Two weeks later…..
Zara sat in the doctor's office with Hunter scratching her head were her wound was healing. "STOP SCRATCHING IT!" Hunter pulled her hand down."It will be off in a few minutes. Just calm your tits woman."
Zara flipped him off. He grabbed her finger and bit it. She looked shocked and pulled her finger back. "What? I told you to stop flipping me off." She pouted and slapped him in the back of the head. "Hey!"
The doctor came in, "Do I need to separate you two?" He joked.
Hunter smiled, "She started it."
Zara frowned. Dang how she wished she could talk so she could tell him off.
"Ok, Zara. I hear you are ready to take these staples out." Zara shook her head yes. The doctor pulled off the dressing. "Wow look at that hair. Growing in good."
The nurse smiled, "Ready for a cute little pixie cut."
Zara frowned and pointed at the doctor, then her head. He laughed, "Hey don't blame me. I just did my job putting your brain back in your head. Hair grows back."
Hunter laughed, "What brain? Sure you didn't leave a sponge in there in its place?" She looked over and glared. "Geez! Testy today aren't we." Zara just rolled her eyes.
The doctor pulled out the staples and, Zara felt herself wanting to cry from the pain. Hunter took her hand and held it to his heart. "...one more. There. Everything is healing great. Now. We need to talk about this speech problem. I can't explain it. The MRI looked good. Zara, I am sorry to say, you may never be able to talk again. Keep working with the speech therapist. If things don't change by the time Hunter goes back to work in three weeks, we will look into something else to try."
Hunter pulled her in his arms. She just shook her head looking defeated. "It's ok Z. It will be ok."
She looked at him and held up her board. "I just want to talk to you." She dropped her head.
Back at the house, Hunter stood by the patio door watching Zara in her chair outside. She was getting more down on herself every day. He had to cheer her up. Finally, he got an idea. Something he wanted to do for a while now. He went out and pulled a chair up next to her. "Hey Z. Can I talk to you?" She looked over at him. "I was thinking. I haven't been out in a while and, you don't even remember going out. I was wondering if you would be interested in letting me take you on a date?" She looked confused and pointed to herself. "Do you see any other woman here? Yes, you."
She looked away and grabbed her board, "I don't want a pity date. Thank you but, I don't need your pity."
It sort of hurt his feelings. He really did like her. He took her board and wrote on it. "I have feelings too you know. Ever think maybe I really do like you." He handed it back really upset. He looked at her and got up from his seat walking to the edge of the patio with his hands in the pocket of his jeans.
Zara rolled her chair to him taking his hand. He looked down at her. Zara sighed and pointed over her body and the chair. "I told you I don't care about that." He looked away toward the lake behind his house. She grabbed his arm to pulled herself up and he helped her to her feet. She kissed his cheek and rubbed his beard like she always did, trying to get on his good side. She shook her head yes.
"You think a smile and a kiss on the cheek will make me forget you just shot me down?" She nudged him. Knowing he was mad. She had a half smile looking up at him. She wrapped her arms around his waist. He knew all she had to do was smile at him and he would forgive her. "Fine. Be ready at six. And, your driving!" He smirked at her. She laughed rolling her eyes.