Chapter Four
A New Life
“You guys look like hell you know that?” I announced in a slurred and rasping voice. I guess nobody was expecting me to say anything judging from how my aunt an uncle jumped.
“Sorry about that. Could I get something to drink please? My throat is a bit dry and sore.”
“Sure honey, just a second.” My aunt said while grabbing a cup off a nearby table. I winced a bit when she raised the head of my bed a bit. As I became more awake I noticed several things. Firstly was the dull, throbbing pain in my back and second was the cast that covered my left arm almost to the shoulder. As my aunt leaned over to feed me some of the ice chips I saw in the cup she was holding, I saw that she had been crying.
“Is everything OK?” I asked nervously. Thinking that I was the one that had made them so sad. While I was correct in that, I was completely off base as to why.
“Everything is fine now. You just relax. You’re not in any trouble.” My aunt told me soothingly, as she brushed some hair out of my eyes.
“What happened? The last thing I remember was us pulling up to the hospital to see Uncle Brian.” My uncle decided to handle this question since my aunt started to cry again.
“We found some injuries that needed to be taken care of during your exam earlier this week.” My uncle told me in a relaxed tone, but I could tell from his eyes he was holding back what really happened. This was confirmed by my next statement
“You found the explosives, I take it.” The look on my aunt and uncle’s face was all the answer I needed.
“My Father put those in about three years ago when I accidentally let slip what they had been doing to me. I guess they didn’t want to take the chance of it happening again. Since I’m still here, I guess it was removed successfully?”
“Yes it was, and I have to say that I’ve never seen anything like this in my life.” A new voice answered from the doorway.
“Morning doctor, ma’am.” The new arrival greeted my guardians as he walked over to me.
“And how are you feeling young man?” I was asked as he had my uncle help my aunt roll me over onto my side so he could take a look at my back.
“I’m a bit sore, but I guess that should be expected.”
“Yes, it should. I’ll have the nurse bring you something in a few minutes” I was told as the new doctor examined my back for a few more minutes
“Well, things seem to be healing just fine. In fact I don’t see why we can’t move you to regular room.” I was told with a smile. Going from the smiles on my relatives’ faces I could tell this was a good thing. After a few more minutes of talking the doctor left and an orderly came in carrying a food tray. On smelling the food my stomach let loose a very loud grumble.
“I guess this means he really is getting better. I hate to run off like this, but I have rounds to make. I’ll check back in on you a little later Ian.“ My uncle told me with a smile as he gave my foot a comforting squeeze and headed towards the door.
“I’ll be right back.” My aunt said with a smile of her own as she followed my uncle out of the room.
While this had been going on the orderly had been arranging the food on a bed tray and moved it over to me.
“You really need to get some light in here.” the orderly said while going over to a nearby window. Before I could say anything, they opened the blinds and I was hit right in the face was bright sunlight.
“Yob’ tvoyu mat’!” I yelled loudly while covering my eyes in pain, kicking the bed tray in the process sending the food tray to the floor
“Really! What’s the matter with you. A little sun in your eyes isn‘t that bad. And you can forget about getting another tray before lunch.” The orderly said angrily as she bent over to start cleaning up the mess.
“What’s going on in here?!” My aunt and the duty nurse asked at the same time upon rushing into the room when they heard my yelling.
“I opened the blinds to get some sun in here and he kicks his tray over and starts carrying on.” The orderly explained huffily.
“Can’t you read?!” My aunt asked angrily, as she pointed to a large sign on the wall stating that the room was to be kept at low light levels.
“Well, I didn’t see it, and he should have said something.” Came the lame excuse from the orderly.
“Get out.” My aunt said bluntly as she closed the blinds and came back over to comfort me. The nurse did as well to make sure I hadn’t pulled any stitches out in the commotion.
“Wait for me in my office. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
“But.”
“Say one more word and I’ll have you suspended on the spot.” The nurse said coldly.
“Let’s get you cleaned up.” The nurse said on turning back to me
“I’m ssoorryy." I stammered as the soiled bedding was pulled off me.
"It's OK Ian. It wasn't your fault." My aunt told me while giving me a hug. I flinched a bit as she drew me into the hug, but it wasn't as bad as it had been during the other times. Slowly I was beginning to learn that not all physical contact was designed to cause pain. I was brought out of my thoughts by the nurse commenting that she was needing to change the gown I had on. I turned really red when my aunt removed the dirty gown and I saw that I was also wearing a diaper.
"Don't worry about that. I've seen plenty of older kids come through here in diapers, so this is nothing new to me." The nurse said with a smile.
