Milkshake Hearts

Chapter 108: Spiral

Shayne is not usually one to push the speed limit too much – he leaves that to Courtney – but he can't help but let his foot press down a little harder as he drives straight from the studio where he films Goldbergs over to the hospital where Courtney is. He has to battle frustrating LA traffic, though, and between that and a slightly delayed end to the day, it's approaching 6pm by the time he actually gets to her room.

"Hey, Court," he greets her, gently, as he pushes open the door and steps into the room. She's sitting on the edge of her bed picking at the dinner she had been served – it's fine, technically, just not ideal – but as soon as she sees him she pushes the table-on-wheels out of the way and stands to rush into his arms.

"Shayne," she mumbles his name against his shoulder as she presses against him. He doesn't say anything in response, for a few minutes, simply wrapping her in a comforting embrace.

"How are you doing, love? How is it so far?" he asks her when they do pull apart, Shayne prompting her to go back to her dinner as he pulls one of the chairs over so he can sit right beside the bed, hand resting gently on her knee.

"It's... scary. Everything is just so much and so different. I full-on panicked when I first got here," she sighs, biting her lip before she continues, "and the nurses are nice yeah and Dr Nexba came by and explained everything which helped but I just... I'm scared and overwhelmed. I don't know what's going to happen, and when I'm just here by myself my mind keeps spiralling about everything that could be wrong."

"It's totally understandable that you are feeling like that, Court, you're allowed to be worried and this is a lot to deal with. Especially given you don't love medical stuff anyway. But it's going to be okay, yeah? It's just going to be a couple of days to try and find some answers, and like Dr Nexba told you last time, it's way more likely that it's something small or easy to solve. It's gonna be okay – you're gonna be okay. And I'm with you, always," Shayne tells her, thumb drawing soft circles across the top of her knee as he speaks. He watches as she squeezes her eyes shut for a moment, taking a deep breath before she opens them again to look his way.

"Thank you, Shayne. That helps. I'm so lucky to have you," she murmurs, "I think I need to get as distracted as possible so I might actually sleep tonight..."

Shayne is happy to help out with distraction. His hand doesn't leave her knee, other than when it slides a little further up her thigh – not suggestively, but in a simple gesture of affection –, but their conversation quickly twists from medical worries across to his day at work, their family (and a hilarious video of Rosie trying to convince Nathan that fairies are real that Julie had sent them over the weekend), and eventually, silly banter.

It has Courtney genuinely laughing, pushing the rolling table back out of her way after she finishes picking at her evening meal so she can more easily lean over and shove Shayne in the shoulder when he makes stupid quips. They pay no attention to the passage of time as they talk, Courtney feeling herself settle into comfort for the first time all day, until there is a knock at their door and a nurse steps in, tugging a blood pressure machine behind her again.

"Hi Courtney, just gotta check blood pressure and things again," she starts, "and I'm sorry, but visiting hours finished a little while ago, so might be time to say goodbye soon."

"Oh-" Shayne starts, glancing at his watch to see it's quarter past 7 already, "-um, yeah, lost track of time."

"That's fine, just maybe now you know-" the nurse smiles politely as she once again attaches the cuff around Courtney's right bicep. She tries to stay calmer, this time, but as she glances over at Shayne and realises he has to go, she feels her panic start rising again. He seems to sense her discomfort, though, both hands reaching over to take her left and hold tightly.