CHAPTER 95: R&R
"Wisdom and spirit of the Universe!
Thou soul is the eternity of thought!
That giv'st to forms and images a breath
And everlasting motion! Not in vain
By day or star-light thus from by first dawn
Of childhood didst thou intertwine for me
The passions that build up our human soul,
Not with the mean and vulgar works of man,
But with high objects, with enduring things,
With life and nature, purifying thus
The elements of feeling and of thought,
And sanctifying, by such discipline
Both pain and fear, until we recognize
A grandeur in the beatings of the heart." – William Wordsworth
"We must learn to be still in the midst of activity and to be vibrantly alive in repose." – Indira Gandhi
Vaughn sighed in relief as Sydney smiled at him, proud of her accomplishment. She pulled the covers as far as they would go and kissed him fully; a long, sensual kiss that conveyed all the emotion she needed him to know. She rested her forehead against his as they finished before framing his face with her hands, smiling brightly, and planting a shower of kisses all over his face.
Vaughn chuckled at her affectionate display. For once, Will said nothing at their public display of affection and smiled as he watched the warm couple on the bed. He smiled even more when he saw Francie watching them happily as well and pulled her over for a sideways hug. Neither one said a word until the couple parted and smiled over at them.
"What? No teasing?" Sydney asked, looking to Will.
He shook his head, "Nope..." was all he said.
Francie handed Sydney the plate and she helped Vaughn eat, making sure he got his pills too.
Once he had more medication in his system, he was tired again and they left him to sleep for a while.
They moved to the living room and sat down on the couch and the chair. Sydney looked at her friends, "You guys are the best – I mean it – that was so nice...everything..."
They both beamed, "That's our job."
Everyone was silent for a moment.
Will finally broke the silence, "What do you want to do today when he wakes up?"
"Mmm...I don't know. He's really tired and sore today. I don't think he's gonna want to do much – or at all...he can't really do much...maybe just a movie or something."
"We could play games again!" Will said enthusiastically.
The girls smiled at him.
"What?" he asked.
"You'll lose anyway..." Sydney reminded him.
"Listen Ms. Super-spy – just cause you can kick my ass out here in the real world doesn't mean I couldn't beat you in the game world!"
Sydney burst out laughing, "Game world?"
Francie joined in the giggling.
"You know what? I should go sit with Mike – at least he won't tease me!" he said with a slightly huffy smile, crossing his arms over his chest.
Sydney replied, "Well no...he's sleeping!"
That sent the girls into another laughing fit. Will sat poutily next to Francie on the couch.
Francie reached over and touched his arm, which he promptly jerked away, "Nuh uh – you go sit with your cohort in chiding over there. This couch now has a vacancy!"
They both laughed again, leaving Will to contemplate why he put up with them.
Vaughn slept until almost 4:00. All three piled in the room after Sydney noted the familiar sounds of his waking.
Vaughn smiled as they all walked in, accepting a kiss from Sydney as she sat down on the bed.
Francie had a thought and said, "You know Michael, if you ever don't want Will and I in here – If you want to be left alone with Syd or whatever, just let us know. We'll make ourselves scare – we don't mean to tag along."
Vaughn smiled warmly, "Nah...I like you guys here. If I wanna be alone with Syd, you'll know," he said looking at Will with raised eyebrows.
The girls burst into laughter.
Sydney choked out, "See!"
Will shook his head, "I cannot win!"
Sydney looked to see Vaughn's confused stare, "He said you wouldn't tease him, but I told him the only reason you wouldn't was because you were asleep at the time. Now you're awake and you teased him!"
All four enjoyed a bit of laughter at Will's expense.
"Fine!" he said, "here I was gonna be all nice and suggest dinner and games or dinner and movie...but you know what? Yeah – I have an apartment that I can easily go to tonight and you losers can just sit here without me!"
All laughed again. Sydney loved hearing Vaughn's laughter. With all the pain he'd been through in the last few days, it was a nice change to see him happy, having a good time.
When the laughter subsided, Sydney asked, "What do you wanna do tonight honey? Games? Movie? Nothing?" she smiled.
He thought a minute; "I think maybe just a movie...I don't think I'm really in the mood to play games tonight..."
"No...of course not sweetie," Sydney said smoothing his hair, "We'll just take it easy – chill with a flick," she said smiling and then turned her gaze to her friends, "That ok?"
"Sure!" Will said, "What movie? Let's pick it out," he said excitedly.
Francie smiled, "I'll take Mr. Excitement/Analyst out of here...I'll make sure he gives you a choice of at least three..." Francie dragged him out of the room soon after.
Sydney smiled at her friends as they walked out and then looked back at Vaughn as he yawned.
"You ok?"
"Mmmhmm..."
"Really?"
"Seem to be at the moment..."
"We should make sure it stays that way – I'll get your pills. You hungry?"
"I can wait until it's actually dinner time."
"Let's check your wound before I get the pills..."
Vaughn groaned.
"I know honey...but I didn't put as much tape on this time, so maybe it won't be as bad..." she offered.
She helped him sit up and gently peeled at the tape that covered the wound. It came off rather easily this time, "Hey – I think this not pressing on it may work – that came off really well."
Vaughn nodded, "That's good..."
"Yeah," she said as she gently peeled the rest off. It stuck to the wound some, but not nearly as bad as before and she was happy that it didn't cause Vaughn lots of pain. It looked relatively the same, still oozing, but the bleeding had all but stopped. She smiled as she said, "I think it stopped bleeding for the most part."
