Chapter 21

At precisely 1.30 pm Liz came into Steve's room carrying a small pot with two tablets in it. "Right, Steve, here are your meds and you need to take them now. Rick is coming to start your treatment in exactly half an hour and I'm under pain of death to make sure you take them. We don't allow dramatic repeat performances on this ward."

"Ha ha! Very funny. I'm in no hurry to give a repeat performance either." Steve reached forward and took the pot of pills, tipped them into his hand and took them with a drink of water from the glass on the table. He smiled at Liz. "I'm still not looking forward to this you know. Once bitten, twice... scared stiff!" he laughed nervously.

"You'll be fine. Friday was a mistake all round. You weren't prepared either mentally or physically, but today is another day and you're so much better than you were on Friday. I'm sure Rick will take things very carefully this time and assess your pain level as you go along. If there's a problem, and the meds I've just given you aren't sufficient, you've been written up for an extra painkilling shot and you can request it from me at any time, but we don't want to have to use it if we don't have to. Over-medication could cause a reaction in you just as bad, if not worse, than under-medication."

"I'm not sure whether to feel reassured by that or not," he grimaced. "Rick took it easy the other day and look what happened."

"Look, stop being so pessimistic! You want to get out of that bed, don't you?" Steve nodded feeling suitably chastised. "Then the only way to reach that point is to allow Rick to do his job. These exercises have to start sometime and, contrary to what happened last time, he's very good at what he does. Don't let Friday put you off. Those tablets will get into your system quite rapidly, so I suggest you just lie back nice and quiet and let them take effect." And with that Liz swept out of the room leaving Steve to think about what was to come.

It was exactly 2.00 pm when Rick knocked on the door and walked in. "You ready for this today, Steve?" he asked with a cheerful look on his face. "Hey, don't look so worried. You'll be fine, and I promise you I'll take it easy. Now what I propose is that we have a safe word that you can use if my handling gets too rough for you."

Steve wasn't sure whether to be shocked or not. Had he really heard right? Jeez, of all the things he might have expected Rick to say, that wasn't one of them. "Do you mean what I think you mean when you say... a safe word?" His face looked stunned and Rick had trouble keeping a straight face.

"Sure, a safe word is good to have. Whenever I'm with someone I usually insist on one. In fact, we should have had one on Friday... I don't know why we didn't. It's instantaneous and saves you searching through the pain trying to find an appropriate and polite phrase to use if my treatment of you gets too tough. It always works a treat!"

The mind boggles, thought Steve. "What... er... safe word were you thinking of then."

"Well, from past experience, I'm rather partial to STOP! What do you think? Neat hey?" And he burst out laughing at the astonished look on Steve's face, and as soon as Steve realised he'd been had, he started to laugh too.

"Oh, that's bad, Rick. That's very bad," he said wagging his index finger at Rick.

"It might be bad, but it got you laughing didn't it?"

The joke broke the ice between them. Rick knew Steve was nervous, hell why wouldn't he be, and, truth be told, he was more nervous himself than he'd ever been with a patient, at least since he'd been a student let loose on patients for the first time. He began the session by laying out the items he was to use just as he had on Friday and, as the treatment began on his right-leg, Steve realised it was to be almost a copy-cat performance of Friday. Almost... but not quite, he hoped. He knew the meds were well into his system because of the slightly surreal, floaty feeling he was experiencing. It wasn't unpleasant and, together with the massage and exercises on the right leg which were very soothing and relaxing, he was gaining more confidence that he could do this. All too soon the massage of his right leg finished.

"Right, I can tell you've exercised as I told you and that leg is nice and supple, so we'll start on the left now." He repeated the routine as on Friday to raise the hoist slightly and remove one of the pillows, then place a towel under Steve's leg and lower and remove the hoist, just as he had before.

"Ready?" he asked, and Steve looked at him with a concentrated stare and then just nodded and Rick put baby oil on Steve's leg and began very gentle massage.

