Chapter 10: First Steps
It's finally time.
Victor is going to start physical therapy today. They're going to see if he can stand, then the hospital has a room with special equipment, and a therapy pool he can walk or just relax in. I'm anxious for everything to go well. I need Victor to be all right.
I need to know we'll meet on the ice to finally compete with each other.
"You look anxious," Victor said, running his fingers through Yuuri's soft hair as the two laid together on Victor's hospital bed, looking out the window to watch a group of seagulls floating across the cloudy sky, "Don't worry. Things will go fine today."
Yuuri smiled tentatively.
"It's a little funny hearing you have to reassure me about that. Aren't you nervous at all, Victor? I should be consoling you."
"I'm okay," Victor said easily, "I just want to be out of this bed. I will do my best to retrain my body to the strongest it can be. And I'm glad to know that you will be with me all of the way to encourage me."
"Well," Yuuri said warmly, "you've always been there for me. I want to help you in any way I can. Whatever time it takes, I want to meet you on the ice as your competitor. I've worked so hard to reach the point where I can do that."
"We will meet on the ice," Victor promised, "If neither one of us gives up, it can't help but happen, right?"
"Right," Yuuri agreed.
The two looked up as his physical therapist arrived in the room with a wheelchair. She guided it to Victor's bedside, then nodded.
"Why don't you try sliding your legs over the edge of the bed first?"
She waited, watching as the Russian skater complied. Victor sat on the edge of the bed and Yuuri moved to stand beside him. Victor laughed nervously.
"I hope this goes better than last time," he chuckled.
"I'm right here with you this time," Yuuri promised, taking Victor's hands, "Hold on to me and go slowly."
Victor nodded and slid in careful stages, off the edge of the bed, putting weight onto his feet, little by little. Yuuri felt his fiancé's body tense, and noticed sweat breaking out on his skin.
"How does it feel?" the therapist asked, watching him closely as Victor quivered and his teeth clenched in reaction.
"It feels like I'm standing on two sprained ankles," the Russian skater answered, an edge of anxiety in his voice, "I don't think I can put all of my weight on them."
"Okay, it's a starting point. We can…"
"Wait," Victor said, glancing at Yuuri, "I think if Yuuri massages my feet and ankles, it might loosen up. He did it before, and I did feel like I could move my feet better."
The therapist nodded.
"I have some massage oils," she said, taking out a bottle of almond oil.
Victor slid back on the bed, sitting against the pillows as Yuuri addressed one foot and the therapist worked at the other.
"Is there any pain when we rub the toe joints?" the young woman asked.
"The toes are fine," Victor assured her, "When Yuuri did this before, the arches and ankles were painful, but as he rubbed them and stretched everything, the pain went away."
"And how do the arches feel now?"
"They're a little sore, but the massage feels very good."
"Okay, let's move on to your ankles," the therapist suggested, glancing at Yuuri, "Yuuri, first massage, then slowly move the foot you're holding in circles."
She watched as Yuuri followed her directions.
"How does it feel?"
"The joints are stiff," Victor explained, "but it feels like the one he is working on is loosening."
"Good," the therapist said, nodding, "Yuuri, you can work on his other foot while I test this one a little."
"Okay," Yuuri said, moving aside and turning his attention to Victor's other foot, while the therapist took the first in her hand.
"Pull your toes back," she requested, holding Victor's ankle and watching as the skater complied, "Good. How does it feel?"
"A little cramping, but all right," Victor reported.
The therapist applied pressure at different angles, each time stopping and asking if there was pain. She repeated the procedure with the other foot, then smiled and nodded.
"Let's try getting him settled in the wheelchair."
Victor moved to the edge of the bed again and placed his hands on Yuuri's forearms, slowly putting weight onto his feet, until he was standing.
"How does it feel?" the therapist asked.
"Better now," Victor reported, "The massage loosened things up."
"Good. Go ahead and sit in the wheelchair," the young woman directed him, "We're going to the gym for the next part."
She smiled at Yuuri.
"You're welcome to come along, Mr. Katsuki."
"Okay," Yuuri agreed, following as the therapist wheeled Victor out of the room and into the hallway.
They took an elevator up a few floors and exited, following another corridor to a locked door that the therapist opened. They walked into a larger room that had several stations, each with different equipment. The therapist wheeled Victor to a set of parallel bars.
"I understand your arms and shoulders are fine now?" she asked.
"Yes," Victor said, nodding, "I had some bruising, and they were sore for awhile, but it went away. They're fine now."
"Good," she replied, wheeling him to the end, "We're going to get you onto your feet on the mat. Hold on to the bars and walk a little. Go slowly, and tell me if there is any pain, and how much."
