Chapter 7

Sully woke up to the sensation of Michaela holding his hand. Smiling happily, he began to turn on his side in order to pull her into his arms yet for some reason he couldn't move. Remembering Michaela's nightmare she had told him about, he relaxed. He was just dreaming. But were dreams so real? It was quiet in the room yet he could hear faint voices and steps passing by somewhere outside. Those were, however, not the sounds he was used to wake up to. Not allowing his bewilderment to grow, Sully eventually opened his eyes.

Hearing his quiet moan, Michaela shifted from the chair onto the edge of Sully's bed. "Good morning," she said tenderly, bending down to press her lips softly against his brow. "The surgery went well," she informed him, as she straightened her back again.

Carefully watching his face she realized that he didn't know what she was talking about. "You injured your back saving Brian Cooper from getting hurt when he fell from a tree," she reminded him.

As he slowly nodded, she continued reporting what had happened to him. "You've been taken to the Central Memorial Hospital for examination and they found two broken spinous processes."

"What's that?" Sully asked in confusion.

"It's the knobby portion of a vertebra which…"

"Wait," Sully interrupted her, his tone alarmed. "Are ya tryin' to tell me that my back's broken?"

Without waiting for her reply, he tried to sit up but was stopped by something stiff wrapped around his waist.

Michaela was angry with herself for she obviously had chosen the wrong way to broach the information about his condition to him. "Your back is not broken," she quickly assured. "Your spinal cord isn't affected."

Yet Sully grew more upset by the minute. He'd just found out that he didn't have control over his lower body.

"Then why ain't I feelin' my legs?" His tone had become accusing because he was convinced Michaela wanted to spare him from the truth. "And I can't move them either!"

"Sully, please, listen to me," Michaela pleaded, hoping to calm him down.

"Only if ya tell me everythin'." He was annoyed now and his tone showed it. "No tiptoeing around me. I'm grown, I can take the blow."

Michaela had been the target of a patient's anger many times before and knew that only the feeling of helplessness and desperation was voiced. Yet this time she felt, much to her embarrassment, tears collecting in her eyes. With an abrupt move, she rose from the bed and went to its foot, this way avoiding Sully's suspicious gaze. Taking in a deep breath, she fortunately regained her composure quickly, and turning around she began her explanation as if speaking to any patient, "When you fell, your back hit a large stone. The pictures, taken in the magnetic resonance tomograph right after your arrival here, show that the spinal cord is not affected. The two minor fractures of the spinous processes have been fixed with tiny screws during the surgery last night. In order to support the healing process, which will take several weeks, you are to wear a special waist brace. It will stabilize your lower back."

"Michaela," Sully chimed in, already deeply regretting practically having yelled at her, "I'm sorry. It's just…"

"I know, Sully." Michaela sighed, changing back from the doctor into the concerned woman who saw her beloved suffer. Resuming her place on the edge of his bed, she took his hand again. "As far as your legs are concerned," she said softly, looking at him, "some swelling, caused by a severe internal bruising, is pressing against your spine so that the impulses sent from the brain aren't led down to your lower body."

Sully frowned, trying to grasp the meaning of this information. "So it's just temporary?" he asked, hope returning into his eyes.

"Just temporary," affirmed Michaela smiling. She shifted so as to kiss him again yet as she noticed him uncomfortably wriggling on his mattress, she bent back.

"What's wrong?" she asked concerned.

"Nothin'," he replied somewhat curtly, not wanting her to make a fuss.

"Sully," Michaela's tone was stern now, "If you don't tell me what's bothering you, I can't help which means it might take longer for you to recover."

Considering her for a moment, Sully at last exhaled sharply. "Alright. This darn thing around my waist is kinda scratchy."

Raising to her feet, Michaela lifted the cover so as to look at the brace. She knew there was a selection the orthopedist could choose from, and the brace she saw seemed to be the cheapest choice. Realizing that this was about what his insurance would pay for, she decided to talk to her colleague. Fortunately she had inherited enough money from her father so she was able to cover the costs for the best medical aids. Though sensing that Sully wouldn't approve, she decided to use a little white lie, "That's just the brace they put on right after surgery. You will get another one soon."

