maximuscallas

[maximuscallas]

|| Thursday Afternoon ||

Max sat in bed, the machines beeping around him whilst he laid there. The nurse came in to check every few minutes, just like she usually did. It had been a rather tough few weeks, just laying there every Thursday while they injected him with poison medicine to get him better. He didn’t do it for him, though. He did it for his son. 

When he’d first gotten the diagnosis, he hadn’t been sure of what to do. It wasn’t everyday that they told a nineteen-year-old that he had a mass in his chest the size of a grapefruit. He was almost sure they’d made a mistake. He was a healthy guy. Why him? Why now?

The hardest part had been moving. He knew it was the right thing, though. The idea of telling Emery, of making her watch him go through it? That was worse than the cancer itself. He hated himself for leaving, but he didn’t see any other choice. He’d packed up and moved out to Texas, where Will’s mother’s parents lived. They were more than happy to help with their grandson as well as his father.

So, he laid there every Thursday, wondering when the next Thursday would come that he could spend it outside of the hospital. Would he be growing his hair back? Would he have enough energy to race around with Will in their backyard? To push him on the swing? Would things ever be like they used to?

“Mr. Callas?” the nurse said, cautiously. She almost frowned at him as she spoke, the sympathy clear in her expression. Everyone seemed to have that look these days. “You’re all finished. Try to get some rest.” With that, she scuttled from his room and went off to see other patients. 

Max only nodded, offering a small smile. If he could do it all over again, he would have gone sooner. Then, maybe he wouldn’t be there. Maybe he wouldn’t be so frightened. Maybe... Just maybe he would be a little more confident in his chances. 

[maximuscallas]

*nods her head, and goes to do just that*

-does what he says he’s gonna and slips down into the blanket fort- Mkay... Here we go.

[maximuscallas]

I have absolutely no idea.

Ooh.. Hmm... Why don’t you scroll through on Netflix a bit? I’m gonna grab my laptops so we can scroll through house ads too.

[maximuscallas]

Uh-huh!

-slips his arms around her waist, kissing her cheek- Hmm... What do you wanna watch, then?

[maximuscallas]

*helping helping helping*

-stands back and looks at it, smiling- Looks nice! Good team effort.

[maximuscallas]

*blushes, and moves the clingy Kip back to her shoulder before she comes to help, Beatrice wandering off to go lie with Timmy on the couch*

-starts to set up a blanket nest underneath with pillows-

[maximuscallas]

… they’re fluffy. They’re fluffy and snuggly and they’re my friends.

-grins- I know. It’s one of the things I love about you. -starts setting up the fort-

[maximuscallas]

*kisses the top of Kip’s head, right between his ears* Maybe a little.

Psh. Like you’re capable of loving any animal just a little.

[maximuscallas]

He’s in big trouble! *pouts as she says it, but lifts Kipper down from her shoulder to snuggle him anyway, smiling*

-smiles- But you still love him?

[maximuscallas]

… maybe he’s growing on me a little.

[maximuscallas]

Settling in? *raises an eyebrow at him, as Kip paws at his shoulder* Max … he was chewing on my shoes. Again.

Oh. Whoops. -looks at him- Dude, you’re getting yourself in trouble.

[maximuscallas]

Uh-huh! *nods her head, giggling when the two nuzzle their noses against her neck* Bebe! Kippy!

-smiles, kisses her cheek- Ah, Kip. I’m glad he’s settled in well.

[maximuscallas]

*bounces back down soon enough, sheets in her arms, Beatrice on one shoulder and Kip on the other*

-grins- Picked up some hitchhikers?

[maximuscallas]

*nods her head, pecks his cheek, and then darts off upstairs*

-works on finding the fluffiest pillow and blankets-

[maximuscallas]

*looks up again with a budding smile, playing with his fingers* We could … um, we could do both?

-grins- You wanna head upstairs and get the sheets? I can grab some pillows and blankets.

[maximuscallas]

I, um … *bites her lip, lifting her shoulders in a little shrug* Anything, Max. 

Well, we can set up a fort and watch a movie? Orrrrr we can start looking at listings for houses in the area, maybe?

[maximuscallas]

Okay.

What do you wanna do before munchkin gets home?