"I'll be right back with the changing supplies." My aunt was told as the nurse left the room leaving me laying there in nothing but a soiled diaper.
“Could I use the toilet please before she comes back to change me?” I asked timidly on feeling my bowels cramp up.
“Sure let’s get this wet diaper off you first.” My aunt replied with a smile as she bent over to start undoing the wet diaper I had on.
“Take it a bit easy though. We don’t want you to strain anything. OK?” I was told as my aunt led me over to a toilet that was in the corner of the room. After placing a plastic pan in the toilet, she helped me sit down. Her warning though about me taking it easy on my injuries turned out to be unnecessary. The moment my butt came in contact with the toilet seat my bowels exploded with a wet sounding fart.
“How long have you been holding that one in?” My aunt joked while fanning the smells of my fart away from her face. As embarrassed as I was about how my movement made its exit, I couldn’t help but start laughing a bit at the look on my aunt’s face as she helped clean me up since I wasn’t able to reach that area just yet.
I really started laughing a few moments after my aunt had finished helping me get back into bed and a nurse came in the needed supplies to remake my bed and get me into a clean diaper.
“OH, my. I think we better kick the fan up a few notches in here.” the nurse commented as she laid the bundle in her arms on a nearby chair.
“It’s good to see you in good spirits this morning.” I was told as the nurse gave my leg a light pat as she put on some gloves.
“Now let’s get you into something a little more comfortable before you catch a cold down there from the draft.” The nurse joked as she started to spread some lotion over my groin and butt.
“You’re almost as red as your hair there Ian.” My aunt quipped when I started blushing because of the hard-on I was developing from the accidental stimulation I was getting in that area. I just shot my aunt a dirty look, but got even redder because I knew she had seen me in this unwanted state. Realizing she may have gone a bit to far, my aunt leaned over to give me a bit of a hug.
“It’s alright Ian. This happens to Brad and David all the time to when I diaper them.” I was told softly. I was about to ask my aunt more about her statement when I was distracted by a small wave of pain when the nurse raised my left leg a bit so she could get the diaper under me.
“Sorry about that.” I was told when the nurse had seen me stiffen a bit. I soon felt my butt being lowered onto a rather thick diaper. I was more than a bit embarrassed when the diaper was pulled up between my legs and I saw it was covered in cartoon designs.
“We don’t have any plain looking diapers in your size.” The nurse explained on seeing the look on my face. I just leaned back without saying a word
“There you go.” I was told a second later as the nurse gave my thigh a small pat. I gave her a tiny nod of thanks but didn’t say anything because I was still fuming over having to wear such a childish looking diaper.
“Could you help me move him over to the chair so I can make the bed?” My aunt was asked.
“Now Ian, you just relax and let us do all the work.” The nurse told me as she got on one side of me and my aunt got on the other.
“On three, One. Two, Three.” The nurse said as she hit the count of three I felt myself being lifted off the bed and carried towards chair in the corner of the room. Just as I was being resettled into the freshly made bed, Dr. Moran walked into the room.
“I’ll have a new meal tray sent up to you in a minute.” The nurse said as she left the room.
“Make it a double.” Dr. Moran called after her.
“It’s good to see you awake. How are you feeling? Any pain?” she asked me
“I’m a little sore, but not to bad considering.”
“That’s to be expected. I’ll have them raise your medication level a bit. Have you needed to poop any yet this morning?”
“I’ll say he did.” My aunt interjected with a chuckle.
“Good. Some of the meds sometime cause constipation. I guess we were lucky on that part. How about peeing? Have you been able to tell when you’ve needed to pee, and has there been any pain when you have?” I was asked. I was kind of embarrassed by all these blunt questions about my toileting habits, but I answered them as best I could.
“I haven’t been able to tell when I’ve need to pee. I normally only realize that I need to go when I feel a slight burning feeling when it starts coming out. The pain though hasn’t been nearly as bad as it has been though”
“Good.” I was told as Dr. Moran made some notes on clipboard in her hands
“So are you going to tell me what’s going on now?” I asked.
“Yes, I am. After having spoken to your surgeon, I can say that your operation was a complete success, and things look to be healing nicely. The cast on your arm should be able to be removed in about Three months. With everything else only time will tell.”
“What about my size and such?” I asked.
“Well, as you already know you’re very small for your age. You should be a good Four to Five inches taller, and about 15 to 20 pounds heavier than you are. We feel this due to your mistreatment and the severe malnutrition you showed signs of when I looked at you last week.”
“So I should start growing and getting heavier once I get better?” I asked hopefully. I had been sick of always being picked on by my family because of my small size.
