Doctor's Orders
"It's not serious enough for a cast, but you'll need an arm brace and a sling for a couple of months." The doctor dug through one of the cabinets along the wall and handed Phoenix a black sling with a matching glove like brace. He glared at the objects as he slid them on, obviously not a fan of them.
"I can't pay for it." He started to remove the sling and brace.
"I'll take care of it." Amy stopped him.
"Thanks." He offered her a small smile.
"Once you sign this, I'll let you go." The doctor handed him a clipboard and pen before leaving.
"Hey Phoenix?" Amy said tentatively, unsure if she should finish her question.
He made a noise that somewhat resembled a grunt, not looking up from the papers on the clipboard he was signing.
"What happened to Tyler?" She blurted.
Phoenix suddenly froze, his gaze trained intently at the clipboard.
"How do you know him?" He growled in the same tone he spoke with to the man at the Immigrants.
"Ethan told me that you pay for his medical expenses." She explained, equally as quiet.
Phoenix didn't speak. Instead, he sat the clipboard and pen down on the floor before sliding off of the examination table and walked down the hall as if he was walking home. Amy followed behind him, curious what he was doing.
He stopped in front of room thirty-six, taking a deep breath before opening the door and entering.
There was a man laying on the white sheeted hospital bed, short, curly, dark brown hanging low near his closed eyes. He was hooked up to several machines that constantly beeped in an almost comforting rhythm, a clear oxygen mask covering his mouth that fogged up every time he exhaled. He looked like he had muscles at one point, now he looked extremely skinny.
"He had a kidney transplant when he was twenty, but last year...last year was rough. Tyler couldn't afford the medicine he needed and he wouldn't take money from Ethan or I, so..." he waved his hand in the direction of the bed.
"So now he's like this." He finished in a whisper that was so quiet Amy almost didn't hear him.
"Will he get better?" Amy turned away from the prone figure lying on the bed and looked at Phoenix instead.
"He needs surgery, but I can't afford it, that's why I worked at the Immigrants." Mark sighed in defeat.
"Ethan, he said that Tyler-" She cut herself off, unable to finish.
"They're taking him off of life support tomorrow, a couple of days if I can convince them." Phoenix seemed to read her mind.
"You know your friends are here for you, right?" Amy pressed the handful of money Jack gave her into Phoenix's hand. His eyes widened in surprise like he was handed a million dollars.
"I-I can't take this." He tried handing it back, but Amy curled his fingers over it.
"Keep it." She insisted.
"But it's-" Phoenix paused as he counted it out.
"Five hundred bucks." He once again tried to give it back.
"Doesn't matter, it should cover your hospital costs." She told him.
"Ready to go?" The doctor that gave him the cast and sling poked his head into the room. Phoenix glanced back at Amy before nodding, handing the doctor the money before walking back into the waiting room into the elevator that led to the parking garage. Jack was still in the car waiting for him, fast asleep with his head tilted back and mouth slightly agape with a thin line of drool trailing down the corner of his mouth.
Before Any could wake Jack up herself, Mark opened the passenger side door as quietly as he could, then slammed his hand down on the car horn.
"TOP O' THE MORNING TO YA!" Phoenix shouted at the top of his lungs.
"Fucking hell!" Jack jerked awake, his forehead banging onto the steering wheel as he wildly looked around, his eyes landing on Phoenix who was doubled over laughing with Amy trying but failing to hide her laughs with barely suppressed snorts of amusement.
"You guys suck." Jack muttered as rubbed his forehead where he hit the steering wheel with one hand while flipping Phoenix off with the other, sending them into fits of laughter as the two climbed back into the car, Phoenix sitting up front again.
"How'd it go?" Jack looked into the rearview mirror as he backed the car up, driving out of the parking garage.
"Fine I guess, I'm stuck with this for a month." Phoenix raised his right arm as much as the sling allowed him before resting it against his chest again.
"Where do you guys wanna go next?" Jack asked as he stopped at a red light.
"I think home would be best." Amy answered. She was tired and Phoenix couldn't too much with one arm, especially since it was his off hand.
Jack shrugged as he drove to the apartment building, waving goodbye as he drove away after Phoenix and Amy got out.
"Hey, I know this is a lot to ask..." He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.
"But could you help take care of me?" He finished in a rush as if he only had a couple seconds left to talk to Amy.
"Sure!" She agreed, surprised and pleased that he was asking for help.
"Thanks." He breathed in relief as he opened the door to his apartment.
"See you tomorrow." Amy kissed him on the cheek, leaving him standing stunned in the doorway as she went back to her apartment and changed into her pjs before promptly falling asleep to the sound of the busy city below.
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