Dance of a Lifetime

by Frank Downey

  "And you're conflicted. Because you know that some people like that can turn their lives around."

  "Yeah. My Dad. It's the war in my mind--Scott on one hand, Dad on the other. And this is closer to Dad, because Scott was a monster drunk or sober. Did I tell you he's back in jail?" Warren shook his head. "Yup, they let him out last year, and he did it to someone else. Some batterers never get better. But Dad did."

  "Yeah."

  "She's got our phone number. And Mary's card, of course. I think I convinced her to give Mary a call."

  "Good."

  Just then, a figure burst into the room. "WHERE'S JESSIE?" it demanded.

  "Ryan? Calm down," Sophie said.

  "I just heard! A car accident? Where is she?"

  "She's in intensive care," Sophie told him. "Ryan, they won't let you in there. You're not family. She's still in a coma."

  "Oh, God," Ryan said, slumping visibly. He lurched over to the chair next to Sophie. "Do they... I mean, is she going to..."

  "They don't know yet," Sophie said softly.

  "Oh, God," Ryan repeated. Then he visibly pulled himself together. "I'm sorry, Warren. How are you?"

  "I'll be fine, ' he smiled. "They're apparently going to have to put my right knee back together with wire and duct tape, but they assure me it'll hold through our free program." Ryan grinned at that, which was the intention. "Though you'll probably get a free pass at nationals; well, except for Evan and Shawna."

  "I just hope you can recover."

  "Other athletes have. I'm just going to have to rehab like a madman during my senior year in college as a pre-med, that's the problem."

  "Well, I hope you recover. Ice dancing needs you guys," Ryan said.

  "Thanks," Warren replied. He shot a look at Sophie.

  "Ryan? Come with me. Let's see what we can do." They walked down to ICU, where they found Jessie's parents.

  "How is she?" Sophie asked.

  "No change," Corrinne, Jessie's mother, answered. "Still in the coma. They still think she's going to come out of it, but..." she sighed. "How's Warren?"

  "OK. They're going to try to do his surgery this week. He's in remarkably good spirits for an ice skater with a severe knee injury."

  "Good," Corrinne laughed. "Who's that with you?" she asked, looking out the door to the figure standing outside.

  "That's Ryan Killen," Sophie said softly. "He's part of another dance team."

  "The one with that bitch in it, right?" Corrinne laughed. She'd kept up with Sophie and Warren's skating.

  "Yes, but Ryan himself is a great guy. He stays to watch us practice sometimes, and he's become great friends with Jessie. They had their first date Friday night. And, then, the next day..." She pointed at Jessie and sighed. "I think poor Ryan's a little traumatized."

  "Son? Come on in," Bill, Jessie's dad, said. Ryan stepped tentatively into the room. "The doctors said talking to her helps."

  "Hi, Jess," Ryan said to the inert figure on the bed. "You need to get out of that coma by next weekend, we have another date." Everybody in the room chuckled at that, and Ryan looked up sheepishly.

  "Good, Ryan, you tell her," Corrinne laughed.

  "It's hard to talk to someone that doesn't talk back," Ryan said.

  "Telling her to get off her ass so you can take her out is fine," Bill laughed. "This is Jessie we're talking about."

  "I have an idea. Be right back," Sophie said. She ran down to the gift shop, and then ran back.

  "How about reading to her?"

  "Great idea!" Corrinne said. Ryan nodded agreement, and Sophie handed him a couple books. "Found these in the gift shop."

  Ryan looked at them. "Romances? Oy."

  "She loves them," Corrinne said.

  "Yeah, she trades them with my husband," Sophie laughed.

  "Warren reads this stuff?" Ryan asked.

  "Yup. He is a romantic," Sophie pointed out. "Plus, he likes the 'action' scenes."

  "Oh, jeez," Ryan said. "That's all I need is to read that out loud!"

  "We'll give you some privacy, we have to go check in at the hotel anyway," Corrinne laughed. On their way out, they talked to the head nurse. "There's a boy in there with Jess now. We approved of him being in her room. He's reading to her." The head nurse agreed.

  * * *

  Corrinne and Bill came back a few hours later, stopping to check up on Warren first.

