Chapter 10
Caitlyn laid herself next to Vi, finding it much more comfortable than expected. The kind nurse then pulled the blanket over the two young women, before turning down the lights.
"I promise not to tell Ethel on you", Vi joked, as she laid comfortably next to the warm body.
"Will you shut up". Caitlyn said as she shifted uncomfortably at the comment.
"Whatever you say Cupcake". And with that the women closed their eyes.
A few short hours passed in the night, when Vi threw herself awake, before allowing a nightmare to consume her. She looked around as her mind brought her back to where she was. She looked up at the hospital ceiling, as she calmed her breathing, preparing herself to go back to sleep, when she noticed an unfamiliar feeling across her stomach. She looked down, to see a long arm draped across her, just as she noticed the warm breath felt on her neck from the familiar body next to her.
Caitlyn happened to have turned on her side in the night, putting one arm over Vi, while nestling her head into Vi's neck. Vi had never felt such a warm feeling, as she could feel the heat run through her body, as her chest began to tighten with the unfamiliarity it brought with it.
Her first thought was thinking how much she hated it. Hated how she knew it was temporary. Hated that it was done unconsciously by the person holding her. Hated how much this feeling made her feel alive, happy, and safe. Hated that she never felt like she needed something more in her life than this. The feeling of finally taking a breath when you come up from deep water, reminding yourself you're still alive. Knowing in just a few short moments she would be pushed back down, forced to hold her breath once again.
Vi laid still, holding onto the feeling as long as she could, before closing her eyes, and falling back down below the water's surface.
Caitlyn woke up early, as the sun began to shine through the window located on the other side of the room. She slowly pulled herself away from the enforcer, as she tried her best not to wake her. She lowered herself off the bed, hoping she hadn't unplugged or pulled any cords off Vi as she did so.
"You need any help Sherriff", came a soft voice from the other side of the room.
"Just making sure I haven't undone anything", Caitlyn said as she continued to examine the cords.
"Oh, don't worry dear, everything looks fine", Becky said as she began to help fix the bed. "You sleep ok"?
"Better than I thought I would I must admit".
"Glad to hear it".
"Ya, and thanks again for helping me with the bed, even though I'm still not sure it was such a good idea". Caitlyn replied, as she felt somewhat shameful for getting into bed with Vi, when just yesterday she yelled at a poor young girl for just sitting in it.
"Trust me dear, your friend's body is stronger than you think, but her soul, well that's another story, I think having a friendly body next to her helped more than what you realize".
Caitlyn was thrown off by this comment, as she looked at Becky intently. "You see more than what you let on, don't you"?
"I've found that I've always been able to read people, but being a nurse for that past several years has also helped. Seeing broken people coming in all the time, you learn to read them through there facial expressions, and most importantly their humor. Your friend here is strong, but she hides a lot of her insecurities behind her humor. She's definitely broken, and I don't mean physically".
Caitlyn looked at Becky, letting her words rush over her, as she felt the desire to reach down and hug her friend and never let her go filled her.
"Your more right than you will ever know". Caitlyn said as she watched Vi laying hopelessly still. "I only wish I could help her".
"Sometimes it's not about helping a person, it's just being there for them, even when you can't fix the problem".
Caitlyn hated how much sense the nurse was making. She hated it, because she knew she had been the one that was pushing Vi away lately, but what she hated the most is that she had no idea why she had been doing it. Caitlyn wanted to blame Vi for being the one that started making things weird months ago, but the more she had thought about it, she realized it was her.
Just as Caitlyn was delving into her thoughts, Vi began to stir awake. She opened her eyes looking puzzled at the two women staring down at her.
"Did I miss something"? Vi said as she looked up at both of them confused.
"Just talking about how cute you are when you sleep", Becky said, as she walked over to help Vi sit up.
"Ya is that all you were talking about", Vi said as she turned her gaze to a rattled Caitlyn.
"Well, that, and how you drool a little", Caitlyn said as she chuckled.
"Hey, I do not", Vi said as she wiped her mouth.
The three chuckled, before going about their early morning. Becky decided to have Caitlyn help change Vis bandages before she would get her breakfast. The morning ran smoothly as Caitlyn and Vi ate their breakfast together.
Hours swept by, as Becky said her goodbyes and Ethel was in saying her hellos. Caitlyn decided to get herself cleaned up, just in case Vi had more visitors stopping by that day.
"I'm just going to hop in your shower here, that alright"?
"I suppose someone should get to use it", Vi said bummed she was still confined to her bed.
