The Rock Season (23 page)

I thanked her and whispered, “Give me a minute.”

The nurse nodded and left us alone. I smiled down at Aaron, who was obviously worried and in pain.

“How’s Peter?”  

I told him everything and he looked relieved.

“Thank God,” he said. “I knew I should have stayed up ‘til he got home. I had a bad feeling for some reason. Guess I was right.”

I bent down to kiss his forehead and he closed his eyes, wincing from the pain in his leg.

“I’m so sorry about your car, love. I’ll pay for everything-”

I kissed him to shut him up and he relaxed a little. “My car is the least of your worries, baby. We need to find out what happened. This may not be the last of your brothers’ issues with these guys. I’m worried about them. If someone was so brazen to come after them at the house…” Aaron thought about that for a minute. “I don’t think they should be left alone at all. You need to call your parents and the school and-”

“I don’t want to worry my parents, Stevie. They need this time away. If I call, they are going to come straight home and ruin their only chance at having a vacation. No. I’ll handle this.”

Aha, stubborn McShane surfaces! Ok, I thought to myself. Let me get him out of the hospital and I’ll deal with this.

“Aaron, baby, they’re going to have to really poke and prod your knee. I think it’s a good idea for you to take something. I’d hate for you to pass out from the pain. They might make you stay.” Probably not, but I had to do something. He frowned and grumbled a little.

“I can handle it. I hate taking medicine. I’ll take some of Grandma McShane’s herbal stuff when I get home.”

I raised an eyebrow and lifted the sheet off his leg to expose his bluish-purple, near-basketball-sized knee. “Yeah, I think that’s a swell idea, McShane.”

He frowned down at his knee and I could see him sweating from the pain. Then he looked up at me and said, “How come you only call me McShane when I’m pissing you off?”  

I laughed. He had been paying attention. “Because you are pissing me off! I hate seeing you in pain. Please take what they are giving you, Aaron? I promise I’ll take care of you and your brothers. Trust me?” I leaned down to kiss him again and I felt him further relax.

“I do trust you, Stevie. I just…”

The nurse came back in and I gave his hand a squeeze before saying “Mr. McShane has agreed to take something for the pain. Can you arrange that?”  

The nurse looked relieved and left to get the medication. The doctor came in then and thankfully got right down to business.

“You’re very lucky, Mr. McShane. It appears you have a stable fracture of the patella. The bones have not been displaced so I don’t think you’re going to need surgery. There is a considerable amount of hemarthrosis, swelling in the joint, that we need to be concerned about. I’m going to cast the leg. You won’t be able to bend it or put weight on it for likely 6-8 weeks and you’ll have to use crutches.”

Aaron was devastated. “But Doc, I can’t be laid up. I’ve got to take care of my brothers. My parents-”

“We’ll be fine. Thank you, Doctor. Can you go over his treatment with me?”

McShane

“Mr. McShane, I’m going to give you an injection of morphine and then we’ll send some pain meds home with you.”

She stuck me in the ass before I could protest and it stung like a bitch. Stevie walked the doctor into the hall and was turning on that damn charm of hers. I saw him hand her a slip of paper and discuss it with her. Then things got loopy. I’m pretty sure my brothers came in, but it could have been Heckle and Jeckle for all I knew. Somebody official looking came in and put a thigh-to-ankle cast on me. I remember thinking I’d look like a peg leg and something about that was so damn funny. I couldn’t stop laughing. My Goddess came in and I remember how beautiful she was and how much I loved her. Her smile felt like sunlight and I just wanted to bask in it. I knew there was something I should be worried about, but in her hands, everything was perfect. Until the next morning when I woke up on the couch and threw up in the trash can. Someone had parked a semi on my leg and my head was killing me.

“Oh, baby, I’m so sorry. I think that injection at the hospital didn’t agree with you. Here’s some water. Let’s see if you can keep that down. I at least want to get some toast, in you before I give you more pain meds.”

I took the water from her, confused and then it all hit me. I tried to get up, but the pain knocked me back down.

“No, don’t try to get up. Everything’s fine. Peter’s still sleeping. Patrick and I kept watch on him overnight. He’s fine, no concussion. Gretchen is bringing breakfast. All you need to do is sit here and relax, ok?” She was so good at this. I reached up for her and she knelt by my side.

