LINK: It had been the longest, hardest, and most painful four months of Aiden's life, but there wasn't a single minute of it that he ever doubted he wanted to be by Pat's side forever, and would do it all over again in a heartbeat.

[Follows THIS]

It had been a week since Aiden had finally been discharged from hospital, but it was joked that it was a pointless gesture because he was still there just about the whole time with Pat while they waited for Pat's neurologist and physiotherapist to give him the clear for home nursing. In the meantime, Aiden had paid a lot of money to get their home fitted with everything Pat would need considering Pat would be in this condition for an indefinitey length of time. Without a doubt, it was trying on everyone and everything seemed to lately fall into two categories - Things Pat Knew, and Things Pat Didn't Know. For everyone on the outside looking in, this was hard to keep up with, the lines blurring more they anticipated and often they were met with Pat just looking at them blankly when they touched on something he didn't remember. Or there were the times Pat's brain pretty much just outright failed him and he could hardly remember his own name. This was happening less and less, but it was all just a matter of rolling with it at any one moment. Pat's brain was still healing from the surgery, and it was going to take time. Coupled with the evidence now indicating that the MS had been exacerbated by the stress of the accident, no one was able to say either way what lay around the corner or whether Pat would even manage to recover. There was a chance he might not, and this would be how it would be, but Aiden tried not to let himself stop and think on that too long. If he did, he would go crazy.

( All around them, people were trying to get back to normal after the accident...Collapse )


Word Count | 2,954

LINK: Despite on the face of it seeming like he was attentive and understanding of the conversation, Aiden had come to easily recognise that fake, uncertain smile Pat forced whenever he didn't recognise someone he probably knew that he should without Pat even needing to say a word.

LINK: New drinking game:

Drink everytime Pat calls something "thingy".

LINK: Patrick's illness had been one big test for Aiden from day one, but here, watching the person who had stolen his heart in the worst condition he had seen him, Aiden came to realise the true, unconditional meaning of his vows "For better or for worse, in sickness and in health".

[Follows THIS]

Lachlan knocked softly on the edge of the hospital room door and stepped inside with a smirk. "Me again. Bet you never saw that one coming," he joked as he came to stand at the end of Aiden's bed. He had pretty much been a regular fixture since the accident. He was Patrick's medical proxy, and had been ever since the first time is best friend landed in hospital a couple of years back. It meant that although he wasn't Pat's doctor, he still had the decision making power in regards to Pat's health when he was unable to do it himself. It also meant Pat's doctors had to keep him 100% informed Pat's condition at all times, so it had gone without saying that he would be in close contact at all times. This was the first chance he had to come and talk to Aiden since Pat had regained consciousness and it was a chat that needed to be had sooner rather than later. Pat was asleep in the other bed, the lights on that side of the room dimmed, but Lachlan still stepped over to the end of the bed and picked up Pat's progress chart, folded the pages over to the latest entries. "I would have come sooner, aye, but the bairn decided to projectile vomit all over me and his bed, so I had to clean it up..." he murmured, skimming the scrawled medical notes with a frown on concentration on his face.

( Aiden watched Lachlan's face for any prominent reaction as he read and then looked at Pat...Collapse )


Word Count | 2,958

6.21. These wounds won't seem to heal, this pain is just too real
There's just too much that time cannot erase
My Immortal - Evanescence

Co-written with sexyinscrubs | Set 9th April 2010
[Set a few days after THIS]

The feeling that he was waking up from a heavy sleep wasn't strange to Aiden. It felt just like every other time. But this time, something was different. The dreams had felt so real, almost like he was reliving his whole relationship with Pat all over again, and with such clarity that as he woke up with a start, it was almost like he could feel Pat's hand clutched around his as they said their wedding vows. He still remembered the way Pat's fingers felt linked around his, knowing they were both nervous but not having any regrets. Now to be feeling like he had been grabbed and seized from a heavy dream-filled sleep was the weirdest sensation, a little like maybe none of it was real?

( Panic spiked in him at the last notion and then he was abruptly wide awake, taking in the faintly familiar surroundings of the hospital room...Collapse )


Word Count | 1,789

[Backdated about a week ago]

For the first time since he had abruptly woken up to not only find himself choking on something stuck in his throat, but to be soon swooped on by countless people swarming over him in a panicked rush, Aiden found himself alone. Initially, he hadn't known what the fuck was going on, just that he was in pain, his throat was agony, and he couldn't breathe. Of course, the first reaction when you can't breathe and feel like something is lodged in your throat is to panic, which he did. It was all a haze now, though. Eventually Lachlan and Tara were there with him, Lachlan slowly and calmly telling him not to try and talk and to take small slow breaths to get used to the tube controlling his breathing. It wasn't easy. Like being told to walk on land in flippers. Tara's hand tucked around his as she stroked his fingers with hers did help, with Lachlan staying leant over him to try and coach the breathing. A small whiteboard was soon offered to him if he needed to communicate anything to them. All he wanted to know was where Patrick was, and that led to Lachlan doing the best he could to explain the situation.

( It was surreal, and Aiden tried desperately to absorb it all, but he felt drugged, drunk and hungover all at the same time...Collapse )


Word Count | 4,694

28.5.3. A moment of heightened emotions

Co-written with sexyinscrubs
[Follows a few weeks after THIS]

Pat flexed and unflexed his hands around the steering wheel of his car and sighed as he he pulled up for the red light at a busy intersection. He wet his lips and glanced at Aiden sitting in the passenger's seat. "Are you serious? You want to do this now?" he asked calmly. "Right now? It can't wait until we get home?" He fought the urge to light up a cigarette, even if that was what his first reaction was. He did know sooner or later they would reach this point, but it was just something he wasn't sure he was ready to face yet.

( “Home?” Aiden returned with a small snort and shake of his head...Collapse )


Word Count | 1,246