"So, hon, when are ya' bustin' out of this joint?" Bon asked. He sat on the edge of Stevi's bed, drinking a soda from the vending machine. Stevi shrugged, playing with the hem of her blanket. "You allowed to have any of this?" He held up his soda can. 

"Probably not, Bon, I don't think the vending machines are for the patients," Malcolm said.

"I'll get ya' one later," Bon said. "This'll pick ya' right up. Might even walk again." He dropped the subject. "Where's Ang?"

"Waiting room," Malcolm said. "He didn't wanna come up."

"He doin' okay?" Bon asked, a concerned look on his face. "Mark said...somethin' about him actin' funny. Brought it up over dinner, like. His mum made lamb."

"Oh yeah?" Malcolm said. "Think he's shaken up." He stared at Stevi. "I don't blame him." Stevi looked down in guilt before Malcolm pressed her hand. "An' I don't blame you, either."

"Okay, Stevi," a nurse said, entering the room. With long red hair and long legs, she was very cute and Bon didn't miss a trick. "Time for your afternoon walk."

"I can take her," Malcolm said. Stevi's eyes lit up. "If that's alright, of course."

"If Stevi says it's okay-" Stevi nodded enthusiastically. "Alright then, let's get your crutches fixed up..."

**********

"Ya' know, you could stay with us," Malcolm said, guiding Stevi down the hallway. "I know you're lookin' for your family but we could help. I don't like to think of you makin' the trip alone."

Stevi smiled. Malcolm smiled back, accidentally walking into a wall.

"Fuck, sorry," he said as they kept going. Stevi put a hand to her smiling mouth and Malcolm could have sworn she was laughing at him.

Amidst all the hustle and bustle of the hospital, the waiting room was pretty quiet and relaxed. Most people drank coffee or tea in little paper cups. Angus was speaking to a young woman across the room and Malcolm noticed him right away. "There's Ang, come on." He carefully led Stevi across the room and caught up to the pair. "Ang."

Angus stopped his conversation short upon their arrival. "Hi, Mal," he muttered. The woman sitting next to Angus looked back and forth at the two brothers, occasionally glancing at Stevi.

"Who's your friend?"

"This is Alice," Angus said. "Has a brother with a broken foot."

"That's too bad," Malcolm said.

"He'll be alright," Alice said. "He'll be back on the lacrosse team in no time, breaking an arm or something." Malcolm noticed Angus looking down at his feet, displeased at the interruption. 

"Stevi an' I were about to head outside," Malcolm said. "Weather's picked up. Did ya' wanna come with us?"

"Sort of in the middle of somethin', ya' know?" Angus said, gesturing at Alice.

"Right," Malcolm said, hiding a grin. "Well then, we're off. Nice meetin' ya', Alice." He led Stevi past them, Angus sighing as he watched them disappear. 

"Everything alright between you two?" Alice asked and Angus nodded.

"It's fine," he said, taking her hand. "Now what were you sayin' before my brother interrupted?"

**********

"Nice day, ain't it, Stevi?" Malcolm asked. He helped her maneuver her crutches around the bumpy sidewalk, tree roots growing underneath. There were pigeons and squirrels outside, relishing the warm sun despite the cold winter air. Stevi pointed at them, grinning. "They came all the way here jus' to see ya'."

Some other patients were outside too for physical therapy. A group of men in wheelchairs were playing basketball in the court, laughing and shouting. Stevi watched them for a bit until Malcolm pointed at a service dog on a leash.

"Bet he's a good boy," Malcolm said, watching the dog guide his owner around. His tail was high, eyes and ears alert. "Ang's an idiot for declinin', he's missin' a real good time." Stevi pointed at the hospital, furrowing her brow. "Ah, don't worry about him," Malcolm said. "He'll get over himself, always does." She reached out and tugged on his coat sleeve. "What is it?" Stevi turned her crutches around. "Hey, hold on!" Malcolm hurried to catch up with her receding form. She led him back inside as he held the door open for her. Inside Angus was standing by himself, tucking a slip of paper in his pocket. His smile vanished when he saw them approaching him, only for Malcolm to swipe it and stick it on his own face. "Well, well, well, get her number, did we?"

"Jealous?" Angus snapped.

"Not at all, I've got Stevi," Malcolm said. Stevi wobbled on her crutches at the words as Malcolm steadied her. She pointed at a clock on the wall. "Wanna head back?" She nodded. "Alright, let's get ya' back an' leave Angus to his mopin'."

**********

"So how's about it, Stevi, wanna stay with us for a while? Until we figure somethin' out?" Malcolm asked. "We don't bite." Stevi looked unsure before finally nodding. "Great." Before Malcolm could open the door to her room the nurse came hurrying out, almost running into them.

"Oh, sorry," she said, holding back a fit of giggles, face as red as her hair. She scurried down the hall, her cap almost falling to the floor. Malcolm pushed the door open and saw Bon getting up from one of the extra beds.

This should be good.

"Back, Mal?" he asked, nodding at Stevi. "Hope you had a good time. Tried to have a chat with the nurse, myself, ya' know?"

"An' how did that go?" Bon shrugged.

"She knows who we are, knows who I am. Said, 'Nice try, Mr. Scott', an' when I tried makin' her laugh by pretendin' to be a patient she ran out the door." Stevi laughed silently at Bon's attempt at a woman's voice. 

"Makin' her laugh," Malcolm muttered, not believing a word. "Ya' have her inspect anything?"

"I'm a dirty man, Mal, but I'm not that bad." Bon grinned, eyes sparkling.