Chapter 43 [Northwest Hospital—Next Morning]
Gwen snoozed under her covers. Dreams and Fantasy soothed her. Ocean surf crashed and foamed against white sandy beach. Palm trees swayed in warm breezes. Sol shone down on a certain chestnut-haired Prince and herself on their blanket. Breathing relaxed. Heart skipped a beat to Groovy's tune. Her toes slid along Dream's Sand and Waking World's Sheets. She….
…Wait a minute…waking world's sheets?
Her eyes snapped open. "Did I just feel them?" She threw off her sheets. She looked at her toes.
Toes and feet moved. She flexed her knees.
"Far out!" She pumped her fists. "I can do it!" She pressed the call button. Granted, walking remained high on her list as well. Still, Restraint held her back within Sanity's limitations.
Liz hustled into the room. "Miss Stacy? Is everything all right?" Concern grew with Gwen's thrown off sheets. She saw the patient's legs and feet raised in the air. "Are you doing that?" Amazement slackened her jaw.
"Miracle plan had a hand. My feet felt the sheets. I wanted to test my legs. When it worked, I wanted a witness." Mirth and Mischief prompted a smirk. She lowered her legs back to the mattress. "They want to go slow."
"At least they want to go period." Liz nodded. "How's your back? We have about another hour before your next dose." Relief and Admiration appreciated Gwen's accomplishment. What did those doctors do? Goodness me! This is a miracle!
"Back's stiff but these feet want to dance." Gwen moved her hips a little to the left and right. Surprise stopped her. "I…I did it?"
Liz folded her arms across her chest. She nodded. "I'm your witness. You sure did. This is excellent! I'll need to write this onto your chart. Drs. Blake and Strange are going to be surprised."
"They will be? Imagine how I feel. I'm so over the Moon but it seems too good to be true." Gwen shook her head. "Sorry. Can you help me pull my sheet and blanket before you go?"
"Of course. Peter's going to be thrilled! He really needs some great news. This will really pick his spirits up." Liz smoothed Gwen's blanket over her. "Pillow okay?"
"Right as rain, Miss Liz. Thanks!" Gwen glanced at her. "By the way, thanks for being a friend."
"Why not? You're a nice person, Gwen. You're making Peter happy. Now that my stepbrother's in a facility that can contain and maybe cure him, I can focus on myself. Maybe I'll find a nice guy too?" Liz exhaled sharply.
"Can't see why those guys aren't buzzing around you like flies to honey. You're pretty, smart, hard working and you care about people. I never thought I'd meet The Guy. I had a lot of guys but not That Guy. Then, Peter and I crossed paths at ESU. We drove each other crazy. We argued, yelled and frustrated each other. Something clicked. Here we are. We're engaged. I'm really going to marry him. Now, I just have to get ready to walk down the aisle. You'll find The Guy too." Gwen looked her in the eye. "Have faith."
Liz smiled. "I do. It's so hard to be patient. At least now I'm free to try and date so we'll see." She glanced toward the door. "Sorry but I have to get back to my station. I'll bring your pills in a bit. This is so great to see!" She hustled out and toward the nurses' station.
Tell me about it. Gwen noticed Sol's full streaming rays coming through the window. "I think Mr. P needs a wake-up call on this note!" She picked up the receiver and dialed her apartment's number. Then, she waited through rings.
Start spreading the news….
[Gwen's Apartment]
Lights remained off within the apartment. Vents blew heat through the area's rooms. Dawn's multicolor display brightened outside. First Light strengthened outside. Soon enough, Sol would gain intensity in its own right.
Intensity enough to wake everyone…maybe….
Peter relaxed in Gwen's bed. Her scent and perfume rested in the bed's linens. Comforter offered Warmth and Softness. Pillow cushioned his head akin to Cloud's softness. Dreams of Fiancée and him eased Tension. Problems seemed far away. Nothing could disturb him….