“We hope so. At this point, we aren’t sure.” Getting the feeling that she was leaving something out, I decided to go for broke, and asked the question I hoped to get a positive answer on.
“What about my bladder?”
“At this point, we’re not sure. Given how far spread and severe the infection you have is in that area we aren’t sure. You could regain complete control once the infection has been taken care of and your bladder has had time to recover, or you could be needing diapers for the rest of your life. At this point, we just can’t be certain how that will go.” I just started crying at this as all the things that had happened to me became to much for me.
“I’ll check back in later.” my aunt was told as the doctor left the room.
“Why is all this happening to me? What did I ever do to deserve any of this?” I sobbed into my aunt’s shoulder.
“I don’t know Ian. I do know though that you won’t have to go through it alone anymore. Your uncle, cousins, and I will do all that we can to help you out.” I didn’t bother to make any attempt to answer this. I spent the next few minutes crying before I could get a hold of myself. About this time, my replacement food trays arrived. Even with the double size the food didn’t last very long.
“Hey bro.” Megan said smiling as I woke up a few hours later. As things became more focused, I could tell that I had been moved into another room.
“Hey.” I answered a bit weakly.
“Shouldn’t you be in school right now?” I asked.
“Ian, it‘s the middle of June. School’s out for the summer. I had one of my friends bring me over. I thought you‘d like the company.” My cousin told me with a bit of a grin. I couldn’t help but grin as well at this.
“I wouldn’t mind it.”
“Well you seem to be doing ok after
getting worked on.” I was told as Megan moved over to the head of my bed and
moved it into a bit of an up right position.
“Feel better?” I was asked once my pillows were rearranged.
“Yeah thanks.”
“I want you to know that I’m really sorry about all the trouble I’ve put you guys through the last couple of weeks.” I told her as I started to cry a bit.
“You’ve got nothing to be sorry about. You were just reacting to how thing were for you in the past.” I was told softly as Megan pulled me into a light hug. She didn’t even seem bothered by the small flinch I gave when she first touched me.
“Oh, I brought you something I thought you’d like to help pass the time.” Megan told me with a smile as she handed me over a hard backed copy of the final Harry Potter book.
“Thanks.” I told her with real appreciation of her thought for me, though I couldn’t tell why she was so excited about it. I mean, I knew about the series but I had never been allowed to read anything but my schoolbooks till now.
“Don’t you like it?” I was asked with a slightly sad tone.
“I really appreciate the thought. It’s just that I’ve never been allowed to read anything but my school books, or books assigned by Mrs. Miller for school.” I explained quickly.
“You mean you never read any books for the fun of it?” My cousin asked me in a shocked tone. I just nodded meekly at this not really sure how to take her tone.
“Just out of curiosity, what was the last book you read?” My aunt asked from where she and my uncle was standing by the door. Both Megan and I jumped a bit at this since neither one of heard them come in.
“Well?” My aunt asked again coming closer. I just mumbled the response not sure if she would believe me or not.
“I didn’t catch that Ian.” Seeing the look in my aunt’s eyes I know I had better answer quickly and truthfully.
“Victor Hugo’s ‘Le Miserable’ ” I told her blushing Seeing the looks on everyone’s faces, made me glad that I had left out the part of it being the non-translated version.
“I see. Megan, we need to get going so we can get home before your brothers get home” My uncle said a few minutes later. After giving me another quick hug, Megan stood up and joined her father at the door. My uncle told me they would be back later this evening with the boys and to pick my aunt up.
“I’m sorry about disappointing you all. I’ll understand if you don’t want to keep me.” I told my aunt after a few minutes more of a strained silence.
“What are you talking about?”
“I figured that you wouldn’t want me any more with all the trouble I’ve caused you these last two weeks. I just want you to know that I’ll understand if you want me to leave.”
“My God, Ian. What would even make you think of such a thing?” My aunt gasped as what I told her finally started to sink in.
“Well, my father and his family kept telling me what a disappointment I was to them and how they wish I had never been forced on them because of all the trouble I was for them. I just thought that..” I wasn’t able to finish before I was pulled into a fierce hug by my aunt.
“Ian. Your uncle and I don’t plan on getting rid of you. The next time you leave our house will be when you’re ready to head off to college. Until that time, I’m afraid you’re stuck with us.” I was told I had a bit of a hard time completely believing this, but decided to see how things went.
“Well, how about we start on that book your sister left for you.” I was a bit surprised at the term my aunt used, but decided to let it go for now.
