P/N: tikagem- I'll be sure to ask the author where the quotes for you. Thanks for the review.
Chapter 27: Homecoming
"Yesterday is but a dream, tomorrow is but a vision. But today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a vision of hope. Look well, therefore, to this day." – Sanskrit Proverb
"Your house shall be not an anchor but a mast." – Kahlil Gibran (The Prophet)
"The house of every one is to him his castle and fortress, as well for his defense against injury and violence, as for his repose." – Sir Edward Coke
Dr. Tom came in shortly after with literally a cart full of supplies. There were an assortment of gauzes and bandages and creams, and also a variety of wraps for Vaughn's ribs. There was also pain medication, portable oxygen tanks and equipment, syringes, and lots of instruction papers. Tom reviewed the medication chart with Sydney, so she'd have a reference guide for when to administer regular pain medication. There was also an emergency supply of on-hand direct pain medicine (administered directly in the blood stream by syringes) with enough morphine to put down a small pack of elephants. Tom had also prepared a chart for Sydney so she'd know the times to change Vaughn's bandages and detailed descriptions on what warning signs to look for in case of infection. There were picture guides for Sydney to follow to help with Vaughn's comfort – including propping pillows under his head and practicing deep breathing exercises, and Vaughn watched the two in amusement as they poured over all the supplies.
"Jesus Tom, why don't you just bring the hospital to Sydney's house," Vaughn finally offered.
"Hey, don't tempt me, ok? You know I could do it…Anyway, I was going to say, that since Mike is a friend and all, and I kinda like him anyway, I'm going to stop by once in a while, if that's alright with you Sydney. I'll check up on him and you, and make sure you have enough supplies and stuff. And you've got my number, so call anytime you have a question or you're concerned about something. I want this to go smoothly for you…"
"Thanks Tom," Vaughn said sincerely.
"The only other thing I want to say is for both of you – especially you Michael…"
"Ok," they both said.
"I'm being totally serious here when I say this. I want this to work…but I need you to cooperate with me…no going against my doctors' orders, or I'll have you back here before you can say Dr. Tom. I want you to have at least one more week of FULL bed rest before you start to move around. Then, after that, I want limited movement for at least another two weeks. I'll stop by sometime around that mark and examine you to determine whether or not I think you're ready to really get on your feet. The other thing is that you're going to be really tired Mike. Don't think that there's something wrong if you sleep a lot. When you first start moving around, something as simple as sitting up might make you just dog tired. So, don't get discouraged and please, please be patient. Ok Mike?"
"Yeah, I got it Tom."
"Ok, let's see, what else…oh, the last thing, I have a sheet in there about exercise. He's on complete bed rest, but you can get up to use the facilities or baths, you know stuff like that, but since he's on bed rest, he's still going to need muscle manipulation, so you'll have to help him keep his muscles in use. We don't want any weight loss or atrophying going on…ok?"
"I think we've got it, Tom." Vaughn said.
"Ok, if you don't have any other questions, then we're about done here…"
Sydney thought a moment, "Nope, I don't think so."
"Ok, I'll get the papers ready for you guys to sign and I'll get the ambulance to stand by." He left the room for a few minutes. Sydney took full advantage of the opportunity of them being alone and stole a kiss from Vaughn. Then she settled into the chair to read over some of Tom's notes. Vaughn noticed her concentration.
"You ok, Syd?"
"Yeah, honey, I'm fine…why?"
"Just double checking one more time, you know…to make sure…"
"Stop, I want to…ok?"
"Yeah…"
They sat in comfortable silence for the remainder of the time Tom was gone and then when he came back he had Sydney sign the releases since Vaughn couldn't sign anything with his arm in a sling and three broken fingers.
Shortly after, the EMTs came in to move Vaughn and in no time they were on their way…on their way home.
Sydney and Vaughn couldn't seem to stop smiling through the whole ambulance ride. When they pulled up Sydney's driveway, Sydney took inventory of those she thought would be in the house. She could see both of Will and Francie's cars and also one that looked like her father's.
The EMTs wheeled Vaughn down the sidewalk and to the door. When they got to the door, he insisted that he could walk the rest of they way, but the EMTs said that Tom had already thought of that and they were given explicit orders to deliver him to the bedroom and nowhere else. He conceded while they maneuvered down Sydney's hall. Will and Francie and surprisingly Jack all welcomed him when he and Sydney entered. The EMTs carefully transferred Vaughn from the gurney to Sydney's bed and helped her hook up the portable oxygen before they left. After they had left, Sydney asked everyone to give them a few minutes, and she helped Vaughn get out of the gown and into some boxers and a soft, cotton tee shirt. He seemed more relaxed than he had ever been and settled into Sydney's bed cozily. She propped him up with the few extra pillows that Francie had asked Will to get out of the linen closet and covered him with the blankets, tucking him in the bed in a motherly way.
"Comfy?" she asked sweetly.
"Yeah, I'm good. Your bed is very comfy…but you know what makes if even more comfy?"
"Hmm, what's that?"
"If you're in it with me…"
"Soon, baby, soon…but we have to be nice to the people that showed up to welcome you home…especially since 66.6 of them either live here or practically live here."
He smiled, "Well, the sooner we get the welcomes over, the sooner you can get in here with me, right?"
"That's right…" she said as she leaned down to kiss him. She went out of the bedroom and came back with the other occupants of the house.
Francie, Will and Jack spent several minutes talking to Sydney and Vaughn. Francie and Will made sure that both of them knew that if they needed anything, they should just ask for help, and Jack offered to help out as needed as well. All in all, Sydney was very pleased with the way the whole transition had been made. Vaughn was home, in her bed, in their bed, he was safe, and he was comfortable. The welcoming party was small enough that it didn't make him uncomfortable yet large enough that he could actually feel welcome. She snuck off for a moment with the excuse that she needed to get Vaughn's pain pills and made her call to Eric while she was out in the kitchen. She came back with a glass of water and his pills, and helped him get them down. Everyone then left the room, save for Sydney and Jack left the house after saying his goodbyes. Francie and Will retreated to the living room. Sydney smiled as she looked over at her dresser, there was a TV on it, which wasn't normally there, and realized that her extremely considerate friends had brought it in so Vaughn wouldn't have to move to the living room to watch anything. It would make the time he needed to spend in bed, when she wasn't "assisting" him go by much quicker. He looked sleepy, but she wanted to be sure he stayed awake for Eric and Donovan's arrival. She busied herself putting away supplies and setting up regiments for the medications so she could get a schedule down. He watched her with interest and smiled whenever she glanced over at him. She was just starting to worry that he would be asleep long before Eric got there, but just when she thought he couldn't hang on any longer, the doorbell rang.
"Doing ok?" she asked.
"Yeah, sleepy," he said as he yawned. "Who is that?" he asked.
His question was answered by a steady clopping on the kitchen floor that sounded an awful lot like little feet scurrying.
Sydney went over the bedroom door and opened it…and Donovan bounded in.
"Donovan!" Vaughn shouted happily.
The dog instantly jumped up on the bed and began to lick Vaughn's face. Sydney smiled at the interplay between the dog and his master and the way that Vaughn's spirits seemed to lift even further now that the dog was here. It was good to be home.
