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Chapter xx
December 2010
Getting the cast removed was exhausting; more than he remembers it being last time. But then last time he went through this recovery, Buck was in the cast for nearly two months before it was removed. They got him set up in the brace and locked it into position.
Dr. Chris Valenti said, “No moving your knee without your physical therapist for at least the first few weeks. The brace means they can start on passive movements to exercise your knee while the surgical repair heals.”
Buck nodded in agreement before he asked, “How will this affect my appointment with Dr. Fletcher next week?”
“It should make it easier,” the doctor reassured. “Dr. Fletcher will want to do scans and an examination for himself. We’ve already sent over what we have so far at the request of your medical proxy. I’ll be coming with you to make the appointment easier. Right now though, you have an appointment with Brett in the gym. He’s going to take you through some basic exercises and explain the next steps.”
Buck snarked, “So daily torture then?”
The doctor chuckled and replied, “It’ll certainly feel like it for the first few weeks; those bastards did a number on your leg. Let’s get you settled in the wheelchair, and I’ll take you down to the gym.”
Using his experience in the last timeline, Buck deftly moved from the examination table to the wheelchair, once he know the doctor was holding it steady for him. Once he was settled he said, “Onward noble steed.”
They made their way through the rehabilitation hospital and met one of the physical therapists at the door to the gym. He introduced himself and said, “Today we’re just doing passive movements, ease your knee back into the whole moving thing.”
Buck nodded, then looked around the gym. It was a large open area with machines and mats for various exercises. There were a couple of other patients getting help from the other therapists. He asked, “So, where do you want us?”
The doctor wheeled him over to one of the raised mats and asked, “You good to shuffle over to the mat, or do you need a bit of help?”
Buck locked the brakes on the chair then carefully hoisted himself across to the raised padded platform. Once he felt comfortable, he asked, “Is this good?”
Brett nodded. “Perfect. Let’s get started.” He turned to the doctor and said, “Chris, I can take him back to his room once we’re done here.”
The doctor smiled and thanked the therapist before he left the gym.
Brett grinned and as he worked on passive exercises, he asked, “So now that you’re home, do you have any plans for what’s next?”
Buck shrugged and said, “I have a few plans. While I’m here I’m working on finishing my degree in structural engineering. After though, once I’ve recovered, I was thinking about signing up for the local fire academy. It was always my second choice if the SEALs hadn’t worked out.”
The therapist said, “Sounds like a good use of your skillset. Your file said you were working a rescue operation when you were injured.”
Buck explained, “The mission itself is classified, but about 70% of our missions were rescues in some form. This one didn’t go well due to bad intel, and I ended up getting hit by a car. Hence all the damage. With the damage to my knee, I’m no longer fit to be a SEAL, even if I heal fully, there is always a risk of my knee failing at the worst time.”
Brett commented, “The best of the best, right?”
“Exactly,” Buck agreed. “I still want to help people, so I figured being a firefighter was the next best thing. The structural engineering degree will be helpful to some degree as well.”
Brett asked, “How so?”
The younger man explained, “I originally chose it as my major to help with my demolitions work. It would help me know the strengths and weaknesses of buildings and structures, so I would know where to target explosions depending on my objective. With firefighting the same would apply, I’ll know where a building is likely to collapse, depending on the severity of the fire.”
From the mat beside him a familiar voice said, “Well put. We have a few firefighters with structural engineering training in the St. Paul Fire Department, and they are invaluable. The only thing more valuable is a fire science degree.”
Buck grinned, he couldn’t believe how young Bobby looked. He replied, “I was thinking about that, but I decided emergency management would be more my style. My long term goal is to end up in LA, and they have earthquakes and the like, so it feels like a good fit.”
Bobby nodded. “It would certainly be good for a rescue firefighter. Is that what you’re planning on?”
Buck nodded. “Sure is, heavy rescue is my end goal.”
The older man grimaced as he worked through his next exercise, then he said, “Thankfully, the St. Paul Fire Department has a good heavy rescue program. How long on your rehab at this point.”
“The docs are suggesting, a year,” Buck replied. “But I’m hoping to be recovered enough for the academy after six months.”
Bobby said, “Sounds like a solid plan. Sorry, I should have introduced myself, since I was so rudely listening in on your conversation. I’m Bobby Nash, and I’m the captain at station 23.”
“Evan Buckley,” Buck replied, “I prefer Buck though. Are you here for a work related injury too?”
Bobby nodded. “Feel two floors during a fire and when I landed, a book case fell across my back. I fractured a few vertebrae in the process; it’s not something I’m eager to repeat.”
