CHAPTER 24

The next morning was spent getting things packed up and ready to go. John had very little to 'pack'. They had cut his clothes off of him to treat his injuries when they brought him in. He had been wearing donated clothes since then. They were worn but clean and comfortable. He was able to put all of his 'worldly belongings' in a plastic bag.

Zoe and Iris arrived in a large call car to take him to her place. Holding the plastic bag in his lap, Joan wheeled John outside to the car. The wheelchair would be staying at the clinic since it was the only one the clinic had.

Standing by John in the wheelchair, Zoe looked around for John's thing to get loaded into the trunk. Seeing nothing but the bag in his lap she asked, "Is that all you have to take with you?"

John picked up the bag from his lap and said with a smile, "I travel light". Looking at the bag of donated clothes, he suddenly saw a gun in his hand instead. Looking away he thought he saw the vague outline of a man walking away with a limp. Shaking his head he suddenly felt almost light headed. The images disappeared and he saw the bag full of clothes again. With a look of bewilderment on his face he looked up and saw Iris looking at him.

Crouching down beside the wheelchair Iris recognized the return of a 'memory'. Trying to comfort him she said, "John, it's ok. There will be moments that your memory will try to come back. You won't be able to control when they happen. It could be a smell, a sight, an image or even certain words that will trigger a memory." John looked at Iris, wanting to believe her. But the vagueness of the memory was frustrating. It reminded him of the fragmented dreams he'd had the last couple of nights. They had to be part of his memory returning.

Leaving Joan was harder than John thought it would be. He'd found comfort in her presence, knowing she was there for him. His memory of her was complete. His trust in her was total. Now leaving her, even for a day was more difficult than he'd imagined. But Joan promised him that she would see him tomorrow. She leaned over and hugged him with tears in her eyes. "I love you John, I'll miss you. Be safe." she whispered in his ear. He hugged her back with his one good arm. Holding her hand as long as he could, he squeezed it tight and kissed the back of it and let go so they could shut the car door.

The drive from the inner city clinic to Zoe's condo was the first time John had been outside of the clinic since he woke up. See NYC from the street level put him a little bit on edge. He hadn't realized how comfortable he'd felt at the clinic. This was the world he couldn't remember. It was fast, it was loud and it was colorful.

Iris and Zoe talked quietly to each other, letting John absorb his surroundings. They were aware of his reactions but were careful not to actively watch him. He had become very sensitive to being 'watched' by anybody.

Arriving at Zoe's building, the doorman met them with the wheelchair that was part of the medical equipment Zoe had waiting upstairs. The nurse she had hired wouldn't be arriving for another 2 hours. That time span would hopefully be enough time to get John comfortable and relaxed in his new, if temporary 'home'.

John looked around at the upper class neighborhood that Zoe lived in. He noted that there was a doorman. Most of the nicer places had doormen for security purposes. This guy looked like he could easily take care of anybody who tried to push their way in.

Zoe and Iris led the way to the elevator. Once inside, Zoe put in her personal code to take them to her floor. Only two people lived on that floor and each had their own code as an added level of security. That extra layer impressed John.

In their conversation about him moving in with Zoe, he'd been told he'd visited here many times. He kept looking around trying to find something familiar but so far, nothing. When the elevator stopped on the 23rd floor, the doors opened to a short hallway with only two doors. There were windows at each end of the hall. Zoe walked over to one of the doors and used a code AND a key to unlock the door.

Iris thanked the doorman and pushed the wheelchair out of the elevator. Crossing the hallway, she pushed the wheelchair into Zoe's home. He looked around for something to jar a memory. The condo was beautifully and elegantly decorated. Expensive but comfortable looking furniture.

Zoe spoke up, "Let me give you the royal tour; make sure you know where things are." She took the handle from Iris and began pushing him through the condo. He was in a large living room with a dining area off to one side. Zoe explained that she'd been living here for about 6 years. She'd decorated it herself and was proud of it's simplicity. Rolling by the kitchen she stopped for a moment to let him look. They had spent many an evening, and morning, in this kitchen cooking together. She glanced down at him but was disappointed at his lack of recognition.

