SWEET DREAMS, FRAGILE HEARTS
Chapter 37—Sidetracked in Santa Fe
As the ambulance sped through the streets of Santa Fe, Troy grimaced as hot jolts of pain sliced up his side, but tried his best to downplay its severity. He turned his head again to look at Gabriella, who was seated beside him. One hand trailed absently through his hair, and the other arm clutched nervously around her middle. It was Gabriella's telltale posture when she was feeling fearful and uncertain—the only difference was that now their baby lay under that protective arm.
Troy groaned as another sharp pain ripped through him, and then reached for Gabriella's hand and squeezed it tightly. She met his gaze, revealing the glistening of held back tears.
"I'm okay, sweetheart," he forced out.
"It's my fault, Troy," she blurted. "I knew something was wrong. I should've made you get it checked out hours ago." A tear escaped and slid down her cheek.
"Gabriella, it's not your fault," he soothed, lacing his fingers with hers. "I should've recognized that it was something more serious than a stomachache. Stay calm for me, okay?"
She forced a tight smile and nodded, and he gave her hand another squeeze. Then he closed his eyes to block out the bright lights, hoping they'd get to the hospital soon.
…..~«ώ»~…..
When the ambulance pulled into the emergency area of the hospital, the paramedics quickly unloaded Troy and then turned to help Gabriella out of the ambulance. She hurried alongside the stretcher, trying her best to be brave, but feeling scared to death of how sick Troy looked. When they reached the triage area, the doctor stopped Gabriella.
"I'm sorry, ma'am, but you're going to have to wait in the waiting room," he told her. "There's some paperwork for you to fill out while we're assessing him. We'll come get you as soon as we can."
Troy looked up to see her standing tearfully in the corridor, and managed a wink at her before pulling at the arm of the nurse nearest him.
"Listen to me," he said hoarsely. "My wife is pregnant, and she has a history of panic attacks. Could you get someone to check her blood pressure and keep her calm? Please. I need you to make sure she's all right."
The woman nodded. "I'll take care of it, sir."
…..~«ώ»~…..
In the waiting area, Gabriella forced herself to concentrate on the questions she was being asked. The admissions clerk was typing her responses into the computer in front of her, and it seemed to be taking forever. Gabriella repeated the same information she'd provided for the EMTs, but her attention was focused on the double doors leading to the emergency room. She signed the forms that the woman slid across the desk, and stood anxiously when a nurse approached.
"How is he?" she asked.
"They've just taken him for a CT and ultrasound," the nurse told her. "I'll let you know when he gets back to the ER, and then you can wait with him until the doctor on call reads the test results and decides how he wants to proceed." Gabriella nodded. "In the meantime, he asked me to check your blood pressure."
A little laugh escaped from Gabriella's lips. Troy was in severe pain, but of course he was still worrying about her. Somehow that made her feel a little bit better. She nodded, lowering herself back onto the chair while the nurse knelt in front of her, fitting the blood pressure cuff around her arm.
"It's a little high, but still within the normal range," the nurse reported when she finished. "How far along is your pregnancy?"
"Fifteen weeks," Gabriella answered.
"Congratulations," the other woman smiled. "Is this your first?"
"Yes." Gabriella couldn't stop the smile that spread across her face.
"You must be thrilled."
"We are." Her face fell as she thought of Troy again, and the nurse's hand covered hers.
"Don't worry, we'll take good care of him, and I'll let you know as soon as he gets back from CT."
"Thank you."
…..~«ώ»~…..
But it wasn't the nurse that came out more than an hour later. It was the doctor.
"Mrs. Bolton?" She nodded, and the doctor extended his hand to shake hers. "I'm Dr. Stark. I'm sorry to keep you waiting." He gestured towards the chair, and she sat. He settled in the seat beside her. "The results of the CT and ultrasound show pretty conclusively that your husband has acute appendicitis. Based on the sudden worsening of his symptoms, I'm concerned about a rupture. He's being prepped for emergency surgery." Gabriella's hands flew up to cover her mouth. "As soon as the on-call surgeon arrives, he'll be ready to roll. Do you have any questions?"
"Is he… will he be all right?"
