Steam and a minor Trigger Warning!
Author's Note: There more talk of abuse and quite the steamy evening between Nathan and Maggie. The section start and end is marked. There is also a somewhat intimate conversation between Nathan and Carson
Chapter 11 – Difficult Conversation with Carson (long)
Carson sat there and gave Nathan another minute as he saw the man was organizing his thoughts.
"So what did you need to talk about?" Carson asked.
"First." Nathan said. "Will you be able to pierce Allie's ears Monday after school? In the craziness we forgot yesterday."
Carson reached over and pulled the appointment book closer to him. He flipped the page and looked.
"Monday at four thirty would work good." Carson said.
"Okay." Nathan said. "I will let Maggie know."
"And the second thing?" Carson asked.
Nathan closed his eyes and ducked his head as he felt the heat creep across his face
"Can I assume this is of a much more personal nature?" Carson ventured.
Nathan nodded.
"Well, I am a doctor." Carson said. "I was also a married man. Can you tell me if something happened? Did you experience some kind of pain?"
Nathan was bright red at that point.
"Um …." Nathan said. "Twice now … um … Maggie has continued to … um … um … stimulate me to the point it was … um … painful. Before I can say anything, she … um … continues and … um the pain goes away, but I can barely move."
Nathan was absolutely mortified and couldn't look at Carson. He tugged at his collar, even though it was already unbuttoned.
"So is the pain before, during, or after you ejaculate?" Carson asked.
"Just before … um … and during second or third rounds of passion." Nathan said, turning an even deeper shade of red.
Carson nodded. Carson felt for Nathan. He knew it wasn't easy to talk about and with Nathan being more shy it was even more so, but Carson also knew that it was important to try and get as much information as he could.
"But otherwise, everything is going fine?" Carson asked.
Nathan nodded.
"Take and completely unbutton your top shirt and hop up on the table." Carson said. "I just want to do a quick exam to make sure everything is okay."
Nathan did as he was asked while Carson washed his hands. Carson came over and got a quick set of vitals from Nathan and then listened to his heart and lungs.
"Go ahead and lay back." Carson said.
Nathan did as Carson asked. Carson looked at Nathan.
"Please let me know if anything hurts." Carson said.
Nathan nodded. Carson started to palpate Nathan's abdomen. As Carson worked his hands lower, he carefully watched Nathan for any reaction. When Carson got to the waistband of his pants, he motioned and Nathan unbuttoned them. He then lifted his hips and Carson slipped them down just a bit. Carson continued to palpate and watch for a reaction. Just when Carson got to the top of the pelvic bone, Nathan hissed in pain.
"Sorry." Carson said. "Was that where the pain was before?"
"Sort of." Nathan said.
"Can you please stand up and drop your shorts?" Carson asked.
Carson grabbed a glove and put it on. Nathan was bright red.
"I know that this is uncomfortable, but please bear with me." Carson said.
Carson once again began palpating along where Nathan's hip joints were. He pressed in deeply a few times and only once did it bring a hiss of pain from Nathan. That was when he pressed right at the base of Nathan's manhood.
"There." Nathan said.
"Okay." Carson said. "You can get redressed."
Nathan pulled his pants up and buttoned up his shirt. He then looked at Carson, he motioned for them to have a seat again. Once again, they sat facing each other.
"While pain is normally concerning." Carson said. "This time, I am not really worried."
Nathan looked at him confused.
"So the good news is that I didn't feel a hernia." Carson said. "That had been my first thought and that could have been bad. So that is good. However, there is a ligament right across where you felt pain. There are also lots of nerves which extend out. Sometimes when a man experiences … um … an intense climax … um … the resulting muscle spasms can irritate the nerve right along the pelvic bone there."
"Oh." Nathan said, turning red again.
"From um … experience." Carson said. "It can be … um … positional. Do you understand?"
Nathan nodded.
"Any other concerns?" Carson asked. "I know that wasn't the easy thing for you to talk about. But I hope that you feel comfortable enough to at least try to talk to me about any problems in the future. I want to be able to be there for you not only as a doctor, but as a friend. You should be able to enjoy that time without worry."
"Thank you." Nathan said. "I thought there was something wrong with me and I was going to end up disappointing Maggie."
"Understandable." Carson said. "But as long as everything else is good, there should be no problems."
"Again thank you." Nathan said. "While I understand basic anatomy and biology, I was not prepared for this last week. The things that I have experienced and felt, I have no words to describe and it has definitely been a learning experience."
