Beyond Repair

Chapter 12 - Clara

The grunting at the side of me woke me up. It took me more than a minute to work out where I was. I had no idea when the last of the lads had left but I was laid on the sofa in Max's arms. Feeling slightly odd at having been so comfortable with him that I fell asleep on him. I couldn't focus on it with more pressing issues at hand, but at some point I would address the instant quickening of my heart at the sensation of him.

I moved so I could see Max more fully and it was clear he was in a lot of pain and trying not to cry out. His lips were pulled in between his teeth as he bit down. His face was a stalk white, and he was oozing sweat everywhere. "What hurts?" He just pointed downwards and I followed his indication with my fingers as he pushed his torso into the back of the sofa. Laying my hands on either side of his thigh and slowly heading south, evaluating every inch as I went. Trying my best to shift the impure thoughts I had as I did. He was a patient, he was in pain, and it was completely inappropriate.

I knew what the problem was as soon as my fingers brushed his gastrocnemius muscle. It was rock hard and spasming. Simple cramp, but it was severe. I had so many questions, but for the time being, I had to focus on relieving the problem. Slowly kneading at his muscle and massaging it all the way down before working my way back up. His fingers were digging into the edge of the sofa and I knew it would be agony with each movement of my fingers, but it was necessary. I could feel it slowly starting to ease beneath my fingertips. Moving myself to sit on the coffee table and placing his foot on my knee as I continued.

I waited to speak until his face had stopped contorting in pain. "You shouldn't sleep out here. You need your legs up."

"What the hell was that? I didn't want to wake you. It's not something I make a habit of doing."

"Cramp. You've not been getting enough blood to your leg all night because the sofa has been digging into the back of your knee cap which pressed on your femoral artery. Have you had any other pains?" I decided to ignore his comment about not wanting to wake me. The idea of him choosing to sleep sitting bolt upright rather than wake me as I curled up on his chest caused more fluttering in my chest. I begged for it to go away, but it wasn't and it made it hard to concentrate on the task at hand.

It was almost certainly more than a usual cramp which I was certain he had experienced before. My best guess was that it had gone to that extreme because he didn't have the same pain levels because of his injury. He was lucky that the spasm didn't do permanent damage to his muscle, which was the last thing he needed on top of everything else.

"A bit of pins and needles sometimes. The odd shooting pain. It's fine. I can cope." As usual, he was so busy proving he could cope with his lot in life that he missed the point completely. He saw the pain as something to hide and deal with alone.

"You're an i***t. When was the last time you saw a physio or got an MRI?" He got evasive and I knew the answer, but I was sure as s**t going to make him admit it. He started looking around him, but what he thought he was going to find to stop him having to tell me the truth, I wasn't really sure.

"I'm fine. I don't need to be wasting their time." I stared him down. There was no real choice. He was too stubborn for his own good and I would do whatever it took to get him the correct care. I couldn't believe he had gone so long without someone managing to force him into caring for himself. I knew Dickie had tried but I couldn't help but think it wasn't nearly enough.

"Answer the question." I kept my eyes focused on his face, but his eyes were fixed on a spot on the floor.

"Not since I got out of the hospital." I jumped off the coffee table and sent his leg flying. I probably should have been more careful, but it was an honest reaction to the situation. The anger in me was ready to boil over. I couldn't believe he could be so stupid as to not connect the dots, but he had been so deep in self-pity that he had missed it all.

"Go get showered and dressed right now. I will call Dickie. Do not even consider arguing with me or I will push you in the shower and strip you down myself." The thought of being in there with him gave me a jolt of excitement.

His hands flew up in surrender. "Never said a word." Except we both knew he was about to protest because he knew exactly where I was marching him. I watched on slightly hopelessly as he struggled to move himself across the sofa and into his chair. He much have ached so much after sleeping on the sofa. It was hardly good for him and I felt terrible that he had done it for me.

I waited for him to leave before I called Dickie; I wanted to catch him before he headed over to the house. "Hey, Dickie."

"Is he causing trouble again?" I smiled slightly in acknowledgement of Max's habit of being difficult. Dickie had warned me just how bad he could be, but he hadn't been as bad as I had expected based on Dickie's description. I couldn't help but hope he liked having me around more than the others. Although I was sure it didn't help that I had walked around half naked. He probably thought that if he had to put up with someone being on his case, it might as well the girl who flashed her backside and touched him up. I cringed at the thought. My awkwardness about the situation would be long lived.

"Not as such. I need you to arrange for his doctor to see him urgently for an MRI and a physio consultation too."

"Is he OK? I'll be right over." The note of panic in Dickie's voice made me smile way more than it should have. It wasn't that I wanted Dickie to be worried, quite the opposite, but for Max to have someone who cared about him enough to panic instantly, it was something some of us dreamed about. I would kill for someone to care about me enough that they panic when they think I'm hurt. There was no better indicator that someone loved you. It felt like so long since I had felt that kind of love and my heart ached for it. The whole thing made me think of my parents. I shook my head slightly and tried to focus on Max.

"No. no. Dickie, that is not necessary. I've just managed to get him to agree to the treatment and consultation, so while he is agreeable, I would like to get him straight in. You know how he changes his mind in an instant." The concern from Dickie had been so emotionally charged, I wanted to put his mind at rest. The truth was that the pain was a good sign or was most likely a good sign, but I also didn't want to get Dickies hopes up.

"I'll make sure they are expecting his surly self. Clara, I don't know how you managed this, I've been trying to get him seen for years. He just wouldn't budge on the matter."

"Don't worry, I'm on it now. The stubborn old goat will have to look after himself from now on."

"Is that right? Stubborn old goat might be a bit harsh, don't you think?" I dropped the phone as I spun around and didn't even concern myself with where it landed as I faced Max. I couldn't believe he had been so quick. Being sure it had only been minutes, yet he was there in front of me with his hair wet and all sticking up on end. He had thrown on jersey shorts and a football shirt, which seemed to be his go to outfit.

My mind flashed back to him before the accident and how he used to be out at all the best clubs and restaurants. Normally, suited and booted, but always looking a million bucks and obviously very well put together. Yet somehow I actually preferred casual Max more. "You can close your mouth and collect your phone now."

I hadn't even realised that I had been staring at him quite as obviously. I dipped down and grabbed my phone from the rug. Quickly turning it over in my hand and checking it for damage. Luckily the ridiculously plush carpet had given it a soft landing. Dickie had put the phone down, no doubt eager to get on the phone to the hospital. Max was already out the black modern front door and halfway down the way too sloped path. Leaving me no choice but to grab my bag and chase after him. Musing about his ability to put people on the back foot so easily as I flew out the door.