Ryan was asleep, so Wayne led Colin into the hall where he explained to him what had happened earlier.
"A new therapist came in, I really like him. He's a really nice guy, patient and personable. He could see Ryan was nervous and talked him through everything he did. Of course, Ryan was still afraid and it still hurt him like hell, but that's just something that can't be helped. We just have to get him through it, and Darin,
that's the name of the therapist did help to calm Ryan a little, made it a little easier. He also stopped on one leg when he saw how much pain Ryan was in."
Colin leaned against the pale wall of the hospital, listening with interest to Wayne. "That's good, I'm glad he got someone like that."
Wayne nodded. "He's going to be in later this evening and I will warn you now. He said he's going to teach us all how to work Ryan's limbs. He had me do one bend today. It about killed me to hurt Ryan like that and I told Darin I didn't want to do anymore just yet. He agreed and said we would work on it some more later. But, I know he's going to have you do it next, so be ready, Col. It was really hard for me,
I know we're going to have to learn, but the pain on Ryan's face and knowing I'm the one who was causing it was torture, man."
Colin frowned, not looking forward to Darin's visit. He pushed away from the wall and put a hand on Wayne's muscular shoulder. "I am regretting it already, Wayne. But, you're right, it's something we have to learn to do if we're going to help Ryan walk again. Thanks for the warning, at least I will know it's coming."
"No problem, man. I wanted you to be ready. I feel so bad for Ryan, he knows Darin is coming back this evening and it's eating at him. He was so nervous at lunch, I couldn't get anything down him. Maybe you can talk to him, relax him a bit, and get him to eat at dinner."
Colin frowned again, shaking his head and giving a slight sigh. "I'll try. I don't know how much luck I'll have.
Getting Ryan to eat is like pulling teeth when he's NOT nervous."
Wayne gave a small grin. "That's ain't no lie. I'll see you later man, goodnight. Tell Ryan bye for me when he wakes up."
Colin nodded and walked into the room.
A few hours later, Ryan was awake when supper trays were brought in.
Colin smiled his appreciation when he was handed two trays, one for Ryan and one for himself.
He sighed inwardly, hoping against hope that whatever was under the lid of the plastic server was something that his friend liked, giving him more of a chance to get Ryan to eat. Pulling the lid back he found a baked chicken breast. *This is possible. He likes chicken*. he thought to himself before looking over at Ryan.
"We have chicken here, Ry. Looks pretty good. It's baked and coated in some sort of sauce.". Colin himself was starved and smelling the food was making him all that much more hungry but first, he was determined to get at least some of the food down Ryan.
Ryan was still nervously anticipating the arrival of the therapist. Colin couldn't really blame him, if he knew someone was going to come cause him pain, he'd be nervous as well. But, he talked to Ryan and thought he had helped to calm his nerves a little.
Colin held the plate of food in Ryan's field of view, watching him hopefully, before putting it back on the table and cutting a small piece of juicy white meat from the piece of chicken and bring it to Ryan's mouth. To his relief,
Ryan took the offering without protest, so he quickly cut another piece, getting the same satisfying result.
Ten minutes later half the piece of chicken was gone and there was a small dent in the mound of green beans. Colin brought another piece of chicken to his friend's mouth but Ryan turned his head quickly. "I can't eat anymore, Colin."
Glancing at the amount of food missing from Ryan's plate, not entirely satisfied at what he saw. "Ry, can you take a few more bites for me?". He watched as Ryan thought the request over, noting the apprehension still evident in the green eyes and the slightly ill look that had surfaced on his friend's face. Ryan's brought his eyes to meet Colin's gaze. "I don't think I can, Col. I'm starting to feel sick."
Colin nodded down at his friend, compassion blazing in his soulful eyes. "Okay, Ryan. At least we got a little nourishment down you. That's better than nothing.". He thought another moment then spoke again, giving Ryan's fingers a squeeze "Thanks for trying and not fighting me with this, pal."
