Make a Wish || Rhett and Link

Chapter 51 - Visits

***** Cooper's Point of View *****

"COOPER!"

I braced myself as Shepherd climbed up the rails of the hospital bed and tried to hug me as tight as he could.

"Shep! I...can't....breathe!" I rasped as he gripped my ribs a little too tightly.

He released his tight grip and looked at me nervously with those big eyes of his. "I-I'm sorry."

I smiled to try and release the nervous tension. "Nah, it's all good Sheppie. Thanks for coming to visit me."

The blonde haired munchkin smiled. "What is this tube?"

I glanced at it. "That one's a drip. It's sort of like water that I don't have to drink."

"Why don't you just drink water then?"

"Um, well, it's also got some medicine in it, and because I'm a bit sick and if I eat it I might throw up, they use the tube." I tried to explain.

"When are you going to be better?" Shepherd asked, worry dotting his eyes.

I lightly scuffed up his hair. "I don't know bud. It's going to be a while. But I'm only going to be in the hospital for a few more days anyway. Then I can come home."

"I don't want you to be sick anymore." Shep said, lying down next to me.

"I know." I breathed. "I don't want to be sick anymore either. But we can't control it, so, we're just going to have to live with it."

"Why were you screaming last night?" Shep asked.

"Screaming?" I echoed.

"Yeah. You were screaming really loudly and Mommy had to call the ambulance man to come and take you here."

"Did I scare you bud?" I asked nervously.

He nodded.

"Well, I was just hurting really badly. But I'm feeling much better now. I'm sorry for scaring you."

"Why were you hurting?"

I sighed. Shep certainly asked a lot of questions.

"I have a disease called brain cancer bud." I tried to explain. "It makes me really sick, and sometimes it really hurts me. And all the doctors are trying to help me get rid of it, but it's really hard to get rid of."

Rhett shot me a concerned look, but I shrugged it off.

"Shep, why don't you come sit with me?" Jessie suggested. "Cooper probably needs some space."

I shrugged. "It's okay. As long as he doesn't pull any of the tubes out, then we're okay here."

Shepherd pulled at my hospital band. "What's this?"

"That's a bracelet with my name on it, so the doctors know my name." I explained.

"Can't you tell them?"

"Well, sometimes I'm asleep and I can't. So they put a bracelet on my wrist so that they can tell who I am."

"Can I have a bracelet too?" Shepherd asked.

I made a face, and Rhett stepped in. "No, you don't need one."

"I want a bracelet too! I want to match!"

"No, no, buddy, you don't want to be like me." I said slowly.

"Yeah I do! I want a bracelet too!"

"No, you don't." Rhett said gravely.

Shepherd snuggled closer into me and pushed his legs under the blanket. "Can I stay here with you tonight Cooper?"

I sighed. "Sorry bud. You're not allowed to stay in the hospital. Only if you're sick you can stay here."

"Can I pretend?" Shepherd asked. "I could cut my hair to look like yours, and I could cough too!"

Rhett lifted Shep off of the bed. "Alright bud. I think that's enough. Locke, do you want to take your brother downstairs for some ice cream?"

Shepherd seemed pretty happy with that. The two of them went downstairs and left just me with Rhett and Jessie.

"How are you feeling sweetie?" Jessie asked nervously.

I shrugged. "Better than last night, I suppose. This medication really does it's stuff."

"That's good." She mumbled. "Sorry about Shepherd."

"Nah, it's alright." I said. "He's just a kid, with a good dose of curiosity. It's not a problem."

"Yes, but, well, he does say some pretty hurtful things without realising it." Rhett said.

I shrugged. "I just brush it off. It's okay."

"Okay then sweetie. But you can talk to us, okay?"

I nodded. "Okay."

There was a brief moment of silence.

"Rhett, do you know what caused this?" I asked.

He looked pained. "Something about one of the medications not being absorbed properly. Dr Anderson is looking for something to fix that."

"Oh."

"I'm sure it will all work out." Jessie tried to assure me.

"Yeah, maybe." I mumbled.

"I brought you some things!" Jessie perked up, trying to make me feel better. She placed my bag on the bed.

"Your iPad, your phone, and a bar of chocolate in case you get hungry."

I smiled. "Thank you for that."

She lightly ran her fingers through my hair. "No problem sweetie. It's a pleasure."

I clicked my phone on, and glanced at the notifications. Just a couple of youtube uploads, nothing important.

Locke and Shepherd returned with some rather delicious looking ice cream. I tried my best to hide my jealousy at that delicious cold treat they were consuming. It made me think of Wednesday's with Link, and I made a mental note to call him.

"Do you want a lick?" Shepherd asked, holding me his cone.

I had to retain myself. "No thanks bud. I don't think the doctors would be too happy with me."

Shepherd shrugged and went back to getting it all over his face.

"When you come home can we go out for ice cream?" Shepherd asked.

I smiled slightly. "I think that's up to your Dad."

"We can do that." Rhett said, scruffing up Shep's hair again. "When Cooper gets out of hospital, we'll go get ice cream."

I smiled. "I can't wait."