stepmother was right. "Can I ask you guys something?" Thomas asked nervously. "Sure you can mate, you can ask us anything," Bandit said softly as he held Chilli's hand.
"How scared we're you guys when finding about me being shot?" Thomas asked. Bandit and Chilli were shocked by this question and then looked at each other with worried looks. "We were Terrified mate…" Bandit answered. "You're our son and we would have been devastated to lose you," Chilli explained, now starting to tear up. Thomas nodded as he touched his wound again. Thomas then took a deep breath then went up to his parents and hugged them. "I'm sorry for scaring you," Thomas said as he hugged his parents tightly. Bandit and Chilli hugged their son tightly. "But if you didn't do what you did I wouldn't have my brother today mate," Bandit said softly while still hugging his son. After the three of them hugged it out and looked at each other they felt much better about things. Bandit and Chilli then felt their son's room and went into their room. Bandit and Chilli laid down in their bed getting ready to go to sleep until Bandit turned on his side and thought about what his son asked him about losing him.
Bandit couldn't bear the thought of losing his son or even his brother for that matter. Losing his ex wife to cancer was already hard enough. Bandit teared up while cuddling in his covers until he felt Chilli touch his shoulder. Chilli also feeling the same thing from losing members of her family was unbearable to her. Chilli then cuddled closer to her husband as they then fell asleep together while holding on to each other.
(Meanwhile at Rad's apartment)
Rad was tossing and turning while whimpering. This woke up Frisky from her slumber as she woke up in a daze and looked over at her husband. "Rad?" Frisky asked as she rubbed her eyes while sitting up. Rad continued in his nightmare while grabbing his covers and biting down on his pillow. "Rad," Frisky said as she woke up her husband. Rad shot up awake while breathing Rad. "Hey, it's okay," Frisky said while taking Rad's hand. Rad's breathing started to slow down as he calmed himself down. "I'm sorry," Rad said while looking at his wife.
"It's okay," Frisky said while kissing her husband's hand. "No it's not, I'm keeping you from having a good night's sleep," Rad said, looking away from his wife. "It's going to take time to heal," Frisky said softly while rubbing her husband's back. "Thanks Frisk," Rad said as he kissed the top of his wife's head. "Come on, let's get some sleep," Frisky said, helping her husband to lay down. Rad then laid down while looking into his wife's eyes. Rad then lets his guard down and closes his eyes and falls asleep again.
Kodiwolf321 A/N: Poor Rad and this family has been through so much. Let me know what you think about this chapter! And I will see you in the next one!