#alfie cunningham-cole

[faofinn]

27. Uncooperative Patient

"Tai? Tai?"' Harrison repeated, waiting for his husband to respond. "Tai."

"What?!" He whipped around, snapping at Harrison. 

"Hey don't yell at me." He frowned, hurt. "You were the one ignoring me."

"Yeah, well, maybe I just want some bloody peace and quiet away from your pestering."

"What are you on about?" Harrison took a step towards where Tai was sitting at the kitchen island. "I'm confused."

"All of this I'm sick of, sick of all the pestering, it's just again and again. It's like you don't know what I'm doing and I'm always doing it."

Harrison narrowed his eyes, watching Tai critically. "How's that?! 

"As if you don't know." He scoffed, shoving the chair back with a clatter. It hit the floor with an awful bang, and White Harrison grimaced, Tai didn't even seem to notice.

"Why don't we go sit in the living room?" Harrison offered. 

"There you go again! You know what I think about that. And they're just as bad, you're just not getting it are you? Fucking stupid. I don't know why I bother." 

Harrison gave a sharp sigh. "Where's your phone, Tai?"

"I'm not going to tell you that, am I? You'll take it off me like you've taken everything else, like the kids. Look at them. They've fucking gone, haven't they? An' scout. None of them like you. I don't fucking like you."

"Yeah, there's a long list, I'm sure.” He muttered, turning to rummage in the junk drawer. "Sit down, will you? I need to do your sugar."

“'No,you don't."

"Yeah, I do." He shrugged, moving to stand in front of Tai. "Give me a finger."

He stuck the middle one up. "Fuck off."

Despite the situation, Harrison had to laugh. "Yeah, I deserved that one. I still need to check your sugars, love. Just a second, yeah?"

Harrison wasn't expecting it, Tai taking a sharp step forward and shoving his husband square in the chest. It jarred his leg, and it was a surprisingly strong shove, sending Harrison tumbling back, unbalanced and unexpecting.

He cracked the back of his head against the cabinets, his back dragging down the edges of the doors.

Stars danced in Harrison's vision, pain immediately lancing down his neck and back, across his ribs, and annoyingly enough around his prosthesis.

It took him a moment for him to manage to catch his breath, and even then it was forced. Despite feeling like he was dying, he forced himself to his knees, and then staggered to his feet. It was all too similar to his accident, his mind reeling and trying not to dissolve into panic.

He knew he couldn't, though, knew Tai needed him. He grabbed the glucagon kit from the top drawer and managed to stumble into the living room. He sent out a quick emergency text to anyone that was around while he was at it; he knew he'd need help one way or another.

Tai was sitting on the sofa in the living room when Harrison found him, grumbling away to himself and covered in sweat. "Tai?"

"What do you want?"

"You must be feeling pretty shit, yeah? You gonna let me help you?" He was more than a little worried to get close, and spied his phone on the coffee table. He edged forward, tapping on the screen. Alert after alert after alert. Goddammit Tai. The CGM moved slower than capillary, and he didn't want to imagine where it actually was. He was all too aware what had happened the last time it got too low.

"Yeah, I feel like fucking shit." 

Harrison nodded, one hand behind him as he sat by Tai's side. He was grateful his husband was still wearing a T-shirt, despite the weather outside, and briefly rested his hand on his bicep.

"Have you tried doing your sugars?"

"No, I don't care about them. I just feel shit, you're not helping and I'm sick of it." He started rambling again, barely making sense. Harrison knew he didn't have long, and he only had one chance. He took a breath to try and stop the nausea, and stabbed him. There was time for niceties or soft touches, quickly injecting the glucagon and deftly locking the needle away.

Tai shouted, a mix of pain and surprise, but Harrison had already moved away. He'd not made it far, missing the bin as he lost his breakfast on the carpet. Great. It only seemed to make it worse, and he groaned, suddenly glad of the other sofa behind his leg. He collapsed gratefully onto it, letting his eyes close for just a second. 

"What the fuck, Hars?!"

"You act like a dick, you get treated like one." He muttered under his breath. "It's for your own good, love. You're having a hypo. You're not you."

"Fuck off."

"Once you're back up, sure.” He pulled his phone out, dialling for an ambulance. As much as he'd done all he could, and normally would have been able to manage it himself, he knew if things didn't improve then he wouldn't be able to help. He could feel wetness down his back and a ginger feel across the back of his head brought back red. Even better. 

He struggled through the operator's questions, finding it harder to think with each one. Tai, at least, looked better, no longer shaking as much as he had been. 

There was a clatter from the front door, the scarper of paws on wood, and the kids announcing they were home. Harrison sighed. This was going to be fun to explain. 

"Living room, we've had a bit of an issue." He called.

“Dad?” Alfie called, frowning. “What’s happened?” 

"Dad's had a hypo. Can you grab the rest of the sugary stuff? And some toast?" 

Shit. “Yeah. Kieran?” He turned to his brother. “Do the toast?” He asked, and his brother did, whilst Alfie padded into the living room. It was a state, Harrison with blood dripping from his nose, Tai collapsed on the other sofa looking awful. There was vomit on the carpet too, though he honestly had no idea who’s it was, they both looked awful.

“What the fuck?”

"Yeah, I know." Harrison shook his head. "Don't even start."

He took in the absolute state of the room, pressing his lips together. “Has dad had something, at least?”

"Glucagon." He said, holding the phone out. "Speak to the ambulance?"

“Uh, yeah.” He said, taking the phone.

Harrison knew better than to try standing, just glad he'd dragged the bin closer. He'd hoped he'd grow out of the vomiting after every head injury, but it just felt like it got worse each time. He groaned, stomach spasming as he buried his head. 

Alfie winced, watching his dad vomit again, before he tried to answer the operator’s questions, vague on the details. 

With another groan, Harrison raised his head. He roughly wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, making an unimpressed noise as he wiped blood from his nose. There was a flash of panic that he couldn't quite hide, but his worry for Tai easily overshadowed it. 

Alfie couldn’t help the jolt of worry at the sight of his Dad, the blood dripping from his nose. Neither of them looked well, and the operator at the other end of the phone reassured him that they were on their way as soon as they could be. Kieran had appeared with the toast and other things for Tai, offering to him and trying to ignore the state of the room. Neither parent looked well, and the twins were out of their depth completely. They knew how to manage Tai’s diabetes, of course, but with Harrison looking so ill too, they didn’t have anyone to help them. 

"What's his sugars doing, Kit?"

Kieran had grabbed his Dad’s phone, open to the CGM’s app. “Better, coming up now.” He said. Tai looked better, too, no longer as agitated, and was eating the toast without protest. 

He shot them a smile. "Thanks, boys. Sorry you had to come into this."

“Are you okay?” He asked. “You look like shit.”

"I just took a tumble, I'm fine."

“You’re bleeding and you’ve been sick.”

"Head injuries bleed a lot. It's fine."

“Alfie is on the phone to the ambulance.”

Harrison hummed. "Yeah, for dad."

“Like you don’t need it too.”

"Course not. I need Tai sorted, then I can go to bed."

Given the seriousness of the situation, the ambulance arrived quickly, and Alfie rushed to the door to let him in, Keiran still trying to get Tai to eat. 

“They’re in here. It’s kind of bad…”

Harrison glanced up, offering a sheepish smile. "I'm not the one I called about, I'm fine enough. Tai had a hypo."

“You don’t look too great yourself.” One said, whilst the other radioed for another set of hands. This was definitely more complicated than a simple hypo. 

"I'm just concussed a bit. I'm always sick, I've got a bit of a lac to the back of my head, but I don't think it's that bad."

“What happened?”

Harrison glanced at the twins before returning his gaze to the floor. "I fell."

“Can you talk me through how you fell?”

"Nope. I'm not your patient. Tai is."

“You both are at this point, I’m afraid.”

"Nah, I'm good."

“With a concussion you don’t get to make that choice.”

Harrison narrowed his eyes at him. "Ah, fuck."

“You know I’m right. How did you fall?”

"Backwards, against the kitchen cabinets."

“Ah. Did you lose consciousness? Black out?”

"Remember the whole thing, got really dizzy and couldn't see properly. Winded, too, with how I hit the bench. Took a moment, followed Tai through here, managed to get his glucagon in and then I started throwing up. I always have done." He gave as much information as he could get away with while withholding the important bits. "I'm just a bit concussed, head injuries just piss everywhere, that's all. I'm really not that bad, I just need a lie down."

“You’ll get a lie down.” He reassured him. “That’s a significant fall, you and I both know that.”

"A lie down in my own bed."

“Not going to happen I’m afraid."

"I'm not being rude to you, but that's bullshit." He sighed. "On second thoughts, you carry ondansetron?"

“Not being rude, eh? Yes, we carry ondansetron.”

"You can stab me for being rude then. I won’t say no to that." He adjusted his grip on the bin, trying and failing to breathe through it. 

“Now you want something from us.” They knew Harrison, often seeing him at work, and knew where they could tease. That was flirting the limit, but he hoped it would be okay. 

Harrison huffed. "Ah, but look. I pretty much fixed your patient for you."

“I suppose you helped.”

"Didn't want you to feel like I was doing all the hard work though." He broke off to vomit, giving a quiet apology before continuing. "So I decided to make another patient for you."

“Let me get that ondansetron sorted for you, then.” He said, reassuring him. But things were serious, especially with the vomiting. 

"Yeah, thanks." He murmured. "What's Tai's sugars at?"

“Uh, 3.5 at the moment.”

"Mm, okay. He's coming up alright then."

“Going in the right direction.”

"I got a 1.3 on his phone."

“So likely even lower? Okay, yeah. Explains things.”

"Couldn't get a fingerprick."

“We’ve managed one, which is good.”

"Yeah, he's more compliant now."

“Things are moving in the right direction.”

Harrison retched. "Well, it makes one of us."

The other para had sorted the ondansetron quickly enough, and returned to Harrison. “Here, got this antisickness for you.”

"Who's the lucky one that gets to stab me?"

“That would be me.”

"I'm not gonna judge you, just stab me once yeah?"

“That’s the plan.” He said, getting his kit sorted. “Can get you some pain relief too, if you need it?”

"I might take you up on that."

“Alright, I can get that sorted in a mo.” He said, finding a good vein and prepping it carefully. “Right, sharp scratch.”

Harrison hummed, letting him get on with it. He focused on trying not to be sick while he worked, all too aware of being on the other side of things. 

He got it in easily, and it flushed nicely. “There. Just gonna get this antisickness in for you now, well done.” 

"Thanks."

“Hopefully this second crew should be here shortly and we can get you both off to hospital. Have you got someone to come and be with the kids?”

"Kit and Bug are seventeen."

“I’m sure it would be nice for them to have someone with them?”

"I don't know if anyone replied." He was starting to get more than a little tired of the situation, the nausea still there and the pain creeping in.

“Do you want us to call someone?”

"Maybe, yeah."

“How’s that pain? Do you want something?”