"Good to know," Sully replied getting tired again.

Since Michaela's shift was beginning in some minutes, she didn't mind him going back to sleep.

"I'll stop by again as soon as I can take a break," she promised, rising to her feet.

"Love ya," Sully mumbled with his eyelids already drooping.

Michaela smiled in response. "I love you, too," she whispered before she kissed him softly.

xxx

Only after lunch, with his head finally becoming clearer, Sully took in his surrounding. He'd been taken to another room shortly before the meal was served and felt more comfortable now. Not much reminded him of a hospital here; the wall behind the bed was painted in a warm burgundy whilst the others were kept in soothing cream. The window occupied all length of the left side, an upholstered bench without arm rests standing beneath it. On the wall across from the bed was a large flat TV, and in one corner a cozy armchair was sitting. If the rack with the medicine bags hanging on it wouldn't stand next to the bed, Sully could have pretended that he was in a hotel room.

However, after he searched through the things Michaela had brought from home, Sully grew restless. What was he supposed to do here for at least one week? Just lying around? Sure, he had a few books now, and he could choose watching a show on TV or DVD, but in his eyes this was just killing time. Of course he knew that there was nothing he could do about it which upset even more.

Knowing that he shouldn't go on thinking this way, he tried to cast his mind back to the events from the day before. Suddenly tensing up he realized that he had no idea how Wolf had taken the accident; he hadn't even asked Michaela how his faithful companion was coping with his master being away. Or had he? At least he couldn't remember. This thought, however, raised another question: how had Wolf found his way home? Sully spend several minutes considering this problem, and all he could come up with was that Catherine must have somehow managed to get his dog to his house. Because, if Wolf weren't safe, Michaela would have mentioned it for sure, and he would recall it.

A soft knock interrupted his brooding, making him slide in an almost sitting position. Nurses or doctors never announced their arrival, they just stormed into the room which meant that this time there had to be a visitor. He could only think of one person wanting to see him, and thus his eyes began to shine as he beckoned, "C'mon in!"

Since he'd expected to see Michaela, Sully was somewhat stunned when Brian stormed towards him, Mrs. Cooper and Catherine in tow.

"Hey Sully," the boy, having stopped right before the bed, greeted him exuberantly, "are ya awake today? Yesterday ya…"

His mother's hand covering his mouth stopped the flood of words that wanted to be released, and the child rolled his eyes.

"Mr. Sully," Charlotte said, "I'm not sure whether you knew it, but I'm Brian's mother. I'm here to tell you that I'm eternally grateful for your saving my son. Whatever you need, just tell me. And this young man here," she affectionately tussled Brian's blond hair, "will help wherever he can, too."

"Yeah," the boy, free to speak again, eagerly nodded, "I could take your dog for a walk since ya have to stay in bed."

Despite himself, Sully smiled at the child, "I'm sure Michaela could use a hand now and then."

Directing his gaze to Catherine, he added, "I wanna thank ya for takin' Wolf to her."

Before Sully could turn to Mrs. Cooper, telling her that he'd only done his duty, Brian informed him matter-of-factly, "Wolf ran after the ambulance. He don't like Mrs. Winter; he growled at her."

Taken aback, Sully couldn't believe his ears, "He did?"

"I'm so sorry, Sully," Catherine at last found her voice. "For your accident and your dog running away. I'm so, so sorry. It's all my fault. If I could turn back time…"

Having talked to the teacher the night before, Charlotte knew the young woman was sincere in her intention to make up for her mistakes. That was why she now saved her from embarrassing herself further and interfered in a resolute voice, "Well, no one can. Let's rather think 'bout what we can do in the future."

Yet Sully was distracted by the devastating thought that Wolf had run away. Why hadn't Michaela told him? He would have to make it clear to her that he didn't appreciate being kept in the dark even when the news might upset him.

Still waiting for Sully's permission for taking his dog for walks, Brian watched his big friend's face. Reading the concern there, he assured, "Mr. Bray told me that Dr. Mike has saved Wolf from a shelter and that he's fine."

"When did you talk to Mr. Bray?" Charlotte turned towards her son, astonished.