Buck grimaced, he’d never found out the details of Bobby’s injury in the last timeline, just knew it was a back issue that never got resolved fully. He commented, “Sounds more exciting than being hit by a car.”
Brett snorted and asked, “Aren’t you underplaying it a bit there, Buck?”
Buck shrugged. “I could say we were being shot at, but honestly, most of them were stormtroopers for the aim they had. We were vastly outnumbered, yet we still one, and only two of my team were shot, and they were just flesh wounds. I was definitely the worst injury from that mission.”
Bobby smiled when he heard a joyful cheer from across the gym. He called out, “Over here Robby.”
Buck looked over at the small family approaching and figured these were the wife and kids that died in the fire.
Robby approached and gently hugged his dad. He said, “I missed you, Daddy.”
Bobby smiled. “I miss you too, Robby. It’s boring here without you and Brook to keep me company.”
“But she’s just a baby,” Robby protested. “How can she keep you company?”
Bobby turned to Buck, who was now sitting up since his exercises were all done, and he said, “This is my wife, Marcy, and my kids, Robby Jnr and Brook. Guys this is Buck, he’s new here to the centre, and he’s looking at becoming a firefighter once he’s recovered.”
Marcy ignored the introduction and tried to pass over Brook, however, Buck could see that with his injuries, that holding a baby, no matter how light would just do more damage than good. He asked, “Do you mind if I hold her?”
Marcy didn’t even look to Bobby for permission before handing over her daughter. She then said, “I’ve got errands to run and I’ll be a couple of hours at least. If we want to save for that house, we can’t afford the babysitters we’ll need while you’re laid up, so you’ll need to take them when I’m busy.”
Buck noticed that Bobby looked a bit stunned that Marcy would bring all this up in a public gym rather than in his room, so he offered, “If I’m available, I don’t mind helping out. It’ll give me practice for when my sister eventually has kids. Do you have the diaper bag handy?”
She huffed and said, “It’s in the car, someone will need to come with me to fetch it, I am already running late.”
Brett offered, “We’ve finished early, so how about I come out with you and get it?”
She stalked off, and Brett rushed to catch up. Once they were gone, Bobby said, “I’m sorry about that. She’s not handling my accident well; it’s disrupted her careful schedule. Are you sure you don’t mind helping? Surely you have better things to do with your time?”
Buck shrugged as he rocked Brook in his arms. He said, “I don’t know anyone in St. Paul aside from my grandmother’s lawyers, and my partners family are either in Texas or California. So when I’m not in PT, I’m generally studying, and that gets tedious if I don’t get regular breaks. Helping with your kids for a few hours will give me a nice break.”
Bobby smiled slightly and he said, “Thanks, Buck. How about when Brett returns we take the kids to my room and hang out there instead of in the gym. I have some toys in there for Robby to play with and a pack n play for Brook if she gets tired.”
Buck nodded. “As long as you don’t mind me holding the little one until we get to your room.” He made sure Robby was preoccupied with Bobby’s physical therapist before he commented in a quieter voice, “I’m sure holding a baby is doing your back no favours.”
Bobby shrugged. “It is what it is. Marcy has things she needs to do during the day. She would prefer I be discharged so I can do my rehabilitation as an outpatient, but my doctors told her I’m not ready for that. She keeps pushing though.” He sighed, “Why are you so easy to talk to? I shouldn’t be spilling my family drama to someone I’ve just met.”
Buck laughed. “My CO says it’s my puppy dog expression. It suckers everyone in.”
The older man chuckled. “I can see it, for sure. Right, that’s Brett coming back now with the diaper bag. Let’s head to my room so the kids can play while we chat some more about your future plans.”
Buck grinned. “Sounds good. I’ll carry Brook while Brett pushes the wheelchair. I’m not allowed to push myself for now, just to give my ribs a chance to fully heal.” He could see the worried look on his future… past… ugh, captain’s face, so he reassured, “A baby is fine, she barely weighs anything, unlike my bulky self, which is why they’ve banned me from pushing myself around. I’ve only just been released to get myself into and out of the chair.”
Brett agreed, “She’ll be okay, Bobby. I’d trust Buck here to hold her while I walk. Your wife mentioned she’d be due a bottle, so I’ll go to the kitchen and prepare one for you once I’ve dropped you both off. Buck’s room is just a few doors down from yours.”
“Thanks, Brett,” Bobby said with a smile. “She usually drops them off after Brook’s had her feed. I’m not sure why she was early today, she didn’t seem pleased at the delay in leaving.”
