Wreck

Helping

Mike apeared later that night and I pulled him aside before he saw Billie.
"I see you two are friendly again."

"Why didn't you get him to take his meds?"

"What do you mean? He told me that he took them"

"Well he didn't and he was practically dying in there..."

Mike scratched his neck, "I'm sorry, I could have sworn he'd taken them... is he okay?"

"Yeah he's fine."

"...are you okay?"

"Of course, why wouldn't I be?"

"Billie told me about the crash... what really happened I mean...

"Oh." I looked away from him, instantly finding it unbearable to look into his crystal blue eyes.
"Why didn't you say anything?"

"What could I say? That I want a relationship with my best friend?"

"I thought I was your best friend."

"Really? You're gonna pick me up on that now?"

"Sorry... but, anyway, you could have told me..."

"Why? What could you have done?"

He shrugged, "I dunno, offer moral support?"

"What, stand there and cheer me on while I don't do anything with Billie? Yeah, sounds helpful..."

"Well I could have been there to talk? It's not good to keep things to yourself."

"Thanks, Mike, but I'm okay."

"Well, I'm here if you need anything."

"Yeah... thanks" I let Mike go and see Billie before making myself a coffee and sitting in the living room. After a while Mike had to go again and I waved quickly to him out the window. He blew me a kiss and winked, smiling a thin smile and leaving in his car. I stayed downstairs in case Billie was asleep, but soon heard footsteps. I hurried to his room but he was already half way along the corridor.

"What are you doing? You shouldn't be out of bed!" I said, grabbing his good shoulder which he was using to lean against the wall.
He grumbled something and carried on walking.
"Billie! What are you doing?"

"I need the toilet, okay? Or am I supposed to piss myself?"

"You could have called me to help."

"Help? You wanna hold my dick?-"

"-no that's not-"

"-because if it's all the same to you, I'd rather do that on my own."

"Billie, I just want to help you walk to the bathroom, alright?"

He put his arm over me and let me help him to the toilet and shut the door behind him.
As I waited for him to finish I heard a thud and a cry of pain, and rushed back into the room. Billie was sprawled on the floor and clutching his lower chest, moaning and screwing his face up.
"Shit, Bill, this is why I wanted to help!" I went to pick him up and he yelled for me to stop, so I lowered him carefully back down.
"What am I supposed to do? I can't leave you down there" I was beginning to panic.

"I can't get up, just leave me here... ah fuck, I got piss on me." He covered his face with the back of his hand and I noticed he was shaking. I couldn't tell if it was from the pain or shock, but he was clearly embarrassed.

"Hey, don't worry about that, okay? We've just got to get you up and back to bed."

He shook his head, "I can't... I..." he let out a shaky breath and tried to collect himself. I was worried he might have a panic attack, but he seemed to be holding up.

"Bill?" I put my hand on his arm, "we're gonna do this okay? We're gonna stand up-"

"-no-"

"-and get you back to your room."

"No!" Another shaky breath.

"Billie, I'll have to call an ambulance if I can't get you to stand up on your own."

I knew Billie all too well. I knew that if he was in a bad way he hated people seeing him and viewing him as weak. He was independent, and I could tell that having to rely on someone other than himself for help was killing him. If he had piss on him, the last thing he'd want was for anyone to see, too.

"Okay." He finally sighed. I knew that would work.

"Okay, I'm gonna put my arm around you and pull you up, but you have to try and get up too, alright?"

He nodded painfully.

"Okay, ready? 1... 2... 3" I lifted him up with ease and he cried out as he stood. "Okay, we're done, see? Let's just go back to bed."

He might as well have been crying, and I think he would have if I wasn't there. I had to help him into some new jogging bottoms and-much to his horror-underwear. He made a fuss but after more than a few failed attempts of trying himself, I had to do it for him. Once he was back in bed I called Mike round and a doctor to check him over, but he was fine. Just a few more bruises added to the ones on his lower back and arms.

I stayed the night in case he needed anything... sleeping on the sofa, of course.