The next night the hospital was ready to discharge Sam. There was a whole issue because he left the hospital before they were ready to let him go. Fortunately, they were able to use police business as an excuse, but the doctors and nurses were still angry with him.
He had two broken ribs, and a couple contusions. The fact they he had been out at the station and Mara's, was not an ideal situation to recover. However, there was nothing left to do, but heal at home. He was still bruised up, with some yellow and purple spots on his head, and he needed a shave. But his handsome face had more color in it.
He was trying to get the gown off and change into his clothes. Mara was putting a few of his things in a bag she had brought. She hadn't left him since she brought him back in the night before, except to grab some of his clothes this morning. "Sam let me help you, come on you have to take it easy." She walked over to him, "Here, you have to wear the shirts that open in the front. The doctor said not to try and raise your arms too much right now."
The gown was off and he was in nothing but his boxer briefs. Mara was trying not to ogle him, but it was hard. His chest was beautiful even with the bruises and he had a bandage around his ribcage. The ends of the bandage were lose and she tried to push them back in place gently. He just looked at her quietly, enjoying her touch.
"I still can't believe what they did to you." Tears were starting to well up in her eyes again. She ran her hands gently over the sides of his stomach. "Hey come on, please babe. I'm fine. You'll see a few more days and I'll be good as new." The nurse was walking in, "Try a few more weeks, Lieutenant." It was the same nurse who was with them on the first night. "Nurse Jackie, you don't know it, but I have super human strength." The women laughed. Nurse Jackie was going over the discharge paperwork with Sam. Mara had buttoned up his shirt and was helping him with some sweatpants when they heard a woman outside.
Suddenly Beth, his mother walked in. "Oh lord," Mara mumbled under her breath. "Sammie," the woman rushed in to hug him. "I'm so glad you're coming home." "Mom, I've been living on my own for 15 years." "Yes hunny, but we need to take care of you." Sam took her hands down slowly off of his face. " Mom, I appreciate it, I really do. But Mara's coming back to my place, she's going to stay with me."
His mother turned to look at Mara who had ran out of the way when she stormed in. Beth mumbled something about how at least Mara knows how to look after children. All of a sudden the IV pole that had been by the side of the bed rolled onto Beth's foot. "OUCH'" she hollered.
She looked over to the nurse. "Are you crazy!" she yelled. "I'm sorry Ms." the nurse said. "I'm trying to check your son out here and you're near a lot of equipment. It rolls off sometimes, you know." Mara laughed under her breath, it helped to even the score a little she thought.
"Mom," Sam said, "Don't you have something you want to say to Mara?" His mother looked like she had a frog in her throat. She mumbled something under her breath. "Louder mom!" His mom looked down, "I'm sorry. I...got a little carried away the other night. You know seeing my baby in the hospital and all." Mara took a breath, but she really didn't have any intention of dealing with Beth right now. Plus that had to be the most forced apology she ever heard. Mara looked over to Sam, "Well thank you I guess..."
Five days later...
Mara pulled up to Sam's house with some groceries. It was late afternoon and the sun was setting. She loved his house, it was a cute three bedroom old ranch, but he had updated it nicely. He used to have a roommate, but the guy was also a cop and had taken a job in another town. She walked into the kitchen and started putting things away.
He was healing up nicely, they took a couple walks during the day and he had started back with some light exercises. But she would force him to take a rest in the middle of the day. "Babe," he yelled. "Yeah I'm back, just putting a couple things away." "Did you remember my coffee?" "Of course," she responded back. It was late afternoon and they had already been out walking that morning. Sam was trying to fight the sleepiness of the painkillers. He was almost done with them, but still needed one from time to time.
She walked back toward the bedroom with his iced coffee and shoved a small piece of a donut in her mouth. His bedroom was pretty masculine, but she loved it. He had plaid flannel sheets on the bed and a desk off to the side. Since she had been staying with him, she started organizing things a bit. Sam would look for something and it was no longer where he put it. He had to ask Mara where things were now in his own house! But he didn't mind at all.
She gave him the coffee and went to slip a pillow behind his head for him to sit up more. "You got one of those donuts for me?' He smiled. "Mhmm, maybe," she laughed. "Here sit up and let me check the stitches on your head." They were healing nicely, but Mara wanted to make sure nothing opened up.
As she was reaching behind him, he gently ran his fingers on the top of her jeans, grazing her stomach. She flinched and looked right at him. He had a little smile on his face and he reached around with his other arm and brought her head closer to his. "I think I have a few other things that might need tending too," he whispered. Then he kissed her hand and put the coffee down on the nightstand. Mara felt the hair stand up on her arms and an immediate warm sensation ran through her body. "Oh really, Lieutenant." she blushed.