Brett chuckled, “She certainly drove out of here like the hounds of hell were after her.” He turned into one of the rooms and said, “Right, Buck are you happy to stay in your chair? It’s a bit more comfortable than the visitors chairs in this place.”
Buck nodded. “Sounds good.”
Brett and the other therapist helped get Bobby back in his bed, and they got Robby settled with his toys. As they left Brett said, “I’ll be back shortly with her bottle.”
Bobby sighed. “The longer they keep me here, the angrier she gets.”
Robby climbed up onto the bed, so they changed the conversation to one a bit more family friendly. Eventually Brook was fed, changed and down for a nap, and Robby had joined her in the pack n play with help from the nurses on duty. Buck had the feeling they’d been doing this the whole time Bobby had been here.
He moved around to the other side of the bed, being gentle with the chair so he wouldn’t damage his ribs, then he asked quietly, “How likely is it that you’ll be released before you’re ready?”
Bobby grimaced and said, “Quite likely. I hate to say it, but the fire department insurance provider is quite invested in saving money, and my doctor is a friend of Marcy’s father, so he’s going to listen to her wants over my needs, if I’m honest.”
Buck asked, “Why don’t you transfer to a different doctor?”
“Can’t,” Bobby admitted resignedly. “He’s the only spinal specialist at this rehab centre, and this is the only centre that would accept my insurance provider. It’s not ideal, but it is what it is. I’ll stay here for as long as I can. I can’t drive with my injuries, so unless I get help from Marcy or my station boys, once I’m released, I doubt i'll make a lot of my PT appointments either.”
Buck frowned and said, “That really sucks. Why would she want to hamper your recovery like that? What does she do that’s so important?”
Bobby shrugged. “I think it’s more that I’m on disability, which isn’t as much as my normal wage. So we can’t afford the babysitters she uses. The service we usually use is expensive, because their carers are all given thorough background checks, and they have experience with babies. Damn it, kid. Why is it so easy to talk to you? I don’t usually talk this much with someone I just met.”
Buck suggested, “Maybe you needed an impartial ear, someone who isn’t connected to you or your wife who could give you advice? By the sounds of it, everyone here would report back to the surgeon that is connected to your wife, and your firefighters are too connected to both of you to be unbiased.”
Bobby asked, “So what would you suggest?”
The younger man asked, “Have you had a second opinion on your back? Are you sure you’re getting the right care from the surgeon?”
Bobby shook his head. “I asked, but my insurance company said no; and I can’t afford to pay for it myself.”
Buck was beginning to understand just how Bobby might have gotten so badly addicted to painkillers and alcohol if he was forced to leave the rehabilitation centre before he’d fully recovered. He asked, “What about Marcy’s work, do they have an insurance plan that might help you?”
Bobby snorted. “She was raised to believe that woman run the household, so she doesn’t work. So I’m stuck with my provider, much the same as you’re probably stuck with Tricare who aren’t much better sometimes.”
Buck shook his head. “I have private health insurance covered by my grandmother’s will.” He knew there was a risk of pushing Bobby away, but he offered anyway, “I want to help you, Bobby, you seem like a really nice guy who’s being screwed over by circumstances out of your control. I’ll talk to my grandmother’s lawyers tomorrow, see what they can suggest for you.”
Bobby asked, “You inherited her lawyers?”
“Pretty much,” Buck confirmed. “That, all her worldly goods, and a giant house somewhere in the city.” At Bobby’s curious look he explained, “My grandmother was Sarah Callister. I inherited everything because my egg donor, her daughter, is a giant bag of dicks. Her and the asshole she married who also donated to my conception. I was created in a lab to be a savour sibling, but it failed because my brother had an infection that wasn’t found until after the transplant, and he died. Since his death, they’ve blamed me for the failure, even though I was a baby.”
The older man said, “That explains the bitterness I hear in your voice, and the refusal to call them anything close to parents. So she cut them off and you inherited everything?”
“Eventually,” Buck confirmed. “But not before using her trust fund to have a fake identity created for me under a name close to the one I was born with, so her lawyers wouldn’t be able to track me down. Anyway, long story short, I got everything, including the means to help you, so please let me.”
Bobby nodded. “As long as it doesn’t affect your recovery, then I’m on board. I would like a second opinion, just to make sure I have a real chance to fully recover. I want to be around for my kids, you know?”
Buck nodded. “I can understand that. I love kids, and was always left in charge of any kids we rescued.” He glanced over at the kids who were still fast asleep and asked, “Do you have any family in town who can help with the kids?”
