Restless Days and Restless Nights
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Ch. 8

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Photographs and Memories Pt 5

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Rick walked down the hall at Pearl to Chaplain Murphy's office, hoping he would not encounter Captain Greene while he was on the base. He couldn't stand the man's attitude towards Magnum. It made him want to punch their former CO out, every time he saw the man.

Fortunately, he made it into the Padre's office without such an encounter. Michael Murphy looked up from his desk and broke into a wide grin. "Rick Wright, how are you today, young fellow, mi lad?"

Rick grinned right back at the man. "Hey, Padre, I'm fine. How are you doing today?"

"Oh, well enough, my friend. Though I must say, you look a bit ragged around the edges. Not getting enough rest?"

"Oh, just keeping watch over Thomas, Padre. He has gone and gotten himself hurt again, but he won't go to the hospital."

"What's the situation?"

"Thomas worked a case for a friend, Detective Katsumoto, and he got hit over the back of the head with a shovel. That's all he remembers, but his old shoulder injury got reinjured somewhere in there."

"Ah, he's avoiding the hospital because he doesn't want the surgery? Does this surprise you? Rick, you know he's been fighting against having the surgery ever since the Stan and you know why. He can't stand to be without his swimming and paddling for as long as it would take the surgery to heal. You know how important that is to him."

"Yeah, but, Mike, he's got three new fractures there and we still can't get him to go to the hospital or see an orthopod. We're afraid this is going to wind up permanently damaging his shoulder's stability."

"Hmmm. That does cast a different light on the situation. What do you think I can do to help?"

"Well, it occurred to TC that part of the problem may be what the psychology lady said to him back in Germany..."

"Ah, the one Nuzo nicknamed the 'wicked witch of the East...he thinks Thomas is afraid they'll lock him up and throw away the key? Why does he think a psychologist or psychiatrist would get a look in his head when he's there for his shoulder?"

Rick frowned. "Huh. Yeah...that doesn't make sense."

"Unless he fears when they see the old damage, they think his refusal to have it fixed prior to this indicates something wrong in the cabeza?"

"Yeah, but that's a bit of a reach, isn't it? Maybe it's just that orthopedic surgery takes so long that he'll feel locked up." Rick shrugged. "Anyway, we thought maybe you could try and persuade him that it would be safe...and best, if he would see an orthopod and just see what the doc says. You know he won't see a counselor, but he'd talk to you. What do you think?"

Mike thought a moment. "I'm always up to visit my friend, Rick, but how do I explain just showing up?"

"Maybe you'd like him to play and sing at a service coming up, or something like that?" Rick suggested.

"Hmm. That's always viable because I do love having him perform at service. I can work with that. Out at the Nest, then?"

Rick nodded. "That would be great and he's taking it easy today to keep Higgins from bugging him more about his shoulder, so..."

"You've got it, Orville. I'll give you a call after and let you know how it goes, okay?"
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Thomas was full of nervous energy, but trying to be a good boy and sit quietly because he could feel Higgins' watchful eyes on him and he did NOT want to earn her ire by misbehaving. Lord, he was a grown man - getting bullied into acting atypically by a short blonde drill sergeant with an English accent. He rolled his eyes. He really wanted a paddle, but a good, long, vigorous swim would settle him just as well. He was totally antsy. He turned and looked at Juliet. "Would you be okay with it, if I went for a jog down the beach?" He asked.

Higgins who was dangling her feet into the water in the pool looked up at him and graced him with a smile, that he figured meant trouble. "You are an adult male, Magnum. Personally, I think your inability to just sit still and relax while your shoulder reduces in swelling is a sign of immaturity, but if you want to run...go run. I think you will find that jogging will induce a world of hurt in your bad shoulder, but have at it. Just...no going in the water."

Magnum sighed loudly. "Yes, Higgy, I hear you...I can't even wade."

The woman snorted. "Thomas, if you go in to wade, you will not be able to resist the temptation to take a quick dip and the next thing we know you'll be making a break for it, trying to swim to Japan or some such nonsense."

