Kevin had been moved to a hospital in Kentucky where he could rehabilitate and be close to his family and friends all at the same time. He was doing better, his arm and bruises and cuts had all healed. His head trauma had healed but he still couldn't walk, and he was very pissed off at that. He was angry at everybody. And for some reason, especially Madison.
She had got to see him on an especially bad day. He was grumbling about not being able to see anything but downtown Lexington and how he hated not walking or being able to go outside. Madison had taken all of his crap for the past couple months, and nobody knew how she handled it that long. She sat in one of the chairs in his room, listening to him complain on and on and on. "Kev? Do you want anything to eat?," She asked trying to break his constant grumblings.
"No.," He replied stonily from the window.
"Okay."
"Why are you here?"
"Why are you asking me that?"
"Because...I want to know."
She blinked back tears, this wasn't her Kevin. It was some bad, mean person in his place. He looked like the same person but he wasn't. She sighed, "Because I love you so much Kevin, I want to make sure you get better.."
"I'm not getting any better damnit."
"Thats because you're not trying anymore, you've given up on everything."
"There's no reason to go on!"
"Yes there is Kevin!! What about your career??? What about the group?? What about us?!"
"There is no US!!," He screamed.
She dropped her hands to her sides as he glared angrily at her. "How can you say that?," She whispered.
"Its the truth."
"Then you tell me...you tell me damnit, why the hell you were on that flight coming home to ask me to marry you?? Why did you do that if there is no us Kevin?"
"That was before."
"And this is after, I'm sick and tired of you being so downright mean to me! I'm trying to help you and if you don't want..or need me then I'm going to go home and move my things out of your house and go on with my life Kevin. The world does NOT revolve around YOU!"
"Then leave, I don't need you or anyone else!"
She grabbed all her belongings, fighting hard not to let him see her cry, how he could be so awful she didn't know, but she couldn't stand it anymore. "Fine, Kevin. I've tried so hard. I don't know what I've done to hurt you but I can't deal with this anymore Kevin...I love you, but I guess not enough for you to realize that."
He watched as she left, slamming the door behind her.
Madison made it all the way to Anne's house before she actually began to cry. Anne saw her coming and opened the door, "Oh honey, what happened??"
"He hates me..he told me that..that there isn't an 'us' anymore..he doesn't love me anymore and told me to leave."
She hugged her as Madison broke down finally. It had been too long in coming.
Brian sat across from Madison as she explained what happened earlier that afternoon. "I want to go home Brian."
"Are you sure?"
She bit her bottom lip, "No. He doesn't want me with him..there's nothing here for me."
"Madi..he's just..having a bad time..you know that..he can't accept he's not going to walk..Hell, I can't really accept that."
"He could..the doctors all say he can be rehabilitated..he's just given up!"
"He's giving up on everybody Madi.."
"He said its over....he actually told me there isn't anything between us anymore."
Brian took her hand and squeezed it gently, "If you think going to Orlando is best, then I'm not going to stand in your way. But I don't think you should give up on him. He needs everybody right now even if he says he doesn't."
She nodded, "I know..I've told myself that over and over. I just need..to be alone for a couple days or weeks..I'll come back Brian...maybe by then he'll of calmed down."
He nodded and kissed her forehead, "Okay..you take time for yourself, you need it Madi. You've put up with his shit for a long time now."
She smiled a little, "Thank you Brian...I'll come back, I promise."
Brian stared at Kevin incredously as he manuvered around his room. "Kev..what were you thinking?"
"What do you mean Brian?"
"Madison took a flight home about a half hour ago."
"Good, I don't need her."
"Damnit Kevin, I swear, if she leaves you, I will seriously not blame her one bit. You have treated her like shit since you came to Lexington and for some un-Godly reason she's stayed by your side every step of the way. Why are you treating her like that? She loves you so much, she's willing to take your shit."
He glared out the window, "I don't need her."
"Yes, you do. Damn Kevin, you were going to ask her to marry you!"
"Why would she want to marry me when I'm like this?!!?!"
Brian knelt down in front of Kevin, trying to get through to him, "Kevin, she has undying love for you, she would marry you if half your face was deformed and if you had no arms or legs! She loves you so much Kevin, she would put up with you screaming and yelling at her, she believes you can walk again, I do too. The doctors all tell us there is no reason you can't walk, I think you're giving up. You're giving up on everyone and yourself, but guess what? There are a hell of a bunch of people that aren't giving up on you."
Kevin stared past Brian, "I..can't..stand to look at her. I have dreams about us getting married...she would look absolutely gorgeous but then see me in a damn wheelchair and turned away and ran out. I can't do that to her Bri..I can't.."
Brian watched as Kevin started to crumble, he began to see the Kevin they all knew before. Hopefully..it wasn't too late for him and Madison.
Madison stared at the words on the letter she had just gotten. 'Maybe..I should go..back..,' She thought.
Madison,
Enclosed are pictures of Kevin at physical therapy. Since you left last month, I think I finally got through to him. He actually broke down and cried, how long had it been since we'd seen him cry? He's making progress and I think whatever you said plus what I said later that night got through to him. He was scared Madison, thats the only reason I can give you. He told me about dreams he had been having about you all getting married but once you saw him in a wheelchair, you ran away from him. I know you wouldn't do that.
Kevin loves you so much and realizes how wrong he was to take all his anger out on you. He just can't bring himself to call or see you...yet. He said he has to prove something to himself before he sees you. I don't know what. Aunt Anne misses you, so do Tim and Jerald, you had some normalcy in that family and I think they truely thought that Kevin would get better with you there. He was so angry Madi, angry that this had happened to him. But he's going to walk, just like you said. I guess thats it, just remember, there's always a place for you here but call sometime and talk, I need to know how you are from YOU not from Nick and AJ and Howie. :) I'll talk to you later.
Love,
Brian
Madison smiled as she looked at the pictures, something had happened in Kevin's brain. Something had clicked for once, and he was stubborn enough where he could help himself or hurt himself...and it looked like he was helping himself.
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