Wildflower

Forty-Seven

Pain, not something she was unaccustomed to in her line of work. But this was different, she could tell instantly, whatever had happened had been more than just a scratch, a bump, a break.

"Ouch." Her voice comes out in a very dry and sharp squeak.

"How long have I been asleep?" She wonders silently to herself

A mental assessment immediately tells her it's been a while. Her arms are stiff and heavy, neck feeling as if it is cracking in twelve thousand places as she try to turn at all. Fingers shaky and weak feeling as she brush them over her stomach and chest, the defined tone of the muscles of her abdomen missing, replaced by the outline of her lower ribs more prominent than they have ever been in her lifetime. Her hands are cold too, sending shivers and goosebumps across her skin.

The worst yet though occurs as she tries to move her toes, not getting a response from her lower extremities. Focusing harder She finally feel her left foot twitch.

"AH!" She gasp sharply, the small movement sending searing pain shooting through her leg.

"Wha-" She glance to her side, seeing Zac lifting himself off the couch under the window. He looks like hell, hair greasy and unkempt, even in the shadows of the night she can see the dark bags hanging below his eyes.

"Zac."

Panicked Zac turns quickly, his eyes as wide as saucers as he takes in the sight before him.

"Zepp-Zeppelynn?" He asks shakily. Standing slowly and moving towards the bed in the middle of the room.

"Zac something's wrong!" Zeppelynn whispers, fear in her voice.

"Oh my gosh!" He immediately crashes down halfway on top of her, hugging her tightly in his arms, sobbing unexplained and uncontrolled into her shoulder.

"Hey, Hey, what's going on Zac? Something's wrong, I need help."

"Fuck, they told us to say our goodbye's. I can't believe you're awake." Zac sniffles, "Everyone thought we had lost you. Everyone."

"How, how long have I been out? What happened?" Zeppelynn frowns as she truly takes in the pure exhaustion on Zac's face as he sits up.

"About six weeks."

"Fuck." she sighs, "Somethings wrong with my legs Zac, I can't move my right at all, and it hurts like a bitch to move my left even slightly."

"We can get the doctor in here, they're going to be as shocked as I was that you're awake. Everyone but Calum had lost hope."

"He stuck around through this?" Zeppelynn turns to smile at Zac.

"Yea." Zac chuckles, "You found a good one in him."

"Can you get the doctor Zac?"

"Ya, I'll call your dad too, everyone is going to be so excited. Your dad isn't going to believe it until he gets down here and sees you for himself."

"Doctor, Zac, I need the doctor."

***

Calum sits himself up in the hospital bed, ready to not be sleeping in the unnecessarily uncomfortable bed. Reaching for his phone only to have his breath hitch in his throat.

Zac Rivers

She woke up.

"You look rather shell shocked and chipper this morning." The nurse smiles as she comes into the room.

"They said she woke up. I have to get down to her room before we head to therapy, I have to see for myself that she is awake." he looks up at her, panicked at the hope that is building in his chest.

"Let's get you some breakfast and get going then. We can make a stop on our way down to the rehab clinic." She nods, putting the tray of mediocre food on the bed for him. Another plus of leaving this place will be having food that actually tastes good.

"Did the therapist say when he thought I could go home?" Calum asks between bites as the nurse takes his vitals.

"Soon, a day or two more probably. Gotta get you up on the crutches and comfortable on them before you can go. But you're getting closer everyday."

"Good. I have work stuff next week and need to be out of here to do it."

"You should be." She smiles, "Wow, you ate fast."

"I have things to do." he shrugs, easing himself off the bed into the wheelchair, maneuvering himself towards the bathroom to clean up just a little bit before heading down.

Fifteen anxious minutes later his nurse pushes him through the door into Zeppelynn's room, his eyes burning the instance he sees her turn, still tired and sickly looking but awake, reactive, her.

"Hey." He chuckles to hold back tears.

"The man with hope." Frank grins at him, looking a million times better than he had even the day before.

"I told you not to lose hope just yet. The world wasn't done experiencing Zeppelynn McCabes." Calum chuckles.

"Why are you in a wheelchair?" Zeppelynn speaks up, frowning at the sight in front of her.

"Um, I might have had my own accident, and coma, and well." Calum shrugs, motioning to the chair, "But I'll be back on my feet within a day or two and headed home also. Don't worry about me Wildflower. It's really good to see you awake again." he sighs.

"You're okay though?" She pushes.

"Nothing permanent, just some physical therapy on my hip. I'm just fine. What about you? How are you feeling?"

"Fine. I've got some tests and scans later. We'll see what they say. Who knows what happened to my body while in a coma and what issues the accident caused." Calum frowns as her eyes turn to her lap not meeting his, something in her tone coming off cold.

"Is something wrong Z?" Calum asks, moving closer to the bed, reaching out to take her hand. Frowning as she yanks it away from him before he can.

"No. I just want all the answers so I know what I'm dealing with. Thank you for coming by to see me Calum. It means a lot that you've stuck around and cared through all of this. I'm just... overwhelmed right now." She shrugs, curling her arms around herself and seeming to move away from him somewhat.

"It's okay, I was too when I woke up. Let me know if I can help with anything Z. I want to help okay? I have to get to my physical therapy appointment, but I can come back after."

"I'll be in scans all day. Um, I'll, I'll call you or text you when you can come back." she nearly interrupts him before he can finish.

"Oh, okay. I'll be waiting to hear from you then. I hope your scans go well today."

"Thanks." She glances at him, smiling softly.

Calum waits a couple moments before rolling himself backwards, feeling let down. She hadn't let him touch her at all. After weeks, she'd barely spared him a glance and she was so cold and reserved. He'd imagined this moment so many times over the last six weeks, the dream version of it was the version he expected, slightly modified due to his wheelchair and injuries, but nonetheless... He'd expected happy tears and warm embraces, kissing her lips and pure joy.

But as the nurse pushes him towards the elevator again he can't help but feel very underwhelmed and nervous. Why did she seem to not want him around, and what was she hiding from him. She came back, he can't lose her now, not like this...

-------------------------------
What's going on with Z?

What will the doctors say about her recovery?

How will this affect Calum and her and their relationship?

Vote and comment!

I love you guys!!!

~M =)