ODDS OF LOVE

Episode Twenty Two

The August afternoon that Spencer was released from the hospital was an oddly dismally grey and drearily humid one. In the near distance there were the merest of rumbles of an approaching summer thunderstorm that everyone prayed would bring relief from the oppressing heat and humidity although they knew it would not. 

The staff at the hospital seemed very excited to finally see the back end of Spencer in his rented manual wheelchair that he nicknamed Slow Ass. He and his belongings were happily loaded onto the waiting ambulance that would transport him from Prince George's County Maryland into the next county over , Montgomery , and Bethesda. A whole county away , the staff rejoiced to themselves behind the back of Dr. DuBuis Lane. The ambulance set off at a fairly sedate pace along the road. It was immediately followed by DuBuis in his cherished cherry red Corvette and Faith on her Harley Davidson motorcycle. 

The trip didn't really take all that long before they got to the enormous grey stoned building with its long well maintained emerald green lawns and radiant red rose bushes and tall overwhelming oak trees. At the very sight of the building DuBuis felt his stomach knot up tightly. All morning long his nerves hadn't been working that well. Was this really best ? , he worried to himself. Of course it was best , he told himself. It was the right thing in his recovery and rehab path but Spencer really did not do well with new surroundings and people.  In his head he knew this was indeed the best choice but in his heart he wanted to scream at the medics to just take Spencer home again. 

As he parked his car and lifted his tall broadly built body from it he saw his little sister striding over to him cockily as ever. Faith was off duty today and out of uniform. She wore a tight red tee shirt and even tighter black jeans , her long jet black hair cascading past her thin shoulders in a whirlwind of curls she usually restrained in a braid for work. Her eyes were hidden behind sunshades.  He found it hard to believe his kid sister was a whole grown adult now and not just the bucktoothed , cornrolled , knobby kneed annoying little girl who had followed him everywhere with eyes of adoration. She had thought him to be her hero growing up. When she joined the force out of high school he had been terrified. He still was terrified at the thought something would happen to her in the line of duty. Because Faith was a good cop who actually did her job and believed in the concept of Protect And Serve. And she lived her life doing such risky things. She parachuted out of planes. She rode cycles. She loved guns. She rock climbed. She had even been running with the bulls in Spain. 

" You're not wearing a helmet , " he lectured her firmly. 

" Call a damn cop , " she laughed  as she hip bumped him sassily. " Place looks nice. You picked good , bro. It'll be ok. " 

" I hope so , " he said quietly as the ambulance's back doors quickly were opened by the chubbier shorter paramedic. Faith reached for and squeezed her brother's hand. He squeezed back. They watched as the paramedics deftly and smoothly transferred Spencer from the stretcher to his wheelchair Slow Ass. He knew Spencer hated this part. If it was DuBuis lifting him it would be fine but people he didn't know and trust ? From the deep single straight line set of his mouth and his hesitance to make eye contact with either medic DuBuis knew Spencer considered this to be a great insult to his dignity. Just like wearing the adult diapers and the closed system catheter which allowed him to pee directly into a collection bag and then empty it into a toilet. Closed system was better. It would mean less possibility of infection for him. 

Spencer's face did not change until they all entered the elegant foyer that looked more like an elegant and very expensive five star hotel than a respected nursing and rehabilitation center. The very first staff member to greet them was a very short and very round young White woman with masses and masses and masses of strawberry blonde hair and huge blue - green eyes. She wore cotton candy pink medical scrubs with a heart shaped name tag that said ' HELLO MY NAME IS PAMMY ". 

One cornerof Spencer's mouth went upward in a smirk as he saw Pammy smiling perkily at him. 

Faith wanted to laugh. Until she met Pammy's eyes. Then she almost forgot her own name. 

DuBuis leaned over to whisper in his husband's ear , " Be nice. "

" Make me , " Spencer retorted.