Hey guys. I am so so sorry. I know this update took a while.
Can you beautiful readers please send out some prayers for my little daughter? She needs some good wishes right now.
Hope you will have fun with the new chapter and I really hope for a tone of reviews (as always-I know ;o) )
Chapter 9 – Night
Andy had to swallow as she walked into the room, seeing Nick like this. Sam was just putting a blanket over Nicks body. Andy settled the sandwich and the bottle of water on Nick's nightstand which he could reach easily from his bed.
"You okay?" Andy asked, watching Nick for a second.
"Just need some sleep." Nick said, his eyes already dropping.
"If you need anything just let us know. We got a speaker system so we can hear you, alright?" Sam said patting Nicks shoulder. He received a tired nod.
Andy could see the emotions on Sam's face as they where finally downstairs again. Something she wasn't used to.
"Damn it, this is bad." Andy said watching as Sam poured his drink down.
"Don't you tell me." He said before getting to his feet again. He was clearly not in the mood to talk about it...to talk about anything right now.
"I'm going to bed as well. This was hard." He said before walking back upstairs again.
Andy was wide awake as she heard a loud groan over the speakers in the middle of the night. It was a groan full of pain, followed by an even more intense groan.
"Sam?" Andy whispered, getting a snort in return, telling her that Sam was still fast asleep.
Andy got out of bed hurrying towards Nicks bedroom quickly.
"Nick?" She whispered before turning the lights on. Nick was laying in his bed, he had obviously tried to turn himself around. The large pillow and the blanket were a mess. Andy could see the painful expression on Nick's face. He was still ghostly pale.
"Hey. You okay? I heard you over the speaker." Andy said sitting down next to Nick who was now laying on his back, wide awake as well.
"Yeah, I am alright. Just tried to turn around. It's not that easy you know."
"I can only imagine. Are you still in pain?" Andy asked watching Nick closely.
"Unfortunately yes."
"Have you told the doctors about it? Is it normal?" Andy asked, still shocked by the fact that Nick was in so much pain.
"It's the bruised spinal cord, it sends pain signals through my whole body. Even my legs are hurting, but my back is the worst. Doctors said that physiotherapy includes a back massage and stretching. I already got it in the hospital and it really helps a lot with the pain."
"Can I do something? I mean I will learn how to help you during physiotherapy as well but is there anything I can do right now?"
"Maybe. You could stretch my legs, I think it would help a little."
"Alright than talk me through, tell me what to do."
"Just get them in your hands, lift them up and press them against my body." Andy did as Nick told her, stopping immediately as she could hear Nick inhaling sharply, his hands clutching the blanket. "Nick."
"No...it's okay. It hurts but it will stop, it's okay." Nick said out of breath.
Andy swallowed hard, waiting a second before she continued. She tried to focus on something else, tried to ignore the fact that she was hurting Nick right now. Andy began to stretch the other leg until Nick told her to stop. She settled his lifeless leg back down, putting the blanket back above them.
"I need to use the bathroom now."
"Do you have to get up at night too?"
"Yeah but only once."
"You need my help or should I get Sam?"
"No I will be fine. The pain is getting better, I am really okay."
"I will wait here until you are back in bed again, okay?" Nick nodded accepting Andy's help to settle down into the wheelchair. Nick was glad that he could maneuver himself to the toilet and back now without any help. He was still in pain but nothing to the pain he had felt before. As he settled back in bed he was glad that Andy helped him none the less.
"I am glad the nurse is starting today. I really feel bad to put you guys through all of this." Nick had to admit while Andy placed his leg onto the pillow, gently helping him to turn around.
"There is nothing you need to be sorry for. You are the heart of this operation and it's more than amazing that you are putting yourself through all of this in your condition."
"At least there is something I can. Go back to bed Andy, you look tired."
"I am tired."
"See you in the morning."
"Call if you need anything alright?"
"I promise."
"Have a good night."
"You too." Nick closed his eyes, exhaling deeply as Andy closed the door behind her. She was now walking back to Sam, who was waiting for her in bed. How much he would love to be the man laying beside her right now.
On the next morning Andy opened the door for the nurse. She was greeted by a grey haired woman in her early fifties.
"Hello you must be Emily. I am Andrea Raymond." Andy said exchanging a handshake.
"Nice to meet you Mrs. Raymond. Actually my name is Nurse Betty. Emily is starting in two weeks, she is on holiday right now."
"Oh alright. We where informed that a nurse named Emily should take care of my husband.", Andy said starting to play her role.
"I am sorry ma'am."
"No no don't worry. We are glad to have you here. Let's get upstairs. Nick, my husband, is still in bed. He had a troubled night with a lot of pain."
"I am sorry to hear that." Betty said following Andy upstairs. She had put her pillow and blanket into Nicks room this morning, starting the illusion of a happily married couple.
"Honey your nurse is here." Andy said before entering "their" bedroom.
"Hello dear. My name is Betty." Betty said before shaking Nicks hand as well.
"So should I call you Nick or Mr. Raymond?"
"It's a fact that you are going to see me naked and help me through a lot of things I am really embarrassed of, so Nick would be perfectly fine for me."
"That's what I thought. So Nick, let's get your pretty face out of bed and ready for the day, alright?"
Andy had to smile as she heard Betty talking to Nick. She was a motherly woman with a lot of charm. Andy could only hope that it would help Nick through this hard situation.
It took about an hour until Nick finally wheeled into the kitchen. Betty had brought him downstairs and then left until the evening.
"Hey. Look at you. Freshly dressed and showered. How is Betty?" Andy asked while Nick wheeled himself under the free spot on the table.
"She is really great. I think she has a really big heart. I like her."
"That's good to hear. You also like toast and eggs this morning?"
"It's my favorite."
"I know it is." Andy smiled, putting the plate in front of Nick.
"Hey where is Sam?"
"Right here buddy." Sam said as he walked into the kitchen only wearing his swimming pants, water still running down his perfectly trained body.
"How's the water?" Nick asked, getting some egg on his fork.
"Just perfect. You should try it."
"No I pass. Not until I am a little more used to this."
"Physiotherapy is starting tomorrow, I think you will be better soon." Andy said, trying to cheer Nick up. The ringing of the door bell got them to stop in their conversation.
"Alright. Someone waiting for someone?" Sam said, receiving a head shake from everyone.
"I am heading upstairs, quickly getting dressed, Andy you check the door, Nick get towards the door as well so you could hear everything alright?" Sam ordered before hurrying upstairs.
"Let the games begin!" Andy said before walking towards the door.
….to be continued!
