by Laura Boeff
Ace waited patiently, sitting on the bed, one hand scratching
Zina's ear unthinkingly. The shower had kicked out a little while ago and
now it was just a matter of waiting till his partner decided to come out.
Ace smiled. He knew Cosmo was hiding a bit from him. Taking a
break from his mother-henning. The smile widened. Ace felt no recriminations
about his mother-henning. Cosmo needed it, whether he liked that fact or
not.
*Not like* was definitely the fact. Cosmo hated needing someone
to do the most mundane of things. Sure, the teen could walk and move about,
albeit stiffly. But the doctors had severely limited what he could do beyond
that. And the healing injury itself saw to it that Cosmo followed those
restrictions. The brutally rendered muscle tissue still healing despite
the fact Cosmo's lung was whole again.
But, pain or not, Cosmo hated being dependent. He couldn't even
undress without help, just lacking the dexterity of getting his shirt and
bandages off. That, and Ace would pitch a fit if he tried it by himself.
Cosmo did *not* need to end up back in the hospital dealing with pulled
stitches.
The door to the bathroom opened and Ace reflexively offered a
smile. Cosmo did not return it, limping into the room a towel wrapped around
his waist. Not looking at his older partner Cosmo sat gingerly and took
the pants that had been laid out, carefully sliding them on, standing unsteadily
as he finished. Ace fought the urge to help, to offer a balancing hand
as Cosmo teetered. His younger partner was annoyed enough at his own infirmity,
no need to make it any worse then it was.
Once done Cosmo sat back down, scrubbing a hand across his face.
"Morning, Ace," he finally said.
"Morning, Cosmo. How ya feeling?"
The look he was flashed said it all. In pain. Annoyed. Tired
of being weak. Ace reached out and patted one shoulder.
"You are getting better, partner," Ace assured.
Cosmo shook his head. "Not fast enough," he muttered, carefully
laying on his side, exposing the large injury. Every morning the healing
wound needed to be re-wrapped after Cosmo's shower. Given Cosmo couldn't
reach the injury with both hands the duty fell to Ace.
Ace didn't mind at all as he brought over the first aid kit.
As with every time he saw the healing wound, he had to squelch the hurt;
the distant anger that would rise. This was what one mad man had done to
his friend. This was the reminder Cosmo would have of his ordeal for the
rest of his life.
The stitches were stark against the young man's skin. The stab
wound a jagged line still bloody at the edges, but healing. Ace set to
work and applied a new bandage quickly and efficiently.
"There, partner. Good as new," he announced.
"Hardly," Cosmo grumbled pushing himself slowly up. Ace winced
in sympathy as his friend's eyes crinkled in pain, but Cosmo managed it.
Another improvement. Cosmo had had trouble going from lying down to sitting
on his own initially, but now had healed enough to do so, without assistance.
"It is healing and you are getting better, Cosmo," Ace reiterated
firmly with a smile. Cosmo looked at him, then gave in and smiled slightly
back.
"Yea, yea, I know, just.. Seems to be forever, bro," he sighed.
"It is getting better," Ace assured, then grabbed a pillow and
sat beside the young man. Cosmo eyed the pillow with misgiving.
"Not this.." he groaned.
Ace quirked an eyebrow.
"Cosmo, you know why you have to do this," Ace declared.
Cosmo grimaced. "Hurts like hell, man," he complained.
Ace sighed and could only smile sadly. "I know it does. I know.
But you know the therapist said this was important. To help fight off infection
and strengthen the tissue." Every day he told his friend this and everyday
Cosmo fought the deep breathing exercises he was required to do. Had to
do. Infection was incredibly possible with a lung recovering from collapse.
Even with the medication the teen was on.
Grumbling darkly, Cosmo took the pillow and clamped it across
his chest, holding it with both arms. Applying gentle pressure from the
outside helped relieve some of the discomfort and gave Cosmo something
to dig his fingers into when the pain flared.
Ace unhesitantly put his hand on the young man's bare back, offering
a grounding point. A distraction as his hand rubbed in gentle circles.
"Okay, just do it slowly," he urged softly, voice even and calm.
Ace's training voice, the one Cosmo could latch onto, could follow without
hesitation.
