Two months later
''Come on, my 2 year old niece pushes harder than you do.'' Michael, his physical therapist said as Chase was trying to push his hand away with his right hand. Chase gritted his teeth and tried to push a bit harder, but Michael let go then. His hand fell limp into his lap and Chase let out a deep sigh.
''You are an asshole, you know that right?'' Chase panted. Bringing up the slightest bit of power in his hands and arms cost him so much effort.
''Alright, you must be exhausted, I will let you be.'' Michael said before getting up. Grabbing a pillow and putting it under his arm and hands, Michael nodded.
''You did great today.''
''Thanks.'' Chase smiled just slightly.
''Hope you know I am not really trying to be an asshole, just trying to push you.''
''I know.''
Michael left and Chase sat back against the back of his wheelchair, exhausted from this short session.
House would come to see him later with Foreman to see if they needed to adjust any his pain medication. Even though the surgery was two months behind him now, he still ad a lot of pain in his back and neck. With his vertebrae and disk being all sorts of messed up, even after the surgery, he was worried that that was not going to improve.
He was slowly making plans about going home with the care of a nurse that would help him during the day. He hoped that his hands and arms would improve a bit more so that he could be more independent.
About six weeks ago he had had a tendon transfer in his right arm and hand and now the function in his arm and hand were slowly improving. His left was slowly moving a slight bit as well again, but he knew he would most likely need a transfer in a few months as well if he wanted to get his left arm on the same level. The problem was that it would render his left arm and hand useless for the better part of a month and it would make his goal of going home soon harder.
He had some feeling on the skin on some parts in his legs, but none of the muscles in his legs seemed to be working. It upset him, but he hopes it would still get better.
Foreman and House arrived, and they discussed his medication. The pain in his back got unbearable after sitting up for too long. Even though they had talked about fixing up the vertebrae more in the hopes it would lessen the pain, he also knew that he could suffer a lot more damage to his spinal cord and lose the little bit of progress he had made.
''No Vicodin.'' Chase said as House brought it up. He saw what it did too House and he was worried of getting dependant on the Vicodin as well.
''It could work.''
''Really.'' Chase said looking at house and Foreman couldn't help but laugh.
''Don't worry, I get the irony.''
''I want to try botox injection into the muscles. I read some studies on it.'' Chase said.
''We can try that and keep you on the current dosage of painkillers if you are okay with that.''
''That sounds good.'' Chase nodded and he and Foreman shook hands.
Foreman walked out and he expected House to go as well but House instead threw his cane on Chase's lap and held the wheelchair as he walked to the back of it.
''What are you doing?''
''Taking you to the cafeteria.'' House said as he started pushing the wheelchair.
At first he wanted to object, but it was nice to finally get out of the room.
''Still not thinking of getting an electrical wheelchair? Would make your life easier?''
''No, working hard on my arms. Michael says I can keep this manual with power assist.'' Chase explained.
On the way to the cafeteria there were a lot of doctors and other staff staring at him. Ofcourse they all knew him and he hated how they looked at him. It was always the same look of pity.
''What do you want? You're buying.'' House said as they arrived at the cafeteria and got in line for food.
''Nothing House, not looking to embarrass myself.'' Chase said softly.
''No, you are getting something.'' House said strict and finally Chase opted for a cookie and – a strawberry free – smoothie.
Suddenly he saw House holding his wallet and he looked surprised.
''House where did you get that?''
''It was still in your locker, you do realize somebody had to take your stuff out right?'' House said as he took some dollars out.
''You asshole.'' Chase just mumbled.
They made their way to a table and House tossed the wallet in his lap.
''First lunch I bought with it, I swear.''
Chase chuckled. It was nice to have somebody around him who didn't bother walking on egg shells all the time.
''Hope you choke on it.'' He joked back.
''Nothing wrong stealing a wallet from a convict.''
''Piss off.'' Chase just laughed.
With his right hand he was breaking up some of the bits of the cookie and eating it. It took a while but he was glad House had told him to get something.
''Can I join – did House buy you lunch?'' Wilson asked surprised as he wanted to join the table.
''He did – with my own wallet.'' Chase laughed. Wilson sat down with them.
''You are an asshole, you know that?'' Wilson told House.
''That is what he said as well!'' house pretended to act surprised, pointing at Chase. Looking at Chase, he was glad to see the young man laughing.
''So how is it going?'' Wilson asked Chase, not having seen the man in a while. He had come by last month but didn't want to keep intruding in Chase's life, with everything that was going on.
''Decent, the tendons are working great so at least I can do somethings with my right hand again…and still working and gaining more every day.'' Chase said positive. House looked out of the window for a second. Chase was right about improving but he also knew how much the young man was struggling with the pain in his back and neck.
''How is the cat, already annoyed by him?''
''He is great, I think he hates me though.''
''He hated me too.'' Chase laughed.
After a while, both House and Wilson saw sitting up for so long was getting too much for him and they brought him back to his room.
After more therapy that afternoon, one of the nurses helped him get settled in the bath in the bathroom by his room. In the shower they always stayed with him and he enjoyed having a bath as he was finally alone for a moment.
''Thanks.''
The hot water really helped him relaxing his muscles in his back and neck. Looking down at his arm, he saw the scars on the side and top of his hand where they had put the tendons. Looking down at his legs and arms, he felt bad about it. There was nothing he could do about it, and he knew it didn't matter as long as he was alive, and he was still recovering. But it did hurt him.
He had always worked hard for his body, and cared about his looks, and there was not much left now. After three use of barely using his muscles because he couldn't, his muscles had deteriorated so much they were almost gone.
He hoped it would still get better, but since he had only gained some function in his hands, he was worried he shouldn't be too hopeful.
So a bit of time jump! Thanks so much for reading this chapter, hope you liked it! Please let me know what you thought and hopefully till next chapter! x
