Chapter Text
"We don't need you right now, Y/N."
Mark doesn't know it, but he's hurt you. You'd been having bad dreams, and been feeling low.
Unwanted.
You knew how to hide it, it was how you survived a bad childhood
Ethan saw, and was going to speak up, but you touched his arm and shook your head.
It didn't matter.
"I'm taking a walk. I've got my phone on me, call me when you need me."
You walk. You're lost in your own head a bit.
When you come back to yourself, you can't see them. Good, better to be alone. Not their jobs to placate you.
You're going around a tree when it happens. There is a hole in the dirt that you can't see, your foot sinks in, and you go flying.
You try to get up. Then the pain hits, and a strangled cry leaves your lips. Your head, and your left foot.
It hurts so bad!
The pain from both meets, and you vomit. You use your good foot to push your self away, you don't get that far.
You reach for your phone, but it won't turn on.
Great, You're stuck, hurt and can't get help. They're going to be pissed.
'You've ruined everything. You always do.'
The ghost of your past, your father's voice, rings in your head.
'Wasted time, wasted effort, on you everything's a waste.'
'I'd just leave you. They should too, if they know what's best for 'em '
You pull up your good leg, and bury your face into it. The tears flow fast.
+
"Where is she? She's not answering."
This was the third time Mark had called your phone.
"Something's not right," says Tyler.
In the three months you've been there, you have never once let them down.
Not that you were perfect. But you always try.
This isn't you.
Ethan sighed.
"Look, she stopped me before, but I'm saying it now- Mark, you hurt her earlier."
"What?! What did I do?!" Mark's voice raised an octave in his semi-panic.
"It isn't your fault. We text at night, sometimes, and she's told me she's been having nightmares and doubts about being here. You said you didn't need her. I have a feeling that struck a nerve."
"Let's go get her, then," interrupts Tyler
He wants to stop the blame game in it's tracks. They could all work on it after they found you.
+
Mark sees you first. He's disturbed. You should not look that small- Jesus!- that was blood!
Both he and Ethan rush forward calling out your name.
It takes Mark touching your shoulder to get a reaction.
They were here. They cared.
They came for you.
You look up, searching for the anger. It isn't there.
Time to explain yourself.
"I fell… couldn't g-get u-up! My- my phone won't w-work. I'm sor- sorry!"
It wasn't good enough, you knew. You hate that your voice skips like a record.
"Hey, it's ok. Just glad we found you." Mark says.
"Let's try to get you up, okay?"
He offers a hand to pull you up, and it works until you try to put weight on your left foot.
You cry out, and wobble, but he keeps you standing.
It's quite away to the car, and you're not sure if you can do the walk.
Unnoticed by you, Mark and Tyler have had a silent conversation, by looks and gestures.
You yelp as Mark lifts you off both feet and passes you to Tyler.
You are quiet on the way back. You can't help but feel that there will be consequences for this.
You’re the one who was stupid enough to fall, anyway.
Ethan sits by you on the way to the hospital, he holds your hand, and murmurs reassurances.
+
Lucky you, the room they send you back to has three chairs. Of course, you had tried to protest them all staying. Did not work. Ended with Mark gently putting his hand over your mouth to silence you
"We're here for the long haul, Y/N, you are not getting rid of us."
Tyler and Ethan both chime in in agreement.
Mark had switched with Ethan as the one who sat closest to you, by the time the doctor got to you.
Getting your shoe off sucked, started with a ragged cry when he touched it.
You feel Mark's fingers slip through yours, and when the doctor starts again, you squeeze his hand as hard as you can.
The second the doctor gets your shoe off, he states that you definitely have a broken foot, x-rays are next, plus stitches for the gash on your head.
Appointments, prescriptions, aftercare sheet. And you're set free.
"You're staying with me while you're on crutches," Mark insists
'How dare he, how dare he. I've always been fine on my own!'
Because you'd had to.
He sees the explosion coming, not just Hell No, but Fuck You. Or worse, you trying to talk him out of it.
"Has your landlord fixed the elevator?"
'that’s a NO.'
"Yeah, thought so. And I know it's four flights of stairs up before you get to your place.
So yeah, I've got a free room.
You sigh, and give in.