"We'll know more once Dr. Guthrie gets in there. If the appendix ruptures, there's an increased risk of damage and infection. There are always risks with surgery, but serious complications from appendectomies are rare."
"Can I see him before he goes into surgery?"
He stood and offered his hand. "Of course. Follow me."
…..~«ώ»~…..
Gabriella paused outside the small room and took a fortifying breath. Then she slipped quietly into the room, and her worry compounded when she saw again how very sick Troy looked. His eyes were closed, his eyelashes fanned out across his tanned cheeks, and she moved forward to skim her fingers across his hair. He'd cut it shorter since he spent so much time outdoors at UCS, and she loved the sleek new look. As soon as her fingers brushed his skin, his eyes opened.
"Hey," she murmured. "How are you doing?"
"I've been better. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. More than anything, I need you to be fine too."
"I will be, baby, I promise." He reached for her hand and raised it to his lips. "Did you call my parents?"
"I haven't been able to reach them. They both have their phones off. I tried Chad and Taylor too, but they're not answering either."
Troy frowned. "Dad said something about a surprise he had cooked up for after dinner, but I don't know what he was planning. I… I don't want you to be alone."
She smiled and squeezed his hand. "Troy Bolton, you have a habit of putting my needs ahead of yours, but in this case it's non-negotiable. The doctor is concerned about your appendix rupturing. You're going to have this surgery as soon as possible. End of discussion." She waggled her finger at him. "No more worrying."
Troy shrugged. "I can't help it. You're the most important person in the world to me." He glanced down at her belly. "You and our little one. Asking me not to worry is sort of like telling me not to breathe." He winked. "Or to quit playing basketball."
She giggled. "I wouldn't dare." He tried to shift positions and winced. She frowned. "Have they given you anything for the pain?"
"Just something to take the edge off," he answered, gesturing towards the IV connected to his arm. "They couldn't give me the heavy-duty stuff since I'm going under anesthesia." He glanced up at the wall clock. "I wonder what's taking the on-call surgeon so long."
Gabriella pulled a chair up close to the bed and sat, reclaiming his hand with both of hers. She rubbed it between her palms, tracing her thumb along the edge of his wedding ring. They sat in silence, and soon Troy's eyes drifted shut again. Her soothing strokes continued until a nurse bustled in.
"We're ready to take you to surgery," she announced. "You'll need to take off your jewelry and leave it with your wife."
Troy nodded and lifted his head to unfasten the chain around his neck. He dropped it into Gabriella's outstretched hand, and then reluctantly slid the ring off of his finger. She carefully threaded it onto his chain so that it hung beside the charm she'd given him in Hawaii, and then fastened it around her neck.
"You take good care of that," he told her. "I'm going to want it back in a couple of hours."
"I'll be happy to put it back on your finger," she murmured. "Just like I did four years ago."
The nurse circled the bed, raising the rails and releasing the brakes. Gabriella touched his face tenderly, as if trying to memorize his features. She leaned down to give him a lingering kiss.
"I love you so much," she told him. "Come back soon."
"I will, sweetheart, I promise. I love you."
The nurse cleared her throat. "Mrs. Bolton, there's a waiting area on the surgical floor. That's where your husband will be taken when he's out of recovery. It's on the third floor. Check in at the reception desk when you get there, and they'll keep you updated on your husband's condition."
"Thank you," Gabriella nodded. She leaned down to kiss Troy once more, forcing back sudden tears that burned the backs of her eyes. "I love you."
The bed started to roll, making her release his hand. He smiled and winked at her. "I'll see you soon."
She stood in the doorway and watched as Troy rolled down the hall and turned the corner. Only then did she allow the tears to fall. If they'd been in San Francisco, she would've at least known some of the hospital staff that Troy worked with. Here, she was all alone, and it made the situation that much harder to deal with. Raising her hand to wipe her tears, her fingertips brushed across the chain that hung between her breasts. She closed her hand around Troy's ring and the charm, whispering the words engraved on it: Ku'u lei. "My beloved." Kununu. "The strong one." Gabriella took a deep breath and resolutely wiped the tears from her face. She needed to be strong for Troy. Gathering her belongings and squaring her shoulders, she strode towards the reception area.
