Rejection and Redeemed

Chapter 35

CHAPTER 35

J acob was happily munching on his breakfast. Lovely bacon on toast with a coffee and a bowl of hot chicken broth. Sure the coffee was in a cup, not a mug, but it was coffee, lovely hot coffee and sure, there wasn’t much bacon, but it was a start.

Fran laughed at him while eating his own full-on English breakfast.

“You can laugh, but look, I have bacon and coffee,” he said, picking up a piece and waving it at Fran, before biting into it.

“You do,” Fran agreed. “And as soon as James finishes putting in the grab rails and stool into the shower, you can have one.”

“Today is a good day.”

Robbie had checked Jacob over and was surprised to see the stomach injury was almost healed. He had disconnected the heart monitor and taken out the cannula, but warned Jacob to wait an hour after eating before having a shower.

Jacob finished his breakfast and flopped back against his pillows. “Okay, how did eating breakfast wear me out?

“Because you’ve been really ill, babe. It will take a few days to regain your strength.”

“Yeah, but just eating? Now my happy bubble just burst.”

Fran patted his arm. “Poor baby. Now you know why Robbie said to wait an hour or so before you try and shower.”

“Yeah, I can see that. Plus, he said he was waiting for my walker to turn up.”

“Hopefully you won’t need it for long, just until your strength returns.”

“Yep. I just need to be patient.” He paused. “When do you have to go back to work?”

“Whenever I want to. I took a leave of absence for personal reasons, I didn’t give them a time limit. I might pop in later as I’ve a lovely patient who is dying that I’d like to see.”

“You can go now if you want, Joe will be up when he finishes breakfast.”

Fran shook his head. “I’ll wait until after your shower, as you’ll probably fall asleep then.”

“Okay, but just know, if you want to go back to work, I’ll understand and no, that’s not me wanting to get rid of you. You told me how much you like being a nurse. I can imagine you bringing a smile to everyone’s face.”

Fran was touched and, moving the food trays out the way, took Jacob’s hand. “I do what I can.”

“I wonder if our decorating tastes will be the same,” Jacob commented, switching topics.

Fran grinned. “We can have fun finding out.”

“Excuse me, Fran, Jacob,” James said from the bathroom doorway. “The grab rails are installed as is the stool. It’s secured to the wall, so when not needed can be put up. I’ve left it down for you and cleared everything up.”

“Thanks, James,” Fran said.

“Yes, thank you,” Jacob added.

“Feel better soon,” James said, before leaving the room.

“It’s been nearly an hour, do you want to try the shower? I’ll help you walk there,” Fran offered.

“Please,” Jacob said.

“Okay, stay here a bit and I’ll make sure everything is ready for you,” Fran said, jumping up. He walked into the bathroom and a few moments later came out and went into the wardrobe.

Jacob watched him walk out with a clean pair of Jacobs PJs. Fran took his PJs to the bathroom, then came out, smiling.

“The shower is fully stocked, towels are ready and your clean PJs are on the hook. Let’s get you out of the bed and into the bathroom.”

Jacob threw off the bed covers, moved to the edge of the bed, and stood, wobbling a bit but staying upright. “I’m standing and it doesn’t hurt.”

“Now try walking,” Joe said, coming into the room, carrying a walker.

“I might try without the walker,” Jacob said, full of confidence.

“Just know that when you fall on your face, I’m laughing my head off,” Joe told him.

“I’m not falling cause Fran is going to help me,” Jacob said, looking at Fran.

Fran fake sighed. “Fine, I’ll help you.”

“Seriously, Jake, do you want me to walk the other side of you?” Joe offered.

“Let’s see how I get on first with Fran helping me.”

Fran wrapped an arm around Jacob’s waist. “Ready?”

“Yep.” They started walking. “Have I told you how much I’ve missed having a shower?”

“Maybe,” Fran said, helping Jacob across the room.

Jacob stopped by the bathroom door and leant on the door frame, breathing heavily.

“You okay?” Fran asked softly.

Joe rushed to his side. “What can I do?”

“Nothing, thanks. That was a long exhausting walk.”

“Look, there are about five paces to the toilet. Sit on the lid and have a rest before having a shower,” Joe suggested, looking into the bathroom.

“Yeah, let’s do that.”

Fran helped Jacob to the toilet, closed the lid and helped Jacob sit down.

Jacob smiled at him and Joe. “A few minutes here, then I’m making use of that lovely-looking stool in the shower. And I hate to ask, but, Joe, can you bring the walker in here and I can use it when I’ve finished?”

“I can do that,” he said, going out to get it.

“Do you want me to help you into the shower?” Fran offered.

“You just wanna see me naked,” Jacob said playfully.

“I’ve already seen you naked, remember, babe?” Fran reminded him.

“True. But now you can see me naked stood up, not about to throw up. I’ll be fine on my own, but maybe don’t close the door fully.”

“I can stay here and wait, I promise to close my eyes.”

“You don’t need to close them, but it might be best if you stayed,” Jacob admitted.

“And I’ll just leave your walker here and close the door behind me,” Joe said, rolling the walker off to the side of the bathroom and pulling the door closed.

Jacob sighed. “Okay, I can do this,” he said, standing up. He walked to the shower and turned it on, then he stripped out of his PJs and, using the grab rails, walked to the stool and sat down under the shower head, which had been positioned lower for ease of use. On a low shelf were all of his toiletries.

It took a while but Jacob washed himself all over and washed his hair.

“Showers are the best,” he said loudly to Fran.

Fran laughed and picked up the dirty PJs, putting them into the laundry basket. “Yep, showers really are,” he replied walking to the shower closer to the shower to perv on Jacob.

“But I’m exhausted now. Clean but exhausted.” Jacob turned off the shower and leaned against the wall.

Fran took a large towel off the hook and held it out to Jacob. “Use the grab rails to pull yourself up and to help you walk to me and I can dry you.”

When Jacob was close Fran wrapped the towel around him.

“Sit on the toilet lid while I dry you, babe,” Fran said a little huskily, leading Jacob over to the toilet. Fran couldn’t wait until Jacob was recovered and he could turn drying him into foreplay.

Jacob slumped down and let Fran dry then dressed him in his clean PJs. What Jacob wouldn’t give to be well, and instead of being slumped down and beyond tired, he could turn being dried into fun times.

“Ready to go to bed?”

“More than. But I’m gonna pee in the toilet first. The nice toilet and not a plastic bottle.”

Fran laughed. “Can I suggest you pee sitting down?”

“Yeah, that might be wise. I can do this bit though.”

“Okay. I’ll be outside, call if you need me.”

“Will do, sweetheart, thanks.”

Fran put the towel in the laundry basket on the way out, pulling the door behind him.