Chapter 18

"So, you're going to be staying with Kevin," my mother explained as the nurse wheeled me out the hospital doors. Me staying with Kevin? Chances are that alone would bring me back to the hospital.

She continued. "Your father and I don't think you should be flying yet and doing a lot of travelling, and your doctor agreed with us one-hundred percent. So, Kevin offered to have you stay with him."

"Didn't everyone else already head back?"

She zipped my jacket. "Howie and AJ flew back to Florida, but Brian will be with you. I'd just stay myself but Aaron has a lot coming up and...But maybe I could arrange it?"

"No, Mama, just go back. I'll be fine."

"You're sure?"

"Yeah, Kevin can be my servant!"

"Sweetheart, we'll never live to see that day."

She did indeed have a point.

The nurse handed me a heavy set of papers. "All right, Mr.Carter, this contains instructions to your after care. You can't do any lifting because of the stitches and you'll need to watch your diet. There's also information on how to continue taking your prescriptions."

"Thanks, Ma'am."

My mother smiled pointing into the lot. "There's Kevin and Brian." I sighed, thankfully the hospital had been able to keep all of us hidden and release me easily. Brian flashed me a huge smile. "Hey, Nicky! Ready to go home?"

I nodded. "Let's roll."

My mom took the papers from my hands handed them to Kevin. "Could you please make sure he does everything the doctor ordered?"

"Certainly, Mrs. Carter."

She kissed my cheek. "Well, I guess this is my cue to exit. You're positive you'll be all right?"

"Yeah, Mom, Brian won't let me do anything bad and Kevin will probably give
me a leash."

"Okay, you just be careful and make sure you call me!"

I hugged her. "I promise, Mommy."

Brian grinned. "Don't worry, Mrs. Carter, Kevin already got him a pretty green leash."

I watched her smile as she walked back into the hospital. "All right, I'm trusting you three to behave."

"I'll keep them in line," Kevin assured her as she waved to us.

I faced my nurse. "Could I please get out of this wheelchair?"

"Hospital procedure, Nickolas, I have to wheel you to the car."

I rolled my eyes. "In that case, let's hurry to his van."

"Very well."

She continued to ramble directions to Kevin and Brian. Typical medical behavior-talk to the patient like they're not enough there.

"And that's about it," she finished as Kevin helped me into the van.

Finally, I was heading back to a normal life. Well, as normal as my life can get.

********************

"Will you be okay sharing with Brian or do you want your own room?" Kevin asked as he set my luggage down.

"This will be fine. I just want to lay down and rest."

Brian fluffed my pillows.  "Nick, you want me to sit with you?"

"If you like."

Kevin headed to the door. "You need anything, Nick? A drink or something?"

"Could I have a glass of water."

"Sure, I'll be right back."

I faced Brian. "Why is he fussing over me? Ever since we got in the car he was asking if I was okay or if I needed anything."

"What's so wrong with him caring?"

"Nothing. He's just acting weird."

Brian sat down beside me. "He feels guilty, Nick."

"Why would he do that?"

"He wishes he would've taken you to the hospital when you first started feeling sick."

I shrugged. "It's no big deal."

"Maybe not to you, but it is to him."

"It wasn't his fault the electric went out and I had a fever."

Brian chuckled. "Nevermind."

Kevin returned holding my water. "Here, Nicky, it's also time for your pills."

I whined involuntarily. "Already?"

"Yeah, sorry, bud."

I swallowed them roughly sipping the water.

"You sure you don't want anything else, Nick?"

I sighed. "No, I'm fine." I stared at him. "Why are you acting so weird?"

"I was just worried, Nick."

I couldn't understand it. Why was he so worried? All of the guys came to see me in the hospital after the surgery except....Kevin.

He frowned. "Well, I'll leave you alone now. Come on, Bri, he needs his rest."

"No!" I cried. "I want both of you to stay. I want to talk."

"About what?"

"What's going on with you?" I asked abruptly.

"Me?"

"Yeah, Kev, you've been acting funny ever since I got in the car. You're offering to get me anything but you wouldn't stop by room in the hospital. What's going on?"

Tears rimmed his green eyes. "It hurt too much, Nick. I couldn't stand to see you yet. I mean, if anything would've happened it would've been my fault!"

"No, it wouldn't. Blame my appendix," I chuckled.

"I'm not joking, Nick! I should've listened to Brian. Then, maybe you wouldn't have been in so much pain."

"Kevin, it would've hurt no matter what and you never listen to Brian, anyway."

He wiped his eyes. "I guess it would be a good idea for me to start. He was right, you are closer to him and he knows you better."

This was a switch-since when was I trying to comfort Kevin? "Kevin, it's okay, man. Don't cry."

Brian wrapped an arm around him. "You all right?"

"No, I'm not all right- none of us are."

His cousin paused. "What are you talking about?"

"What happened to us? Brian, you're so protective now-your always scared. I'm a freakin' whimp that sobs. Howie and AJ are pushing everything into their work...And Nick.." He turned to me. "I haven't seen you show emotions in years. You use to cry more than any of us-and now you're the only you that doesn't. What happened?"

"What's the use? When I would cry someone in management would tell me to shut up. And I've learned not to."

He shook his head. "Don't learn to do that, Nick. Never learn that."

I lifted my head. "All I wanna' know is why were you and Rok fighting like cats and dogs?"

Brian laughed. "When don't we fight like that?"

"Seriously, Rok."

"Well, Nick, Kevin and I use to argue a lot about how you were treated in the beginning of all this, you know that. You'd be sick all the time and sad.....When you got so sick it just brought everything back. Right, Kevin?"

"Yeah, I didn't want to make Nick go to the hospital if he didn't want to. Because when I bitched at you about getting heart surgery faster-you about took my head off."

Brian blushed. "Oh, yeah, sorry about that."

I crossed my arms. "And you two called me immature? I think I deserve an apology!"

Kevin rolled his eyes. "Keep on wishing."

Typical.

He frowned. "But I am sorry for a lot of things. I'm sorry for the way you were treated and that I didn't force your ass to the hospital. Brian was right."

Brian smiled. "I never thought I'd hear those words." He paused. "So, do you forgive us, Frack?"

I reflected over all the things that had happened to us on this rollercoaster ride to fame. Everyone was bound to get a little uptight, weren't they? In the beginning, we were forced to do everything our superiors said-as if we were animals they could whip. Now, we were branching out on our own to live our lives and career in full. Neither was easy. I shrugged giving them a small grin. "Why wouldn't I forgive you? I think we all just caught a little case of cabin fever."

The End