ways_infirmary | (no subject)

(no subject)

In the late afternoon, Hank comes by where Jack is resting and smiles as he sees the man awake. A pile of clothes sits on a chair nearby the bed. Hank checks the monitors one more time to make sure all is well and starts unhooking the IV.

"How are you feeling, Jack?"

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Jack gives Hank a weak smile. "Like I've been hit by a truck," he says, his voice still hoarse. "How do I look?"

"More or less like you got hit by the truck's bigger cousin and left for the smaller cars to run over a few times. But healing, and fast."

He smiles as he gently slips the IV unit out of Jack's arm and replaces it with a bandage.

"You have some good friends and a remarkably devoted daughter. I had rather more help than I could use, yesterday."

Jack folds his arm to put more pressure on the bandage out of habit. Not surprisingly, this isn't the first time he's had to have an IV in.

"Yeah, I know I do," he says softly, his face getting a little red. "Though I think Nita won't be too happy next time she sees me."

"She will get over it, especially if you explain. She might not be happy, but, she will get over it. She cares for you. A lukcy man you are. And thankfully you made it back here."

He taps the monitors once, then nods.

"You should be okay to head to a room today, as long as you take it easy. There is a lift on the stairs now, and I would urge you to use if for the next few days. Those immobilizers, the ones on your hand and knee need to stay on for a week or so. After that, you should be okay."

He smiles.

"Good, I was wondering how I was going to manage those stairs. Anything I need to know about daily stuff with the immobilizers? Showers, that sort of thing?"

"They can be taken off, by touching the small button there, which loosens or tightens them. But they are also waterproof. So, if the first time you do it, it hurts enough, just leave them on, they wont hurt being on for a week. After that, you weill need some exercise to get the muscles there in both back up to speed, but I am sure you can manage that quite handily."

He picks up a pile of clothes from a chair.

"I believe these were left for you by you daughter, or one of your friends."

Jack nods, glad that he can have a real shower with the immobilizers on. A hot shower sounds like heaven at the moment.

He takes the pile of clothes: a pair of sweatpants, sweatshirt, and those black bear slippers Kim had given him for his birthday more than a year ago, to him. On top is his wallet and keyring, which he places on the table beside his bed for the time being.

"Thanks, Hank. I think I can manage these."

Hank nods and steps outside the curtain, drawing it for Jack's privacy. Not that there was much left at this point, but no need to say that.

"I wont ask how you got your wounds, but will you be headed into danger from here, and if so, do you need any help?

Jack shakes his head, but smiles. a little touched by Hank's concern. "No, it was over when I made my way here. When I leave the Bar--which won't be any time soon--I should be okay. Thanks, Hank."

"Friends, remember, look after one another's asses. Besides, patching you up with three distraught ladies standing by isnt all that fun either. If I can avoid that by beating up some idiots? Sounds good to me."

He grins a little and it probably shows in his voice.

"Other than the obvious last little while, how was your time back home?"

Jack tilts his head slightly as he slowly sits up. "All right. Peaceful for the most part," he says after a moment. 'Lonely' would be the better word to describe it but that would take more explanation.

Hank listens.

"Yeah? Well, hopefully, this will be a peaceful time for you here."

"I hope so, though Milliways is usually anything but peaceful," he says, wryly.

"Very true. Well, if nothing else, hopefully it will be not as stressfully chaotic."

He chuckles.

"How are you doing in there?"

Jack's managed to get the boxers and sweatpants on, and he's slowly pulling on the sweatshirt as Hank calls out. It's a bit difficult to maneouvre it over his head when he can't lift his arms much above shoulder height, but he manages, pulling the shirt down and letting his arms drop, his muscles tired.

"Mostly dressed. I just need to get these slippers on," he says, tossing the slippers on the floor, the beady, cartoonish eyes staring back up at him.

Hank nods and opens the curtains and grins at the slippers.

"Had a a pair of those myself until the mansion fell on them last year. Do you want to try walking for a few mintues, or rest first?"

Jack gives Hank a lopsided smile. "Birthday gift from Kim. I guess I should be happy they're not bunnies or something. And I should probably try walking for a bit," he says, pushing himself off the bed, and balancing mostly on his good foot.

He grins back and watches, carefuol not to look too ready to leap forward.

"The immobilizer should protect your knee enough that you can put some weight on the leg, but taking it easy is definitely a good idea."

He takes a few slow, tentative steps. With the immobilizer on, he naturally can't bend his knee at all from the straight position, so it's a little awkward, and he has to walk with a very noticeable limp. But at least he's able to walk, without much pain. Nothing he can't handle.

"Yeah, I'll probably try to stay off it a fair bit for a couple days. It's a bit awkward to move with, anyway," he says, taking a seat on the edge of the bed again after a couple minutes.

Hank approaches with a large strap of fabric that looks kind of odd.

"This will enable you to carry the hand without straining the arm muscles into new and odd shapes."

he ties it on over Jack's shoulder and adjusts the tie so Jack can reach it with his other hand.

"A slipknot will allow you to get it off it neccessary but also keep it secure. After you've rested I can help you out to a table or to the lift if you want to head to your room."

"Okay," he says, slipping his right hand in the sling. "I think Kim was going to stop by and make sure I got upstairs all right, but thanks, Hank."

Hank grins.

"In that csase, if you want, I can leave you to rest for a little while and when she arrives you can go?"

"Sure, that could be fine. Besides, you probably have somewhere to be today," he says with a small smile.

Hank grins.

"I will see you later then, my friend. One week! And I will take those off."

With a wave he is gone."

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