Chapter 41
Over the next few days Steve trained walking with Connor.
He had managed to reach the door of his room two times the day before. During the night his legs and started to twitch and hurt. He had refused to take something against the pain, but had taken the relaxant Helen had brought.
He was finishing his breakfast when Danny said "Samantha is coming by today. You think you are okay with that?"
"I thought I've already told you I am – twice."
"Yes, but that was before your legs started to tremble and twitch."
"That is true. But it is not that bad anymore. I think I can still meet her. She won't stay for hours, right?"
"No. We thought we'd come by after lunch."
"Sounds good to me."
"Really? I mean your new occupational therapist is coming with Connor today. Not that you are too exhausted."
"Danny? You getting cold feet now?"
"No! I just…just…I…"
"I thought you wanted us to meet. If you have second thoughts now…"
"No. No I don't. Really."
"Then what?"
"I just want you to be fit and alert when you meet her. I want you two to get along." That sounded almost desperate.
"You want me to like her from the start?" Steve asked wanting to know if he got it right.
"Yes!"
"You want it to be perfect." Steve realized.
"Exactly."
"Like she'd meet your parents…" Steve smiled at him.
"You are still an idiot," Danny replied smiling as well.
"And you still love me," the SEAL countered.
"I do. But please don't ruin it. I really like her. She is important to me." Danny said serious again.
"You love her." It was a statement not a question.
"Yes…yes Steven I do." Danny admitted.
Two hours later Connor arrived.
"Hey guys. How are you today? This is Aron. Aaron this is Steve McGarrett and this is his friend Danny Williams."
"Nice to meet you," both five-0 members and Aaron said in unison.
"As I've already told you Aaron will be your occupational therapist from now on. I've already told him what we had worked on and what you had achieved."
"Yes. Hello again. Connor said you can raise your arm at face level."
"Yes."
"Can you show me, please?"
Steve did.
"Looks good. He also said that your fingers are uncurling when you stretch your whole body, but you can move them on your own."
"That is correct."
"Good. We'll start our work tomorrow 2 pm. We will have thirty minutes every day. No weekends though. If you don't mind, I'd like to stay for your PT session. Have a look at your movements in general."
Steve made it to the door again and he felt good and wanted to try and walk back again.
Connor didn't let him.
"No Steve. Sit down. Take it easy. We've already went too fast the last two days. Remember what I've said about overdoing."
"Yeah, right."
After a short break he walked back to his bed. Connor still had to help him with the movement and the malposition in his hip, but all in all he was satisfied with the progress.
The second walk went well until Steve was two steps away from his bed. His left leg started to tremble again and then it cramped. His two therapists helped him to lay down and Connor massaged the leg until the pain was almost gone.
Danny just stood and watched making mental notes what to do in case that happens when he will be alone with his friend.
"You good again?" Connor asked.
"Yes, but damn that had hurt."
"I know, but again: it is normal. I'll talk to Dr. Lexington to put a relaxant on your medication plan for the nights. Just take it when you need it. Still good?"
"Yes."
"Okay. Then sit up. We do a few more standing exercises."
Steve did, but he came to the point where he felt that he couldn't do much more.
"Okay Steve. Come on. Two more and we are done for this morning."
"I am done already," Steve answered but stood up anyway. Then he squinted his eyes.
"What's up?...Steve, hey, talk to me." Connor asked concerned.
"Don't know. My foot, my left foot is tingling – feels like pins and needles and it hurts." Steve said in a strained voice.
"That is good." Connor almost smiled.
"No, it's not." Steve said still feeling the discomfort and pain.
"Yes, it is. Means your foot is still alive. Okay, sit down. Let's call it a day."
Steve was wiped out and took his usual "after-PT-nap" how he called it.
It was a deep sleep without any kind of dreams.
"Right on time commander," Esther said when he woke up. "Just brought your lunch."
"Where is Danny?"
"He left fifteen minutes ago. He said you'd know where he is."
"I do. I just thought, I'd see him before that. No problem. He will be back in about an hour anyway. Thanks for the lunch."
"You're welcome. It's chicken breast. You think you can do it yourself or should I cut it for you?"
"I think I can do that. Thank you."
When Danny returned, Steve had his eyes closed, but wasn't sleeping.
Danny was so excited that he didn't notice. His face fell and he whispered "Looks like he is sleeping. We should come back later."
"No, I am not," Steve said.
"Hey buddy. Thought you were taking a nap.
Steve, this is Samantha. Samantha, this is Steve."
"Nice to meet you," both said at the same time and smiled at each other.
"So great to finally meet you. Danny had told me a lot about you," Samantha said.
"He told me a lot about you too. How is your daughter?"
"She is doing very good. Thanks for asking. How are you?"
"Doing better. Thank you. Danny is helping a lot with this."
"He said you are doing all the work here."
"He did? That might be true, but it wouldn't be possible without his support. Danny is just too humble and sometimes doesn't see what kind of great work he is doing and what a great friend he is."
"I can imagine that."
"Hello? I am here. You two know that, right?"
Steve and Samantha looked at him like they noticed him for the first time and asked in unison "Danny?". Then they looked at each other again, smiled and laughed about their joke.
"Now I know what "be careful what you wish for" means."
Both his friends looked questioningly at Danny.
"I wanted you two to get along great. Looks like you do - at my expense…but I think it is okay."
He smiled as well and looked at Samantha. "As long as you don't want to drive my car every day."