Chapter 64

Again, I don't own any of these characters

Cody finished work a little early. Their last big project of the week was done quicker than they thought, and no one wanted to start something new on a Friday afternoon. So, Cody found himself in the SUV heading home. Normally, he couldn't wait to get back to Bailey. But that afternoon, he was grateful that he had to stop and get gas for the SUV. He needed the time to prepare himself for the potential onslaught he would face back at home. As much as he could, he didn't blame Bailey. He had broken his leg before when he was younger and remembered how frustrating it had been. He knew what Bailey must be feeling, and that's why he never said anything.

Finally pulling in behind their apartment, Cody got out of the SUV and headed in the back door. Immediately, a pleasant aroma was detected. He looked around, and there was Bailey sitting at the kitchen table frosting some cupcakes. She looked up and saw him.

"Oh no!...I was hoping to finish these before you got home..."

Cody looked confused. "Why would you want them finished before I got home?"

Bailey sighed. "Because I couldn't find any flowers..."

Now, Cody was really confused. "Huh?"

Bailey patted the chair next to her, inviting him to sit down. He wordlessly complied.

"I was making these for you to show you how sorry I am..."

"Sorry for what?"

Bailey just looked at him. "Come on, Cody...you know as well as I do that these past couple of weeks that I've been a complete...well, a complete bitch..."

"Bails..."

"No. I've treated you horribly, and there is absolutely no excuse for that. I'm ashamed of how I behaved. I would hope I wouldn't treat my worst enemy like that let alone the man I love and want to spend my life with."

Inwardly, Cody sighed in relief. "Bails, its okay..."

Bailey shook her head. "No, its not. Cody, I am so so sorry. I will get down on my knees and beg your forgiveness if that is what it will take..."

Cody smiled. "You don't have to do that. I don't think you have anything to be sorry for, but if it makes you feel better, I forgive you, Sweetie..."

Bailey smiled. "Thank you, Codykins. Its just these past couple of weeks, I've felt so...so..."

"Frustrated? Useless?"

"Exactly!"

"Sweetheart, the reason I was able to show you how to use your crutches is because I've had to use them before myself. I've broken my leg before too. I remember how I felt..."

"Cody, I'm not used to having someone do every single thing for me..."

"I know. But, I had to do as much for you as I could. It was my payback from karma..."

"Payback for what?"

Cody grinned. "Our marriage assignment...It was my payback for taking it way too seriously and being too whiny..."

Bailey paused. "No, this was my payback for that...I thought you were taking it way too seriously too, and I now can see you were just trying to make it realistic. If you hadn't tried to make realistic, we would have missed the point of the assignment. I thought you just really enjoyed me taking care of you..."

Cody smiled. "I did..."

Bailey smiled back at him. "But I've felt so helpless with only one broken ankle. But I can still get around on my crutches. I can't imagine if I had both broken. I'm pretty sure I would have felt completely useless. Knowing what I know now, I've learned my lesson..."

Cody takes her hand in his. "Bails, no matter what, you will never be useless. You are still my...raison d'etre..."

"And you are mine. Cody, I promise you. If I feel frustrated from now on, I'll talk to you about it, and I won't take it out on you anymore..."

"Bails, you just tell me what I can do to help, and I will..."

Bailey leaned in and kissed him. "I will. Would it be okay if we try a new policy around here?"

"Sure."

"From now on, we let Bailey do what she can, and in return, Bailey promises Cody she will ask him for his help when she needs it..."

Cody grinned. "I think Cody can go along with that."

Bailey smiled. "I think we learned that we both can be...not the best of patients..."

"True..But if I'm sick, there is no one I would trust to take care of me more than you..."

"Same here. Once it dawned on me how I had been behaving, I felt so guilty. I was fully prepared to beg you to forgive me and to still marry me..."

"Nothing will stop me from doing that..."

Bailey sighed. "I guess having to put up with me the past weeks has probably soured you on thinking about being a doctor, huh?"

Cody smiled. "Not at all. In fact, it may have given me the nudge to choose that path..."

"Really?"

Cody teased her. "Of course...If I could put up with you, anyone else would be a piece of cake..."

"Cody!"

"I'm kidding, Bails...Actually, to be honest, when we were in the ER, I was completely fascinated. I guess when I'm not there for my own injuries, I'm able to observe. I really think it something I would love doing..."

Bailey smiled. "Well, you have my full support. I've learned first hand how compassionate and patient of a caregiver you can be. And when we have kids, it would be nice to have a doctor around. And when I got injured, you immediately took action and knew what to do. I think you'd be a great doctor..."

"Thanks, Bails. That means a lot coming from you..."

"I was also thinking about something Jo told me..."

"What's that?"

"She told me to think about how I would handle this if I was on my own without you..." Bailey shuddered. "I honestly don't think I would have been able to handle it..."

Cody smiled. "You would have. You're tough and strong and resourceful. You would have figured out something."

"I'm just glad I didn't have too...And Cody, again, I'm really sorry. I know I'm lucky to have you helping me, and I took it for granted..." Bailey paused and smiled. "I hope you know I would hobble to the ends of the Earth to make you happy..."

"I know, but I much prefer to keep you right here with me..." He leans in and they share tight embrace. "You know, you do have a doctor's appointment tomorrow, but what do you want to do tonight?"

Bailey laughed. "We could hang out on the couch...or we could hang out on the bed..." Bailey paused. "Speaking of the bed, you've held me close every night, but you haven't tried anything else..."

"Bails, I worry enough that I will accidentally kick your ankle when I get in bed...who knows what could happen if we...lost control..."

Bailey grinned. "Maybe later we can see if we can find something safe...We do have an entire book after all to get ideas from..."

Cody grinned rights back. "That is true...Tell you what, why don't we order in some take out, bunker down on the couch and watch a movie or two and see what we can find later..."

"Sounds perfect to me..."

Cody stands up and takes a step towards Bailey to help her up when he stops. Bailey noticed that he stopped and smiled at him. "Thanks...I know I can do this..."

"I know you can too. Just tell me if I can do anything..."

Bailey managed to get up on her good leg with her other leg propped up on the chair. She began to look around for her crutches. "Ummm...Cody..."

Cody steps behind her and picks up her crutches where they had fallen to the floor. "Looking for these?"

"Yeah..." Cody held them out for her and she took them and began to hobble into the living room.

"Bails...How were you able to get the cupcakes in and out of the oven with the pan in one hand and having to open the oven door?"

Bailey laughed. "You don't want to know..."

To be Continued...

Author's Note: Soon, you will see a new fanfic coauthored by myself and Creddie Cailey. I'm currently working on chapter 1 and will post it once we feel its ready.