Chapter 92: Back to Seattle
Amelia spent the night in Owen's bed again on Sunday night. Snuggling to sleep in the same position as Thursday night, Amelia relaxed into Owen's grasp. When he woke up in the middle of the night, Owen, still feeling pain but not as intensely as the prior days, was ready to reunite with his wife.
"Hey," Owen whispered. "Mia, you awake?" She didn't budge. Owen sighed as he considered the best positions given his condition. 'Accidentally' nudging her, Owen asked again, "You awake, Mia?"
"Whaaa?" Amelia mumbled. "You ok?"
"I want you," Owen stated clearly.
"Mmmmhmmm, I want you too, O. Now go back to sleep," Amelia muttered.
Forcing himself to reach over with his still-sore right arm, he began to unbutton her PJ top. Once done, he nuzzled his stubbly face on her breasts as he kissed them gently. He hummed with contentment as he caressed her body and slid his hand into her pants.
"Hey there, soldier," Amelia teased with a soft giggle. "Did you need something?"
"You," Owen whispered between kisses.
"Sure, you're up for this?" Amelia asked with concern.
"Oh, I'm up. No doubt about that," Owen flirted as he grabbed her hand and placed it over his erection.
Amelia looked at him with hesitation, "What does your doctor say about this?"
"I dunno…umm, let me ask her," Owen flirted. "Dr. Shepherd-Hunt, what's your take? Can I have sex with my wife?"
Amelia laughed and slid onto her side, so she was facing Owen. She ran her hand along his cheek and hair. "I'm game, but how? You need me on top?"
"I thought about that. I'm afraid you'll come down on my leg," Owen explained. "Roll onto your other side." He gently nudged her body, so she was facing away from him. "Maybe not the most romantic for the first time in months, but…"
"Enough talk, Major. Take me," Amelia joked with an edge of seriousness.
While not lengthy, their reconnection was blissful for both of them. Feeling each other's body was a welcome change from the weeks of loneliness and solitude. As he finished, he whispered gratitude and told her he loved her. She fell asleep with his right arm around her body, grasping his hand with her right hand. His left arm was placed around and above her head and their hands met on the pillow. Both slept peacefully and soundly until their early morning alarm sounded at 4:15am.
At 5:00 am on Monday morning, Owen and Amelia boarded a C-17 for the 13-hour flight heading for San Antonio, Texas. Because they were going west, they would gain time. When they landed, he time in San Antonio would be 11:00 am (9:00 am in Seattle). Owen would be transported to San Antonio Military Medical Center, where he would remain for his initial rehab. As soon as he was able to stand and walk a few steps with the assistance, he could return to Seattle and continue his therapy there. He was bound and determined to be home in time for Ella birthday on the 12th.
Owen would have the option to use a walker but would not be able to bear weight on his right leg while using it. Initially, a walker provided more stability and support; however, he was tense and frustrated about having to use one. Up to this point, and until San Antonio transitioned him, he was wheelchair dependent. An attachment on his chair allowed his right leg to remain straight.
Amelia, having promised the kids she would return within 5 days, would continue home to Seattle after landing in San Antonio. She would arrive at SeaTac at 4:00 pm, and Lynne would pick her up. She and the kids would meet just outside security.
The C-17 was cold, so they cuddled in blankets for as much of the trip as possible. Owen was able to sit upright if he had solid support for his right leg, but he needed to lie down periodically to sleep. Having been in the hospital for many days, his stamina was low. The straight back seats were not the most comfortable ride and it was nearly impossible to sleep in one. Because the plane was not at capacity and because she was obviously pregnant, the medical staff invited Amelia to lie down on a spare litter when she needed to rest.
When the plane arrived in San Antonio, two burly medical assistants helped Owen relocate to his wheelchair. His backpack attached to the back of the chair and one of the assistants pushed him toward the waiting ambulance that would transport him to the hospital. Amelia followed them out, holding his hand. He was infuriated and dispirited to be in a wheelchair and to experience the attention it brought. When they reached the ambulance, he looked forlorn and tense as he focused his gaze forward. Amelia leaned down and whispered in his ear. He chuckled at her words; thankful she didn't say something that would make him teary in front of so many other soldiers. As she stepped away, promising to call as soon as she arrived in Seattle, he held her hand until his arm couldn't stretch any farther. The medic loaded him onto the ambulance and Owen rested his face in one hand during the drive to the hospital.
In terms of post-op treatment and healing, Owen's injuries each had their own needs.
The abdominal bullet wound would take 6-8 weeks for the pain to fade; there was not much to do but wait. Regaining range of motion and strength would be the focus during and after recovery. Owen's ability and pain level associated with transitioning from any position that required bending, such as standing up from a chair or getting out of bed, would shift over time from being nearly impossible to painful to slightly painful to fully healed.