She and Yuuri helped Victor onto his feet, and the Russian skater wrapped his hands around the bars, starting with most of the weight on his hands, then slowly loosening his grip until he was barely holding on.
"Take a step or two, when you are ready."
Victor took a breath and rolled forward carefully on his left foot, then his right, holding on to the bars as he went.
"It hurts, but kind of feels like it just needs to stretch more."
"Take some more steps."
Victor worked his way slowly to the end of the bars, then paused.
"Turn around and come back. Let more of the weight onto your feet."
"I feel like an old man," Victor chuckled anxiously, "There is pain in my right hip and lower back."
"And what is the level of pain in each area?"
"About a four in my back and six in my hip," Victor reported.
"You're sweating," Yuuri noticed.
"We're almost done," the therapist assured the two, "You can soak in the therapy pool when we're done."
"Oh, that's going to feel so good," Victor sighed.
"I'm going to recommend to your doctor that he should order some more images of the areas you mentioned. We should take a closer look and make sure there's no damage we need to figure into your recovery."
"Do you suspect anything is wrong?" Victor asked.
"Not necessarily," the therapist explained, "but those areas all bear significant amounts of your weight, so I want to be sure that it's safe to proceed. Okay, sit back down in the wheelchair and let me take you to the therapy pool.
"It's just across the room," Victor said, glancing over his shoulder, "Yuuri can help me walk to it."
"Well," the therapist began.
"Yuuri," Victor said, extending a hand.
"But…"
The therapist watched closely, moving with the two as Yuuri guided Victor in halting steps, off of the mat and onto the smooth floor.
"You're really supposed to wait until later to do this," the young woman chided the skater.
"I really want to get in that tub," Victor replied, "I'm not taking any chances. Yuuri is right here. I won't fall. And if, for some reason, I do, I will get right back up."
"That's the spirit!" Yuuri laughed.
Victor reached the little soaking pool and sat down on the edge, sinking his feet into the bubbling water and sighing contentedly.
"I was right. It feels great! Yuuri, take my hospital gown off!"
"Umm…maybe not in front of…"
Yuuri blushed as Victor removed the gown and slid down into the pool, up to his chest.
"Sorry for skinny dipping in front of you," he said, grinning at the blushing therapist, "I'm just dying for a hot bath, you know? Yuuri's sponge baths are great, but this is amazing!"
"Sorry," Yuuri chuckled, "he's kind of heedless sometimes."
"It's fine," said the therapist, giving Yuuri a cute smirk, "though, next time, you should make him wear something under his gown when we have our session."
"Will do," Yuuri snickered.
"Yuuri, you should come in!" Victor laughed, "This is wonderful!"
"I'll tell you what," the therapist said to Yuuri, "I'm going to go and speak to Victor's doctor about some additional tests we need to do. He's making good progress, but you and Victor have already been told that as he heals, there are some areas that may require some corrective surgery. We'll only know by continuing to monitor his progress. Just caution him to take his rehabilitation slowly."
"Oh, he will," Yuuri said with certainty, "I know Victor is impulsive in some ways, but he wants more than anything to get back on the ice and compete. He's not going to do anything that threatens his chances. We'll both work hard to give him the best results possible, and then some."
The therapist gave Yuuri an affectionate look.
"Victor is lucky to have you by his side."
"Yeah? Well, there's nowhere I'd rather be," Yuuri answered, smiling at the deeply contented face of his happily soaking fiancé.
"Well, good luck to both of you. I am going to have someone come to help Victor back to his room when he's done. Let him soak for as long as he likes, and Yuuri, keep encouraging him. Victor has a long way to go to get back to the level he was before. It's going to be really hard for him sometimes, and he'll need you to encourage him."
"That's why I'm here," Yuuri assured her.
"I'll confide in you that I am a figure skating fan. Victor's and yours."
"Oh, thank you," Yuuri said, smiling more shyly.
"I noticed something about the two of you in the videos of your practices, performances and interviews. You aren't the only one who shines more brightly when the two of you are together. When you and Victor performed his routine together at the exhibition following the Grand Prix final, Victor wasn't just perfect, he looked happier than I have ever seen him. If there's anyone who can be the person Victor needs to return to competition, it's you."
"Well, thanks again," Yuuri said gratefully, "I'm going to do everything I can to support Victor."
"Good, but don't forget to take care of yourself," the therapist advised him, "You have about two more weeks in that cast, and then you will begin your own journey back to the ice. Please, if there is anything I can do to help either of you, call me."
"We will," Yuuri promised.
He watched quietly as she walked away, then he walked back to Victor, who continued to relax more calmly in the bubbling water.
"What were you two talking about?" he asked as Yuuri sat down by the spa.