[dcbicki]

Here’s to Peter Dinklage, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Lena Headey, Emilia Clarke, Kit Harington, Sophie Turner, Maisie Williams, Isaac Hempstead Wright, John Bradley, Liam Cunningham, Alfie Allen, Gwendoline Christie, Jacob Anderson, Nathalie Emmanuel, Ian Glen, Conleth Hill, Hannah Murray, Joe Dempsie, Carice van Houten, Rory McCann, Kristofer Hivju, Jerome Flynn, Pilou Asbæk, Richard Dormer, Gemma Whelan, Daniel Portman, Ben Crompton, Bella Ramsey, Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, and Vladimir Furdik, Sean Bean, Michelle Fairley, Mark Addy, Richard Madden, Art Parkinson, Charles Dance, Natalie Dormer, Finn Jones, Diana Rigg, Aidan Gillen, Rose Leslie, Jason Momoa, Michiel Huisman, Jack Gleeson, Harry Lloyd, Peter Vaughan, Kristian Nairn, Natalia Tena, Joseph Mawle, Aisling Franciosi, Dean-Charles Chapman, Stephen Dillane, Kerry Ingram, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, Ellie Kendrick, Paul Kaye, Kate Dickie, Tobias Menzies, Clive Russell, Ian McShane, Donald Sumpter, Tom Wlachicha, Oona Chaplin, Ron Donachie, Esmé Bianco, David Bradley, Iwan Rheon, Michael McElhatton, Miltos Yerolemou, Julian Glover, Ian McElhinney, Tara Fitzgerald, Lino Facioli, Gethin Anthony, Wilko Johnson, Eugene Simon, Ben Hawkey, Jim Broadbent, Jonathan Pryce, Hannah Waddingham, Amrita Acharia, Noah Taylor, Anton Lesser, Rupert Vansittart, Josef Altin, Mark Stanley, Owen Teale, Pedro Pascal, Indira Varma, Richard Rycroft, Staz Nair, Ciarán Hinds, James Cosmo, Patrick Malahide, Will Tudor, Mackenzie Crook, Marc Rissman, Megan Parkinson, James Faulkner, Tom Hopper, Jessica Henwick, Keisha Castle-Hughes, Rosabell Laurenti Sellers, Nell Tiger Free, Max von Sydow, Brenock O’Connor, Philip McGinley, Harry Grasby, Elyes Gabel, Richard Brake, Tom Brooke, Tim Plester, Joel Fry, Sibel Kekilli, Ian Beattie, Susan Brown, Mark Gatiss, Faye Marsay, Marc Rissman, Hannah John-Kamen, Ed Skrein, Margaret John, Ross Mullan, Ian Whyte, Ralph Ineson, Charlotte Hope, Elizabeth Webster, Nonso Anozie, Ian Hanmore, Steven Cole, Roger Ashton-Griffiths, Eros Vlahos, DeObia Oparei, Ian Gelder, Essie Davis, Bart the Bear II, Lucian Msamati, Birgitte Hjort Sørensen, Brian Fortune, Michael Condron, Robert Aramayo, Alexander Siddig, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Enzo Cilenti, Toby Sebastian, Luke Roberts, Richard E. Grant, Eline Powell, Kevin Eldon, Dean Jagger, Tim McInnerny, Sean Blowers, David Rintoul, Kae Alexander, and more. Here’s to the actors who gave their all.

Here’s to David Nutter, Michael Slovis, Mark Mylod, Alex Graves, Alan Taylor, Jeremy Podeswa, Alik Sakharov, Neil Marshall, Matt Shakman, Brian Kirk, Michelle MacLaren, Daniel Minahan, Timothy Van Patten, David Petrarca, Jack Bender, Daniel Sackheim, and Miguel Sapochnik. Here’s to Dave Hill, Ethan J. Antonucci, Jane Espenson, Gursimran Sandhu, Vanessa Taylor, and Bryan Cogman. Here’s to Ramin Djawadi. Here’s to the visionaries and the storytellers.

Here’s to HBO. Here’s to David Benioff and D.B. Weiss. Here’s to the producers and the casting department. Here’s to the second unit directors and the whole production crew. Here’s to the stunt guys, body doubles, and the choreographers. Here’s to the location scouts and the transportation department. Here’s to the sound editors, and the visual effects team. Here’s to the camera crew. Here’s to the cinematographers and editors. Here’s to the production and art departments. Here’s to the set designers, costume designers, and the makeup department. Here’s to those who made a whole world come to life.

Here’s to the Starks, the Lannisters, the Targaryens, the Baratheons, the Greyjoys, the Tullys, the Arryns, the Martells, the Mormonts, the Tyrells. Here’s to all the other houses. Here’s to the bastards: the Snows and the Sands and the Waters. Here’s to the direwolves: Grey Wind, Lady, Nymeria, Summer, Shaggydog, and Ghost. Here’s to the dragons: Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion. Here’s to the Seven, the Drowned Gods, the Old Gods and the New. Here’s to the Red Priestesses. Here’s to the Brotherhood Without Banners. Here’s to the Faceless Men. Here’s to the Maesters. Here’s to the Knight’s Watch. Here’s to the Free Folk. Here’s to those who became wights. Here’s to the wargs and the Children of the Forest. Here’s to the giants. Here’s to the Bravosi, the Dothraki, and Unsullied. Here’s to the Knights of the Vale. Here’s to all the soldiers. Here’s to the fighters. Here’s to those we loved, and those we lost along the way.

Here’s to George R.R. Martin. Here’s to A Song of Ice and Fire. Here’s to Game of Thrones. Here’s to the fandom and the friends we made along the way. Here’s to you.

[flickdirect]

The SAG Award Nominations have been announced.  Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri leads in the film categories with four nominations and Netflix cleaning up with an overall 19 nominations for their streaming service. Netflix's nominations included nods for Stranger Things and The Crown. The SAG Awards will take place on January 21, 2018 in Los Angeles.Below is the complete list of nominations.THEATRICAL MOTION PICTURESOutstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading RoleJUDI DENCH / Queen Victoria - "VICTORIA & ABDUL" (Focus Features)SALLY HAWKINS / Elisa Esposito - "THE SHAPE OF WATER" (Fox Searchlight)FRANCES McDORMAND / Mildred - "THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI" (Fox Searchlight)MARGOT ROBBIE / Tonya Harding - "I, TONYA" (Neon)SAOIRSE RONAN / Lady Bird McPherson - "LADY BIRD" (A24)Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading RoleTIMOTHÉE CHALAMET / Elio - "CALL ME BY YOUR NAME" (Sony Pictures Classics)JAMES FRANCO / Tommy Wiseau - "THE DISASTER ARTIST" (A24)DANIEL KALUUYA / Chris Washington - "GET OUT" (Universal Pictures)GARY OLDMAN / Winston Churchill - "DARKEST HOUR" (Focus Features)DENZEL WASHINGTON / Roman J. Israel, Esq. - "ROMAN J. ISRAEL, ESQ." (Columbia Pictures)Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting RoleMARY J. BLIGE / Florence Jackson - "MUDBOUND" (Netflix)HONG CHAU / Ngoc Lan Tran - "DOWNSIZING" (Paramount Pictures)HOLLY HUNTER / Beth - "THE BIG SICK" (Amazon Studios)ALLISON JANNEY / LaVona Golden - "I, TONYA" (Neon)LAURIE METCALF / Marion McPherson - "LADY BIRD" (A24)Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting RoleSTEVE CARELL / Bobby Riggs - "BATTLE OF THE SEXES" (Fox Searchlight)WILLEM DAFOE / Bobby - "THE FLORIDA PROJECT" (A24)WOODY HARRELSON / Willoughby - "THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI" (Fox Searchlight)RICHARD JENKINS / Giles - "THE SHAPE OF WATER" (Fox Searchlight)SAM ROCKWELL / Dixon - "THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI" (Fox Searchlight)Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion PictureTHE BIG SICK (Amazon Studios)ADEEL AKHTAR / NaveedHOLLY HUNTER / BethZOE KAZAN / EmilyANUPAM KHER / AzmatKUMAIL NANJIANI / KumailRAY ROMANO / TerryZENOBIA SHROFF / SharmeenGET OUT (Universal Pictures)CALEB LANDRY JONES / Jeremy ArmitageDANIEL KALUUYA / Chris WashingtonCATHERINE KEENER / Missy ArmitageSTEPHEN ROOT / Jim HudsonLAKEITH STANFIELD / Andrew/Logan KingBRADLEY WHITFORD / Dean ArmitageALLISON WILLIAMS / Rose ArmitageLADY BIRD (A24)TIMOTHÉE CHALAMET / Kyle ScheibleBEANIE FELDSTEIN / Julie SteffansLUCAS HEDGES / Danny O'NeillTRACY LETTS / Larry McPhersonSTEPHEN McKINLEY HENDERSON / Father LeviatchLAURIE METCALF / Marion McPhersonJORDAN RODRIGUES / Miguel McPhersonSAOIRSE RONAN / Lady Bird McPhersonODEYA RUSH / Jenna WaltonMARIELLE SCOTT / Shelly YuhanLOIS SMITH / Sister Sarah JoanMUDBOUND (Netflix)JONATHAN BANKS / Pappy McAllanMARY J. BLIGE / Florence JacksonJASON CLARKE / Henry McAllanGARRETT HEDLUND / Jamie McAllanJASON MITCHELL / Ronsel JacksonROB MORGAN / Hap JacksonCAREY MULLIGAN / Laura McAllanTHREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI (Fox Searchlight)ABBIE CORNISH / AnnePETER DINKLAGE / JamesWOODY HARRELSON / WilloughbyJOHN HAWKES / CharlieLUCAS HEDGES / RobbieŽELJKO IVANEK / Desk Sgt.CALEB LANDRY JONES / Red WelbyFRANCES McDORMAND / MildredCLARKE PETERS / AbercrombieSAM ROCKWELL / DixonSAMARA WEAVING / PenelopeOutstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture"BABY DRIVER" (TriStar Pictures and MRC)"DUNKIRK" (Warner Bros. Pictures)"LOGAN" (20 th Century Fox)"WAR FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES" (20 th Century Fox)"WONDER WOMAN" (Warner Bros. Pictures)TELEVISION PROGRAMSOutstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited SeriesLAURA DERN / Renata Klein - "BIG LITTLE LIES" (HBO)NICOLE KIDMAN / Celeste Wright - "BIG LITTLE LIES" (HBO)JESSICA LANGE / Joan Crawford - "FEUD: BETTE AND JOAN" (FX Networks)SUSAN SARANDON / Bette Davis - "FEUD: BETTE AND JOAN" (FX Networks)REESE WITHERSPOON / Madeline MacKenzie - "BIG LITTLE LIES" (HBO)Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited SeriesBENEDICT CUMBERBATCH / Sherlock Holmes - "SHERLOCK: THE LYING DETECTIVE" (WGBH/Masterpiece)JEFF DANIELS / Frank Griffin - "GODLESS" (Netflix)ROBERT DE NIRO / Bernie Madoff - "THE WIZARD OF LIES" (HBO)GEOFFREY RUSH / Albert Einstein - "GENIUS" (National Geographic)ALEXANDER SKARSGÅRD / Perry Wright - "BIG LITTLE LIES" (HBO)Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama SeriesMILLIE BOBBY BROWN / Eleven - "STRANGER THINGS" (Netflix)CLAIRE FOY / Queen Elizabeth II - "THE CROWN" (Netflix)LAURA LINNEY / Wendy Byrde - "OZARK" (Netflix)ELISABETH MOSS / Offred/June - "THE HANDMAID'S TALE" (Hulu)ROBIN WRIGHT / Claire Underwood - "HOUSE OF CARDS" (Netflix)Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama SeriesJASON BATEMAN / Martin "Marty" Byrde - "OZARK" (Netflix)STERLING K. BROWN / Randall Pearson - "THIS IS US" (NBC)PETER DINKLAGE / Tyrion Lannister - "GAME OF THRONES" (HBO)DAVID HARBOUR / Jim Hopper - "STRANGER THINGS" (Netflix)BOB ODENKIRK / Jimmy McGill/Saul Goodman - "BETTER CALL SAUL" (AMC)Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy SeriesUZO ADUBA / Suzanne "Crazy Eyes" Warren - "ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK" (Netflix)ALISON BRIE / Ruth Wilder - "GLOW" (Netflix)JANE FONDA / Grace Hanson - "GRACE AND FRANKIE" (Netflix)JULIA LOUIS-DREYFUS / Selina Meyer - "VEEP" (HBO)LILY TOMLIN / Frankie Bergstein - "GRACE AND FRANKIE" (Netflix)Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy SeriesANTHONY ANDERSON / Andre "Dre" Johnson - "BLACK-ISH" (ABC)AZIZ ANSARI / Dev - "MASTER OF NONE" (Netflix)LARRY DAVID / Himself - "CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM" (HBO)SEAN HAYES / Jack McFarland - "WILL & GRACE" (NBC)WILLIAM H. MACY / Frank Gallagher - "SHAMELESS" (Showtime)MARC MARON / Sam Sylvia - "GLOW" (Netflix)Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama SeriesTHE CROWN (Netflix)CLAIRE FOY / Queen Elizabeth IIVICTORIA HAMILTON / Queen Elizabeth The Queen MotherVANESSA KIRBY / Princess MargaretANTON LESSER / Prime Minister Harold MacmillanMATT SMITH / Philip, Duke of EdinburghGAME OF THRONES (HBO)ALFIE ALLEN / Theon GreyjoyJACOB ANDERSON / Grey WormPILOU ASBÆK / Euron GreyjoyHAFÞÓR JÚLÍUS BJÖRNSSON / The MountainJOHN BRADLEY / Samwell TarlyJIM BROADBENT / Archmaester EbroseGWENDOLINE CHRISTIE / BrienneEMILIA CLARKE / Daenerys TargaryenNIKOLAJ COSTER-WALDAU / Jaime LannisterLIAM CUNNINGHAM / Davos SeaworthPETER DINKLAGE / Tyrion LannisterRICHARD DORMER / Beric DondarrionNATHALIE EMMANUEL / MissandeiJAMES FAULKNER / Randyll TarlyJEROME FLYNN / BronnAIDAN GILLEN / Petyr BaelishIAIN GLEN / Jorah MormontKIT HARINGTON / Jon SnowLENA HEADEY / Cersei LannisterISAAC HEMPSTEAD WRIGHT / Bran StarkCONLETH HILL / VarysKRISTOFER HIVJU / Tormund GiantsbaneTOM HOPPER / Dickon TarlyANTON LESSER / QyburnRORY McCANN / The HoundSTAZ NAIR / QhonoRICHARD RYCROFT / Maester WolkanSOPHIE TURNER / Sansa StarkRUPERT VANSITTART / Yohn RoyceMAISIE WILLIAMS / Arya StarkTHE HANDMAID'S TALE (Hulu)MADELINE BREWER / Janine/Ofwarren/OfdanielAMANDA BRUGEL / RitaANN DOWD / Aunt LydiaO-T FAGBENLE / LukeJOSEPH FIENNES / Commander WaterfordTATTIAWNA JONES / Ofglen #2MAX MINGHELLA / Nick BlaineELISABETH MOSS / Offred/JuneYVONNE STRAHOVSKI / Serena JoySAMIRA WILEY / MoiraSTRANGER THINGS (Netflix)SEAN ASTIN / Bob NewbyMILLIE BOBBY BROWN / ElevenCARA BUONO / Karen WheelerJOE CHREST / Ted WheelerCATHERINE CURTIN / Claudia Henderson (Dustin's Mom)NATALIA DYER / Nancy WheelerDAVID HARBOUR / Jim HopperCHARLIE HEATON / Jonathan ByersJOE KEERY / Steve HarringtonGATEN MATARAZZO / Dustin HendersonCALEB McLAUGHLIN / Lucas SinclairDACRE MONTGOMERY / BillyPAUL REISER / Dr. OwensWINONA RYDER / Joyce ByersNOAH SCHNAPP / Will ByersSADIE SINK / MaxFINN WOLFHARD / Mike WheelerTHIS IS US (NBC)ERIS BAKER / Tess PearsonALEXANDRA BRECKENRIDGE / SophieSTERLING K. 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[faofinn]