His patellar fracture would be kept in a brace for 6-8 weeks in order to keep the knee completely immobilized. Alternating heat and cold for pain and edema was recommended. Bearing weight was recommended after surgery if possible; however, his bruised femur required minimal weight bearing. The PT/OT teams would work to find a balance between rest and bearing weight. Usually, gait training with a walker or crutches began as soon after surgery as possible. In Owen's case, crutches were the best option because he could avoid bearing weight on crutches more easily. Approximately six months would pass before the injury was considered 100% healed and Owen could return to his pre-injury everyday activities and work. He could return to normal activity once he could fully straighten and bend his knee without pain, the strength in both legs was relatively equal, and once he could walk, bend and squat without pain.
For the bruised femur, ice massage several times a day was a necessity. Initially, rest, elevation, and bracing were required. Over time, he could begin gently bearing weight on his leg. Once that journey began, he would need to use crutches or a cane until walking was painless.
Physical and occupational therapy would take up the better part of Owen's days for some time. The therapists would work on non-weight bearing exercises, range of motion, strength building especially in adjacent joints), and ankle exercises that would maintain and promote circulation.
Having learned about the complexity and length of Owen's recovery and acknowledging that she would become more and more unable to lift him as her baby bump grew, Amelia insisted that round the clock home care be arranged to help him once he returned home. She didn't want to exhaust Owen's mother, who would certainly volunteer if needed, nor the kids. Owen resented having to have non-family members at home all the time, but he understood the need. He was entering into the more intense and frustrating portion of his recovery and, as a doctor, he knew that. Trying his best to remain upbeat, determined and positive, he often held his tongue when he had a strong opinion or could feel himself seething.
Amelia was escorted to the USO area in the San Antonio airport, where she could rest until boarding her flight home. With a four-hour layover, Amelia decided to shower and change clothes before napping as long as she possibly could. Her pregnant body was exhausted from simultaneously growing a baby and living through the last five days. When she found out her flight would depart from a gate far from the USO, she requested assistance to the gate. Years ago, she thought to herself, she would have never accepted nor requested such obvious help. Having finally learned that limitations were an acceptable reality, Amelia refused to let herself feel hesitant or guilty about the assistance. The USO arranged for her to have a shuttle similar to a golf cart both to her gate at San Antonio and from her arrival gate in Seattle.
The flight to Seattle was uneventful. She'd been able to arrange for an upgrade to first class and was thankful every second of the flight that she'd done so. For most of the flight, she napped. As she stirred awake about 45 minutes before landing, the flight attendant provided her a snack and all the water she could drink. Being pregnant had its advantages.
Amelia sent a text to Owen when her plane landed in Seattle, On the ground. How are you?
In pain. Started PT today. 10 rounds of get in and out of a wheelchair, 15 rounds of stand up and sit back down, plus all kinds of range of motion exercises. Encourage me… the pain is horrific. Owen admitted.
Oh, O. So sorry. I have complete faith in you – you are a determined man. Can't they give you something for it? I like to prescribe mild pain meds for my patients a half an hour before OT/PT and the heavy stuff after. Amelia suggested.
Haven't met a doc yet, just my torturer. Owen responded.
You know what to do – hit the call button. Your pain is as valid as anyone else's needs. Amelia prodded.
Owen ended the conversation, typing, Gotta go. Hurting.
At her request, the shuttle drove Amelia to her side of security, and she walked from there. The hallway, which couldn't have been more than 100 feet long, felt as if it were miles long because she was so eager to see the kids. As she rounded the corner just before the exit from the secured area, Olivia began jumping up and down and clapping as she exclaimed loudly, "Mommy! Mommy! Mommy!" Having heard their sister whether they wanted to hear her or not, the twins leaned forward in their stroller with widened eyes hoping to spot their Mommy. Oliver ran full speed ahead to Amelia and Finley, temporarily forgetting he was 13, did likewise.
Amelia beamed as she caught the eye of each child. Oliver nearly knocked her over with his bear hug. Finley briefly hugged her and then, without asking, took the bag and purse off her shoulder so he could carry them for her. She walked with one arm around each boy as she approached her girls. Curling Olivia toward her, Amelia managed to hug both babies and Bronwyn simultaneously. Knowing how hard Lynne had been working, Derek had insisted on bringing the kids himself. As Amelia stood up, the siblings hugged tightly as Amelia whispered in her brother's ear, "Any chance you can stay around tonight and help me process?"
Derek grinned and nodded as he looked her in the eye and said, "Absolutely. I'd love that." Amelia blinked her eyes and smiled, then turned to the kids and suggested they head to baggage claim. Derek carried Gwen, who seemed least likely to scream if her Mommy didn't hold her, and Amelia carried Ella, who was cutting a tooth and was very relieved to have her mommy home.
