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Chapter 85 - Real Life Nightmare
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Cailen decided to lay back on the bed, the sheets cold and scratchy under his skin.
He could feel the tears coming again as he thought about all the other possible ways Asher could have been harmed.
There was smoke inhalation to consider, the blow to his head could have caused some serious damage, any injuries from falling debris when he was knocked unconscious...
Cailen could come up with a long list if he let himself but he had to stop thinking about it unless he wanted to become a blubbering mess.
Tears were already burning his eyes, one escaping and sliding down from the corner of his eye to be soaked up by his hair.
Asher had to be okay, he had to make it out of this.
He had to come home with Cailen. He was going to. He was going to be fine. He was going to come home.
Cailen kept telling himself this as he laid there but even as he kept repeating those words in his head, he found it har
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"Shit, Cai,I'm sorry. He's-he's going to be okay, yeah?" Williamsaid hopefully but Cailenwasn't sure if he was trying to convince Cailenof this or himself. "Look, Noah's on his way there, Matt's going to head over after work and I'll be with Zeke, just let me know if you want me to bring him down there or whatever, anything you need,Cai.""Okay," Cailennodded, letting out a sigh. "Have you told him?" Cailenasked hoping he hadn't.He knew he couldn't keep this from him forever but he wanted to be the one to tell him, well... He knew he should be the one to tell him.To be honest, he wasn't really looking forward to explaining to their son about Asher's condition.How did you even explain this to a child?"No, I- I didn't know how or if I even should," Williamadmitted, sounding somewhat ashamed."No, don't worry about it," Cailentold him, knowing he was feeling bad about appar
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Madelineled them from the cafeteria and up towards the ICU in complete silence.The only sound between the three of them was the scuffing and squeaking of their shoes on the floor of the hospital.Cailendidn't know how to feel about this. It could simply mean that Madelinehadn't spoken to the doctor yet and therefore did not know any more than he did and had nothing to say.That's what Cailenwas hoping was making her so quiet. He hoped it wasn't that she had spoken to the doctor about Asherand now she just didn't know how to tell him the bad news and was leaving it up to the doctor.Cailen'sstomach twisted unpleasantly at the thought as he followed behind her quietly, Noahby his side looking just as distressed.If Cailenhad eaten anything today, he was positive it would be on the floor of the hospital by now.Cailenactually started to feel a bit faint the farther they walked
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Cailenturned, still keeping one arm around Noahbecause he really didn't think he could stand on his own yet.Madelinesmiled at him, reaching up to pat at his cheek with a smile."Thank you, Madeline. I know I wasn't much help today.""Oh, hush," Madelinesaid immediately, waving off his apology. "You don't need to apologize for that," she said and then she was really looking at him, her eyes roaming over him. "Are you alright, dear? You look a little pale," she said, now reaching out to feel his forehead."I don't know, I think it's just... I don't know, I feel a bit faint but I'll be fine. I'm just so relieved," Cailenadmitted, blinking away tears but it was no use.She thought on this for a moment as he felt Noah's grip on him tighten at the mention of him feeling a bit faint. Her eyes narrowed at him in suspicion as she lowered her hand."Did you eat?" she asked like she already knew the answer.