…..~«ώ»~…..
Two hours later, Troy slowly regained consciousness as he felt a feather-light touch on the side of his head. His lips twitched with a smile. Gabriella had always liked to run her fingers through his hair. In most circumstances it turned him on; in this case, it was comforting and familiar. His eyes slid open to see her tender smile.
"Hi," she murmured.
"Hi," he answered groggily.
"How do you feel?" she asked.
"S-sore," he told her.
"Dr. Guthrie said the surgery went perfectly," she reported. "There was no rupture, so he was able to do the laparoscopic appendectomy. He said that would shorten your recovery time."
"Good," Troy nodded. "I need to get back to work."
She frowned sternly. "We'll talk about that later. In the meantime, you should get some rest."
"Did you reach my parents?"
"Yes, they finally heard my message and called. They're on the way." One corner of her mouth twitched into a half smile. "Your dad said to tell you that if you're faking just to ruin his mojo, he's cutting you out of his will."
Troy grinned back at her and shook his head. "I'm lying in a hospital bed and all Dad can think about is getting some action with Mom." His face twisted. "Ew, did I just say that?"
Gabriella giggled. "They've been married for 30 years. I'd imagine by then you have to work harder to keep it fresh."
"I'll let you know in 26 years if that's true." His eyelids were feeling awfully heavy. "Maybe I should just rest for a few minutes until they get here."
She leaned forward to kiss his cheek. "Please do. I'm not going anywhere. I'm so glad you're okay, Troy. I love you."
He didn't answer, not that she'd expected him to. He was already asleep.
…..~«ώ»~…..
The next time Troy woke up, there was a different hand on his head, one that brought back memories of childhood.
"Hi, Mom," he murmured before opening his eyes.
"Hey, Son. How are you feeling?"
"In a whole lot less pain than when I got here." He looked around the room and frowned. "Where's Gabriella?"
"Your dad took her to get a drink from the cafeteria," Lucille reported. "She was asleep in the chair when we got here."
"It's been a long day, and she didn't sleep very well last night after the flight. Mom, she's going to try to stay here overnight, but you have to help me convince her to go home with you and come back in the morning."
"No way," Gabriella said from the doorway. "I'm staying."
Jack followed her in and sat at the foot of the bed. Gabriella moved to stand by Troy's side.
"Sweetheart, please. You're exhausted."
She planted her hands on her hips. "Troy, if the situation was reversed, and I was the one who'd just had emergency surgery, would you leave me here alone?"
"No," he admitted. "But you're pregnant."
"So what? That just means I'm more concerned with making sure the father of my child is all right. I'm staying."
"Mom? Want to help me out here?" Troy pleaded.
Lucille sat back and smiled at her daughter-in-law. "It sounds like Gabriella is staying."
"Dad? Come on, back me up!"
"Already tried, Son." He shrugged. "Never argue with a lawyer."
"You're just saying that because I interrupted your date," Troy muttered.
Gabriella settled back into her chair beside him and took his hand. "How are you feeling? It's been about 45 minutes since they gave you pain meds."
He smiled towards her. "Pain's not bad. Just some pressure. That's normal after laparoscopic surgery. They put gas in the abdomen to make it easier to see the organs."
"My son, the doctor," Lucille chuckled, looking up when a young nurse entered the room carrying a new IV bag.
"Just wait until Mark Davis finds out that your son, the doctor, went all day without realizing he had appendicitis," Jack commented.
"Actually, doctors often have trouble diagnosing themselves," the nurse inserted. "They have a broader knowledge base to draw from, and that makes it easier to explain away symptoms."
"Thank you!" Troy grinned, pointing at her. "I like you! You're my favorite nurse so far, …" He squinted to see the name printed on her badge.
"Miranda," she offered, blushing. "How's your pain, Dr. Bolton?"
"Not bad right now," he answered.
"Dr. Guthrie will be in to check on you in the morning." Miranda looked at the others nervously. "Um… it's after visiting hours… You can come back at 9:00 in the morning."
"They just got here!" Gabriella argued, gesturing towards her in-laws. "They drove here from Albuquerque…"
"It's okay, Gabriella," Jack interrupted. "Chad told us to stay at their house tonight. You have their key, right?"