5. Preventative Measures (Not Taken)

How many times had his Dads told him not to forget his epi pen? Alfie lost track. It had been never ending since he’d been a little kid. He was sixteen now, and he was good at looking after himself. He had to be, really. He always took his epi pen with him wherever he went, always carried safe snacks (mostly for Kieran’s benefit, but his too). There was nothing worse than being starving and there being nothing he could eat. He struggled to remember the epi pen when he’d been younger, but his parents had always been around, and it was easy to keep it in his bag at school.

He had not long finished his GCSEs, and was looking forward to enjoying the long summer. It felt like it would last forever, sixth form and A Levels a distant thought. He’d gone out with Eden that day, into central London to shop and enjoy themselves. He could’ve sworn he’d packed everything he needed. But as they’d sat down to eat, he’d reached into his bag for his water, and hadn’t seen the familiar case. They’d decided to bring a picnic, so Alfie didn’t have to worry about food, and they could find a nice spot to enjoy it. They’d settled in Hyde Park by the water, spread out a blanket, and had settled, enjoying the warm July sunshine. 

They were enjoying themselves when Alfie started coughing, frowning to himself. Eden looked over at him, concerned. 

“You okay?”

“Mm, probably hayfever.” He mumbled, but it quickly got worse, his throat getting tighter and tighter, the wheeze in his chest audible from where Eden was sat. It was harder and harder to breathe, and he couldn’t help the panic that was building. That was when the dizziness hit him, coupled with everything else, and the fear rose. 

He knelt. "Where's your epi? In your bag? Let me see."

He just nodded, trying to breathe the best he could whilst everything felt like it was crashing down around him. 

"Alfie, it's not there. Where is it?" Eden couldn't help his own panic, though he was trying his best to hold it together. 

“Bag.” He wheezed. “Always.”

Eden's eyes were wide. "It's not."

Even confused and dizzy, Alfie realised he was right. He hadn’t seen it, but he’d assumed it had just been tucked out of sight. Maybe not. Shakily he reached for his phone, the panic building and making it even harder to breathe. 

"Here, give it, I'll call. You just breathe, just relax. I'm here, you’re gonna be okay." He moved to sit behind Alfie, holding him upright as he dialled for an ambulance. With his own phone, he rang Tai, his number the most recently contacted. 

He leaned gratefully against Eden, struggling desperately for breath. Everything was blurry and he couldn’t focus on it, the dizziness clouding everything. Every breath seemed harder than the one before, every second dragging by. 

"You're okay, you're okay." Eden promised, rubbing his shoulder to try keep him awake as he frantically answered the operator's questions, in the middle of trying to tell Tai what was happening. 

Eden was far too loud, and Alfie groaned. He hated feeling so shit, having to work so hard to catch his breath, and he knew not having his epi was bad. He always had it, why wasn’t it there? 

"Alfie? Alfie, please, keep your eyes open."

He was doing his best, but it was so hard. Even the fear wasn’t keeping him going, blackness tinging his vision. 

"C'mon, Alfie, please." He begged, sirens starting to sound in the distance. "Don't do this."

Alfie whimpered, pressing into him the best he could, trying to fight the dizziness as it threatened to take him.  

Eden wasn't even sure what he'd been triggered by, the pair both so careful with their foods. He supposed even just being outside and exposed to the public's picnics must have done it, but it didn't fix it, didn't make it better. He could see Alfie fading in front of him, his lips turning blue as he watched. The worst was his breathing, each breath desperate and a fight. He was begging to a god he didn't believe in, praying he'd just hold on a little longer. 

Eden had done a good job of explaining exactly where they were, and it thankfully didn’t take long for the crews to reach him. Alfie was still really struggling, enough to have them really rather worried as they saw him. 

As they neared them, Eden glanced at them. "He's not got his epi, I don't know why, I don’t know where it is. I've called his dads too, but they're busy. You've gotta help him."

“You’ve done the right thing. We’ll help him now, okay? What’s his name?”

"It's Alfie, Alfie Cunningham-Cole. He's 16."

“Great, thank you. Things are probably going to get really busy for a bit, and it’ll move fast, but me and my colleagues are going to look after him, okay?”

"Just help him."

His colleagues were already working, and he nodded, turning away to help them. It was obvious this was critical, with much more of a wait having potentially been too long. 

Eden moved away to let them work, thought stretched a hand out to hold Alfie's. He wasn't sure who he was comforting, but he wasn't letting go.

The paramedics were working hard, IVs in and adrenaline given. It had started to make a difference, but Alfie was still very ill, there was no doubt about that. He needed hospital, and quickly. 

As the second crew returned with the stretcher, Eden hesitated. The last time it had happened had been at home, with Tai and Harrison, and they'd gone with him. Tai had driven the kids up after the ambulance, Harrison in charge of the medical side. But now, there was no responsible adult, there was just the two of them. 

"I don't know much, but can I come with him? I don’t want to leave him."

“Of course you can. We’re not about to leave you here in the middle of London all by yourself, and I’m sure he’ll appreciate having you.” 

He nodded, trying to be braver than he felt. "Thank you."

“Did you manage to get a hold of his parents?”

"His dad's at work, he's the big doctor at St Georges, in the A&E. And Tai said he'd meet us there, but he was working too."

“Okay, we’re a bit of a way away from St George’s right now, he needs to be seen sooner than that, so we’re going to take him to St Mary’s. They’ll be able to meet us there when they can, and of course you’ll be able to stay with him.”

"But his dads are there. He always goes there."

“I know that’s scary, but they’ll look after him.”

"Will you take him to St George’s when he's better?"

“That’s for the hospital to decide I’m afraid.”

"O-okay." He nodded. "That's okay."

“We’re going to get him off to hospital now, come and grab a seat.”

"Is he gonna be okay?"

“We’re going to look after him, and they’ll be good in hospital too.”

Eden nodded, no longer trusting himself to speak. As they settled Alfie in the ambulance, he stuck a shaking hand out to hold his, their fingers interlaced as if they could hold each other together.

[faofinn]

Day 5 - No Response

@mediwhumpmay

"Dad?" Levi called. "Dad?"

He frowned. It wasn’t like Tai to ignore him, and he'd not left them - he would have told them if he had. He'd only wanted a form signed for school, only wanted to be away from his laptop for a few minutes, not chasing his dad around the house. Levi made his way to the bedroom, knocking before he pushed the door open. Even mad he still had manners. 

He sighed. No sign of Tai there either. He almost left, turning back into the room with a frown. They never left the lights on, Harrison was always on at them for it, so for the bathroom light and fan to be on, it didn't make sense.

"Dad?" Worry curled in his stomach, only growing as he got no response. "Dad?"

The bathroom door was open, but there was nothing from his dad. Surely he'd heard him if he was there? Levi slowly padded forward, pulling the door open. Shit. 

He stumbled back, panic overwhelming him. He ran to the landing, tears already threatening. 

"Alfie? Alfie! Dad's not well, Alfie!" He didn't wait for his response, running back to Tai's side. "Dad? C'mon, wake up, please. Please, dad."

Alfie had been in his room, trying to revise for his upcoming exams. He’d heard Levi calling for Tai, but assumed he’d found him, until he heard him shout again, this time calling for him. He sounded panicked, and Alfie rushed to his feet, hurrying out onto the landing. “What’s wrong? Levi?”

"Dad's not awake. He's breathing but he's not awake."

“Is he hurt?” He asked, worry rising. “Has he hit his head?”

"I don't know. He's soaked, like he'd been in the shower with his clothes on." Levi frowned again. "Do you have his phone? Maybe it's his diabetes?"

Alfie crouched next to his dad, forcing himself to take a deep breath. “In the cupboard, get the proper glucose thingie.”

Levi scrambled up, skidding to a stop in front of the unit and rifling through the drawers. He grabbed it and rushed back, all but throwing it at his brother. "Here."

It was hard to try and think, Alfie relying mainly on what his Dads had always told him. If he was breathing, check his sugars. He fumbled with the kit, trying to find a lancet. He grabbed his dad’s hand, muttering an apology as he broke the skin and took the reading. The machine seemed to take forever, and when it came back, Alfie frowned. Lo. It must be broken, it never read that. He tried again, and got the same result. 

“Levi, have you got your phone?”

"It's in my room. Why?"

“Go get it, and call an ambulance. Now.”

"Is dad dying?"

“No, he’s not dying. His sugars aren’t right, though, he needs help.” It wasn’t a lie, but it wasn’t the whole truth either. 

“O-Okay.” He rushed off again, grabbing his phone off his desk. He was already calling 999 as he landed on his knees by the pair. 

“Explain he’s diabetic, yeah?”

"Can't you do it?" He hissed between questions. "No, no, he's not awake."

“It’s okay, keep going.” Alfie encouraged. 

"Uh, he's diabetic. His sugars aren’t reading. No, no it just said Lo, right Alfie? Yeah, just lo."

Alfie nodded, digging around to find the glucose they kept. It was definitely in there somewhere.

"Can you hurry up, please?" Levi asked the operator. "Dad's not well."

“We’re coming as quickly as we can, sweetheart.” The operator soothed gently, as Alfie finally found what he was looking for. Hands shaking he opened it and managed to give it to Tai, desperately hoping it would do something. 

"Have you boys got your dad's glucagon anywhere? The injection that goes in his arm or leg?"

Levi ?? the question to Alfie, biting his lip as he waited. Why did Kieran have to be walking Scout? Why was Harrison at work? He roughly wiped his tears away, his dad needed him to be stronger than this.

“Um, I don’t know. I think it’s here somewhere…” Alfie mumbled, feeling the panic rising. 

"Does Kieran have one?" 

“I think so. It’s… I think I know where it is.” He said, rushing back over to the cupboard again. His dads had gone over it time and time again, and Kieran knew what to do, but Alfie just hadn’t thought they’d have to actually do it. Why did their Dad have to be working? He managed to find it, and relief flooded through him. “I’ve got it!”

"Do you know what to do?" Levi asked, looking up at his brother. 

“Yeah. Yeah, I remember.”

