Body Guard

Cody:

I lingered only a couple more minutes before taking care of the rest of my body and rinsing off. Drying myself was a hassle, but thanks to the thick towels it didn't take me too long before I sat my naked butt into my wheelchair. I didn't bother looking around my room as I wheeled out, going instead for the closet and dresser to gather my clothes and change into them.

Only after I was dressed once more did I realize my bedroom door was open. Muttering a soft curse under my breath I wheeled towards the door and peeked out. "I dunno about you but a nap is still calling my name."

Julie:
I heard the bathroom door open and I glanced up for a second before averting my eyes as he still wasn't dressed. It was only after I heard his voice that I looked up again. I sighed and smiled. "A nap actually doesn't sound half bad right now," I told him. I walked around the counter.

"Do you need any help?" I asked. I imagine I'd ask that question a lot on the next couple of days, but I was sure that I would quickly learn what he did and didn't need my help with.

"No I should be able to handle it. I just wanted to be sure I knew where you'd b-" I cut myself off with a wince while rubbing the back of my head. "I'll be alright." Standing was painful, but it was technically something I could do. I'd have to stand to get in or out of bed, but better that then forcing someone to help me do something I still could do.

Julie:
"Well, just call me if you want anything. Do you want me to wake you up in a few hours to take your medication?" I asked, looking at the clock. The last thing I wanted was for him to wake up in pain. I could probably set alarms on my phone to make sure he never missed a dose.

"Um, yes please." I hadn't considered my medication. Looking at the floor I fidgeted a moment before looking up and smiling weakly at her. "Jules? Thank you. For helping me, being my friend. Just...thank you."

Julie:
I looked back at him in surprise. After a moment of silence, I shrugged. "You make it easy." I told him, simply. It was true. Throughout our whole lives, he's treated me better than anyone else has. It wasn't hard to return the favor sometimes.

My smile grew and my eyes softened at her words. It was such a simple phrase but it made me all the happier for it. "I'll see you in a few hours then." With a small wave I wheeled back into my room and went through the laborous process of getting into bed. With a sigh I sank into the soft sheets, not even bothering to climb under the covers.

Julie:
While he napped, I spent some time on the couch, catching up with current events and bad reality TV. I hadn't realized how disconnected I had become since all this happened. I got so lost in the television, that I jumped when my phone alarm went off. I quickly silenced it and got up, making my way to the kitchen where his medicine was sitting on the counter. I opened the pill bottle and spilled two out into my hand and grabbed a water bottle from the fridge.

I gently opened his door and peeked my head in to see he was fast asleep on his bed, with no covers. I rolled my eyes. I should have checked on him early and gotten him a blanket. I pushed the door open wider so I could get in and stopped next to his bed. I set the pills and the water on the bedside table and leaned in.

"Hey sleepyhead." I whispered. "Its time for meds." I told him. When he didn't budge, I lifted my hand and ran it through his hair. "Cody?" I whispered again.

I wasn't dreaming, I was too deeply asleep for that. I didn't even hear her come in until she was touching me. Her gentle touch had me murmur gibberish before I stirred and opened my eyes. Rolling onto my back I smiled a sleepy little smile up at her. "Hi. Time to be up?"

Julie:
I smiled back at him and let my fingers drop from his hair. "Hi," I said, back. "You have to be up at least for a minute," I replied to his question. I grabbed the pills and the water and held them out for him to take. "You can go back to sleep if you want to, but you should take this first," I told him.

My finger combing had his hair standing up in every direction. He usually kept it shorter, but with the long hospital stay, he hadn't had it cut in a while. Between his sleepy smile, tired eyes and disheveled hair, he looked...cute. I bit my lip at the thought and turned my attention to the sleeve of his shirt. Anything to not look him directly in the eye.

I blinked at the pills then nodded and carefully picked them from her hand. I sat up before tossing them into my mouth I reached for the water, unscrewed the cap and downed half of it before recapping it. Flopping back down I sighed slowly at the comfortable feel of the bed. Much better than the hospital bed.

“‘M gettin’ up.” I promised softly as my eyes drifted shut. “Just gotta get moving first...” A groaned slipped free as I stretched the length of the bed.

