Checking in is a simple process, and I sit to wait for them to call me to the back. It doesn’t take long. Maybe a full ten minutes.
The nurse takes my blood pressure and all that fun stuff before taking me straight to X-ray. “The doctor wanted us to go ahead and get your X-ray out of the way, make it easier on both of you.”
“Much appreciated,” I tell her with a smile. I can feel Pyro right behind me. The heat of him radiates off him in waves. With him near, I don’t even need a coat. Not that I was wearing one anyway. Today’s outfit was a pair of black leggings (easy to wear with the damn boot) and a long-sleeve shirt, fitted to my chest, with a fleece cardigan vest that looks absolutely fabulous. The only downside to the whole thing is the boot and crutches.
Pyro ends up waiting just outside the X-ray room while the nurse gets the X-rays done. When I rejoin him, he presses a kiss to the side of my head without a word and follows me and the nurse to the exam room.
“The doctor will be just a few minutes,” the nurse says and closes the door behind her.
I look at Pyro as I set the crutches to the side, sit on the exam table, and take the boot off my foot. “You okay?”
“Yeah,” he grunts, bouncing his knee.
“You sure?” I feel the frustration coming off him. It’s heavy around him.
“I’m good, Sweets.” Pyro meets my gaze with his intense one.
“Then why do you seem like you’re mad?”
“What makes you think that?” he asks, cocking a brow in the way he does.
I shrug and look at him closely. “You just seem frustrated,” I start and then sigh. “I can feel the frustration.”
“You can feel it?” His eyes widen marginally.
Rather than use words, I nod.
Before he can say anything else, there’s a knock at the door, and it opens.
“How are you doing, Carina?” Doctor Brandt asks, not looking up from the tablet in his hand until the door closes behind him. Then he smiles at me. It’s that same hot smile he had the last time I was here. But it’s nothing compared to Pyro’s grins.
“I’m good. Tell me I can get off these crutches,” I tell him, not letting his hotness affect me. Nothing about him has anything on Pyro.
Doctor Brandt smiles. “I’ve looked at the X-ray. You’re healing well. I’d like for you to stay in the boot for at least another two weeks, but I don’t see why you should need to use the crutches. You can sleep without the boot, but don’t do any walking. We’ll see you back here after the two weeks and possibly put you in a brace instead.”
“Awesome. I’m tired of sleeping in the damn thing. It’s uncomfortable.” I laugh and look at Pyro. “No more crutches, yay.”
Pyro smirks at me. “That’s good, Sweets.”
Doctor Brandt turns, and I guess he’s surprised at seeing Pyro. He hadn’t looked at him before now.
“I’m Doctor Brandt,” the doctor introduces himself to Pyro, his hand outstretched.
“Pyro.” Pyro takes the doctor’s hand as he stands. “What limitations will my woman have?”
Jeez, he went for the whole ‘woman’ thing, staking his claim.
Doctor Brandt smirks and shakes his head. “No reason to think of me as competition, my partner would have my skin.” He winks at me. “He’s not too keen on sharing me either.”
I snort and shake my head. “I would imagine so with your looks.”
He laughs and looks back at Pyro. “Limitations, just take it easy. Don’t let her walk around constantly. If she has the boot off, it might be good to ice it. But mostly keep the boot on when not in bed.”
“Right.” Pyro nods and steps to my side.
Doctor Brandt takes a few moments to look at my foot. Touches on it, presses tenderly in places, and gives me more instructions.
Finally, when it’s time to go, Pyro helps me withmy boot, and Doctor Brandt stops at the door. “I know you don’t want the crutches, but I’d advise you to keep them for those days when it’s just too much for you. I don’t want you to overdo it with walking. Even if you use the crutches when you’re tired.”