Despite the meds, it was hard at first for Steve to relax. He couldn't help but anticipate severe pain but, after a few minutes, he realised that, although it was somewhat uncomfortable, it wasn't acutely painful. The meds must be working their magic, he thought, and closed his eyes and gave himself up to the gentle, soothing massage of his swollen left knee, shin and calf muscles. The minor burns had dried up and were no longer sore or a problem. All the while he massaged, Rick's eyes never left Steve's face as he constantly assessed the effect his actions were having on him, ready to stop at any moment should Steve ask. But Steve didn't ask. The meds were cushioning him really well and his faith in Rick was restored.

"Are you okay, Steve?"

"Hmm... yes, I'm fine. You carry on."

Rick couldn't help but smile at Steve who was almost on the point of nodding off. After a while he ceased what he was doing and wiped his hands on a towel and gently wiped the excess oil off Steve's leg. "You feel ready to move on to the exercises?" he asked quietly.

Steve startled very slightly from the reverie he had fallen into and swallowed. "Yes, I'm ready." He still had his eyes closed but Rick couldn't help but notice that his hands, that were lying relaxed a moment ago, were now clenched.

"Sure?"

Steve nodded, but still kept his eyes closed.

"Steve, I think it would help if you opened your eyes. You need to see what I'm about to teach you and you can't do that with your eyes closed," he said very quietly, but with a slight chuckle.

Steve's eyes flew open. "Oh sorry, Rick. I was thinking if I kept my eyes closed it would help me to concentrate on my breathing and... help me to... kind of... will the pain away. Stupid thought, wasn't it?"

"No, it's not stupid, it's understandable, but this session is going well, really well, and I know you can do this. I can sense that you trust me and that's great and I can also tell those meds have really got a hold of you," he chuckled. "The exercises will be very gentle to start with, I promise. We'll gradually build them up over a period of days. Now just relax. That's it. Nice and relaxed." And he began the extension and flexion exercises that were to set the pattern of the sessions for the next few days. Rick found that some patients liked to chat during their treatment, but he sensed that Steve needed calm and quiet surroundings to enable him to concentrate. He visibly winced a few times and Rick stopped momentarily then, at a nod from Steve, he resumed what he was doing. In the beginning the pain was bearable, just about, and Steve forced himself to breathe deeply and evenly, but as the session wore on and the exercises put motion back into his stiffened limb, the less painful they felt. Steve began to feel good that he was getting movement back in his injured leg. At all times, Rick took complete control over the movement of his leg and Steve never lifted or moved it unassisted, but it was movement, and Steve couldn't help but feel elated that it was mobile again.

After about twenty minutes Rick ceased the exercises. "I think that's enough for today. You've done very well and, believe me, I do understand how hard it is for you, and I couldn't be more pleased with how this first session has gone. I'm going to put the sling back on as I think it'll keep you more comfortable until the effects of the treatment wear off a bit. Those muscles will object for a while yet. If the pain is bad you must speak to Liz. Do you promise me?"

"Oh yes, I promise. Dr Cranmer's words of advice not to be a martyr to the pain have become my mantra for the foreseeable future. Actually, it feels good. Granted it's uncomfortable but it's not unbearable and, mentally, I feel much more confident now that I can do this. Thanks for being so understanding and patient."

"Good, that's the exact attitude I want from you. Now, that's it for today. No more exercises but I want to start early and get two sessions in tomorrow. I'll be here at 9.30 am, so meds no later than 9am. Got it?" All the time he was speaking he was tidying away the stuff he'd used and then he settled the sling back under Steve's knee and raised it enough to put the pillow back under, then lowered the hoist again till Steve acknowledged he was comfortable.

"Got it, boss!" Both men were mightily relieved all had gone well today.

"I'll ask one of the nurse-aides to bring you a hot drink. Its tea isn't it?"

"Yes please, that would be great." And with a smile from Steve, Rick left his room. Steve lay back quietly concentrating on his breathing and willing himself to get his equilibrium and sense of calm back. He was so pleased it went well. He knew it was still only a week since the fire, but finally he felt he was making some progress towards getting his life back on track. The meds worked and his relaxation technique worked and, by the time his tea arrived, he was sleeping deeply. The nurse-aide put the cup down on his table but left him undisturbed and quietly left the room.

There were no more visitors that afternoon but Mike came in the early evening. He walked in with a huge smile on his face and Steve saw he was carrying a flat box, a large, flat box, and his mouth watered as the smell of a freshly baked pizza wafted through his nostrils.