Ryan smiled in return and turned his head to gaze out the window. Colin pained at the longing that he saw cross Ryan's face.
He was so hungry before, but seeing his friend hurt killed the majority of his hunger. He slowly took the lid from his own dish and ate his supper with little joy, all the time watching Ryan stare sadly out the window.
A couple of hours later, Colin went to answer the gentle knock at the door. Knowing who it was, he grasped Ryan's shoulder gently before going to answer it. "It's okay, Ry. You'll be okay". His voice was confident and gentle, but that's not the way he felt inside. He thought he was probably nearly as nervous as Ryan, dreading the fact that he was going to have to be the one to cause some of Ryan's pain.
He opened the door to be met with a smiling face and extended hand. "I'm Darin, I assume Wayne has told you about me."
Colin smiled back, taking the hand and introducing himself. "I'm Colin, and yes he has. It's nice to meet you,
Wayne spoke highly of you."
Darin walked towards Ryan's bed as he spoke. "That's good to know".
Ryan's gaze had adverted back to the window, not wanting to face reality just yet, but as the therapist approached, touching Ryan's arm softly, he turned his head to meet Darin's kind gaze. "Hi, Ryan. How are you doing.". Colin saw Darin frown sadly when Ryan averted his gaze to the window again. The therapist tried again. "I know you're not glad to see me and I don't blame you, pal. But, we have to do this. I'm sorry, Ryan.".
Breaking his gaze from the outside world, Ryan turned his eyes to meet those of Darin's. "I know you have to do it and it's not your fault. I'm ready. Let's get it over with". Both men were standing on either side of Ryan's bed and both smiled as they saw the stubborn jaw set.
"Okay, we'll go with the opposite leg this evening. Just the one leg. I'm not going to put you through any pain that we can't get out of." He watched as Ryan nodded his head in gratitude, then looked toward Colin who stood by his friend's head with a look of dread on his face. "Colin, I explained to Wayne earlier that I will be teaching you guys how to work Ryan's limbs, so you all can help keep them moving and improve muscle tone. Wayne did one bend today and I'm going to ask you to watch as I do the first bend, then I will talk you through the second. That sound okay with you?". He made eye contact with the kind eyed man, watching as he ran his hand down Ryan's head. Just when he thought Colin would not give an answer he spoke.
"Yes, whatever it takes to help Ryan, we have to do.". He spoke with confidence, but Darin could see the anxiety in the dark eyes.
Darin nodded and walked to the foot of the bed, removing the covers and gingerly picking up Ryan's foot.
"Ready, Ryan?"
Ryan swallowed and nodded his affirmation.
Slowly and gently, Darin began to lift and bend the leg upwards. Ryan's eyes immediately closed and his head arched backwards, whimpering softly. Colin's hand never left his friend's head. "He's almost finished, Ry, almost"
He spoke until Darin gently set Ryan's leg back onto the bed, then he looked over to Colin.
"Are you ready to give it a try?"
Colin bit the inside of lip, removing his hand slowly from Ryan's head and raking it across his own. Finally,
he gave Ryan a brave smile and walked to the foot of the bed. "I guess I'm as ready as I'm going to get".
Darin smiled in support as Colin lifted Ryan's foot. He talked him through the process, noticing Colin's face fall as he watched his friend's face contort in pain, tears of pain again breaking free and streaking down the pale cheeks.
When Ryan's foot was placed back on the bed, Colin immediately went to his friend's side, wiping the tears from the face. "I'm sorry, Ry.".
It was Drew's turn the next day when Darin walked into the room, followed by all the other guys.
By the 2nd week, Darin felt secure enough to come in three times a week, instead of every day. He discussed with Ryan's friends and they someewhat reluctantly agreed that they would continue working Ryan's limbs.
Process was also coming along when the Dr announced that Ryan would soon be ready to set in a wheelchair. This thrilled Ryan who had almost forgotten what it felt like to set up.