Chapter forty

There was a knock on my door, then a head popped round, " Hey there I'm miley," I don't know why but I was shocked, I was expecting a guy, but there large as day was a beautiful young women. My expression must have given it away, " you were expecting me to be a guy right?"  she chuckled to herself, "that's OK, it figures as it's a guys world, but in my defense, I can tell you I'm damn good at what I do and I swear, no one will get into your room unless you want them, ok?"
I smiled as I answered, " ok"
"so can I get you anything? "
I shook my head, " no I'm good thanks"
" Ok, well I'll be right outside if you need me ok, just yell...." She raised her hand as she left the room. At last I felt a calm wash over me for the first time in, well in a real long time,  with a gentle sigh I laid my head back and  closed my eyes to let sleep take hold.

It wasn't long before I was asleep and dreaming, but I was awoken four times when the nightmare I'd gone through physically came back to haunt me. I woke, sweating with a racing pulse and gasping for breath, laying there in the darkness I collected my thoughts and had to remind myself I was in hospital and safe.

Gently I eased myself to a sitting position, but the pains I felt, did  there best to remind me of my injuries. Each time it pinched I paused and took a gentle breath before carrying on.

Some thirty minutes later, I'd achieved my goal and was sitting propped up with pillows behind me.

Now I could see around the room a little better, Madison came in shortly after to take my blood pressure, "mmm you are text book perfect there Jon, 120/80"

"thanks, I try to stay healthy, I run and stuff," my hands fidgeted as for some reason I was nervous, I felt like a school boy with his first crush...

"well that's good, maybe you could do a workshop for me when you have recovered with some of my patients?"

"yeah, I'd be happy to help..."

"Great I'll let you know about it more when your feeling better. that will be something having a celebrity advising them on health..." she laughed.

"I would have thought you would have been better at making an impact as you guys are the real deal right? your the one to pick up the pieces when there health declines due to live style..."

"Jon, everyone says to the Doc want they want us to hear, but truth is old habits die hard."

"I guess, a life time of wrong choices cant be changed over night I guess."

"Yes, but little changes make a big difference."

"well, I'm happy to help anyway I can..."

"Great thank you. now let me take your temperature and pulse, just sit quiet for a moment ok?"

she attached a pulse and oxygen monitor to my finger and took my temperature with my ear.

"that's all good... great your getting better, it looks like you heal fast Jon."

"I hope so, though I'm still in pain, "

she checked the bottle hooked to my arm, "mmmm your tramadol has ended, let me see"

"she checked the chart at the end of the bed, "you had that over four hours ago, I'll arrange for a fresh one to be given. can you tell me on a scale of one to ten, with ten being the most painful where is the pain?"

"honestly its nine..."

"Ok, ill arrange some liquid acetaminophen too"

"Thanks"

"Are you hungry, you are not eating much?"

"no not really, my stomach is too tender, I cant face anything.."

Madison looked at the drip in my vein, "least you are getting fluids...looks like its ready to be changed too."

she pressed the call bell and in minutes another nurse was in my room, "Yes."

"can you get me another saline,acetaminophen, and tramadol drips please nurse"

she nodded and left.

Madison was easy to talk to and while we waited for my drugs, we chatted, she was interested to know how the awful nightmare with Antonia had started, I didn't want to elaborate as it was embarrassing for me, but I gave her the sketch outline.

She was caring and concern showed on her face.

"I can't believe your wife didn't trust you, and set you up for the fall with the child... that's unforgiveable isn't it? how can someone you love be given that much hurt from the person that loves them?"

"I wish I knew, we have been married for a long time, and I thought she was always cool with my job, but I've learnt a lot this year, so far its been an eye opener that's for sure."

The nurse returned with my meds, Madison took them from her and attached them all to my cannula so the meds were administered direct to my veins.

The tramadol kicked in straight away and I began to feel the relief.

Madison looked at my face, "looks like its working already."

I nodded, "Sure is... thanks..."

"well I'll go check on my patients and let you rest."

"do you have too, your great company..."

" I can come back after my rounds if you would like?"

"Yes, please I'd like that..."

touching my arm, "ok see you in about an hour..."

as she left I again closed my eyes and again for the first time in what was like a lifetime I smiled, and felt a warmth inside like never before.