"Alfie, when's dad's birthday? How old is he?"

“Um, he’s 45? Maybe? His birthday is May something. May 25th.”

"She says they're nearly here. I'm gonna go open the door."

“Yeah, go on.” Alfie said, distracted as he gave the injection. He hated doing it, but he had to, and he’d practised before. 

[faofinn]

Day 12 - "Just One More Sip"

@mediwhumpmay

Kieran had, all things considered, settled in well at secondary school. Sure, he had Alfie, who helped no means to an end, but they both had their own struggles the other couldn’t understand. 

Tai helped, able to break everything down and explain their diabetes in a way he understood. He hated that his son had diabetes, but he was glad that he could help.

It had been a long day at school, maths first thing followed by history and english and then double PE. Ever the worrier, Kieran was already convinced he was coming down with something, but it was football so he didn't want to sit out. He adjusted his insulin, grabbed some dextrose tablets and headed out of the changing room with Alfie by his side. 

They had fun, still off the age where they enjoyed PE and causing chaos. The class were in high spirits as they headed back in to get changed. The twins had verb getting slightly more independence too, much to the fraying of Harrison's nerves. They were allowed to walk to the carpark at the end of the street by themselves, but the pair would be picked up by someone from there. 

Kieran was lagging as they left school, a headache starting to brew. He kept chatting away to Alfie though, figuring he probably just needed a drink when they got home. There was no point worrying his brother when their dads were just around the corner. 

"Kieran?" Alfie tried for the third time. "Kieran!"

He turned to him, snapping. "What?!"

Alfie pulled a face. "Don't yell at me. You've just stopped walking and you're ignoring me. Are you alright?"

"Just don't want to talk to your stupid face." He spat, arms folded with no intention to move. 

"Kieran? What have I done? You don't look too great. Where's your phone?"

"Why do you care?"

"Because you're my brother, idiot." He muttered, grabbing Kieran's phone from him and swiping his arm. 

"Hey! Give it back."

"No. Where's your glucose tablets? You had them in PE."

Kieran frowned. He'd left them in his pe kit, and the kit was in his locker. "School."

"Idiot. Do you have any more?"

"How am I supposed to know?" He spat.

"Because it's your bag!" Alfie replied, exasperated. He knew it wasn't his brother, that the hypo was messing with his head, but it always hurt when he spoke to him like that.

"Here, drink this." Alfie shoved a can of pop in his face, rummaging through his own bag - he always kept spares somewhere.

"I'm not thirsty."

"I don't care. Drink it." Alfie snapped, authority in his tone. 

Kieran was slightly taken aback, and did as he was told. He screwed his face up at the taste, moving to put it down. "I'm not drinking it. I don't like it." 

"Kieran, please. You're having a hypo. Just keep drinking it, just one more sip, yeah?"

He grumbled, tears suddenly overwhelming him. He felt rubbish anyway and now Alfie was yelling at him and making him drink things he didn't want to and it just wasn't fair. Kieran shoved his bag away, not caring as the contents spilled across the pavement. 

"Kieran!" Alfie hissed. "Just drink your drink, it'll make you feel better. I need to call dad too, he'll be able to help."

With one hand calling their dad, the other continued to rummage through his bag. He gave a triumphant noise as he grabbed his tablets, shoving several into Kieran's hand. "Chew these."

They seemed better than the drink, so he did as he was told, the wall propping him up more than he was sitting. "Fine."

"Thank you. Keep chewing them and then swallow, yeah? They'll make you feel better." Alfie continued muttering, though he wasn't sure who he was trying to comfort. "Let me check your levels again, hopefully they'll be better."

As he swiped, the phone connected, and relief rushed through him. "Dad." He breathed. "Kieran's having a hypo. I need your help."

Tai had been waiting for the boys, on an early finish at work. When he saw Alfie calling, he assumed it was just to say they’d been caught up or forgotten something and they’d be there soon. He didn’t even get a chance to speak before his son did, and frowned. 

“Okay, where are you?”

"By the shops." 

“I’ll be a minute, yeah? Have you got some sugar into him?” Tai asked, already getting out of the car. 

"I'm trying!"

“It’s okay, you’re doing great.” He said, tucking his phone under his ear as he grabbed his stuff from the glovebox and headed in their direction. “I’m coming, just hold on a minute, yeah?”

"Okay." Alfie turned abxk to Kieran. "Come on, have another tablet, another drink."

Kieran groaned and swiped at Alfie's hands. "I don't feel well."

"Yeah, cause you're having a hypo. This will make you feel better, honest. Please, just one more sip?"

Kieran let himself rest against Alfie, absolutely exhausted. He did as he was asked, though, chewing on another dextrose tablet as he drank. "What am I at?"

"You were 2.8 the second time."

"That's low."

"It was lower. Drink." He encouraged, praying for his dad to hurry up. "You need to finish it all."

Kieran grumbled at his brother. “Can’t you drink it if you’re so obsessed with it?”

"No, I'm not having the hypo. Have another tablet."

He huffed, rolling his eyes, but sipped his drink and obediently reached for another tablet. 

Tai arrived after a few moments, crouching next to his sons. “I’m here.”

"He was 2.2 and he's 3 now but he's all grumpy still."

“That’s good, it’s going in the right direction.” Tai told him. 

"We were playing football and he didn't eat his biscuits at lunch."

“Well, that was daft, wasn’t it?” Tai said gently. “We all make mistakes.”

"Alfie won't stop pestering me." He grumbled. "And he stabbed me? I have my arm thingy for a reason."

“Oh my god, did he?” Tai couldn’t help but tease. “That was mean.”

"I had to!" Alfie protested, suddenly doubting himself. "Because the arm sensor is delayed and he might have been even lower. Right?"

Tai turned to him. “It’s okay, you’re right. You did the right thing.”

"Is he gonna be okay?"

“Of course he is, his sugars are coming up. You did good.”

"I was worried." He whispered to his dad, trying to keep Kieran from hearing it.

“You did great, kid. Don’t worry.” Tai told him quietly, but turned his attention back to Kieran. “I’m gonna need to stab you again in a bit, I’m sorry.”

"You're kidding me."

“I wish I was. I don’t like it much either, but we need to make sure.”

"I feel rubbish."

"Yeah, because you're an idiot." Alfie nudged him. 

"You're the idiot." He replied with a grin.

“You sound better.” Tai joked. “Can you have some more drink for me?”

"Can we buy better pop? I really don't like this one."

“What’s wrong with it?” Tai asked him. “I’ve got some orange juice?”

"Tastes bad."

“Here, try the orange juice.” He offered it to him. 

"Mm, okay."

“Are you starting to feel better?”

"My head is pounding." He admitted. 

“Not surprised. We’ll get you home soon.”

"Am I gonna have to stop PE?"

“No, you’re just going to have to be careful.”

"I didn't mean to."

"Accidents happen."Tai said softly. "I still have them."

"But you're old." Kieran frowned, before blushing. "Not like that!"

"I see how it is." He laughed.  

“I know.”

After a few minutes, letting Kieran sip at the orange juice, Tai squeezed his leg. “Need to check again, and then we’ll get home, alright?”

"Okay. I feel better now, though." He said, offering his hand as the other reached to squeeze Alfie's. 

“Good, that’s good. It’s gonna be a bit of a stab.”

"I know." He sighed heavily, overly dramatic as his dad took the sample. 

“Sorry, I know it sucks.” Tai said, watching the machine. It had come up more now, to a nicer level, and he grinned. “Much better.”

Alfie breathed a sigh of relief from beside them, passing Kieran his phone too. Kieran grinned back. "What is it?"

“Nearly 4, now.”

"So I can stop drinking?"He asked hopefully. 

Alfie shook his head. "You gotta finish it, right dad?"

“He’s right. Finish it please.”

"Okay." He dragged it out, quickly downing the rest of it. "Finished."

“Thank you.” Tai said. “Where’s your stuff?”

"He kicked it over the road." Alfie admitted. "I got most of it back, here."

Tai shook his head. “Of course. Give it here, I’ll carry it.”

"Thanks, dad." Alfie murmured. 

“It’s okay. You’ve got plenty to carry, I’ve got my hands free.”

"Alfie?" Kieran asked quietly. 

“Yeah?” Alfie asked, his attention on his brother. 

"Thank you." He said softly. "Means a lot you were there."

“I’m always gonna be there, idiot. I’m your brother.”

[faofinn]

29. Pounding Headache (Alt 3)

Part 1 | Part 2

“Hopefully this second crew should be here shortly and we can get you both off to hospital. Have you got someone to come and be with the kids?”

"Kit and Bug are seventeen."

“I’m sure it would be nice for them to have someone with them?”

"I don't know if anyone replied." He was starting to get more than a little tired of the situation, the nausea still there and the pain creeping in.

“Do you want us to call someone?”

"Maybe, yeah."

“How’s that pain? Do you want something?”

Harrison struggled to pay attention to the paramedic, rubbing his face with a groan. "Wait, what? I didn't get that."

“Painkillers?”

"For me?"

“Yeah, for you. If you’ve got pain.”

He dropped his head to his hands. "Yeah, a bit."

“I’ll get you something for that, then.”

As the paramedic busied himself sorting drugs, Harrison turned to Alfie. "Bug? Can…can you call Grandad Steve? Or one of your uncles?"

Alfie nodded. “Yeah, I’ll call them.” He said softly. 

"Thanks, Bug." He forced a watery smile. "You're doing amazing."

“Are you gonna be okay?” He asked, unable to help himself. 

"Me?" His heart broke, and he stretched a hand out. "Ah, Bug, come here."

“You look like shit.” He mumbled, reaching for his Dad’s hand. 

He squeezed it tight. "I'm okay, I promise. I've just got a headache, just a little bit of blood. I'm always, always, not very well for a bit after I hit my head, but then I'm better the next day. I'm even better from a few minutes ago." 

While it wasn’t a lie, it wasn’t entirely the truth. The nausea had subsided, but the pain was overwhelming. He forced himself to give Alfie a smile, trying to make it seem okay. 

“Still, though. Can we go with you?”

"Do you not want to stay here? Someone will come be with you."

“I don’t want to leave you.”

"You know I'll be okay." He promised. "I'll ask, yeah? You should be okay to."

He hesitated then. “Levi.”

"Mm?"

“Can he come? Or should we stay with him?” Alfie didn’t know what to do, too used to his Dads taking control. But now both of them weren’t well, and he wasn’t sure how to cope. 

"What does he want to do?"

He shrugged. "I don't know."

Harrison sighed, doing his best to not snap. It wasn’t Alfie's fault, and he could see his son was stressed and worried about them, but the pounding headache that had settled was testing his patience. 

"Go speak to Leaf, call your grandad, and then come back." He said. 

The second crew arrived as Alfie headed through to the kitchen, and Harrison couldn't help the groan. The extra people just added to the noise and activity, and couldn't be arsed to deal with it. He didn't bother raising his head as the first paramedic crouched by him again, wordlessly holding his arm out for the medication. 

"There you go, give that a moment to work, okay?"

His noise in agreement was more of a groan than a hum, his eyes closed as he rested his head back in his hands. 

Alfie was glad to get away from the noise for a minute, as the second crew arrived and started to fuss. It was overwhelming and all just too much. He didn’t know where his little brother was, or his twin, but he gripped the kitchen counter, tears suddenly springing to his eyes. He pulled out his phone, dialling for Steve. He’d help, he always did. 

Steve answered quickly, his heart breaking. "Alfie? I'm on my way, I'm not going to be long."

“Grandpa Steve?” He whimpered, trying so desperately to stop the tears. 

"Hey, it's okay. You're okay. I know it's scary. You're being so brave, though." 

“I don’t know what to do. I-I want to go with them but I don’t know about Kieran and Levi and everything and what if I’m not allowed to go, or they make me leave in hospital, and what if they’re not okay and they ask me questions and…” He trailed off, totally overwhelmed. 

"It's okay. Where's Hars? Is he taking to the ambulance now? Why don’t you ask him when he's free? See what he thinks, hmm?"

He sniffed. “I can’t. He’s… he’s hurt too, they’re both not well. They called a second ambulance.”

Steve took a second, of course his son wouldn't make things easy. "What did he do?"

“I… I don’t know, he said he fell? Hit the kitchen c-cabinets and hit his head. He’s been sick, and it’s bleeding everywhere, and there’s paramedics with him too and I don’t know what to do, because I dont want to leave him but I don’t want to leave Kieran and Levi if they don’t want to come and I don’t want them to see me like this, not Levi.”