Gabriella fished around in her purse and pulled it out, handing it across to Lucille.
"Is your rental car still at the theater?" Lucille asked. Gabriella nodded. "Give me the key and we'll pick it up on our way to the hospital in the morning. Then we can bring you a change of clothes."
"Thank you!" Gabriella sighed, relieved, as Miranda slipped out of the room.
"I wish you'd go with them," Troy tried once more.
"I'm not leaving until I can take you with me," she told him.
Lucille leaned over to kiss her son while Jack stood and hugged Gabriella. "We'll see you in the morning."
"Thanks for coming," Troy told them, waving as they moved towards the door. When it closed behind them, he looked back at Gabriella and smiled.
"You're cute when you're stubborn."
She crossed her arms. "I'm glad you think so, because I intend to make sure you follow the doctor's recovery instructions to the letter. Including going back to work."
He slid an arm around her waist and pulled her closer. "Ooh, my very own naughty nurse," he teased. "Will you wear white stockings for me?"
She grinned wickedly. "Are you sure you wouldn't rather have nurse Miranda take care of you? She seemed eager to please."
"The only girl I want 'pleasing' me is you." He lowered his voice. "Don't think I've forgotten what we had planned for tonight. We have unfinished business to take care of when this is all over."
Gabriella shifted uncomfortably as her body heated from the inside out. "Troy…"
"Of course," he continued on, pretending he didn't notice her arousal, "you said you planned to be vigilant about my post-surgery activities, so that means no sex for a couple of weeks."
"What?" She hadn't meant to protest so loudly, but she was certain she would burst into flames if she had to wait that long. What's wrong with me, she chided herself, thinking about this now? Then again, she reasoned, Troy had started it.
"You need to try to get some sleep." Troy's husky voice interrupted her thoughts. She glanced up at the clock. It was well after midnight.
"Do you need anything? Water? Bathroom? Meds?"
"I'm fine, babe. Really." His eyes began to droop again, and she touched his cheek.
"I'm glad you're okay," she murmured.
"Me too," he answered. He puckered his lips, inviting a kiss, and she leaned over to comply.
"Go to sleep," she told him softly. "I love you, Troy."
…..~«ώ»~…..
The next time Troy awoke, the pressure from the gas bubble in his belly had gotten worse. He knew the only way to relieve the pain was to move, so in the wee hours of the morning, he got up to walk the halls of the surgical recovery unit. Gabriella was right there beside him, with her arm around his waist, supporting him every step of the way. Despite the weary sag of her shoulders and the dark rims under her eyes, she pushed him, challenging him to keep going when he was ready to quit.
Sleep came more easily after that, although it was interrupted time and time again by nurses who came in to check his vitals, change his IV, and administer medications. Every time the door opened and the lights came on, Gabriella rose from the chair she was slumped in to help him to the bathroom, get him a drink, or simply kiss him before he went back to sleep. It was appropriate that she still wore his charm from Hawaii, Troy thought, because she was unquestionably the strong one that night.
By the time the hospital's dietician came in just before 7:00 to discuss Troy's breakfast options, the pressure in his belly was easing up. He placed his order—carefully avoiding the pancakes—and then shifted to see Gabriella watching him.
"Hi, gorgeous," he smiled at her.
She laughed softly and ran a hand over her hair, which had almost entirely escaped the updo she'd worn the day before. "I hope Dr. Guthrie comes in soon—I'm going to have him check your eyes!"
"My eyes are just fine, sweetheart," he insisted. "Trust me, I know a beautiful woman when I see one."
Her cheeks colored cutely and she moved to sit on the side of his bed. "How do you feel? Should we take a few more laps before breakfast?" She winked at him. "Or maybe I could call Chad to come over for a quick game of one-on-one."
"I bet I could still whoop his butt!" Troy grinned impishly. "You know what? Call him and see if he's free tonight. I should be out of here by then…"
Gabriella's eyes widened. "Troy, you can't be serious! The way you two play? There's no way I'm letting you…" She trailed off when he laughed, realizing he was teasing her. "I'll get you for that," she warned good-naturedly.
