Chapter 247: More of the Same

I woke up again with someone poking me. I didn't have much pain until I tried to change my position in the bed. When I did, I wanted to cry. No one knows how many times they move in their sleep, until there is something to point it out to them. Heavy duty pain is one of those things that make it very clear.

"How you doing sweetie," the only moderately over weight nurse asked.

"I'm hangin' in there. How you doing today?" I asked even though I did not give a crap.

"I'm good," she answered.

I had no idea what day it was, nor did I care. I just wanted to go back to sleep, so I did.

That little scene repeated itself half a dozen times, before I managed to stay awake for more than a minute or two. When I finally was able to stay awake, it was because there was food in front of me. I ate about two bites of the pudding, then decided that lifting the fork even with my good arm hurt too much. I then shut my eyes and drifted back into the arms of Morphis.

All that nothingness was followed by even more of the same. People were waking me up to be sure I hadn't died in my sleep, I suppose. I was at the point I would have been thrilled with a coma, just to have them leave me the fuck alone.

It was after several other wake ups that I found Jennifer standing over my bed. "Maxine how are you feeling?"

"Honey, I got six broke ribs, a broken and separated collar bone, and a detached lung, other than that I feel just fine. I hurt like shit, how do you think I feel?" I did manage a laugh.

"Yeah, other that that Miss Lincoln how was your evening out?" she said grinning.

"Did you bring me a pistol?" I asked.

"Hell no, they would have a shit fit, and I'm a lawyer for god's sake." she said smiling.

"Now, you are going to play the lawyer card on me?" I asked getting just a tad pissed.

"I did better than a pistol, I brought you James." she said.

"They are not going to let him in with a gun anymore than they are you," I said.

"Come on Max, you know damn well he doesn't need a pistol. He is like you. He will just rip out their jugular vein with his teeth. Don't let that balding head fool you." she said.

"Okay, I know he will take care of me. So send him in, when you leave but I'm going to sleep most of the time. I am not going to entertain him." I said.

"Duh, you have been asleep since the accident yesterday," she said.

"You mean it's only been one day?" I asked not believing I could have been in and out that many time in one day.

"Not even a full day yet," she said. "Seriously sweetie, the Doctor who is with the hospital said it is going to get worse pain wise."

"That is so fucking comforting," I said.

"They don't want you moving around too much just yet, but when that lung is stable sometime today, they are going to want you to get out of that bed. You can't heal properly unless you move around some. I know it hurts like hell, but it's what you are going to have to do."

"Jennifer when did you become an expert on my pain," I said.

"Honey, the doctor is worried. You have a huge amount of skeletal damage. He isn't worried about more damage, just whether you can manage the pain. I told him it was doable for you, but he just sees a skinny middle aged bitch. He don't know you." she said.

"Well tell him this ain't my first rodeo," I said getting seriously pissed. "Call that nurse in here."

"Don't do anything stupid Maxine," she said.

"Everything I do is stupid," I replied. Jen went outside and came back with the nurse. "I want this catheter out of me. Then I want to go take a real piss."

"I'll have to check with the doctor," the nurse said.

"You check with anybody you want, but you take this thing out in the next fifteen minutes, or I will pull it out myself. It can't be that hard."

When I looked over at Jen she was grinning. "What?" I asked.

"Good to see you back," she said. "I know it must hurt like a bitch, but you are the bitch to make work for you."

"Shut the fuck up Jen," I said. "Get me something to defend myself with. I don't care if its a bed spring shank."

"I'll call Cheryl," she said.

"You mean you have called everyone who knows me. Call them all and tell them that it's time to pay up for those favors." I said. Of course I was exhausted before the nurse came back to remove the catheter. Jen left the room for it and I fell sound asleep.

When next I awoke, James was sitting in the one comfortable chair reading a book. "Hey cowboy," I said.

"Well hello there little lady. How you doing?" he said.

"I'm going to be okay, just took a while to get past feeling sorry for myself. Do you have something for me?" I asked.

"Not just yet," he said. "You ain't ready to take care of a piece yet. You will fall asleep and let these straights find it, then we will all be truly fucked. Besides the boys on the farm called Jennifer. They are sending you a package. It should be here by morning," He said with a grin.

"How did they know?" I asked.

"They think they know everything. but in this case I called the admiral to tell him I was staying a couple of extra days, and why. He said not to worry. I expect he called one of the spooks," James said.