Wild hearts run free (Joe Elliott fanfic)

Ch5 The long road back with a twist

***********All warnings apply

The process of me actually getting out of the bed was long and painful. Nick and Joe would move my legs up and down for a few hours. Exercising the muscles so that when it would come time to stand up and move I could walk.

That took about three days, but it felt like an eternity. Joe left the hospital number with the guys in case they went to record or something. He ended up practically camping there. He'd talk about how everything was happing to him so fast, faster than he expected. But he seemed to say it wasn't fast enough. That they partially owed money to everyone and were now moving to Dublin to become tax exiles.

He'd say he felt if he took a break it would be the end of them. That they would be forgotten. He also told me he was concerned about Phil and Steve drinking a bit more than anyone else. During the leg exercise's he'd say he didn't really drink much anymore. Then the hard part came where Joe would get behind me and hold me up until I would bend over to be sitting.

Occasionally I'd smack him on the hand and yell. Once he purposely let me go and dropped me back on the bed. He wrapped his arms around me gently and pulled me back up. "Sorry. I know it hurts but do you bloody 'ave to make me feel it?"

"Yes. Dat's for breaking me heart and hardly writing me."

"Beth you broke me heart when you left Sheffield."

"Like Oi had a bloody choice. You knew me da didn't have a job. You said it yerself about getting out of dat daft place."

"Um, baby. You realize yer sitting up all by yerself. Look yer feet are touching the floor." Joe said now sitting by me. I looked down and then up at him and he smiled.

I put my arms around him and we hugged. I put my head on his shoulder. "Oi missed you. We've grown up so much and missed out. Oi hate being the only 23 year old virgin. Makes me kind of wish Oi did lose it."

He grabbed my shoulders without realizing it and extended me out in front of him. "Don't ever say dat. A woman's virginity is sacred. No one should lose their virginity in a defiled manner. It should be taken out of love and respect. Ahe true you maybe 23 but maybe you 'aven't meet the right chap yet. Don't ever think such things. Yer virginity should be shared in an act of love. When you are ready. Don't let anyone force it on you or pressure you. It should be shared in love."

He pulled me to him. With my head against his chest I said, "Did you lose yer's in love?"

"Darlin it's a lot different when a man loses his. Men well we can do just about anything we want. If you must know I really 'aven't been with dat many woman. Dat was until recently. Still don't know if I shagged anyone. You know dat really scared me. Not knowing. 'Ell if it wasn't for this Elliott curse, I would be scared I got someone pregnant."

"What Elliott curse?"

"Well me da had a difficult time getting me mum pregnant before she had me. So I most likely inherited his genes."

"Do you want kids?"

"No. Don't think it be fair you know being gone all the time. But if I found the right person I might consider it. I still can't believe you only 'ave one hearing aid in." He said brushing my hair behind my ear and changing the subject. Which he was always good about doing.

I started to cry on his chest. "They told Ryan Oi may never have kids."

"Don't cry luv. I've got a feeling dat whatever dat surgeon did to fix you up, you'll 'ave kids one day. To tell the truth I'd make a horrible father."

"Joe it feels so right with you. Oi fell in love with you the moment Oi saw you, we 'ave so much in common. Look even our hands are the same size." I put my hand in his as I now was looking at him. "We even 'ave the same erratic heart rhythm. Oi don't need ears for dat. If we're not supposed to be together then why does me heart tell me we are. We always keep running into each other even if we're not trying. Like its fate. When we argued on dat plane we argued like an old married couple."

He laughed and let go of my hand. Nick and Sav came in chatting at each other about football of course. Then Nick stopped dead in his tracks when he seen me and Joe sitting up on the edge of the bed smiling. "What?" Sav said still looking at Nick.

Nick pointed to us and Sav about fell over when he looked at us. We waved at them. "We're ready for the next step Oi see. Joe this one is going to be the hardest. Yer gonna 'ave to be the one dat get's her to the hot tub."

"Why him?" I said. Joe put his arm around me and pulled me to him.

"Because I don't want them wanker's to see you in the buff. They might 'ave a hard time controlling themselves I 'ave great restraint when it comes to temptation. Dat and it will give us time to really talk alone. Something we've never really done. I could use it for me back." He said then he kissed me on the top of my head. Sav ran into the loo breaking out in hysterics.

Then he came out and Joe gave him a dirty look. Nick broke the ice that formed between the two of them. "Ok ready to stand up and get moving?"

"Ahe." Joe kept his arm behind me and Sav came over to the other side of me. I smacked his arm before he could put it around me. "No. If possible only Joe." Rick reframed but stood beside me in case. Joe nodded his head at me and I put my arm around him. We slowly stood up.

"I'm gonna move me arm and you'll feel pressure as you try to stand on yer own."

When he did I now stood with full pressure and Joe removed his arm slowly but kept close in case I fell. I removed my arm from him and stood alone and steady. "Joe stand in front of me. Let's see if Oi can walk to you." I said.

"No stay there. Carrie try to walk to me." Nick said walking to the door. "All you have to do is take two steps."

"Why does dat sound like a song?"

Joe and Sav laughed. I grabbed Joe's hand and squeezed it. "Come on luv. One foot in front of the other."

"Joe me arse is showing."

"Ahe. I know but don't worry Ryan slipped some of yer knickers on a few days ago remember?"

"Not really. You know Oi don't know what...(Step) yer so worried about someone...(Step and Nick backs up) seeing me back side. (Step. Nick moves again) Peter saw me stark naked the night Mike attacked me." I said taking small awkward steps. The whole time Joe and Sav right behind me.

Sav smacked Joe to keep him talking. Because the more he talked the more frustrated I got about all that happened and it would make me walk a bit more. "Yeah, but not for long. He said he covered you immediately with a sheet. So you 'ave a sheet soaked in blood. He also said he had to pick a little glass off you."

While he talked I stepped a bit more and before I knew it I looked up. I seen we were at the door. I looked at Nick and he nodded his head. "If you want to be in dat nice relaxing tub you'll 'ave to earn it. Just think, it will loosen those tight stiff muscles." Nick said opening the door and standing in front of it.

"Do you think Oi'll ever be able to dance again?" I said standing there with my hair in my face a bit.

"Darlin you walk to this room and you'll be like Ginger Rogers. You'll be dancing on the moon until yer heart's content." He said waving his hand at me. I remembered Joe taking my hand years ago and us walking together. Even though his back bothered him at the time.

I blew my bangs out of my face and said, "No, Oi can't, won't do it."

Sav and Joe both said at the same time, "Why not? Of course you can. Your already did the hard part."

"No! Nick not to be rude but put something in front of the door and leave." He hesitated but did it. "Joe, come stand beside me please. And bring something Oi can put around me." He did what I asked without thinking twice about it. I think in a way he knew what I was getting at. When he stood by me he wrapped a sheet around me and I pulled it close to me a bit. He brushed my hair back out of my face. I put my hand in his and looked at him. "Will you walk with me? Like we did on the streets of Sheffield?"