“Let me do that.” My aunt told me as I reached for the book Megan had left for me. I was a little shocked when my aunt took the book from my hands and after settling into a chair by the head of my bed opened the book and started to read to me. In all my years of life, I couldn’t think of any time where someone took the time to read a book to me. While it took me a bit of getting used to at first I found it strangely comforting. Without realizing it, I had fallen asleep while I was getting read to. I awoke several hours later to the feeling of someone removing my diaper.
The nurse doing the honors smiled at me once she saw that I was awake.
“We don’t want you floating away now do we?” she asked me with a smile as she pulled the heavy diaper out from under me. I gave a sheepish smile of my own at this.
“Uh. Could you help me to the bathroom so I could see if I can go number 2 before you put the new diaper on me?” I asked softly as I felt a wipe being run over my nether region to clean me off.
“I guess that would be possible.” The nurse told me as she finished wiping me off. After getting gown put on me, I was helped to my feet and was escorted to the bathroom.
“Just push this button once you’re done, or if you need any help. Just remember not to strain yourself to hard.” I was told as I sat down on the toilet I just nodded at this. Once the nurse left the room, I got down to business. Like before, it turned out that my bowels wanted to take things into their own hands I just gave the gentlest of pushes and my bowels exploded. I was just glad that I didn’t stink the place up like I had done earlier in the day. I waited a few minutes more to make sure I was done going before I rang for the nurse.
“It’s about time. I was thinking that maybe you had fallen in or something” My uncle joked when he walked into the bathroom. I was so stunned at seeing him there that I didn’t say a word while he took care of cleaning off my backside.
“Kids, could you wait out in the all for a few minutes while we get Ian taken care of.” My aunt told my cousins as I was helped back into bed.
“Thanks.” I told her as she drew the curtain around us before lifting up my gown and started running another wipe over me. Once that was done she had my uncle gently lift my legs so she could get a diaper under me. After getting the diaper where she wanted it, I felt lotion, and powder being applied to my butt. Soon my legs were back on the bed and my aunt was taking care of my front side. Without saying a word once this was done, she pulled the diaper up snuggly between my legs and taped it securely closed.
“That feel OK?” I was asked as my aunt pulled my gown down to cover my diaper and then pulled the covers back over me and tucked them in a bit.
“Fine.” I told her, not really liking the fact that I was back into diapers full-time.
“I thought you guys weren’t going to be coming back till after dinner?” I asked as my uncle let my cousins back into the room.
“It is after dinner. You were so tired you’ve been a sleep most of the day I didn’t even get through the first half chapter earlier before you were out. I guess the meds they gave were rather hard hitting.” My aunt told me with a smile.
“Oh.” I told her. I was bit disappointed that I had missed lunch. My stomach was equally upset with me about this since it chose that time to make a loud rumbling sound.
“Don’t worry. Dinner should be here for you in the next couple of minutes” My uncle informed me. After this all the boys started gathering around me and talking at once about how there day had gone.
“Easy there boys. One at a time.” their dad joked as they crowded around my bed all talking at once. I smiled a bit when my cousins smiled sheepishly at this and backed off some and started taking turns. I was a little surprised when David handed me a box saying that it was for me. I took the box after being prompted to by my aunt and uncle. My hands shook a bit as I opened the box and pulled out a stuffed wolf.
“We thought you could use someone to talk to and help keep you company when we can’t be here.” David told me. This statement got me crying like a baby since this was the first time in my life that any family members had taken a real concern to my well being.
“Doesn’t he like it?” David sobbed a bit as he picked the wolf off the floor where it had fallen when I turned away to keep my cousins from seeing me cry.
“No, David. He likes it a lot. It just fell over on accident.” his mom told him while taking him into a hug and placing the wolf next to my head. After a few minutes, I had managed to get myself under control and turned back to my cousin
“I’m sorry about that David. You are correct though, I don’t like it, I love it. Thank you.” I told them quickly when I saw the look on my youngest cousins face on hearing the first part of my statement. I pulled the wolf tightly to me.
“So what’s it’s name going to be?” David asked with a sly smile a few minutes later.
“We haven’t decided yet.” I answered honestly. I was rescued from more questions when the door opened and I saw my meal trays being brought in.
“Uncle Brian?” I called as everyone was leaving a couple of hours later.
“Yes, Ian?”
“How long do I have to stay here?” I asked nervously.
“It shouldn’t be more than a week or two at the most. That was a pretty big surgery you had and we want to make sure you’re fully healed before letting you go. I guess things can be really boring at times in here by yourself, huh.” My uncle said while coming back over to my bed.
“Yeah a little bit..” I said getting a bit teary eyed.