…then the phone rang from the other room…
He squinted. Bliss' dream vision fell apart under the intrusive rings' barrage. "What?" Groan escaped his mouth. "Oh, come on! I was having such a nice dream!" He forced himself up into a sitting position. Daylight streamed around Blinds' edges. "All right! All right!" He padded his way out of the bedroom toward the disturbance in progress. Who'd be calling here now? Well, it's not like you're breaking in or trespassing. His hand stifled a giant yawn. Then, he picked up the receiver. "Hello?"
"Good morning, Mr. P! Sounds like someone has the sleepies. Did you sleep okay?" Gwen mulled over his greeting. She bit her lip. Dang it! I forgot what time it was! She rolled her eyes.
Her voice eased Mood's dark clouds across his thinking. "Gwendy! Hey! Sorry I was just…well…I was sleeping the best sleep I've had in a while. I was dreaming of us on a beach somewhere…and just us. No phones, Daily Bugle, or anything."
"We're running on the same wavelength. I was dreaming the same thing." Her eyes sparkled. Dreamy Smile spread across her face. "Maybe that could happen at some point?" She moved her feet and toes. "That gets to why I got you up, Joy Boy."
He held the phone away from his ear. She's upbeat about a dream and being on a beach. She wouldn't be able to do that in a wheelchair. She… Then Memoria reminded him of Strange's prognosis from the previous night. "And…?" Hope prodded his heart onward. Prayer mouthed through his lips.
"I'm moving my toes…and my feet….and my legs! Nurse Liz saw me do it! My back still hurts but everything else is right as rain, Peter! Can you believe it? I'm going to be able to walk and do everything!" Enthusiasm flavored her tone. Her grin pushed at her ears. "Whatever our docs did, they should bottle it!"
He smiled. "Doc Strange says you're welcome. We'll talk about it face to face."
"He says…what? Peter, you didn't bother him at home or anything? Did you?" Her grin turned upside down. "The man just saved my spine. I think he deserves a break. I hope you said thanks. Now, we have to pay him somehow."
"I have an open invitation. He's…well…different. Beyond that, we'll talk face to face. It's okay. He wants you to rest that back." Peter rubbed the back of his neck. "You mind some company for breakfast?"
"Mmm…I think I can squeeze you in on my dance card, Mr. P. Besides, I'd like to hear more about my doc. And you know him?" Intrigue raised her eyebrow.
"Yeah we're friends. He was glad to help you by the way. I hope Doc Blake will be up there. I want to thank him too. I'm going to take a shower and get dressed. Be right there! Don't do anything to ruin the streak. I want to see you moving those feet. Okay? Love you!" His mood lightened even more.
"Mmmm…love you more! Don't keep me waiting! Maybe some of the donuts from across the street? You know those honey dips and Boston Crèmes?" Gwen saw Liz come back in with her pills. "Sorry. Miss Liz is here with my meds."
"Can you ask her if she still does the cinnamon crullers?"
Gwen looked up at Liz. "Peter wants to know if you still like cinnamon cruller donuts."
Incredulous cough escaped from Liz's mouth. Her eyes rolled. "He remembers those? I'm practically addicted to them! Why?"
"Mr. P's on a donut run. Sorry but I need something sweet for my moving feet!" Gwen twitched her feet once again under the blanket.
"All right. I'll make sure he gets through with them. Maybe an extra Boston Crème too?" Liz's mouth watered for the anticipated treat. "Thanks in advance, Peter!"
"My pleasure, Liz! How's our patient doing?" he called into the phone.
"The usual. She's brightening up the ward one smile at a time. I still can't get over this miraculous recovery. Dr. Blake should be here this morning. I left a message with his service. I'm sure he won't mind you being here. I'll see you when you get here. Sorry but I'm still on the clock. I have to give Gwen her pills and check on the other patients. Take care." Liz handed the phone back to Gwen.
"You heard her." Gwen took her pills and chased them with a drink of water. "I'll let that devious mind of yours get to work, Mr. P. Don't keep us waiting. See you soon, Joy Boy!" She hung up the phone and relaxed.
That sweet treat moved those feet all right….