"Mike, you beauty! I've been lying here craving a nice, spicy, succulent pizza but... please tell me it's not from Tony's!"

"It's not from Tony's, hot-shot. I went all the way across to Georgio's for this for you. Now if that doesn't show how much you mean to me then I don't know what does," he smiled broadly. "I wasn't even sure about coming in, but I rang the nurses' station to ask how your PT session went this afternoon and I spoke to Pat, at least I think she said her name was Pat, and she said it had gone very well and you were resting comfortably, in fact she said you were asleep. I thought I'd leave it an hour or two before I came in, and then I remembered you said you were craving a pizza so here it is, and it's still warm just how you like it." Mike flipped the lid off the box and the aroma hit Steve full in the face. He inhaled deeply, and his mouth began to salivate. Mike reached into another bag he'd brought in and brought out napkins and two club sodas... and the requested knife.

"And no anchovies! Wow! That looks and smells amazing. Boy, am I going to enjoy this. Thanks, Mike."

For the next hour they both made massive inroads into the pizza and they chatted and laughed together. Mike admired the excellence of the repair on Steve's cheek and checked out the other scars too. After a while he asked him about the PT session and Steve related all that had happened including Rick's joke about the safe-word. Mike just looked puzzled and Steve had to laugh that the joke had sailed over his partner's head. Sign of the times, he thought.

"So, it went well then and it wasn't too uncomfortable? I'm glad, Buddy Boy. I was so worried it wouldn't but, at the same time, I knew you were in a much better mindset today than you were on Friday. I've no idea why that pompous..." he stopped as Steve laughed out loud, "why Dr Truman... wanted you to start those exercises on Friday. Call himself an expert in orthopaedics! Even I could see you weren't well enough. You were only four days post-op then. Utterly ridiculous! I almost wanted to ring up this morning and give him a piece of my mind, then I thought I'd better not rock the boat with that man. You need to keep that guy sweet and on side. Did he come to see you this morning?" And at a nod from Steve who'd got his mouth full, he continued, "How did it go? I hope you remembered what I told you and kept your cool with him."

Steve slid his hand just beneath the sheet and crossed his fingers. "Mike, stop worrying, I was coolness personified. You'd have been proud of me. Have you heard from Jeannie?" he asked quickly changing the subject, but Mike knew him too well to be fooled.

"You're not trying to snow me are you, Steve? I know that look on your face, and why change the subject so quickly? You had a go at him, didn't you?" He stared at Steve who dropped his eyes and just continued to chew. There was no response and the stare turned into a glare. "You did, didn't you?"

A sheepish grin appeared on Steve's face. "Mike, for Pete's sake, everything's fine! We had a few... words... and we're fine. What did you expect me to do? Let Friday's fiasco pass without a comment? You know me better than that. Dr Truman and I reached an understanding... again... and everything's fine. End of story. Now tell me about Jeannie. How is she and when is she coming home?"

But Mike wouldn't be side-tracked. "Oh, so it's all fine, fine, fine! You and he seem to reach an awful lot of understandings, but when it comes down to it neither one of you seem to follow through on them." He sat back in his chair and wiped his fingers and mouth on his napkin and threw it into the almost empty box. "I knew you'd needle him! I just knew it! Alright, you want me to shut up so I'll shut up, and I'll leave it there, but remember this, hot-shot, you're the one who has to suffer the consequences and backlash from him not me." He shook his head. He was exasperated with him, but he also knew him too well by now to know that Steve wouldn't ever allow himself to be walked over. He could only hope Dr Truman had been wearing a flak-jacket at the time.

"I was asking about Jeannie," Steve prompted in an effort to change the subject.

"What? Oh... yes… Jeannie. She decided not to wait till Saturday morning so she's coming home on Friday night after classes. I'm picking her up from the airport at 8.30 pm. You'd better be ready for her, Steve, because she'll lay the law down a whole lot heavier than ever I do."

"Ain't that the truth," Steve said and both men chuckled loudly at the thought. Truth be told they were both desperately looking forward to her coming home. She was like a ray of sunshine that lit up both their lives, but both also knew she was a force to be reckoned with. In no time at all she'd have them both right where she wanted them... right under her thumb... and neither of them could wait.