"I want to try jogging," Jack announced to Sandy at their next appointment.
"No, very bad idea. You aren't ready yet. Stick to walking and swimming for now, we'll get you up to jogging."
"No, I want to try it today, just once, across the room."
"No, Jack," It was one of the few times she used his name. "You do and I'll kick your butt."
But before she could stop him he was off, sprinting toward the opposite wall. He made it about five steps before he crumpled to the floor.
"What did I tell you?" Sandy yelled at him," Do you want to break one of those surgical pins? Do you have any idea how bad that would hurt?
"I think I just did," Jack said, his face pale and lips drawn tight.
"Aw shit," Sandy said. It was the first time Jack ever heard her swear. "Don't move, I'll get a brace."
She braced his leg then she and Sam got him outside and into the car, heading for the hospital and Doctor Compton's office.
The first thing Doctor Compton did was order x-rays of the leg which showed that yes, Jack had indeed broken one of the small pins in his leg.
"Well," Doctor Compton sighed in disappointment, "I'll have you admitted and we'll go back in tomorrow and repair it." He disappeared to make some arrangements.
"What possessed you to try running, Jack?" Sam asked him for the third time.
"I just wanted to see if I could do it, ok? It's not like I entered myself in the Boston marathon."
"But honey, you've set yourself back by months. And you were doing so well."
"I know," Jack sighed, "I just had to try it."
Sam let the subject drop and Doctor Compton returned.
"Admissions is expecting you and we can do the surgery in the morning. You won't need to be in the hospital but a day or so this time because we don't have to worry about your hip. That's the good news."
"Is there bad news?" Jack asked.
"The bad news is that you will have to use a cane now, at least temporarily."
"Aw give me a break Doc," Jack complained, "I just have got away from the walker."
"I'm sorry, but you brought this one on yourself."
Sam had him admitted and took him up to the fourth floor again, Jack sulked the whole way.
"Well look who's back!" Dolores said when she saw them coming to the nurses station. "Want your old room?"
"I don't care," Jack muttered.
"I see you are still the ray of sunshine I remember," she teased.
"Now what brings you back to my domain, sunshine?" She asked him.
Jack didn't answer, so Sam did.
"One of his pins broke, They are replacing it tomorrow."
"Will you want a cot, Samantha?" She asked, knowing Jack and Sam liked staying together last time.
"Yes, please."
They put Jack in bed in his room although things were a lot different this time. He could sit up easily, and didn't have nearly as much pain. His mood had soured though, he felt depressed again, and more than a little embarrassed by the whole thing.
The next morning he underwent surgery to replace the one broken pin. It took just over an hour and the prognosis was excellent. He had set his recovery time back by about six weeks, but he was still doing well.
When he woke in the recovery room he called for Sam and they allowed her to come back for a few minutes.
After about an hour they sent him back to his room and eased him into his bed.
"Sam?" he said, his voice very coarse.
'I'm here, just a second,"
She gave him a sip of water through a straw.
"What do you need, Jack?" she asked.
"Just to know you're there." he muttered before falling back to sleep.
He woke again hours later, much more alert this time.
His right shin was encased in a removable splint type cast.
"I was so hoping that this was all a bad dream," he said to Sam.
"Sorry, but it isn't."
"Guess that's what I get for trying to do too much, huh?"
"Well, you just have to give yourself a little more time. I know how impatient you can be, but in this case you need to slow down. You're talking about something that is going to effect the rest of your life."
"I know,"Jack sighed.
"Easier said than done, I imagine," Sam said.
"You better believe it. Thanks for being there when I woke up."
"You're welcome, anytime."
He spent the night in the hospital and was released the very next day walking slowly in the awkward cast and using a cane.
His therapy schedule changed and he went every day for two weeks trying to rebuild the strength in his leg. Hydro therapy was his favorite and they did it at least three times a week. His least favorite therapy was electro therapy where they attached electrode to his muscles and shocked him with a low level voltage machine called a Tenzi unit.
This time around he followed all of Sandy's instructions without argument.