Bobby shrugged. “I have a brother, but we haven’t been talking much for the last few years. He was shunned by our father when he broke the mould and went into paediatric healthcare instead of firefighting. He hasn’t forgiven me for not standing up for him to our father.”
As he shifted around in his chair to get comfortable, Buck asked, “Does he know you were injured?”
“Marcy said she’d tell him,” Bobby explained. “She’s the only one he’ll speak to these days.”
Buck had a bad feeling about what Marcy was telling her brother-in-law; nothing was adding up with what little Buck had heard about the woman in the future. He made a mental note to have his lawyer’s PI investigate what the hell was going on. Because as it stood, red flags were going up left right and centre. He said, “I’m going to head back to my room to take a nap. PT was a bit more tiring than I expected for passive exercises. If you pass me your phone, I’ll add my number so we can coordinate the kids next visit by text.”
Bobby passed over his phone and said, “You can visit when I don’t have the kids. I don’t get many visitors these days.”
Buck grinned. “I’ll try and visit whenever I need a break from studying.”
Chapter xx
December 2010
Leon was visiting on his own this time; since the visit was about the investigation he’d instigated after the lawyers first visited Buck. He took a seat beside Buck’s bed and said, “I know you have that appointment this afternoon, but I didn’t think this visit could wait. Tony’s arranged an appointment for your… for Bobby Nash, with one of the Mayo Clinic’s best spinal specialists. They had a cancellation, so his appointment is half an hour after yours. The ambulance we’ve hired will take both of you, and I’ve already talked to the director here, and he’ll smooth any rough feathers over the second opinion. I’ve already raised my concerns with the director about the between Bobby’s father-in-law and the surgeon, and how we feel that he should have been referred for a second opinion, regardless of his insurance, just to cover the clinic from future liability. I’ll be going with you so I can get Bobby to sign forms to allow us to act on his behalf.”
Buck smiled. “Thanks, Leon. I’m sure that’s not the only reason you’re here, since you’re here so early.”
Leon nodded. “After our first meeting, I tasked our investigator with looking into the Nash family, and what I found isn’t fantastic and certainly differs from what you’ve told me.”
“How so,” Buck asked. “I’ll admit, all I know of Marcy was what I learned from Bobby in that other timeline. The Marcy I met yesterday was not the woman Bobby described. She was rude, abrasive, and didn’t seem to care at all about Bobby’s recovery, expecting him to look after the kids with a broken back.”
Leon muttered, “Dios. Right, well, I’m not sure how much of this you’ll want to share with Bobby, since he seems to have a very different view of her, but from what my investigator discovered, she’s sleeping with at least three other men, and I would recommend Bobby get paternity tests on both of his kids.”
Buck’s jaw dropped. “She’s cheating on him? That’s her errands; what a bitch.”
“It gets worse,” Leon grumbled. “One of her bits on the side is one of Bobby’s junior firefighters, I don’t know the name, but one of the things the investigator overheard was that he was lucky he got to graduate from his probation period before Bobby’s accident. He also looked into their finances, I don’t know how, and I don’t ask —it’s better to have some measure of plausible deniability— and someone has drained the savings account. He emailed me statements, and from what I can see, it’s mostly on hotels and restaurants, and a few jewellery stores. It looks like it’s been used as a slush fund for the men in her life.”
Buck shook his head. “I can’t tell Bobby any of this. It’ll gut him, especially when she seems the type to take the kids out of spite.”
Leon smirked, “With your permission, we’d sic Lauren onto her. She’s vicious when faced with women like Marcy. From everything you said to us about that other timeline, Bobby is important to and the rest of your fire family, so we want to help you, help him. Starting with today’s appointment.”
Buck sighed, “She’s trying to get him released as soon as possible, and his doctor would listen to her over what’s actually good for him. I’m pretty certain, that’s why he had massive addiction issues in the future. I’m hoping if we can get him through this pain free, the addiction issues won’t happen. I was thinking about getting him onto the insurance you arranged for me, but I think I’ll wait till he trusts me a bit more. Right now, I’m just a kid helping him out with his kids childcare. But I think he’s open to being friends.”
Leon said, “Look, I know you’ve seen your accounts. You can afford to pay outright for his scans and examination today, and we can discuss insurance options after we know what’s going on. I’ve asked the hospital director to accompany us, so Bobby can be assured that the second opinion is qualified for whatever he recommends. If it comes down to it, I’ll arrange to have you both transfered to the Mayo Clinic for treatment. Your grandmother was a large contributor, and has a wing named after her, so I’m sure they’ll fit you both in.”