"I'm counting on it," he answered before sobering. "How are you doing?"
"I told you not to worry about me," she reminded him.
"And I told you that's not going to happen." He laid his hand on her leg. "When Mom and Dad get here, I want you to go back to Chad and Taylor's and sleep for a few hours. You look totally exhausted."
She covered his hand with hers. "I thought you said I looked beautiful," she teased.
"You always look beautiful to me," he persisted. "But you've been taking care of me all night. You need to take care of yourself. And the baby."
"The baby probably got more sleep last night than both of us combined." She lifted his hand and twined their fingers together. "I'm staying."
Troy sighed. "You're stubborn."
"So I've heard."
…..~«ώ»~…..
Breakfast arrived a short time later, and Gabriella was touched to find that Troy had ordered enough to share with her. She didn't eat much, still distrustful of her unpredictable stomach, but Troy was obviously feeling well enough to eat all of his breakfast and the remainder of hers.
By the time Jack and Lucille came in, Troy was propped up in bed watching an auto race on television with the volume turned off. Gabriella was still in her seat by his bed, but her head was down, resting on her crossed arms on the bed. Troy was gently massaging the back of her neck, and he gestured for his parents to be quiet as they entered.
"She just fell asleep a little while ago," he whispered in explanation.
"Poor thing," Lucille murmured sympathetically. She looked from her daughter-in-law to her son. "How are you feeling this morning? Your coloring is much better than it was last night."
"I'm tired and sore, but definitely on the mend," Troy reported. "The nurse said Dr. Guthrie will be here before noon to check on me and, hopefully, sign my discharge papers."
"So soon?" Lucille gasped. "You had surgery less than 12 hours ago!"
"Minimally invasive surgery," Troy pointed out. "And he said there was no sign of a rupture, so there's very little risk of infection."
"How much work are you going to have to miss?" Jack wondered.
"Dr. Guthrie said a week, but hopefully it'll be less than that. It'll depend on how long I need pain meds. I can't exactly make the drive to Sacramento with painkillers in my system." Troy glanced down at Gabriella and lowered his voice. "Coach Sterling's not going to be happy if I miss the game next Saturday."
"Surely he'll understand," Lucille argued. "It's just a game. Your health should come first."
"There's no such thing as 'just a game' in Division I football, Mom," Troy explained patiently. "Every game affects national rankings and bowl game selection. The trainers can cover practices, but according to National University Athletic League regulations, teams must have a licensed physician on the sidelines for every game."
"Talk to your supervisors," Jack suggested. "They'll help you work something out."
"Don't overdo it while you're recovering," Lucille warned. "Even if you're feeling better in a few days, you're not going to be back at 100% for several weeks. I learned that after my gall bladder surgery a few years ago."
"I'll be fine, Mom." He smiled down at Gabriella's sleeping form. "I'm sure my favorite nurse will take excellent care of me."
"Nurse Miranda?" Jack teased.
"Jack!" Lucille chided. She turned back to Troy. "Are you going to be allowed to fly so soon after surgery? You're welcome to stay as long as you need to. I wouldn't mind the chance to take care of my little boy again."
Troy rolled his eyes. "Mom, I'm 28 years old! I have two college degrees, a career, a home, a wife, and a baby on the way. I haven't been a 'little boy' in years!"
Lucille's eyes misted sentimentally. "You've grown into a fine man, Troy, but my mind's eye will always see the freckled, shaggy-haired boy we raised." She sniffed and then fixed a glare at him. "Don't you ever scare us like this again!"
Troy chuckled and then winced at the stab of pain his laughter caused. Lucille sucked in a worried breath, but Troy held up his hand. As expected, the pain dissipated within a matter of seconds, and he smiled to show her that he was all right.
"Mom, I will make sure, in the future, that I give you at least 48 hours' notice before suffering any type of medical condition that may require surgery." He winked at Jack, who chuckled. "Hey, at least I saved you from having to fly to San Francisco!"
Gabriella stirred then, and the trio fell silent. When she lifted her head, Troy smiled softly at her and stroked his thumb across her cheek. Lucille watched the unspoken communication that passed between her son and his wife and turned to see if Jack saw it too. He winked his confirmation towards her. It had always been that way between Troy and Gabriella, but Lucille never tired of witnessing it. Their love and affection for one another was palpable.