  "Mr. and Mrs. Reidel, I'm so sorry," he said.

  "We've talked to the police, Warren, we know it's not your fault," Bill said.

  "I know, but I still feel bad. And I'm worried about Jess."

  "The doctors tell us to just wait. They really do think she's going to come out of it."

  They talked for a while, and then headed down. The head nurse caught them as they walked past her. "Is that her boyfriend?" she asked them.

  "The way we understand it, they're friends that went on their first date just Friday night."

  "Well, you've been gone three hours and he hasn't left her side. He's been reading to her the whole time. I walked by and saw him stroking her forehead as he read to her. I've seen husbands that aren't that devoted."

  Bill and Corrinne smiled at one another, then walked into her room. Ryan was hunched over, book in one hand, the other stroking Jessie's arm, reading to her in a low voice. Bill cleared his throat.

  "Hello," Ryan said, faintly embarrassed, sitting up.

  "We're here to relieve you," Bill smiled. "Go on, get something to eat. We don't need both of you in a coma."

  "I guess I am kind of hungry," he said, standing up. "I'll be back later," he told Jess.

  He went out and found something to eat. Afterwards, he went to the local bookstore. He went to the romance section, and walked out with a bag full.

  Chapter 142 - The Aftermath

  Warren had surgery on Tuesday morning. He met with the doctor the next day, with Sophia there.

  "Warren, it went well. There wasn't anything too tricky in there, so it looks like it's just going to come down to time, and rehab. You're not scared of hard work are you?"

  "Not at all," Warren said, "my problem is going to be that there's not enough hours in the day."

  "You'll make time."

  "I'll have to, but it's going to be tough," Warren told him. "I'm married," he said, pointing to Sophia. "We have a little girl who's two years old. Plus, I'm a senior, here at UW. Remember your senior year in college, Doc?"

  "Yeah, but I was a pre-med," he laughed.

  "Exactly. As am I."

  "Really? You carrying a solid GPA?"

  "3.8, and that's with a year's sabbatical after my sophomore year, and that's while maintaining a high-level figure skating career, and a girlfriend who became a wife, and--the past year--a kid."

  "Ah, that should get you into med school next year," the Doc grinned.

  "The year after," Warren grinned back. "I'm taking next year off. It's an Olympic year, so it's going to be our last year as competitive skaters, then it's off to med school for me."

  "So, you're going to work his way through med school?" the Doc joked to Sophie.

  "Don't have to. We've gotten a lot of money from endorsements."

  "Well, mostly her, so I guess she did work her way through my med school," Warren joked.

  "This is the fringe benefit of being World Champions. They want you to do commercials," Sophie joked. "So, med school is well taken care of, and he won't graduate with a mountain of debt--and, as an added bonus, I don't have to work, so, while he's in med school, I plan to stay home and pump out more babies," Sophie grinned.

  "When we win the gold medal next year--notice I said when, not if," Warren joked. "Anyhow, when we win it, Sophie keeps threatening to pull up her dress on the medal stand and have me knock her up right there."

  "Oh, if I'm ovulating that night, you're in big trouble," she joked. "Not before, though," she grinned. "I skated in the last Olympics two months pregnant, don't ever want to do that again."

  "How o
ld are you guys?" the Doctor asked.

  "Sophie's 22," Warren said. "I'm 21."

  "I'm the older woman by nine months," Sophie joked.

  "That's a hell of a full life for kids your age," the Doc marvelled.

  "It keeps us hopping," Warren agreed.

  "So, since you're pre-med, ever think of orthopedics?" the Doc asked Warren.

  "I'd planned on pediatrics."

  "Ah. I'd thought of that, but then I decided I wanted to do surgery. And, in my practice, I see a lot of young people anyhow."

  "Really?" Warren said.

  "Yes. I'm an orthopedic surgeon, but my specialty is sports medicine. I usually don't operate on car crash victims," he grinned, "but they called me in because you're an athlete. Anyhow, when you specialize in sports medicine, you see a lot of kids; high school and college especially. Let's see, in the past couple weeks, besides you, I had a high school pitcher with a torn rotator cuff; a football player here at UW with a knee; a high school football player with a dislocated shoulder; a young girl of 11 who plays soccer who broke her ankle, and so on. Most of my adult patients are competitive high-level athletes like yourself."

  "Hmmm. Something to think about," Warren mused.

  "You've got all four years of med school to think," the Doctor grinned, "but you're perfect, since you're an athlete. You know all about conditioning, you know the demands on an athlete. And you're about to find all about rehab."

  "Don't remind me," Warren grimaced.

  * * *

  Thursday at around noontime, it happened. Ryan was sitting at Jessie's bed, reading to her, when her eyes fluttered open. She looked around, focused her eyes, then said, "Ryan?"

  "You're awake! Thank goodness!"

  "Where am I?"

  "You're in the hospital. You were in a car accident. You've been in a coma for five days."

  "God," she gasped. "I don't remember a thing." She grinned. "The last thing I remember is you kissing me goodnight after our date Friday night, and me going to bed."

  "It happened the next day. From what I understand, you went grocery shopping with Warren on Saturday, you guys were driving home, and some drunk guy ran a red light."

  "Oh, my. How's Warren?"

  "He tore his knee up, but they say he'll be OK. How are you feeling?"

  "Fuzzy," she giggled. "It's funny, I thought I was asleep. I remember dreaming. You were talking to me." She blushed a little. "I remember it being kind of, well, naughty."

  Ryan laughed, and held up the book. "I've been reading you romances. They said it was good to talk to you, and Sophie told me you like these, so I've been reading romances to you. All those ripping bodices and thrusting loins."

  "That'll do it," Jess giggled.

  "I have to go tell the nurse you're awake. And you're parents--they're here, but went down to get something to eat."

  "OK," she smiled. Ryan headed out. Shortly thereafter, the nurse came in.

  "Well! Welcome back to the world of the living."

  "I think it's good to be back," Jessie grinned.

  "How do you feel?"

  "Fuzzy. A little disoriented. I don't remember anything the day of the accident--Ryan told me what happened--so I feel a little strange. And thirsty!"

  "I can fix that one at least." The nurse stepped out, and returned with a cup of ice water. "Slow sips, you've been on an IV for almost a week. I have to ask you, that guy that was in here. They told me he's not your boyfriend?"

  "We had one date," she smiled.

  "Well, Jessica, I have to tell you--he hasn't left." Jess looked at her, wide-eyed. "Well, we wouldn't let him sleep here, so he went home to sleep. Apparently he's a skater of some sort, so he left every day to practice. He also occasionally went downstairs to eat. Outside of that, he hasn't left in five days. He reads to you, talks to you--I walked by yesterday and he was brushing your hair."

  "Wow," Jess hissed.

  Just then Ryan returned, with Jessie's very happy parents, and the room was bedlam for a while. Warren, checking out today, stopped by with Sophia. The doctor came to check Jessie out, and all were relieved to see that she didn't seem much the worse for wear.

  After a few minutes, the nurse suggested that Jessie might need some rest. Jessie agreed, and everyone started filing out of the room. "Not you," Jessie whispered to Ryan.

  After everyone else had left, Jessie pointed to the edge of the bed. "Sit," she told Ryan. He did so. "I've been told you've been my guardian angel all week."

  Ryan blushed. "I just thought you needed the company. They said that talking to you would help."

  She grinned at him. "I don't know if brushing my hair was in the job description." Ryan really blushed at that. "The nurse told me."

  "It was all tangled," Ryan said, looking down.

  "I'm sure it was," Jess smiled. She was sitting up in the bed, and, she leaned over, and wrapped a surprised Ryan into a hug. "Thank you," she whispered. "You pulled me out of it, you know."

  "You would've come out in any case."

  "You helped," she said, still hugging him. Then she kissed him on the cheek, and let go. "So," she said, "Does Courtney know where you've been spending so much time this week?"

  "No!" Ryan laughed. "I've been at all our practices, and I've even pretended I'm interested. So she hasn't asked. She must not have gone looking for me this week. Thank goodness."

  "Good," Jessie smiled.

  "Look, you really do need your rest. So I'm going to take off."

  "Will you be back?" Jessie asked.

  "In a few hours, that OK?"

