What Means the Most

Chapter 5

His phone rang. Moira.

"Hello, Moira, I'm almost ready—"

"Charles, I'm so sorry!" she quickly cut him off. "I'm really very busy today, something came up at work and I won't be able to drive you to therapy this afternoon." she sounded guilty.

"Oh. Well, that's alright. I'll just reschedule."

"No, no, don't do that because of me! I've taken care of it. Someone else is taking you."

Charles frowned. "Who?"

"Erik Lehnsherr..." she said, pausing as if waiting for his rage to pour over her.

When nothing followed Moira felt obligated to start apologizing again.

"I'm so sorry about this, Charles. I know he's the last person you'd want but no one else would do it. And Erik offered it himself when I told him about my work trip."

"Wait, your work trip?" She never mentioned anything about a work trip.

"Yes." she sounded guilty again. "I'm going to South Korea for a week. There's this seminar."

"That's wonderful, Moira!"

"Yes... but I won't be able to drive you to the clinic because of that. But Erik said it was no trouble for him. In fact, I've spoken to him quite a few times since the accident and he's not a bad guy, really. He's rather nice." She sounded nervous now, as if she was unsure if Charles would approve of her newly formed friendship with the man who hit Charles with his car. So Erik hadn't told her he visited Charles regularly. Maybe him and Moira really did have other things to discuss, things other than Charles and his stupid wheelchair.

He realized Moira was still talking.

"-- so we had coffee a few times and he told me about his work and I told him about mine and then I said the only thing that worried me was your therapy and he offered to do it. For the whole week. I think he even rescheduled some of his own meetings to be available for your therapy sessions. He's on his way as we speak. You won't even be late today. He should be there any minute. Please, don't be angry with me, Charles!"

Charles sighed. "I'm not angry, Moira. Erik it is then. I don't mind."

"Really!?" She sounded incredibly surprised.

"Yes. Honestly."

"Um... okay?"

"You go and nail that South Korea seminar."

"Thank you, Charles! You sure you're gonna be alright?"

"Mhm. Couldn't be better." Really, couldn't be better! That's the best he can ever get! "Good luck with work and don't worry about it." He reassured her.

"Alright!" He could hear her relief over the phone. Good.

Erik was prompt as usual, his custom smirk on his face when Charles looked up at him from the height of his wheelchair.

"Ready for a ride?" Erik grinned.

Charles rolled his eyes and decided that he hated his life.

"The doorman will take me downstairs and prepare everything so that I can be ready for a ride." He replied.

"Okay." Erik nodded "I can be patient."

~*~

Charles felt ridiculous when he had to be carried down and placed in the car like a toddler by the doorman and the younger guy that was helping him today. It was even more humiliating to have Erik witness this rather sensitive process.