Grace returned ten minutes later, Sands' new trunks, a few other items of clothing, and several plastic bags in hand. Sands was sitting at the table that was next to the room's kitchenette. "Ready to suit up?"

           "You're really gonna make me wear a bathing suit?"

Grace laughed. "I really don't want to be introduced to your 'friend.'"

"You just keep telling yourself that, Gracie."

           She shook her head and turned him around. "Come on, you." After guiding him to the bathroom, she handed him the trunks. "O.K., I'll go outside and you put those on, all right? And no telling me that you have them on and…and being naked instead."

            "Think you know me so well already, huh?"

"Uh huh."

           "And it appears you do."

"You're not exactly hard to figure out…at least the perverse side of you."

"That part of me's always been an open book, Gracie."

           "Yeah well, I tend to like dust covers myself."

            Sands laughed. "Witty too. O.K., I'll be good and put them on."

         "Thank you." She left and Sands, after a bit of difficulty, changed into the trunks.

"All right," he groaned. Grace walked into the bathroom and couldn't say much. His physique was…very appealing to the eye. His body was well toned and tanned…she found herself fighting to speak. "What's the matter, Gracie?"

"Uh…nothing. Better than pink that's all."

           "Oh? And what color did you put me in?"

           She smiled. "Yellow – bright yellow."

"Yellow? So I can look like a banana when I'm out on the beach?"

"Who said anything about the beach?"

"You are going to take me out there, aren't you? You can't keep me in here for a week!"

She laughed. "Easy Tonto, I'll take you out as long as you behave yourself?"

           "Tonto?"

            "Eh, it just came out.  Come here."  Grace put the lid on the toilet down and sat him on it.  She looked at his thighs.  God, I could just lick…Whoa!  No, no, no!  Stupid!  Bad, Grace, bad!  "Uh, I'll be really gentle.  I promise."

"I like it rough."

           "So I should squeeze really hard around these wounds?"

           "Funny, Gracie."

           "I try. I'm going to wrap your arm first, O.K.?" He nodded. Leaving the gauze in tact, she wrapped the plastic bag around his arm, tying it very carefully. "That wasn't so bad, huh?"

"You seem to be good with your hands."

Grace rolled her eyes. "Do you ever stop?"

"Nope. Hey, can we get some grub up here when we're done?"

            She laughed.  "I guess I should feed you, huh?"  She looked at his legs again.  God, I have to push up his trunks.  There's not underwear…under there.  "Um…O.K., I have to touch…No horny comments, all right?"

"Just be easy on the goods, Gracie."

"Are you deaf too?"

"Hey, all I said was…"

Grace grunted, then pushed up the right leg of his trunks. Her hands got dangerously close to his "goods" and he flinched. "Oh, did I hurt you?"

She honestly didn't…it wasn't on purpose.  Of course it wasn't…not yet anyway.  "Um, no.  I'm just a bit sore."

"Sorry." Her voice was genuinely apologetic.

           "It's all right."

After a few minutes, his legs were wrapped and Grace was filling the tub. Once that was done, she took Sands' hand and helped him into the water. He sat and sighed when his aching body hit the warm relief. Grace dipped a washcloth into the water, lathered it, and began to wash his back. More satisfied sounds escaped from his lips. Grace was gentle, fully aware of how sore he must have been. She washed his back, neck, and arms, then handed him the washcloth.

"You're stopping?" he said, not sounding cocky, but disappointed.

"You can handle your chest and legs, can't you?"

He cleared his throat. "Yeah." He washed his chest and legs, then froze for a moment. Grace had begun to wet down his hair. "What are you doing?"

"You shouldn't strain that arm. Hope you don't mind girly shampoo."

"You're gonna wash my hair?"

Grace laughed. "Yeah – it's looking rather greasy." She worked a lather through his hair, massaging his scalp as she did so.

"Jesus, Grace…"

She smiled. "You're just a puppy dog aren't you?"

"Not fair – you have me temporarily…uh…"

"Even at a loss for words, huh?" She grabbed the showerhead and detached it from the wall so she could rinse out the shampoo. "I think I washed out a few layers of Mexico."

"Uh, Gracie?"

"Hm?"

"Could you, um…scat for a minute?"

"Why?"

"I wanna wash…the boys." The hesitation in his voice told Grace that there was more to it than that.

           "Sure. Thanks for the warning." She stepped out the room and with a moment heard him cursing.

           "Fucking hell…"

Without thinking, she rushed back inside. "Are you all right?" Sands had his hands over his eyes – or, where they would have been.

"I'm fine, I…I dropped my glasses in the tub."

"Oh. Let me get them for you."

           "No, you can…" But her hand was already in the tub, picking them up. She dried them off, and handed them back to him. "Thanks."

           "Do you want me to go again?"

"Could you just turn around for a sec?"

Understanding, she did as he asked. "Sure."

He put his glasses on and said, "All right. Help me out?"

"You know, you're being really good all of a sudden."

He forced a smile. "Don't get used to it. Pills are wearing off and I'm feelin' the burn."

"Well, I'd rather have you obnoxious than in pain." She helped him out of the tub and cautiously dried around his wounds. "I got some, uh, looser clothes downstairs. You can't really run around in tight jeans with those stitches."

Sands smiled. "Careful, Gracie, you're really losing your edge."

***

Author's Note: Yup, I went away from the humor for a little bit…I'm actually taking this a bit more seriously now…but don't worry, the comments will fly again!