Moving down the hall, she motioned toward her room off to the right but turned into the room on the left. John was slightly surprised to see the hospital bed already set up. Additionally, he was pleased to see the walker. He was very anxious to get out of the wheel chair and start doing some walking. Looking down at his arm in the sling he realized he still needed to have use of both arms to use the walker. A hint of frustration passed through him about the slowness of his physical recovery but he had to remind himself again how badly he'd been hurt.

Sensing a change in his demeanor, Zoe rolled him back out of the bedroom and back into the living room. "Let me show you my favorite place in the world. It is my 'go to place' when the world gets too hectic. You liked it too...I think for the same reason"

Without waiting for a response, she rolled him out onto her balcony. The view of NYC was spectacular.

Iris walked into the kitchen and went about fixing something for them to eat and drink. None of them were ready for an actual meal but something to nibble on would be good. Food had a way of relaxing tension and breaking down barriers you didn't even know existed. She had to smile at the food choices that she found. Zoe seem to have quite a bit of the types of snacks that John liked. Hopefully they might help trigger a memory. Opening the refrigerator she saw a sizable supply of beer. Looking over her shoulder at John and Zoe on the balcony and she nodded. Grabbing three beers she shut the door.

Walking out onto the balcony, Iris set down the tray on the patio table. Three beers and two bowls of snacks. The choices seem to agree with John. With a big smile on his face he grabbed a bottle and tossed it back. "Been awhile since I've had one of these thanks."

The doorman rung Zoe to advise her that the nurse was downstairs. Zoe left John and Iris on the balcony enjoying the ice cold beer and the view. The nurse would be there to help with John for the next couple of days and also to get him started on the physical therapy that Meg said he needed.

Bringing the nurse up to the condo Zoe explained the 'story' that they had all decided on. It would be impossible to hide that John's wounds were from bullets, that he had been shot. They decided to just say he was in security business and was injured while on duty and was now on medical leave. She seemed ok with that and didn't ask for too much more information. Once they were in the condo Zoe gave her the chart that Meg had put together with what had been done, what needed to be done and the meds involved. Then she took her out on the balcony to introduce her to John and Iris.

"John, this is Mrs. Edna Mallard." she said. Looking at the nurse she continued, "She's going to be your nurse during the first couple of nights here and then she's going to get you started on the physical therapy regimen that Meg wants you on."

Zoe missed John's reaction to the nurse's name because she was looking at the nurse. But Iris didn't. John had a smile when she was brought out onto the balcony, but he blinked when he heard her name. He blinked a couple of times and then frowned. Iris knew a memory had floated through his subconscious but he'd lost it. Looking at the nurse and then back at John she tried to figure out what he reacted to: her presence, her looks, her job, her name?

John recovered enough to nod his head and smile. He held out his good hand and greeted her. "Very nice to meet you. I didn't know about the physical therapy. But it sounds like I will soon learn all about it. I promise to be a model patient." He looked up at her and flashed that charming smile of his. Iris almost laughed at the nurse's stunned look. Having been the recipient of that smile herself, she knew it could be devastating if you weren't prepared for it.

Looking down at his legs and then holding up his arm in a sling he said, "I'm going to need lots of work to get back to full speed."

Mrs. Mallard was completely taken in by the man with the soft voice and the two women seemed to be very friendly. This job was going to be quite interesting to say the least.

Iris continued to try and puzzle out exactly what John had reacted to a few second ago. She replayed the introductions in her mind. She didn't think he recognized the nurse herself...it was her name. Then she realized what it was...he reacted to her name. Mallard. But why?

Before Iris could focus fully on John's reaction to the nurse's name, Mrs. Mallard made her presence known.