“It’s OK Ian. We aren’t going to leave you. We plan on coming to visit you every day. Now you just lay back and relax. The quicker you get better the sooner you can come home.” I just nodded at that while trying to keep my emotions in check. I was still having a hard time believing how much my life has changed over the last month. I kept thinking that if this was truly a dream, I hoped I never awoke from it. A short time after my aunt, uncle, and cousins left, the night nurse came in to give me my evening medications, and to see if I needed another diaper change. Luckily, I was still dry at this point.
“Easy there Ian.” A soft voice told me the next morning as I bolted awake
“You were having a nightmare.” The voice continued to say softly as I felt some hands guide me back down to the bed. Not having really having woken up during all this, I thought I had heard myself start to mumble something under my breath as I slipped back into the blackness of sleep.
What seemed to be just a few minutes later, I awoke to the feeling of another diaper change being performed. With a sigh to myself, I figured I had better get used to that feeling. As I became more aware of my surroundings I found my aunt and Megan sitting in a couple of the chairs that were in the room.
“Morning.” I called out with a slight yawn to let them know I was awake.
“Morning Ian. How are you feeling? The nurses said that you had a bit of a bad dream last night.” My aunt asked as the nurse performing the morning honors started to pull the diaper up between my legs.
“Uh, you think I could use the toilet before you finish up. I’d like to try and go poop.”
“That won’t be necessary.” I was told as the nurse finished pulling the diaper up through my legs and taped it closed. I just looked at my aunt with a questioning look at this.
“It seems that you had used your diaper for that function sometime last night Ian” My aunt said softly while patting my shoulder. I turned bright red at this.
“Don’t worry about it. It was bound to happen sooner or later. I’m sure this won’t be the last time that an accident like this happens.” I was told. I nodded glumly at this, knowing she was probably right. I was more than a little shocked when the nurse left me laying there in nothing but a diaper. Before I could say anything Megan spoke as she came over to the bed holding a bag.
“We do have a bit of a surprise for you.” Megan announced and with a little flourish she reached into the bag she was holding and pulled out a set of pajama bottoms along with a robe and slippers.
“We thought you would want to have better coverage down there when they get you walking around a bit. Not to mention how chilly it might get at times.”
“It does get a bit uncomfortable down there.” I agreed as my aunt took the bottoms and started to dress me in them.
“Uh, Aunt Mary. I am able to do that you know.” I told her shyly.
“I’m afraid not Ian. The doctors don’t want you to do any serious bending and such while you back heals.” I was told as she slipped my feet into the bottoms and started to move them up my legs.
“Lift up a little” I was told once my aunt reached the point just below my diaper. I arched my back a bit so she could finish pulling the bottoms up. Once I was flat on the bed again, I could tell that my aunt was right. My back was more than a little sore from the little bit of pressure I had put on my back muscles Once she had a new gown covering my chest and before she pulled the blankets back over my I took a closer look at the pajama bottoms noticing how childish they looked
“Megan, while I really appreciate the thought of the pajamas, couldn’t you guys have picked out something a little less childish?” I asked hoping not to tick them off to badly with my comment.
“We would have liked to, but these were the least childish ones we could find in your size.” Megan told me seeming a bit embarrassed herself.
“I guess I’ll have to get used to dressing like this for a while won’t I?” I asked to no one unparticular.
“I’m afraid so Ian. We will do what we can to keep the childishness to a minimum, but there will be only so far we can go. Besides look at this as you getting a second childhood. And that can’t be all bad, right?” My aunt asked me. I had to admit, to myself at least, that my aunt’s comment did have some truth in it. I was determined thought not to let them see how much I did enjoy this at times. Of course, I probably didn’t pull this off as well as I might have liked.
While I had been having breakfast another kid had been moved into my room. Although the he was still asleep at the time, I was happy to have the company now. Of course I didn’t realize at the time that I was going to be opening a bit of a can of worms once we both were awake. Like the day before, I had received my morning medications during breakfast and again was out like a light before my aunt had gotten more than a half of a chapter read to me from the Harry Potter book that Megan had left for me a few days prior. I was woken up a few hours later by my new roomy yelling.
{“Would you mind shutting up! Some of us are trying to sleep here!”} I snapped to the kid in Russian without really realizing I was doing so. I was still half asleep and was responding to what the kid was saying. As I became more aware of my surroundings I couldn’t tell who had the bigger look of shock on their face my aunt or my roommate. My snapping at the kid seemed to have calmed him down a bit since his yelling softened dramatically.
{“You speak Russian?} The kid asked between sobs.
{“Obviously.”} I replied with a smile. This calmed the kid down even more once he knew that he would have some one that would understand him.