“That’s continuing, right?” Buck asked. He wanted to be sure the donations his grandmother had been doing were kept up after her death.
Leon reassured, “They were in her will that the donations would continue unless you requested a change. I thought once you had recovered a bit more, we’d go through the list and make sure there were no scandals coming up for any of the recipients. You may also want to add donations in the future.”
Dr. Valenti entered the room and asked, “Are you ready to go? Your ambulance is waiting downstairs for you and Mr. Nash. Once you’re both settled in the ambulance, I’ll be traveling with Mr. Ashton and the director and we’ll meet you at the Mayo Clinic.”
Buck nodded. “I’m ready. I just need my backpack; it has my phone, laptop, and tablet.”
Leon picked up the backpack, made sure it had all the chargers and cables before he handed it over to Buck once the younger man was settled in his wheelchair.
Dr. Valenti pushed the chair out of the room and stated, “Orderlies are getting Mr. Nash settled in the ambulance. The director wanted him out of the room before rounds started.”
Buck asked, “What if Marcy turns up with his kids? We didn’t really give him any warning of the appointment.”
Leon said, “I’ve got a nanny on call who will take care of them in his room. The nurses are already primed to mention he’s away having a scan and that they’ll watch the kids until he gets back. I’ve got it all under control, Buck.”
“Thanks, Leon.” He glanced over at the lawyer as he walked beside Buck’s chair and asked, “What’s Tony doing? Usually you two visit together.”
Leon shrugged. “He said he had some things to take care of; I have a feeling it’s to do with Mrs. Kendall, but I’m not wading into that mess. Pretty sure she has questions about the terms of the get out of jail free contract he sent her. I think she realised it would cut her off from you as well as her parents.”
Buck huffed. “She has no idea how much her parents are going to try and drain her finances dry when I cut them off. It’s why I’m hoping she’ll take the money and run soon. But either way, I’m not cutting my egg donors trust fund until I’m back on my feet. I want to see the fireworks when I put a full page ad in the paper stating why she’s been cut off.”
Dr. Valenti gasped and said, “That sounds like overkill.”
Buck coldly said, “They had me as a saviour sibling to save my brother, Daniel, from dying of juvenile leukaemia, the transplant they did when I was one failed, and he died a few weeks later of an infection. They blamed me and took it out on me until I left home; I was cooking for myself from the age of 9, after my sister left home, and even had my own credit card to buy my own groceries, since they ate out most nights. They barely acknowledged my existence, and did the bare minimum to keep from being charged with neglect. My school thought I was an orphan, since no one attended parent teacher nights, or went to any of the school events on my behalf. I was captain of the football team, and they didn’t even show up to watch the games. No one from their country club had a kid on the team, so there was no point.”
“Mortacci tua!” The doctor spat. “They deserve prison time.”
Buck shook his head. “That would be giving them attention. I’d prefer to just cut them off and forget they exist.”
Leon reassured, “We’re also using the evidence of the neglect to apply for a permanent restraining order, and if they push it, I can have them charged for buying Buck a fake identity to hide him from his grandmother.”
The doctor muttered, “Throw them in a deep dark hole; I doubt anyone would miss them.”
Buck chuckled, “They aren’t worth it. They are vapid wasps types, they wouldn’t understand why they are been thrown in a deep dark hole.”
They reached the ambulance and the orderlies helped Buck transfer over to the second gurney before the paramedics wheeled him in and parked him beside Bobby.
Once they were underway, Bobby asked, “Where are we going, Buck?”
Buck asked, “They didn’t tell you?”
“Nope,” Bobby said with a pop of the P. “They just said my ride was waiting.”
Buck sighed, “The director was supposed to tell you. We have appointments at the Mayo Clinic for second opinions. So we’re both likely to be scanned and prodded until we’re sick of it, but they have the best orthopaedic surgeons in the country, so they’ll do a good job.” He saw the worry on the captain’s face and he reassured, “One, this is all on me, well technically all on my grandmother, but still, you don’t need to worry about paying for it, and two, if Marcy turns up with the kids, the nurses have everything under control, and Leon hired a temporary nanny to take care of them until you’re back. Your appointment is about half an hour after mine, and that’s when Leon will talk with you and get you to sign forms authorising him to act on your behalf. He was my grandmothers medical proxy for years, so I trust him to be mine. You’ll be in good hands, but feel free to interrogate him when you meet with him to settle any doubts.”
Bobby shrugged. “He’s not related to anyone I know, so I’m sure he’ll do what’s best for me, not what’s best for others.”
Buck opened his mouth to reply, a few times, but he was stunned by Bobby’s casual acceptance of his wife’s behaviour around trying to get him discharged.