Magnum scrunched his face at her. "Nah, I know I'd never make it that far, but you are probably right about me making a break for it. Swim to Waikiki maybe. Even Hawaii if I started early enough, but not today. Nope, no way. I promise I'll be good and only jog along the beach. Thanks, Higgins. I'll try not to be gone too long."

"Good, because Rick mentioned he might stop by later this afternoon."

"I'll have my phone with me. Call me if Rick shows up before I get back, okay? I'll come straight back."

"Yes, alright. Go on." Higgins waved the man on. His restless energy had been irritating her for about an hour now. He felt like a tightly coiled rattler, waiting to strike.

Magnum hurried into the guest house, changed out of his boat shoes into a pair of sneakers, put his arm holster on, took his phone off the charger, and inserted his phone into the arm holster, grabbed his earphones, put his Detroit Tigers hat on and selecting his favorite running playlist of tunes, took off, heading from the guest house to the beach. Finally, a way to liberate himself from the constant observation he had been under. He began to run, screw jogging, he was at a dead out run. Let's see how far he could get in the sand at a dead heat. The only way to clear the energy out of his system was at full speed at this point. He probably got three miles before he had to pause to catch his breath. God, that felt good...and yeah the shoulder was screaming at him, but he could handle it - damn it! Ah, there, the endorphins were kicking in - the natural pain relief was quite literally a relief. He smirked to himself as the tunes in his ears switched to Motown.

It was a sunny day on Oahu, but it felt good enough he started to sing along. "I've got sunshine, on a cloudy day...when it's cold outside, I've got the month of May..." He resumed his jog, singing along... "I guess you'd say...what could make me feel this way...my girl...talking about my girl." So maybe the words weren't exactly right, and he hadn't had a 'girl' in quite a while, but it felt good to be on the move! He was determined to make it back to Nest before Rick could show up, so he would only go half as far as he would ordinarily. This wasn't a training run...it was to ease his frustration of being constrained from his usual forms of exercise. Lord, he missed the water.

Times like this his friends' concerns for his well-being were more irksome than helpful. He knew it came from a place of love and they were worried about him, but he knew what was best for himself and six to eight weeks of healing followed by anywhere from 6 months to a year before he could get full use of his shoulder back. No way, no how, nuh-uh. He didn't care if he was being a bit of a baby. It would drive him crazy to be that restricted for that long. He knew his limits as well as he knew his needs and it just wasn't on. He couldn't handle it. Plus the possibility of never getting full use of his arm that had been explained to him by the one medic loomed large on his horizon. The guys hadn't heard that part of the informed consent spiel he had to sit through. He just couldn't. In spite of the new injuries, his shoulder was still mobile. In fact, in the privacy of the guest house, he'd tested that mobility, with a small weight and...yes, it hurt, but he was capable of using the full range of motion still, so he just wasn't interested in hearing the spiel and how it really would be best for him to yield to the wishes of the doctor's and trust their superior knowledge of his body. Screw that!

Magnum sighed, checked his phone for any messages and seeing none he turned back towards the Nest. Back to the prison of his fussy majordomo's domain...he appreciated the woman's sense of responsibility for those within her little kingdom, but he wasn't her bloody serf, nor was she responsible for him, in spite of what she seemed to believe. He WAS a grown assed man and he could make his own decisions about things thank you very much. He stretched his neck in one direction than the other, but didn't get the relief from trying to crack his neck that he usually would. The stiffness was spreading up from the shoulder into his neck bones darn it. He really needed a swim. He looked out at the peaceful blue ocean and had to struggle against a very real urge to ignore the cautions and just jump in and start swimming, but after a brief battle, he subdued it. A few more days and he might not be able to resist the siren call of the sea, but for today, he'd be good. Honest!

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A/N: As you can see, I am trying to spread the wealth and write something on all my stories this weekend. So here's this, but I think I'll be continuing with another installment here, right away.