"If I can't go home today, I will have a fit." Maria rolled her eyes as he spoke to the nurse in quite an unfriendly way. She bit her lip to stop herself from sharing her opinion. As much as she loved him, she hated when he treated others in an unkind way, particularly those who were only there to help him.
"Captain, you're already having a fit." The nurse quipped as she checked his vitals and made notations on his chart.
"I was told that when the tube was removed from my lung, I would be able to go home. That happened two days ago, and now I should be released."
"Yes, but your blood pressure was not cooperating after we removed the tube. The doctor wanted to monitor you for at least twenty four hours."
"And hasn't it been forty seven hours?" The nurse looked to Maria for help, and she sighed as she knew it was her turn to try calming him. She wasn't sure anyone could take him when he was like that.
"Georg, you know very well that she does not make the rules here." He scoffed, turning his frustration toward her as the nurse breathed a sigh of relief and gathered her things. Maria was seated by his side in a chair, her backside numb from how long she had been there, and her body aching from days spent in the same position. She had barely left his side, and even she had to agree that taking him home would be quite a relief to them all, but she certainly wouldn't know how to care for him if they released him too soon.
"She does know who to ask though. I haven't seen you trying to talk them into letting me leave." She gave a short laugh, wondering what good that would have done.
"I'm not a medical professional. Wouldn't it be more prudent to simply take their advice?"
"You would say that." She ran her hands over her face, her patience terribly thin as she rubbed her temples. "You're able to walk around and use the bathroom on your own, you have use of your dominant hand and…"
"Oh, darling…do shut up." His eyes widened, and she heard the nurse hold back a laugh.
"I beg your pardon!"
"You're a terrible patient."
"And you're terrible support."
"I realize you are feeling a lot of pain, and you are very uncomfortable being here for so long, but you are not the only patient in this hospital. You are very fortunate that your injuries weren't worse, so perhaps you should take a moment of silence to stop complaining and simply be thankful you're alive." He shook his head at her tone, still finding himself surprised every single time she put him in his place. She hadn't had to do so in a long while, and he was taken aback.
Ever since he had awakened in excruciating pain the week prior, he had been losing his temper on everyone in sight. He was well aware that he was being a difficult patient, but he was certain he had no control over himself either. His arm ached, and his chest felt tight and heavy as his lung healed. Not to mention the other bruises and scrapes from the car accident that were sore. He was more than happy to have taken the bulk of the injuries if it meant that Maria had been safe, he would do it all over again to insure her safety, but he felt like a monster and couldn't stop his behavior.
There was very clearly a conversation that needed to be had between them as far as their relationship was concerned, but of course there were more pressing matters in that moment. He noticed she was wearing his ring again, unprepared for the relief he felt at the sight. He had royally overstepped with his accusations on the night of the accident, and he knew he had a long way to go to make it up to her. He supposed being a selfish, arrogant patient would not help him at all.
"I apologize…to you both." He gritted his teeth, the nurse turning around in complete surprise. It was the nicest thing she had heard from him throughout his entire stay. She met Maria's eyes in admiration.
"I wish I could knock my husband down a few pegs like that. Nice work, dear." She smiled, shaking her head as the nurse left the room.
"Husband?"
"Yes, they wouldn't let me stay with you if we weren't married. I'm not above lying about it." She stood from the chair, stretching her back a bit as she stepped over to a carafe of water in the corner of the room, pouring a couple of cups for them. He watched her, the bruises upon her own body nearly gone by then, but he could see the effect of everything on her mind weighing on her. Her eyes looked a bit sunken, dark circles beneath them, and she moved quite stiffly. She hadn't left his side, no matter how much he'd hurt her, and he hadn't heard one complaint fall from her lips.
"You should go home and take care of yourself. Get some sleep." She scoffed, bringing their cups of water to the table next to his bed as she found a straw for his.
"Don't be ridiculous."
"I'm not, you look unwell." She rolled her eyes, bringing the straw to his lips to allow him a drink of water. He accepted, doing his best to meet her eyes, but she hadn't looked into his for more than a moment since he had awakened. "I'm sorry."
"It's alright, I'm sure she's seen worse patients than you…"
"Not for the nurse, I'm sorry to you." She nodded, resuming her seat next to his bed and placing his water cup next to her own. "Maria…"
"Can we do this later?"
"Do you have somewhere else to be?" She shook her head, leaning back in the chair a bit.