The older man asked, “What’s with the fish expression? Shocked that I see what she’s doing?”
“A little bit,” Buck admitted. “Yesterday you seemed to accept that she was doing the right thing, now you have changed your tune.”
Bobby admitted, “It was your shocked reaction to my acceptance of the whole situation that made me look at it from a new perspective. I’m curious what a different surgeon would say; I’m pretty sure Marcy went for the option that would have me home the soonest. She’s not happy to be left at home with the kids without my help, and we can’t afford to hire someone to help, not without dipping into our house fund.”
The house fund that Buck knew had been drained. He struggled to keep a straight face and offered, “I can help if it becomes an issue. I know we haven’t known each other for long, but I feel like you have the makings of a good friend, and I don’t get those gut feelings often, plus your son is a spitfire, and I’m planning to have a kid of my own once I’ve arranged for the surrogate, so it would be good to know they could have friends around here that understand what it means that Daddy is a firefighter.”
Bobby replied, “I do get that. Even some of our friends don’t really understand the shift work that’s involved, or the long shifts when there is a really bad call out. There’s been a few parties or dinners missed because I was stuck at a five alarm fire or a huge pile up, and they were asking why another station didn’t take over.”
Buck sighed. “Even as a Navy SEAL I can understand that. Missions that go over, and I’ve seen a few of my teammates lose girlfriends over the unpredictability. I hope your appointment goes well today, that both of our appointments go well today.”
They were separated when they arrived, and Dr. Valenti escorted Buck to his appointment as Leon took Bobby to one of the family rooms they used for patient meetings, so they could go over the paperwork.
Leon gave Bobby the option of having the director in there to advocate for him, but Bobby said, “Buck trusts you, so I trust you.”
Hours later, Bobby and Buck met up again in the family room while Leon discussed their future care with the two hospital directors. Buck asked, “How did it all go?”
Bobby sighed, “Marcy is going to be pissed. They want to admit me here for the rest of my rehab, so I can have impartial medical care going forward. The director of the hospital we’ve been staying in said they were looking at discharging me over the next couple of weeks. And the surgeon nearly had an unbecoming shitfit over it. He was threatening to lodge a formal complaint to the surgical boards over what he called my substandard medical treatment. He’s planning a surgery to my spine, it all went a bit over my head, but he said the surgery will have a faster recovery time and less pain afterwards, and it would stabilise my back so no ongoing issues. Leon assured him it was all covered, and he reassured me that the surgeon knew what he was talking about, so we’ve booked it for next Monday.”
Buck grinned and said, “So it’s a good thing we got you a second opinion.”
Bobby said, “Second and third. The surgeon, a Dr. Lambert, brought in his boss to double check his findings, and I think back him up on the complaint. So thanks, Buck. How did your appointment go?”
Buck admitted, “No surgery for me for now, but they want me here under the sports medical physical therapists, so I have the best chance of recovery for my knee. The leg breaks were pretty clean considering, it’s the mess the accident made of my knee that’s the main issue. If it’s not healing properly they’re going to want to go in and fix it up then. For now I guess we’ll be roomies of a sort. They have a suite here for families, two separate rooms and a living room type area, makes it seem less like a hospital which is better for patient moral, and there is room to setup the pack n play for Brook and a toy corner for Robby. Leon is just working out the details of the transfer.”
The older man said, “Marcy is not going to be happy that I’m out of her control, especially with Leon now being my medical proxy. And the hospital is further from home, so the commute for her will be worse.”
Buck shrugged. “Tell her you weren’t getting your best care, and that offended me that a first responder who gives his all to help someone was being short changed because of his insurance provider. Feel free to make me out to be a vapid trust fund kid throwing his money around, it’s not entirely wrong, it’s just not entirely right either.”
Bobby scolded, “Not even close to right, Buck. A vapid trust fund kid wouldn’t see something wrong and try to fix it, they’d only throw their money around if it got them something in the process, and I don’t count friendship as part of that.”
Buck blushed, “Thanks, Bobby. I’m looking forward to our epic friendship.”
Leon entered the room and said, “They are just getting your suite ready, we’ve upgraded it to a three room suite so there is room for the kids if they need to stay overnight with a nanny. I’ve got a few potential nannies who can stay overnight with the kids while you’re here. One I think might interest you a lot.”
Bobby asked, “Oh, why’s that?”
Leon said, “His name is Stuart Nash, he any relation?”