Gabriella's gaze shifted to her in-laws. "Jack, Lucille. How long have you been here? I'm sorry, I didn't hear you come in."
"It's okay, honey," Lucille assured her. "I can't imagine how you got any sleep in that chair last night!"
"It's good practice for when the baby's born," Gabriella said as she squeezed Troy's hand. "We'll be losing plenty of sleep then."
"Oh, I remember those days," Lucille commented, getting sentimental again. "Troy was a good baby, but I can't tell you how relieved I was when he started sleeping through the night." She paused thoughtfully, staring out the window as if it provided a glimpse of the past. "He had a couple bad bouts of colic. And Jack, remember that awful diaper rash…?"
Troy threw up his hands in exasperation. "Mom, stop! I'm begging you!"
"Son, relax," Lucille countered. "I'm providing useful information about your baby's heredity."
"Diaper rash is not hereditary!" he argued. Gabriella tried to stifle a giggle, and he glared at her. "Don't encourage her! Dad, help me out here!"
Jack looked at each of them thoughtfully before he answered. "It was a really bad diaper rash…"
Laughter burst from Gabriella's mouth, forcing away the worried expression she'd worn all night, and that alone made the ribbing worthwhile for Troy. Jack and Lucille joined in her laughter, and before long, Troy was chuckling as well. Mood lightened, fears relieved, the foursome enjoyed a long visit that stretched well into the afternoon.
Dr. Guthrie finally came in to check on Troy's recovery and authorized his release and flight back to San Francisco the following evening. Jack and Lucille drove the young couple back to Albuquerque and tucked them both into bed, relieved that they were finally home.
…..~«ώ»~…..
Before Troy opened his eyes on Monday morning, he paused to assess his condition. He was still stiff and sore from surgery, but, thanks to an uninterrupted night of sleep in his childhood bedroom, he felt stronger. Typically, his mornings would start with a workout—running, lifting weights, or playing basketball—but Dr. Guthrie had ordered him not to exercise for 10-14 days following surgery. Troy groaned softly when he remembered the other exercise he wasn't allowed during that time—sex. He opened his eyes and turned his head in search of Gabriella. She usually slept curled into his side, but this morning she was stretched out on the other side of the bed, so close to the edge that if she rolled in the wrong direction, she would end up on the floor. Realizing that she had fallen asleep that way to avoid hurting him, Troy smiled and moved closer to her. His hand settled on her belly, and he placed a lingering kiss on her bare shoulder. Her eyelids fluttered open, and she smiled up at him.
"Hi, handsome." Her voice was adorably drowsy.
"Now who needs her eyes checked?" he teased.
"How do you feel?"
"Better. I'll definitely be ready to go back to work in a few days."
Gabriella's face fell. "Troy, why are you so anxious to get back to work? We've spent so much time apart lately, I thought it would be nice to have you home this week. But it sounds like you're doing your best to avoid it."
He cupped her cheek in his palm. "Sweetheart, it's not that at all. This is just… it's an important week. I'm missing my first week of senior residency, not to mention the big game UCS has next weekend. I have responsibilities that I need to take care of."
"You have to take care of yourself first!" she argued, propping her head up on her hand. "You always tell me that, but you're not taking your own advice!"
"Hey, hey," he soothed. "I'll take it easy this week, I promise. I've got my beautiful nurse to keep me in check. Unless I can charm her into letting me bend the rules."
"Your nurse is immune to your charms," she answered boldly. They both knew it wasn't true, but she fixed a mock-glare on him nonetheless.
"Now you're in for it, baby," he grinned. "I'm going to take that as a personal challenge."
He scooted closer and, before she could argue, lowered his mouth onto hers. It took only a moment for her to relax into the kiss and loop her arms around his neck. Their bodies pressed together deliciously, and Troy coaxed her lips open to dip his tongue into her mouth. She sighed, giving herself over to the passion that was building rapidly inside her.
"Troy," she whimpered.
He pulled back to look at her, taking in her kiss-swollen lips. He realized guiltily that the redness marring her delicate skin was irritation caused by his beard growth.
