As usual I appreciate each and every review, follow and favorite. :o)
I'm so sorry my muse is so unwilling to play with my other stories. I really try to kick her back into gear, but she's not very cooperative. If anyone has ideas for any of my stories please please please let me know in a review on the story or via PM. :o)
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Annie and Auggie. I just love playing with them.
-Chapter 14-
"Sheesh Annie, I'm not a child. I'm capable of dressing myself. I just need a little extra time because of my arm," Auggie said with an exasperated sigh as Annie started to pull up his jeans Saturday morning. He hated being so helpless.
"I know you are, but there's nothing wrong with accepting help when you need it and right now you do."
"Well, I guess it's a good thing that you get to see the downside of being with a cripple like be before you marry me."
"What? Don't say stuff like that Auggie. I'm not going to change my mind about marrying you because you sprained your wrist and need me to help you out a bit for a few days. You're not a cripple. I don't want to hear you use that word to describe yourself again, got it?" Annie said firmly as she buttoned his jeans and handed him a navy polo shirt. He winced as he pulled it on, his left arm and shoulder was sore and achy. "Ready to move to the chair?"
"Yeah," he said flatly. Despite Annie's words he felt bad about being so helpless and in need of constant assistance. One of the things he had promised himself early in rehab was that he wouldn't depend on anyone. Now he felt like he was thrown back to the early days after his accident and he hated being a burden on Annie. She helped him settle into his wheelchair and before he could do anything she put her hands on his shoulders and pushed him to the kitchen.
"Listen to me Auggie," Annie said as they were eating dinner Sunday evening. Auggie had been resisting Annie's assistance all weekend, constantly making self-deprecating comments and referring to himself as a cripple. It was getting on her nerves.
Auggie sighed. "What?"
"Can you please stop with the self-deprecating comments and resisting my help? I just don't get why you're acting this way."
Auggie sighed and hung his head. "I hate being a burden."
"Why do you think you're a burden? I'm really getting sick and tired of this discussion. I feel like we've been going around in circles since we got back from the ER on Friday."
"I don't think I'm a burden. I know I'm a burden. I mean…with just one working arm I can barely move around on my own. You know how much I depend on you right now and I hate it. I haven't been this dependent on anyone since the early days after my accident."
"I completely understand that, but it would be a lot easier for both of us if you stop fighting me. You'll be independent again in no time, but until then just let me be there for you, please?"
Auggie sighed heavily. "I'll do my best. It's just…you're my fiancée, not my caretaker and it just feels wrong that you have to help me with so many things all the time."
"You were there for me when I injured my ankle, now it's my turn to return the favor. It's as simple as that. And I don't want to hear the word cripple again, got it?"
"Got it," Auggie said, sounding at least a bit contrite. He picked up his fork and started eating again and they finished the meal in slilence.
Late Sunday evening they were both sitting in bed, Annie was checking her email on her iPad and Auggie was reading a book. When he finished a chapter he put the bookmark in and placed the book on his nightstand. He sighed heavily as he lay down and adjusted his pillows.
"What?"
"I just realized that this will confirm to Wilkins that I'm a cripple, won't it? I'm sure he'll love this." Auggie said, holding up his bandaged arm.
"What? That jerk still hasn't changed his attitude toward you? I thought you set him straight the first day?" Annie shut down her iPad and placed it on the nightstand before she lay on her side to face Auggie.
"Well, I did, but I can still sense his resentment and he makes these comments under his breath from time to time. I try to ignore it, but it's not always easy." Auggie was staring at the ceiling, his hurt and anger was evident.
"I really think you should report him to Arthur Campbell. You've given him two weeks to change his attitude and it obviously hasn't helped. They guy is a jackass and a bully and he doesn't deserve any more chances if you ask me. You shouldn't have to take his shit."
Auggie nodded and sighed before he spoke. "You're right. Both Stu and Barber have told me I should report him as well, so I'll do it first thing tomorrow. Oh, shit…how am I going to get to work?"
"I'll drive you. I have a meeting with Judith at Vagabond tomorrow anyway. We're going through the final edit of the Paris piece."
"Great. Thanks Annie. When will the Paris piece be published?" Auggie changed the subject. He didn't feel like discussing Michael Wilkins any further, he'd leave it up to Arthur to deal with him.
"If everything goes to plan it should be in the October issue of Vagabond."
"Cool. If there's a print of the final layout I'd love to see it."
"I'll see what I can do, okay?" Annie said as she leaned over and kissed Auggie on the lips. "Now lets get some sleep. We have to leave here by 7:30 in the morning, right?"
"Yeah, 7:30 is the latest we can leave on a Monday morning, for some reason the traffic is always worst on Mondays. G'night. I love you."
"Night. Love you too," Annie mumbled. She was already half asleep and within a few minutes Auggie drifted off to sleep as well.
Monday morning Auggie went straight to Arthur Campbell's office when he got to work.
"Good morning Auggie. How may I help you this morning?" Arthur's secretary, Cynthia, greeted him with a smile.
"Morning Cynthia. I was wondering if I could have a word with Arhur? Is he available?"
"His schedule is clear 'till 9:30. I'll check if he has time to see you or if he's busy with something. Just hang on for a sec, okay?" Cynthia walked over to the double doors leading into Arthur's office and knocked before she opened one door slightly and peaked inside. "Auggie Anderson is here. He wants to have a word with you."
