CHAPTER TWELVE
When Rose woke up it was to hear her Mother talking to a doctor about John's imminent discharge. They had been talking about setting up a room for John downstairs.
"Will your daughter be involved in John's physiotherapy?"
"I expect so. Will you be able to send a physiotherapist to the house? We have a pool he can use."
"She will have to assess the pool and make sure it is suitable."
'She.' Rose thought. His therapist would be a she. Well she'd just have to make sure she was involved then wouldn't she?
Rose contemplated letting on that she was awake but at that moment John moved and groaned as he was assailed by a fresh wave of pain. She couldn't hide that she was awake any longer and she sat up and slipped off the bed.
"I was cold." she said to Jackie by way of explanation for why she had been in John's hospital bed and then to John, "Use the pump." But the doctor stepped in saying,
"Try not to John, if we are to send you home we need to get you on to oral pain medication."
"Well get him some now!" demanded Rose, "He is in pain."
"I've written him up for some the nurses will dispense them soon."
"He's in pain now!" insisted Rose.
"I'm alright Rose. It's just when I first wake up and move. My leg hurts. I can wait."
"You shouldn't have to."
"Actually Miss Tyler he needs to get used to that as when he is home he will have to wait for you or someone else to administer his medication."
"Yes but when he says he needs it we will do it straight away! Why isn't that happening here?"
"We have other patients Miss Tyler."
At that moment a nurse entered the room and Jackie motioned for Rose to be quiet. When John had swallowed the pain medication his pump was removed. It was the last piece of medical equipment that he had been hooked up to and now that it was gone John was keen to leave the hospital.
"When can I get out of here?" he asked.
"I was just discussing that with Mrs Tyler. Once a bedroom has been set up for you on the ground floor of her property and once Melissa, she will be your physiotherapist, has assessed that the pool is adequate and we know you can manage on oral pain medication I see no reason why we can't release you in to the Tyler's care. If you are agreeable of course."
Rose looked expectantly at John.
"For now, yes I am if they will have me."
"Of course we will won't we Mum?"
"Yes love of course. Our home is your home John."
"See, what did I tell you?"
"Well in that case I will have Melissa assess the facilities as soon as possible."
"We will make any adjustments that are necessary doctor. Won't we Mum?"
"Yes we will. We'll have you fighting fit again soon."
"It will take a while." the doctor warned. "That leg fracture will take a few weeks to heal and then the muscles will need to be built up again."
Rose answered with a question, "We have all the time in the world, don't we John?"
He simply nodded and sighed before closing his eyes. The doctor noticing spoke again,
"And I think that is quite enough excitement for one day. Get some sleep if you can it will help with your head. We will monitor your pain today and if it is well managed and facilities are in place at Mrs Tyler's property we can think about discharging you tomorrow."
John didn't open his eyes but nodded again to indicate he had heard. After the doctor left Rose turned to Jackie,
"You can have a room set up by tomorrow can't you?"
"I'm sure I can." and then she added rather pointedly, "Should I have your things moved as well?"
"I was cold Mum, nothing happened and John offered because I was cold."
"I did." Mumbled John sleepily. A nurse entered the room saving Rose from further explanation and she took that as her cue to go in to the bathroom to get dressed. When she returned she was delighted to find that John's leg had been removed from the hoist. She looked on it as another step closer to getting him home. John was sleeping again and Rose suggested Jackie go home again.
"You're always trying to get me out of here you know if you want to be alone just tell me."
"It's not that. He sleeps a lot and Tony will miss you."
"I think it's more than that. You will be careful won't you?"
"Careful?"
"Yes, I don't want to see either of you hurt."
"I'll be careful. If it works it will be because it's meant to be and if it doesn't then…"
"Quite."
"I'll make it work Mum."
"Don't lose yourself in the process. I know you feel guilty but it has to be based on more than guilt."
"I know and it is."
"I hope so. Call me if there is any more news or you need anything, including company."
"I will Mum, thanks."
Once Jackie had left Rose seated herself by John's bed and watched John sleep, even with his head bandaged he was really quite beautiful. She was grateful that the doctor hadn't questioned her explanation of why she had been in a patient's bed but she expected more pointed looks and raised eyebrows from her Mother. That all paled in to insignificance when she thought of John getting out of here and coming home. She grinned as she thought of him back at the mansion.
"You look even more beautiful when you smile."
"You're awake!"
"I am and I'm feeling so much better. That ruddy hoist was so uncomfortable. Can you pass me the crutches please?"
"You want to get out of bed?"
"Yes I really do."
"Shouldn't we call a nurse?"
"I'll be fine."
"John I'm calling a nurse, don't you even think of moving until I get back." She carefully left his crutches where they were and left to fetch a nurse. John sighed, she was probably right but he was so impatient to get moving and out of the hospital. He bided his time but by the time Rose returned with a nurse in tow he had manoeuvred himself so that he was sitting on the edge of his bed.
"Oh my God! Gently John. See I told you what he was like!"
The nurse nodded and repeated what Rose had said,
"You need to do this slowly and gently." She handed him the crutches and gingerly John placed his good leg to the floor and straightened his long frame up. He stood tall for a moment before launching himself forwards and slowly progressing around the room. He did two laps before Rose persuaded him to move back to the bed.
The nurse was very impressed.
"Following a fracture like that I wouldn't expect anyone to be that mobile at this stage. How is your pain?"
"I'm managing. Am I due any pain medication soon?"
She checked his chart,
"According to this you were due some over an hour ago but you were sleeping."
"Yes yes he was can he have it now?" asked Rose.
"He certainly can I'll just go and get it made up."
When she had left Rose turned to John,
"Are you really feeling better or just making a superhuman effort to get out of here?"
"Well I was thinking of doing just that but I really feel better. Even my head feels clearer."
"Could it be… You know, cos of him?"
"You mean could my physiology affect my healing?"
"Could it?"
"Yes conceivably it could, but we best keep quiet about that. I really don't fancy being dissected like a lab rat."
"If anyone asks we will say it's because you are super fit."
She paused as she said that and looked at him, he really was super fit and in more than one way.
"Rose? Are you alright?"
She felt herself flush under his scrutiny and was also feeling a pull for him she had felt the night of the accident, but this was different. Today she knew exactly who she wanted… and he was John.