A Place To Call Home Chapter 89 - A Voice Of Worry And Concern
"What's happened?" Williamanswered on the first ring as if he had been sitting there staring at his phone, waiting for Cailento call.Cailenfelt a little bad for finishing his sandwich first but he was pretty sure Noahwouldn't have let him go anyway."The doctor said he'll be fine with time. He's a lot banged up, but... He's going to be okay," Cailentold him, smiling to himself with the reminder that Asherwas going to be okay."Oh, thank God," Williamsighed.Cailenlet him have a moment for this to sink in, taking a moment to look up into sky. It wasn't dark yet but he knew it would be in a couple hours."Yeah..." Cailensaid after a moment. "I was wondering if you'd make Zekedinner for me and then bring him down here?" Cailenasked, smiling politely as a couple passed him on the sidewalk."Uh, well... He's already eaten. Arabellamade us dinner," William
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When they're finally able to see Asher, it's nearly nine o'clock.They had moved from the cafeteria and into the waiting chairs by the front because they had padding and were a little more comfortable than the chairs in the cafeteria.Ezekielstill hadn't let go of Cailen, making Cailencarry him from the cafeteria to the front, but again, he didn't mind.He felt bad about this, he felt like this was somehow his fault that Ezekielhad cried and he was willing to do anything to make him feel better. Of course he knew it wasn't his fault but it was hard to push that feeling aside.They were sitting by the front, watching people coming and going with Ezekielpropped in his lap so he could rest his head on Cailen'sshoulder.Cailenthinks he's dozed off a couple times between Noahand Williamtrying to get him to converse with them.Williamhad even offered his phone with the Batman game
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Ezekielwas curled up on Asher's right side, peering over his waist at Cailenwith a curious expression and a sort of amused glint in his eyes as he regarded Cailen.The two of them sat there in silence for a long while, so long,Cailenwas beginning to think that maybe he had dozed off and dreamt the voice but he was almost certain that he hadn't.He was positive because Ezekielwas looking at him like that-like he was waiting for some kind of reaction from Cailen.He supposed that look could have just been from Cailenrandomly saying the words 'Yes, love', if Cailenhad dreamt it, but he didn't think that was the case.To be honest, he was hoping that it wasn't the case."Zeke, did you just-" Cailenwent to ask but stopped himself because how should he ask that?If Cailendid dream it and asked Ezekielabout it,he might upset the boy or make him feel pressured. Eve
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"Cailen," was what Cailenwoke up to the next morning, that and a pair of make-up coated eyes peering at him curiously.Cailenpeeled his eyes open further, a groan escaping his mouth when he pushed himself up right in the chair.The pain in his back should have been expected, and it kind of was, but that didn't ease the pain any.He remembered that after crying his eyes out, he pushed himself up from the floor and dragged himself towards the chair to get whatever little sleep he could.The pair of eyes belonged to a girl, Carmen, a nurse that worked at the hospital.Carmenand Cailennever talked much, they've hardly spoken two words to each other the whole time he's worked here. Not because one of them was a snob, but because their shifts hardly collided.He was surprised she knew his name. Her small hand was on his arm,shaking him awake but let go when she saw he was sitting up."What time is
A Place To Call Home Chapter 93 - Complete, Yet Incomplete
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"Hey, hey, it's the superstar, finally making an appearance!" Matthewcalled out when they entered the kitchen.Cailengrinned at this while Williamlooked a bit sheepish. He knew he was never around much and constantly apologized for it, but they all understood and were all proud of their friend."Shut up, I've been busy!" Williamdefended just as the two girls at the counter turned in their stools and gasped.They each climbed their way down from the stools, Aariyahalmost taking a tumble but she caught herself and then they were each latched onto one of William's legs, the older man chuckling."Uncle William!" Maddisonsquealed, squeezing William's leg tight.Williamawkwardly bent down as far as he could without hurting or squishing the small girls, reaching out to rest a hand on each of them."How are two of my favorite girls?" he asked.It was truly adorable how much they each loved
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Cailenonly had to look over the boy's shoulder to see his brother saunter in, but Ezekieland Ellianahad to turn around and Cailencouldn't say he was exactly surprised by the reaction.Ellianagasped in surprise while Ezekieldarted forward and threw himself at his uncle.Williamchuckled and wrapped Ezekielup in a tight hug, rocking him back and forth slightly before letting go."Uncle William, you made it!" Ezekielsaid happily.It had been a while since Ezekieland Maddisonlast saw him."Papasaid he didn't know if you were coming," Ezekielexplained.William mockscoffed."Of course I will! I wouldn't miss my favorite nephew turning fifteen!" Williamexclaimed.Cailentook a peek over at Ellianato see a look of confusion mixed with awe and nearly lost it. He would never understandthe effect Williamhad on teen