{“I’m Ian Dimitrivich.”} I told him.
{“Mikhail Nikolayovich.”} he replied timidly.
{“I know you’re probably scared, but could you please keep the noise down?”} I asked sleepily.
{“I’m trying. It’s just that my leg and back hurts.”} Came the partly sobbed reply.
{“OK. Let me tell the nurse. I guess she doesn’t speak Russian as well as she thought.”} I told him with a slight grin.
“He said that his back and leg hurts.” I told the nurse through a yawn.
“OK. Let him know that we’ll bring him something in a minute.” I translated this for her and before my aunt could say anything I drifted back to sleep.
When I woke up a few hours later, I saw that my aunt and Megan had taken off somewhere.
{“You feeling better?”} I asked looking over at my roommate.
{“Yeah. Thanks. What are you in for?”} Mikhail asked me sheepishly.
{“Back surgery. How about you?”} I replied.
{“Car wreck. My brother and I just moved here from Moscow ”} I was told just as a couple and younger boy started coming through the door. Along with my doctor, and uncle.
“Afternoon Ian. How are you feeling?” I see your aunt and Megan have already been in to see you.” My uncle said as he pulled the blankets off me and pulled open the gown I had on. After lowering my bed back into a prone position, I was instructed to roll over onto my stomach. I soon felt the back of my Pj’s being lowered and the bandages being removed from my back. I flinched a couple of times when a tender spot on my back was hit but over all the exam was rather painless. Of course with the high tolerance for pain that I had developed over the years it would take something major to set me off.
“Well, Ian. Everything looks like it’s healing well. We should be able to let you go in a couple of more days. The good thing is that we’ve figured out a way to remove the rings without having to put you under. With your uncle’s, and your OK. We’d like to set that up for tomorrow afternoon.”
“Fine with me.” I said with a smile while looking at my uncle, who nodded his consent.
“Great. We’ll get things set up and let you know later today when it’ll be. I’ll be back in later to check on you.” My doctor told us while making some notes in my chart.
As I was turning my attention back to my uncle, I heard Mikhail’s little brother start laughing.
{“Look Misha, He’s like a little baby needing diapers.”} I clearly heard him say. I could tell from the way he said it he was wanting me to know that he was talking about me, though he didn’t realize that I also understood him perfectly. Before the people I presumed were their parents could say anything to him about what he said, I jumped in.
{“Yeah, I need to wear diapers. What’s it to you?” Also I think you better watch what you say next time since you never know if the person can understand you and they might not be as even tempered as I am.”} The look of shock on his face was priceless as it dawned on him that I replied to his comment in Russian. For his part. Mikhail just reached over and slapped his brother up side the head.
{“Ian, I’d like you to meet my Uncle Yuri, Aunt Ivanna, and my Baby brother Ivan.”} Mikhail said introducing me to his family. I didn’t miss the extra stress he had placed on the word “baby” when referring to his younger brother.
{“Pleased to meet you. I’d like you to meet my Uncle Brian.”} I told them while shaking the hands offered to me. On turning back to my uncle. I saw the shocked and confused look on his face.
“Uncle Brian, I’d like you to meet Mikhail’s aunt and uncle. Ivanna and Yuri. Also his younger brother Ivan.” I said by way of introduction
“Pleased to meet you.” my uncle said while extending his hand.
“Thank you.” Yuri answered in slightly accented English.
“I understand you were a bit of help earlier today.” Ivanna said while coming over to me.
“It was nothing.” I replied while blushing a bit at the praise.
“Even though, I thank you.” I was told while Ivanna leaned over and gave me a light kiss on the forehead.
“Might I ask what Ian did to help?” My uncle asked.
“It seems that when Misha came to earlier he was in quiet a bit of pain and a bit disoriented. Because of this he was using Russian to speak. Your nephew was kind enough to get him calmed down enough to find out was going on and translated this to the nurse.” Yuri said.
“I will admit that I am surprised just now at how fluent your nephew you is with Russian. If I didn’t know better, I would have placed his accent as that of St. Petersburg.”
“Well, My wife and I are finding out that Ian is just full of surprises.” My uncle said with a smile. Just about that time Megan, Brian, David, and Isaac came trouping the door with my aunt bringing up the rear. After another round of introductions, my uncle excused himself saying that he was needing to get back to work.
“How are you feeling bro?” Brad asked as he came up to me.
“Not to bad. I can’t wait to get out of this place though.” I told him.
“Yeah, I guess it would be kind of boring to just lay there all the time. We’ll have to do something about that once you get out.” Brad told me with a smile.