“Thank you, Stevie. I don’t know what I would have done if you weren’t here.” She smiled at me and then the pain hit me again. “Fuck that hurts! What the hell…” The rest of the night came back to me. Peter’s rearranged face, my broken knee. Six to eight weeks immobilized. No driving. Fuck.

“Can you get the boys down here, love?”  

She smiled down at me and kissed my forehead. “Sure, baby. Drink your water. Let me go check on Peter.”

She ran upstairs and I called for Patrick.

“You ok,” he asked me as he came in the room.

“I will be. Give me a hand, I need to sit up.”

Patrick came around and helped me.

“I need to take a leak. Did we get crutches?”  

He brought them around to me and helped me stand. I tried to get him to leave me be but he said, “No way, dude. If you fall, Stevie will kick my ass and I’ll just have to pick you up anyway.”

I shook my head and cursed my disability.

The room stopped spinning just about the time I got to the toilet and I was able to piss without help. I was still wearing the same clothes from last night, only they cut off my pant leg to accommodate the huge fucking cast. This sucked in so many ways.

Patrick helped me back to the living room and I opted for the recliner this time. Stevie came in with toast and ginger ale. I accepted it from her and wondered again how I’d managed to get her back into my life. Then I frowned. So much for getting her to let me take care of her. Unfortunately, if I didn’t want my parents flying home from Ireland, I was going to need her help.

Peter joined us, moving stiffly, and I asked everyone to sit down.

“We need to talk about what happened,” I started. “Obviously someone has it in for you guys and I think it’s safe to say it’s somehow related to the news about the trial. This means you guys aren’t safe being out and about, especially not on your own. From now on, you guys go everywhere together and you’re home by dark. I’m going to get an alarm and cameras installed and some more lights with sensors.”

This met with some grumbles from Peter but Patrick was stoic. Stevie pulled up a footstool and sat next to me.

“What about Mom and Dad,” Patrick asked.

The boys looked at each other and then at me.

Peter spoke up. “We don’t tell them. Or at least we don’t tell them it’s about the trial. I don’t want them to come home.”

Patrick shook his head. “Me either. Aaron, you can’t tell them.”

Stevie started to say something but held back. I knew what she thought, but I agreed with the boys. I wanted to keep our parents out of this until we knew something real about the trial.

“We’ll tell them what happened, but won’t mention anything about the trial. I’ll tell them Peter happened upon someone messing with Stevie’s car and that we got hurt as they were running off.”

Stevie took my hand and squeezed. “I’ll do whatever you need me to do. I’ll stay here and take care of you. I only have three more shifts at the store. I can get them covered.” I had no choice. I had to trust her that she was ok with this. “And don’t worry about my car, baby. I’ll have Patrick help me get it into the second bay of your dad’s garage. It’ll give your dad a project when he gets back.”

The boys chuckled and then Peter cleared his throat. “We have some questions.”

I nodded, worried about how they were going to take all of this. I couldn’t believe I let my little brother get hurt.

Peter raised an eyebrow and said, “Who the fuck are Heckle and Jeckle? And who is this goddess you kept talking about?”

Oh shit. The drugs.

“See, there’s a reason I didn’t want to take that medicine.”

Stevie started giggling, followed by Patrick. Peter tried, but winced when his ribs hurt him. That sobered me.

“They are cartoon characters. What goddess are you talking about?”

Stevie leaned over towards me and said, “I think he meant me,” to the twins. My eyes shot to her. “Unless there’s some other ginger you’re in love with and want to marry and have babies with.”

I could feel my face get hot and the twins started laughing in earnest, Peter howling in pain between peals of laughter.

“There’s no other Goddess than you, Stevie. That’s what I called you after I met you, before I knew your name. I must’ve been thinking of that.” Shit, what the hell had I said?

She kissed my cheek and whispered. “Don’t worry. I won’t hold you to that proposal. When you’re back on your feet, or able to kneel at least, I’ll let you try again.”

The boys were about to start rolling on the floor when we heard a knock at the front.

“That must be Gretchen with the donuts,” called Patrick as he ran to the door.

Peter tried to get up fast, but fell back down onto the couch. Stevie hurried to his side to fix a pillow behind his back.

“No fast moves for you, dude. You need to eat and take some more Advil.”

He nodded at Stevie and gave her an appreciative smile.

