Chapter 80: Seaweed and Lacerations

"If I had my life to live over I'd like to make more mistakes next time. I'd relax. I would limber up. I would be sillier than I have been this trip. I would take fewer things seriously. I would take more chances. I would climb more mountains and swim more rivers. I would eat more ice cream and less beans. I would perhaps have more actual trouble, but I'd have fewer imaginary ones. You see, I'm one of those people who live sensibly and sanely hour after hour, day after day. Oh, I've had my moments, and if I had to do it over again, I'd have more of them. In fact, I'd try to have nothing else. Just moments, one after another, instead of living so many years ahead of each day. I've been one of those persons who never goes anywhere without a thermometer, a hot water bottle, a raincoat, and a parachute. If I had to do it again, I would travel lighter that I have. If I had my life to live over, I would start barefoot earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall. I would go to more dances. I would ride more merry-go-rounds, I would pick more daisies." – Nadine Stair

"If you do not understand your friend under all conditions you will never understand him." – Kahlil Gibran


Sydney quickly made herself look presentable and went out into the kitchen, shutting the door to give Vaughn some privacy while he waited. She followed the sound of Will and Francie's voices.

"Hey guys," she said.

They both turned and Will raised his eyebrow, "Shower?" he asked.

Francie smiled, "Hey Syd."

"Bath actually, and I'm really glad you're home…cause I got Vaughn in there but I had no idea how I was gonna get him out."

"Sure…let's go."

Sydney turned and smiled on her way back to the bathroom. They may have known what they just got done doing, but she was damn proud of the cover up she had just pulled off.

Sydney pushed the door open to find Vaughn relaxing and looking quite satisfied in the now empty tub.

She grabbed his robe from off of the hook on the wall and Will came in and helped her get him onto the ledge of the tub.

After that, he left, saying he was gonna help Fran with supper and let Sydney do her thing with the bandages and towels before he'd come back.

"So, do they suspect?" Vaughn asked.

"Well…yeah, I think you'd have to be a moron not to figure it out, especially with the total satisfied grin you have on your face."

"Hey!"

She smiled, "But I think I did a good cover up job."

She helped him sit on the chair and then grabbed some towels, drying him off. She next made him turn in the chair so she could reapply the bandages to his back. She did all of the other smaller ones first, then moved to the larger wounds. Once done with those, she examined the infected wound, checking the state of the Cavilon; some of it seemed to have come off in the bath, so she applied a little more and then covered the wound with the TAD. She smiled as she remembered Tom's "professional" lecture.

After finishing with his back, she had him turn again so she could dress the wounds on his chest and abdomen. She reapplied dressings to all of the surgical incisions and cuts and saved the one with the tape irritation for last. She applied some of the Cavilon all around the wound and affected red areas and then applied a new bandage. Lastly, she rewrapped his ribs and ankle. She helped him into the robe and then she stepped back, admiring her handiwork and gave an approving nod.

He smiled, "Thanks Syd."

"Anytime honey," she responded with a kiss.

She was about out the door to get Will again when she poked her head back in, "You're doing better without the oxygen too you know…"

He smiled, "That I have noticed…but it's not all the time…I think the steam in here helps…"

"I know…but it's still beginning to be noticeable." She gave him another nod and then went off in search of Will.

Will came back and they moved Vaughn into the bedroom, where Will left dutifully again and Sydney set to dressing Vaughn. It was so late anyway, and they'd both had baths, that she dressed herself in her pajamas. She then moved over to help him, "You wanna put your pj's on too?"

"Sure…"

She smiled, having already planned to make sure she had hers on first, just so he wouldn't get the wrong idea.

She helped him into a comfortable pair of sweat pants and a tee shirt and then got Will again.

Will helped them out to the couch and went back to the kitchen again.

Sydney got up and went to the fireplace, "Is it ok if I start a fire Vaughn?" she asked.

"It's you house Syd…" he reminded her.

She went back to him, "No, this is our house…it's your house now too…"

He smiled.

"Is it ok if I start a fire or would you prefer that I didn't?"

"I have enough good fires to think about Syd…if that's what your worried about…start it."

"Ok," she said smiling.

He watched as she started getting it going, admiring the view of her more than anything else. She turned once she had it going and noticed him watching her.

"You checking out my ass Vaughn?"

"Yes I am," he admitted proudly.

She smiled moving towards him, the fire behind her.

He sighed, "That's a sight to behold," he said.

"What's that?"

"How could I ever think about torture when you're walking through the fire for me?"

She smiled widely and captured his mouth in a kiss.

"Ugh! Is that all you two do? Seriously, don't you ever get enough of each other? The bath tub, here, probably in bed earlier…Jesus…get a room!" Will said dropping their plates off and moving to go back in the kitchen. Before he left he added, "Please! Get it out of your systems before I come back again!"

Sydney and Vaughn broke out in a series of giggles that just wouldn't seem to stop and when they heard Will and Francie coming again, she pushed Vaughn down on the couch further and attacked his mouth, his hand roaming her ass.