Caitlyn walked to the small door across from Vi's bed and entered the small ensuite bathroom. It wasn't much, just a toilet with a shower, but Caitlyn was grateful for the opportunity to use it, so she didn't have to go home to her empty house.
As she was getting cleaned up, she could hear voices out in the other room talking to Vi. Caitlyn quickly finished and exited to the main room, to be greeted by Vis Dr.
"Good news cupcake, Doc here says I can start to walk around today, you know what that means, no more liquid diet for me". Vi said as she grabbed her stomach to show she's been starving.
"That's great". Caitlyn said, as she walked closer to the Dr.
"Well, I said we want you to slowly start walking, that doesn't mean you leave this room. Just means we want you to start putting some pressure back on your muscles, got to get them stretched back out. But if you overdo it, you could find yourself needing another surgery, understand"?
"Ya Doc, I get. Take things slow".
"Don't forget, your lungs are still needing time to heal too, you're going to find doing small tasks will make you winded".
"I'm just happy to get this catheter out Doc, but I promise I'll take it easy".
"Good to hear, ill send in a couple more nurses to help get that taken care of, they will also remove some of the monitors off your chest. If you're lucky you should be able to go home the next day or so".
"Is she really able to go home so soon Dr"? Caitlyn said, sounding somewhat concerned.
"Well, her biggest threat was infection, but she's nearly made it past the threshold for that, so now it's about if she is able to start doing some simple tasks on her own. We will reassess her tomorrow and see how things go". With that the Dr left room.
Caitlyn sat next to an excited Vi, as she couldn't wait to start to get back to a more normal routine. Just then a couple nurses came through the door.
"Hey Vi, I'm going to step out and give you some privacy, I need to make a phone call to the station, and check in anyway, but ill just be in the hall".
"Sounds good Cait". Vi said as she watched the nurses make their way over to her.
Caitlyn then made her way into the hall, before pulling out her phone and dialing the number to her precinct.
Caitlyn sat in the hall for about 30 minutes, before she saw the nurses exit Vis room, and decided it was safe to return.
As she walked in, she saw Vi sitting up in her bed, looking happy, but slightly uncomfortable.
"You alright there"?
"ugh, I guess, it's just no one can really warn you how uncomfortable it is to take one of those things out you know". Vi said, as she pointed to her crotch.
Caitlyn gave a small reassuring smile. "Ugh ya, fortunately I've never had that opportunity". She said as she tried to sound understanding.
"Then count yourself lucky Cupcake, cause I think that was almost worse than getting shot in the first place".
Caitlyn chuckled at how ridiculous the comment was. "If you say so". she said as she shook her head. "Hey Vi, I'm going to have to leave you for a couple of hours". She said trying not to sound too worried. "The precinct wants me to come down, and give a witness statement today about the shooting, while its still fresh, said they want to come by and see you too, but I told them they can wait till tomorrow, give you a chance to rest a bit more".
"Oh ya, I was wondering when that was going to happen".
"Ya, I guess we can't avoid it forever".
"When do you have to leave"?
"I told them I would come by around 4:30, hopefully with it being end of day, they won't keep me to long".
"Smart". Vi said as she stared at her blanket.
Caitlyn watched Vi, as they both sat nervously. Neither one of them had really talked about what happened that night, and the only time it got brought up, Caitlyn found herself on the hospital floor having a panic attack.
"You going to be ok". Vi said as she began to play with her fingers on the hand that wasn't in a sling.
"Ya, don't worry about me, ill be fine", Caitlyn said, as she reached forward and grabbed her hand and held it.
"Hey Cait, can you help me with something"?
"Sure, what is it"?
"Will you help me put on those shorts and that shirt you got me, I can't stay in the hospital gown any longer. I was going to ask the nurses when they were here, but after that traumatic event, I didn't really feel like having them around you know".
"Of course," Caitlin said, as she went and got the sack of clothes. "I got you some new briefs too, unless you prefer commando", She said trying to break some of the tension in the room.
"You bought me underwear, how do you even know what I wear?…..", Vi immediately put her head in her hands. "Wait don't answer that". She said as she remembered the picture she accidentally sent to Caitlyn.
"mmm, ya maybe we just get you dressed now", Caitlyn said smiling at the fact that is was Vi blushing instead of her. "Let's start with the shirt, probably easier". Caitlyn then moved to the bed and began to undo the straps that held her arm against her chest, taking her time slowing moving things around.
Vi watched, impressed, just how gentle and kind Caitlyn was being with her.
