"Random Acts" an Law and Order: Special Victims Unit Fanfic

Chapter 17: Fan the Flames

It was early Monday morning and Rafael was having trouble sleeping. His knees hurt somewhat and he had already woken Olivia up when he woke up from his nightmare and didn't want to wake her again. He watched her sleep for a moment as the top of Olivia's head glistened in the moonlight.  She was facing him and breathing softly as she slept. Because of his knee braces and stitches, Rafael  had to sleep on his back and couldn't get comfortable neither could he sit up on his own. Rafael's wheelchair was parked in the corner and annoyed him he needed it. He couldn't even get into it on his own. Muscular atrophy would set in eventually so physical therapy was the next step when the bones in in his knees healed.

Rafael had a lot of decisions to make for his doctors appointment Tuesday. He already knew his doctors chief complaint would be he wasn't eating enough and losing weight faster than he was putting it on. The truth was he was trying with his food therapist if his anxiety got the best of him. Long term, he could just have the gastrointestinal tube placed in his stomach so he didn't have to have the damn tube shoved up his nose four times five times a day. He was tired of the frequent nosebleeds. Rafael slept two to three hours on a good night, less than than when he had night terrors. He didn't like to worry Liv too much, especially at night.

Olivia was going to work this week for half days. They had spend the past ten days together at home together and it was easier to have someone with Rafael. His mother would stay with him in the mornings while Olivia was gone.  He looked at the clock and it was almost five. He was giving his testimony in court at nine. Leaving the house was a large ordeal so he needed to go back to sleep. He closed his eyes and went back to sleep.

When Rafael woke up the next morning, Olivia was sitting up and pulling her shirt over her head. He watched her with a smile and told her good morning as she flung her hair of if her shoulders.

"Good morning sleepyhead." Olivia said she turned around to see him watching her.

"Good morning. I actually got some sleep last night." Rafael said as Olivia helped him sit up.

"That's good." Olivia said as she helped him sit up and kissed his forehead. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm good but my back is stiff and I need to sit up." Rafael said.

"What do you want to wear today Rafael?" She said. "Also I'm running out space for your suits love."

"Can you help me into my wheelchair? I can pick my clothes and match everything myself."

"You can at least say I did a good job picking last week your suit." Olivia said.

"You did. Pocket square and everything. But I do want some independence and Noah has to get ready for school." Rafael said as Olivia helped him into his wheelchair.

"Let me check in on Noah and make his sandwich for lunch. He's been packing everything himself recently to be a help to us." Olivia said and she stepped into the kitchen.

"Hi Mommy!" Noah said as he sat at the breakfast bar and poured the milk into his cereal.

"Good morning son. Look at you you got dresses and made your own breakfast. Do you want turkey and cheese or peanut butter and jelly for your sandwich?"

"Peanut butter and jelly please." Noah said.

"Today I go back to work so Papi and I are going to drop you off at school and
Lucy is going to pick you up after school alright?" Olivia said as she took the ingredients out and made Noah's sandwich. "Practice your sight words after breakfast while I help Papi get ready."

"Okay." Noah said as he finished his cereal.

Olivia went back to her room and helped Rafael get dressed and ready for the day. Olivia would help him into the bathroom to help him clean up and change the bandages on his stitches. The next thing was helping Rafael put his clothes on. He had learned to button his shirt and pull up his suspenders. Olivia tied Rafael's tie for him and made sure everything looked nice. She then would help him with his shoes and socks. She then put Rafael's knee braces back on. The last thing to do for morning care was feeding tube in medicine. Olivia put the feeding tube in Rafael's nose and poured the formula in through the large syringe. Next Olivia crushed up his medication with water and put it in the feeding tube.