Knowing he'd been caught breaking the rules and that there was no way to deny it, the boy sheepishly looked up at his mother. "This mornin', before school."

Disapprovingly, Charlotte gazed at her son. "We two will have a word later. But for now," and with that she directed her attention to Sully again, "we'd rather talk about how we can help ease your situation."

xxx

Huge snowflakes splashed against the window pane, and Sully watched them slowly gliding down, turning into water drops. It was as if they showed him what his own life was about: Every time he thought he could hold onto something solid, it eventually ran through his fingers. He once had a wife, was becoming a father only to be left alone and devastated in the end. He found a new love, but this time he hadn't even been allowed to ask her whether she would stay with him for the rest of their lives. And now this chance was gone. He was paralyzed. They couldn't fool him; he would never be able to walk again. It was already four days since the operation, and he was still not able to either feel or move his legs. And he tried; he really did. Every time he woke up, no matter whether it was in the morning or after a nap, he was full of hope that resting had helped him heal. He always lay still for a while, concentrating with all his might before he attempted to move at least a toe. He always failed, and the more time went by, the weaker his hope became. He'd had bruises before and knew they hurt for a while yet normally, the swelling vanished rather quickly.

"These injuries take time," Michaela tried to sooth him whenever he asked, yet he'd detected an expression in her eyes he hadn't seen before. The best word he found to describe it was resignation. He would have never believed her if she'd told him that she was simply incredibly tired.

Dr. Goldt didn't help matters either, although he assured every time he stopped by on his rounds that his patient would be as good as new. Yet Sully thought the cheer that the physician radiated artificial, which pushed him only deeper into a depression. The last straw had been when Michaela asked him last night whether he would agree with Robert E. making minor alterations to the house so he could enter it with a wheelchair. He had flatly refused. Either he was walking into his house on his own legs again, or never at all.

xxx

"I have the feeling that I can't get through to him anymore," Michaela revealed to Charlotte. The two women had not only renewed their acquaintance but grown close over the course of the previous days. Slowly approaching Sully's room, the younger woman poured her heart out to the older one. "There is no reason for him to stay here much longer. The scar from the operation is healing nicely, and the waist brace plus physical therapy and a lot of rest is all that's needed for the fractures to heal properly and for him to regain his strength."

As Michaela took in a ragged breath to calm her rising emotions, Charlotte took the opportunity to ask the question that concerned her the most, "What about him being paralyzed?"

Michaela sighed. "That's what's worrying me, too. Actually, there isn't much physical reason for this condition anymore. He should at least have some feelings back by now. Dr. Goldt is already considering consulting a psychologist. I only fear Sully won't be fond of this idea."

The women glanced at each other knowingly. Most men hated to talk about their feelings, and Sully wasn't an exception.

"Anyway," Michaela sighed, "I have to find a way to make him agree for Robert E. to build a ramp so he can get into the house."

"Wait," Charlotte said, holding Michaela back from reaching for the knob of the door to Sully's room. "Are you sure it's only temporary?"

"Positive," Michaela nodded.

"Then I have a suggestion. One of my friends is a home care nurse who also works with disabled. She told me that only recently two of her patients moved away and that it's a shame that their handicapped accessible apartments couldn't have rented out yet. If Sully will have to stay in a wheelchair, if only for a while, he'll need more than ramps, Michaela. He needs special furniture in the kitchen as well as special equipment in the bathroom. I can call my friend right away, asking if one of the apartments is still available." Charlotte expectantly waited for Michaela's reaction.

Michaela didn't even ask where the apartments were located, "I think that's the perfect solution," she replied, a relieved smile crossing her face. "Now only Sully has to agree." Her expression showed that she thought this a difficult task. With that she eventually opened the door only to stop on the threshold, being left speechless by the scene before her eyes.

Sully lay on his back, his hands under his head, absorbed in what the teacher read to him from a book which Michaela knew very well. It had been her special gift to him, and she instantly recognized one of Sully's favorite poems Song of the Redwood Tree.

"You untold life of me,

And all you venerable and innocent joys,

Perennial hardy life of me…"