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"Dude, she'll be here soon," Trippsaid, leaning across the island in the kitchen to reach for the bowl of crisps that Cailenhad put out. "Calm down or you'll start getting sweat stains," he added, scrunching up his nose in distaste.Tripp, if possible, had grown up to be even bigger than Ezekiel, though that wasn't much of a surprise with how much taller he's always been than Ezekiel. He still had his blonde hair,though it wasn't quite so golden anymore-more of a dirty blonde, and has acquired glasses over the years.Cailenremembers the first day he had come over with them on, the boy had been mortified but he's grown to love them, claiming the girls were really into the 'nerdy' look these days."And no girl likes sweat stains," Aireneadded from her spot at the island.Airenehad grown up to be quite the beautiful girl, her hair still a fiery red and her green eyes bright and enchanting.Ezekie
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Maddison rushed over to them, throwing herself into Asher's legs hard enough that her feet left the ground and she was able to crawl into Asher's lap, with his help of course."What do you mean ‘Zekeleft’?" Asherquestioned as he wrapped his arms around his daughterso she wouldn't fall off.She had nestled herself nicely in his lap so her legs dangled over the edge but she was able to look up at them both with her big blue eyes.They adopted Maddison out of the orphanage when she was six years old, soon after Ezekielhad come up to them one day and asked if they were ever going to adopt another child.It was completely random and out oftheblue and had taken them both by surprise so much that they didn't know what to say.They honestly hadn't thought about adopting again, but when Ezekielexplained that he was only wondering because he thought it might be nice to have someone to play w
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Seven years later…"Alright," Cailenheard come from down the hall.It was only a couple steps further so he made the small venture to poke his head around the corner and into the hall to see Asherjust coming up from the basement."The basement isofficially 'Teen-Proof'," Asher said around an exhausted sigh.Cailenfully stepped into the entrance of the hallway, crossing his arms over his chest and waiting for his husband to meet him at the end of the hall and proceeding to follow him into the kitchen.Cailenstill cringed slightly whenever he walked into the kitchen, more so when he had company following him.They were in the middle of renovating the kitchen, the last of the house's renovation, thankfully.When they purchased the house four years ago, they had gotten it pretty cheap because it needed so much work done to it. They just hadn't realized how much work it ne
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"Yeah, I love you too," Cailensaid with a small smile before hanging up his phone and slipping it into his pocket.He went to turn around but paused as a man in a suit rushed by him, obviously in a hurry.They were at the airport saying goodbye to Noahbefore he got on a flight to Scotlandand apparently,he was not the only one planning a trip that weekend.You could barely move without bumping into someone and Cailenhad to step away into a corner in order to answer his phone because it was so loud.Once the man had passed,Cailencontinued back towards the small group that was gathering outside the gate Noahwas to go through to get to his flight.They were all there, Matthew, Hazel, and of course Aariyah, William, Asherand Ezekiel, all hugging Noahgoodbye before his departure.He had been in the middle of saying goodbye when his phone rang and he excused himself to answer
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Cailen is startled from his sleep by a sudden weight crashing into him and then a wet nose sniffing at his face.He knows who it is instantly and groans, not caring if he wakes Asher up at this point.It's his dog, if Loki is waking Cailen up, then Asher can get woken up as well.Cailen brought his arms up, having to untangle himself from Asher's grasp in order to do so, and shielded his face from the intruding nose.It's not like this has never happened before, but it didn't happen often.Loki was usually pretty good at just sleeping at the foot of their bed, but recently, he's been cuddling up to Ezekiel in his so it was a bit strange.Either way, Loki was waking Cailen up so he started to sit up, just remembering to be gentle in case Asher's arm or leg was in the right position to get squished."Loki, down," Cailen mumbled, his tone firm.Cailen heard a groan come from behind him and knew Asher was now awake.
