As expected, finding herself exhausted from Physical Therapy, Sara had once again fallen asleep. After her short nap, though, she woke up determined and pressed the call button. A nurse arrived a few moments later.
"Can I get up?" Sara asked. "I want to get a shower."
"I'll have to check with the doctor." The nurse told her. "But Anne will be back again later this afternoon to see you again. Why don't you eat something and I'll be right back."
"OK." Sara said, pulling herself up to a sitting position and trying to stretch her legs as she reached for the bed rail.
"That stays up until I get back." The nurse said. "Just give me a few minutes, and I'll see what we can do about a shower." The nurse left, and returned a few minutes later with a towel and clean hospital gown.
"Dr. Mark said you are to remain in bed unless you have assistance from a nurse or PT. But the good news is that I think we've sorted out a way for you to shower with some assistance." She told Sara, and her face fell.
"I don't need help showering." Sara insisted irritably.
"I know you don't want help. I've asked an orderly to bring up a shower assistant. It's like a seat but with a bit more support to it. One of us will wheel you in, and pull the curtain across so you can have some privacy, while we wait outside until you're finished or in case you need help." She explained. Sara felt conflicted - she didn't want to shower with anyone else in the room, but she knew it would help her feel a little bit better to be clean so she accepted the compromise. A few minutes later, the shower assistant was wheeled in, and the nurse and orderly helped Sara stand up and transfer to the chair. Once she was wheeled into the shower stall, she carefully removed the purple dress she had been wearing for several days, and passed it around the curtain to the waiting nurse. When the water was warmed up, she took the handheld showerhead from the wall and began to wash herself. Despite the restrictions on her movement, and the smell of the hospital soap, she reveled in the hot water running over her and the sense of normalcy she felt at finally doing something herself. When she finished, she momentarily forgot about her restrictions, and she stood to step out of the shower. She took several steps to grab the towel from the hook nearby, when the nurse called out.
"Do you need a hand?" Sara looked around, and began to laugh.
"Nope, I'm good. Just forgot for a moment where I was." She said, opening the curtain with the towel wrapped around her.
"That's a good sign. But please, sit down before you fall! I don't want to have to write up an incident report." The nurse told her with a grin. Sara sighed, and plonked herself back down on the seat, wrapped herself in the towel, and then tugged at the curtain.
"Fine." She huffed, but she couldn't maintain her irritation for long, especially when the nurse was grinning at her like that.
"I think you'll be out of here very soon." The nurse reassured her, as she helped Sara transfer to the bed. "Do you want a hand getting the gown on?"
"No, I've got it." Sara insisted as she pulled it over herself and shed the towel. "I should probably ask my husband to drop off some clothes though."
"Yes, you'd probably be more comfortable." The nurse agreed. "Can I get you anything else? You haven't touched your lunch."
"I ate a muffin. And some fruit."
"Those sound like much better options. No stomach trouble?"
"None." Sara told her.
"I'll double check with your doctor, but you should be clear to eat anything you like now. I think your PT will be back in about 2 hours. Please, don't try to get up and move around without some assistance. Just ring the buzzer and I'll be back to help you. OK?" Sara nodded.
"What if one of my friends helps me?" She asked.
"How about you ask your PT a bit later. But until then, wait for me. However, we could probably get you a wheelchair to have them take you outside?" Sara opened her mouth to argue, but stopped herself. She hadn't even considered the possibility of going outside but now she definitely wanted to.
"That sounds great." She found herself saying.
"Then you'd better message someone to come visit." The nurse told her with a wink, and Sara realised that the nurse had purposely found a way to get Sara to allow her friends to come back. "I'll be back in a bit."
When you're free, could you bring my clothes?
Grissom was both surprised and relieved when he got Sara's text. With a smile, he showed Catherine.
"Good. Sounds like she's feeling a bit better.?"
"Yes, let's hope so. And I'm hoping she will let me stay for a bit. Should we order something to take to her?" Grissom said. Catherine's phone pinged next.
Any chance you could get someone to bring me a pizza for dinner?
"Looks like she's feeling a lot better." Catherine told him. "I'll ask her if it's ok if I come with you now. If she wants anything else to eat I can go grab it. Otherwise, I'll be by at dinner time." Grissom nodded, and waved to the waitress for their bill. Catherine insisted on paying although he argued with her until his phone buzzed and distracted him.
Bring Catherine if you like. Don't need anything else to eat yet.
"She says you're welcome to come now, too." Grissom told Catherine. "I'll meet you there."