Once the arm was released, Caitlyn sat back. "Alright Vi, how do you want to do this. Once I remove the gown, you're going to well pretty much be naked".
"Ya, didn't think that far ahead". Vi said as she began to turn pink. "We already came this far, let's just do it. But here help me stand up, so this can go faster".
Caitlyn then walked to the side of the bed, as she helped Vi swing her legs over the bed, then bent down a little so Vi could reach her arm around Caitlyn's neck and pull herself up to a standing position.
"Damn, that was harder than I thought it would be", Vi said as she started panting.
"Take your time and hold onto me as long as you need to".
"Thanks Cupcake let's just get this over with now ya"?
Caitlyn then reached behind Vi, untying the gown, and letting it fall to the floor, revealing a very naked enforcer.
Caitlyn closed her eyes just to remember she needed them open to actually help Vi get dressed.
"Try not to stare too long Cupcake". Vi said with a smile.
"Would you please shut up; this is already more awkward than I planned".
"Well, you're not the one standing naked in front of the sheriff, so whenever you're ready hot stuff".
"ugh". Caitlyn muttered as she grabbed Vis good arm, and began threading in through the shirt, before gently taking her injured one, and slowing doing the same, before pulling it over the enforcers body.
They both stood looking at each other, both feeling vulnerable for different reasons. Caitlyn quickly grabbed the white colored boy shorts, sitting next to her. "Halfway done". She said trying to cut through the tension. Caitlyn then bent down, staring at the floor, as she motioned Vi to pick up her injured leg, placing her foot through the leg hole, then proceeding to the other side. With both legs in, she pulled the briefs up Vis body, securing them around her waist.
Vi shuttered, when she felt Caitlyn's fingers slowly run up her legs.
Both women once again looked at each other, both swallowing at the same time. "Alright now, the shorts". Caitlyn said as she grabbed for the pair of athletic shorts, she knew Vi would be comfortable in, and proceeded to do the same processes. Once done Caitlyn stood looking at Vi once again, only mere inches from each other. The heat began to rise between the two, as Caitlyn looked down at Vis mouth, just as Vi licked her lips, Caitlyn found herself being pulled forward by an unknown force, slowly getting closer, just to be ripped back by the sound of the bedroom door being opened.
"Ah Miss Vi, its good to see you standing up, how are you feeling"? Ethel said as she made her way into the room unaware of what she had just interrupted.
"I'm going to go grab a coffee, ill be right back". Caitlyn said as she found herself weirdly out of breath before rubbing her neck, trying to avoid eye contact with Vi, as she darted for the door.
Vi slowly lowered herself on the bed, as Ethel came over and helped her put her legs back on it. "Your timing is impeccable, Ethel". Vi said, trying not to sound to frustrated with her nurse for the interruption.
"Of course, Miss Vi", Ethel said, not receiving the tone properly, as she began putting Vi's arm back in her sling
"Anything else I can get you? I know you haven't been to interested in the tv, but would you like me to turn it on for you"?
"Sure, that would be fine", Vi said as she tried to make herself comfortable.
The tall nurse then made her way to the corner, reaching up and turned on the tv. News immediately came on, talking about the shooting.
"No not this", Vi immediately blurted out.
Ethel then began changing the channels, until some cartoon appeared on the screen.
"Ya, leave it here please, and turn it down just a bit".
"Of course, I'm going to step out for just a moment, but buzz if you need anything else".
Vi then waved off her nurse as she sat on her bed, going over in her mind what just happened with Caitlyn.
'Did I just imagine that', Vi thought as she let her mind wander to the moment the two were standing across from each other. 'No, there's no way that was just in my imagination, Caitlyn was definitely going to kiss me, or was she, damnit, why does this have to be so confusing and complicated'? Vi then turned her attention to the tv screen, not wanting to over think her way into oblivion.
"Hey, I just wanted to stop by before I head out to the precinct, I'm hoping not to be gone to long". Caitlyn said as she stood in the doorway.
Vi sat up a little straighter as she looked at the Sherriff, who was about to leave. "Hey Cait, just be safe, and remember to breathe ok".
"I know, I promise I'll be alright and ill be back before you know it. You want me to pick you up anything while I'm out, you know since you can now eat solid foods"?
Vis eyes instantly lit up at the thought of not ingesting more liquid.
"mmm, maybe a donut, and a scone, you know from that corner bakery just up from the precinct".
"You got it", Caitlyn said as she made her way out of the hospital.
