breathe// 5SOS

83

Ashton

"Here is the superstar," I smiled, seeing Ava one last time before Viola took her to therapy, "I am so proud of you,"

"I didn't cry,"

"I know you didn't, that's so good!"

"Can I tell Lucy?"

"I think you should, because you've spent a long time getting over that,"

"Okay, bye dad, I will see you tomorrow,"

"Have a good time, I love you,"

I kissed her cheek and hugged her, smiling to Marcus who was behind.

"I think you're going with Cal now bud," I said, letting him into our exam room where Cal was spinning on his chair.

"Dad," he said, his voice breaking- immediately, I got him to sit down. It was a really vulnerable place for him to be in right now, but I needed him to know that it was okay.

It sounded like he was about to cry.

"What's wrong ay? If you want to go somewhere private,"- "no, no... it's just this tooth,"

And he burst into tears, letting me hug him tightly. I shushed him, Calum rubbing his back and switching back to professional mode.

"It's bothering you?"

"Yeah, I'm sorry I didn't say,"

"For how long?"

"A few days. It is so painful,"

"Oh sweetheart, that's no good. What if we took an X-ray?"

"I don't want you to see my teeth. I am so embarrassed,"

"Whatever issues we have, I will fix them up today,"

I kissed his head, and gently rubbed his back as Calum got out the x-ray equipment. We got him sat back with the cover on, then took all the photos we needed.

While I looked through them, Calum put him on gas and started with a gentle cleaning, which he hadn't been given for years.

"Ow,"

"That didn't hurt, you're just panicking,"

"Stop,"

Cal rested his hand under Marcus's chin and pulled his mask down.

"I know we don't know each other that well, so it can be stressful, but you need to take deep breaths and close your eyes,"

He let me take his shoes off, which would make him ten times more comfy, then closed his eyes, tearing streaming out of them. Despite this, he carried on.

"You need a softer toothbrush bud, you take your emotions out while brushing your teeth huh?"

He laughed a little, wiping his tears. After deciding my plan, I rolled over and held his hands, calmly rubbing circles on them.

"You are doing so well bud. I am so proud of you too,"

"You can tell you haven't had a cleaning in a while, but you do take good care of your teeth Marcus," Calum said, starting to floss, "keep taking those deep breaths,"

Slowly, he wrapped his hand round mine, squeezing it tightly. As soon as Cal was done, I moved the light and ruffled his hair to grab his attention.

"How are you feeling?"

"Scared,"

"That's normal," I said, "Can I talk you through what I'm doing while I have a look?"