As Rose Petals Fall
Chapter 3:
Companionship
The next morning, Dick was sitting up in bed and eating the breakfast his nurse had brought him. He wasn't too thrilled by the taste but, as an old friend of his often said, food is food. He just wished he could have Alfred's pancakes rather than hospital oatmeal (he never did like oatmeal). Dick was just about done with his meal when there was a knock on the door.
"C'min!" he called.
The door was opened by his visitor with struggle and was pushed open to make room for the wheelchair. Zatanna came rolling in with her wig covering her head.
"Um... hello," she said.
"Hey, it's you," said Dick, smiling "You staying here now?"
"Yeah, I am," said Zatanna "I came 'cause, well, I saw your seizure yesterday so I was wondering if you were okay,"
Dick smiled at her. Everyone around him had gotten used to his seizures and knew he was okay afterwards but this girl was like a breath of fresh air.
"Yeah, I am. It stopped after a few minutes and I spent the rest of the day sleeping it off," he said, sitting up "I've got brain tumors, you see? They mess with my electrical pathways so I have seizures,"
Zatanna nodded and a blush appeared on her face when she realized there was nothing else to talk about.
"Well... I've got to go to physical therapy," she said "If I can find it... so, I'll see you later?"
Dick found himself muffling a laugh at her awkwardness.
"I can show you the way if you want," he offered "I know this place like the back of my hand,"
Zatanna's blush deepened at the thought of spending more time with him but she did need a guide. She nodded and Dick got out of bed to throw some clothes on.
She waited outside of his room as he got dressed but he came out in a minute wearing a baggy white t-shirt that hung on his lean frame and some jogging bottoms. He offered to push her and Zatanna wasn't about to say no. As Dick lead her through the hospital, multiple staff members said hello and he said hello back as well as calling them by name. It was a wonder he remembered them all...
"So, how was your first night here?" Dick asked her.
"It was alright," said Zatanna "My nurse said you- uhh..."
"Ha! Your nurse told you about me, eh?" he said with a laugh "It's okay and it's true, my dad does finance this place. And yes, I am filthy stinking rich,"
They came to an elevator and he pressed the button for the ground floor. The doors opened and Dick pushed her in. Zatanna looked up at him and saw a scar creeping out from under his beanie. She remembered how Diana had said he had had a previous tumor surgically removed. Dick seemed to have caught her gaze and pulled his hat down further to hide his scar.
"So... how were... you like... uh... before... um..." Zatanna stammered, looking for a conversation topic.
"-before I was diagnosed? I was a mathematician slash acrobat," said Dick, looking around the elevator "You?"
"Oh... uh... no one," Zatanna stammered.
She hated it when her past came back to haunt her. She remembered once when she was recognized by a fan and felt helpless to escape the questions and accusations. Zatanna was jolted back to reality as Dick pushed her out of the elevator and in the direction of the physical therapy center. She pulled her pale fleece around her as the A.C. chilled her to the bone.
"We're nearly there, Miss Zatara," Dick said in a jokingly formal tone.
Zatanna smiled at him.
"Why, thank you, Mr. Grayson," she replied.
The two laughed when she saw a sign above a set of double doors that read: PHYSICAL THERAPY. She needed physical therapy to make sure her leg muscles remained strong enough in the event her weak bones were strengthened enough to support her. Zatanna sat back with a huff when Dick pushed her through the doors.
Diana was waiting for them in the physical therapy room. In had a dark blue carpeted floor and creamy yellow walls with inspirational posters on them. There were some gym equipment on a half of the room with wooden flooring. One wall was covered in mirrors while two others were nothing but windows that showed the hospital fountain.
"Hello, Zatanna. Hello, Richard," greeted Diana.
"Hey, Di. Haven't seen you for a while. How was that bonus training course?" Dick asked, pleasantly.
Diana rolled her eyes. Next to her stood a woman with red hair that waved down to her shoulder blades. She wore the regulation navy blue scrubs of a doctor and a doctor's coat. Dick recognized her as the doctor who lead exercise sessions for the more capable patients.
"Hello, I'm Doctor Shayera Hol," she said, looking down at her clipboard "You can call me Shayera if you'd like,"
Zatanna sat before the medical professionals with Dick still holding the handles of her chair. Diana was acting as the P.T.A (Physical Therapy Assistant) for the time being and helped Dr. Hol lay Zatanna down on a mat on the floor. Since Dick didn't have a treatment for a while, he stuck around to keep her company.
"So... how's it going?" he asked her, sitting cross-legged beside her.
"Are you serious?" Zatanna asked her, skeptically.
"Nope, I'm ridiculous," Dick responded "And you are?"
Zatanna snickered but gasped as Dr. Hol bent her knee to keep her muscles alive. A few other patients and physical therapists arrived for treatment as Zatanna's treatment continued. At one point, Dick even threatened to tickle her until she squealed just to keep her cheery. That's when she realized it... she hadn't smiled this much since she was diagnosed and it was all thanks to the ridiculousness of Dick Grayson. She felt a buzz in her fleece pocket and Dick pulled her cellphone out for her.
"You're getting a call from a 'April Williams', who's that?" he asked her, showing her the caller I.D.
Zatanna's eyes shot open at the name of her former couch/manager from her past career. She grabbed her phone and pressed ignore to the call. She hated any reminder of her tennis career and she hated that April still occasionally called. It wasn't out of concern that April called; she always asked the same thing "When can you return to play?" and Zatanna hated it. Didn't she get that her star player had retired because she had freaking bone cancer?!
"She's someone I'd rather forget..." Zatanna said, her cellphone still in her hand as she covered her face with her arms.