Exotic

XIV

Kath

We've had to wait a few weeks to take Sydney home, her internal wounds were still healing but now the doctors are happy to let her go home with a wheelchair and a set of crutches. It makes me happy because all she wants is her own bed and now she's getting that. I've decided that I'm going to help out a lot as well. I take work from school to do while I was in the hospital room with Sydney and after my shifts at the zoo, I'd fill her in on all the gossip or news that's happened. From what I can tell, she's enjoying my company and I enjoy hers too.

Her jaw has also healed quite nicely, so she speak now. I was relieved when I heard her speak, and I'd found that I'd missed her voice. And seeing her teeth, weirdly. Her smile looks so bright and happy now, no wires keeping her jaw together.

Dewey and I move her onto the wheelchair while Nat, I'm on first name bases with her now, fills out the discharge forms. My parents basically forced Nat to let them pay for Sydney's medical bills, which ultimately took a lot of stress from Nat and Sydney.

Otto, Sydney's emotional support animal, gazed and watched her with careful eyes. Paying attention to her mannerisms and looking for a pattern in her emotions to see if she needs to step in. Otto is a German shepherd and comes from a litter that was bred for the cheetahs at the zoo as emotional support too, but Otto didn't have an assigned cheetah. So Dewey took her in and has been actively training the pup to be an emotional support dog for a human. Which Dewey knows how to do.

"I used to be a trainer." she'd said.

And since Otto is small still, we're able to rest her on Sydney's lap without hurting her bad leg, which the dog was already trying to avoid. Syd loves her though. She's really helped with her revocery and kept her company when I wasn't there. I'd always come back to Sydney sleeping into Otto's fur, clutching her gently as she breathes softly.

"Are you ready to go home?" I ask Sydney.

"So ready. And I'll have so much more space on my bed and it'll be so much comfier. I'm so excited."

"That's good. I can't wait to get you home. It'd be nice to see you in some comfy clothes."

"I didn't even think about that!" she grinned. I chuckle and gently hug her head.

Before long, we were rolling her out to my Auntie Alexandra's ambulance taxi. It's basically a big mini bus for patience coming home from hospital and Auntie Xand is letting us use it out of hours, for free. She's so kind. I'm sure Mammy reached out to her and explained the situation.

We helped Syd onto the bus and got her comfortable before we started heading home. Syd was holding my hand the whole was and I'd squeeze it every so often to reassure her. The drive from the hospital to our street was about forty minutes because Auntie Xand was taking the smooth and quiet roads to avoid hurting Sydney. But we got home and I gave Auntie Xand a massive hug for helping.

I follow Nat, Sydney, Dewey and Otto into the house and I hear Abigail's shouts of glee when her big sister comes through the door. When I walk through the door, I see the young girl carefully hugging Sydney over the side of the wheelchair and Ollie was letting the dog. Dewey reminded him to stop because Otto is a service dog and can't be distracted. My sister passes me on her way out and gives me a nod. Eli and her quiet ways, I guess.

"Let's get Sydney upstairs." Nat said. Dewey and I stepped forward, she picked up Otto and I gently lifted Sydney. I found that I quite liked the feeling of her arms around my shoulders, so I hope I get to cuddle her as well.

"I'm going to do some training with Otto." Dewey said. I nodded and took the poorly baby upstairs to her quarters.

I gently set her down on the bed and take the chance to look around her room. Mainly because she can't stop me, hehe. She has dark blue walls, black carpet and black and dark blue sheets. A desk by the window where I'm assuming she'd do her homework and stuff like that. An electric drumkit in the corner and a closet with one of them sliding doors. It's a pretty nifty space and it smells just like her. Absolutely divine.

"Can you ask Mum to turn on the AC please?" Sydney requests.

"Anything for you, my love." I joke as I dramatically exit her room to find Nat. She's in the kitchen making smoothies.

"Hi, Kath. Is all okay?"

"Yes, the princess requests that you turn on the AC." I chuckle.

"Ah, yeah. I'll do that now. But stay down here because the smoothies will be ready soon. And I'm assuming you'll be staying with us for a while until she's better?"

"If it's not a problem." I say shyly.

"Of course not! You've helped Sydney with her recovery so much and I'm sure you'll help her even more by staying with her."

"Thanks, Nat."

"It's no problem. Now take the smoothies upstairs so the princess may eat." she said, handing me two glasses.

I took the cups upstairs and find Sydney with a pillow over her face. I hope she's not trying to kill herself. That would be sad.

"I hope you're not trying to commit suicide." I say as I set the cups on her nightstand. She takes the pillow off of her face and grins at me.

"No. I'm not. I how could I leave you?"

"Exactly. So don't be doing that stuff. Your Mom made smoothies."

"That's amazing. Can you pass it here, please?"

"You're really milking this, aren't you?" I chuckle as I pass the glass to her.

"Of course, I am. I have a pretty maid now." she smirks.

"Keep talking like that and I'll give you another broken leg." I point my finger at her. Of course, I am joking. I wouldn't hurt Sydney. Ever.

"Yeah, I'm sorry. I think the pain meds are too strong." she says as she looks up at me, and blinks slowly.

"Drink your smoothie and we'll get you into some comfy clothes so you can have a nap. Okay?" I tell her.

"Okay." she nodded, "Thanks for looking after me, Kath."

"Ay, it's not problem." I shake my head. She eventually drinks all of her smoothie and I get some loose fitting PJs to change her into. But as I undressed her, I didn't know that she didn't have any underwear on, so I had to put all of that on too. At this point, she was basically asleep already, but I will be telling her what happened when she wakes up, just so she knows.

Once she's fully dressed, I drink my own smoothie and take out glasses down and wash up. I also do some kitchen chores just because. I clean the counters, empty the dishwasher, take out the trash and replace the trash bag, and then I degrease the hob. I saw that Nat and Dewey were outside, being all cute together with the dog. I sigh in content before going back upstairs and cuddling with Sydney.