Chapter 28:

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'No.'

'Tough.'

'Go.'

'No. Easy or hard way?'

Ethan scowled.

Dylan ignored him, feeling relieved that Ethan was slightly less resistant than before. He carefully passed him a zip-up hoodie. 'Have a go at getting that on. I'll help if you get stuck, but you can certainly try it. You'll be cold otherwise.'

Ethan muttered something about "cold anyway" but reluctantly turned the top around to figure out the arm holes. It took about a minute and a half before he had it on, and was sliding the zipper up to his chin.

'Well done. We've ticked that one off.'

Dylan blew out a breath of impatience. Ethan was meant to have three sessions of hydrotherapy each week to supplement the physiotherapy, but absolutely hated them. He'd never liked indoor swimming pools, and although he couldn't recall the memories of miserable secondary school swimming lessons, Cal accidentally jumping in on top of him and dirty changing rooms, he knew he disliked them. He enjoyed outdoor swimming, particularly at the local lido, as well as enjoying the beaches on holiday.

However, hydrotherapy lacked the nice views, cool breeze and freedom that made him enjoy swimming. The water felt too warm, and the bright neon bulbs in the ceiling, combined with the pull of his wet clothing, the rush of the water in his ears, his face getting splashed, someone touching him, the stench of the chlorine… it was enough to worry about without having to stretch and move uncomfortably.

The main thing that frightened him, though, was the depth of the water. He felt completely helpless once in the pool. He couldn't remember how to swim. He knew he could do it, and that there was a memory somewhere deep down. But he also remembered once going under the water and the horror of his mouth filling with water, the fear of not being able to get out, until his father had hauled him up onto the tiles and banged him on the back. He'd trusted his dad. He didn't trust Jenna. He struggled to remember her name, when he was panicked.

At first, Mikael hadn't been completely insistent on it, as Ethan had been so distressed during his first few seconds that Jenna, the hydro-therapist, hadn't managed to get anything done. However, to the concern of everyone, Ethan had abruptly stopped making progress with physiotherapy. Since his first success at taking steps using the support bar two weeks ago, he'd made almost no improvements or been able to attempt anything else. It hadn't seemed to bother Ethan, either, which was another worry. He'd hated his wheelchair, and while he still showed signs of disliking it, Cal and Connie were both convinced he preferred it to the idea of having to walk.

'Do you think it's a physical thing? There's that scar tissue on the left lilac crest from that infection,' said Cal.

'I don't know. It's always possible. I'm going to request another scan,' Connie said. She glanced at Ethan who was fast asleep, looking completely at peace. 'He's not refusing physio. He's asked for painkillers for his back before, demanded them. I don't know- obviously- but when he's had pain from his back before, his heart-rate has skyrocketed. I think we'd know if it was hurting.'

As a result, Mikael had been more insistent that Ethan had to do the three sessions, each one lasting thirty minutes. In addition, Ethan had five forty-five minute sessions each week. He hadn't even begun proper rehabilitation for his head injury yet. Mikael had had a long chat with Connie when Ethan was in the hydrotherapy suite. He didn't like saying it, but he'd had patients with similar recovery expectations to Ethan be almost recovered in the time that he'd been seeing him already.

Dylan considered himself far less "soft" than Connie or Cal, and took on the responsibility of taking Ethan down for hydrotherapy. Ethan had once managed to cry and convince Caleb to turn back en route, and Connie found his unhappiness upsetting. Dylan, on the other hand, took a more pragmatic approach. He pushed Ethan's wheelchair quickly, heading down through the lifts and corridors as if pre-programmed. 'You'll be fine once you're in.'

Ethan shook his head, stubbornly.

'Your choice. Do you want me to come and stay in the pool room with you or not?'

Ethan considered this. 'OK.'

'You've got to go. What would make it easier?

Another head shake. 'Don't know.'

Dylan waited for the lift, his hand resting near the handle. 'What's the worst part?'

'W-water.'

'You need to be more specific.'

'Can't remember. Swim. Don't remember how.'

It took a few seconds for Dylan to process this, and the doors pinged open to admit them as he was thinking. 'Jenny, is it? She never lets go of you?'

'Je-nna.'

'Jenna. You don't need to be able to swim for hydrotherapy.'

'But… but…' Ethan kicked out quickly, trying to get the words up. 'I can't. If she lets go.'

Dylan was starting to understand more, now. 'You can't control it at all.'

Ethan nodded hard. 'Don't remember… how used to move. I remember. I did it. Not how. Once I have. Then OK. Like. Like…' he tailed off, his face scrunching to let him think. 'Like with. Wr-wr-r-riting name. Once I did once. Then o-okay.'

'The pool isn't huge. But if you knew you could swim enough to get to the side, would that help?'

Another, vigorous, nod. 'Then wouldn't. Have to trust. Less s-s-sc-scary.'

Dylan wasn't quite sure Jenna completely understood, but she seemed relieved that Ethan wasn't starting the session off crying, kicking or trying to get away- considering some sessions he'd employed all three, it was the most peaceful start to one he'd had yet. Another therapist, Szymon, was waiting for a patient, and helped Jenna with Ethan. 'We'll start here, near the side. Good job. Right, I'm going to help you lie on your stomach. You'll need to hold your head up. Great! Right, look at Dr Keogh. What he's doing with his arms, that's what Szymon's doing with your legs. I've got you.'

Ethan felt the movement in his legs, and suddenly, realised what he needed to do. 'I can. Kick.'

'Brilliant!' Jenna said, enthusiastically. She lessened her grip on Ethan slightly, keeping one hand under his stomach and another holding a fistful of his wet top. He moved forward in the water. 'You star!'

Suddenly, she saw his arms move, pushing out and then round, before his hands met and pushed again. He was able to do it.

'Can. Swim.' Ethan said. He grinned at Dylan, who realised he hadn't seen that smile for a while.

'You're doing magnificently.'

'I'm going to move you over to the middle of the pool. Keep holding your head like that. Right. I've let go, but I'm watching you. Can you try and get to Syzmon?'

Ethan made it to the side, more quickly than he'd been able to move in months. The pressure of the water felt good on his back. Without thinking about it he successfully rolled over in the water, enjoying seeing the ceiling above him. It felt great, being able to take any pressure off his spine and joints.

'You're doing brilliantly!' said Jenna. She laughed, and caught him. 'Right. Shall we get started?'

After the session Dylan helped Ethan get dried and changed, encouraging him to be as independent as possible. 'Well done,' Dylan told him, 'I'm impressed. It can't have been easy to have had to work out what was causing the block, and then to communicate it well. I'm… I'm proud of you.'

Ethan swallowed. 'Thanks.' He wanted to say more, but the words wouldn't come. Instead, he reached out his left hand, and shook Dylan's.