Heading For Disaster Chapter 9
Obvious FYI: I don't own anything that even remotely has to do with the O.C.!
--Thank you for the reviews! I really appreciate it!
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Ryan progressed well over the next week in both physical therapy and occupational therapy. His finger dexterity was pretty much normal, as he didn't have much to regain, and his arm and hand strength was getting better. The feeling in his lower body was increasing and soon they would have him stand up, something that Ryan couldn't wait for.
Until today, Ryan would transfer from the wheelchair onto the PT table and another therapist Kathy would support him from behind while Bruce would stretch Ryan's legs and use weights. He had done endless ab and back exercises and his core was becoming much stronger. This afternoon, however, Ryan was going to stand up.
Tyler, Adam, and two other boys Ryan had come to know were all in PT at the same time as Ryan while Jackson was in OT and the five turned to their friend to watch his progress.
Kathy was holding Ryan's shoulders and the safety harness as he sat on the table, and Kim the PT student was right behind Ryan with his wheelchair. Bruce was sitting on a stool and had his legs interlocked with Ryan's shins.
"Ok, Ryan," Bruce began. "Kathy is going to support you from the side and I've got a tight hold on you. You won't go anywhere, ok? Just like we've been practicing, push through those heals. You ready, buddy?"
Ryan nodded. "Just do it."
"Ok, on three. One…two…three." As Bruce counted off, Kathy lifted Ryan who immediately began to wobble. Bruce's legs were tight around Ryan and his balance was quickly corrected. Kathy was supporting the teen as well.
Even though he was hardly doing any work, it felt incredible to Ryan to be standing. He was taller than he'd ever been and wasn't even embarrassed when he let out a small laugh of disbelief. He no longer had to look upwards; he could see over things now and what a view it was. He even noticed that Bruce was balding a little on the top of his head. Maybe that's why he worked in spinal cord rehab…his patients were in wheelchairs and couldn't see his hair loss.
"You're doing great, Ryan!" Kathy exclaimed. She smiled at the applause he was receiving from his friends and the other therapists.
He was only up for a matter of seconds, but Bruce and Kathy could both feel Ryan begin to totter. They set him down slowly to regroup.
"I did it!" Ryan's smile was huge. He never thought standing up would be such a big deal. He couldn't wait to walk.
"You're doing great, Ryan. How are you feeling?" Kathy asked him as she rubbed his back.
"Everything's kinda tingling, but it's fine. Can we go again?" Ryan replied eagerly.
"We're going five times, kiddo. Just take a time out and get ready for round two," Bruce smiled at his patient. The therapist had worked with many incomplete SCI patients, but Ryan was by far his most driven. Ryan had a rough start, but physically he was improving greatly.
The rest of the session included the leg press and some more stretching. By the time Bruce and Kim the student walked Ryan back to his room, Ryan was even more exhausted than he'd been after playing his hardest soccer game. But he felt good.
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As soon as he got back to his room, Ryan called Seth's cell phone. It was a little after two in the afternoon, but Ryan knew Seth would be getting out of school within a few minutes. He waited eagerly as the phone rang, not being able to contain his excitement to tell him the good news.
"Ryan?" a girls voice answered the phone. Ryan looked at his cell phone to make sure he dialed the right number.
"Uh, Marissa? What are you doing with Seth's cell phone?" Ryan was confused.
"He asked me to pick it up. We're in the lobby and his phone was on the table. How, how are you doing?" she was hesitant to ask.
"Fine. Where's Seth?" Marissa was not going to ruin this for him.
"Hold on, I'll get him. Are you sure you're ok, Ryan? We haven't really talked and you didn't answer my call last night…" she was nervous.
"I got busy, you know," he said with a hint of sarcasm in his voice. Luckily, Seth had gathered his things and ripped the phone from a stunned Marissa's ear.
"Ryan? Is that you?" Seth had briefly overheard the conversation.
"Yah, hey. Guess what? I stood up today! They were practically holding me, but I stood up! It was cool as shit. You wouldn't even believe." Ryan was so excited.
"That's great, man! How do you feel now?" Seth released a breath that he'd been holding for the past three weeks.
