Distanced

Part 22: In Which Max Makes A Statement

By the time I got to the hospital- Helen was already in surgery for her shoulder.

She got lucky again.

But that shoulder... ooof.

I paced and paced and paced until they finally brought her out and into a room. I chatted with the surgeon about how it went and he gladly informed me that it should be done healing properly in about 3-6 months.

Which I mean- it isn't the first time she's done this.

But hopefully it'll be the last.

He was surprised she didn't break anything or have a massive brain bleed or hemorrhage.

I've been sitting in her room for over three hours and eventually I passed out in the chair.

Fluttering my eyes open tiredly, I notice Helen sitting up in bed, arm tight in her sling to her body- and that full look in her eyes. The look that often accompanies a concussion.

"Hmm...Helen..." I yawn as I sit up- trying to stretch my aching neck and back without hurting myself. She looks at me and sighs as if this is the last thing she wants.

Granted she had them call my mother.

Which...that's kind of a slap in the face, but I guess I can't blame her.

"You're gonna need a chiropractor cause of that." She says tiredly. Getting up, I slowly go to the edge of the bed and look her over. "What are you doing here?"

"I came because I was worried sick about you." I say softly and sigh before continuing. "I didn't understand earlier why you were mad at me...but I do now. Helen- I didn't say I wasn't Maxie's dad because I don't love him or you- I said it just as a fact. I would never give myself the title of father without your consent. It would be rude and assuming. But that doesn't mean I don't want it."

I take her left hand and squeeze it gently between mine.

"I would love nothing more than to help raise that precious little boy of yours. It would tickle me pink to have him as a son. But Helen- would you ever call yourself Luna's Mum without me previously allowing it?" Her face grows long. "You use possessive nouns when you talk to her or about her- and that's fine, because you love her, but I know for a fact you wouldn't just start calling yourself her Mum unless you knew I was okay with it. Well it's the same case here. I love that boy. My Mini Me. I love him and he isn't mine biologically: but that doesn't matter to me. He's not my son...until you say he is. I'm not his dad- until you want me to be. And if that day comes- I'll be so excited to step in, but until then- I'll help where I can, but I won't force anything upon him or you."

I kiss the back of her hand and a few misty tears brush up into her eyes and she wipes them away.

"I'm sorry...You're right- Max... I'm...I'm sorry I overreacted." Leaning down, I kiss her gently and cup her cheek in my hands.

"I need to be more sensitive." I say, my thumb massaging over her cheek.

"I need to not be so sensitive."

"You have an excuse at least- I'm just an ass." She giggles slightly and winces. "Arm hurt?"

"Head."

"I heard you saved a guys life tonight."

"Is Dale okay?"

"Yeah, he is. They did a triple bypass on him and put in a pace maker- but he's going to be fine."

"That's good. I was really worried about him."

"I was really worried about you. I don't know what I would've done without you."