Fire & Ice - Chapter 34: Chapter 34

Two flights in two days while injured is something I never want to do again. The only thing that made it bearable was that I had Cassie by my side, and the three icy hot patches she put on my shoulder just before we boarded the plane, but mainly Cassie. My mom was waiting for us at baggage claim when we got off the flight in Boston. She was super happy to have us be on the ground and in front of her even though I was little to no help in getting the bags off the carousel. Since most of the school year was over, I brought home an extra bag so I wouldn't have to lug it all home at the end of the year.
Mom was just grateful that she took Alyssa's pick up truck with her to the airport. Once everything was loaded into the truck I was finally able to relax a little bit but it didn't last long when we pulling into the staff parking lot of the hospital.
"I should have known." I said and slowly got out of the truck.
"Yes, you should have. Having your shoulder popped back into place with no pain killers was going to hurt and linger. I wanted to have you looked at first thing to make sure there isn't anything underlying from that hit. Now come on, Alyssa is waiting with Doctor Hutchinson to take a look at your shoulder." Mom said after I met her around the front of the truck.
"Come on, the sooner you get looked at, the sooner we can get back to your house and take a nap." Cassie said and slipped her hand into mine.
"Fine" I grumbled and just followed after mom as she us led through the maze that is the hospital until we found Alyssa standing with a doctor in a lab coat. After a quick greeting to Alyssa and the introduction to Doctor Hutchinson, we were taken back into an exam room.
At first the doctor looked up my history and then started to feel up my shoulder and check my range of motion. When he was satisfied, we moved onto an x-ray to make sure the bones didn't chip or fracture. After that came back negative, he wanted to get an MRI to make sure there is no ligament or muscle damage. When I rolled my eyes over to my mom she gave me a stern look that say there was nothing I could say to get out of this one. So I just sighed, nodded and signed my life away on the tablet.
The MRI took about 45 minutes and because the results were rushed, they were waiting for me by the time I got back into the exam room. Just as I sat back down on the exam table the door opened and Doctor Hutchinson walked in. After looking at the images, he told us that there was no damage found anywhere. I sighed in relief a little and sank into the bed. For now the doctor still wants me to wear the sling for the next few days to let my shoulder settle a bit and when I get back to campus he wants me to do some PT for my shoulder. I just nodded and finally we were free to go.
It turns out that mom dropped Alyssa off at the hospital before she came to pick us up from the airport so we all just climbed into Alyssa's truck and went home. This is actually the first time I get to see the new house in person and I was excited. As we pulled into the driveway of the two-story house the color in person is definitely different then it was through a phone screen. The color is this beautiful green grey color with a brown garage door and a small porch right by the door.
I couldn't say anything as mom handed me a key and I slipped out of the truck first. All the emotions caught in my throat as my shaky hand put the key into the lock and turned the door handle. Walking inside for the first time I couldn't help but let a few tears escape. Mom and Alyssa has already set up the living room with a brand-new couch, rug, coffee table and a good-sized TV mounted on the wall. But what caught off guard were all the pictures around the place. Some of mom and me, Alyssa and Mom, Alyssa and what I'm guessing are some of her family members are all on varies different surfaces.
I've been inside of this house for less then five minutes, have only seen one room, and it already feels more like home then the old house. Just as that realization hit me, my knees got weak and I slowly lowered myself to the floor. The ache in my chest over my lack of a familiar tie is finally starting to loosen. Tears were flowing down my cheeks when everyone else came inside.
Mom dropped herself in front of me and she cupped my cheeks in her hands. She tried to wipe away my tears but they just kept coming now matter what I did, they wouldn't stop.
"I know, I felt it too. But there is so much more house for you to see Mac, and you can't do that from sitting here on the floor." Mom said. I only nodded and closed my eyes for a few moments before I wiped my own face down.
Slowly I got up off the floor and followed mom into the dining room that connects to the kitchen. There is no table yet but there are four bar stools that are tucked into and island. I can only assume they are shopping around for a new table and haven't found something they liked yet. After the kitchen we came out to the backyard and found Cassie and Alyssa sitting down in same deck chairs that used to be at the old house. But just as I was about to say something I heard a bark and saw Frank run from the far side of the yard over to me.
I met him at the edge of the deck and laughed as he jumped up on me and started to lick my face. It took a few minutes for him to calm down and when he was done he followed me back over to the three women who were watching me.
"You want to go pick your room?" Mom said.
"Yes" I said and started to get excited again.
