“Might as well get it started.The sooner we start it the sooner it’s done.”
“Good attitude!”Angie chirped as she started setting things down.“But you’re in luck.After the doc told you about this,” she touched one of the bags she’d draped over his casted leg, “he read the report from the radiologist then looked at your X-rays himself.We’re going to replace your cast later today.We’ll get that done some time this afternoon.”
“A new cast?Why?”Spider reached for Jordon.She didn’t hesitate to put her hand in his and squeeze.
“Because the healing is going well.They’re going to put you in a shorter cast, one that goes to about here.”she touched a spot on his existing cast about half-way up his thigh.“It will make it easier for you to move around, especially once you’re out of here.”
“That’s something, I guess.”He’d managed to master getting in and out of the wheelchair on his own.It was still slow and awkward, but he could do it.That had helped his spirits, but not getting out of here like he’d thought was knocking him for a loop.
“I have a question,” Jordon said, speaking up.
“What?”Angie didn’t look up as she wrapped the rubber tourniquet around his upper arm, then swabbed the area she planned to stick him.
“Once you get that started, is he restricted to the bed or can we put the bags on his chair and go for a walk?”
“There’s no reason he can’t go out while he’s receiving this.I’ll have to bring you a different chair, one with a pole, but that’s no big deal.”She paused.“Little stick here.”
“A walk?”he said to Jordon, doing his best to ignore what was going on with his arm.Needles didn’t bother him, but that didn’t mean he wanted to watch one going into his skin.
Jordon nodded.“I think some sunshine would do you good.”
“There’s sunshine right there.”He tilted his head toward the window because he wasn’t willing to let go of her hand to motion with it and Angie was still messing with the other one.
Jordon waved her free hand in a dismissive gesture.
“That’s way over there, not shining on you.That doesn’t help your body with vitamins and serotonin and endorphins.You’re not used to being inside all the time like this.”She shook her head.“Just let her finish, then we’ll get you into a chair and I’ll show you.”
Fletch returned as Angie finished with all the tape and sticky shit used to keep an IV in.She’d already attached the two bags of whatever it was they were keeping him here for.He hadn’t paid attention to what it was.After the doctor had told him he wouldn’t be getting out today, he’d zoned out and missed most of what else had been said.Fletch had been there and Spider knew he’d know anything important.
“I’ll go get that chair and be right back,” Angie said after cleaning up all the trash and repacking her little toolbox.She slipped past Fletch and out the door.
“Chair?”Fletch asked, looking back and forth between Spider and Jordon.
“Yep.She’s going to bring us a chair with a pole so we can take that stuff with us and we’re going to go for a little walk.Spider could use some sunshine and I think it’s the perfect time.”
Fletch looked back and forth between the two of them for a moment then took a deep breath and stepped farther into the room as if he wasn’t sure this was the best idea, but he didn’t want to argue.
He sat on the sofa where he’d been earlier, and watched the two of them.Spider found himself wishing his best friend would leave.That he had time with Jordon that he didn’t have to share with anyone else.That was the rhythm they’d settled into.Usually one left shortly after the other arrived, not because they didn’t like each other, but Spider got the feeling they were relieving the other.That now that there was someone to stay with him a while, they could get other things done.He hated feeling like he was a job to do on someone’s list.It made him feel like a helpless burden and he hated it.Maybe that was why not getting out of here today had upset him so badly.He was looking forward to having at least a little bit of normalcy.
Angie brought in the new wheelchair.Spider waited while Jordon moved it into position, he lowered his bed to the right height, then realized that with the IV in his arm and the tubes all around, this was going to be a more delicate maneuver than he was used to.
“Can I help, this once?Because of the tubes.”Fletch motioned to the IV bags hanging behind Spider.
Spider tilted his head back and glared at the bags, then sighed.“Yeah.I guess.”They both knew how to do this.They’d done it more than a few times over the last few weeks, but Spider thought he’d gotten past it when he’d learned how to maneuver himself into the chair, and needing the help now irked.
Luckily, Fletch didn’t make a big deal about it, just hooked Spider’s arm around his neck, wrapped his own arm around Spider’s middle, and helped him shift from the bed into the chair.
Once he was in place, Jordon stepped closer, moved the bags of fluid from the pole beside the bed to the one attached to the chair, then gathered the excess tubing, coiled it and hooked it on one of the handles behind him to keep it from dragging on the ground or getting run over.
“I think we’re ready,” Jordon said after a couple of minutes.“Are you going with us?”She looked at Fletch.
Spider’s best friend shook his head.“No, I’ll let the two of you go on your own.I’ve got a couple things to handle back at the house.I have things being delivered this afternoon.”He lifted one shoulder and let it drop.“We’d planned for him to be out and there by then.I’ll send Dax over with something to eat.Want anything in particular?”
“Not fast food,” Spider said without thinking about it.“Damn.Never thought I’d miss the food at the clubhouse, and I never thought I’d be sick of burgers, much less fries but right now, if I never see another of either again, I’d be happy.”
“No fast food.No burgers or fries.Got it.You two have fun, but not too much fun.”Fletch waved one finger then left.
“Come on.Let’s go see what it looks like outside.”