"Bug, take a breath. It's okay." Steve soothed. "Harrison has always been sick when he hits his head, he always has been. And head injuries, however small, bleed a lot. You split your head open when you were younger, and it looked like you'd tipped a bottle of juice on the floor. I know it's scary, you're being so brave. So, so brave."

“I don’t know what to do.”

"Just take a moment, take a deep breath, breathe it all out. You're being so brave, Alfie. You're doing really well."

Alfie forced a deep breath, fighting against the sobbing, and managed to get a little bit of control. “Sorry.”

"Don't apologise, you're okay."

“I… I don’t know what to do.”

"You don't need to do anything, you're okay."

“But I do.”

"Not right now. Get yourself a glass of water and take a moment."

“But Dads…”

"They're being looked after, aren't they?" He said softly. "I'm only a few minutes away.

He sniffed again. “I guess.”

"Think what your Dads would say."

“He just said to call you.”

"So that I could do the thinking for you, so you didn't have to worry."

“I need to find Levi.”

"He'll be around."

“The house is so busy.”

"I know, it will be. They're just  doing their job."

“I don’t like it.”

"I know, kiddo. I know. Is the front door unlocked?"

“Yeah.”

"Alright. Did you get your glass of water?"

“No.” He admitted. 

"Get that for me, okay? I'm just pulling into the estate now."

“Okay.” He mumbled, reaching into the cupboard for a glass.

"Thank you."

He filled it with water, sniffing again and trying to stop the tears. “Sorry.”

"Don't apologise, Alfie. You're doing really well."

“Are you nearly here?”

"Just parking, kiddo."

“Okay.”

Steve didn't put the phone down until he was inside, calling through to the living room but heading straight for the kitchen. He pulled Alfie in for a hug, holding his grandson close.

Alfie wrapped his arms around him. “Thank you.” He mumbled. 

"You're okay, you’re okay." He murmured. "You've been so brave."

“I should find Kieran and Levi.”

"I'll go get them, you stay here, hmm?"

“Okay.”

"I won't be long." He promised. 

Alfie nodded, feeling infinitely guilty. It should be him helping, not Steve, but he felt rooted to the spot. 

Steve headed upstairs, where he found Levi and Kieran. The older brother was comforting Levi, keeping him distracted. The relief was so obvious on his face as he saw Steve, dropping the tablet and rushing at his grandfather. 

"Grandad!"

"Hey, Kit." He pulled him in for a hug, Levi quickly joining them. "And Levi, there we go. You two are okay."

Levi pulled back, moving to sit on his bed again. "Are dads really sick?"

Steve sighed. "Tai's doing a lot better, but he'll have to go in with having such a low. And Hars, the idiot, he's always been sick when he hits his head. He always has, always used to have my life with it. So he'll have to go and get checked, but it probably just looks worse than it is."

Kieran dropped his head. "Is Alfie okay? I'm sorry, I had to leave, I couldn't…it was just…I'm sorry, I -"

"Hey, it's okay." Steve's heart broke, and he reached to rub Kieran's back. "You don't need to apologise. He's just worried about you two. Obviously your dads are going to have to go in the ambulance, but do you want to go with them?"

Kieran paled. "In the ambulance?"

"No, no. You don't have to, you can come with me in the car."

He let out a shaky breath. "Okay."

"Could I go with dad?" 

"I'm sure you'll be allowed, Leaf." Steve gave him a smile. "Right, I'm gonna go check on them, make sure they're behaving now, eh? Why don’t you two stay up here? Maybe grab your dads' hospital bags, just in case?"

"We can do that." Kieran nodded. "Thanks, grandad."

"You're welcome, Kit. Just give me a shout if you need anything, okay? I love you boys."

Happy they were okay enough upstairs, Steve returned downstairs. He popped his head back into the living room, taking a second as he finally noticed the state of the room.

"You've made an impressive mess, kid." He sighed. "You alright, Tai?"

Tai gave a shrug. "Been better. Think Hars is worse than me."

Harrison cracked an eye open in his direction. "Oh. Hi dad."

He walked over to Harrison's side. "How are you feeling?"

He learned into his arm on his shoulder. "Fucking shit. I feel like my head is going to explode. And they've even been nice and given me morphine."

"Not good, eh?" He winced as he caught sight of the lac the paramedic was cleaning. "You've done a pretty number there, what happened?"

Harrison didn't answer for a moment, all too aware Steve would see through his lies. "I hit my head on the counter."

"Was it your leg again?" Tai asked from across the room.

"Mm. Something like that."

"Harrison." Steve warned.

"Ooh, full name. I'm in trouble."

Tai snickered from the other sofa. "Uh oh."

"What happened, Hars?" He hated the thought, the worry that he might have been drinking, but Harrison knew better, was better. He knew that really.

"It wasn't his fault." He said quietly.

Tai frowned. "Who?" 

Harrison closed his eyes. "You wouldn't let me help you, I asked to do your sugars and I was in the way."

"No." Tai was pale, the nausea overwhelming. 

"Oh, Hars."

"You didn't mean it, I know you didn't." His voice wavered and he took a shaky breath. "You wanted past me, I guess. You…you shoved me pretty hard." 

The room was silent. Harrison didn't dare to raise his head, couldn't bring himself to look at his husband. Tai, on the other hand, couldn't look away. He could feel the panic in his chest, and the monitor was quick to protest.

"Hars." His voice cracked, his emotion obvious. He didn't yet trust his legs to hold him up, but all he wanted was to hold his husband. "Hars, love, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I wouldn't have…I don’t… I'm sorry."

[faofinn]

19. Curled up with a pet

Part 1 | Part 2

He nodded. “And Hars can stay?”

"For now, yeah."

"I've already spoken to them." Harrison said quickly. "They know."

“Okay then.”

Harrison squeezed Tai's hand. "We've got this. You’ve got this."

Despite his nerves, the surgery went well. Recovery was shit, as it always was, but the nurses were lovely and Harrison was there. He struggled and groaned as he came back to himself, tossing his head back and forth. Harrison did his best to soothe him, one hand in his hair and the other gently keeping him from pulling the oxygen off, again.

Eventually, he was awake enough to be moved back to the day ward, sitting up in the bed as they wheeled him back. They stopped by x-ray on the way, getting a final scan before allowing him some more rest. 

Tai had barely had an hour's sleep (even though he was adamant he wasn't tired) when one of his physio colleagues appeared to pester him. He knew he was miserable and unenthusiastic, but he didn't have the energy to care. The pain had started to creep in again, but he didn't want to ask for anything until after; it would only make him spaced and dizzy, and he wasn't going to collapse on his colleague. He'd been on the wrong side of those patients too many times. 

Physio completed and homework given, Tai gave in and asked for meds. They were happy enough to give him some, just waiting for the rest of his medications to come up from pharmacy before he could go. 

The morphine quickly kicked in, Tai relaxing back into the bed with a groan. Harrison was quick to soothe him, all too aware how shitty it would be making him feel. The soft words and gentle hands were enough to allow him to relax, glad to be pain free once more.

He was worried about going home and managing his pain there, but as soon as they gave him the green light, he was up and ready. Harrison was firm as he made him use a wheelchair, partially out of selfishness and self preservation; if Tai stumbled or fell, he wasn't sure his own leg would take it. 

With a grumble, his resolve crumbled and he let Harrison push him to the car, just glad to be going home, to be in his own bed, with his own snacks and home comfort. And, of course, the kids and the dog were a bonus too, and he found himself smiling to himself on the drive home, dozing with his head resting against the window. 

It was always strange, leaving hospital. Day surgery always fucked with his head, too. It just seemed so… jarring. Like after the surgery and everything, he shouldn’t be going home yet. But he was glad to be out of hospital, away from it all, where Harrison would look after him, and it felt like he’d just closed his eyes when they pulled up on the drive. He lifted his head, blinking sleepily at his fiance. 

“Home?”

Harrison reached over to squeeze his hand. "Yeah, we're home. Let me come around and help you, yeah? Let me open the front door first."

“Mm, yeah. Need my crutches.”

"Bed or sofa when we get in?"

“Uh, what time is it?”

"Half four." He murmured, heading round to open Tai's door. "Careful, yeah? No injuring yourself, please."

“Sofa, then.” He said. “I’m fine, I can do it.”

"Okay. I'm here, yeah? I know you want to do it all yourself, but I'm here."

“Crutches?”

"Here, slowly." He passed them to Tai.

He took them, carefully getting to his feet. “Thanks.” He mumbled. 

Harrison couldn't help but hover, worried that Tai was going to hurt himself. "That's it, you're doing great."

“I’m okay. Get the door, yeah?”

"Yeah, I'll get it." Harrison didn't dare to move too far away, still within arm's reach as he unlocked the door. "You doing okay?"

“Yeah, yeah. Slow and steady an’ all that.”

"Exactly." He stretched out as Tai neared the step, unable to help himself. 

“Hars, I’m fine, really.” He said. 

"I know you are. I'm just helping." He huffed. 

“Yeah.” He said softly. “I’m the one who hovers, I’m the physio.”

I've had enough physio to know how to hover." He tried to joke. 

“True.”

"I'm sure the boys will be excited to see you."

“Looking forwards to seeing them too.”

"Hopefully Steve's not gone mad with them."

“They’ve probably gone mad with him.”

"Ah, maybe." He grabbed at the wall as he stumbled himself, too focused on Tai to remember the step. A blush spread across his cheeks, and he turned to call into the house, pretending he didn't just trip. "Boys? Dad? We're home."

Tai couldn’t help but laugh. “What was that you were saying, love?” He couldn’t help but tease. 

"What? As long as you get in safely, I've done my job. I don't matter."

“Until you fall and I trip over you.” 

"At least you'd have a soft landing." He grinned. "Ah, watch out. I hear the terrors."

"Dads!"

“Hey, boys.” Tai said. “Missed you.” 

Alfie was uncharacteristically quiet, keeping his distance. He offered his dads a smile, letting Kieran past him to try and hug Tai. 

“Careful, Kit. I’m not very good at hugs with these crutches. Why don’t we go and sit down and we can hug on the sofa? What’ve you done with Grandad Steve?”

"Sorry, dad." He pulled back, stepping out of the way. "Grandad's drawing with Levi."

“You’re okay, we’ll cuddle up on the sofa.” He reassured, offering him a smile and one to Alfie, too, who looked mildly terrified. 

The twins led the way, protesting as Harrison reached to ruffle their hair. Levi and Steve were waiting, Levi proudly holding up a clearly homemade get well soon card.

"Aw, bless you guys." Harrison found himself choked up, turning to look at Tai. He couldn't quite believe that that was their little family, waiting for them and wishing Tai better. They'd all obviously helped, with various degrees of success; even Steve had glitter and pen over his hands and top. 

"You alright, Tai? I'm glad you're home."

Tai too, felt himself choke up, though he knew it was the sheer amount of meds in his system. “Oh, thank you, Leaf. That’s so sweet.” He managed to get out, overwhelmed. He nodded when Steve spoke. “Yeah, glad to be back.”

"Cmon, on the sofa." Harrison pushed gently, stepping out of his way. "Let's get that leg back up, and we can see if you want any pain relief or snacks."

Tai settled on the sofa, sighing happily once his leg was up. He made sure his crutches were close by, where he could reach them if he needed to get up again. 

"Right, all settled?" Harrison fussed over him. "What do you need?"

“Settled.” Tai said. “Need my boys, and maybe a tea?”

"I'll go make you one. Do you want one, dad?"

“Won’t say no if you’re putting the kettle on.” Steve said, settling on the other sofa.

"Won't be long then." He hummed, heading to the kitchen. 

"Dad?" Alfie asked, standing at the edge of the sofa. "Can I come up too?"

“Of course you can, Bug.” Tai said gently.

Kieran and Levi had already snuggled beside their dad, but Alfie hesitated again. "Where can I go?"

“Come squish in, we’ll make space.”

He made a noise. "I'm scared I hurt you."

“It’s only my knee, you won’t hurt me.” 

"But you had an operation."

“I’m okay, you can come and cuddle.”

He slowly tried to get in, getting somewhat closer to his dad. He fidgeted with the sleeves of his hoodie, worried he'd hurt him or get in the way, or just do something wrong.

Tai looped his arm around his son and pulled him closer, kissing the top of his head. “There. Perfect.” 