Carson chuckled.
"I remember being a newlywed." Carson said. "And I was already a doctor and just finished training as a surgeon and she had been a nurse. We both got quite the education. But I also wouldn't trade that time for anything in the world."
"Oh." Nathan said, again blushing.
"Don't worry about it." Carson said.
"Please don't say anything to Faith." Nathan asked. "It was hard enough talking to you. I don't think I could look at her if she knew. I mean I know she is a doctor and all, but …."
"I understand." Carson said. "I won't even write anything in your chart. It will be completely between the two of us."
"Thank you." Nathan said. "I should go. I have already been gone longer than I had planned."
"Of course." Carson said. "Thank you for being a sounding board for me. Come talk to me again this week just to check in."
"I will find some time." Nathan said.
"I was thinking you could swing by Wednesday at about eleven thirty." Carson said. "We could grab lunch and maybe a game of chess on the back porch."
Nathan just looked at Carson, who raised his eyebrows at Nathan. Suddenly it dawned on Nathan what Carson was trying to say without saying.
"Wednesday before lunch sounds good." Nathan said.
Carson nodded and Nathan left the infirmary. He headed to the mercantile to check for messages and get the mail. He also knew that he needed to make notes about what Carson had asked him about. He also knew that he was going to have to spend some time visiting the families and see if he could learn anything else. When Nathan stopped at the mercantile, there was a message from Bill to say sorry about the bonfire, he should be back in town by Sunday night and they would talk on Monday. Nathan had a ton of questions for Bill, but knew they would have to wait. Nathan gathered the three packages that had arrived for Maggie along with the other mail and headed home.
Nathan had a lot on his mind as he walked home. He was going over things about the Bouchard/Walden case as well as how what he learned at the office fit into what he already knew. He started a list of questions that needed to be answered. He was also wondering what Bill was up to and if he should call Superintendent O'Reilly and maybe give him a heads up about Bill. Nathan figured Bill was chasing some sort of lead he thought he found and decided to not worry at that point as there were other Mounties that were a lot closer that could help if needed.
Finally, Nathan was thinking about everything Carson had said. While it had been embarrassing to talk to Carson, Nathan was glad that he had sucked it out and muddled through the conversation and resulting exam. While Nathan hated to admit it the conversation and exam had left him quite aroused. The closer that he got to the house, the more that Nathan wanted his wife. He hoped and prayed that Allie had already left for the evening, so he could relieve the growing pressure he felt.
When Nathan walked in the house, he hung up his hat and looked around. Maggie was sitting on the couch reading. He didn't see Allie but that didn't mean she wasn't upstairs. He went to his wife, dropping the packages on the couch and pulling her to him. He then kissed her soundly.
"Are you okay?" Maggie asked, as she pulled back.
"Never better." Nathan whispered.
"Okay." Maggie said. "It is the middle of the afternoon and Allie is upstairs."
"Oh." Nathan said, disappointed. "Later, then."
"After Allie leaves if you want." Maggie said.
"Good." Nathan said. "Now, if you will excuse me."
Nathan gave her one more quick kiss and then walked out the back door. He went right for the shed and grabbed an ax. It was only a few moments and the thwack of an ax splitting wood could be heard. Nathan split a few pieces and then shed his shirt. He was frustrated beyond belief and needed to break something.
… … … …
Maggie only stood by the couch for a moment after she heard the second thwack before she went to the back door. The view she saw made her audibly gasp. She had a profile view of Nathan standing there in his henley shirt that already clung to his body and his form-hugging denim pants. She inhaled sharply and closed her eyes a moment as she thought about running her hands over Nathan's body. She opened her eyes and continued to watch her husband. She had never really seen a man chop wood before. Maggie stood there memorized as she saw him raise the ax over his head and drive it through a piece of wood in one blow. She saw his powerful arms flex and the muscles ripple as he hit the wood. If her grandmother had known what she was thinking, she would have punished her for being obscene in public. Maggie found a new favorite thing about Nathan. As she stood there, the only sound was the thwack of the ax and the sound of wood falling on another piece.
By the time that Allie had come downstairs, she could see that her dad had a nice pile of wood going. She had heard the sounds from her room. She stood there for a bit, aware that Maggie was intently watching her dad. Allie smiled. She never really understood until she had seen Harper and Cody chopping some wood in their undershirts earlier that summer. She would never tell her father that, but at least she understood women's fascination. Allie cleared her throat and suddenly Maggie became aware of her daughter standing next to her watching her father chop wood.
