Chapter 8

Physical Therapy

It was Friday and Jackson was waiting on Cooper. This was going to be his first day of physical therapy. Thursday, Jackson saw the doctor and was given the okay to start working on the ankle. Cooper had agreed to take him to his first session. Jackson was on crutches again with a removable cast on his ankle for protection. However, at the present moment, Miley had his attention.

"Miles, you don't need to go with me."

"But I can help by learning what exercises to do for you." Miley pleaded.

"Look Miles, I love you to pieces, but I'm okay. There's nothing wrong with me. Okay?"

"I know. It's just that I want to help." Miley replied a little down cast. A knock on the door interrupted them. Miley went to answer the door.

"Hi Miley, is Jackson ready?" Cooper asked as he came in the door.

"Yeah Coop. I'll be ready just as soon as Miles helps me up." Jackson smiled at Miley. Miley smiled back and run over to Jackson and took his arm and helped pulled him up as Cooper handed Jackson his crutches.

"Bye." Miley said.

"I'll see you when I get back Miles."

Jackson climbed into Cooper's car and they set off for the physical therapy offices.

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It was about a thirty-minute drive to the PT offices. On the way, Cooper and Jackson talked about the up coming school year and the work that they would need to get done to get ready for the up coming season of beach volleyball. Having won their way on to the U.S. Olympic team, they had in affect moved their selves up to a new level of competition. Proof of that was the fact they were now entered in a professional volleyball league. They also had some major sponsors now too. It was going to be a very interesting year. However, right now, they needed to get Jackson back in playing form.

They arrived at the PT offices and when inside. Jackson gave his name to the front desk person and started to fill out paper work a few minutes later. The only fun part about the whole process was when she asked for his insurance card and he handed over his U.S. Olympic team health card. Jackson would never forget the double take she did after handing the card to her, or how she smiled more sweetly at him.

"Are we going to have to put up with women hitting on us like this all the time now?" Jackson asked as he sat down.

"Well, it wouldn't be so bad if we didn't have girls." Cooper laughed.

"I can understand why Miles does what she does now more so than ever."

"What do you mean by that?"

"I thought she was always crazy hiding the way she does. You know, why not take advantage of being famous, but now, I understand."

"I wouldn't worry to much about it J-man, ours is a short live fame. Once we stop playing, we'll fall off the radar."

"Yeah, you're probably right."

"Mr. Stewart?" A female called from a different door.

"I'll see you when you get back." Cooper told Jackson after helping him to get up.

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"Hi. My name is Cheri Miller. I'm Sue Barlow's assistant." Cheri said as she led Jackson to the main therapy room and to a table along the side of the room. She pulled a step stool out from under the table for Jackson to use.

"If you just get on the table here, I'll let Sue know you are here." Cheri told him as she helped Jackson onto the table. Jackson handed his crutches over. As he waited for Sue, Jackson looked around the room. Against one side of the room was a set of private rooms. In front of them was another row of tables with patients and therapist. The center of the room was set up with various weight machines that patients were using. Along another wall were stationary bikes and treadmills. On the third wall, were private rooms that had other equipment in them. Jackson could tell that some had whirlpools in them.

"Hi, I'm Sue Barlow. I'll be your therapist. I see that you are on the Olympic team." Sue said looking at his folder. "Don't worry, we'll have you back in shape long before then."

"How long do you thing it will take?" Jackson asked.

"That all depends on how fast you heal. Lets lay you down on the table here." Sue handed the folder to Cheri. Then she helped Jackson to lay down on the table, and started to untie the cast.

"Well, first we'll measure the amount of movement you have in your ankle right now, then we will work on improving the range of motion you have in your ankle. Once we get a good range back, we'll start with strengthening exercises to build your strength back up in your ankle. Any questions?"

"Well it hurt?" Jackson asked.

"Yes. However, too much pain means no gain here. There will be a little bit of pain as you get your motion back, but if it really hurts then you well be doing more damage then improving. Am I clear on that?"

"Very."

"Good because slow and steady is the pace here. Cheri, can I have the range protractor." Cheri hand the protractor to Sue and she set it against Jackson ankle and started to take measurements.

"Okay Jackson, I want you to point your toes as far forward as you can."

"Until it hurts?"

"Just a little past the point that it starts to hurt."

Jackson did as instructed and Sue read the measurements off to Cheri. This was followed with several other measurements before Sue was done.

"Now that we are done with that, we are going to start you off in the whirlpool with some warm water. After fifteen minutes of that, we'll put on the stationary bike for twenty minutes. The bike is so you can work the joint. When you are done on the bike, we'll ice the ankle, put the cast back on and send you home. Any questions?"

"Can I put my weight on it?"

"Not yet. You well still need to use your crutches for a few more weeks." Sue said helping Jackson down from the table and handed him his crutches.

"If you would follow me." Cheri said to him. Jackson followed her to one of the rooms that had a whirlpool in it. After Cheri got the whirlpool filled and started, she help Jackson get his ankle into it.

"Do you want a magazine or anything?"

"Yeah, do you have The Sporting News?"