"I know I've quite literally just started my job here, but I do believe Mr. John is tired. This has been a very tiring day for him from what I've been able to gather." she said without preamble.

Zoe looked surprised and Iris was brought up quickly by the tone in the nurse's voice. Glancing over at John, she realized that she was right. That one beer had allowed John to relax just enough that he was almost asleep sitting up in the wheelchair.

Iris and Zoe both immediately felt guilty that they had not picked up on John's obvious fatigue. Zoe apologized and took Mrs. Mallard back inside to put her things down and show her John's room and the medical equipment she'd had delivered.

Iris took the bottle out of John's hand and placed it on the table. Looking at the shadows under his eyes that she hadn't noticed before, she felt that she'd let him down. So much had gone on today that she hadn't even thought about the physical toll it was taking on him.

"John, I'm so sorry. She's right. You look exhausted. Let's get you to bed while you can still help." John nodded his head in agreement. He suddenly felt too tired to even speak. That one beer had really done a number on him.

Wheeling him back inside, Iris got him to his room. By then Mrs. Mallard was there to help get him out of the chair and into the hospital bed. The paleness in John's face concerned her but Mrs. Mallard seemed to have things well in hand. She shooed Zoe and Iris out of the room and shut the door. By the time she turned around John was out cold. Walking back to the bed she took her time taking his vitals. Everything seem to be in order. Finding the chart on the bedside table she made her notes.

Taking a closer look at the charts, she was impressed with his doctor's meticulous notes. She was in awe that the man in the bed had survived all the trauma he had experienced. Putting down the chart she began checking the bandages. The bullet wounds were healing nicely but she felt the same concern that his doctor had about his right arm and left leg. Those would be the areas to work on with the physical therapy. Since John was resting nicely, she decided to check the supplies. She was pleasantly surprised at the thoroughness and forethought that had been given to the equipment and medications on hand.

She noticed there was even a call button by the bed. Placing it near his hand, she pinned it to the bed so it wouldn't fall off. She felt comfortable leaving him for the moment. Once last look at him and she smiled. He was a nice looking man, even with that beard. No wonder he had two lovely women looking out for him.

Closing the door quietly behind her, she walked back into the living room looking for the signal box that the call button was connected to. Zoe looked up from the couch where she and Iris were talking. Seeing Mrs. Mallard looking around she smiled. She knew what she was looking for. "The receiver is over here on the coffee table. That call button has a reach that covers the whole place. Even out on the balcony."

"Good, glad to hear it." replied Mrs Mallard as she made her way around the couch. "I find fresh air always does the patient a world of good, not to mention reminding them that there is a world out beyond their sick bed that they are usually anxious to return to." She sat down in the comfortable chair next to the couch and held up the chart. "I think you've done an amazing job in getting everything he needs set up here. The medicines have a nice range in potency. Hopefully he won't need the strongest ones." Shaking her head side to side she continued, "He's a very lucky man. Those bullet wounds should have killed him. Any one of those could have been an inch in any direction and would have done him in. And I read there were quite a few broken bones. They seem to be healing well also.

"I think he'll sleep for a while. The level of fatigue I just witnessed is in line with leaving the hospital after a lengthy stay and coming home. Do you have any questions for me or any other information I may need to help him in his recovery?"

Iris and Zoe looked at each other and smiled. John Reese may very well have met his match. Mrs. Mallard had an air about her that felt like she could handle any type of resistance John may have. Things were definitely looking up.

The rest of the afternoon was spent getting to know each other. Discussing the fact that most of John's care now would be physical therapy. If he was to get back any use of his arm and his leg, that work needed to be started now. Mrs. Mallard suggested that there would soon be a need for a treadmill. Once he was able to put weight on that leg he would need to walk as much as possible. She suggested some free weights for him to help strengthen his arm, otherwise he'd never be able to use the walker. Zoe immediately took care of ordering those items for delivery the following week. Since they had the signal box with them, the three women retired to the balcony to talk a little more freely among themselves.