Julie:
I smiled and put the water bottle back on the bedside table when he was done with it. "Yeah, you really look like you're getting up," I said, sarcastically as I watched his eyes close again. I took the edge of the fluffy blanket that he didn't cover himself with and danged the corner of it to tickle against his nose. "Come on, its almost dinner time anyway." I urged.

I groaned at her sarcasm, and followed it by swatting playfully at the blanket. Stretching again, I reached over and tried to grab and tickle at her stomach, but I wasn't really aiming. With a sigh I sat up and rubbed my face. "I'm up. See up."

Julie:
I giggled at his wandering hands and side stepped his tickling. When he finally sat up, I put the blanket down and leaned against the side of his bed. "So you had a burger, what else do you want to eat?" I asked. "Lucy says you have free reign of the menu for the week," I told him.

"Mmm...weird as it might be. She makes really good hot and sour soup. Maybe that and some dumplings?" I rubbed at my eyes after speaking and then blinked at her. "For all the watery stuff I had while trying to get better."

Julie:
I pulled my phone out of my back pocket and pulled up Lucy's contact. "I'll text her your request," I told him, typing out the message quickly. Once it was sent, I lowered my phone and looked back at him. "Do you feel better after your nap?" I asked.

"Sore, but I'm pretty sure that's just because of how much moving around I've been doing compared to when I was just sitting there at the hospital. God I miss exercising...but I'm supposed to take it easy on that for another week or so." It was really supposed to be another month, but really who was counting. It would be fine. Probably.

Julie:
It had been a couple week of settling into a routine since Cody had come back home. He was much more independent than I thought he would be. I don't really know why it surprised me. Cody was nothing if not independent.

Cody had started his work as a consultant and it seemed to keep him busy enough. In fact, he left the house more than I did. Which isn't exactly difficult if you never leave the house. I imagine he noticed the lack of security I needed since I hadn't been anywhere off the grounds since he was in the hospital.

I stayed in my PJs for the most of today, no real reason to get dressed up and sorted through the mail. It was mostly junk, but my eyes landed on an invitation that I hadn't seen before. It was a party for some of the people who worked with my father. It was usually held at this beautiful manor that they set up with lights and tables. It was a lot more relaxed than some of the other business parties I attended. It happened every couple of years and while I usually had a good time, I couldn't pretend I wasn't relieved to see that the RSVP date had already passed. It must have arrived sometime that Cody was in the hospital and I hadn't seen it. I guess I couldn't go, even if I wanted to...

I picked up my cell phone and called my father to let him know of the unfortunate events. "Hey dad!" I said, when he answered.

"Julie, what do I owe the pleasure?" he asked, sounding like he was busy shuffling papers around.

"Just wanted to let you know I totally spaced and didn't RSVP to the Harlow Manor event. I wont be going with you this year," I told him, trying to sound gutted about it.

"Oh, sweetheart, don't worry. I RSVP'ed for you. You're good to go. And bring a plus one, as always," he said and my heart dropped.

"Y-you..." I paused and took a deep breath. "Daddy, I'm not sure if I even can go..." I struggled to find an excuse and came up empty. I literally sat home every day.

"Nonsense, you always have a great time! Now, I'm in the middle of this paper work, so let me get back to it. I'll see at the party!" He hung up the phone and left me with my mouth opening, frowning at the invitation.

Cursing under my breath I pushed further in my stretch. My muttering cursed the day, the gym, my physical therapist, my self, even the world at large while my back screamed at me in protest. A soft chuckle was my only answer as my therapist pushed me just a bit further and helped me hold the position.

“Breath Cody. Just a bit longer and we’re done for today.” A sweet voice cheered me on. Veronica was one of my therapists, a pretty woman who knew how to cheer someone on. And it was her husband Mark , a giant of a man, who finally let me go and eased me onto my back so I could lay down for a moment.

“You are getting better. I’d give it a few more weeks and you won’t be needing our help anymore. I’d take it easy for a while after but still.” Mark dusted his hands and dropped a towel and on my face.