"Of course I don't, but we should focus on your healing right now." He scoffed, wishing he could wrap her in his arms and hold her close to him in that moment. She needed him to apologize properly, to comfort her after the way he'd treated her and prove his love.
"I was out of line that night…I don't know what came over me. I know you would never do the things I accused you of doing."
"Georg, please stop. I don't want to do this right now. Not here."
"Why not?" She shook her head, running a hand over her face.
"Because I…I'm not ready to face it." He held out his hand to her, more than afraid she wouldn't take it, but she barely hesitated before placing her hand in his own. She began to cry at his touch, her exhaustion overwhelming her in such a way that she felt terribly emotional.
"Don't cry, my love."
"I thought I was going to lose you in every possible way that night. No matter how angry I was with you, the thought of losing you was so much more unbearable than I can even say." She wiped her eyes, sniffling as he held her other hand tightly in his own. "The bottom line of it all is, I love you desperately, and you don't feel you can trust me."
"Yes, I do. I don't know why I said those things." He squeezed her hand, wishing for nothing more than to be able to pull her close.
"I committed adultery, and I carry the guilt for it in my heart every single day. I understand and expect everyone else to see me in such a light, but to hear you say those things…my heart is broken." He felt a tear escape down his cheek, but he didn't bother trying to wipe it away.
"I hurt you terribly, and I am so sorry for that. You were right…I'm quite insecure when it comes to you. The thought that someone as wonderful as you could even think about spending their life with me is baffling, I've always felt that way. And then I saw you speaking to a man your own age, a man who I thought seemed interested in you, and I thought…" He couldn't finish, knowing how foolish he must have sounded to her ears. For a man who exuded confidence in every walk of life, he was afraid he appeared weak and vulnerable in front of her.
"And here I am thinking I'm the one who is undeserving of you." He shook his head in surprise, unable to fathom she had such feelings of insecurity as well.
"Why would you ever think that?"
"Why would you?" Her words were soft, and he could feel the emotion behind them. He nodded, and she was finally able to meet his eyes for longer than a second. "I love you, Georg. You're the only man I've ever said that to, and you will remain the only man I will ever say it to for the rest of my life."
"I love you so much, Maria. Please forgive me." He began to cry, which only caused her own tears to flow more freely down her cheeks. She nodded, unable to speak as she wiped her face. "Kiss me."
She didn't hesitate to nearly jump out of her chair, her lips pressed gently against his own as their tears mixed together. She brought her hands to his face, cupping it gently between them, as he grasped her waist with his good hand. She was a fool for him, would forgive him anything without him even apologizing anyway, she knew, but she was so thankful he was such a better man than that. He didn't take her weakness for him lightly, and she felt the same toward him.
"Captain?" The door burst open, his doctor barreling in with a clipboard in his hand and a frustrated look upon his face. Maria pulled away quickly, bringing a hand to her face to wipe away her tears. The doctor smiled a bit. "Have I interrupted something?"
"No. Are you here to release me?" Georg spoke up quickly, wiping the tears from his own face with his good hand.
"We've got your pain under control quite well here. You do realize it will be different once you go home?"
"I can handle a little pain if it means I can sleep in my own bed." Maria bit her lip, concerned about just how much pain he would feel when he was no longer hooked up to an IV.
"What does his healing timeline look like, Doctor?" He smiled, having learned very quickly that she was the most patient and understanding of the two before him.
"I expect the lung to be fully healed very soon. The ribs will be about six more weeks, and the arm about eight weeks, in a perfect scenario." Georg frowned, realizing that there were so many things he would need help with in the coming months, and he did not at all appreciate the fact. It would have been different if he had done anything to cause the accident, at least he would be able to blame himself, but he hadn't done anything wrong to cause it. He still wasn't even certain how it had happened. An older gentleman who wasn't supposed to be driving at night was the cause, they were told.
"Are you able to send us with anything to help with the pain?"
"Certainly nothing as strong as we have here, but yes. Baroness, are you prepared to be his caregiver? He will require quite a lot of help, especially until he begins feeling stronger." Georg looked to her for a response, but she didn't even bat an eye.
"Absolutely, I'm happy to do whatever he needs. May I please take him home now?" He sighed and nodded, looking between the two for a moment.
"Very well then. I'll send a nurse in to provide you with instructions for care, and I will begin the paperwork to discharge you, Captain."
"Thank you, Doctor. I'm grateful for all you have done for me and my wife." She smiled at the words, wishing so desperately that she was in fact his wife. But she knew that was no matter at the moment. She was more than happy to know that she was finally bringing him home.