Alfie squeaked quietly, freezing in panic as Tai pulled him in. Instead of being in pain and hurting him, Tai kissed his hair, and he broke. All the emotions of the day bubbled up and over, and he buried his face against his dad's chest. Scout whined from the floor, unhappy one of his boys was crying, and he edged closer too, front paw on the sofa's edge.

“Oh Bug. It’s okay, I’m okay, yeah?” He said. “Look, you’ve got Scout worried about you now. Do I get all of you up here? Good job we’ve got big sofas. C’mon, Scout, hup.”

Scout happily jumped up, sticking his wet nose in Alfie's face. His tail was gentle as it wagged, but his tongue was relentless, trying to wipe all of Alfies tears away.

"I'm so-sorry. I didn't mean to make him sad."

“It’s been a long day, huh? It’s okay. Come on, we’ll all have a cuddle here, Scout can curl up with us, we’ll make Dad go and sit with Grandad Steve. I get you all to myself.” Tai hated seeing Alfie upset, knowing the anxiety he’d had to deal with all day would’ve been hard on the boy, especially knowing full well he tried to be strong for his brothers. 

Harrison returned with mugs of hot tea and paused in the doorway. His heart broke for his son, but he tried to be strong and joke. "I go make a cuppa for two minutes, and my kids and the dog have stolen my husband from me."

“You snooze you lose.” Tai joked, managing a small smile.

"Can you reach your tea if I put it on the side?" He asked Tai, passing his dad's to Steve.

“Yeah, that’ll be fine, thanks love.”

He settled Tai's on the coaster on the side, stretching over to give him a kiss. He was more than a little jealous of the four on top of Tai, but his husband looked content, and he sure as hell wasn't going to interrupt. He ruffled Kieran's and Levis hair, and gently gave Alfie a squeeze for a hug. The oldest twin gave him a small smile, tucking himself back into Tai's chest. Scout, not wanting to be left out, thumped his tail, so of course he got a kiss on the nose, Harrison sneaking a treat from his pocket. Eventually, or so it felt, he flopped on the sofa by Steve, kicking his feet up. 

"Ah, that's better, being home. Everyone sorted." He sighed happily, looking around the room. "My little family."

Tai had to admit it wasn’t the most comfortable, everyone on top of him, including the dog, who wasn’t always the most gentle. But they weren’t making his pain worse, the painkillers he’d had in hospital still mostly working, his boys with him, he wouldn’t change it for a second. Alfie’s tears had stopped, Kieran seemed more confident, and Levi was happy. He carefully reached forwards to scratch behind Scout’s ears, appreciating the comfort the dog brought. 

“Yeah, perfect.” He said softly, glancing at his husband, already fighting sleep. “Jus’ perfect.” 

Before he knew it, he was asleep, the meds taking over. His chin tucked into his chest, he was out, completely lost to the world. 

Harrison stood, quietly padding across to Tai. He pulled the blanket from the back of the sofa, gently tucking it around his husband and sons. Both twins looked exhausted, and Levi was already pretty much asleep. Kieran was yawning and Alfie rubbing his eyes, both pressed tight to their dad. Harrison made sure they were all tucked in, no limbs escaping from under the blanket. The boys whispered a thank you, snuggling closer to Tai. 

Harrison sighed, pressing a kiss to each son's hair. "Love you, guys."

[faofinn]

16. Consulting the Internet/Web MD

Part 1 | Part 2

After everything that had happened with Kizzy and Kieran, Tai and Harrison were just glad everyone got on. While they'd taken the news reasonably well (once Harrison had freaked out), Kizzy's parents did not. They made it clear that she wasn't welcome in their family, and that she didn't have a place in their home outside of university. Of course, the Cunningham-Cole crew refused to stand for it, immediately welcoming her into their home. Kieran had already managed to make a baby with her, so they didn't see the harm in the pair sharing a room; they were adults, after all.

The plan was for the guest room to become a nursery, until they could work out their next steps. If they were honest, Harrison was kind of hoping they'd stay around. Having the kids in the house would mean he could help them out, and he knew how stressful it was looking after a baby. 

Kizzy was already seven months, struggling heavily with the pregnancy. Alfie had taken it upon himself to try and cheer her up, Eden joining the pair in the living room with a film on. She had the sick dish by her, wrapped up snugly in blankets, while the two boys lazed on the other sofa.

"I'm sick of this already." She whined, trying to get comfortable again. "Bean is kicking me to the point I'm convinced he's gonna kick a hole in me."

"Sounds like being in bed with Alfie." Eden tried to joke. 

She had to laugh. "At least you can get away from him."

"Ah, that's true. But he follows me."

"Hey!" Alfie slapped him good-naturedly. "Don't be so mean."

"Yeah, you're right. It's not fair to compare Bean to you."

Kizzy's laugh was cut off by a groan, her hand protectively covering the bump. "Fuck."

"Kiz? What's wrong?" Alfie was serious, Eden already up and by her side. 

She couldn't help the wave of panic. "I don't know."

Eden sat by her, rubbing her shoulder. "Was he kicking? A cramp?"

"I don't know. I, maybe it felt like a contraction? I don't know." She gratefully leaned into Eden. "It was like a stitch, but worse and everywhere."

"It's okay, you're gonna be okay." Eden soothed. "Don't worry."

Alfie spoke up from the sofa. "So, it says you've got network connectivity problems." 

While Kizzy managed a smile, Eden launched a pillow at his head. "Idiot!"

"Hey!" He protested, not having moved out of the way in time.

“You deserved it!” Eden shot back. 

"I was trying to help!"

“You’re so stupid, use your brain!”

"I was!"

“‘Network connectivity problems’? Really?”

"I was just reading it!"

“Didn’t actually use your brain though, did you?” He rolled his eyes, turning his attention back to Kizzy. “Has it gotten any better? Worse? Ignore Alfie, you definitely picked the right twin.”

"I don't know. It stopped but then it came back, and it's gone right now."

“Maybe we should call your dad, Alfie.”

"Yeah, Okay. I'll ring him."

"I don't want to bother anyone."

“If you have pain, though…”

"Dad said you could call him whenever." Alfie added. 

“It’s probably best to be on the safe side.”

"Could you call him?" Kizzy asked. She still felt like she was intruding on the family, and especially when she felt like she was causing problems. 

“Yeah, of course. Alfie, can you call him? Kiz, do you want a hot water bottle or something?”

"I wouldn't say no." She gave Eden a smile. "Thank you."

Alfie was already dialling, and of course Harrison answered almost immediately. The kids knew not to call him unless it was an emergency, and with Kizzy in the household, his nerves were even more on edge. 

"Bug, what's up? Who's hurt?"

“Dad.” He murmured. “It’s okay, nobody’s hurt, but Kiz is having these like weird contraction stitch things? She says it hurts on and off.” 

"Ah, okay. Put her on for me?"

“Kiz, he wants to speak to you.” Alfie said, moving to pass her his phone.

She took the phone. "Thank you. Sorry for making Alfie call you, Harrison. I didn't want to bother you."

Alfie settled next to her, whilst Eden disappeared into the kitchen to make her a hot water bottle, hoping it was nothing serious and she was going to be okay.

"That's okay, don't you apologise. I'm here for whatever you need, you know that. You're family." He said, voice firm but soft. "What's been happening?"

“He’s been kicking me all morning, I’ve been feeling really crummy. Haven’t been able to get comfy, but then we were sitting on the sofa watching a film and I just got this really weird pain? Well, sort of pain, kind of like a stitch? But all over. And then it went away but then it came back again.”

"Okay. How long were they lasting for?"

“Um, not very long.”

"Half a minute? More than a minute?" He pushed gently. "Were they regular?"

“Maybe half a minute? Not really regular, the first one was longer than the second and now they’ve gone?”

He hummed. "Okay. I'd just keep an eye on it, but it sounds like braxton hicks. If they get really painful, and they become regular, then call me back, okay?"

She nodded, feeling stupid. Of course they were just braxton hicks, they’d been told about it during antenatal classes, but she didn’t expect them to feel like that. “Oh. I’m sorry.”

"Hey, no. Don't you apologise. I'm glad you called me."

“I didn’t think they’d feel like this.” She mumbled. 

"That's okay. It's all new for you."

“Sorry to bother you at work.”

"It's okay, Kiz. I'd much rather you call me than worry." He said softly. 

“I am sorry, though.” She said, as Eden reappeared with the hot water bottle. “Can I use a hot water bottle to help?”

"Of course, that's a really good idea." He hummed. "But Kiz?"

“Yeah?”

"Please don't apologise, don't feel bad about calling. I'll give you a call on my break, see how you're getting on, yeah? But if you need anything between now and then, either call me or get one of the boys to, okay?"

“Okay. Thank you, Harrison.”

"You're welcome. I've gotta go now, but just take it easy, try and relax, and call if you need okay? Love you all, bye."

“Yeah, I’ll call. Thank you.” She murmured, hanging up the phone and passing it back to Alfie. Eden offered her the hot water bottle and she took it gratefully, the warmth helping to ease the tightness across her belly. 

"Want to lie on me? I'll play with your hair if you want, it always makes me feel better when Alfie does mine?" Eden offered. 

“Are you sure?”

"Yeah, of course."

She hesitated for a moment and then nodded, settling in his lap. The change in position was nice, and she sighed, readjusting the blankets around her, the hot water bottle tucked up against her. “Thank you.”

He ran his fingers through her hair. "You're welcome."

Alfie pouted from the other sofa. "First you steal my twin, now my boyfriend. When will it stop?" He teased.

"It's payback for your answer earlier." Eden shot back, grinning. 

“You can have him back later, promise.” 

"It’s okay, Kiz. I'm just glad you're okay." Alfie admitted. 

“Thanks. I feel like an idiot.”

"More than that one over there?" Eden tried to joke. 

“Maybe not. Sounds like one of you guys need to fix the Wi-Fi.”

"Probably not him."

“Oh, true. Maybe wait for Kieran to come home for that one.”

[faofinn]

No. 22 "They never saw us coming, 'til they hit the floor."

@whumptober-archive

Glass Shard | Vehicular Accident | "Watch out!"

As the family got bigger and time got more precious, it had become tradition that they’d all spend a week camping together, to spend time as a big group, over the summer when the kids could all play together and entertain themselves, and their parents could relax and spend time with each other, when the school holidays were hectic as ever. 

It was a wonder they were able to do it, half the hospital’s staff on leave at the same time, but they managed it. Fao, Ely and their kids, Finn, Jess and Amelia, Tai, Hars and their trio, the dogs, and often the grandparents too. Steve particularly relished it, taking every opportunity to join them, spend time with his grandchildren and their cousins, as well as his son. 

They’d had the most amazing time in Cornwall, the weather just perfect, sunny and warm without being too hot, and they’d spent time walking, playing on the beach, and of course visiting various castles and historical landmarks, Fao and Finn unable to kick the tradition of a lifetime. Both Fao and Finn had had to pack up the day before, unable to get any more time off work, but Hars and Tai had been able to get the extra day, along with Steve, and they’d chosen to stay and make the most of the time. Eventually though,  they’d had to pack up and go, though, and it was a shame to finally be driving home (although Tai’s back was looking forward to his proper mattress after a week on an airbed, something that Harrison had teased him about relentlessly.) 

It was a long drive back, with Tai taking the first half of the drive before they stopped, and Hars agreeing to take the second half. The kids were exhausted, which meant they were squabbling, and Tai twisted around in his seat for what felt like the hundredth time in five minutes. 

“Alfie! For the love of god, stop antagonising your brother! Kieran, don’t hit him. I know you’re tired, but that’s no excuse for violence.”

“He was being stupid!” Kieran protested, folding his arms over his chest. 

“Ah, no. I don’t want to hear that sort of language, please. Nobody’s stupid. If you can’t get on, don’t talk to each other. Read, or do something else that doesn’t involve winding each other up. We’re nearly home now.”

“But-“

“I don’t want to hear it, Alfie.” He said, turning back. “Behave, the pair of you. We’ve had such a nice time, don’t ruin it now.”

"Come on, boys." Harrison said softly. "Why don't we play I-spy?"

"That's boring." Alfie huffed. 

"Alright. Tai, you gonna go first?" Harrison asked, ignoring Alfie's protest. 

"Sure. Uh, I spy with my little eye, something beginning with…T!"