"Good."
"Yeah," she said cleaning the wound and then reapplying the bandage. "I'll let you get away with just this one being changed tonight, but we'll have to check all the others tomorrow...and we have to exercise at least a little bit tomorrow."
"Ok..."
"Ok, I'll get the pills."
She got up and walked into the kitchen, smiling as she heard part of Will and Francie's conversation.
"What? NO! We can't make him watch Seven! Are you insane? A sadistic killer who tortures people? It's all dark and rainy. Yeah – that's just the uplifting film he needs! What do you want him to commit suicide right there? You moron!"
Will backpedaled, "Ok! Bad choice...sorry! It is a good movie though," he said putting it sadly back on the shelf.
Francie picked one up, "How about this one?"
He looked at the cover, "Oh, yeah – that's much better. What else could a guy ask for? Romance, Camp, Total Tear Jerker Chick Flick. Come on – that's no better than Seven – only I'd commit suicide!"
"Fine," Francie said placing it back on the shelf.
They browsed through some more before Will suggested another, "How about The Birdcage? That's funny...light..."
Francie smiled, "I think that's much better...let's go have it approved."
Sydney scurried back before they knew she was there, coming into the room smiling happily. She handed Vaughn the pills and he looked up at her, "What?"
Before she could tell him, Francie and Will walked in.
"I'll tell you later," she said.
"OK!" Will said happily, "After much debate – we've come up with," he motioned to Francie who displayed the box, "The Birdcage!" He continued less confidently, "What do you think?"
Vaughn smiled, "That's a good choice."
Will and Francie smiled happily.
They talked for a while before Francie and Will excused themselves to make dinner. As soon as they left, Vaughn asked Sydney, "So what were you smiling about?"
"I just overheard them picking the movie out when I went to get your pills. It was cute..."
"How so?"
"They were just concerned about what you could and couldn't watch..."
"What do you mean?"
"It was sweet Vaughn...they just debated whether or not one movie or another would make you uncomfortable."
"Why would it make me uncomfortable?"
"Well..." Sydney started to think that maybe she shouldn't have brought this up, "They just didn't want to pick something that would remind you..."
"I see..."
"Vaughn," Sydney started, "They just didn't want to make you...I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said anything."
"I need my movie content screened now?"
"Vaughn, that's not what they were doing!"
"What would you call it then?"
Sydney was silent and sat in the chair next to the bed.
Vaughn was silent too until he said forcefully, "I don't need to be coddled..."
Sydney turned her gaze to him, "That's not what they were doing...I just shouldn't have brought it up...I thought it was nice that they cared enough to think about something like that. Next time, I'll tell them to show you something that has torture and blood and screaming just so you can watch it and pretend it doesn't bother you...then you can have a nice nightmare that night to add to it. All because you're too goddamn proud to say that you don't want to watch it. Excuse the rest of us for thinking about you!"
Vaughn brought his gaze slowly over to her. He didn't say anything.
"I'm sorry Vaughn..."
"No, it's ok...you're right...that would happen..." he said quietly.
"Vaughn, I'm sorry," she said moving over to the bed, "We just all want to make this as easy as we can...because it's not easy for you now. We just don't think you need to be burdened anymore..."
"Yeah, I know. I'm sorry, I just don't like feeling helpless."
"You're not helpless...we don't make you feel that way do we?"
"No...I just...I can't do anything...it sucks."
"I know sweetie...one day at a time, ok?"
He smiled, sighing heavily, "Yup..." He added, "You're a saint – did you know that?"
"What do you mean?"
"You sit through all my s – only a saint would have that much patience."
"I didn't handle that very patiently..."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome...although, like I said, I don't do that great of a job all the time..."
"Yes you do..."
They were smiling softly at each other when Francie and Will brought dinner in. They ate dinner in quiet conversation, making plans for tomorrow, and then Will and Francie cleaned up the dishes. When they were finished, they came back in and took a place at the foot of the bed, while Sydney took her usual place next to Vaughn on the bed. She laid her head on his right shoulder gently; trying to make sure she didn't make his back press into the bed at all.
Vaughn smiled as he felt Sydney do that. It was so normal, so domestic, and he missed those small things. He spent a glorious hour and fifty-nine minutes laughing at the movie and feeling Sydney's laughter on his shoulder.
It was close to 10:00 when the movie ended, and Sydney thought that they should get to bed so Vaughn could make sure to have a good night's rest.
Will and Francie exited saying goodnight and telling Sydney to call if she needed help getting Vaughn reclined. Sydney got ready for bed and then helped Vaughn do the same.
They were both relatively silent, but they shared smiles that said all they needed to.
As she buttoned up the shirt of his pajamas, he looked up at her. He covered her hand with his, stopping her buttoning process.
"You ok?" she asked.
He nodded.
She smiled, "Did you need something?"
He nodded again.
"What?"
"You...I need you..."
She smiled, but tried to be as serious as possible, "Do you think that's a wise idea?"
"I need you on top..."
"Oh...are you sure that's not going to hurt you?"
"It hasn't all the other times we've done it..."
She smiled, "Only if you're sure..."
"I am..."
"Ok...I should go tell Will and Francie that we won't need their help though...otherwise, they could, you know, walk in...but I don't want to hurt you if I have to move you by myself..."
"Call them later..."
She smiled slyly, "Ok...be right back..."
She gave him a quick kiss and bounded out the door.