"Well then go upstairs. We already bought you a bigger mattress that's waiting to be put somewhere." Alyssa said.
"You didn't have to do that." I said.
"Oh trust me, we did. I think your dorm room bed is bigger then the thing in your old room. Now go take a nap and relax." Mom said.
Cassie got up from the deck chair and turned to me. As she went to take a step her leg shook and gave out but she managed to catch herself from falling by grabbing the back of the chair. I was next to her in an instant and I saw her grimace.
"What is it?" I asked and wrapped my arm around her waist.
"The long travel day and sitting, I got a cramp as I stood up. I'll be fine once we lay down." Cassie said.
"Okay, lets get to bed then." I said and pulled my arm from the sling.
"No, put that back on McKenna." Cassie said ask I wrapped my arms around her waist.
"You heard the doctor, I'm fine. Let me help you up the stairs and then I'll put it back on." I said not caring about my shoulder.
Cassie gave me a look but slowly, she softened and we headed inside. It took us a while to get up on the stairs but when we finally made it we walked down the hall and I found the two bedrooms for me to choice from. Both of the rooms were about the same, the only difference was the size in the closet so I picked the room with the bigger closet. It also happened to have the bed already set up with sheets already on it. Carefully, I unwrapped myself from Cassie and sat her down on the edge of the bed.
Once she sat down Cassie sighed and kicked off her shoes while I unzipped our bags. Quickly, I found a pair of shorts and sweatpants and held them up for Cassie to pick. She pulled the sweatpants from my hands and I changed into the left-over shorts before pulling my shirt off. After that was gone I pulled off my sports bra and found a clean t-shirt to slip into.
"Mac" Cassie said from behind me. When I turned around I found Cassie trying to get her pants off but looked stuck. She didn't have to say anything as I helped slid her jeans the rest of the way down her legs and off. Now that they were gone, I helped her into the sweatpants before I grabbed a new shirt for her to slip into as well. After we were both changed and freshened up in the bathroom, we climbed into bed together and I let out a sigh as how comfortable the new mattress is. I wrapped my arms around Cassie as she laid her head right in the crook of my neck. It didn't take long before we were both asleep.
I only woke up when I felt something wet hit my face. I thought it was weird but didn't think anything of it until it happened again, then again and again. Finally I opened my eyes too see Frank laying on the other side of the bed and is licking my forehead. I groaned and pushed his mouth away from me before turning into Cassie's side more. But that didn't last long when a beam of sunlight hit my face and my eyes opened again to find mom standing in the doorframe with her eyebrow raised.
She didn't have to say anything. I knew we needed to get up now as we probably have been sleeping all day. I just nodded at her and pushed Frank away. He jumped off the bed and barked once as to tell me off before following mom out of the room.
"We've been asleep all day, haven't we?" Cassie asked with her eyes still closed. I reached for my phone on the floor and turned it over to see it was already pushing 6.
"Yea, we need to get up if we want to sleep tonight." I said and rubbed my face.
"Alright, do you know if your mom has any Epsom salt?" Cassie asked.
"Maybe, if not I can run out and get you some. Did you bring some pills with you?" I asked and moved some hair off of Cassie's face.
"Yes, I think I'll take one after we eat dinner. If I can get in a bath too, I'll be good for tomorrow." Cassie answered and opened her eyes.
I didn't answer, just kissed Cassie's forehead before pushing the blankets off of me to climb out of bed. Looking around the room, it's still pretty bare. Other then the bed, there's nothing except the closet doors. I pushed them open and found them empty as most of my stuff is still at the old house. I just rubbed the sleep from my eyes and moved my stiff shoulder around a few times before pulling some socks and a sweatshirt out of my bag.
When I turned around Cassie was getting out of bed trying to stretch her leg out. I gave her a few minutes and gave her a sweatshirt when she was done. Before we left my room I handed her her cane and Cassie sighed.
"Did you ever tell your mom?" Cassie asked and leaned more of her weight on the cane.
"No, I only told her about the scarring I saw that first time I saw it. But even after you told me, I didn't tell her. I wasn't going to say anything if you didn't want me too." I said.
"You should tell her, her and Alyssa. I don't really need to be there for it, but they should know." Cassie said.
I didn't say anything but just kissed her temple and nodded before we made our way down the stairs to the living room. Mom was sitting on the couch with Frank as we made our way inside.
"Alyssa is making burgers for dinner if that's okay with you guys." Mom said.
"That's sounds great, do we have any Epsom salt?" I asked and watched as Cassie sat down on the couch with mom.
