Frozen Heart - 18. Chapter 18 - Answers

"Before you ask, your aunt is out of harms way."

Dr. Howen had come to get them in the waiting room then had guided them to his office. He looked very tired, and had very deep pockets beneath his eyes. His office was clean and orderly, and there were enough chairs for the three of them. Max sat between his friend and his boyfriend, and he held Aaron's hand very tightly. Inside his chest, his heart was beating fast, and his hands were probably sweaty.

"What happened doctor," he asked in a voice thick with concern.

"She suffered a stroke. To keep it simple, she had too much blood in one part of her brain, this damaged the tissues around it. Fortunately we were able to treat it before it got to do some very serious damage. Once we were sure the stroke was over, we had to do a number of tests to assess the damage. She can think clearly and can talk, but her left arm and leg do not respond well... Though we hope that in time, with some help, she will be able to regain full usage of her body."

Max was relieved at the news, he had feared it could have been much worse. It wasn't trivial though, a stroke, don't those things have a chance to come back? He would have to do some research once he got home... His body relaxed a bit.

"Do you know what might have... uh... caused it?" he asked hesitantly.

"There can be many things that could have led to this attack, but the one we believe was the greatest contributor was stress. Did she have a stressful job?"

"She traveled a lot."

"Anything else, though I can understand that constant travel can cause some high level of stress."

Max wasn't sure if he should answer that last question. He knew what might have caused this in a way. Like a time bomb had the past caught up with her? The more he thought about it the more it worried him. He had lost his parents but she had lost her only brother, and if Max remembered well they had been very close. And if it was his death that fourteen years later caused this, what would it do to him later on? He decided that the doctor should know about this, but it was hard, so hard to say the words.

"Fourteen years ago, her brother, my father was killed. Do you think that might have something to do with it?"

Max had tears in his eyes, and the barrier in the back of his mind started crumbling. Aaron felt his distress and quickly took him in his arms, helping in his own unique way. Dr. Howen stayed quiet, he must have seen that this was too much for Max. He let go of the subject and tried to be optimistic.

"We'd like to keep your aunt here tonight just in case, and tomorrow we would let her go home. Is that alright with you young man?"

Max nodded, still a little shaken. He took a deep breath and got his inner turmoil under control.

"I have school though tomorrow..."

"That's alright we can arrange for a taxi to take her home."

"OK then."

Max put his brave face on. What followed was paperwork and a bit more talking.

Alice left them in front of the hospital, she hugged Max for a long time before kissing his cheek and saying goodbye. Aaron took Max to his car and they drove off in silence. Max had a lot to think of, and as much as he loved Aaron, he needed some time to sort through everything. Aaron took him home, but followed him inside.

"Get some clothes and your school bag, you're coming home with me, I don't want you to be alone tonight."

Max didn't argue, he didn't want to be alone. He knew he needed Aaron's support, he had come dangerously close to breaking down in the doctor's office.

He gathered some stuff and they got back in the car.

When they got to Aaron's house his mom was gardening outside. As they got out of the car, she came forward to greet Max.

"Hello Maximilian, are you alright dear?" she asked, kindly embracing him quickly.

She smelled of honey and fresh earth. For the first time in a long, long time Max felt the warm arms of a motherly figure around him. It had been so long he had almost forgotten what it felt like, and even though he had tried to remain as strong as possible, he melted in her arms and started crying softly. The accumulation of the day's event and the fact that he had not had a mother in fourteen years got to him deeply. He had never been the cry baby type, but he made an exception. Aaron's mother was kind enough to hold him a little tighter when she felt him crying. Aaron kept his distance though, he understood that this was special to Max. Max needed a mother right then and there, not a boyfriend. (though he had tears in his eyes as well)

Max finally regained his composure and let go.

"Aaron take him inside and make him some tea, that always helps. I'll be right in, just let me finish this."

"OK mom, over this way Max," Aaron gently took Max in his arms and led him inside the house.

They went to the living room, and Aaron set him down on one of the couches. The room was well furnished and felt very cozy. Two white couches faced each other with numerous colorful pillows thrown here and there. The floor was covered in a thick rug. One of the walls was covered in books, while the one opposed to it was a large window that gave a beautiful view of the garden. On one of the remaining walls there was a fireplace with a TV over it. The last wall was a big archway to the dining room. Max sat down patiently, taking in the coziness of the room, while Aaron went to make some tea. When he came back with two steaming mugs, he set them down on a small table that was in between the couches and sat down next to Max. As was Max's habit now he got in his boyfriend's arms, his head using the firm pecs as pillows. Aaron put his arms over him protectively. They didn't talk, and soon Max drifted off.

He felt safe there, he felt at peace.

Quiet chatter woke him up. When he opened his eyes, he saw that it was night time, and that Aaron wasn't there. He was resting comfortably in the pillows, a blanket over him. He looked around, no one was in the room. He got up, caped in the blanket and walked around. He followed the sound of the voices. They led him to the kitchen, there he saw Aaron and his mom talking quietly. Max also saw that Aaron was crying.