Chapter 7
CHAPTER
SEVEN
Prophet
While we wait for whatever else Phoebe has to get done to be accomplished, I look at Data and ask the question that’s been bugging me. “How do you know Ella?”
He looks at her then says, “We met during one of her other assignments, before I joined the club.”
Phoebe perks up and whisper-yells, “Ella? This is—”
“Yes, yes, it is,” Ella quickly replies, leaving me completely in the dark. “Now, can we drop the subject?”
As far as I’m concerned, I’m just getting started, but a quick squeeze from Phoebe has me turning to her to see her mouth, ‘I’ll fill you in later, okay?’, so I nod and change the subject. “You said you have about two more weeks, right, Phoebe?”
“Yeah, give or take a day. I don’t remember if Thelma is wound care certified or not, but if she isn’t, I’ll have to see who the doctor recommends locally because at least once a week, the wound vac has to be changed,” she says.
“How does that work to heal the wound, though? I would think it would take a lot longer,” I question.
“It’s actually kind of cool, at least to me,” she says.
“So, it uses continuous suctioning, just like a vacuum, that removes excess bacteria and drainage, increases blood flow to the injured area, and pulls the wound edges together. Since the doctor just cleaned it, it’s unlikely whoever comes to put it on will do it again, but they might, so I guess we’ll see.
Anyhow, there’s a special foam that they cut to fit the wound, then there’s a piece of thick plastic that’s placed over it.
A tube is inserted and once the vacuum is turned on, it sucks out the excess air while putting negative pressure on the whole thing. ”
“I don’t think it’s actually plastic, Fee,” Ella teases. “Or at least, not the regular kind. Maybe medical grade? I should know this because I added that certification not too long ago, but I don’t. The cool thing is you can see the progress almost every week.”
“How are you going to be able to work with it attached to you?” I ask.
Phoebe shrugs. “I have no clue, but they probably have a sling or something since it’s attached. I guess we’ll find out soon enough.”
Hours, and I do mean hours, later, Phoebe’s finally given her discharge papers and Ella heads down to get the truck they borrowed pulled around.
Data and I will follow behind them, since I know both women are exhausted.
He’s with Ella so I turn to Phoebe and say, “Quick, hurry and tell me what the deal with the two of them is.”
Phoebe looks around then whispers, “He’s the one who got away, according to Ella. They had a short, intense relationship while she was on a contract, then poof, it was over.”
“Huh. Well, from how they were acting during our wait, I don’t think the feelings have gone anywhere for either one of them,” I muse.
“You noticed that, did you?” she teases. “I honestly don’t know more than that except that we’re bound to figure it out because I suspect Data is as hard-headed as my best friend.”
“Wonderful,” I grumble. “Well, if nothing else, he can help me and whatever crew I go out with so he’s not just sitting around twiddling his thumbs.”
She starts laughing and I briefly wonder if all the meds combined with what they did to her have caused her to go over the edge. “How much do you wanna bet that he’ll figure out a way to go with her when she’s in the field? Because I don’t see him moving too far from her side at all.”
“You may be right,” I concede. “Wonder if we should swap RVs? Let Data stay with Ella and you can stay with me.” Her face flushes which has me smirking. “It’s worth looking into, sweetheart.”
She’s about to say something when I see a huge truck pull to a stop right in front of us.
Pushing the wheelchair that the hospital made Phoebe use closer, I open the door then before she can utter a word, lift her up and into the passenger seat.
Leaning in, I make sure her seatbelt is secure then say, “Y’all give me a few to grab my bike and I’ll be ready to go. ”
When we arrive back at the camp, I pull up next to where Ella has parked, shut down my bike then rush to the passenger side to help Phoebe out.
I know she’s still a bit woozy from all the medication she was given while in the emergency room, so I scoop her into my arms and start walking to the RV that Data brought.
“Wait, where are we going?” Phoebe asks as Data unlocks the door and I head up the stairs.