As much as Alfie wasn’t interested, he joined in the guessing, and Harrison relaxed again. He glanced in the rear view, checking where his dad had got to, making sure he was still okay. Steve was only a few cars behind them, but that meant he was still on the right road, so he returned his attention to the road in front.

It all seemed to happen in both an instant and for eternity. There was a flurry of horns and the scream of breaks in front of him, a lorry crossing the central reservation and veering out of control - and heading straight for them. Harrison swore, instinctively swerving as much out of the way as he could; at least if the cab just hit his bit, the rest of them might be okay. There was a flash of pain, of metal grinding and bending, the bodywork biting into flesh, and then, nothing. 

There wasn’t a part of Harrison that didn't hurt. Each breath was a struggle, and the first few had him unconscious again. His ears were ringing, his kids were screaming, and as much as he tried to stay awake, to help them, it was no use. He groaned with each exhale, the overwhelming feeling of drowning only worsening with each breath. Despite his efforts, he couldn't piece together a coherent thought, but as a hand slipped into his, the thought was clear: Tai. He managed a squeeze back, barely there, so, so weak, and gone before he could do anything else. 

It happened so suddenly, one minute everything was fine, the next Harrison was swerving and everything exploded with pain. Tai had seen the lorry a split second later than Harrison, hadn’t clocked what was happening until too late. It was overwhelming and yet distant, and Tai’s only thought was Harrison, his ears ringing. He reached out for him, finding his hand. It seemed like an eternity before he felt Harrison squeeze back, the tiniest hint of movement. It was far too hard to stay conscious and Tai found himself slipping again, and whilst the panic rose it was too late - he was out, slipping into comforting blackness. 

Both twins had hit their heads against something, their thoughts sluggish and thick. But the car was suddenly not doing what it was supposed to, and neither parent was responding. Blood dripped from Kieran's nose, and there was a cut across Alfie's forehead that was oozing steadily. His throat was raw from screaming, begging his dads to talk to him, but there was nothing. Kieran's expression of panic matched his own, and the pair reached out to hold the other's hand, gripping onto Levi's in the middle.

A few cars behind, Steve had watched the whole thing unfold, watched the lorry suddenly veer, watched his son’s car swerve to avoid it, watched it unfold as the two collided in a horrible twist of metal. As he slammed on his brakes, and the traffic around him did the same, he felt sick to his stomach, grabbing his phone and immediately dialling the emergency services, waiting just a split second more before he leapt from the car, aware what he was doing was so, so dangerous and not caring. That was his son, his family. There was no way he was standing by and not doing anything. Not again. He’d do whatever he could to save them. 

Harrison was stubbornly unconscious as Steve got close, head resting against the door's window frame. Glass shards had torn his skin, the lazy trails of blood mixing with the steady stream from his nose and lips.

Other people headed towards the wreck too, a mix of wanting to help and morbid curiosity; after all, the state of the car screamed a fatality, or at the very least a life threatening injury. 

As Alfie caught sight of Steve, he hammered against the remaining glass. "Grandad!"

He was relieved to see his grandson, even frantic in his panic. He’d already tried what was left of Harrison’s door, and no dice, that wasn’t opening. He tried the back, desperate to help. “I’m here, I’m here. You’re going to be okay.” He reassured, though it felt cheap. 

"Dads aren't talking to us." Kieran's lip wobbled. "Are they dead?"

"Are we going to die?" Alfie added, eyes wide with fear.

"You're gonna be just fine, okay? I'm here." 

Ambulance, is the patient breathing?

"I, uh, I don’t know. We're on the m25, just after junction 9. My son, his kids, they've got in a crash. I can't get to him, I can't see if he's breathing. There's three kids. They're breathing, they're awake. I'm here, don't worry, I've got you." Steve did his best to relay through the panic. "There's two ten year olds, they've both got head injuries but they're talking. Levi, he's five, he's crying. You're doing so well, you're so brave, it's okay. Tai was the passenger, he's got a head injury, he's not conscious. Fuck, he's got an open fracture femur, yeah, he's breathing. Hey, easy, easy. No, no, he just got agitated but he's out again. I think Harrison's trapped, he's my son, he was driving. There was a lorry and it swerved across and hit them. Please hurry, I can't lose them. Harrison's got a pulse but his breathing is shit. I can't get to them, the car's all mangled. You're being so brave, Bug. I know, I know, it's scary, but you're gonna be okay. You're gonna be sick? That's okay, Kit, try and relax, breathe through it.

Harrison's had a liver transplant, he lost his leg in Afghanistan. Tai's a type 1, as is Kieran. Alfie has epi pens, he's got a few allergies, no, not to medications. Levi's got asthma, and problems with his lungs. Are you nearly here? You've got to be, please tell me they are." 

“That help is being arranged for you now, we’re coming as quickly as we can. Stay on the line with us until the crew is there, okay?”

He turned away, grief and worry overwhelming him. "I can't lose these too, not like this."

The dog barking pulled Steve from his spiralling thoughts of worst case scenarios. Scout. He was in the back, of course he was. He rushed round, pulling at the boot, trying to get it to open. It finally opened, much to his relief, and his hands shook as he tried to check if the dog was okay. 

“It’s okay, it’s okay.” He reassured. “Good boy, Scout.”

Scout continued to wriggle around Steve before jumping against the car. He yelped as the metal scraped his paw pads, but continued trying to get to his family, panic clear in his whines.

“Careful, careful. It’s okay, we’ll get them out.” Steve tried to soothe the dog, as the sirens cut through the air. Finally. 

Alfie stretched a hand towards his grandfather, ignoring how the glass bit at his skin. Blood mixed with dirt as he desperately tried to seek comfort, not caring about anything else but his family. 

Steve reached out to take his hand. “It’s okay, you’re going to be okay.” He reassured him. “It’s all going to be okay.” 

He gripped into Steve’s hand, holding it as tight as he could. His lip trembled as he searched Steve's face, but he was too overwhelmed and in shock to cry. 

"My leg hurts." He said softly. "And my toes are all tingly." 

Steve sighed, but tried to keep his face neutral. “It’s okay, the ambulance is nearly here.”

"Kieran's nose is bleeding and he's been sick and Levi hasn't stopped crying." He took a shaky breath. "And dad's aren't awake."

“It’s alright. Just breathe, just breathe. The ambulance is coming, your dads aren’t waking up just yet but they’re going to get help. They’re going to get you out as soon as they can, and Scout’s okay. I’m right here, I’m not going anywhere.”

"Why can't you get us out? Can't you fix it?"

“I can’t get the doors open, Bug.” He said gently. “And the paramedics need to have a look at you first, yeah?”

"Please, grandad. Please."

“I know, Alfie. If I helped you out now I could hurt you more, and I don’t want to hurt you. I need you to stay put, okay? Stay put and they’ll help you out as soon as you can. I need you to be brave. Can you be brave for me?”

"You won't hurt me."

“I know, I know.” 

Harrison groaned from the front seat, the pain overwhelming but cutting through the haze. 

"Kit? Bug? Leaf?" He slurred, trying to turn to check on them. The pain doubled and he groaned again, his head falling back against the headrest. 

“I’m going to go speak to your dad, okay Bug? You stay there for me, you’re being so so brave.” Steve said, moving to Harrison. “Harrison, Hars. You’re okay, don’t move, just breathe for me.”

Kieran, on the other hand, didn't listen, reaching forward for his dad desperately. 

“Kieran? Stay still for me kid, your dad just needs space, alright? I’m with him, I’m looking after him.”

He whined, tears falling immediately as he grabbed at his stomach. "It hurts!"

The sound of his son crying had broken through to Harrison, and he struggled against everything to try and move. He couldn't move his legs, and he wasn’t sure if it was because they were trapped, or worse. He couldn't feel his left leg, and there was a flare of embarrassment as he realised the seat was wet, though his fingers were red as he moved them away.

“Harrison!” Steve’s voice was sharp. “You need to stay still, okay? I’m here, I’m looking out for the kids. I need you to focus on you, alright? Talk to him, but don’t move.”

Everything was blurry and out of focus, and he could feel himself slipping again. "Kit's 'urt."

“Help is coming.” Steve reassured.

"They're not here."

“They will be.” He could still hear the sirens, fighting their way through the traffic. 

Harrison groaned once more, nausea flaring out of nowhere. He couldn't help but vomit, the retching sending a stab of pain lancing through his abdomen. It was all too much, and he finally slipped under again, eyes rolling. 

Steve hated every minute of this. He couldn’t do anything, he had no kit, he was completely useless and out of control. The only thing he could do was reassure his grandchildren, who were scared out of their mind. He couldn’t do this again, he couldn’t lose them like this. What Harrison had brought up looked to be pure blood, though with the amount of blood everywhere, it was almost hard to tell. He went back to reassuring the kids, the only thing he could do, Scout still barking and unsettled and making life a hundred times worse.

[faofinn]

9. White Coat Syndrome

Holidays were a rare treat for the Cunningham-Cole crew. Both Taidgh and Harrisons jobs were difficult for raising a family, but they refused to let it get in the way. Each day out was precious, even a few hours at the park, a walk to feed the ducks, the tiny things that meant the world to both dads.

With the kids old enough to actually be a contender in races, Harrison often brought his running blade to join in - he wasn’t going to let Tai have the fun. So that's where they found themselves on a warm Sunday morning, charging around the park like idiots. They'd planned to stay the day, picnic packed and ready. Levi was old enough to join in, though he didn't always undenal the rules of whichever game they were playing, occasionally ending up in tears. 

Frisbee was easy enough, so they eventually moved onto that. The park was quiet enough, though the hum of other families laughter carried across the air.  Even Harrison's laughs carried across, Alfie having his life and loving it. Scout was just as bad as them, haring around the park and herding his family. 

Tai loved their weekend days out, when the whole family could mess around together. It was a warm day, the sun shining over the grass. The kids were rowdy, on their last few weeks of school holidays, and it had been good to get out of the house. He’d been haring about with them that morning, trying to catch up with the kids, but his knee had twinged and he’d ended up sat on the picnic blanket watching them play Frisbee, Scout rushing madly between them as he tried to catch it mid-air. He let them play for a while, before his stomach growled at him and he couldn’t ignore the food he was sat next to any longer. 

“Hars! Kids! Come on, lunch! I’m starving to death over here!” He called. 

They raced over, Scout leading the way with his bounding strides. The boys were close behind, but Harrison lagged slightly, his own leg starting to ache.

Harrison settled by Tai, wrapping an arm around his waist as he pressed a kiss to his cheek, the pair like lovesick teenagers. Of course, the kids made their displeasure known, a quiet chorus of gross as they laughed. 

Tai leaned into Hars, grinning at the kids. “You’ll get it when you’re older.”

"Ew, no! It's gross!" Kieran laughed, his nose scrunched. 

“You’ll get a kiss too, if you’re not careful!” Tai teased, reaching out for him. 

"No! Alfie, help!" Kieran wriggled away, shouting and laughing. 

“I’ll get you both!” Tai said, as Alfie piled in, and Scout tried to join in too, barking and hopping excitedly. 

Harrison sat back with a smile, looking proudly on at the chaos he'd created. He grabbed a sandwich while the others were distracted, sneaking Levi a piece of cheese his youngest had been eyeing up. 

Eventually the chaos died down, the twins and Tai flopping back on the blanket breathless and grinning. He reached for the food, grabbing a sandwich. 

As the kids dug in, Harrison nudged Tai's thigh. "Hey."

“Hey, you okay?”

"More worried about you. I saw you twist it."

“Just a little twinge, I just didn’t want to do any more damage to it."

Harrison rubbed his thigh. "Are you in pain?"

“Not now I’m sat down.”

"Are you sure?"

“Yeah, it’s not bad. I just didn’t want to be haring around on it and making it all swollen. If they don’t do this op tomorrow I’m going to have a breakdown.”

Harrison hummed, fingers trailing over skin. "Yeah, I know."

“Are you sure work are okay with your time off?”

"As if I'd give them a choice."

“And Steve’s okay with having the kids?”

"He's looking forward to it."

“Mm, okay.” He said, and kissed his cheek again.

Harrison reached a hand to cup his cheek, tilting his face up to kiss him properly. His thumb stroked his cheek as he pulled back. "It's going to be okay. I love you."

Tai smiled. “Love you too.”

He quickly pressed a kiss to Tai's nose before moving to lean against him and reaching for his can of pop. "You know I'll be there for you, whatever you need."

“Pass me another sandwich?” He asked cheekily. 

"What's the magic word?" He teased, dangling it out of reach. 