"I'll be right back," he told her, pushing himself up and out of bed. He couldn't satisfy her the way he wanted to, but at least he could kiss her with a smooth face.
"Where are you going?"
He leaned over to peck her cheek. "Bathroom."
Once there, he pulled his razor and shaving cream from his toiletries bag and began to fill the sink with warm water. He sprayed shaving foam into his hand and raised it to his face, sucking in a breath when pain shot up his right side. He transferred the foam to his left hand and awkwardly applied it to his face. Then he lifted his right arm with the razor, only to feel another stab of pain. Groaning, he took the razor in his left hand and slid it across his cheek, cursing under his breath when he nicked his jaw. He dabbed a small piece of tissue on it to stop the bleeding and determinedly swiped another path beside the first one. Blood rose on his cheek when he nicked himself again, and his curse was interrupted by a soft knock on the bathroom door. The doorknob turned and Gabriella came in.
"Hey, I told you to stay in bed," he chided, trying to distract her from his struggles.
"I wanted to see who you were talking to in here," she teased as she looked from his foamy face to the mess on the sink. "Troy, are you okay?"
"Fine, sweetheart. Why don't you go on back to bed? I'll be right there, I promise."
"Not if you keep losing blood like that." She came closer and grabbed a tissue to blot his second nick. "Troy, do you need help?"
His eyes darted away, avoiding hers. "I can do it. It's just… it hurts to raise my right arm. It's normal after surgery," he rushed on to avoid worrying her. "I hate that I'm having trouble doing something that I've done every day for 12 years."
"Why don't you use your electric razor?"
"I didn't bring it."
"Well then, let me help you." He shook his head. "Troy." She waited for him to look at her, and then held out her hand determinedly. After a few seconds, he surrendered the razor with a sigh. She captured his hand. "You can trust me, babe. I'll take good care of my patient."
"It's not that," he confessed softly.
"What, then?"
He looked at her, and it took a moment for her to comprehend what she saw in his eyes. Vulnerability.
"I don't like letting you see my weakness," he finally confessed softly.
"Oh, Troy." She slid her arms around his chest, high enough to avoid his healing incisions. He lifted his left arm to pull her closer. "We've known each other for a long time, and I know what a wonderful man you are. But you're not perfect, and I don't expect you to be. Marriage is give and take. You said that you like taking care of me because it makes you feel needed." She pulled back to look up into his eyes. "Please let me take care of you. I want to. You've done so much for me in the past few months. It feels good that I can return the favor. It feels good to feel needed."
"I always need you, baby," he murmured. "You're so much stronger than you give yourself credit for."
"That reminds me…" She lifted her hair to unfasten the chain that still hung around her neck. She'd kept it on throughout his hospital stay, and when Troy's parents had driven them home the night before, they'd both collapsed into bed.
"Keep it on for a little while longer," he urged. "It reminds me of the 'T' necklace you wore in high school." Truth be told, he'd also found it surprisingly arousing to see his wedding ring and charm dangling between his wife's breasts as she'd leaned over his bed in the hospital.
She smiled. "Okay, Wildcat. Now sit." She gestured towards the toilet, and he closed the lid and sat obediently. She came to stand between his legs and lifted the razor to his cheek.
He watched her face as she worked, biting her lower lip in concentration. She rinsed off the razor between strokes, just like he normally did, and smiled when she noticed him watching her. When she finished, she grabbed a hand towel and wiped the excess shaving foam from his face. She nodded with satisfaction, and let out a little squeal when he wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her down to straddle his lap. He kissed her hard.
"How'd you get so good at that?" he asked against her mouth.
"Kissing?" she teased.
"Very funny. No, shaving men."
She grinned. "It's one of my 'naughty nurse' skills."
"Damn, baby." Troy buried his face in her neck, fighting temptation, and she seemed to understand. She pushed herself up and off of him before leaning down to kiss his cheek.
"Now that that's done, you need to get back to bed," she instructed.
"Are you going with me?"
"I suppose I could spare a few minutes for my favorite patient."
"That's what I like to hear." He stood and followed her back to the bedroom. Maybe this recuperation wouldn't be so bad after all.