“We’ll see about that at a later time.” My aunt said giving Brad a stern look.
“How’s your diaper doing?” My aunt asked softly as she leaned over to give me a hug and straighten my blanket a bit. Reaching down with the hand that I already had under the cover, I pinched the front of my diaper through my Pjs. I guess with how red I turned was all the answer my aunt needed.
“I’ll have the nurse come in a couple of minutes.” I just nodded at this. As if through some psychic link the nurse came through the door a few seconds later pushing the cart they used to transport the diaper supplies to the different rooms.
“Well, how are you two fine gentlemen this afternoon?” Mikhail and I was asked as she came up to the side of my bed and flipped the blanket off me.
“Cute pj bottoms.” the nurse told me as she reached to pull them down so she could get to my diaper.
“Looks like I got here just in time.” the nurse joked as she reached to start pulling the tapes off my diaper. I gave Ivan a stern look when I saw him smirking a bit as he watched me get changed.
{“Not one word boy.”} I announced when it looked like Ivan was going to comment on something. I guess the look in my eyes told him he should take my comment seriously. I was just glad that the Romanovs acted like seeing an older boy get a diaper change was a normal thing. I was really floored when the nurse finished with me and turned to Misha’s bed.
“And how about you?” she asked as she went over to him and did the same thing. I was a bit shocked to see that Mikhail was also wearing a diaper.
{“Does this mean I’m no longer the “Baby” of the family?”} Ivan joked to his aunt and uncle. Before either one of them could say a word in response to this, Ivan found himself being roughly propelled towards his aunt from the force of his older brother’s slap to the back of his head.
{“Enough! Both of you!”} Their uncle said sternly.
{“One more comment like that Ivan and you’ll find out how your brother feels about needing diapers again!”} his aunt told him.
{“Do both of you understand me?”} Yuri asked of his nephews.
{“Yes sir.”} Misha replied glumly having gotten halfway yelled at along with his brother.
{“Ivan?”}
{“Yes.”} came the bitter response from the corner where he was sitting
A few minutes after the nurse got done changing Mikhail, our lunch trays showed up.
{“How can anyone eat this slop. And I thought the food at the orphanage in Moscow was bad.”} I heard Mikhail say disgustedly.
{“I know what you mean. I think they purposely make it taste bad so you’ll be properly motivated to get better quickly.”} I joked with him.
“Boy’s why don’t you speak English so everyone here can understand you.” Mikhail’s aunt told us gently after seeing the lost look on my family’s faces.
“Sorry.” I told her.
“Misha was just commenting on how bad the food here is.” I told everyone
“There wouldn’t be anyway you might be able to sneak me in a burger or something is there?” I asked my aunt with a slight grin.
“I guess not.” I added quickly on seeing the look on her face. This got the rest of my cousins laughing.
After a couple of more hours of talking, both mine and Misha’s families left.
After reading for a little while, I decided to take a short nap when I woke up I was surprised to see a slightly older couple sitting next to my bed. I was about to say something when my Uncle and doctor walked into the room.
“Mom, Dad. What are you guys doing here? I thought you were still in Europe.” My uncle announced while going up to give his mom a hug and shake hands with his father.
“We were, but I got a call from Connor telling us about the newest member of the clan and we figured we’d come home and meet him. I have to admit we were kind of surprised to find out that he was in the hospital and needed to have surgery” My uncle was told.
“Well, we didn’t have much of a choice. There were some things going on that needed to be taken care of quickly.” My uncle started to explain to his father when they were interrupted by a loud gasp from his mother, who had been looking at my back when my doctor opened my gown.
“My lord.” My grandmother whispered.
“Sorry about that mom. That’s one of the things we need to talk about.” her son told her while leading them toward the door.
“We’ll be back in a few minutes Ian.” I was told as my uncle walked his parents out of the room. Before they left, I clearly heard my grandfather ask who was responsible for my condition.
“Well?” Mr. Miller asked his son again as the door closed behind them.
“Let’s go find a place to talk. This is going to take a while and I highly doubt you’re going to like the answers to most of your questions.” Brian told his father as he led them towards a conference room.
“O.K. Now that we’re all comfortable and such you can start explaining what’s going on. And why our new grandson’s back looks like something out of a horror movie.
“As you can probably guess Ian has been subjected to some serious physical abuse, and we suspect mental as well. At this point in time we’re treating him for a serious bladder infection; that may or may not leave him permanently incontinent , several, partly healed, broken bones, and we’re trying to figure out how to remove the rings you saw. As far as his recent surgery goes, that was to remove some explosives that had been planted in his back to prevent him from talking about the abuse.”
