Chapter 3

"Hey there, handsome... Wow, you've got some of your coloring back while I was off." Betty exclaimed entering Randy's room with a tray of food.

Randy smiled at the heavy set nurse. Out of all of the people that had been in and out of his room since his attack, he liked her best. Every time she entered his room she always came in talking away to him, never in a bad mood and always complimenting on the progress she noticed.

"I see you've gotten a lot of new gifts and flowers, too." She gushed moving the items that cluttered his roll-a-way table, so she could set his food down, "There isn't a spot that you don't have something in here now... Someone must really love you, huh?"

Randy nodded at her when she peered up into his face, knowing that he still wasn't able to talk.

It hadn't taken long for Randy's body to start the healing process. His injuries were extensive, but slowly one day at a time, things started to get better. After a week, the doctor had finally removed the bandages from his eyes and he was able to see what was going on around him. That in itself was something he was grateful for. He had learned that one eye socket had been completely crushed, obviously from the sledgehammer that Hunter had used on him, and that they had performed a reconstructive surgery to rebuild the socket and to remove the broken particles.

As far as his throat went, they didn't feel that he would have any non-recovering damage, except that his voice may be a little different once the vocal cords healed completely. Both of his arms and his back had been broken as well, leaving his entire upper body incased in plaster. His arms were braced out from two steel bars that had been placed in the casts between is sides and on his arms.

"I've got a special treat for you." Betty smiled, finally taking a seat next to him and he lifted a brow in question, "The doc says the swelling has gone down enough for us to try a more solid meal. If you can get it down with minimal pain... no more baby food."

If Randy could have clapped his hands like a seven year old at Christmas he would have, but instead he had to sit and quietly sigh his pleasure. He was so tired of jello and mashed food he could just scream....

"I also took the liberty to ask the kitchen to fix something up that I hope you will find enjoyable."

Betty quickly removed the stainless steel late covering and smiled up at Randy. The large plate was filled to its capacity with a piece of what looked like baked chicken and mixed steam vegetables.

"I figured you would like something a little healthier than the hamburger steak they had planned." She explained setting the cover aside.

Randy was salivating as the steam rolled up off of the rood and wafted up his nose.

"Here you go, a small bite just to test the waters." She said offering up the fork for him to take.

He took the food and chewed it slowly, taking his time to enjoy his first real meal since entering the hospital.

"Good?" Betty asked with a chuckle when his stomach gave a large grumble.

Randy swallowed gingerly, hoping like hell that the pain wouldn't come.

"Ok, how bad did that hurt? Using your fingers show me, on a scale of one to ten."

He held up four, then opened his mouth eagerly for more... he'd be damned if he'd let a little pain ruin a good meal.

Her face beamed and she loaded the fork for him again, "You know, I'm going to miss you." She replied with a distant look on her round face.

Randy stopped chewing and eyed her with a question in his blue eyes. Was he going somewhere? Hell he couldn't even walk at the moment with all the swelling around his spine how could he?

"It won't be too much longer that you will be well enough to be transported to your physical therapy clinic, so you can finish your treatment and start working on those big strong muscles of yours." She sighed, "But I'd like to come and visit you, make sure they are treating you alright if that's ok."

He nodded, and accepted another bite as she rattled on.

"These past few days, I've grown quite attached to taking care of you. My daughter told me the other day that I had to hurry up and make you better... She misses seeing you on TV."

He smiled. He didn't know how to tell the nurse that there was no way in hell he was going back. He'd had enough pain during his time in the hospital to last him the rest of his life. Even though they had told him the fractures would all heal and that it would be no problem for him to finish his career, he had come to the conclusion that it just wasn't worth it.

Never in his wildest dreams did he think that someone would be vengeful enough to cause him such serious injuries. His dad and grandfather had made it though both of their careers without long hospital stays. Sure they both have a few aches and pains now that they are older, but at least they made it without someone almost taking their lives.

"Well, you little pig, you ate it all." Betty announced looking up at him affectionately, "Are you full?"

Randy nodded happily as she placed a straw up to his mouth so he could get a drink.

"Good... I'm very proud of you. A wonderful start... Now, I have to go finish my rounds, but I'll be back later to check on you." She informed him ruffling his hair.

Randy watched as she picked up the remnants of his meal and leave from his room happily. Yep, he was definitely going to miss her...

As always please let me know what you think...