4.20. "I don't want your help, I want you safe."
Up

Co-written with drcampbell | A week after THIS

Lachlan felt a tiny bit of the weight lift from his shoulders that morning when his baby son was moved from the Paediatrics ICU to the standard Paeds Ward. Riley was out of the woods, with his blood sugar still a little unstable, but his breathing and heart rate back to where they should be. He had been in a really bad way when he was brought in, and Lachlan could hardly maintain his composure when he was told what had happened. Riley's blood sugar had dropped when he missed a meal with Tara unable to get to him. He was also dehydrated from having no access to a drink to satiate the thirst that came from the falling BSL. From there, it was just a rapid descent with his health. He had already been running a minor fever, likely from the fact he was teething again. Once the wee boy realised there was no one there to help him when he cried, he inevitably panicked and became rapidly distressed, spiking a fever. By the time Aiden had actually got to him, it was probably hours since Tara placed him in the buggy. His nappy was so soiled and wet, he had a painful rash all over his bottom and genitals, spanning down to the tops of his legs. The panic had him hyperventilating and the crying meant his little nose was blocked and throat was sore, making it difficult to breathe. He had also scratched at his face because he was so distressed, drawing blood even though Tara had always kept his nails trimmed to prevent him accidentally scratching himself.

( When Lachlan had seen his son in the ER, he hadn't been able to do anything but sob... )

All muses referenced with permission and are from the princeton2nyc universe


Word Count | 2,185

I'll try and keep it brief, because I'm limited in my typing capabilities. I just wanted to let everyone know I'm back, and okay. Thanks for all the well wishes, whether directly to my email, by PM or via my dear friends, Connor and Jamie.

My head feels much better, despite some gross looking fading bruises and my ribs are healing. I still have to wear a sling some of the time, but I'm allowed to have it off if I'm resting. I can type, just nowhere near my usual 70 wpm I usually have. I hope to get back to my tags over the weekend.

It was definitely a terrifying time and we were lucky at the end of the day. My friend who was driving is acutally lucky to be alive, though he has had pins put in his knee to repair it. If the car hit about two feet more to the left, we would have been centre-punched and he would have died.

I've missed everyone a lot and I'm looking forward to getting back into the swing of things. Thanks muchly to my pals who have kept my pups active via secondary mentions of them. You guys are awesome and I can't wait to thread with you again.

Thanks again, everyone. I really appreciate the healing thoughts.

Do you think it might be possible for you to come to Princeton at some point? I need to talk to you about some things. If you can let me know in advance when you can come, I'll make sure Cameron isn't here.

Thanks, love.

2.5. "It's all right letting yourself go, as long as you can get yourself back."
Mick Jagger

Co-written with cameronpreston

The relief that had flooded through Cameron when Pat finally pulled through and woke up with his vision returning had been almost crippling for him. The doctors had been talking about the possibility Pat might not regain his sight at all, or that the ordeal of the second bleed in his brain in two years, no matter how small, might have been too taxing on his MS for him to pull out of this latest attack on his feet. They didn't know if he would be in a wheelchair permanently this time. But with a good few days of recuperation under his belt, Pat was back on the mend and returning more and more to his old self as he started to feel better. The wheelchair issue wasn't one that could be answered yet. Pat's body was still weakened from the illness and he would need physio yet again, but the prognosis had shifted from uncertain to hopeful. Ironically, both twins now found themselves in the clutches of physiotherapy, with Cameron now well able to sympathise how hard Pat fought to get back on his feet after he had been sick.

( In fact, Pat had been well enough that morning for Aiden to make the nervous decision to go to New York with Harri for the day so she could collect some things after choosing to stay in Princeton to lick her wounds are the split with James... )

All muses referenced with permission and are from the princeton2nyc universe


Word Count | 1,720

1.10. "There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort."
Jane Austen

Co-written with doctortara

[Follows THIS, THIS, THIS and THIS]

Tara sat on the side of Pat’s hospital bed, one hand gently wrapped around his and her other resting on the handle of the baby buggy parked beside the bed. Her baby son was nestled inside, shooting her bright smiles and tiny giggles when she waved her fingers at him. He had still been a little off-colour when he woke that morning, so they decided to make an appointment with his doctor for a bit of a check over. He was happy enough but he definitely didn’t have the energy he usually did as a curious seven month old. They had an appointment in an hour, so Tara offered to sit with Pat while Lachlan joined Aiden and Cameron outside for a coffee and a bit of fresh air. Tara wasn’t surprised when both men had tried to protest, and she knew more than anyone how it felt to be in their shoes. But she did also know that some fresh air could help clear the head just a little and that was better than the oppressive weight of sitting at a hospital bedside crushing you more and more with each tick of the clock.

