ATF Universe
"Just what do you think you're doing?"
Scowling as he completed tying his boot, Vin dropped his foot from the end of the bed and turned to look up at Mary Sue.
"Geez Sue, you must have some rep for yourself, don't even recognize what a man looks like in clothes."
"Very funny Tanner. You know exactly what I'm talking about. What makes you think you're getting out of here today?" Eyebrows arched mischievously, Mary Sue glanced around the room. "By the way, where are your two bloodhounds? I'd have figured Larabee and Wilmington would both be here, personally buttoning your jeans and tying your boots."
"You're just jealous."
"Oh please." Shaking her head as she rolled her eyes, Mary Sue leaned against the windowsill and thrust her hands in the pockets of her lab coat. "Now look... I told you yesterday...as plainly as I could, so even you could understand it. You MIGHT go home today. Might doesn't mean would...doesn't mean will...might means MAYBE. Even you should be able to comprehend that."
"Come on Sue, I wanna go home...I'm ready...feels like I've been in here for years."
"I know...feels like you've been here a long time to me too," Mary Sue responded gently, "but I hear you're running a low grade temp today."
With a shrug of his shoulder, Vin sighed and looked down at the floor.
Sitting on the bed beside Vin, Mary Sue placed a hand on his back and the other on his knee.
"Listen, I know you were too sick to realize it, but you came pretty damn close to buying it this time. I'm not letting you out of here if there's a chance you're gonna end up relapsing as soon as you leave. You know how hard I am to get along with, it will just make me more cranky, and I might have to hurt Larabee if he glares at me one more time.
Letting out a short snort, Vin smiled as he glanced sideways at Mary Sue with raised eyebrows.
"I'll tell you what. This morning's labs actually came back okay. Let me check you out. If everything looks okay, you can go." Pulling an otoscope from her pocket, Mary Sue turned and raised it to Vin's ear. "You know...this would be the time for me to make a crack about being able to see through to the other side, but that would probably go right over your head. Oh...nice manners you got yourself there Tanner...flipping the bird at a lady." Mary Sue scowled as she continued to peer into Vin's ear.
Pulling away, Vin frowned at Mary Sue.
"Oh for God's sake, don't be so gullible. I didn't see your hand. It was just a hunch that you'd be doing that." Mary Sue smiled as she stretched to dispose of the ear tip before placing the otoscope back in her pocket. "Okay, your ears look good. Let me listen to your lungs." Pulling the stethoscope from her neck, Mary Sue placed the tips in her ears and the cold diaphragm under Vin's shirt and on his back. After a few moments of silence, she scowled without looking up. "So help me Tanner, you don't take a breath, and take it now, I swear I'll pronounce you and do the post here and now myself."
"Real nice bedside manner ya got. Now I know why you decided to become a doctor and not a nurse. Y'ain't nice enough ta be a nurse."
"Oh please." Mary Sue blew out an annoyed breath and shook her head. "Drop the St. Vin the Martyr act. You started it." Arms crossed, she walked over to the window and again leaned against it. Pulling a prescription pad from her pocket, she plucked a pen from her ponytail and began writing. "Thank God none of my other patients are as difficult as you," she muttered as she wrote.+ + + + + + +
Leaning casually against the wall, Buck smiled at Chris when he joined him.
"Hey, where've you been? Expected you to beat me here."
"Got held up downstairs in patient accounts," Chris shook his head, "and then Travis paged. So, what are you doing out here? Isn't he ready to go yet?"
"Getting there. Seaver was going in just as I got here. Sounds like she's giving him some prescriptions now."+ + + + + + +
"Now listen. You be sure to get this filled." Mary Sue scowled and placed her hands on her hips as she stared at Vin. Sighing, she tore a sheet from the pad and passed it to Vin. "You take one of these big white pills. Twice a day. Every day. Until they're ALL gone. All of them. Do you understand me? Not one pill now and then. Not take them until you don't feel like it anymore. Not take one unless you forget and just don't bother. One pill twice a day until they are ALL gone. Is that clear enough? Do you need me to draw you pictures? Not too many big words for you to understand, were there?"
+ + + + + + +
"Now hold on... she doesn't need to talk to him like he's a moron." Chris huffed and started to enter the room.
"Whoa...take it easy Chris." Smiling easily, Buck placed a restraining hand on Chris's chest. "I've been out here waiting for a little bit. From what I've heard, he's giving as good as he's getting. He don't need you in there fighting his battles, he's doing a damn good job on his own."
Hands on his hips, Chris stood in the doorway, glaring at Mary Sue's unsuspecting back.
"Come on, let's go on in there, before you bore a hole in that poor girl's back." Buck smiled as he prodded Chris forward in to the room.
"Hey there, Junior...you 'bout ready to blow this joint?" Buck smiled easily as he entered the room. "How ya doin' there? Need any help gettin' those boots tied? Got them jeans buttoned up good?"
Glancing sideways at Buck, Chris's eyebrows raised inquiringly as Mary Sue flushed and looked away.
"So, are you? Ready to go, I mean. I figured, after we stop and get those prescriptions filled, we can swing by the video store, and pick up a few movies before we head out to the ranch."
"Naw, I'm fine. Don't need ta put you out any. You don't mind, you can just drop me off at my place."
Scowling, Chris pursed his lips and looked at Mary Sue as she silently shook her head.
"I do mind. I thought we already had this settled."
Frowning, Vin silently looked up at Chris. The tense silence was broken by the shrill alarm of Mary Sue's beeper.
