I'm not much of a writer, but something about POI compels me to try this. Appreciative of any and all critiques. Don't know how long this will end up- just know there will be several chapters.
A white room with a hospital bed, one lone dresser and monitors. No furniture for visitors, no flowers no cards. On the bed a male figure of indeterminate age- could be anywhere between 40 and 60. Eyes open, staring at the ceiling he appears in reasonable health except for those eyes which stare expressionless barely blinking.
The door to the room opens and a nurse enters with a tray of meds and other items. He approaches the figure in the bed, raises the bed to a forty-five degree angle and holds out the first of the pills.
"Open wide, it's time for your meds, John."
The patient blinks and looks around as if coming to consciousness. Acknowledging the nurse he opens his mouth, then sips the water offered to wash the pills down.
"Hold out your left arm John, I need to take your vitals."
Five minutes pass, the nurse removes the stethoscope, places the blood samples he'd obtained in their rack and prepared to leave. Before leaving, he removed a laminated sheet from the top drawer of the dresser and read,
"Your name is John Reese, you lived in New York until a few months ago. I have a slide show presentation with pictures for you to observe. Dr. Tillman will be in later to work with you on some of the pictures you'll be viewing. Please pay attention John- see if anything you observe triggers a memory."
Sighing the nurse leaves the room without another word. It's been months with the same routine, I don't think it's ever going to succeed. This guy's a lost cause.
On the television above the bed, a stream of pictures began to play across the screen. Images of New York and pictures of the patient with several other people, at least two current residents of this facility, played across the screen. The patient watched with no sign of recognition.
…
Shaw's run that morning went by in a blur. So many things racing through her mind. She seemed almost normal- I know there's a long rehab ahead but mentally, she seemed almost normal. We need to get her up on her feet and working to regain her strength, she seems so frail, but mentally she seems almost normal. What do I say to her? What do we do now? Am I now going to drive us both crazy worrying about the future? Are we ever…..
Cutting the run short again, Shaw headed for the fitness center where she did some circuit training. Then ignoring the heavy bag, she threw her energies into the speed bag where she actually had to pay attention to what she was doing. Finally, spent she went to shower and headed for Root's room.
As she entered the room, Gen was recounting her work with some of the kids. The pride in her voice made Shaw even more determined to work on the idea of Gen becoming a teacher someday. Sameen smiled and greeted the two.
"Hi guys, how is everything going in here? Are we ready for lunch yet?"
Root scowled at her.
"You call what they left me lunch? I know I didn't eat with your enthusiasm Sameen, but Cream of Wheat for breakfast and broth for lunch. Geez."
"Root, you have to get used to solid foods again. You've been fed intravenously for months- you can't tolerate solids in any quantity for awhile. Maybe tomorrow we can convince Dr. Tillman to let you have a small salad."
"I asked for that for tonight's dinner, they said we'll see. Now that I'm awake, they're going to try and starve me to death." Root's pout lost a little of its impact as her eyes twinkled with amusement. Shaw smirked at her in response.
"Complaint department's closed until further notice. Especially with the rigorous routine we have on tap for you in the coming days. We are going to work you until you're too tired to complain about anything."
They sat at the table and had lunch, Root in her wheelchair sipping her broth directly from the bowl Shaw held for her after she spilled the several spoonfuls she tried to take herself. Frustrated with tears glistening in her eyes, she had dropped the spoon on the floor. Shaw got out of her chair, gently took Root's hands in hers and gazed into her eyes.
"You're going to need help and that's what Gen and I are here for. You can't wake up and be superwoman again for awhile. Please let me help."
"I feel so helpless. Sameen, I'm weak and I'm scared."
Shaw's eyes misted up and she held Root's stare.
"I am going to repeat something I told you the first day I got here. I said to you 'I am staying here until you wake up, then staying here until you get out of this bed, then staying here until you're ready to leave."
Sameen, tears on her cheeks, took a deep breath, and continued.
"When you're ready to leave, I'll leave too- right by your side. And I'm going to stay right by your side for the rest of our lives." Without letting go, she leaned forward to use her forearm, rubbed at her eyes, smiled and finished.
"And this part I didn't say, but will now. I will be here for you and with you for the rest of our lives- if you will have me that is."
There were still tears in Root's eyes, but the frustration was gone, replaced by joy. Smiling she said,
"You had me at hi guys, how's everything going?" Despite her weakened state, Root pulled Sameen close and kissed her gently. It would have been a perfect moment except for the retching sound they heard across the table.
"Gross, get a room you two. How many times do I have to tell you to take that stuff somewhere where I don't have to see it." Gen's face belied her words, her smile seemed to stretch forever.
Shaw smiled and winked.
"We love you too Gen. Now take Bear for his walk so we can talk without you getting all upset."
After Gen left with Bear, Shaw helped Root finish her soup then got up and walked over to the window. Looking out over the New Mexico countryside, she smiled faintly and looked back at Root.
"You know, I could get used to this- the views are spectacular and the air is so clean compared to the city. There are worse places for you to rehab."