( She also knew this whole this was a strain on her husband too... )

All muses referenced with permission


Word Count | 816

( Sometimes, there just was no warning, and now it was all coming in a rush before he had a chance to do anything about it... )

All muses referenced with permission and are from the princeton2nyc universe


Word Count | 460

LINK: It's not about the soup, it's about the effort and care that goes into making it for someone.

[Follows THIS and THIS]

There was a nice park just a couple of blocks from The London bar, complete with a duck pond and a gazebo. It was a popular spot for outdoor weddings or just general escapes from hectic schedules in the popular university and hospital town. It was only a short walk from the bar and it was a gorgeous day outside, especially now the crowds had dispersed. Pat had baby Riley nursed securely in his arms as he approached the park and found Lachlan sitting on the edge of the sidewalk outside the park, hunched forward with his head in his hands. He wasn't being sick, at least not for the moment, but he had been, and the vomit in the gutter between Lachlan's feet just made Pat worry that little bit more.

( Riley wriggled against Pat's chest with a string of cooing baby babble, and it was enough to catch Lachlan's attention... )

Oh yeah, sure. Just because I'm vegetarian, I get the boring option.

You Are Chips and Salsa

You are energetic and a real go getter. You can even be aggressive at times. You love taking risks and taking the rewards. You are a true daredevil. You can be a bit greedy in life, and you go after what you want. You are courageous and edgy. You will do what others are afraid of.

Ps. I'm going back to work

2.3. "If you limit your choices only to what seems possible or reasonable, you disconnect yourself from what you truly want, and all that is left is a compromise"
- Robert Fritz

Co-written with cameronpreston | Follows THIS

There was a change in Pat this visit, and Cameron sensed it immediately as soon his twin walked into the room. Actually the track pants and t-shirt with just Aiden's leather jacket over the top was probably a big indicator. Pat was usually pretty flashy and trendy in his dress. This almost looked like he hadn't felt like taking the effort he usually did... or maybe he didn't have the energy to. Cameron watched as Pat sat in the visitor's chair with his legs curled up underneath him. He had his chin resting on his hand as he watched the rain outside the window. He wasn't very talkative either. "What's up, buddy? Are you feeling sick?" Cameron finally asked.

Pat blinked as he drew his eyes from the view out the window. He gave a slight nod and shifted in the seat. "A little," he confirmed but gave his brother a small smile. "I'm okay. Tired and sore. Sorry for spacing out. I think I left my brain in bed this morning."

( Cameron frowned... )

All muses referenced with permission and are from the princeton2nyc universe


Word Count | 1,477

1. Do you like it rough or sensual?
Preferrably sensual, but I don't mind it rough sometimes

2. Do you prefer to be with the opposite sex or the same sex? or both? At the moment?
Same sex

3. How often do you like to have sex?
As much as possible... which admittedly can't always be 'often'

4. Is sex a top priority for you?
Not always, but I think it's important in a relationship

5. Do you have sex face to face with your partner?
Yes

( The rest... )

2.4. "They say that blood is thicker than water. Maybe that's why we battle our own with more energy and gusto than we would ever expend on strangers."
- David Assael

Co-written with cameronpreston

It was pissing down rain outside in Liverpool that afternoon, and it was enough to match Cameron's mood. He was sitting up in the hospital bed for the first time in days, but it didn't make him any happier to be there. His iPod served as no relief, nor did any number of the magazines and books his family had brought him. He had a visit from a bunch of his team mates that morning who had come to offer the sympathies that he was out for the season. The visit had been sombre, each man knowing exactly how it would feel to be in Cameron's position. He knew Pat was due to come soon and he found himself really wishing his brother would appear. He missed him. He missed him a lot.

( Almost as if on cue, Pat appeared in the doorway of Cameron's room with an elaborate hand gesture, adorned in one of Cameron's Liverpool jerseys, and started singing loudly and passionately... )

All muses referenced with permission and are from the princeton2nyc universe


Word Count | 2,829