Mondays were always dull and difficult and today, Monday February 15th, was no different. Julie woke up to the persistent buzz of her cell phones alarm. Muttering curse words under her breath, she reached out for it blindly from under the covers she was buried under to shut it off. Once it was silenced, she remained in bed, awake but still buried into her comfy pillows and warm covers. A few beams of sunlight were starting to break through the thick curtains on the window forcing her eyes to adjust and her mind to start processing her plans for the day. Her head ached, like it always did when she was forced to wake up early, a side effect of the coma she had been forced to get used to. Every morning felt like waking up with a hangover except she had not consumed any alcohol in months. The early morning headaches and funny buzzing sensation in her brain had been motivation to limit her alcohol intake significantly whenever she was out with Sara and Morgan or having date nights with John.
No fun was to be had today, she reminded herself as she flung back the covers, shivering in the chilly morning air and finally getting out of bed. Her ritual was the same most days; clothes, hair, some makeup, food, hot tea and work depending on how far she had gotten on each case. Work was not on today's list which she was somewhat grateful for but slightly annoyed by, especially when the knock at the front door came.
She sighed and answered it knowing who would be on the other side but still having to undo several locks to get the door open, her pitiful attempt to protect herself from any future attacks. Sure enough Russell was there, beaming at her and holding what she assumed was coffee in two metal travel mugs.
"Morning sunshine," he greeted her and she winced at his cheerfulness.
"It's too early for this," she muttered, reluctantly letting him inside her condo.
"Rough night?" he asked.
She gave him that usual look of annoyance and he stopped talking, silently handing her one of the travel mugs.
"I can't have coffee," she reminded him, another unfortunate side effect post coma. The once necessary to function drink now made her stomach churn unpleasantly whenever she caught a hint of its scent in the break room or at restaurants.
"I know," he said "it's tea."
She gave the mug and him a questioning look.
"It's Lavender, not mushrooms," he said reading her mind "to help you relax."
"I think I'm beyond help," she said and it was his turn to give her a look of annoyance.
She had a way of being bluntly honest with him about every little thing and today was no different. Her moody sarcastic tone was no doubt a way to mask her nerves about what they were about to do. She silently took the mug and sipped it from it slowly.
"Do you have everything you need?" he asked her.
"I think so," she said beginning to rummage through her purse that was sitting on the counter behind her while he consulted the clock on the wall for the time.
"We should get going," he said nodding at the clock.
"Yeah, o.k.," she said feeling awkward and silly for having to have him accompany her today.
They were silent as she locked up her condo, triple checking each lock before leaving. They were silent on the car ride, and when they parked at Desert Palm Hospital. But when they were riding the elevator up to fourth floor she said "I'm really sorry you have to do this."
She was avoiding his gaze when she spoke, her face growing hot with embarrassment.
"Don't be sorry," he assured her "I'm happy to help, and if John was busy….."
"He got stuck in D.C on assignment," she interrupted him, not wanting Russell to think her boyfriend was above accompanying her to ridiculous doctors appointments "stupid snow storm."
"Yeah I heard it was bad," Russell said trying to keep making conversation but feeling silly for talking about the weather.
When the elevator let them off on the fourth floor, they found the check in desk. Russell found two empty seats to wait in while Julie spoke to the receptionist.
"I have a nine o'clock appointment with Dr. King," Julie informed her, handing her the appointment slip with her information on it.
The receptionist scanned the slip, saw the name of the patient and said "Oh Ms. Finlay, you don't have to sign in, Dr. King cleared her whole schedule this morning for you. I'll page her and tell her you're here."
"Uh- o.k.," Julie said feeling embarrassed at the fact that a well known doctor would spend an entire morning talking to just one patient.
The receptionist made her phone call, punched in a code on the locked door and said "Right through here and down the hall."
Julie looked back at Russell now who stood up and said "I'll be out here when you're done."
"That won't be necessary," the receptionist said "Dr. King wants to speak with you too."
It was his turn to feel embarrassed as he looked at Julie and asked "Are you sure Jules?"
"Yeah, it's fine," she said feeling that having Russell here was better than having no one.
Down the hall and to the left was Dr. King's office. Julie had never been here before. All her encounters with the doctor had been in the ER, the intensive care ward where she spent months in a coma, and the therapy rooms she spent weeks regaining her strength back in. This office had only two chairs, one window, a desk where Dr. King was seated at and several personal touches, photos, knick knacks and plants. When Dr. King saw them enter, she stood up, smiled and said "Ms. Finlay, you're looking well."
"Thanks," Julie said unsure how to respond as Dr. King shook hands with Russell then motioned for them all to sit down.
"Well," Dr. King said consulting a file on her desk that turned out to be Julie's "it has been a remarkable year hasn't it?"
"It certainly has," Russell said looking at Julie feeling grateful for her.
"Doctors don't usually tend to follow up with their patients like this," Dr. King continued "but this case, and Ms. Finlay's recovery, has been so incredible, I couldn't not check in with you today." So Julie, tell me, how have you been?"