A/N: Thank you very much for the reviews.
The bath
Weakness is an awful thing. It makes your body heavy and your head light. The back of your neck tingles and it`s impossible for it to keep your head up. Your muscles cease to function properly. Your eyes keep seeing dancing black and yellow spots. You totally depend on others, and most of the time you´re not even aware of anything but instead you vaguely listen to voices or see faces but you don´t have enough strength to care what they´re asking or demanding. It can be a result of different things. In this case, the decreased mobility due to spending three months chained to a bed was inexcusably the primary cause, along with poor nutrition, dehydration, sleeplessness, painful cramps, stress, anguish and desperation.
Weakness plus hunger is nearly unbearable. Although, hunger was starting to give up its tenacious grip. Maybe it had something to do with the nurse that, when he opened his eyes, was pushing something through a tube. Following it with his curious and partially opened eyes, Danny realized that the tube entered his nose. When had that happened? Becoming aware of the annoying conduit and all its trajectory, Danny´s first reaction was to complain. Oh, what would he give to be able to verbalize eloquently his discomfort and demands. But instead, only a broken moan, a weak cough and a slightly move of the head was all he could achieve.
Weakness plus hunger plus fever is unbearable. The next time Danny tried to open his tearful eyes, was because a cold cloth being pressed on his forehead startled him. Trying to focus, Steve´s face gained his line of sight. It was obviously desperately trying to deliver a message. "Hey buddy. We got you, we got you. You are safe". It wasn´t just a message. It was an affirmation destined to bring calm, not only to Danny but to Steve as well. A reassurance that he needed to keep hearing. It seemed to reach Danny´s mind, because he calmed a little, and closed his eyes against the soothing cold.
Each time he opened his eyes, there was a change of scenery. This time, the ceiling was moving and white lights where passing by until they reached a big door.
"Ok sweetie, here we go". The nurse said as she pushed the gurney through the bathroom door while her colleague closed the door after changing the sign to "occupied". With faces on full focus mode since they were assigned the task to attend their new and singular patient, both experienced nurses guided the stretcher with agility, positioning it next to the specially equipped clinical bathtub.
"Let´s clean you up". Without any other preamble, the sheet was removed and Danny was left completely naked before being nimbly transferred with ease to the welcoming water. The total helplessness he was experiencing didn´t allow him to protest, or reclaim some dignity, or avoid the inevitable. He was doomed to be washed by others. Danny was aware of a hand on his nape, holding his head slightly elevated, while a shower of warm water was being spilled over his face and made its way down to his torso after completely dampening his greasy hair. At the same time, someone was working on his lower half but, mercifully, he didn´t quite get the whole picture. His fever even made him feel the warm water cold. So he started to shiver at the same time that he dozed off again.
It was definitely better. Danny felt much better. The next time he opened his eyes he was still on the bathroom, but now he was lying on a clean stretcher and was being dried with a towel. At least, after months, he could smell clean scents and feel a bit human again. Then, he was carefully shaved, his nails and toenails were cut and thoroughly cleaned underneath and he almost cried with joy when the brush with toothpaste entered his mouth. He barely had the strength to poorly spit when asked and that was all he could give them. He was done, totally spent, and ready to be left alone to finally sleep without interruptions. But his desire was short lived as a nurse placed both hands on the sides of his face to catch his attention and explained the next procedure, which by no means will be pleasant.
"Very good Danny, we are almost done here. We are going to put a urinary catheter now, ok? It has to be done, doctor´s orders, you just relax, ok?". Not that he had any option. After being repeatedly forced to relieve himself on his pants, plus the humidity and lack of hygiene, Danny´s genital area was a mess and it was obviously tender and painful. It had been cleaned carefully but this last and necessary procedure reminded him of his discomfort. When they were done, Danny was covered again with a clean sheet but he wasn't able to sleep afterwards and was restless and moving uncomfortable as he was wheeled back through the bright hallway.
"Hey good looking, now we´re talking!". Steve´s attempt to cheer him up didn´t achieve its purpose. Danny was so confused as they passed by his friends and instead of reentering the exam room they continued their march and entered through a big two wings door. Something about surgery to remove the manacles. But that was it. Danny finally managed to fall asleep.