"Oh come on!" Will exclaimed, "now that's just uncalled for!"

Sydney and Vaughn parted laughing and Francie started in with the giggles too.

Vaughn said after everyone had calmed down, "You know Will, I don't…"

"Don't what?" he asked.

"I don't ever get enough of Sydney…I don't think it's possible." Sydney leaned over and cupped his face, kissing him sweetly.

Francie said, "Aww…" then she turned and smacked Will on the arm hard.

"OW! What the hell was that for?" he said rubbing the spot where she had hit him.

"How come you never talk to me like that?"

"Oh come on! I cannot win!"

Vaughn and Sydney just giggled harder again.

They finally all settled down enough to start eating.

"This is really great Francie," Sydney said taking another bite of her dinner.

"Mmm…yeah…" Vaughn agreed through his mouthful.

"Thanks," she said, "You two seem especially hungry tonight…"

Vaughn smiled as Sydney coughed.

"Yeah…we had to start my exercises again today…"

Sydney coughed again.

"You ok Syd?" Francie asked.

Sydney held up her hand, "Fine."

"What else did you guys do today?"

"Oh…" Sydney said, realizing, "Tom stopped by today…"

"Really?" Will asked.

Francie echoed, "What for?"

Sydney looked to Vaughn for permission, and he nodded.

Francie and Will looked at each other worriedly and then back at the other couple.

"Tom stopped by because one of Vaughn's wounds got infected…"

"What?" Francie asked exasperatedly.

Will echoed the tone, "How'd that happen?"

Sydney smiled at their concern, "Well, it just kind of happens…it's not because of something we did or didn't do…bacteria just gets in the wounds sometimes…"

"Aw, that sucks man," Will said looking to Vaughn.

Francie was a little more feminine, "Does it hurt?" she asked looking at Vaughn as well.

He nodded but took another bite as Sydney smiled at him sadly.

Will looked hesitant to continue, but did anyway, "Is…uh…is it like…bad?"

Sydney placed a hand on Vaughn's chest, "Well, it's not good, but it could have been worse."

Vaughn added, "Sydney caught it before it got really bad."

She smiled, "So, it's not systemic – it's not in his bloodstream – no antibiotics."

He nodded, "But I have this really cool stuff that Sydney puts on it…it's like this invisible film stuff and then I have a seaweed bandage now," he said nonchalantly as he ate another bite.

Francie looked at Will, "Did I hear you correctly?" she asked the other couple.

Sydney started to chuckle, "Yeah…you heard right…"

Will looked positively bewildered, "You have seaweed for a bandage?"

Sydney out rightly laughed, "It's a bandage made from seaweed, not a bandage of seaweed."

Vaughn laughed with her, "Sorry, I should have been more clear."

"Ok, cause that would be just strange…" Will said.

"Can I see it?" he added after a few more minutes.

Vaughn's eyes met his and Sydney chuckled. Francie smacked him again.

"What?" he asked; "Is that like really morbid or something?"

Vaughn smiled while the girls groaned, "God Will!" Francie said.

"What! I'm a guy, ok?"

Francie just groaned.

Will looked to Sydney and Vaughn.

"Why do you want to see it?" Sydney asked.

"I guess, more than anything…I'm curious…I really don't think I've seen the…injuries…any of them…not really…just glimpses…"

Vaughn looked at him strangely, "Why would you want to see something like that?"

"They aren't exactly pretty Will," Sydney offered.

"No, I know…I don't know…forget I said anything…" he said returning his head to the plate.

"No, Will…I guess Vaughn and I just don't understand…"

Will shrugged.

Sydney looked to Vaughn and he answered her with his eyes, "I have to change the bandage before we go to bed, you can look at it then, ok?"

"I don't have to…I…I don't know…"

"No, it's ok Will," Vaughn offered, "you can."

"It doesn't bother you?"

"What?"

"Having me look at them?"

"Why should it?"

"I don't know…"

"Well it would bother me to have just anyone look at them, but not you…if you really want to…"

Will nodded and they all went on eating, talking about other things.

Will and Francie cleaned up and Sydney looked at Vaughn, "What do you think that was about?"

"Don't know…maybe he is just curious…"

"Why though? I mean…torture wounds aren't something that most people have a fascination with…"

Vaughn shrugged.

They didn't have any more time to discuss it though, because Will and Francie came back in.

They watched a movie on TV and talked more than watched it.

Before any of them knew it, it was well past 11:00.

Sydney said, "Vaughn, we should get to bed…Barnett's coming tomorrow."

"Ok," he said and Will and Sydney moved him to the bed.

Sydney looked at Will, "I'll call you when we're ready, ok?"

"Sure…" he said, "I'm just gonna take Donovan out and then I'll be back, ok?"

"Uh huh…"

Will walked out and Sydney and Vaughn set to work getting him ready for the bandage changing.