“We’re in this one because you need more room than the bunk you’ve been sleeping in, sweetheart,” I reply, gently letting her down then holding her steady while she gets her bearings. “You’ll be more comfortable sleeping in a queen-sized bed since you have your wound vacuum.”
I’m thankful that because of Thelma’s contacts she didn’t have to wait for one to come in; one of those medical companies brought it to the hospital for Phoebe’s use and she’ll come home with it since they have a branch in our state as well.
Not that she’s paying for it, thank goodness, since the injury happened while she was working.
“Fine,” she mumbles. “I need to see if Thelma has any of those giant ice packs for when the nerve block wears off.”
“She doesn’t, but I have your prescriptions,” Ella replies, having come inside. “So, I’ll dose you up through your PICC line, then leave the oral meds in case of breakthrough pain.”
“I’m hoping it won’t hurt too much,” Phoebe says. “But it was pretty bad after it happened, and with everything the doctor did, I’m sure it’s raw and swollen, so I won’t complain about being prepared.”
“Good. Now, what do you need from Ella’s place?” I question. “Because I think you need to get comfortable while I go see what there is to eat.”
“Got that covered, brother,” Data says. “I mean, the food. Ella can grab her some clothes.”
“I just want to sit down for a few minutes,” Phoebe murmurs.
“Okay, then you sit there while the three of us gather everything,” Ella replies.
She walks over to Phoebe and leads her to the couch which apparently has recliners on each end since she activates it into a lounging position so Phoebe can relax.
Then she grabs a decorative pillow and props her arm up, setting the wound vac to the side.
It’s not very loud, but I guess that’s because it’s a contained system, not that I totally understand what it does, despite Phoebe’s earlier explanation. Still, if it helps her heal quicker and keeps her wound from becoming infected, I don’t particularly care if it’s loud or not.
“You stay put,” I instruct, leaning in to kiss her. “We’ll be back in a few, I promise.”
Her eyes are closed and she’s leaned back, so I can see the exhaustion on her face much clearer than before.
I’m sure the pain she was in earlier didn’t help, which means my first goal once she’s eaten is to get her comfortable so she can get some sleep.
If nothing else, I know that rest helps in the healing process.
Data readily agreed to go stay with Ella and once all of us ate, the two of them took off for the night.
He plans to take my place helping out tomorrow so I can stay by Phoebe’s side since Thelma told her to take the next few days off.
Part of the reason for that is the nerve block still has her arm mostly numb, but the other is because she needs a few days on her antibiotics before she’s around other people.
As I lead her into the bedroom, I marvel at how she seems to be taking everything in stride.
Honestly, she couldn’t be more perfect for me or my daughter; she seldom gets upset, nor does she fly off the handle.
“How are we going to do this?” she asks as she looks at the bed.
“It’s not like I can detach this, after all. ”
Right now, her wound vac is in a carrying case, and Ella lengthened the straps, so it fits on her like one of those crossbody purses. But she’s not going to be able to sleep like that, at least not comfortably.
“How do you sleep?” I ask. At her confused look, I add, “On your side? Your back? Your stomach? That’ll help us figure out the best way to get you set up.”
“Usually on my side,” she admits.
I walk toward her and gently cup her face with the palms of my hands. “Let’s get you more comfortable, sweetheart.”
She huffs out a laugh while waving her right arm. “I can’t feel my left arm from right above my elbow down to the tips of my fingers, Eli. Right now, it’s dead weight. Plus, it’s not like my shirt will easily go over this thing,” she spits out, pointing at the case holding her wound vac.”
“How fond are you of the shirt you’re wearing?” I ask.
“It’s a shirt, Eli, nothing special,” she replies. “Why?”
“Because I’m about to get it off you,” I tell her, pulling out my Swiss army knife. “Now, stay still, Phoebe, I think you’ve had enough excitement for today.”
Within seconds, I have the left side of her shirt cut so I’m able to slip it across her body.
As it falls to the floor leaving her in a sports bra and scrub pants, I feel my dick waking up and mentally think, now is not the time.