Arthur gave his consent and Cynthia opened the door and gestured for Auggie to enter.
"Good morning Auggie," Arthur greeted him as he removed his reading glasses and set them down on top of the file he was reading.
"Good morning Arthur. Thanks for seeing me," Auggie greeted him as he settled in across form his boss and secured the brakes on his wheelchair.
"What can I do for you this morning?"
"It's about Michael Wilkins. Ever since we started working together he's been rude and offensive toward me, I wanted to give him a chance, but he's not changing his attitude."
"Could you be more specific? Tell me exactly what's happened."
"When we first met his initial reaction was that he felt demoted because he would have to work under me; I'm both younger than him and a cripple. He actually used the word cripple. You can ask Stuart Heatherton or Eric Barber. They were both present."
Arthur nodded. "Why didn't you come to me right then?"
"I tried my best to set him straight, told him he needed to adjust his attitude toward me. He half-heartedly apologized. I figured I'd give him a chance. He still makes small, snarky comments about my disability and my age from time to time. Stu and Barber have been encouraging me to report him for the past few days and over the weekend Annie made me realize that I should do it. I'm done with taking his crap."
"I see. I have no reason to doubt you're telling the truth, but these are serious allegations and I need to get all sides of the story on the table. I hope you understand that?"
"I understand," Auggie said with a nod. "I really hoped to avoid taking this step, but we've gotten to a point where I just can't accept his behavior."
Arhtur nodded and pushed the intercom button on his phone. "Cynthia, can you get me Eric Barber or Stu Heatherton on the phone and have them both come down here right away? They share an office up on the 13th floor."
While they waited for Stu and Barber to arrive Arhur noticed Auggie's bandaged wrist.
"What happened to your hand Auggie?"
"Oh, just little accident when I was getting out of my car Friday afternoon. It's a rather nasty sprain. I've also pulled some muscles in my arm and shoulder. I guess it's my version of having a limp," he said with a small laugh and a shrug. He didn't want to make a big deal about his injury.
"Are you still able to get around okay?"
"Yeah, on flat, even surfaces it's fine, it just hurts a little. Annie's been making sure I don't strain it all weekend and when I'm here I'm mostly behind my desk. The doctor said I should be back to normal within a couple of weeks."
Further discussion was cut off by the arrival of Stu and Barber. They both looked nervous when they stepped into the office, but they seemed to relax a little when they saw Auggie.
"You don't have anything to worry about," Arthur said. "Please take a seat."
They settled into the chairs by Arthur's desk and he carried on.
"Auggie tells me Michael Wilkins is giving him a hard time?"
"That's the understatement of the century," Barber blurted out before he could stop himself.
"Okay, care to elaborate?" Arthur asked.
Barber and then Stu confirmed Auggie's story and Arthur said he'd talk to Wilkins as soon as possible.
20 minutes later they all left Arthur's office and headed down the hall toward their offices.
"Are you okay Auggie? What's up with you hand dude?" Barber asked, he'd noticed the bandage in Arthur's office.
"Just a badly sprained wrist. The price I pay for not paying attention when I put my wheelchair together Friday afternoon. Annie's been playing nurse all weekend, making sure I didn't use it more than absolutely necessary," Auggie said with a shrug.
"Let us know if there's anything we can help you with, okay?" Stu offered as they reached their offices. "You know where to find us."
"Thanks guys. You know I appreciate it," Auggie said as he turned and entered his office. He was glad he had them on his side.
A couple of days later Auggie was getting ready to leave the office when a knock on the doorjamb caught his attention. He turned toward the door to see Michael Wilkins standing there with a contrite look on his face.
"Yes?" he said cooly.
"Do you have a minute Auggie?"
"Only if you make it quick. I was just about to head out."
"I owe you an apology. A real one. Not a half ass one like I gave you a few weeks ago. There's no excuse for how I've behaved toward you. You're a smart and competent guy and your disability doesn't affect your ability to do your job."
"I guess Arthur made you see the light?" Auggie asked, he wasn't sure he was ready to let Wilkins off the hook just yet.
"Actually it was more running into an old college buddy of mine yesterday. I had no idea he'd been blinded in the line of duty, bud despite losing his sight he's a senior partner at one of the big law firms in town. That encounter made me think and then Mr. Campbell called me into his office this afternoon… Mr. Campbell said that he'd leave it up to you to decide if I stay on the project or not. If you want me to be reassigned all you have to do is tell him tomorrow morning. Well… I guess I won't take up more of your time. See you tomorrow."
He turned and walked out of the office with his shoulders slumped. Auggie finished powering down his computer and headed out of the office. He wasn't quite sure to make of Wilkins' apology. He seemed sincere enough, but at the same time Auggie had a hard time believing that he'd changed his attitude completely so fast. He decided he needed some advice from Annie before he decided what to do about it.
What should Auggie do about Michael Wilkins? Do you think he's sincere?
I'm also playing with wedding ideas, but I'm struggling with it. I've never been to a wedding myself and I'm very unsure about what I should do with A&A's wedding. A big party/church wedding? Elope to Vegas? Get married at the American Embassy in Paris?
I would love to hear your thoughts, both on the chapter and if you have ideas to share with me. :o)