"Sore. Really sore actually. It sucks to have sensation when all you feel is pain…but it was totally worth it." Ryan was smiling as he was sitting in his bed.
"Seriously, bro, that's awesome. But listen, I've gotta go, but I'll talk to you tonight, ok? I'll tell mom and dad. They're going to go crazy." Seth could picture his parents' reactions when they found out that Ryan stood up.
"Alright, talk to you later. Peace." Ryan shut his phone and sighed contently. He closed his eyes and was asleep within seconds.
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"Hey, Seth?" Marissa grabbed Seth by the arm as soon as he hung up the phone.
Seth turned to her but didn't say anything. Marissa took this as a sign to continue talking.
"How did Ryan sound on the phone? Was everything ok?" She bit her lip.
"Yah, I asked him yesterday to call me. I just wanted to say hi." Seth lied.
"Ok, well, ever since we went to see him, he's been acting kinda strange. Do you think he's actually forgiven me?" she'd been thinking that for the past week. Seth just shrugged in reply.
"Come on, Seth. He seemed ok at the hospital!"
"He probably just had his morphine then, Marissa," Seth said coolly.
"What's that supposed to mean?" She stopped walking.
"Marissa, you hurt him bad. He was at his lowest point and he needed you around, and you were gone. That's a lot to bounce back from." Seth still wasn't sure how he felt about Marissa's absence.
"He'll never forgive me." She had tears in her eyes.
"Look, Marissa," Seth was tired of this. Ryan hadn't mentioned her in the past five days and Seth wished he wasn't so far away so he could visit him every day. "Just, I don't know. Just keep telling him you're there for him. Earn his trust back, don't keep apologizing because that'll just remind him what you're sorry for. Ok?" Seth turned back around. "Look, I've gotta go."
Before he could continue, Marissa cut him off.
"I can help. I've been thinking about this for a while. What are you doing Sunday?" Marissa had an excited look in her eyes.
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Sunday came around and Ryan was looking forward to a day off. Sunday meant no PT, no OT, no psychiatrist, no support meetings, no scheduled recreation, no planned doctors' visits. Nothing. He was going to sleep in and then play basketball with his friends on the outdoor court. Sunday was going to be a great day. The Cohens had visited yesterday as well as Jackson's parents and twin brother Lee. The Turners lived even farther north than Newport and it was hard for them to visit as often as they'd like. It was turning out to be a great weekend.
It was past eleven when Ryan was awaken.
"Wake up, Cripple. Let's go," Seth joked as he hit Ryan.
"Yah, come on, Atwood. Get your lazy ass out of bed," Luke went over to the dresser and got Ryan some clothes.
"What the hell?" Ryan opened one eye. "What are you doing here? Let me sleep."
"No way, my friend. You're coming with us. Here," Luke threw some shorts and a t-shirt at Ryan.
"What?" Ryan still didn't get it. He was half asleep.
"Road trip," was all Seth replied. "Get dressed."
Ryan was more awake now and he looked over at Jackson who was sitting in his bed and smiling.
"You knew about this?" Ryan said in disbelief.
"Sorry, buddy. I'm a good liar. So I've heard," he smiled at Luke and Seth.
"And how do you propose we leave? Don't you think it's a little noticeable?" Ryan hoped that the boys had everything planned out because he desperately wanted a break from Fisher.
"Don't worry about that one, Ryan. I've got ya!" Jackson laughed.
"That's my boy!" Seth yelled and air-fived Jackson.
Ryan was unsure of the idea. He wanted so desperately to rest, but on the other hand, he longed to leave the hospital and see the sun, water, and his friends.
"Where are we going?" Ryan said after giving in to the latter option and dressing.
"Just follow us," Luke said, holding Ryan's wheelchair for him.
The three boys left the room after saying goodbye to Jackson. When they got to the parking lot, Ryan froze. He hadn't mastered car transfers, actually, he never even tried before. The trip to Fisher from HOAG was in a van with an automatic lift. Ryan looked at Luke's truck. Seth and Luke saw Ryan's confused look and laughed.
"Come on, Atwood," Luke said. Ryan wheeled up to the front door and Luke lifted from the inside while Seth lifted from the outside. Finally, Ryan was inside the cab and his wheelchair thrown in the bed by Luke.