“My baby brother,” Bobby admitted. “If he’s interested and he knows the job is for me and my kids, I don’t need to interview him; I’ll take any chance to welcome him back into my life. I have all the regrets about not standing up to our father on his behalf.”
Leon said, “He knows it for you. Based on the forms you signed this morning, Tony contacted a local agency with good records and gave them the details and asked for resumes for any nannies they had that were available immediately for a toddler and a baby, your brother’s details were included. Tony contacted him to let him know the client he was probably a relative, and he said that the only relatives he still had in St. Paul were you and your family, and that it wouldn’t be a problem to work for you while you’re in the hospital. He did warn that after your release we may need to look for another option and that he’d only explain why after talking to you.”
Buck suggested, “Why don’t you see if Stuart is available to come down now, before we’re settled into the suite, so they can hash out the major issues. That way it’s not coming out in front of the kids.”
Leon grinned. “He’s already on his way here, he had the same suggestion. Tony is bringing him now, he just had Stuart sign an NDA in regards to the job, especially when it comes to Buck and his place in Callister Corporation.”
Bobby asked, “Do I need to sign another one of those? I remember one being in that pile of documents you had me sign this morning. But not sure exactly what it was for, it all got jumbled to be honest.”
Leon reassured, “You already signed one, and definitely don’t need to sign a second one. I’ve saved you a copy of everything you signed and it’ll be in your room waiting for you to read when you’re feeling a bit more up to it.”
Buck asked, “Do you want me to stay and keep you company, or would you prefer privacy?”
Bobby looked contemplative, then he asked, “Stay? I think if you’re here, it’ll stop both of us from resorting to a screaming match if things go south.”
The younger man shrugged. “Sure. Although I can’t say I’m a stranger to family screaming matches; I had several with my sperm and egg donor before I left home. They hated nearly everything I did. I have my devices to entertain myself while you talk though.” He contemplated his next question carefully before he asked, “When did you last speak to your brother?”
Bobby answered, “After he and Dad had their big blow out about his college choices, he moved out, I’ve not heard much from him since. When Dad was still alive I would catch hell if I got in touch with him. I don’t know how, but he always knew.”
From the door a voice said dryly, “Because your wife is a tattletale and she didn’t like me talking to you.”
Bobby admitted, “I did know that, but I made most of the calls while she was out running errands; Marcy shouldn’t have been aware of the calls.”
Stuart shrugged. “Dad was pretty clear about the the source when he’d call me to abuse me after each call. Telling me I was tainting you; he wasn’t the most rational, but it’s why I stopped answering your calls. Sorry, Bobby.”
Bobby said, “I can understand. I was gifted with some of his more vitriolic rants about you going to college to take care of kids. As far as he was concerned you should be a firefighter, find a wife and have your own kids.”
Stuart laughed. “Yet he didn’t believe it was a mans place to raise the kids, that was a woman’s job. I think we were just lucky Mom lasted as long as she did. Anyway, Mr. Wittingham said you need a nanny while you’re here, why are you here?”
Bobby explained the injuries at work, and how Marcy had been dropping the kids off for him to look after most days. He talked about Robby who’d just turned five, and Brook who was six months old.
Leon then took over and said, “The commute to the Mayo clinic from their apartment is a lot longer, so we’re going to suggest Marcy leaves the kids here for Bobby to look after full time, so she can run her errands without the hour drive each way to drop off and pick up the kids. That way, on her less busy days, she can come in and spend time with them. We’ve already primed the front desk to warn you when she’s on her way up, so Stuart can vacate the room.”
Buck laughed, “Sounds complicated. He can hide in my room while she’s visiting if you like; I know I will be. Sorry, Bobby. I like you, but your wife is another story; she really doesn’t like me and made it pretty obvious and she only met me for a few seconds.”
Bobby shrugged. “She doesn’t take well to new people, especially not new people who meet me first.”
Stuart interrupted, “She’s possessive; she doesn’t like anyone being friends with Bobby that she didn’t approve of first.” He wanted a subject change, so he asked, “Have you let Marcy know of the new plan? When do you need me to bring my overnight gear?”
Tony suggested, “How about I take you home so you can pack some things, and Bobby can make the call. Leon will still be here to answer any questions she might have.”
The call with Marcy did not go well. Bobby made made the call from the family room they were using, he put the call on speaker so Leon and Buck could hear the call. Buck had promised not to respond but Leon had made no such promise. Marcy was acerbic about the movie, demanding he move back to the original rehabilitation centre, she claimed she hadn’t approved the move as his current medical proxy.
