114 Experiments
Word Soap: As The World Keeps Turning
Author: SYLnl
Title: #114 Experiments
Rating: PG
Summary: “All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Big Thanks To: ltklo, for brushing up my grammar
Previously on As The World Keeps Turning: click here for chapters 1 - 113
“Hello ladies.”
With his most charming smile he stepped into the room and Lily couldn’t suppress a soft sigh. He sure was a handsome man.
Lucinda looked less impressed, but her smile wasn’t unfriendly.
“Ah Damian,” she rose to her feet, “Great timing. I was about to have lunch.”
“I highly recommend the Pasta alla Ciccone. Janet outdid herself.”
“Thanks, I’ll check it out. You kids behave…”
With a telling wave she left and shaking his head Damian approached the bed and gave Lily a kiss on her forehead.
“Hey Cara, how do you feel today?”
“Rebellious.” Lily’s eyes flickered accordingly.
“That sounds exciting,” Damian instinctively licked his lips. It was his nature. He liked insubordination and he liked it the most in Lily. It made her very fiery, very alive, very attractive.
“Hmmm, I haven’t seen you excited in a long time and I’m getting pretty bored with those virtuous kisses on my forehead.”
Damian didn’t need any more encouragement and sprung up. He hopped on the bed and leaned over. His dark eyes sparkled and he dismissed his initial plan to take it easy. Lily felt rebellious, so he needed to make the most of that. Hungry and aroused he took what should had been his all along. The way Lily welcomed and greeted him in made him groan.
“Cara,” his breathing was out of control, “You blow my mind.”
“That’s good,” Lily looked devious as she pulled Damian back in for another round. For the first time in this hospital bed she felt like a woman again. Desired. Damian was so passionate. Her skin tingled when Damian pulled back and looked tormented.
“If only this door could be locked,” the promise in his eyes made her smile.
“I’m not even sure the doctor would approve such activities.”
“So we need permission now?” Damian snorted, pushing a lock of hair from her forehead. “But you’re right. We should check. I don’t want to jeopardize anything.”
Lily shifted a little and tapped on the bed next to her.
“Come lie with me.”
Again, Lily didn’t have to ask twice. He didn’t know what happened, but he liked this turn of events and wasn’t about to ruin anything by talking about it. So he cautiously placed his arm under her head and pulled her close. Her head leaned against his chest and his whole world felt lighter.
He could feel her fall asleep and he probably dozed off too, because the male voice in the doorway startled him and it took him a few seconds to focus. Then he smiled.
“Ah, Dr. Morgan,” he glanced at Lily, saw she was still asleep and slowly removed himself from her.
“I’m sorry to break the two of you up, but I need to do some tests.”
“I understand. You want me to leave?”
The doctor shook his head. “You can stay.”
Damian sat on a chair and watched the purposive actions.
“Is there any improvement?”
“I’m optimistic about her progress,” Gary Morgan gave him a nod, “The problem with her injuries is that we can’t predict the effects. We’ll have to monitor her and register striking abnormalities in her behavior. Those could be signs. Her mobility seems fine so far. Arms and legs work as they should, although she will need some rehabilitation.”
“She was rather rebellious today,” Damian shared with a frown, “It’s not a striking abnormality, because I have seen her like that before. But this time it came as a surprise…”
Dr. Morgan made a note on his clipboard.
“Thanks for sharing that. What you have to watch out for is her response to you when she wakes up. If that differs a lot from her behavior earlier, it could be an indication something is wrong.”
Damian nodded. “I’ll let you know if that happens.”
“Good,” Gary made his way back to the door, “And when she still feels rebellious…let her set the pace. And nothing too intense…”
Damian rolled his eyes. “We were wondering about that, but this is hardly the most attractive location to experiment…”
Gary flashed his white teeth, but didn’t comment. Memories of his own experiments with Kevin came to mind, but he wasn’t about to share those. After raising his hand in a greeting, Dr. Morgan left the room. He checked his watch. Time for a break. And he knew exactly who he wanted to break it with.
Apparently today was dropping-in-on-patients-with-other-people-in-their-bed-day. His heart vibrated when he saw Kevin and Tommy close together on the bed. The boy was reading something out loud and Kevin was listening with his eyes closed and a smile on his lips.
Before Gary could turn around and leave them alone, he was spotted.
“Don’t go.” Tommy waved him in. “I’m almost finished and then I need to leave anyway…so you can take my place.”
The boy’s smile was vague, but it was definitely a smile and Gary counted his blessings.
“You know I could never take your place,” Gary said calmly, “Nor do I want to.”
Tom gave him one of his famous contemplating looks, nodded and continued reading. Gary recognized the text. It was an article he had given Kevin about a new treatment.
After finishing, Tommy looked at Gary.
“You think this might work?”
“It’s not my area, but Dr. Montgomery is optimistic and she’s the expert,” Dr. Morgan explained.
“But it requires surgery,” the boy frowned.
“It does. They will need to implant an epidural stimulation device next to your dad’s spine.”
“Would that be risky?”
“Every surgery has a certain amount of risk,” Gary nodded, “but it’s not a life threatening procedure.”
“You want to do this, right?” Tommy turned to his father.
“I do.” Kevin nodded. “Dr. Montgomery already explained there are no guarantees, but it’s a chance. And I want to try it.”
“Do you need to go to another hospital for this?”
Both men shook their head.
“On the contrary. This hospital’s neurowing is the perfect location for this kind of stuff.”
Kevin smiled. The universe had dealt him a new set of cards and these looked more promising than the ones handed to him before. He felt hope. Excitement even.
“And Dr. Montgomery will be in charge?”
“She will. She’s in Kentucky right now to become acquainted with all the ins and outs.”
The boy nodded and Kevin looked at him.
“Are you okay with this?”
Tommy shrugged. “It’s scary. But I also realize this could be your shot at a somewhat normal life, so you’d be crazy not to try it.”
He moved from the bed, hesitated and then leaned over to kiss his father on the cheek.
“I love you, Dad.”
“I love you, Tom.”
The boy turned to Gary and raised his hand.
“Bye Doc.”
“Bye Tom. Talk to you soon.”
“Only if you’re buying.”
There was a hidden promise in there somewhere and Gary noticed.
“That’s negotiable.”
They grinned at each other, making the man in the bed beam with joy.
After Tom left the room, Gary exchanged his chair for the bed and what started out as a hello-kiss quickly turned into a Hello!-kiss.
“Thank you,” Kevin held Gary’s face between his hands, all his love in his eyes. “I just had a long and good talk with my boy… I haven’t felt this connected to him in a long time.”
“I’m glad,” Gary caressed the face in front of him. “For both of you.”
He didn’t protest when Kevin pulled him in for another meeting of lips and tongues.