Riptides (Jalex)

Chapter 3

It wasn't a relaxed morning at work. The second Jack arrived he'd been thrown into doing two jobs at once. With Zack having called in sick along with Cam and Matt, Riley was in a foul mood. What he didn't realise was that the day was about to take a massive nose dive when Pixie managed to smash his nose as he opened the garage door. He heard it before he realised what had happened. A sickening crack which Jack could have sworn was followed by an instant splatter. He'd looked up at Pixie who had stepped back in shock, cupping his face with his head facing the ground, swaying oh so slightly.

"Pixie? Shit." Jack was already on his way to steady him when he staggered slightly, making a whining noise. Once he was in front of the older man Jack had his hands on his shoulders and was trying to survey just how much damage he'd managed to do. "Pix, can you just move your hands for me? Just dead quick; I want to see-oh, yep, shit, okay."

The sheer amount of blood that had gushed from his face when he'd moved his hands had Jack cringing. Pixie, although two years older than him, was like the kid brother Jack had never had. "First aid bay, you're gonna be alright, Pix."

Pixie looked at him like he had two heads and blinked owlishly at him. "I said first aid bay, come on." He wrapped an arm around Pixie and guided him back up the steps; it took longer than Jack would have liked but with Pixie stumbling and unable to keep his balance it was a battle to get up the stairs. Once he had him through the door, the party really started. "Jen, Riley –Pix's smashed his face in!"

"He's done what?" Jenna appeared first; she took one glance at the blood now dripping out of Kellin's cupped hands and his pale complexion and helped usher him onto the bed. Jack grabbed a handful of tissue and waited for Jenna to pry Kellin's hands from his face –once they did, the sight made them both hiss. "Riley, I think you need to call Vic."

"No, no no no." Pixie managed to utter out, shaking his head as Jack gently pressed the wad of tissue to his nose and nipped it to try and stem the flow. The gash across the top of his nose showed cartilage and had yet more blood oozing from it. He was gonna need stitches at least. He'd seen similar stuff a hundred times before, the injury being relatively common among surfers, but the sight still made Jack feel off.

"Show me." Riley had appeared behind them, his phone already pressed to his ear. "Ouch, that's gonna sting tomorrow -Hello, Vic? Yeah it's Riley. No, Kellin's had an accident." Riley wandered back out of the bay towards the door, leaving Jack and Jenna to try and patch up Kellin the best they could.

Jack put his hand on the back of Kellin's head, gently tipping it forward while Jenna set about cleaning Kellin's hands so there'd be less of a shock factor for Vic or any kids on the boardwalk; before either of them noticed Kellin was crying. "It's going to be okay, Pixie. Vic's coming."

"No." He whined again, crying harder. Jack didn't know what to do other than rub his co-worker's back. It was becoming clear that the door had smacked his head harder than they'd thought; even if Kellin was considered the baby of the family, he still didn't usually act like this.

"It's okay buddy, it's okay." Jack looked at Jenna for help but she was focused on getting Jack another wad of tissues. "Why don't you want Vic to come, babe?"

"H-He's gonna be mad." Kellin was definitely working himself up, but Jack had to admit he would be too if he'd just been attacked by the garage door. He'd had a few close shaves with it in the past. "He has a me-ee-ting."

After changing the wad of tissues, Jenna and Jack set about reassuring him that Vic wouldn't be mad and that accidents happen –it's no big deal, everything was gonna be fine. They really did consider each other family when they worked together, and seeing Kellin in pain was pulling on both Jen and Jack's heart strings. It's different when it's someone you're not close to. You could switch off and just do what had to be done, but the second emotions got involved, that was another story altogether.