Gretchen hurried past Patrick, shoving the boxes of donuts in his hands. She started crying when she saw Peter.

“I’m ok, Gretch. I’m fine. I’m just glad you weren’t there.”

She held him and cried while Patrick dug into the first box.

“Patrick? Can you grab some paper plates and napkins, please,” asked Stevie.

He looked properly admonished and hurried to the kitchen. Stevie followed him to grab milk and glasses.

“Gretchen, you need to tell your parents what happened and I should talk to them, too.”

She wiped at her eyes and said, “I told them what happened. I also told them about Brittany. Aaron I think she must have left here and gone and told people about Peter and Patrick testifying!”

“You’re probably right. We’ll figure it out, Gretchen. Don’t worry. The cop I talked to last night said he’d be by today when he starts his shift. I’ll let him know what happened.” It was easier to tell others not to worry than to let it go myself.

The rest of the day went by in a blur. I dozed on and off, allowing Stevie to take care of me and to give me the pain meds the hospital sent home. She ran some errands and picked up everything we might need for a couple of days. She helped me make a list of all the calls I needed to make in the morning and sat with me while I talked to the police officer. He was very interested in talking to Brittany. He also took down the partial plate number and said he’d check into it. Gretchen gave the officer her phone number and her parents’ info. Gretchen stayed all day taking care of Peter and helped Stevie feed us.

After dinner, Patrick said he had homework to do and he and Peter went up to their room. I told Stevie I didn’t think Peter should go to school like this, but I didn’t want Patrick to go alone. She said we could decide in the morning.

“How about we go with them to school and meet with the principal in the morning? That way we can let them know what’s going on and hopefully get their support.”

I wanted to feel optimistic about this, but I really worried about sending them to school.

“Shit! Stevie, love, can you hand me my phone? I need to let Schroeder know I’m laid up. Hopefully in a couple of days I can get in-”

“Aaron. You can’t mess around with this. If you do too much, you could end up having to have surgery and that will lay you up even longer.” She looked at the time. “Why don’t you have him come sit with you for a while. I need to run home and get clothes and stuff. I won’t be long, but I don’t want you getting up.”

I bit back a retort. She was trying to take care of me. I was afraid she was going to quickly learn I was a horrible patient. “Ok, love. I’ll call Schroeder. I’m sorry you have-”

I loved it when she shut me up with her kisses. “No more I’m sorrys, ok? I’ll be back in about an hour and a half, ok? Then maybe we can give you a sponge bath.” She wiggled her eyebrows, but I couldn’t even get excited about that.

“Be safe,” I whispered and she smiled.

She went up the stairs to tell the boys she’d be back and then paused at the bottom of the steps.

“Um, Aaron? It seems I’m stranded here again. Can I-”

“Duh! Of course! I forgot. Take Pops’ truck. The keys are hanging in the cabinet by the door in back. Drive safe, don’t rush. I’m not going anywhere.”

She rolled her eyes and blew me a kiss.

Schroeder arrived less than five minutes from when I called him. “What the ever-loving fuck happened?”

I gave him the story and told him I felt awful, but I was going to be out.

“No shit you’re going to be out. You’re going to be out for a while! Jesus! Did they at least give you good drugs?”  I told him about my scene in the hospital and he thought it was hilarious.

“Damn do I wish I was there! So you proposed to her, did you? Probably the smartest thing you’ve done in years.”

“Yeah, too bad I was too fucked up to remember it! I swear, though, if we get through this shit in one piece and she doesn’t hate me, I’m going to ask her. She’s a goddamn miracle, she is!”

Schroeder narrowed his eyes at me. “I think you better be a damn good patient or she’s going to leave you on your ass.”

He was right.

Stevie

When I returned to Aaron’s with a suitcase in hand, he was asleep and Schroeder was watching TV with the sound on low.

“Hey! Thanks for coming over. I just wanted to run out before things get crazy.”

He nodded and gave me a questioning look. “I’m really glad you are here, but I have to warn you.” He gestured to my sleeping honey in the recliner and shook his head. “He’s a big fat pain in the ass when he’s sick. I can only imagine he’s going to be worse with a broken knee. I’ll help out however I can. No need to worry about the shop. Me and Callie have it covered and the Js will be fine on Saturday if I stop in. He’s going to insist he be at work. You’re going to have to insist harder.”