Heal My Heart

E i g h t y : C h a r l i e

A/N: Comment & Vote

"I can only imagine how hard that was for you."

Scott paused quietly and drew in a shuddering breath. "It was time."

I looked into the empty room. It had an almost holy glow to it--as if I looking at something I knew was sacred. "What about--"

"It's time Charlie." Scott turned around and put his hands on my hips. "And I'm ready to move past Danny."

"I don't want to see you in pain."

"I'm not. Besides--I'm doing this for Bailey. I'm taking down the three walls separating the rooms and having renovators come in."

"Like a little apartment inside a house."

"Exactly. He can have his independence and still have support."

I looked down at the trash bag at his feet. "It won't bother me if you keep it."

"I know it won't Charlie. Because you're so sweet and understanding.  But I need to do this. For us. And for me."

Scott took the bag down to the truck and I slowly approached Bailey's door. His homecoming had been joyous and sad all at once. He was the same but yet... different. Like his spark had dulled. He'd built up a guard.

He was hurting but he didn't want anyone to see.

Kingsley cried whenever Bailey held him for two whole months. I was afraid Bailey would give up but he didn't and the bond between father and son grew once more.

They were better off without Kyle. That was my honest opinion. Bailey blamed himself for Kyle's actions. But he couldn't even remember the events of that night.

I knocked a few times. "Yeah

Bailey's left said was weak. Dr. Brune compared it to a stroke victim. It was subtle but it was there. His face drooped just a bit. His mouth downturned in a permanent scowl. His eye always heavily lidded as if he was exhausted.

I never stared however. Others did. Ones who didn't know what had happened. I saw how much it hurt him. And it killed me. His speech was a bit different too, slurred a bit.

"Hungry?"

"No."

I leaned against the doorframe as Bailey got to his feet slowly and shuffled to the playpen where Kingsley was sleeping. "Leah's making scalloped potatoes."

"Good. Kingsley likes them."

Bailey began to tidy up a bit, lifting Kingsley's bag from the floor in his right hand. He moved like an old man.

How did Scott describe it again? Heartbreaking.

He tried to take a little stuffed sheep his left. It shook before it fell free. Bailey's hand always trembled. He tried to make jokes about it with me, saying now he was the one who couldn't use silverware.

It was devastating seeing him like that.

"Let me help."

"I've got it Puppy." He did his slow leaning to grasp it in his left. It shook free. "Goddamnit!"

"Bailey--"

He straightened up slowly. "Can I have some time please? I'm fine." His voice trembled.

I sighed quietly in defeat. "Yeah. Of course. I'll...check in later."

He still called me Puppy. I'd corrected him a dozen times but he just couldn't remember. Dr. Brune said it was a side effect. I knew Scott was doing everything he could to help Bailey. He was visiting with Brune every weekend, discussing things they do to help him.

I twisted my wedding band on my finger as I went to visit Leah. She was still a part time caretaker for Kingsley. Bailey needed help whether he wanted to admit it or not. And with Kingsley getting faster every day while his father slowed down, it was a recipe for a disaster.

But Leah was so personable that Bailey accepted her help. They were friends in fact. They'd grown close which I had found threatening for a while. Until I took a step back and tried to think of it from Bailey's perspective.

I was from his past. All I could do was remind him of the hurt and betrayal he'd suffered. Leah represented his new start. I was glad they got along so well.

She still lived with us and Scott found her a job as a housekeeper. She kept the house tidy with my help and we did errands and shopping together.

Between planning the wedding of course.

It was just a month away and I was ecstatic. I wanted to ask Bailey to be my best man but I was trying to find the right time. To get him on one of his good days--and today wasn't one. "Hey Char." She greeted as she placed a lid on a pot. "How'd the cleaning go?"

"Empty."

"Yeah... Scott looked kind of upset? I guess he is losing his entire house to us." She laughed almost nervously. "I don't know he does it. You two are about to be newlyweds--don't you want your own space?"

"Why can't we share space?" I countered. "And the room belonged to his last sub. He passed away. Scott took it really hard."

"Oh wow. I could imagine. I'm so sorry--I had no idea."

"He doesn't bring it up casually." I retorted. "Bailey says he's not hungry--maybe you can bait him down with some of those...special brownies?"

"You hush up Charlie! Scott would kill me if he found out that I made those for you two," she giggled. "That's a purely 'Scott's-on-business-trip' treat."

"Okay, okay." I smiled.

"But I will use my unbelievably charming personality to get him to eat."

"He just hates having to have help going down the stairs."

"Well we don't need him taking another tumble. He might not actually wake up this time." The grim reality set in. "He'll adjust Charlie. I know that's hard to see but I used to work with senior citizens. When they first came to nursing home they were just awful. They hated to lose their independence. But as they got used to it and started working with us instead of against us, everything got better for them."

"I know. Do you think he'll say yes?"

"As your Maid of Honor I'll personally make sure of it Charlie." She smiled. "By the way Gretchen and Sam love the dresses."

"They do? I'm so relieved. I know that mauve can be a bit shocking--"

"With the foliage it'll be beautiful. And my dress...it's perfect. You've really got an eye for this kind of thing."

My face felt warm. "Everything feels so perfect. My best friend is okay--or is going to be, for the most part, with time--and I'm marrying the man of my dreams. And he loves me."

"Are you bragging?" Leah asked teasingly, leaning against the counter.

"No! I'm sorry." I smiled guiltily.

"It's fine. You have every right to be smiley and brag-y. As for me you know what they say--always a bridesmaid never a bride."

"Well that's just not true. Your not a bridesmaid--you're a maid in honor." I popped a cucumber in my mouth with a crunch. I spoke around the bite. "It's different."

"You've gotten more sarcastic." She replied. "I don't know whether to be proud that I've taught you so well or worried that I've taught you so well."

"Mm...probably both."

Leah laughed. "Go get Scott for dinner and then help me set the table."

"Yes ma'am." I mock saluted her and she swatted at me until I retreated to the door. "I'm going. I'm going."

QOTC: Thoughts? Favorite part of the story so far?