The Captain's Heart

twenty-two

3rd February 2022 - eleven days old.

'I need to pop to Boots to pick up some bits for her but I can do that before I take you to the hospital.' Leah says cradling Rory against her shoulder as she attempts to burp her after her latest feed.

'I could come with you to Boots? We could go on the way to the hospital and that way it breaks up the drive so she's not in her carseat too long?' Imogen suggests.

'Are you feeling up to that though? I don't want you putting too much pressure on that ankle before we know what's going on.' Leah says and Imogen nods her head.

'I don't put any weight on it when I'm using the crutches so I'm not going to do any more damage to it walking around Boots, I promise.' Imogen replies causing the blonde to smile.

'Oh my god...' Imogen gasps as Rory burps.

'How did someone so tiny produce a burp like that?' Imogen says causing Leah to laugh.

'Oh you've heard nothing... That was tame for her, wasn't it?' Leah replies gently bouncing the little girl as she lifts her away from her shoulder.

'Can I have a snuggle with her?' Imogen asks softly and Leah nods her head.

'Of course you can.' