Moon Stalk

Chapter Twenty Two

An alarm blared to life next to me, making me snap my eyes wide open, seeing Jones smirk at me gleefully.

"Ok I have to ask, what the hell did you do that for?!"

"Hehe, good morning! I was instructed to wake you up at precisely 8 a.m." Jones said smugly.

"Sigh, alright then. What's the plan for today?" I asked,waking up fully and wiping the crust from my eyes.

"Well Jenny's been barking orders at everyone for about an hour now and Presley is setting up his equipment for when it's his turn. I can't do my training til night so I can show them how to use night to their advantage. Although both Zane and Yvette are downstairs, waiting for us."

"Well alright. Let's get this shindig started."

With that out of the way, I scooted to the edge of my bed and let gravity guide my body to the wheelchair. Once sitting, I started the trek downstairs once again.

Hearing the machinery begin its descent downwards had my two other Navy buddies lifting their heads to view my arrival.

"Hey girlie! Good morning!" Yvette waved at me enthusiastically.

"Morning Viv." I smirk, greeting her.

"Mornin' doll. Made you a nice breakfast to build up some of your lost protein and muscle mass."

In front of my seat was sausage links, a few eggs made into scrambles, and a hefty bowl of fruit. Besides that was a large glass of milk, likely to reproduce the strength in my bones.

Taking the plate, I spoke. "Alright Zane, what's the plan for today?"

"The plan, missy, is getting you to take some steps and build back your confidence and some of your leg muscles. So I've brought with me both a walker and cane so we can try your legs out."

Seeing Jones with a shit eating grin made me interrupt whatever she was going to say. "If you are about to make a joke about already trying my legs out, I will run you over with this wheelchair."

Pouting, she crossed her arms. "Take all my fun out, why don't you."

"So once you're finished eating, we're gonna give it a try with the walker first. Once you're a bit better with walking again, we'll move on to the cane." Zane directed, keeping us on track.

"You got it boss. It'll hurt like a bitch but can't be any worse than it was in the break-in." I shuddered at the memory.

"Hah, that's my girl. Alright go on and dig in before it gets cold. We're also gonna be changing the dressing on your leg so I can check on its progress and make sure there's no sign of infection."

"Sounds like a plan." With that, I began scarfing down my breakfast, eager to start my regimen. As I shoveled in the last of my eggs with a gulp of milk to wash it down, I nodded my head at Zane.

"Alright then doll, let's roll you on over to the middle of the living room, lots of room there."

Feeling my chair move to the living room made me take a deep breath. Though it'd hurt, this was to save my niece so I'd grin and bear it.

"Alright then. Lean forward now, ignore your ribs. Grasp both sides of the walker and heave up."

Leaning forward, I saw why Zane said ignore my ribs. I'd forgotten they were bruised and the action nearly made me gasp for air. Gritting my teeth, I continued the path, grabbing the sides of the walker as instructed. Taking another deep breath, I urged my body up into a standing position, nearly cursing as now all my weight was on my injured leg and ribs. The action also put strain on my broken arm but luckily due to recent happenings, I'd put it through so much that this was nothing.