A New Beginning

Chapter 2

        Eddie was still hospital bound and, at this point, he was getting restless. Sure, Richie was still visiting and he was able to do some physical therapy in a different part of the hospital, but man, did he want to run.
       He sipped his smoothie, now dull to the taste, and watched the latest celebrity gossip. It was fun to watch, especially when four of your friends are famous. It was nice to see them on there, even if the shit they were saying about them is bullshit.
       There was a knock on the door and Eddie looked its way to see the glasses wearing dork. "Hey, hey, hey," Richie started, walking across the room, "There's the Edster Spaghetster."
     "Shut up, Richie," Eddie grumbled, "You know I'm stuck here."
     "Yeah, but you need to heal, man." Richie plopped down in a chair and took his jacket off.
     "I just wanna go home. You guys all get to go home, leave Derry and get back to your lives and I'm stuck here, in a Derry hospital."
      "Ah, little Eddie and his dream to run free." Richie teased and Eddie swatted at him.
      "Fuck you," Eddie muttered and sipped his smoothie.
      Richie chuckled and crossed his arms before gesturing to Eddie's legs, "Physical therapy helping, yet?"
      Eddie scoffed, "Barely. I can stand, but it's hard to...move them."
      He frowned at his legs, trying to move the right one up with faint success. Richie watched as the man struggled. He knew the man needed an out but there was no way with his state. But, maybe...
        Richie pressed the help button. "Wha-Richie?! What the fuck?" Eddie exclaimed and pressed it to stop it.
       "No, just-let me do something-" Richie mustered, pressing the button again.
      "No, what the hell are you doing?" He tried grabbing richie's hand but Richie was covering the button anyways.
      "I just have a question! Let me just ask them."
      "Fine, asshole." Eddie grumbled and sat his smoothie down.
      "You know it," Richie teased and adjusted his glasses.
     Eddie sighed and crossed his arms as the nurse walked in, "Yes? What seems to be the problem?"
     Richie finally moved from the button, "Uh yeah, no problem," he stated, "but I was wondering, can I take Eds here on a walk? It wouldn't be walking, but wheeling him around?"
      "I think you can," the nurse smiled to him and pulled the wheelchair out after unfolding it.
     "Hell yeah, Eds. We're getting out of this room!" Richie cheered and rushed to help the nurse.
      Eddie looked at the men, stunned. Really? He could really get out of this room? "Don't call me Eds, Richie," Eddie grouches, hiding his happiness.
     Richie held the wheelchair with a gleeful smile. It reminded Eddie of childhood as the nurse helped him out of bed. The boy that stole a shopping cart and convinced Bill to ride down a hill with him in it. Eddie would see the prankster smile with the cheeky smile of excitement whenever he had these insane plans. He was afraid of what was to come.
      The nurse sat Eddie in the seat and adjusted the foot rests before moving the IV so Eddie could bring it along. "Thanks," Eddie acknowledged and the nurse smiled.
     "Of course," he noted and grabbed a mask, "would you like a mask?"
      "Oh certainly," Eddie took it and put it on, making Richie snicker, "Shut up, Richie."
      "You germaphobe," Richie teased, "let's get going!"
      Richie backed up and headed out of the room.
      Finally, Eddie was out. Even if it was just a 'walk'. Richie headed to the nearest window to park for Eddie to see the change in scenery. Eddie was astonished with the view. He could see the houses at the end of town. He could see the river from the mountain as it went to town. It was better than tv screens landscapes.
       Richie leans against the handles of the wheelchair and looked at the view as well. It was peaceful. He wanted more of this, but he couldn't tell Eddie. He is married. But he wanted this.

         - - -

      They spent the next hour traveling the hospital, looking at the different places within it and outside it. Bickering quietly as they passed rooms and Richie talking about his comedy shows. They did have to retire back to the hospital room where Richie has to help him back in bed.
     "Okay, all you have to do is lift me up, turn me and set me down, alright? Don't fuck it up." Eddie stated and Richie snickered.
      "I won't fuck up, you control freak. You can trust the Tozier." He notes and patted his chest before reaching under Eddie's armpits. "Okay.
        1,
        2,
        3-"
       Yet, Richie didn't pick him up. He tickled the man's armpits like he was 12. It startled Eddie, but he laughed due to being startled.
      "Richie!" Eddie laughed, brows furrowing as he felt the twinges in pain, "Ah-ow! Stop! Stop! Fuck! Stop tickling me, asshole! It hurts!"
      Richie cackled and moved his hands up to present them before him. "I stopped, I'm done. Okay, I'll do it right this time."
      "You better," Eddie snapped, "asshole."
      Richie lifted him up on the count of three and sat him on the bed. "See?" Richie smiles, "Now your faith in me can return."
       "You know," Eddie moved his legs with his hands to lay down on the bed, "You're a real asshole, I hope you know that."
       "The only asshole for your mom though," Richie added and folded the wheelchair to lean it against the wall.
       "Fuck you, dude," Eddie covered his legs with a blanket, "I don't know how you became a comedian with these terrible jokes."
        "Oh you just don't understand the charisma and ideas I have to create these funny one-liners, Eds." Richie sat back in his chair.
          "Wait, you don't even write your own skits. That's why you became a comedian."
          "But somehow they had to like me. Maybe it is because of how attractive I am."
         Eddie snickered at his comment, knowing the raven haired boy that he once knew became a comedian who looks like a hobo on the street. So attractive. "Look," Richie got up, "I'm gunna grab a drink from one of those vending machines we saw. Be back in a second."
        "Okay, have fun." Eddie mumbled, remembering he was still stuck to the hospital bed.
       Richie headed out of the room. He was parched from walking around the hospital and pushing his best friend around with him. It was a lot to get the both of them moving. Maybe he should work out a little?
        He mentally laughed at himself as he shoved his hands in his jacket pockets. Nah, he'll be fine. He made it to the sitting room and walked up to a vending machine for a Starbucks cold coffee. It was silent besides the whirring of the vending machine and the faint noises of the hospital ambience.
       He looked over as a woman rushed in to the check in desk. She seemed panicked which was normal for a hospital check in. Richie picked up his drink and started to walk back as he listened in. "I'm looking for someone here," the lady stated with force, "his name is Eddie Kaspbrak. Im his wife, Myra Kaspbrak."