"Yea, I have the bag in the bathroom down here if you want it." Mom said.
"I'll get it later after dinner. Tomorrow can we go to the old house to pack up some of my stuff?" I asked and sat on the floor and started to play with Frank.
"Sure, I can lend you the Jeep and you guys can go." Mom said and smiled as Frank ran over me and tackled me to the ground. I couldn't help but laugh at my goofball dog and just played around with him for a while. It didn't take much longer before Alyssa called us into the kitchen for dinner. When we got there Alyssa looked a little disheveled and the kitchen was a bit of a mess and we all could help but laugh.
"The grill isn't here yet! You trying making all of this on the stove top." Alyssa said and put everything down on the island.
We all just laughed a bit and I couldn't help but smile as mom leaned over and gave Alyssa a kiss on the cheek before we dug into the food. Dinner was a quiet affair as both Cassie and I were tired from the last few days. After we were done, I got the Epsom salt from the bathroom while Cassie said goodnight to my mom and Alyssa before we went back upstairs. I went right into the bathroom and started up the water in the tub. Once it was full, I stopped the water and added the Epsom salt and Cassie stripped to get into the bath. It took a few minutes before the warm water started to work it's magic and I could see the relief take over her face.
"I'm going to go downstairs to tell them and get you some water for the pills. Frank will keep you company while I'm away. There are towels on the counter and your phone is right here if you need something." I said. Just as I said Frank's name he appeared and Cassie smiled.
"I do need something before you go." Cassie said.
"Anything." I answered. Cassie smiled and put her wet hand on my cheek and pulled me in to kiss her. I smiled into the kiss and kissed back for another few second before I pulled away.
"Frank stand guard okay?" I said and looked down at the dog sitting right in front of the tub.
I gave Cassie one more kiss before leaving the bathroom. When I got back downstairs, mom was helping Alyssa in the kitchen as I grabbed an ice pack for my shoulder and sat down at the island. I sat in silence for a few minutes before looking up to find them both already looking at me.
"Hey I need to talk to you guys about something." I said ran a hand through my hair.
"What is it?" Mom asked and dropped what she was doing to look at me.
"It's about Cassie. So I never told you what happened but do you remember when I walked into her room and saw her with all the scaring on her leg?" I started.
"Yea" Mom sighed.
"During high school, Cassie got was sick with the flu and took some medicine to help her sleep and she feel asleep with an electric blanket wrapped around her leg. The blanket's timer didn't work and the blanket never turned off and it ended up catching fire. The fire went up the cord and then the blanket caught fire while it was still wrapped around her leg. It was severally burned, the worst being her lower shin and ankle but it went all the way up her leg to her waist and torso." I said.
Mom opened her mouth to say something but nothing came out. Alyssa on the other hand looked up, almost like she was looking for Cassie through the ceiling.
"When she is couped up for awhile or her leg is in the same position, it cramps and gives out on her, like it did earlier today. She still goes to physical therapy to keep the motion up but at this point, her doctors believe the motion she has now, is the most she will have out of her leg. Cass is upstairs in the bath right now to loosen the muscles up; she should be better tomorrow." I informed them.
"How is her leg now, honestly?" Mom asked.
"She has her good days and bad. The weather some times plays a part in it, other days it's just how her body is feeling. It usually only really bothers her after physical therapy." I said.
"If she needs anything while you guys are here, don't hesitate to ask okay?" Alyssa said.
"She wanted me to tell you both what happened. Cassie doesn't really like to talk about it. She is still pretty self conscious about who sees it." I said.
"Okay, if anything comes up we'll talk to you about it, how about you go check on her." Alyssa said and put her hand on mom's back. I just nodded and put the ice back in the freezer before grabbing two water bottles and going upstairs.
When I got up to the bathroom I found Cassie sitting on the towel wrapped in a towel with Franks head on her lap.
"He's a really good dog." Cassie said and her eyes found mine.
"That he is." I said shooed Frank away. Cassie walked herself to my bedroom while I jumped into the shower to clean off from the flight. When I was done I walked into my room and saw Cassie was already in bed taking a pill out of one of the bottles she brought with her. I quickly got dressed before I finished up in the bathroom before joining Cassie in bed. She didn't say anything as I wrapped my arms around her waist but I felt her body relax in my hold.
"They know. If you need anything while you are here to feel more comfortable please tell me or them and we'll get it for you." I said quietly in the dark room.
"Thank you" Cassie said a few moments later. I just gave her a squeeze and closed my eyes, relaxing into sleep.