Hell Chapter 5
By Simahoyo
People should write manuals of how to bring someone with major hip surgery home from the hospital, decided Maura. Her father had gotten a wheelchair, but thought a conventional vehicle would work. Maura knew the basics of how to transfer a patient from a bed to a wheelchair, but it was harder than it looked. Her mother was a poised, sophisticated woman, and Maura felt odd trapping her knees with her own to turn her from bed to chair.
"I'm sorry, Mom. Did it hurt?"
"Only a little. You were very gentle."
Maura smiled ruefully, and followed her mother and father down the hall and out of the hospital.
Her father opened the passenger side door of their Lexxus, while Maura set the brakes on the chair. He held the chair from behind, and Maura positioned herself in front, placing her arms under her mother's, and readying her knees to trap Constance's with her knees again. The lift and twist were perfect, until she realized that she would have to lower her mother's head to keep from banging it against the car. Maura slowly dropped the weight, and turning while simultaneously pushing her mother backwards, and holding her breath, Constance arrived in the seat safely.
And that was just the beginning. When they got to the Beacon Hill House, everything had to be done in reverse. The whole operation took over an hour, not counting setting Constance up in her own first floor room, so that she would not have to chance using the stairs. Maura cooked three of the special meals the nutritionist had suggested, and put two into the refrigerator. By the time she got home, she was exhausted. Maura decided she would have enough to deal with tomorrow, so she fed Bass, tidied up and went to bed.
Maura was understandably nervous her first day back. She went straight to Louise, who actually hugged her.
"Maura, thank God you're back. How is your mother?"
"She's doing rather well. It must be the esprit Québécois. She's a fighter."
"Good for her. Tell her we are thinking of her, and wish her the best."
"Thank you, Louise. How much of a mess did Pike leave?"
"Yoshima and the others cleaned up the worst of it."
"I couldn't function without all of you. "
Maura squared her shoulders, and marched into the morgue. When she opened the door, the entire staff was lined up to greet her with applause. She ducked her head, embarrassed.
They stopped, always concerned not to invade her privacy.
"Welcome back.", said Yoshima.
"I'm very happy to be back. My mother is doing very well", and, here she took a deep breath and blew it out. "I know, we need to do something about the Pike situation. I need to speak with Yoshima in my office for just a minute, and we may have a plan."
When Yoshima arrived in her office, she had him sit, as she frowned at the evidence of Pike's invasion.
"I'm so sorry you had to deal with him. I understand you have already started a cleanup. That is very good of you.
Yoshima grinned. "No problem. I know where everything goes anyway."
"You know enough to run this place when I have to be gone or recuse myself. I have re-checked your file, and I see that the only thing keeping you from taking over in my absence are the Board Tests. Are you willing to put in the time to take them?"
"If you had asked me a week ago, I would have said no, but I'm really motivated right now. So, Yes, I will take them as soon as I can brush up enough to do as well as I'd like."
"If you need any help, I'm here for you. I was thinking of moving Sarah up to assist you when you fill in for me. Do you think she is ready for that?"
"Yes. She's smart, and watches everyone when she doesn't have enough to do herself. She's motivated, and kind of driven. I like her"
"How does she get along with the rest of the team?"
"There are occasional moments when her head gets a little too big, but she's way better than Pike. I like your ideas–especially if we can keep Pike in Western Mass."
"Oh I couldn't agree more. Please ask Sarah to come in."
It only took a minute for Sarah to replace Yoshima in the chair. Maura smiled at her eager almost doctor. "Sarah, Yoshima and I have been discussing what to do about Pike."
Sarah's mouth was expressionless, but her brown eyes danced.
"If Yoshma can pass his Board exams in time, I will ask him to be my official replacement instead of Pike."
Sarah apparently failed to censor herself. "Terif—I mean, that's good."
"And we discussed moving you up to assist when he does."
"Me? I'm not quite a doctor yet. I have to finish..."
"You can do that on the job. If you keep up to your current standards, I don't see any problem ahead. But remember–up to your current standards. I have to run upstairs, so you can go back to work."
"Thank you, Thank you..."
"Enough", laughed Maura.
Lab coat on, Maura went up the stairs, butterflies in her stomach. Jane was there. Jane who still hated her a little.
As Maura entered the bullpen, the first one to look up was Frost. "Hey Doc. Glad you're back. How's your mother?"
"She's home from the hospital." Maura hid her nervousness behind a smile. "It's good to be back."
Korsak came from behind his desk and shook her hand. "Thank God. No more Pike."
Maura just laughed. She glanced toward Jane , and waited to see what would happen.
Jane looked up slowly. Her eyes met Maura's and she gave a half smile.
"Hi Maura.", then she went back to her work.
It was a start.
The end