“My god. Why didn’t Dan to do something to stop this. There is no way something like that could have gotten past his attention.”
“That’s just it dad. From what we’ve been able to piece together, and Ian has confirmed most of it, Dan was the one doing it.”
“I don’t believe that for a second.” Brian’s mom announced sternly.
“Mom believe me. I didn’t believe this at first either. But you should have seen Ian when he first arrived here. Hell, the first time he saw me he passed out cold. We’ve had Frank Owens in to talk to Ian extensively about what had been going on and I can tell you it was all I could do to keep from getting sick when he told me what he had learned from Ian.”
“He doesn’t seem like he’s in that bad of shape.” Brian was told by his dad.
“Maybe not at the moment, but there are times he acts like a caged animal trying to get free. Mary and I have been doing what we can to get him to start trusting people again, but it’s probably going to be a very long and hard road.”
“Could you excuse me for a few minutes I have some phone calls to make.” Brian’s dad told them as he stood up and walked out the door.
“I hope he doesn’t do anything to extreme.” Brian told his mom who just nodded at this.
“Well, let’s go back in so I can be properly introduced to my new grandson” Brian smiled at this and led the way back to my room.
“So what’s the scoop Mike?” My doctor was asked as my uncle and his mom walked back into the room.
“I think the procedure will work just fine. I can set things up for first thing tomorrow morning. If you guys want.”
“What do you think Ian?” I was asked by my uncle.
“Do it.”
“Don’t you think you should think it over a bit first?” I was asked by my grandmother in surprise by how fast I answered the question.
“Not really. If Dr. Lavin didn’t think the procedure was safe he wouldn’t have suggested it as an option. Besides, what’s the worst that could happen. I could die. After what’s been done to me over the years, that’s not all that big of a deal.” I answered a bit coldly. Going off the astonished look I was given, I could tell my answer shook my grandmother to the core.
“You better take a seat mom.” my uncle said hurriedly as he helped guide her to a seat at the head of my bed.
“Thank you.”
“They tell me that your father was the cause of all this. I have to tell you that I find it hard to believe.”
“If it helps you to believe it, I can tell you where to find some rather explicit videos that should lay any doubts you have about my father’s involvement in it.” I answered coldly.
“What’s this about you having some videos?” My grandfather asked coming back into the room.
“Yeah. It was more my stepmother’s suggestion than anything else but my father had a hand in it also. I guess they were posting them on the Net or something The morning after we learned my family was dead Mr. Wu took me back over to my parents house to have me remove the server we had in the basement and to also wipe and reformat the hard drives from the computers in the house. Or so he thinks.” I said with a gleam in my eye.
“Well so much for that line of thought. If the computers hard drives had been wiped and reformatted then I doubt we could get anything useful from them.” My grandfather said disgustedly. I started laughing a bit at this since he obviously didn’t hear the last thing I said.
“This is hardly a laughing matter. You of all people should realize that!” I was told with a tone that sent chills down my spine.
“Clam down dad.” My uncle told his father when he saw the look on my face
“No, I won’t calm down. We had been trying to get something on the Wu’s for years. We finally find someone who knows something and he tells me that he helped get rid of the evidence!” I don’t know what happened to me at that point in time. I guess after all the abuse I had been put through this finally was the proverbial straw and I finally snapped.
“Shut the fuck up. Sit down and listen to me old man.” I announced coldly.
“Now listen here...” My grandfather started.
“I said sit down and listen.” I said again in a voice that dropped the temp in the room by a good twenty degrees. Both my uncle and grandfather complied after seeing the look on my face.
“I said “or so he thinks”. You see Mr. Wu had me wipe the hard drives before we removed the server. Since I had complete access for the first time I decided to do some things with the system that most people wouldn’t even consider possible. Hidden on the server is not only all the evidence of the abuse I suffered you want but also my father’s complete financial history. I also added a nice little virus to it so if Mr. Wu is stupid enough to network his computers to the server all the information from his computers would also be copied and he would be none the wiser. Get me access to the server and I can unlock everything.”
“That would be all fine and dandy if we could get the server but I would need probable cause to even think about getting a warrant, and all I have is your say so.”
“You want probable cause, I’ll fucking get you probable cause. Get me a computer and you’ll have it.”
“Ian why don’t you just calm down a bit and we can talk about this a little later once you’ve had some rest.” My uncle said.”
“Fuck waiting! I’ve been waiting six years for this chance! I don’t want to wait any longer!” I fairly screamed. Before I knew what was happening my uncle reached over and hit a couple of buttons on my I.V. stand and I felt myself floating away into blackness.