Sharon slept peacefully for about 30 minutes before Andy gently woke her for dinner. She sat up on the couch for a few minutes and then Andy helped her get comfortable at the table. Rusty made small talk about work and school while they both tried not to notice how little Sharon ate. They knew it was also awkward for her having to use her left hand. "Sharon, you need to try to eat a little more," Andy finally suggested when he noticed her just sitting there staring at her plate.

"I know…I…I just don't have an appetite. I'm sorry Rusty…it really…it really is good."

"We can save some for later," he suggested. "You always liked it cold too."

Smiling, she looked to Andy, "I'm really tired and I'm ready for that shower you promised me."

Rusty started clearing the plates away. Andy stood and offered Sharon his arm as they both said goodnight to Rusty. He gently held her waist as she stood. They made it half way to her bedroom before she was hit by a wave of dizziness. Andy caught her and easily lifted her into his arms and carried her into the bedroom. He sat her down on the bench at the foot of the bed and kneeled down in front of her. "You okay?" he asked cupping her face with his hand as she slightly nodded yes. He slowly helped her to undress and carefully removed the ankle brace. He took his shirt off and placed it around her shoulders. "Can you sit here while I get a plastic bag for your hand and then get the water started?"

"Andy, I'll be fine."

Andy went back into the bathroom to get everything ready. He was so thankful that her shower had a nice bench that ran the length of the back wall. He placed one towel on the bench for her to sit on and then had several more waiting by the vanity for when they were done. He removed the rest of his clothes with the exception of his boxers and went back into the bedroom to get her.

He placed the plastic bag over her hand and secured it with one of her ponytail holders. "You ready?" he asked as he helped her up from the bench. They slowly made their way to the bathroom; the steam already fogging up the mirrors.

He removed his shirt from her shoulders and hung it on the back of the door. As he began to step into the shower, she stopped him. "Andy, are you going to shower in your boxers?" she asked with a small blush.

"Well, I…I didn't want to…to make…"

Placing her hand on the middle of his chest, "Andy, you could never make me feel scared or uncomfortable. It's ok, I feel safe with you."

Andy removed his boxers while she held on to the shower door. He stepped into the shower first and then slowly guided her in. "Do you want to sit?"

"No, I want to stand for as long as I can. Wash my hair first, please."

She steadied herself with her good hand on to the shower wall as Andy soaped up her hair. It took two washings for the water to finally run clear from all the dried blood. He was careful not to scrub too hard around her hairline and the bump he could still feel there. After the third rinsing, he squeezed out the excess water and then massaged in the conditioner that was sitting next to her shampoo bottle. Just as he was almost finished, he could feel her begin to sway a little.

"Andy, I need to sit down," she whispered. He carefully guided her back onto the towel he had placed on the bench. He then continued to work the conditioner through her hair and piled her hair up on top of her head. Next he got the wash cloth and citrus scented bath wash that she likes so much and began to gently wash her. He looked up and found that her eyes were closed and her head was resting against the shower wall.

He continued to carefully wash her, mindful of the scrapes and bruises. A dull ache settled in his chest as he silently mourned each and every mark on her beautiful body. As he started working his way up her legs she reached out and touched his cheek so that he would look up at her. As their eyes met, she whispered, "I need you to scrub harder."

"But Shar…"

"Andy," her eyes never leaving his, "Please, I…I…need…If you can't…I…I understand…I…I will try…"

"No, no sweetheart…I…I can do it. But, if I…if I hurt you…"

"You won't."

Andy rinses the wash cloth and continues up her legs scrubbing her while silently hoping he's not hurting her. She stands once again to allow him better access, her hand tightly gripping his shoulder. Once he's finished he removes the spray nozzle and rinses her hair and the rest of her body. He turns the towel over on the bench and eases her back down so that he can take a minute to wash himself.

As he rinses the shampoo from his hair he looks down to find her watching him. Looking at her questionably, she finally says, "I never imagined our first shower together would be like this. I'm sorry…"

He turns the water off and kneels down in front of her, softly cupping her cheek. "We will have plenty more opportunities in the future. Yes?"

"Yes," she shyly smiles.

Andy steps out of the shower first and quickly dries himself and then wraps the towel around his waist. He then takes a towel and begins to towel dry her hair before wrapping it around her head. He takes the second towel, helping her to stand, begins to dry her body. He wraps it around her and guides her out of the shower. They stand at the vanity while she brushes her teeth. She begins to feel dizzy again so he easily lifts her and carries her back to the bed. He leaves her on the bed and returns to the bathroom where he puts on clean boxers and a V-neck white undershirt and quickly brushes his teeth. When he returns to the bedroom she has lain back on the bed still wrapped in both towels. He touches her hand and helps her to sit up again. He has her brush and hairdryer.

"No hairdryer tonight. I'm too tired. Besides, you said you always wanted to see me all natural."

"I'll dry it for you."

"That's sweet Andy, but no. Please. I will be fine going to bed with damp hair. I do it all the time. You can brush it out and spray some of that curl booster in it if you want to."

He goes back to the bathroom, putting up the hair dryer and finds the grey bottle of curl booster under the sink. He also brings her bottle of lotion. Knowing it is her nightly ritual to lotion up before bed. It still makes him chuckle to himself to think that she uses lavender baby lotion every night.

Sitting behind her on the bed, he removes the towel from her head and quickly brushes out her damp hair, spraying it with the curl booster. He takes the baby lotion and rubs it over her entire body. She shivers as if cold. "What do you want to sleep in?"

"Do you have an extra one of those white t-shirts?"

"It just so happens, I do."

After he gets her dressed for bed, she lays on her side as he snuggles gently behind her. She takes his hand and brings it over her waist, tucking herself closer into him and they quietly drift off to much needed sleep.