Erik watched him with narrowed eyes for a moment longer, then nodded.
“I’ll take your word for it, but if you’re lying to me, this will be the last time.Got me?”
“I got you.”
“Here, let’s turn you so you can at least see the door.Then I’ll leave you be.”Erik moved behind the chair and moved him around until he sat next to the bed, but with his back to it, then he bent forward and hit the brakes so he wouldn’t roll away without wanting to.“Anything else I can get you before I leave?”
“No.I’m good.Dax will be back soon.If I need anything I’ll send him.That’s what prospects are for.”
“If you say so,” Erik said before leaving him alone.
Spider rolled his neck, then let it hang.A hot shower would go a long way to helping him relax.He just hoped Dax could convince whoever was at the nurse’s desk to let him have one.
He sat for a few minutes, then Dax came back.
“She said you can shower but there are a few things that need to be done first.We have to cover the cast.And afterward you’ll need a fresh bandage on the other side.She’s going to bring us something to cover the cast with.”
Spider nodded, he didn’t care.He just wanted to feel clean.He had no doubt it would help him feel human again.He just wished he had his own shower stuff.But he could survive without it.He didn’t need his shit to get clean.
Dax went to where he’d been sitting, and Spider assumed he was sitting down to wait for the nurse to come in, but he didn’t stay there.Instead, he came back around, this time carrying a backpack by the handle on top and disappeared into the bathroom.When he came out several minutes later, Spider frowned, wondering what he’d been up to, especially since he hadn’t heard the toilet flush or water run at all.
“Just getting things set up,” Dax said as he took the backpack somewhere behind Spider.He wanted to twist around and see what the prospect was doing but he knew that would hurt more than it was worth, so he didn’t bother.
A moment later Dax appeared in front of him.
“Where’s your phone?”
“On the table next to the bed, why?”
“I thought we would plug it in and let it charge while you’re busy.”
Spider frowned.He should have thought of that when he’d left it here on his way to PT.
“I don’t remember if I plugged it in.Will you check?”Dax moved out of his line of sight.He heard movement behind him.
“It wasn’t charging before, but it is now.”
“Thanks.”He sat for another minute or two before a nurse Spider didn’t recognize came in.
“I hear you’re wanting a shower?”she said, looking at him.He blinked as it took his brain a moment to process her words.His gaze flicked to the name tag on her shirt.Laura.
“I am.If we can get this covered, I’d love to get clean for a change.”
“I don’t have anyone free to help you with one right now, and you can’t get in and out alone.You’re non-weight bearing.”
“I know.”Spider bit back the urge to snap at her.“If we can just get this covered up,” he motioned to the cast, “he’ll help me.”He jerked his head toward where he’d last heard Dax behind him.
“Are you prepared to help him?To stay in the bathroom with him the whole time?”
“Wouldn’t be the first time,” Dax said.“At least this time he won’t be puking while I try to clean him up.”
“Fuck you,” Spider said to Dax.He knew exactly what the prospect was referring to.After Panther’s funeral, after watching his sister who looked so lost, Spider had had a bit too much to drink.Or more than a bit.He remembered being in the common room with several of his brothers, laughing and drinking, then the next thing he knew there was cold water spraying in his face, and before he was even awake enough to know what was going on, his stomach rejected the booze he’d poured into it and he’d been sick as a dog.Dax had him in the shower and was trying to clean him up, Spider still wasn’t sure what from.Still, he didn’t think much of it because he’d been saying goodbye to his brother.
Nurse Laura looked back and forth between the two of them, as if trying to decide if she should trust them or not.After a moment she nodded, went to a cabinet, and started pulling things out.
“Here’s a bag to cover his cast, and tape.Tape the bag on, don’t tuck it into the top of the cast.You’ll end up with water in there and you do not want that Also here’s a clean gown.”She set things on the counter.“Let me go grab you a shower kit so you have soap.”
“No need,” Dax spoke up.“Unless there’s some special soap he’s supposed to be using or something?”
