"Good Morning. Exercise time!"
Bianca woke with a start as her sister pulled open the curtains. It took her a moment to get her bearings. Even after JR had fled to the Police Station, it was still very late when she went to bed last night – She was unable to stop worrying about AJ and wishing she could be there for Marissa. Now morning had come and Kendall was here to help her with her physiotherapy exercises.
"Have they found him?" was her first question.
"No news yet." said Kendall. "I'm going to go and volunteer later. Opal, Liza and Colby are organising a group to hand out flyers. They are meeting at Krystal's first thing."
"I'll come too." said Bianca struggling to sit up.
She cried out as pain shot through her body.
"What's wrong?" asked Kendall.
"My shoulder." gasped Bianca. She tried to sit up again and once more the pain shot right through her.
"Don't move." commanded Kendall, pulling aside the bed covers so she could try and help her sister up. "Oh god!"
Bianca looked down. Her left leg was a mess of blood and so were the bed clothes.
Kendall hurried out of the room, returning moments later with a first aid kit.
"When did this happen!" asked Kendall as she began to clean up the dried blood.
"I don't know." said Bianca quietly. Her whole left leg was swollen and there was a deep gash just by her knee. As Kendall turned her leg Bianca saw the swelling was worse on the opposite side. There were two massive blood blisters on the outside of her knee and ankle. That was probably how the bloody gash by her knee had started out as well, until it burst. Bianca didn't want to think about it. True she couldn't feel any of it but it looked painful. "It must have been the brace. Frankie said I had to watch out for the joints pinching my skin"
"But still." said Kendall dismayed, "You went to bed with your leg pouring with blood and you didn't notice."
"I was worried about AJ."
Kendall shook her head.
"Well I'm calling Frankie. You are not going to move until he gets here."
"But AJ!"
"No arguments." said Kendall sternly.
Bianca's head hit back against the pillow, if she was honest she didn't think she could move even if she wanted to, every part of her ached and it scared her.
When her sister had finished the call she went back to finish cleaning up Bianca's leg.
"How was your date last night with Griffin." asked Bianca, trying to fill the silence.
"It was drinks." said Kendall, "Not a date."
"Drinks in the evening is a date." said Bianca, light-heartedly, then she noticed her sisters expression. "Unless you don't want to be!"
"It's just… is it soon after Zack?"
"It's only too soon if you feel that way." said Bianca.
"It wasn't really much of anything in the end anyway." said Kendall, "As soon as news got out about AJ…"
Bianca nodded.
"I just hope he's safe."
…
Frankie tore into Bianca's bedroom a medical bag in his hand.
"What did I tell you about looking after yourself?" he scolded, "At this rate you will wind up right back in hospital!"
He examined swollen her leg.
"Well there's no sign of infection. You're lucky." He said scrutinising the wound by her knee. "I told you to always check that the brace is fitted properly."
"I know." said Bianca, "And I do. I think I just got… I was worried about AJ. I probably shouldn't have searched the park."
"The park?" asked Frankie as he began to work at dressing her wounds.
"I looked everywhere I could think for him. I did a whole circuit, probably nearer two." admitted Bianca.
"That's over 5 miles!" he exclaimed, "What were you thinking!"
"Find AJ." said Bianca simply.
Frankie snorted at the dry humour and shook his head.
"This isn't a laughing matter." he said, in a serious tone. "You have to look after yourself Bianca. I mean we can see how bad these wounds on your leg are even if you can't feel them. This will affect your whole recovery."
Bianca sighed and watched him work.
He checked the blisters before applying a dressing to her knee and ankle and then giving her a shot of antibiotics. He then felt his way up her leg checking all the muscles and movement, massaging any area of concern.
"I think you've been very lucky." he said eventually. "Kendall also mentioned a pain in your shoulder."
Bianca nodded, but regretted it, her neck felt stiff as well.
"Which one?"
"The left. But I generally ache all over."
Frankie began another examination, this time of her arm. Now she could feel his firm fingers as he felt muscles and probed joints.
Bianca closed her eyes in pain as her rolled her shoulder experimentally.
"Yep, you have a muscle strain." He said.
"Well can you give me something for it, I have to get to Krystal's." said Bianca finally managing to sit up in bed.
"No you are going to lie right back down. You have overdone it and I am prescribing full bed rest for at least a week and you aren't to wear your leg brace for one month, minimum."
"But I won't be able to walk!" protested Bianca.
"That's right. You will have to use the wheelchair until your leg is completely healed. You won't be able to use your crutches until your shoulder is fixed anyway. I'll be back tomorrow to check on those dressings… just be careful and take care of that leg."
"But I have to help find AJ!" Bianca protested feebly.
"The whole town is out looking for him. Your priority, Bianca, is to look after yourself." said Frankie gravely. "Or you will end up right back in your hospital bed?"
Bianca fell back onto her cushions defeated. She knew he was right.
…