We have the rest of our lives to explore each other; right now, I want my woman comfortable.
“Well, that was easy,” she remarks, pulling me out of my head. “I mean, I can temporarily disconnect the wound vac, of course, but I was kind of worried about the PICC line since I didn’t think to ask for a cover.”
I look at the special IV that the hospital inserted and snap my fingers.
“Hold on, I think Ella brought something to help with that.” Striding back into the living area of the RV, I find the bag marked ‘medical shit’, which makes me chuckle knowing that Ella and probably Thelma did that to make Phoebe laugh, and open it.
When I find the sealed package that says ‘PICC line sleeve’, I open it and take it back into the bedroom.
“Did you see the first aid kit that Ella and Thelma put together for you?” I ask as I slide the sleeve up her arm.
The downside to her having a wound vac on her left arm is that the PICC line is on the right side, which is her dominant arm.
I suspect that she’s going to be curtailed from many of the things she’s been doing since both areas need their own protection.
She giggles and nods. “Yeah, I don’t think ‘medical shit’ is necessarily appropriate, but we have dark humor for a reason, you know?”
Once it’s in place, I ask, “Do you like this sports bra?”
“Eh, it was easier since I can’t exactly go braless and Ella didn’t feel like searching for one of my camisoles that has a built-in bra,” she says. “Let me guess, you’re cutting that off too.”
Laughing, I nod as I pull my knife out once again and free her from the confines of her sports bra.
“Damn, Phoebe, you’re gonna make this difficult as hell, aren’t you?
” I mutter when I see her breasts. They’re the perfect handful for me, and seeing the dark, rosy tipped nipples that are just begging to be sucked has me groaning out loud.
I watch a pinkish flush cover her chest and cheeks, but she doesn’t cover them, she stands there while I look my fill.
“Fucking beautiful, Phoebe,” I murmur as I lean in to briefly kiss her.
It’s a bit challenging to slip her nightgown on since her left arm is basically useless, but months with Cami have made me something of a professional when it comes to dressing an unwilling person.
Not that Phoebe isn’t willing, she’s just not able.
When I have to help take her scrub pants off, she out and out blushes.
“Um, Eli? I need to use the bathroom,” she says. I let her go and she practically runs down the hallway to the bathroom that’s surprisingly luxurious given the fact that we’re pretty much in a tiny home on wheels.
While I wait for her to do her thing, I pull the covers back on the bed then go in search of the extra pillows from the bed that’s over the driver’s cab.
My plan is to build her a pillow fort of sorts to rest her arm on, then put another one under her right arm to cushion the PICC line.
My poor woman is probably going to be uncomfortable while she deals with getting the IV antibiotics for the next ten days.
“Thank you, Eli,” she whispers as we lie curled up on the bed. My arm is around her waist, providing support for her right arm, with the wound vac nestled against her abdomen. The tube is draped over my arm, and I can feel the slight vibration of the machine.
If not for the circumstances, it would be soothing.
“You’re my ol’ lady, Phoebe, it’s my privilege to help take care of you,” I reply, kissing the spot on her neck below her ear. I grin when I feel her shiver, happy that she’s as affected by my nearness as I am hers.
The only reason she doesn’t feel my dick pressing against her hip is because of the pillow that’s between us. Right now, there’s also an ice compress underneath since her nerve block will likely start wearing off while we sleep.
“I miss Cami,” she says, her voice sounding drowsy.
“She misses her mama,” I tell her.
Her body tenses then she sighs. “But I’m not her mama.”
“For all intents and purposes, yes, you are. You might not have given birth to her, but in every other way, you’re her mother, Phoebe. Now, let’s get some sleep since I’m sure at some point, everything will wear off and you’ll end up in pain.”
“If it’s too early, I’ll have to walk you through how to administer the pain meds through the PICC line.”
“Good thing I’m a quick study, sweetheart. I love you and I’m so fucking glad you weren’t hurt worse. We’ll talk more in the morning.”
“Love you too, Eli.”