Make a Wish || Rhett and Link

Chapter 52 - Bad News

***** Rhett's Point of View *****

"You seem happy."

Cooper grinned. "I'm always happy when I get to leave the hospital."

I laughed. "Yeah. We have to go see Doctor Anderson now though."

Cooper sighed. "Yay." She said flatly.

I handed her a pile of clothes. "Here. Go get changed, and I'll sign the release papers."

She giggled. "Alright."

I walked out to reception and signed the papers, before grabbing Cooper and heading downstairs to Dr Anderson's office.

He smiled weakly at us as he welcomed us in, and we took our seats in the same places as always. He sat down on his chair at his computer and clicked something away, before turning to face us.

"Alright. Let's get started." He muttered.

"What caused that, um, migraine?" Cooper asked, trying to get the word right.

"Well," he sighed. "I've prescribed you a medication, but your body isn't absorbing it properly. It's nothing you've done, it's just, unfortunate."

"So, what? I'm going to have these headaches all the time?" Cooper asked, growing a little fearful.

He shook his head. "No. There is another option for you, but you're not going to like it."

"Which is...?"

He reached into his top desk drawer and pulled out something a little thicker than a pen. I immediately recognised it, and grimaced.

"The medicine can be administered through a daily injection." Doctor Anderson explained slowly.

"So, I have to bring her back here every day?" I asked shakily, wondering how I would be able to fit that into the daily routine. Considering that Cooper came with us to work and all, Link and I wouldn't be able to drive her back and forward from the hospital everyday. We do have jobs. Then she'd have to stay with Jessie at home. She'd hate that.

Dr Anderson shook his head. "No, actually. I'm going to teach you had to administer them."

"What?!" I exclaimed.

He nodded. "It's actually quite a straightforward process. I'll do today's as an example. Cooper, can you please roll your sleeve up for me?"

Cooper looked nervous, but did as the doctor asked. He opened a small disinfectant wipe, and cleaned the skin slightly, before pulling the cap off of the pen, revealing a short, pointy needle. Cooper gulped nervously, and flinched slightly as he put in into her arm, holding a button down and watching as a red line signified how much was injected. When the red line reached the bottom, he pulled the needle out and put a bandaid over the hole before it could start to bleed.

"Ow." Cooper sniffled, trying to conceal the pain it caused.

"Oh come on now, it wasn't that bad, was it?" Dr Anderson asked.

She nodded slightly, and he sighed. "Alright, Rhett, I have some practice ones here for you to try. I'll just check that you can do it properly before sending you home with a week's supply."

Cooper looked at me nervously, and I gulped before walking over to the bed in the corner.

"So, I have to do this every day?"

Dr Anderson nodded. "Every day."

He handed me the medical wipe. "Start by wiping the skin to protect against infection."

I nodded and gently wiped Cooper's arm clean, about an inch below the bandaid. SHe didn't look at me, but faced the wall, flinching slightly as she knew what pain was coming. Dr Anderson handed me the needle, and I took the cap off. The sight of the needle made me feel sick just looking at it.

"Come on now, we don't have all day." Dr Anderson muttered crossly.

"I'm so sorry Super-Cooper." I apologised, before jamming the needle into her arm. She let out a small noise of pain, and guilt poured through me. I held the button down until the needle was empty, and finally I pulled it out and applied a bandaid.

"Alright. Good. Now, another one."

"Do we have to? She's on the brink of tears. These hurt." I said nervously.

Dr Anderson sighed. "It's better she goes through a bit of pain now, rather than a lot if something goes wrong because you don't have adequate practice administering this medication."

I sighed. "Alright. How many more are we doing?"

"Two. Both on the other arm. Cooper, can you turn around for us please?"

She turned around slightly, still not facing us. I administered the next needle, met with a cry of pain and some tears this time. I felt awful, I was deliberately hurting her.

"Can we just finish here?" I asked desperately.

"One more Rhett, then I'll give you your supply and you two can head on your way."

I sighed. "I'm so sorry about this Super-Cooper."

"I-It's fine." She mumbled tearfully.

I injected the final needle, and with that final push over the edge, Cooper cried. I pulled her into a hug, apologising for what had happened, but she didn't say anything back. Dr Anderson gave me a supply of needles to last until the next appointment.

"You know those really big pills you don't like?" Dr Anderson asked her. "You don't have to take those anymore."

She wiped a tear away with her sleeve. "T-this is worse."

"Yeah, I know. But still, look on the bright side, hey?"

She didn't reply.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

"Talk to me, Cooper."

"H-Hi Rhett." She mumbled, looking out the passenger window at the other cars driving past.

"I'm really sorry about that." I apologised.

"I-It's fine R-Rhett."

"No, it's not." I said slowly. "I stabbed you in the arm, like 3 times. I made you cry. How can I make this up to you?"

She shook her head. "I-it was a nessessary e-evil. I understand."

I sighed. "It's hurting me, and it's going to continue to until I make it up to you. You like ice-cream, right?"

She shook her head. "I-I just w-want to go h-home Rhett."

"Not even mythical entertainment?"

She shook her head. "H-home."

I sighed as I turned the corner. "Alright. We'll go home."

"T-thanks."

We arrived home and Cooper sat down on the couch with Locke, mindlessly watching some re-run of some reality TV show. I walked into find Jessie in the kitchen, and I put the supply of needles up high so neither of the boys would be able to reach them.

"What happened? Why aren't you at work?" Jessie asked.

I sighed. "Guess who just got trained on how to administer needles."

"Oh no." Jessie gulped.

"Every day, Jess. I've got to stab her, every day."

Jessie hugged me. "But the good news is, you're trained to do it now."

"I made her cry, Jess. She's not happy with me, I don't think."

"I think you're letting this go to your head. I'd cry if I needed needles every day. Please, relax. Maybe you should just head to work."

I sighed. "Alright. See you this afternoon."

She planted a kiss on my cheek. "See you soon Rhetty. Don't let this get to your head, kay?"

"Okay. Bye Jess."

"Bye Rhett."