It felt so good to Ryan to feel the wind in his hair, and Seth and Luke noticed Ryan's genuine smile. Luke drove all the way to Newport and pulled up to the Crab Shack. Ryan was happy to be out of Fisher, but suddenly felt nervous about the O.C. community seeing him in his wheelchair.
"Relax, bro. I promise you they won't care," Seth sensed Ryan's uneasiness.
Ryan finally made it into his wheelchair, but found it difficult to navigate his way through the gravel parking lot. When they finally made it to the restaurant, a surprise party was waiting for him.
"Surprise!" everyone yelled as they all came over to him. Pretty much everyone he knew was there, and even Julie Cooper with Kirsten and Sandy and other adults in the community. Ryan was embarrassed at first when he saw so many people. But when they approached him with no judgment, he felt more accepted than he ever had in Newport.
"Ryan!" Kirsten ran over to her son. "I'm so glad the doctors let you out! I'm glad Luke and Seth talked them into it. I wanted to call myself but they said they'd handle it. I'm so excited that you were cleared to leave for the day!" Kirsten patted him on the shoulder. Ryan wondered how she could be so oblivious.
"Yah…the doctors encouraged it. You know, getting back into life…" Ryan tried to find someone else to talk to before the plan got busted. Luckily, Ryan's boss came running up to him.
"Ryan! How are you? You look good! How are you feeling?" he asked, so happy to see the kid.
"Better, thanks," Ryan answered truthfully.
"We're all waiting for you to come back."
"Seriously?" this took Ryan by surprise. "You know it's going to be a while."
"We'll wait as long as we have to," he said with a smile. "Now if you excuse me, I have to go yell at your replacement." The boss ran away and started scolding the waiter.
Everyone was so happy to see Ryan, and he looked better than anyone expected. By three in the afternoon, most people had left, but Ryan and his close friends went down to the beach. Marissa got him a sand wheelchair so he could join everyone near the water. Ryan was having the best time in a long, long while.
About an hour later, however, Ryan's right ankle began to twitch, followed by his left quad and he could soon feel his back pulsing. Ever since his PT and OT had been getting more strenuous, Ryan was prone to muscle spasms, and of course, he didn't take his medication with him.
Ryan got Seth's attention and Seth guessed the problem by the look on his brother's face. Luke came over to see the two talking.
"What's up?" Luke looked at Ryan and was taken aback at the pain easily visible on Ryan's face. "Let's go back, man. I didn't realize how late it was," Luke apologized.
"It's alright," Ryan said half heartedly.
"Guy's, were going to take Ryan back now," Seth addressed the group.
"Oh, Chino! Can't you stay?" Summer asked. She didn't notice Ryan trying hard to hide the spasms.
"I wish, but I don't know how good of a job Jackson's doing holding off the cavalry," Ryan replied. That much was true.
"Alright, I'll push you back," Marissa hopped off the log she was sitting on and helped Ryan to the parking lot where Luke was waiting with Ryan's wheelchair. "You'll be ok? You look tired," she continued.
"Yah, it's been a long week. Seth said this was all your idea?" Ryan was curious.
"It was. Did you have fun?"
He nodded. "Thanks. I needed this." Ryan smiled.
"I'll talk to you tonight," Marissa said as Ryan was about to leave. He nodded again.
Seth and Luke got Ryan back into the truck. Ryan's legs and torso were twitching badly by the time the boys arrived back in San Diego. Luke and Seth tried to keep Ryan talking the whole time to take his mind off the pain. Ryan looked at his phone as they were getting off the highway and saw three missed calls from Jackson but he was too tired to listen to the voicemails. When they got to the Fisher parking lot, Ryan looked at his friends.
"Look, guys. Thanks a lot. You don't know how much I needed that. This is my best day in a long time," he said smiling.
"Of course, little brother." Seth nudged Ryan.
"You'll be out in no time. We'll do it again soon," Luke finished.
The boys just got Ryan into his wheelchair when Dr. Cox met them at the door.
Busted.
*Thanks to jassylou for the comment about Ryan standing*
