Irish Promises

Chapter Forty-Seven

"Okay now blow" Hugh says sternly holding the nozzle to the spirometer to my mouth.

I know I should take this all very seriously just like he is but I can't help but laugh at what he says which earns me another unimpressed look, especially as I cough and wheeze.

"I'll blow you if you want" I snigger breathlessly and although Hugh still isn't impressed the same can't be said for Blake who howls with laughter from across the room.

"There'll be none of that for you for a while little one" he laughs and now it's me frowning.

I'm bored of being stuck in this fucking hospital bed. I want to be at home so they'll stop treating me like I'm broken.

I get it, I really do. I'm not in a good way at all, the way I look is a testament to that with the horrendous bruising and thus far I can just about walk from my bed to the toilet with support but I still feel like I'm going to pass out and it take about three times the amount of time than it usually would.

But I'd much prefer if they stopped treating me like I'm so delicate.

I can't even convince Finn to touch me and he's always the easiest to get to fold but nothing I try works.

I'm also sick of not being around them all together. It's always Hugh and Blake or Cian and Finn. Never all of them together and it's because there's something up between them. Tensions are clearly high but none of them will spill the beans about it.

"Stop fucking about you need to do these breathing exercises" Hugh grunts and I roll my eyes straightaway.

Of course he's made it his number one priority to see that I'm taking my recovery seriously. A recovery that's meant to take at least 8 weeks, yet we're not even at the end of the first one and I want to throw this goddam spirometer at his head.

"Only if you tell me why you're all avoiding each other" I deadpan.

"We're not" Hugh lies, point blank lies to my face.

Even though him and Blake are here together they barely say two words to each other. Something's up I know it is.

"Yes you are" I snap and shove the nozzle away from my mouth.

"Anastasia come on we haven't got all day" Hugh moans.

"That is where you're wrong Hugh O'Leary I have nothing better to do than sit in this hospital bed and be stubborn" I grunt and lie myself back down stifling my groan as I do.

"Maybe they should just put the fucking ventilator back in I preferred you quiet" he snaps throwing the spirometer down and I know he doesn't really mean that.

"We both know that's bull" Blake says arching his brow at Hugh and at least that some kind of communication shared between them today.

Hugh grumbles something barely recognisable but I'm pretty sure it's 'of course it is' and I do smile at that.

For the rest of the day I refuse to do everything. Full on strike, or well as much of a strike that's possible from a hospital bed.

I refuse to talk, take my medication, eat and the final straw for Hugh is refusing to do my breathing exercises. Within an hour all four brothers are stood in front of me for the first time since I woke up.

None of them look particularly happy about it though.

"So which one of you is going to tell me what's going on?" I ask and of course I'm met with silence.

I look to Cian hoping it'll be him that'll speak up first but that's a no go as he's still stewing in his pot of guilt. He may come and visit with Finn but he keeps a healthy distance away from me almost like he's too scared to touch me. He won't even be alone with me.

"Fine" I grunt and fling the covers off myself.

I don't even get chance to attempt to swing one of my legs off the bed before Blake is darting towards me.

"What the hell are you doing?" He snaps and actually holds my legs down.

"Either you start spilling or I discharge myself" I say fully meaning it.

I doubt the hospital would let me but the threat seems to be enough to have them all looking concerned.

"Beautiful there's nothing going on" Finn says attempting to feed me the same bullshit they've all been.

"That's crap" I point out.

"This is the first time you two have been in the same room all week" I say pointing to Hugh and Finn. "You barely speak to him and every time you turn up you have fresh cuts on your knuckles" I say to Blake and then I turn my attention to Cian. "And you've completely shut down"

"I'm not speaking to him when it's his fault you're in here" Finn snaps shooting a glare at Hugh and I don't miss the flash of guilt on Hugh's face like he genuinely believes it as well.

"I didn't fucking put her in that bed" Hugh roars back.

"As good as" Blake cuts in and that's it they all erupt.

They start arguing amongst themselves like actual children. Throwing accusations at each other, blaming each other for things that are completely irrelevant.

It's all stupid and pathetic.

"He's still fucking breathing, you've kept him and that bitch alive after what they've put Stas through" Cian now adds in.

This is ridiculous.

I can't shout at them to shut them up because I frankly don't have it in me so instead I pick up one of the plastic cups and hurtle it at them. Unfortunately it hits Finn's head but it does the trick getting their attention.

"Ready to listen to me for once?" I ask arching my brow at them.

"None of this is Hugh's fault and I won't let you blame him" I say and I know Finn is going to object but I shut him down before he can. "I mean it stop fucking blaming him what happened to me is Irvin's fault and no one else's"

"Which is why he should be fucking dead" Cian seethes and I glare at him.

"No not until I get to look him in the eyes and get the answers I want" I say my tone harsh "and as for Lydia, Hugh promised me that I could deal with her" I can't help but smirk at that because I've been practically dreaming about all the options available to me.

I've even considered fucking Hugh in front of her and forcing her to watch before I throw her off a bridge.

"Stas?" Finn calls my name snapping me out of my day dream.

"Sorry back to the matter at hand" I say shaking my head. "We're a family so can we start acting like one again please"

"You two need to sort it out" I say glaring at Finn and Hugh, "You" I now point at Blake "No more visits to Irvin until I'm out of hospital" I now turn my attention to Cian "and if it wasn't for you I probably wouldn't be here today so I don't know whats going on in that head of yours or what you're beating yourself up about but I need you to let that realisation sink in because I need my soft big hearted Cian back"

"I need you all back to who you really are because you're all I have and I want nothing more than to come home to my family" my voice cracks as I speak now. "Please do this for me"

There's a moment of tense silence before they all seem to deflate a little. Finn is the first to speak.

"We were so fucking worried about you beautiful" he admits perching himself on the end of my bed.

"I know you were" I say taking his hand. "But I'm right here" I say with a smile, "and you're all meant to be waiting on my every request not arguing amongst each other"

That earns me some chuckles. I'm under no illusions that anything is going to be 'fixed' but it's a certain step in the right direction that's for sure.