After insisting that Amelia sit down by the window with the girls, Derek and the boys waited for Amelia's bag to make its way around the conveyor. Finley, still carrying Amelia's carry ons, spotted it and nudged Oliver forward, telling him, "It's the red one. Grab it." The bag, nearly as big as Oliver himself, was pulled off primarily by the 8-year-old with some assistance from an observant uncle. Oliver insisted on pulling the heavy wheeled suitcase to the car by himself, and Finley had no intention to suggest otherwise.
Not used to quite so much chaos, Derek suggested, "Why don't you stay inside with the kids and I'll bring the car around. You don't need to walk all that way after the day and week you've had."
"That is incredibly sweet of you, dear brother, but the walk will be a welcome change from all the sitting," Amelia responded. "Besides," she smirked and winked, "it's always a wonderful adventure to keep all the kids corralled in such a busy and crowded place."
Amelia then arranged the regular routine, placing each baby in the stroller and insisting Bronwyn hold on to the side of it. Oliver joined Amelia at the push bar. Finley, thanking his lucky stars for the new arrangement that had recently been put in place, walked nearby. Derek made a mock frown and raised his eyebrows, indicating he was impressed.
The melee arrived at the car and everyone loaded in. Finley helped load Amelia's bags into the back, asking her if she wanted her purse up front or with the luggage. Knowing she'd purchased a small bound set of pictures from the trip for the three older kids, she asked him to bring up her purse. As Derek pulled out, Amelia twisted around and announced, "I took a bunch of pictures in Germany and I can tell you all about each one later. But I printed each of you a book with the pictures. Do you want to wait, or do you want them now?" Amelia asked the question trying to sound as if she had no idea how they'd respond. However, she'd already pulled the books out to hand back to them. She also pulled out a little toy for each of the twins so they wouldn't try to grab Finley's book as he sat between them.
The photos made their way back, each with a name written on the cover to avoid fights over identical items. Amelia had her own copy and opened it to the first page which showed a picture of Owen taken Sunday afternoon. The bruising on his face was still present but less evident and his smile was broad. He was wearing an Army hoodie (over his unseen hospital gown) and sitting in a chair. Taking the picture had been a chore as they tried to maneuver his right arm, still very bruised and in pain, into the sleeve. He was determined to have at least one picture for the kids where he was not in a hospital gown. The next day, before they left for the plane, Amelia helped him put on a t-shirt, sweatshirt and sweatpants because he was also determined to leave Landstuhl in clothes and not in a gown.
As the kids flipped through their books, they peppered Amelia with questions about what they saw. The pictures also helped them recall questions they had about their dad and his status. Amelia had taken a number of pictures of the nurses and doctors as well as pictures when he went for a CT, MRI or other tests. Olivia wanted to know the name of each person in each photo and was disappointed Amelia couldn't recall all their names. Included in the book were the pictures of various planes and choppers that Owen had promised Oliver. His 8-year-old eyes widened in wonder as he carefully examined the details in each photo. Oliver held his book toward Olivia and told her the name of each plane pictured. Adorably, she mimicked her parents who would feign interest when she displayed the 87th dance move of the night, "Oh…Ollie, that's wonderful."
They arrived home a little after 6 to discover that Lynne had prepared a full dinner on her afternoon "off." Everything was either on the table or staying warm in the oven. As they ate, Amelia answered the kids' questions and shared stories about her trip and about Owen. Derek was mostly quiet as he observed his sister, the mother of 5, with pride. He relaxed joyfully, knowing the six people around him were part of his family.
After dinner, the family gathered on and around the couch to call Owen. He was expecting the call but in a great deal of pain when the FaceTime came through. Wincing and suffering, he simply couldn't bring himself to answer the phone and have the kids see him that way. Amelia made a quick excuse that he must be out of his room for bloodwork or some sort of test before she walked over to her cell and texted, Just FaceTimed, no answer. You ok?
Almost immediately, she received a response, I know. I'm sorry. Pain is tearfully excruciating. I'm overdue for my meds but nurses are swamped. Can't let kids see me like this.
Amelia wrote back, Text me if we can connect later? I told the kids you were getting bloodwork done. There's always tomorrow if you aren't up to talking tonight. They love the photos btw.
Good. Gotta stop. Really hurting. Wish you were here to storm the halls and get my meds. Xxoo, Owen concluded.
Amelia was disappointed but tried not to show it. Situations like this would be her reality for a while. She took in a deep breath and faked a huge smile as she suggested, "How about if we challenge Uncle Derek to a game of Hot Lava?!" The three older kids all cheered and began throwing cushions onto the floor.
As Derek laughed boisterously at the game from his childhood that consistently upset Carolyn Shepherd, he warned Amelia, "Don't you dare teach this to Zola!"