"What the heck!!??" Avi says with his eyes wide in shock.

"When did you become able to talk?" Austin asks.

"I've always been able to talk. I just didn't because I was afraid they would release me if they heard me talk." Tim says with a shrug of his shoulders. Plus, I was always beat by my dad whenever I talked."

"We talk and they don't release us. Aren't you afraid they'll hear you? I don't want you to leave, Timmy. You're one of the only friends I have and it will break my heart if you leave. What would we do without our Photograph? I don't even ...." Adam was hushed by Tim placing a hand over his mouth.

"I appreciate the concern, Adam. But I'm not going anywhere. Tina and the others know that I can talk." Tim says with a smile. "They're okay with it. They also know that Chance and I are seeing each other and they're okay with that too."

"Wow! This is great news." Avi says with a huge grin.

"So you won't be leaving us?" Adam asks.

"No." Tim answers quickly before he started to ramble. "I'm still crazy." He adds with a smile.

"You're not crazy." Chance says, kissing him on the temple. "But you do need rest. Doctor's orders."

"Will his eye get better?" Austin asks.

"Yeah, the swelling will eventually go down and the bruising will fade." Chance answers. "But as I said, he needs rest. He'll be able to join up with you guys later."

"Okay, we are supposed to decorate the recreation room for Christmas later. Will he be able to help?" Avi asks.

"I'm sure he will. If he feels up to it." Chance nods.

"I'll be there." Tim smiles.

"We're also going to draw names." Austin adds.

"Oh, Y'all draw names with the other patients?" Chance asks as he helps Tim get comfortable.

"No, just the four of us." Avi answers.

"Actually there's five but Virgil never participates." Austin says.

"And why is that?" Chance asks, just curious of the reason.

"He doesn't like Christmas. He's sort of a Scrooge when it comes to Christmas." Austin answers.

"We usually make our gifts. They don't look too great but, hey, it's the thought that counts, right?" Adam asks.

"Absolutely. And just being able to spend time with the ones you care about." Chance nods.

"Are you gonna get us anything for Christmas?" Adam asks.

"Adam, you're not to suppose to ask anyone that." Avi scolds.

"Why not? If he was, I was gonna tell him that I need a new pillow. Mine is too flat. I don't like flat pillows." Adam says.

"Adam, I can get you another pillow from the supply room." Chance smiles.

"What fun is that? I'd rather get one for Christmas so I can unwrap it." Adam says.

"Well, I'll see what I can do." Chance chuckles. He glances down at Tim, who had been quiet all this time to see that he had fallen asleep. "But right now, we need to leave so Tim can sleep."

"I'm so excited. I'm getting a new pillow for Christmas." Adam giggles as he leaves the room with the others.

Chance chuckles softly and shakes his head. He glances down at Tim sleeping peacefully.

"Sleep well, my angel." He whispers as he leans down and kisses his lover on the forehead.

As he turns around he sees Nate standing in the doorway with a goofy smile on his face.

"Awww, that's so sweet." Nate smiles.

"Shut up." Chance chuckles as they walk out of the room. Chance quietly closing the door behind them.

"We need to go to the attic and get all the Christmas decorations. The patients are decorating today." Nate says.

"Yeah, that's what the guys told me." Chance nods as they walk down the hall.

"They love it. We have watchers and then we have the doers." Nate smiles. "And then we have Mitch."

"What does he do?" Chance asks as they get into the elevator that would take them to the attic.

"Absolutely nothing but boss the others around." Nate answers.

"I kinda get the feeling that he's not very well liked." Chance says.

"Not at all." Nate chuckles. "Plainly speaking, he's an ass."

The elevator door opens and Chance's jaw drops as he sees the size of the attic. It was almost the size of the entire hospital. Boxes were stacked neatly all over the place.

"Ho..ly crap." Chance says. "I hope you know where these boxes are."

"Of course, I was the one who put them up here." Nate laughs as he walks through the maze of boxes. He climbs onto a forklift.

"Uh, just how many boxes are there?" Chance asks.

"You'll see. Have you not seen the tree yet?" Nate asks.

"No, I've been with Tim." Chance answers as he climbs onto the forklift.

"It was delivered about an hour ago. Tina always buys a real tree. She loves the smell of it." Nate chuckles as he maneuvers the forklift through the aisles. "It's huge. It's already been set up in the recreation room."

They began to load the boxes of decorations onto the forklift.

"I've never seen so many decorations in my life." Chance laughs. "So how do we get these boxes from the elevator to the recreation room? Please don't tell me that we have to carry them."

"Surprise!" Nate laughs. "No, I'm kidding. There're a couple of dollies by the elevator that we use."

They load all the boxes onto the elevator. Chance grabs the two dollies and loads them as well while Nate parks the forklift.

~~

Tim awakes to find himself alone in his room. His body ached as if he had been run over by a semi. He didn't know how much help he would be decorating but he would try his best. His shoulder hurt every time he tried to move his left arm.

He walks out into the deserted hallway. It was an eerie quiet. Everyone was gathered in the recreation room since it was decorating day.

"How are you feeling, Sweetie?" Tina asks as he walks into the room. It was loud with chatter as the excited patients waited for the arrival of the decorations.

"I'm pretty sore. It hurts when I try to move my arm." Tim answers as he eyes the huge tree.

"I'd imagine that you'll be sore for a while. Maybe you should just be a watcher today." Tina suggests.

"Noooo." Tim whines. "I wanna help, please?"

"Okay, but don't overdo it. You hear me." Tina says as she gives the brunette a stern look.

"Yes, mam." Tim nods with a smile.

Tina's stern look is replaced with a smile as she tiptoes to kiss Tim on the cheek.

Everyone begins to cheer as Chance and Nate enters the room with the boxes.

Some patients were assigned to decorate the room while others decorated the tree. The nurses would stand back and let the patients do all the decorating themselves. But would help when needed.

Chance was assisting Tim since he could only use one arm. 

"It would be a lot simpler if we just got a tree like Charlie." Avi comments as he hangs an ornament on the tree.

"Who's Charlie?" Chance asks as he helps Tim hang an ornament.

"You had to ask, didn't you." Tim says quietly to Chance.

"He's a friend of mine." Avi says.

"You probably know him, Chance." Austin chuckles. "Charlie Brown?"

"Ohhhh." Chance smiles and nods.

"I want a tree like his for my room." Avi smiles.

Tim smiles as he sees his favorite ornament in the box. It was a simple little angel made from corn husk.

"I don't know why but this is my favorite." Tim says to Chance as he holds the angel in his hand.

"Don't put that ugly thing on the tree." Mitch snarls as he walks up to the couple.

"Hold this." Tim says as he hands the angel to Chance. He then begins to unfasten his belt.

"What are you doing, Babe?" Chance asks with a puzzled expression.

"I'm fixin to drop my pants so he can kiss my ass." Tim answers.

**********

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. Nothing like spending time with family.

But, back to work. I am soooo behind. LOL

Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Let me know by VOTING and by leaving a COMMENT!!