How Green Becomes Wood

As expected, the very second the door shut, and Ivy looked around realizing she had been left with someone who she knew, but had never been alone with, she began to bawl as loudly as she possibly could.

Once everyone was buckled, Dark drove first to the train station, so Daizi could go to work. She didn't draw out her goodbyes, just telling them that she loved them and demanding they keep in touch with what happens. "I will be very, very cross if I need to wait until I'm home to know what happened, you can bother me at work for this."

Dark promised he would let her know everything as it happened and then drove to Urgent Care. After he had called the twins out of school, he had made an online appointment to hopefully decrease their waiting time. When they parked, he said, "Let me go see if they have a wheelchair to help you inside."
 
Lex calmly fetched Ivy's rabbit and set it near her where she could see it and grab it if she wanted. Then she picked out a few books that she vaguely remembered Ivy liking and sat on the floor with her back against the couch. She was right where Ivy could see her, doing something Ivy liked, but letting Ivy work through her feelings in her own time without trying to force her into a happier mood. She hummed softly and held up a book, pretending to read it. The howling hurt her ears, but she pretended it didn't.

"Right," Xander agreed, feeling weird for needing something like that, but it was better than being carried in either piggyback or princess style. He couldn't exactly hop across the parking lot.

Alec reached over and took his hand, smiling at him encouragingly. They'd get through this just fine.
 
Ivy sat on the floor and cried, but when she saw her rabbit she did pick it up to hold while she cried. Her Mama, and her Baba, AND Ann AND Ack all left her, and she didn't know what to do! Seeing her cry, Enkidu stood up, walked over, and lay himself down right besides her.

Dark stepped inside to check in and get the paperwork. When he explained the situation, the receptionist let him know they did have a wheelchair available, so before he started filling out the paper, he took the chair out to the car so Xander could safely enter the building.
 
Lex stayed close, keeping an eye on Ivy. As long as Ivy knew she wasn't alone (even if she felt like it with all.of her favorite people leaving) and was safe and unharmed, Lex felt it was best to let her vocalize her feelings until she was ready to move on.

Kiki came down after a bit, confused and disturbed by all the screaming. She watched Ivy unhappily for a moment before slowly slinking over to study the situation. Enkidu seemed worried about the smallest human, but Kiki couldn't understand what was wrong. It was strange and also fascinating. She got close and closer until she was right up next to Ivy. Then, as delicately as only a cat knew how, she reached up and stuck her paw in Ivy's mouth. She yanked it out instantly and shook it.

~~

"You are royalty," Alec told Xander as he helped him into the chair.

"Shut up," Xander grumbled. The chair was decently comfortable, at least, and if Dark pushed him, there was no problem. Alec walked alongside him, looking around curiosly.
 
Kiki sticking her paw into Ivy's mouth shocked her so badly, she stopped crying and stared in shock. Still whimpering, she looked down at this little black cat, and had no idea what to do. She was still very upset and frightened, but none of her past experiences prepared her brain for something like that!

~~

Dark did decide to push him in, just for simplicity, and once he had them situated somewhere nice, he fetched the paperwork to finish checking them in. It was something he knew Xander could do, and had done before, but nonetheless started to fill it for him out of habit.
 
Kiki stared back at Ivy just as shocked and a little offended as if Ivy had been the one doing the sticking. Trying desperately not to laugh, Lex got a quick picture of the two before standing up and walking over to them.

"What happened there, Ivy?" she asked lightly, a little chuckle escaping. "What did Kiki do?"

~~

Xander watched Dark in some amusement. He thought about saying something, but, really, who wanted to do their own paperwork? He let Dark fill it out unimpeded and settled in to wait. It was a bit of a wait even with Dark making an appointment, and even with the pain in his ankle, he was bored. He and Alec read over one of the kid's magazines and played all the hidden object games they could find while waiting.
 
Ivy tried really, really hard to say a name for Kiki, but couldn't get it out. Then she pointed to her paw and then put her own hand in her mouth and held her hands out in confusion.

~~

During the wait, Dark sat perfectly still, occasionally watching his twins, the other visitors, or the employees, and occasionally staring into absolute nothingness. It just looked wrong, everyone was supposed to look at least a little restless in a place like this, or at least scroll on their phones.