Bobby cut her off and said, “I changed my proxy to Mr. Leon Ashton. His client paid for a second opinion with the approval of the director of the rehabilitation clinic I was staying in, and they both agree that the surgeon who was treating me was negligent. I have a surgery scheduled for Monday to fix up what your father’s friend has done, and a formal complaint is being submitted to the surgical board over the conflict of interest, and the substandard medical care.”
Leon said, “Before you try to claim he was not capable of changing his proxy, he’s currently only taking over the counter medications after decisions made by his previous surgeon.”
Marcy asked, “So if it’s a done deal, why are you calling?”
Leon said, “My client is paying for the surgery and transfer to the Mayo Clinic Orthopedic Rehabilitation Centre in Minneapolis, which is a longer commute for you to visit and drop the children off. So we’ve arranged for a suite for Mr. Nash so his children can stay here while he recovers, should you agree. It’ll save you driving to the clinic each day, and you’re free to visit any time.”
Buck noted that she barely even took time to think about it before she agreed, “What do I need to pack for them?”
Leon and Bobby discussed what the kids would need for at least a few weeks at the clinic, and Marcy agreed that if they needed more she could always drop it off on one of her visits. They decided she would drop them off that night, since she had a long list of things to do the next day and it would be convenient if she didn’t have to run all over the city to drop them off and pick them up.
Chapter xx
December 2010
The two men were moved up to their new family suite a few hours after the phone call with Marcy, and when Stuart got back, he started preparing the third room for him and the kids. Stuart had done in hospital stays like this a few times, mostly for single parents who needed help with their kids while they recovered. When Marcy showed up with two tired kids, Stuart was hiding in Buck’s room, and they spent the time getting to know each other.
Buck asked, “You’re a nurse who does nanny work on occasion?”
Stuart grinned. “I take regular breaks from nursing so I don’t burn out, when I’m on those breaks I pick up work as a nanny. Kids are great, and they are awesome for recovering from rough months at work. Even though I’m young, I’m a senior nurse at the hospital I work at, and I end up floating across about six different departments, it’s stressful, so spending time with kids reminds me why I do this job.”
Buck had been surprised to learn from Tony that Stuart was the same age as him, and had a lot of different nursing specialities. He asked, “What made you do so many specialities?”
“Pure spite,” Stuart said with a smile. “My father thought being a nurse was a woman’s job, so I wanted to be the best damn nurse I could be. I enjoy the work though and this way I don’t get bored. One day I’m in paediatrics, the next, orthopaedics, and so on. The only ward I don’t do work in is oncology; when I was choosing my last specialisation, Dad was in the oncology ward, so I went with trauma nursing so I could avoid him.”
Buck grimaced, “I know that feeling. I haven’t spoken to my parents since the day I was finally free of their toxic bullshit. Although… I’m pretty sure if they find out I’ve claimed my inheritance they’ll be trying to get in touch again.”
The nurse asked, “Toxic bullshit? That sounds more serious than anything me and Bobby had going on with our parents. Did they have super high expectations or something?”
Buck snorted. “Oh no, I failed any expectations they had when I was a year old. After that, I was merely an afterthought; even my own sister ignored me after she left for college when I was nine.” When he saw how confused Stuart looked he explained, “I’m a failed saviour sibling. I was born to save my big brother who had juvenile leukaemia, but when they did the transplant, he had an infection and he still died. My parents have never forgiven me for it.”
Stuart muttered, “This is why saviour siblings are a bad idea. When they work the first time and thats the only time they are needed, great. However, for the ones that don’t work, you got off lightly; there are cases were the donations don’t stop, bit of blood here, platelets there, what’s next, a kidney, liver, a lung?”
Buck sighed. “I know. I’m sure if Daniel had lived I would have been one of those kids, coddled and prevented from doing anything fun in case I get injured, since I would have needed to be kept safe for my brother if he needed spare parts. So, I got the better end of the deal. I became self sufficient from an early age, kicked ass in school sports, and then joined the SEALs as soon as I turned 18. I graduated a year early, so I had to wait a bit before I could sign up. I did six months of college classes to get them out of the way while I waited, let the donors think I dropped out.”
Stuart laughed. “Sounds like we both have plenty of spite to go around.” He glanced to the door and asked, “Do you think she’s left yet?”
Buck shook his head. “Leon said he’d come and let us know when the coast was clear. I have an iPad in my bag if you want to play some games or read something? I don’t mind the quiet, I’ve got a few papers to finish that I’m a bit behind on.”
Stuart pulled out the laptop and handed it and the charger to Buck, then he pulled out the iPad, and once Buck unlocked it he started reading one of the Clive Cussler novels Buck had loaded.