"Damn, just when it looked like it was getting good," she muttered as she scowled at the device and silenced it. "I've got to go answer that. Listen, you call Roxanne this afternoon, I want to see you in the office next week. Don't force me to do a house call...I will hunt you down."
Grinning slightly, Vin shook his head and sighed.
"Oh, and one more thing before I go...when are you coming home for a visit?"
"Sue..."
"Don't 'Sue' me...when? I want to know...now."
"Sue...I can't," Vin whispered.
"Oh, yes you can...and you will. You've been running long enough."
Shaking his head wordlessly, Vin stared at the floor.
"I...I..."
"Look, I'll give you some incentive...no medical release to return to active duty until I get an answer."
"You are a bi..."
"Ah ah ah..." Mary Sue raised her finger and wagged it. "Don't say anything I'll make you regret later."
Standing side by side, Chris and Buck silently witnessed the exchange. Taking a seat on the bed again, Mary Sue put her arm around Vin's shoulder and leaned closer.
"Look, I know there are some hard memories for you there, but you've gotta remember, there are two people there who still love you...always have, always will, no matter what's happened to make you think differently. Tell you what, when you go, I'll take some time off and go too...it'll be okay."
Shrugging his shoulders, Vin sighed and pulled at a loose thread on the seam of his jeans.
"You know Vin, whenever I think about Jimmy...all the good times...they all include you. I sorta consider you a little brother too. Nothing there is ever gonna hurt you again....I won't let it...I promise. Should Mom and Dad have noticed what was going on over there? Probably. But they didn't, and they will never be able to apologize enough to you to make up for it....and that's killing them. Please don't push them away anymore Vin. They love you Vin. Let them...you are worth it. Look around you...in spite of it all...you have so many people who care about you....do you have any idea how lucky you are?"
Taking a deep breath, Vin raised his head, nodded slightly, and stared at Mary Sue.
Giving Vin's shoulder a slight squeeze, Mary Sue stood and smiled. "Good. How about Easter then? There's plenty of room, you can bring your whole entourage for backup. That's a few months away, gives you more than enough time to get back on your feet."
"Yeah...sure...guess so..."
From his spot against the wall, Chris's eyes widened in shock as he watched the doctor raise Vin's chin and lean over to place a kiss on his forehead.
"Okay, I've really gotta go. You behave and take care of yourself. I'll see you next week. I'll call you out at Larabee's in a few days."
"Sue..." Vin protested to the doctor's back as she left the room.
"Tanner, when I call Larabee's house, it better be you that answers."
"That bi..."
"You know, I CAN still hear you..."
Shoulders shaking, Buck tried vainly to conceal his laughter. "Let me see if I can go snag a wheelchair," he chuckled as he left the room.
Alone with Vin, Chris sat beside him on the bed and sighed.
"Vin..."
"No Chris...I'm fine...really. No need to be putting you out any."
"Vin, you won't be putting me out. It'd actually be a lot easier for me, not to have to worry about you. Look, you are my friend, I consider you one of my best friends... I hoped you felt the same way too. Where I come from, friendship runs two ways. You need a hand now, and I'm here to offer it--- just like I know when I need your help, you'll be there."
Letting out a long breath, Vin stared at his feet and nodded his head.
"But there's one thing we need to set straight. I know right now it seems like everyone's picking on you, but this has been bugging me for a few weeks , and we need to clear this up."
Raising his head quickly, Vin stared at Chris.
"I want your word...that next time...and I guarantee, there WILL be a next time, I say, or do anything, anything at all that hurts you, or bothers you in any way...I want your word, you'll tell me."
After a few moments of silence, Chris cleared his throat.
"Vin...I mean it. Like Buck says, sometimes I think the sun shines outta my ass, and I know I've got a temper. If I say or do something that pisses you off, you gotta tell me. I'll try not to do it again. I won't get mad and stop being friends with you---but I can't pussy foot around, always wondering if I've hurt your feelings. Hell, that's no friendship, that was my first girlfriend in junior high. I want your word that you'll respect yourself to make sure I remember to give you the respect you deserve. Can you give me that?"
"Yeah...I guess...I'll try..."
"Well, that's a start."
Locking forearms, the two men smiled at each other. Interrupted by Buck's return with a wheelchair, Chris gathered Vin's belongings as Buck helped him in to the wheelchair.+ + + + + + +
"Whew...didn't think we were ever gonna get outta there." Chris smiled as he slammed the truck door and buckled his seatbelt. Turning the ignition, Chris grinned and adjusted the defrosters. It had taken over twenty minutes to actually reach the hospital lobby after they had left Vin's room, as they encountered hospital staff wishing Vin well.
"Didn't know you had such a fan club, Tanner."
"Me neither." Pulling his ball cap off his head, Vin brushed his hair back and placed it back on as he slouched down on the seat.
"That Alan fellow, from physical therapy, looked like he was about to cry over your leaving..anything you want to tell me?" Chris smiled as Vin flushed and muttered a hoarse no.
Pulling out in to traffic, Chris glanced at Vin and smiled as the young Texan looked out the side window. It felt good to have Vin riding shotgun again.
"Hey Chris?"
"Yeah?"
"I uh..never thanked you...for everything."
"Don't worry about it...it was nothing. I'm not just behind you Vin...I'm beside you...every step of the way."
Smiling easily, Vin turned to Chris and nodded his head as the truck headed to the Larabee ranch.
"Vin...did you ever meet someone...and just know...that for the rest of your life...they'd be a part of your life?"
to be continued...
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