It took some time, but eventually one of the nurses stepped out and called for Xander Wahid-Dark. It was so rare for him to hear his son's full name, even under the circumstance Dark smiled a tiny, unnoticeable to anyone but his family, smile at hearing their names attached as he got up and asked Xander, "Would you like me to push you again?"
 
"Oh no. That was rude, wasn't it?" Lex chuckled. She squatted down and offered Ivy a hug. "Kiki stuck her Paw in your mouth! Oh well. It's all done now."

~~

"Sure. Have at it," Xander agreed grimly.

Alec stayed next to Xander again for the trip back, and though he said nothing unless asked questions - he did have to help Xander explain how he'd fallen since he'd seen in more detail the twists of the fall from his position - he stayed right by Xander's side. Xander watched the doctor's every move with great suspicion, and he handled the first round of the doctor gently feeling his ankle rather well. Then came a set of X-Rays, and more handling. By the middle potion of the second round of the doctor trying to gently handle his foot, Xander was clamped onto Alec's arm and not letting go. Alec winced a little a few times at the strength of Xander's grip, but he didn't pull away.

The ankle was broken. Well, be exact, the smaller of the two bones was cracked. It was holding itself in position quite well, so the doctor did not think they would need a full cast. Xander would have to wear a walking boot and follow a few other rules, but he should be fine to go to school the next day. The doctor did warn him very severely that even though it was called a "walking" boot, he was not to go strolling around for the heck of it, and he was most definitely to be honest about his pain levels. If things hurt more than a dull ache, he was to come back. The doctor did want to see him in two weeks just to make sure the ankle was healing properly, but then he wouldn't need to come back for another four. Then they would assess to make sure it was fully healed, and either extend the time in the boot or set him free.

The doctor gave him a basic temporary splint for the time being while the swelling was bad, gave them instructions on how to use cool packs and keep it elevated, and made sure the boot was a proper fit for when the swelling did go down. If the swelling remained for more than 48 hours or the pain did not subside even on pain meds, he was to come back. Then they were free to go, and Alec finally got his (slightly bruised) arm back.
 
Still whimpering, Ivy picked her rabbit back up, and holding it to her chest, she folded down into Lex's arms.

~~

Dark made sure to ask follow up questions and do what he could to help make it easier on Xander. It pained him to see how hard he was struggling, but there really wasn't much he could do. It's not like with Ivy where he could bounce a toy and talk at her while the pediatrician gave her the necessary vaccinations. Throughout, he'd text Daizi brief updates and when it was time to go, he chose to resist making jokes about it. With how Xander was looking, he was pretty sure they wouldn't land.
 
"There, there, habibi," Lex said, stumbling over the unfamiliar word but giving it her best. She lifted Ivy up into her arms and carried her over to the couch. She sat down and settled them both. "All is good. All is right. Everything is good."

~~

Once he was back in the car, Xander basically collapsed with a relieved sigh. "I never want to get injured again."

"Me neither," Alec agreed. He offered a hand, but Xander shook his head, not wanting even that touch right now. "At least it's not worse."
 
Ivy sniffled, her face still red, wet, and snotty, but she was gradually relaxing as she held onto Lex. Although she wasn't that familiar with her, she knew her well enough to be comfortable cuddling. But she was still very, very upset and lacked the ability to talk about it.

~~

"Inshallah, this will be your last broken bone," Dark said, getting into the front seat, "But it is good it is not more serious. I was worried the break may have required surgery."
 
Lex rocked Ivy gently and hummed to her, occasionally saying a soft word or two. When she felt Ivy was doing alright, she snuck her phone out and used one hand two send two texts. One went to Daizi. Ivy is upset, but handling it well. Kiwi and Endurance distracted her. All is good! She sent the text without realizing what her phone had autocorrected the names of the animals to. The second text, she sent Cooger the picture of Ivy sitting red-faced and upset staring at the shocked kitten with the caption, Look who I'm hanging out with! One of us is enjoying it.

~~

Xander shuddered at that. "Glad it's not that bad." He glanced at Dark. "Thanks for handling the things. Made it a lot easier."
 
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