"I wouldn't know Sameen, they aren't letting me out of this room."
"Let's see if we can fix that."
Shaw hit the call button. When the day nurse came in she said, "I'm taking Ms. Groves out on the porch. Could you find her a jacket or sweater? I'll put something on her feet."
"I don't know if she's allowed outside without orders from Dr. Tillman."
Shaw rolled her eyes. "Call her then please- she's spent months without breathing fresh air. If you can't get ahold of one of her doctors I'll take responsibility for it."
The nurse smiled and nodded. "I'll get her a sweater."
Shaw winked, "Thanks, I don't suppose you could scare up a pair of sunglasses too- her eyes probably aren't going to be ready for sunlight."
Nodding the nurse left the room. As Shaw knelt in front of her to put on a pair of slippers, Root looked down with a smile.
"I could get used to this Sameen."
"Damn Root, that tone in your voice, I thought I'd never hear it again. I could get used to that!There, all done. I'll be right back."
Five minutes later, Shaw returned with two pair of dark sunglasses. Within minutes the nurse returned with a white cable-knit sweater. Shaw thanked her and helped Root put it on. Sameen pushed the wheelchair into the alcove, then headed down the hall toward the porch. Stopping at the door, she handed Root one of the pairs of sunglasses and said, "Put them on. You haven't been out in the sun for a long time."
As they rolled out onto the deck, Shaw took a deep breath, exhaled and smiled. Looking down at Root, she said, "So how does it feel?"
Silence. Shaw frowned then walked around so she was facing Root. Tears were streaming down her face. Sameen took Root's hands, leaned in close and asked,
"Hey babe, are you OK? Is this too much too soon?"
Root's jaw trembled, but she shook her head. She fought to speak.
"N.., no…. I just remembered something that went through my mind the day I got shot. I remembered teasing you during the gunfight with the Samaritan goons. You said to me, 'You flirt at the most awkward times. Then you looked back at me when I didn't want to leave and said, 'Get out of here before I shoot you myself.'
"Crazy as it sounds, that time we spent in 'the whole lethal shootout thing' as you said, was a perfect metaphor for our entire relationship. It was exhilarating and dangerous- an adrenaline rush. I never thought I could ever have a relationship with anyone that was based on anything deep, much less with someone like you.
"One of the last things I remember, before waking up in this hospital was thinking that if that day was my last, at least I spent it with the most important person in my life doing what we both enjoyed the most. I never believed I could have anything more than what we had.
"When the EMT's dragged me out of that car I was sure I was dying I remember the sun on my face and the feel of the breeze on that beautiful day. I remember the only thing I would regret was not being able to say goodbye to you.
"As far as I was concerned, what we had was all I ever wanted. The idea of anything permanent was so beyond my biggest fantasies that it hardly ever entered my mind. And yet here I am, alive and with the chance to have more than even my wildest dreams. The sun, the breeze just overwhelmed me.
"You said you love me Sameen. I don't know if you realize it or not but I never said it to you. The closest I ever came was the night in the park when I found you after Samaritan had you. Remember, I said, 'You can't live with me, I can't live without you."
Shaw interrupted, "You didn't have to say it.."
"But Sameen, the reason I didn't was because I didn't know if you could handle it. Now that I know you can I want you to know that I do love you, that I've loved you for a long time and that you are and will always be the only one i love."
Shaw smiled and kissed Root on the top of her head. Then softly she said,
"I wish you didn't have to go through this, but I am glad it happened. Losing you opened my eyes to what I might have never been able to see otherwise. If someone was dying, it was supposed to be me, not you. But your dying ripped open a wound in me that I never wanted healed. The fact that I was given a second chance to tell you and show you how I felt is a gift that truly strikes me as miraculous. Believe me I'm going to make the most of it."
Root smiled up at Shaw, "I am too. And thank you for bringing me out here. It's beautiful and makes me even more determined to get back on my feet as soon as possible. This hospital sure is in a perfect location. How's it set up?"
Shaw described the facility briefly, explaining how it was built as a facility for the Native American population in the area, but also served as an emergency facility in the case of any casualties from the conflict with Samaritan.
"I've never seen anyone but you from…. wait…" Shaw's eyes got a distant look and Root watched her intrigued.
"What, Sam?"
"There's a wing similar to this on the other side of the hospital. A couple of times when I was out for my run I saw a figure in a wheelchair on a deck like this one. There's something about them that seemed familiar. I was going to ask Dr. Tillman about the other wing, but it keeps slipping my mind."
Smiling she once again took Root's hand. "I guess I had other things on my mind. I've got to remember to ask the doctor about what goes on in the other wing."
Neither saw Dr. Tillman standing in the doorway watching them.
"Well, if you bring our patient back inside I can maybe enlighten you. I should be angry for you bringing Ms. Groves out here without consulting me, but she seems to be fine. I would like to discuss the rehab program we've devised for Ms. Groves and once that's settled we'll talk about the other wing.
Root and Shaw looked at each other and nodded. Shaw smiled and said,
"I think we can do that."