“Mm, please?”

Harrison grinned. "Nope."

“Hey!”

"You gotta say the magic word!"

“Please is the magic word!”

"Nope!"

“Come on!” He whined, kissing him on the cheek again.

Harrison's resolve cracked. "It's a good job I love you."

“And I love you too.”

Their day was heaven, a picnic in the warmth followed by more stupid games after they’d eaten. Eventually, though, they headed home, all of them just completely shattered. It was a job to corral sleepy kids to bed, Tai and Hars exhausted themselves. Scout had spent the evening sprawled out asleep on the rug in the living room, looking like they felt. 

Even Tai and Hars had headed to bed early that night, aware they were up early the next morning. They fell asleep with Tai’s head resting on Harrison’s shoulder, warm and comfortable. When their alarm went off the next morning, Tai just snuggled up against him, refusing to move. 

He was eventually coaxed out of bed and got dressed, enjoying the last glass of water he was allowed. Steve arrived to look after the boys, and after some hugs and fuss, the pair of them headed to the hospital. It was weird, driving their familiar commute for something other than work. 

Harrison knew Tai was stressed. He could feel it a mile away. Of course, he was worried too, not just for the operation, but his recovery and everything that came with it. The operation itself was rubbing a little too close to home for Harrison, having had so many himself. It was the right leg, too, which only stirred up more emotions for him. He shook his head to clear his mind, taking Tai's hand as they headed in. 

Tai squeezed his hand gratefully, heading through the doors into the day surgery unit. It was unfamiliar, which was both good and bad, but he signed in at the desk and then it was a waiting game, his left leg bouncing anxiously. 

"You've got your bag, you've got stuff for after, some juice and some throat sweets." Harrison murmured, mainly to himself. "And you've got your sweets for emergencies, and I put an extra juice box in for you, too. I've got the insulin and I'll give it to the nurses when we get there."

Tai glanced over at him. “What would I do without you?”

"Probably be a lot less stressed." He admitted with a laugh. 

“A lot more stressed, more like.” 

"Mm, maybe."

“Got you to look after me.”

"I'll always look after you."

“Yeah.” Tai said, moving to rest his head on his shoulder. 

"Sickness and in health. All that bullshit." He pressed a kiss to his hair. "And anyway, we've got the kids. I can't manage them alone."

“You could.”

"I wouldn't."

“I hope they’re okay with Steve.”

"I think it's the other way round." Harrison managed to joke. "I think dad's gonna regret offering."

“Probably, they’re nightmares.”

"I can't even stand up for them. I know I should." He said sagely, trying to keep a straight face.

“They’re feral, but hopefully yesterday tired them out enough.”

"I hope so. Scout was bloody knackered, bless him."

“Looked how I felt.” Tai agreed. It wasn’t long before they called him through, and he gripped Harrison’s hand as he stood. All he wanted was to go home, but that wasn’t possible. They asked him to change, and they’d be back for obs and things. He hesitated, looking at his fiancé. “Can I just sack this off and we just go home?”

"Don't be daft." He shook his head, though wanted nothing more than to do the same. "You need this sorted. Just think, this time tomorrow, all the operations and stuff will be done. And you'll only have the physio to do."

He pulled a face. “Even worse.”

"What, you're not looking forward to physio?" He feigned shock.

“Nobody looks forward to physio, knob.” He shot back.

"And after all the shit you gave me?"

“I’m allowed to give you shit, we’re getting married. Besides, I’m already doing physio.”

"Yeah, well, I'm doing a physio."

He snorted. “That’s a terrible joke. Can we go home? I don’t want to do this.”

"No, we can't." Harrison sighed. "And I'm not being a dick, but you need to take a few deep breaths, try and relax as much as you can. I can feel your anxiety from over here, and it's not gonna help you."

He forced himself to take a breath, his lips pressed tightly together. His shoulders slumped as he let it out, reaching for Harrison. “I hate hospitals.”

Harrison stood, moving to wrap his arms around his fiance. "I know, I know. I've got you."

He leaned into him, taking another deep breath and focusing on the smell of him, washing powder and aftershave and something that was just him. Some of the tension drained from his shoulders, his body softening against Harrison’s. 

"That's it, well done." He praised, kissing his forehead. "Another slow breath.'

He nodded. “Feel all sick and anxious.” He admitted. 

"I know, I know. It's fucking shit." He soothed. "But you'll get all the good drugs soon, get a nice little nap, and you'll wake up with your leg sorted."

“I’m such a baby, jesus.” 

Harrison couldn't help his smile. "I know it's the wrong time and all that, but I really love your accent."

“Piss off.” He grumbled good-naturedly. “It gets softer all the time, being stuck here with you.”

"We should go across, once you're better. I'm sure your mum would appreciate it."

“She would, it’s been too long since she’s seen the boys.”

"Tell you what, Christmas? Steve said he'd come too, we'll go over for the two weeks. Stay in a cottage, have Christmas there." He said, feeling Tai relax into him. 

“As if you’ll get two weeks of leave at Christmas.”

"Watch me."

“Only if you forge a sick note will you get that much time off. And don’t even think about it.” He teased. “I don’t even think I could get that much off, but maybe a few days before new years?”

"We'll manage it."

“What about going to Fao’s? Won’t you miss that?”

"You miss your family for mine."

“I love your family.”

"My point still stands."

“Mm, it would be nice to go back. You won’t understand a word.”

"Be nice for the kids to have the accent though." He smiled, glad Tai was relaxing more. "Be like mini yous."

“We’d need to move for them to have the accent, really. Right now they’re just gonna end up like Fao.” He joked. 

"Oh, I don't know which would be worse." He teased, his face falling as the door pushed open. 

Tai tensed, his jokes forgotten as the door creaked open. 

"Hi, Tai? Ah, excellent, you're all changed. I'm just gonna grab a few obs off you, and then we'll pop you through."

He nodded, swallowing thickly. “Okay.” He untangled himself from Hars, sitting down. 

Harrison mirrored his actions, sitting and fidgeting with a stray thread. The nurse was nice enough, but Harrison couldn't focus on their conversation, his eyes trained on the monitor. 

Tai did his best to try and relax, focusing on his breathing. He’d looked to Harrison, but he was just staring at the obs machine, and that didn’t help. He tried to think of something else, of the Christmas trip they’d been planning, but the stupid thing had sound and he could hear how fast his pulse was, the way the blood pressure cuff squeezed so tight his fingers tingled and he prayed it wouldn’t be ridiculously high. 

The nurse made a soft noise. “Oh, those are a bit on the high side, aren’t they?”

“I’m, uh, a really nervous patient. White Coat Syndrome and all that.” Was Harrison going to be pissed he was anxious again?

Harrison frowned at the obs, and stood up. He moved back to Tai's side, kissed his cheek and hopped on the bed next to him. He laced their fingers together, bringing their knuckles to his lips. 

"Deep breath together?" He said softly. "Make you feel better."

He nodded, forcing himself to take another deep breath with Harrison.

He kissed their knuckles. "And again? All the way down, from your head to your toes."

“Gonna make me go dizzy.” He grumbled, but did as he was told after a few moments, focusing on drawing the breath all the way to his feet. 

"Don't make yourself dizzy." Harrison murmured with a gentle laugh. "Defeats the point."

“I know.” His pulse had come down, and the nurse hummed. 

“I don’t suppose you do your blood pressure at home, do you?”

Tai nodded. “Yeah, they asked me to at pre-op, given my anxiety. Last one was 121/83.” 

“Oh, perfect.”

"He's the fittest person I know." Harrison said. "And I know I've gotta say that, but it's true."

“Well, I’ve not been so good recently, but I do my best trying to stay fit.”

Harrison stroked his thumb over the back of his hand. "You know, he even does the physio he's supposed to."

“Only because if I didn’t, I’d be the world’s biggest hypocrite. Practice what you preach and all that.”

The nurse laughed, leafing through the paperwork. "Ah, yeah, here we are. You've got your blood pressures for the week. Bless, you really are nervous, aren’t you?"

He nodded. “Really nervous. I’m awful, I hate needles and I’m not overly fond of hospitals as a patient.”

"I don't blame you, not one bit. They're not nice to be in." He smiled. "Unfortunately though, we will have to put a little needle in when we go through."

“Yeah, I know.” He said. “I’d rather that than no anaesthetic, but I’m not a fan.”

Harrison huffed a laugh. "Hey, maybe they can get you a sticker for being such a brave boy? Finn did it to me for my last one."

“Oh, piss off.”

"I'm not even joking. He found a little cat one, and I woke up with paed tape on my cannula and a "good boy" cat sticker stuck to me." He laughed. "Ely was in on it, I swear. So was Fao."

“I don’t remember that.” He said softly. 

"Oh, I shouldn't have said anything. I've ruined my surprise."

“Arse.”

He kissed his cheek. "I know."

The nurse smiled at the pair. "Your heart rate has come right down to normal now."

“He usually makes it go up.”

Harrison blushed immediately, his ears tipped red. "Tai."

“I didn’t mean it like that! I meant you’re always stressing me out!”

The nurse laughed again. "Right, before Harrison here melts, why don't we get you through? The sooner you go down, the sooner you can be in recovery."

Tai couldn’t help the anxiety that shot through him. “Already? Thought I’d have to wait longer.”

"You're top of the list. We'll pop you through to the room and the anaesthetists are waiting for you to have a quick chat and then they'll take you down."

He nodded. “And Hars can stay?”

"For now, yeah."

"I've already spoken to them." Harrison said quickly. "They know."

“Okay then.”

Harrison squeezed Tai's hand. "We've got this. You’ve got this."

[faofinn]

Hi! Kind of new to your blog and I got a little lost with the characters 😅 Would you mind explaining the main plot or the characters’ background a bit so I can understand the stories a little better? Thank you and sorry for the trouble!

Hey!

Don't apologise at all! It is quite confusing - especially as we have different AUs for our characters!

We're going to do a full intro post for each of our characters, so keep an eye out for that. In the meantime, a quick rundown of the mains.

Fred and Sheila Daniels, adoptive parents to both Fao and Finn. Fostered Harrison on respite. Sheila works as a nurse when Finn and Fao are old enough (in her eyes) to fend for themselves. Fred, on the other hand, stays the furthest away from medicine as he can get, and works as a history professor, writing books in his spare time.

Fao Daniels, the eldest Daniels son, and very independent. Served in the army until an accident ended his career and he returned to the UK as a surgeon. Family: Amelia and James Blackwood (parents), Friend and Sheila Daniels (Adopted Parents), Tomas (Uncle and former 'guardian'), Finn (brother), Luke, Beth, Arthur (kids). Partners: Alex, Ollie, Harrison, Elyana Lozier.

Finn Daniels, the youngest son. Fred's nephew, suffered a TBI when he was ten thanks to #apollothecat. The accident caused his epilepsy and added to his chronic pain. Followed in Fao's footsteps and went to medschool, though he found his place in the ED. Family: Fred and Sheila (adopted parents), Partners: Jessica Weston.

Steve Cunningham. Neurosurgeon by trade, now Harrison's adoptive father. Needs to be protected at all costs, would do anything for Harrison. Mentored Fao while Finn was recovering from his TBI. Family: Bella (wife), Jonathan (son), Amy (daughter), Harrison (adopted son).

Harrison Cunningham-Cole, Steve's son and the reputation of troublemaker. Bounced around the care system after his parents (the Tanners) were arrested for abuse. Has his fair share of crappy partners, but finally found the love of his life in Tai. Works as an ED cons. Family: Steve (adoptive father), Kieran, Alfie, and Levi (adopted sons). Partners: Marcus, Conor, Taidgh Cole.

Taidgh Cunningham-Cole. Harrison's husband and dad to the three kids. Works as a physio, and has a diagnosis of late onset T1DM. Originally from Ireland, he moved to London to train, and met Harrison when he broke his ankle and was hopped up on pain meds.

Elyana Lozier - owned by @epochandeons , Shiv and Ev's best friend IRL! Ely works as an anaesthetist, and somehow fell in love with the idiot that is Fao. Also has seizures from a car crash. Adoptive mother to Luke, and bio to Beth and Arthur

Jessica Weston, another long-suffering partner. Has been Finn's girlfriend since they were nine, much to everyone's amusement (and Finn's denial). Works as a lawyer and has way too many brains to be with Finn, but family game nights prove why the pair are together. They have a daughter, Amelia, who was bit of a surprise to the pair.