"I think I can find that." Cheri said with a smile and left. A few minutes later she was back with the asked for sporting paper.

When Jackson was done with soaking his ankle, it felt really good. Cheri told him it was the warm water talking. Jackson made his way over to a stationary bike and climbed on. Twenty minutes later and another Sporting News, Jackson was done with the bike and he was currently flat on his back with his ankle in the air with a cold pack on it. Ten minutes later, Jackson had the removable cast back on and was heading back out to the front room.

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"So, how did it go?" Cooper asked as Jackson came back out.

"I guess it was okay. They didn't do that much."

"Well, what did they do?" Cooper asked as they headed for the door.

"Well, they started by measuring the range of motion I currently have in my ankle. After that, they had me in a whirlpool to loosen the joint up."

"Well you need a swimsuit for the next visit?" Cooper asked.

"No, it was one the was made for ankles. Anyways, after the whirlpool, I rode a stationary bike. That was the only thing they had me do."

"Why did you only do that?" Cooper asked as he started the car.

"They just wanted to work on my range of motion in my ankle. Sue said that we would work on strengthening it in two weeks."

"Sue huh? Is she good looking?" Cooper asked with an evil smile on his face.

"Yes Coop, but she is also married and I have Maddie. You know, I think I just might tell Helen what a womanizer you are." Jackson laughed.

"If I recall, it was you that dragged me over to Helen to dance with her."

"Technicality. It wasn't like you were trying to get away."

"No. I really did want to dance with her." Cooper said as he parked the car in the high school parking lot.

"Then why didn't you go over and ask her to dance?" Jackson asked as they made their way to the school doors.

"Because I looked some much more adorable with you dragging me over to her." Cooper laughed as he held the door open for Jackson. Once inside the main doors, Jackson and Cooper stopped dead in their tracks. Across the main hallway was a banner that read 'Congratulations Cooper and Jackson! Good Luck in the Olympics!'

"Would you look at that Cooper." Jackson said in a quiet voice.

"You think we did something important." Cooper lightly laughed.

"You guys can bask in the glory of being on the Olympic team when school starts." Coach Conn said as he came through the main doors. "You guys have weight training to do."

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Jackson and Cooper change into their gym clothes and went to the weight room. In the weight room, Jackson could only work his upper body were as Cooper was able to work his whole body. After the weight room, it was time for the pool. Jackson had his ankle put in a form fitting stiff brace and had it taped tight. When it was all done, he couldn't bend his ankle. From the trainer's room, Jackson went to the pool to start to swim his laps with Cooper. However, where Cooper was done with his laps and was getting out to run, Jackson had to stay behind and swim more laps because he couldn't run yet. When Coach Conn was happy with the workout that he put his team through, Jackson and Cooper were able to head home after a very long day.

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Cooper helped Jackson out of the car when they heard singing coming from the house.

"You know J-man, whenever I heard singing from the house, I always that it was the radio, the television or a CD. Never did I think it was your sister. It still blows me away." Cooper smiled at Jackson.

"Don't worry. After a few years, it wears off." Jackson told Cooper as he opened the front door. Miley was practicing at the piano and looked up as Jackson and Cooper came in. She stopped and started to get up but Jackson waved her away as he headed to the couch.

"Are you sure you don't need any help Jackson?" Miley asked.

"No. Coop has it covered. You can go back to what you were doing." Miley sat back down at the piano looking hurt and started to practice again. Cooper saw the hurt look on Miley's face and the change in her voice as she sang.

"Hey J-man, I think Miley really wanted to help you." Cooper spoke in a whisper so Miley won't hear him.

"She'll get over it. Miles has been smothering me ever since Monday."

"Well have you talked to her about it?"

"No."

"Don't you think you should?" Cooper asked with a serious look on his face. "Hate to have our number one fan and cheerleader mad at us."

"Okay, I'll talk to her."

"That's my man." Cooper patted Jackson's shoulder and turn to leave.

"Bye Miley. You're sound good."

"Thanks Cooper. Bye." Miley said as she stopped long enough to say good-bye.

"Miles." Jackson called for her attention before she could start playing again. Cooper smiled as he closed the door.

"What Jackson? You want me to leave because I'm bothering you?" Miley asked with an edge in her voice.

"No. I need your help." Miley was at his side in an instant.

"What do you need? A pillow for your foot? An ice pack? Something to drink?" What about…"

"Miles, Miles. Slow down and let me speak." Jackson grabbed both of her wrists. Miley stopped and looked at Jackson with uncertainty in her eyes.

"Miles, I love you to death, but you have to slow down and let me ask for help. You can't do everything for me. You have to let me do some things for myself. Okay?"

"Well, I guess I've been over doing it, but I've just been so worried about you and don't want you to get hurt again."

"Miles, relax, breath. I'm going to be alright. However you can help me by taking my bag to the laundry room please." Jackson asked. Miley smiled and hugged Jackson.

"Enough with the hugging already." Miley laughed and let go of her brother, grabbed the gym bag that Cooper left by the couch and took it to the laundry room.