Sure, he could have managed on a regular bed, but the adjustable one would make it easier for him to find a position that would let him sleep.Though just getting away from the hospital and rehab, with the beeps and alarms, with people in and out at all hours checking on him would help.And with a kitchen where he could get Dax to make him real food.He wasn’t sure what he wanted first, well, aside from making sure the bed wasn’t too hard.
Pushing himself upright, he looked around the room and wished he was in his room in the clubhouse.Not that he’d be able to get there for some time yet.He looked down at what was left of his leg.It was covered in bandages and a funky-looking silicone sleeve, but he still stared at it as if he could see it.The skin had healed and there was no open wound left, but they’d told him he needed to keep it wrapped and the sleeve on it so the internal tissues could heal with the right shaping so he would have less trouble with a prosthetic later.Fletch and Dax had both learned as well, but Spider was determined to do this himself.He needed to know how to take care of it, even when no one was around.Plus, he hated having to rely on anyone for what he saw as basic shit.If he could manage it, he would.
The trip Jordon suggested popped into his head.He had to make sure he could do for himself if he wanted to make that trip, and he found himself wanting to go.It might not be exactly the trip he’d always wanted but the more he thought about it, the more he liked the idea of this one even more.Still, it would have been nice if he could ride his bike.But if the accident had broken him up this badly, he hesitated to think about how bad his Harley must be.Totaled he was sure, if he left it up to the insurance company.But more than that, probably not even possible to fix, if he took the time and did it himself.
He shook his head and pushed thoughts of his motorcycle out of his head.He was going to have to make some modifications if he could fix it.And he wasn’t holding his breath on that one.He hadn’t even gotten the nerve to ask Fletch where it was or if they’d let it be impounded after the wreck.
“Hey,” Dax’s voice made him look up.The prospect stood in the doorway, watching him.“I’m pulling dinner out in about ten minutes.It should sit for a few minutes before we cut into it, then I’ll dish it up for everyone.You want to eat in here or in the other room?”
“I’ll come in there.”Spider didn’t even care what they were eating.Though from the scent, he’d guess pizza or some kind of pasta.It was hard to miss the garlic and tomato sauce aromas filling the house.
“Want help?”Dax asked.
Spider fought the urge to glare and just shook his head.It would take him longer to do it on his own, but he needed to do it.
“Okay, just holler if you need something.”Dax disappeared, probably back to the kitchen, and Spider let his shoulders slump for a minute.Then he straightened up, pulled his chair closer and started the process of shifting into it.If dinner was in ten or fifteen minutes, it would probably take him most of that time to get into the chair and make his way in there.
His new cast only came a few inches above his knee, and no longer held his leg almost straight, but he still had to be careful not to smack it against anything as he moved through the house.If he hit it against anything more solid than the mattress, he had pain like little else he could remember.He’d only done it once but once was enough to know he never wanted to do that again.
After getting into his chair, he maneuvered himself into the hall and into the main room, wondering how Fletch had managed to find an accessible house on such short notice, and how much it had set the club back.He’d have to see how much he owed the club for taking care of all this for him.This was his accident.The expenses shouldn’t have to come out of anyone else’s pocket.
In the main living area, he stopped and looked around.He’d seen it when they’d first arrived, but Spider had been more focused on a real bed and being able to find a comfortable place to sleep to take in the house.There was plenty of seating, but the main part of both rooms was open, which gave him plenty of room to move around.
Spider looked around the room.Fletch sat on the sofa, his attention on the laptop on the coffee table in front of him.He didn’t see Dax but followed the sounds of someone moving around and found the kitchen.Dax was in the middle of pulling a large glass dish from the oven.He set it on the counter, then closed the oven door and hit something on the control panel for the stove before turning to face him.
“Hey.Looking for something?Can I get you anything?”
“I was just taking in the place.Getting to know where I’ll be living for the foreseeable future.But I could use some water.”
“No problem.”Dax pulled a bottle from the fridge and tossed it to Spider.He caught it, twisted the top off and took a long pull.
“What are we having?”Spider jerked his head toward the dish on top of the stove.The stove beeped, but Spider wasn’t sure what that meant.
“Lasagna.”Dax picked up a cooking sheet with what looked like bread on top.He put it in the oven and turned to Spider.“I’ve only got a couple of minutes on that before it’s toast, literally.Need something?”
Spider shook his head.“Nope.Just watching and enjoying not being stuck in one room for a change.”
“Sounds good.Normally, I’d just set it on the other side of the counter and let everyone serve themselves, but today, I think I’ll take the pan to the table.There are only the three of us, so no one has to leave the table if they want more.”
“Sounds good.Anything I can do to help?”
Dax looked at him for a moment, then grinned.
“Yeah, there is.Can you take these to the table?I’ll come in with the food in a minute.”He handed Spider a stack of paper plates with a pile of flatware on top.
Spider took them, stared at them for a moment as he realized he needed both hands to move his chair, then shrugged and set the stack on his lap and wheeled himself into the dining room.Behind him, he heard the oven door open and Dax pull out the pan he’d just put in there.Spider moved himself to the spot at the end of the table where the chair had been moved to leave room for him.
“Food!”Dax called a moment later, then he appeared with the large pan of lasagna and set it in the middle of the table before making another trip, this time with a large metal spoon and a plate of what looked like garlic bread.Spider’s stomach rumbled loudly and his mouth watered at the scents that teased his nose.
“You look eager,” Fletch said as he came into the room, pulled out a chair and sat.
“I am.”Spider rubbed his hands together then started passing plates around the table as Dax took his seat.“This smells like the best thing I’ve had to eat in a month.”
“Good.And there should be enough that we can reheat leftovers for a couple of days.”
“Even better.”Fletch picked up a spoon and held his other hand out toward Spider.It took him a second to realize what his friend wanted, but he handed over his plate and waited while he scooped a good size portion of the cheesy pasta onto the plate.“That good to start with?”
“Perfect.”