"Who made Dad mad?" Allie asked.
It took a moment for the question to register in Maggie's head.
"What do you mean?" Maggie asked.
"Dad is chopping like a mad man." Allie said. "Obviously someone did something to upset him. He only chops like that when he is angry or what he calls physically frustrated. Whatever that means."
"I don't know." Maggie said. "He was in town for a couple of hours. He came home, gave me a kiss and then went to the backyard."
"Oh." Allie said. "Well, something must have happened. He will be out there until he calms down. Get used to it. Dad had chopped several dozen cords of wood in the last eighteen months. It is more than I can ever remember him chopping in all the years I have lived with him."
"Where does it all go?" Maggie asked. "I know that the stoves don't use that much and there is a good supply out there, but not that much."
"He makes sure Mrs McCormick and some of the other widows have enough." Allie said. "He also has a good supply at the jail."
"Oh." Maggie said. "Was there something that you needed?"
"I was just going to let you know I was going fishing." Allie said. "I am going to drop my bag at the Montgomerys and then I will be joining Harper for some fishing. Mrs Montgomery said if I caught enough, she would make it up for supper for us."
"Will you be back before church?" Maggie asked.
"Probably." Allie said. "At least to change."
"Okay." Maggie said. "Have fun and be good."
"See you tomorrow." Maggie said.
Allie gave Maggie a quick hug, grabbed her stuff and headed out. Allie knew that it was a perfect afternoon to fish because the sun had come out a little, but it was still cool. Harper was right, it would be good weather for fishing.
… … … …
After Allie left, Maggie continued to watch her husband chop wood. When she saw him wipe sweat from his brow with the back of his hand, she grabbed the towel from the table and a cool glass of water to take to her husband.
"Here." Maggie said, holding both out.
Nathan took the glass, downed it and then reached for the towel, giving the glass back to Maggie. Nathan used the towel to wipe his face.
"Thank you." Nathan said.
"You are welcome." Maggie said.
She then took a few steps closer to her husband. She looked at him with a coy smile. She looked her husband up and down. She loved the look of his taut body. She reached up and cupped his check and kissed him lightly.
"I also wanted to tell you that your daughter left for the evening." Maggie said.
Maggie ran her finger down Nathan's chest as he swallowed hard.
"That is if you didn't wear yourself all out." Maggie said, softly.
She then turned and went back to the house. She set the glass in the sink and stayed there. She was just waiting for Nathan.
… … … …
Nathan swallowed again. He then picked up the ax and his shirt so he could follow his wife into the house. He left the ax at the back door and dropped his shirt and towel on the chair. He then went to his wife who was standing holding the edge of the sink. He wrapped his arm around her waist and moved her hair so he could kiss her neck.
After a few moments, Maggie turned in Nathan's arm and he kissed her quite passionately. He pressed his body against her and the fire that was burning between them into a raging inferno.
"Go wash up and I will be up in a few minutes." Maggie said.
Nathan gave Maggie one last kiss, grabbed his shirt and headed upstairs. Maggie let out a ragged breath, pulled the dutch oven from the oven and set it on the back of the stove. She locked the front door and followed her husband upstairs. Where they spent the next several hours loving each other. It was only as they were laying there and Maggie heard Nathan's stomach rumble did she remember that supper was still on the stove. It was probably done at that point. She knew that it was almost cooked when she had pulled it out. She knew that it wouldn't have burnt, but it might be over cooked. Maggie turned to face her husband and ran her hand across his chest, playing with the small patch of his chest hair.
"That was amazing." Maggie said. "Not that I am complaining, but what prompted this afternoon's intense time together. I mean especially after last night."
"Would you believe me if I said it was just because I loved you so much." Nathan said, his voice rough and gravely.
"Fine." Maggie said. "I will accept that answer, but I know something prompted it. Now get dressed. You promised me a bonfire and after I watched you chop wood this afternoon, I am really looking forward to it."
"Fine." Nathan said.
Both redressed and headed downstairs. While Maggie checked on the food, Nathan made some calls. He knew that Bill was gone, but he still wanted Carson to come out. He also invited Frank and Abigail to come out. He also called and invited Lee and Rosemary to bring PJ down for a bit. Once he was done, he went out back and set the bonfire up in the pit that he had made. When he came back and washed his hands, Maggie handed him a plate.
"Sorry." Maggie said. "It is a little overcooked."
"It is fine." Nathan said. "Still edible."
Nathan said a quick prayer and then ate.