I wiped my face free of sweat before tossing it back at him with a grin. “Really think it’s that soon?”

“Well you can walk with discomfort and some pain after a while. Running will come in time, but you are getting better. Still a bit to go yet, but damn does it feel good to see you being able to even feel your legs. You are one stubborn guy.”

For the rest of the hour we did minor work, even a massage to ease a spasm in my back before finally I was released. Climbing back onto my chair I started my way back to Jules wing and my room. No one but my therapists and a few of the gym guys knew I was starting to be able to walk. I wanted to surprise Julie with it at some point and so while I could have made the trip on foot in some discomfort and pain I took the more comfortable and safer route by wheelchair.

Upon entering I raised an eyebrow at the sight of her. Still in PJs but with a miserable look about her. “Someone looks like they got bad news. What’s up?”

Julie:
I looked up when the door opened and watched Cody roll into the room. I knew he had therapy appointment today and a glance at the clock told me it was later than I thought. I guess the days we're getting away from me with nothing on my schedule.

I sighed and walked over to the couch, stopping on my way to miserably hand him the invitation that was the source of my pain. "This stupid party. I don't even wanna go but my dad already said I was going attend," I muttered as I flopped onto the couch. "It's tomorrow! I'm not ready! I have nothing to wear!" I groaned the excuse, knowing it wouldn't hold water. I had an entire closet full of things to wear. As it wasn't a formal event, a simple dress would do fine. I had plenty of those.

I sat up, with a new plan in mind. "Hey! You could help me. Tell my dad I have mono or something!" I looked at him eagerly. "He'll believe you. He trusts you," I rambled, feeling more confident than I did a moment ago.

"Mono? You mean the kissing thing? I'm pretty sure he'd demand to know how on earth you got mono. And unless you've been making out with people I don't know, it's not going to be a good sell." I wheeled closer then read through the invitation.

Raising my eyebrow again I looked up at her, "You love this." It wasn't a question. "Why don't you want to go? And I'm not believing your excuse of nothing to wear. Your closet is practically bigger than my bathroom."

Julie:
I ignored his question and avoided his eyes. "I'm pretty sure you can get mono from like, sharing a drink or something," I said, already knowing the excuse was bad. I didn't want to focus on the kissing part of his statement, for obvious reasons.

I chanced a look at him and sighed when I caught his eyes. I pulled my knees up to my chest and hugged them to me. "I'm scared," I mumbled, finally. "Which is stupid, I know, because I'm not in a wheelchair," I told him, softly. I decided, since I was admitting things, I may as well go full force with it. He was my best friend after all. "I've been having nightmares since-," I said, stopping and gestured towards him. It was fairly obvious what I was referring to. "I can't stop thinking about it."

"....I hadn't thought of that. Regardless, you don't have Mono because no one you are around has it." I stared her down and when she finally looked at me I raised my eyebrows expectantly. I almost wasn't prepared for her to spill it all.

"Jules..." I murmured softly. "You have every right to be scared. What happened was a traumatic thing. That you've dealt with this fear and the nightmares for this long...it's admirable but also silly." Scooting forward I touched her shoulder gently. "Have you thought about talking to someone about this? I'm sure your dad would find you someone in a heartbeat if he knew."

Julie:
I frowned and shrugged at his suggestion to talk to someone. "Even if I did that, it doesn't help me for tomorrow," I said. Not to mention, it didn't exactly appeal to me to talk to a stranger about my problems.

"The other day, while you were at work, Lucy needed someone to run to the store for her. No one else was around and I was down there, so I offered, without thinking about it." I told him. "I called Greg and everything...but the second I got to the car, I froze." I shook my head and looked away again. "Greg had to go by himself," I mumbled, embarrassed.

"This party is going to be impossible and I don't have a good excuse," I said, miserably.

"It doesn't but I really think you should talk to someone. It aught to help you because you can't stay here forever." I pressed further before sighing softly as she continued.

Squeezing her shoulder gently I pulled my hand back and rubbed the back of my neck with it. "So you can't go alone, can't go with someone to protect you. Is there anyone you think you could go with that might make it possible?"