  "Yes. Thank you," she smiled.

  * * *

  Warren and Sophie got to their apartment with much difficulty, Warren hobbling the whole way and both of them laughing at their halting efforts. Shortly after they got there, Cait dropped Betsy off.

  "Hey, Cait, we can't thank you and Paul enough for the help with Betsy."

  "Think nothing of it," Cait said. "She's delightful. Plus, it's good training for when Paul and I have kids. Which we plan on."

  Betsy was sitting on Sophie's lap and noticed the bandage and splint on Warren's knee. "Daddy gotta boo boo?" she asked.

  "Yes, sweetie, Daddy's got a boo boo."

  "Daddy OK?"

  "Yes, Daddy's OK. It's just going to take some time to fix."

  "OK," Betsy agreed easily. They chuckled at her as she got down from Sophie's lap and toddled away.

  "You think it's going to be OK?" Cait asked.

  "We'll see."

  * * *

  That Saturday, two days after she had woken up, the doctors let Jessie go home. They had found nothing wrong with her, she'd healed just fine, so they let her go home, with orders to take it easy for a week or so. She was going to call Sophie to come pick her up, but Ryan insisted on driving her. She happily let him.

  For the next week, he was at her beck and call. Warren had to go back to class, and wasn't moving around very well, so they needed help with Betsy. Jessie was capable of helping to a point, but she needed some help. Ryan eagerly volunteered. Until late in the day, after Warren and Sophie's classes, he was there, unless he had to practice.

  After a few days of this, Sophie was sitting next to Jessie on the couch. "Someone is seriously smitten, isn't he?" Sophie teased.

  "Yeah. Ain't it great?"

  Sophie laughed. "How do you feel?"

  "I'm still figuring that out--but, Jesus, Sophie, I think he's the sweetest guy I know. Since 'guys I know' include Warren, that is saying a lot."

  "Too true."

  "I like him, I know that much. I need to get to know him better. But, jeez, he's really proving his valor, isn't he?" Jess asked.

  "If you like a guy anyway, that whole 'knight in shining armor' thing goes right to your heart," Sophie grinned.

  "My heart, and a few other places," Jessie grinned back. "That boy was reading me romances the whole time I was out. Believe me, they got through. I woke up out of a coma horny as hell."

  Soph
ia cracked up laughing. "Well, I'm horny too, and Warren's out of commission for a bit..."

  "Sorry, Sophie, I'm still a bit out of commission myself at the moment," she grinned.

  "I figured, but I had to give it a shot," Sophie shrugged with a grin.

  * * *

  That Saturday, exactly two weeks after the accident, Jess felt well enough to go on an actual date with Ryan. They had a great time. They went to eat, then to a movie, all of which they spent cuddled up to one another. When they got back to the apartment, Ryan looked at Jessie, said, "I've been waiting to do this for two weeks," and proceeded to give her a kiss that stopped time. Then he grinned, and walked down the hall.

  When she stepped into the apartment, Sophie said, "Jess? You look dazed."

  "I am."

  "Sit down! I thought this evening might be a bit much for you so soon."

  "Sophie, the evening was fine. I'm not tired, and it didn't wear me out."

  "I thought you said you felt dazed?"

  "Yeah," Jessie grinned, "from the good-night kiss."

  "Ah," Sophie laughed.

  Chapter 143 - Rehab

  "I am so bored," Warren moaned.

  "The computer not interesting enough, Snugglebear?" Sophie joked.

  "After a while, it kind of pales, you know? I'm caught up on my studies, especially considering I haven't been to class in over a week."

  "We've got the wheelchair coming for next Monday, so you'll be there then come hell or high water."

  "Which is good, I'm far behind enough as it is. Of course, we'd been missing a few days this week anyway because of Skate America."

  "It sucks not going," Sophie said.

  "Yup."

  "Does that contraption drive you nuts?" Sophie asked, pointing at it. It was like a tub with some sort of whirlpool effect--it circulated cold water over the knee, to keep swelling down.

  "Not really. It's cold, but that's it. It's the immobility that drives me nuts. I feel like I'm just wasting away to nothing. Too many years of practice and weightlifting, the inactivity is getting to me."