Page 40 of Perfect Chemistry

When Jenny would start to get stressed about what I was giving up, I would just remind her that it was about us. We could only take this one day at a time, and hope like hell that everything worked out.

Chapter 14

“How was everything last night?” the doctor asked after entering the hospital room.

“Rough,” Tyson grunted, trying to sit up from the small bed.

“Fever?” the doctor asked.

Tyson shook his head, and looked to the other side of the room. “No. No fever. Just nightmares.”

The doctor nodded. “It’s to be expected. I can put in a prescription for something to help with the sleep, but it may slow the recovery.”

“Let me think about it,” he grunted.

The doctor nodded again. “I’ll let you get to it then. Just page if you need a nurse to help this morning,” he offered before slipping back out of the room.

Tyson stood slowly and stretched. He hurt all over. He had barely slept last night, and the bed they had given him was uncomfortable as hell and way too small for his massive frame. Grabbing his hygiene bag, he walked into the ensuite bathroom to shower and clean up.

Twenty minutes later he was clean shaven, showered, and dressed for duty. “Time for physical training,” he said, walking to the opposite side of the room.

Katie was in a coma for nearly a month, but was finally out of danger. Although she still hadn’t spoken a word in the two weeks since coming out of it, he could tell when she was conscious versus when she slept, even if her eyes never opened for more than a few seconds.

Her body was still too weak to do anything, so Tyson made a point to move her limbs for her every day. The physical therapists had shown him how to massage and move her arms and legs to prevent muscle atrophy. He followed the same routine each morning. He started with her arms and shoulders, then worked down to her legs. Once they were done with what he referred to as Preston Pilates, he would give her a sponge bath, wiping down her entire body. He even had a soft rubber cap that went over his finger to brush her teeth.

As he was finishing work with her legs, he thought he heard her grunt. Normally, he would talk constantly about what a beast his girlfriend was to get through PT each day without a single complaint. He talked about the unit’s redeployment, and read aloud the cards that were sent from friends and family.

He met Katie’s parents and sisters shortly after Katie arrived at the military hospital, and Tyson convinced them to go home after the first two weeks. Her mom still came down every weekend, and that was when Tyson would travel home to check in with the unit.

“You finally going to start talking back?” he asked, chuckling at her. “You think a month of Preston Pilates, and you have what it takes to come at me? Come on, baby girl. Show me how tough you are,” he taunted as he continued her therapy.

He watched her eyes flutter a bit, but they couldn’t stay open. “Kept me up all night moaning, now you want to challenge me, huh? I’m waiting, Preston. Show me what you got!” He said more forcefully, though his hands continued the same gentle massage and stimulation to her muscles.

She was quiet for the remainder of the therapy and massage. As Tyson began to pull back the blankets to wipe down her skin the blankets caught. He looked down and saw that Katie held the blankets in two tight fists at her sides.

His heartbeat picked up, as he looked from her hands to her face. “Baby girl, it’s Ty,” he cooed softly, and brushed her cheek. “It’s just me and you. I won’t let anyone else touch you, baby. I’ve got you.”

Her eyes fluttered again, and he watched her try to open them. “What’s the matter, baby girl? You shy on me now?” He teased her.

He watched her cheeks blush, and almost barked out a laugh. “You better open those beautiful brown eyes, Katie. Look at me. I know you’ve been waking up. I know you’re in there. Open your eyes. Look at me, Katie.”

The nurses heard Tyson’s voice becoming raised. In the time that he had been by this woman’s side, he had never once raised his voice. He had always spoken low and calmly, but now he was almost barking orders at the unconscious women in the bed.

Tyson heard the door open behind him, but he couldn’t pull his eyes away from Katie. What if she opened her eyes and he missed it. “Damnit, Preston. Open your eyes, or I won’t go easy on you. It’s time to get to work, Marine!” he yelled.

“Gunnery Sergeant-” the nurse approached and started to pull Tyson back. “This is not how we do things here!” She was going to remove him from the room.

“OPEN YOUR EYES OR I’M LEAVING!” He yelled. “THEY’RE MAKING ME LEAVE! OPEN YOUR EYES, KATIE!”

Three orderlies had come in to help the nurse, each assuming the caretaker had finally lost patience with the extended convalescence. It wasn’t the first time a caretaker had lost their fight and the frustration took over. “Let’s go. You need to leave now.”

“duh”-

Tyson couldn’t pull his eyes away. “Shut up!” He yelled at the noisy nurse and orderlies now trying to pull him away.

“That’s it-”

“Damnit, SHUT UP!” Tyson bellowed. “My wife is talking to me!”

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