"Oh, she said that she was going to talk to your doctor, maybe have some more tests run. They want to make sure that you have everything you need to heal all of the way. Turns out your therapist is a big fan of ours. She said if we need anything, she'll be glad to help."
"She said something else that made you smile," Victor noted, "What was that?"
"Oh," Yuuri said, his blush returning, "she was just saying that you and I need each other. We're both better together. She said it's clear I make you happy."
"What? You didn't know that, Yuuri?" Victor chided him.
"Of course, I did," Yuuri assured him, "But, you know, it's different, hearing from someone else that you have such a noticeable effect on the life of someone you love as much as I love you. It felt…good to hear her say that."
Victor gave him a little, seductive smirk.
"You want to skinny dip with me?" he teased.
"First off, I'm still in a cast," Yuuri reminded him, "It's hard enough to wrap it so that I can shower. I can't go in a hot tub."
"Sorry, I forgot."
"Also, someone's going to be coming to bring you back to your room. So, you might want to cover up before he gets here."
"Why? Are you jealous?" Victor giggled.
"Stop it!" Yuuri laughed, grabbing a towel and tossing it to him, "I know I don't have to be jealous."
Yuuri's brown eyes softened.
"I know that you would never do anything to hurt me, Victor."
Victor climbed out of the hot tub, leaning against Yuuri as he hastily dried off, then he stood quietly as Yuuri set his hospital gown back in place.
"Victor," Yuuri said solemnly, earning a curious glance from his fiancé as he settled back into the wheelchair, "I hope you know that I would never do anything to hurt you either."
Victor's pale eyes filled with instant warmth and gratitude.
"That means a lot to me," he said, looking up at Yuuri, "To be honest, I don't know if anyone's ever promised me that before. But, I believe it when I hear it from you. You always speak to me from the heart, and I can trust your heart completely."
"I know I can trust yours too," Yuuri answered, bending to kiss him.
The two looked up as a friendly looking young man with blonde hair and light blue eyes arrived in the room.
"I was asked to escort you back to your room, Mr. Nikiforov," the man said.
"Thanks," Victor said cheerfully, "After my first stumbling steps and the soak in hot water, I could use a nap."
"Aren't you hungry?" Yuuri asked.
Victor gave him a less than enthusiastic look and sighed.
"Not to be rude, but it's hard to eat the food here," he confessed, shaking his head, "I must sound pretty spoiled."
"No," Yuuri said, looking amused, "Hospital food isn't that great. But you do need to eat to get your strength back. So, promise me you'll eat before you drift off."
"Oh, I don't know," Victor said, frowning as the orderly wheeled him out of the physical therapy room and headed back to the elevator.
"I won't take no for an answer," Yuuri insisted.
"We're not even married and already he's nagging me," Victor giggled to the amused looking orderly, "If he wasn't so cute, he'd never get away with that."
"Don't look so glum," Yuuri chuckled, "Trust me."
Victor gave him a doubtful look, but sighed again and nodded.
"Okay," he said resting his head on his chin and blinking sleepily.
He was half asleep by the time they reached his hospital room, but as the orderly wheeled him in, the Russian skater sniffed, then sat up straight, looking around. Yuuri smiled and indicated a tray waiting by the bed as he helped Victor out of the wheelchair.
"Is that…?" Victor began, staring at the little pile of pirozhkis, "But they smell like…"
"Go ahead," Yuuri invited him, "try one. Yurio's grandfather made them."
Victor took a large bite, and his face lit up instantly.
"VKUSNO!" he shouted enthusiastically, "Pork cutlet bowl pirozhki! Wow! Amazing!"
"Shh, shh!" Yuuri said frantically, waving his arms to quiet his excited fiancé, "We're not really supposed to give you that. I mean, it's fine, but you're supposed to eat what they send you."
The two men looked from the pile of tasty pirozhkis to the bland looking hospital food and laughed.
"These are great," Victor said appreciatively.
"They'll have you on your feet in no time!" Yuuri said happily.
"Where is Yurio? I should thank him."
"I think they're out in the lobby, waiting for the…"
Yuuri broke off as a tall, stern looking grey eyed woman dressed in even more stern looking grey clothes, entered the room.
"You're not my doctor," Victor said, looking confused.
"No," the woman said, eyeing him disapprovingly, "My name is Gavriila Volkov. I am your bodyguard that was hired by Yakov."
She moved closer in slow, echoing steps, glaring at the two young men disapprovingly. She stabbed a finger at Victor, giving him an icy look.
"If you want to live, you will do exactly what I say, little rich snot!"
Yuuri and Victor exchanged befuddled looks, mouthing…"SCARY!"