Slowly, Ace felt Cosmo draw in a deep breath, pain wrinkling
his closed eyes as the healed lung expanded fully.
"Shit!" Cosmo hissed as he let the breath go again. Ace kept
up his gentle massage, voice calm and encouraging.
"Good one, Cosmo. You're doing good."
Cosmo drew another breath. Deep and full and Ace kept talking
quietly just to distract him. He hated seeing his friend in pain. Just
hated it! But even the painkillers couldn't do much to help with the agony
the deep breathing exercises caused. Afterwards Cosmo would be exhausted,
which was why they did this first thing in the morning, to give him the
rest of the day to recover.
"Man, ya think this would get better," Cosmo snarled, drawing
another breath. It was getting better. Ace could feel it. Could feel Cosmo's
ribs flex as his lungs filled to capacity. In the first days after his
release Cosmo could barely draw half a breath. Now he was breathing deeply,
though the pain had not gotten really any better.
"Few more," Ace encouraged. Cosmo nodded and did it again, but
this time ended in a hack. Ace's hands immediately caught Cosmo's shoulders
as he coughed hard, fingers clawing into the pillow. The coughing fits
hit occasionally. The doctors said coughing was actually the best way to
prevent infection and to clear the lungs, but it hurt worst then the deep
breathing exercises.
Cosmo snarled an epitaph as the fit passed and slumped weakly,
breathing shallowly and carefully again.
"Well done," Ace said and took the pillow, helping Cosmo lay
on his side. Eyes still closed Cosmo let out another little snarl. Ace
patted his shoulder and smiled.
"You are getting better, Cosmo."
Gray eyes opened, tired and pain filled. "Yea, I know, but just
so long, Ace. Man... it seemed like I was in the hospital forever. You'd
think I'd feel better getting out."
"I hear you. But you are getting better. Just give it a little
more time, partner. A little more time."
The gray eyes closed again as Ace massaged the strong shoulders,
helping to ease the tension. Ace felt a flutter of warmth. He could very
well remember a time where the slightest physical contact would send Cosmo
into a fit. Now the young man trusted him enough to allow his older friend
to ease away some of the discomfort his injury brought.
"Want to practice," Cosmo said suddenly.
Ace jerked "Huh?"
"Want to practice my magic. A real practice, Ace," Cosmo explained.
Ace frowned. Magic practice had been kept to a minimal. Meditation and
a few venting exercises to let Cosmo release the magic that gathered to
him. Emotions called the power and Cosmo's frustration and pain had been
a vacuum sucking the magic force to him.
"Cosmo.. I don't know.."
"Hey, you said I was getting better. I want to practice," Cosmo
snapped, then sighed. "Sorry, bud. I just.. just want to get back to doing
things." Then he laughed. "You ever think I'd ask to practice magic?"
Ace couldn't help but chuckle. No. At one time dealing with his
magic had been the last thing Cosmo wanted. The fact that he now sought
to work the powers in him made Ace proud. Proud that he'd helped in some
small way to get the teen to accept his magic.
"Okay. I'll think of some small tricks for you to do." Ace raised
a hand. "Small tricks only, nothing big."
Cosmo smiled. "Coolness. Yea, that be cool, Ace." He relaxed
again as Ace continued his massage, coaxing the tight muscles to relax.
In time Cosmo gave a slight heave and Ace knew the pain had subsided to
a point the teen could deal with. He still offered a hand as his partner
sat up and took his shirt. With help Cosmo finished getting dressed and
stood, without swaying.
"He's up, he's out of here," Cosmo announced.
Ace laughed and followed.
"But heading where?"
"Kitchen. I'm starved!"
Ace smiled, pleased. Cosmo's appetite was slowly returning which
was a good thing. The stay in the hospital had worn down the young man's
reserves and the medication affected his appetite as well.
"How about an extra large stack of pancakes?" Ace offered.
"I thought you didn't want me to go back to the hospital?"
"Cosmo.."
Cosmo grinned. "That'd be fine, dude. Cinnamon. I like the cinnamon
ones."
"One order of cinnamon pancakes coming up," Ace announced as
they went, Zina in tow. Another day started and another day on the road
to Cosmo's recover. Ace smiled. There would be many more such days to come,
but they were both heading in the right direction. Both recovering in their
own ways. Taking things one day at a time.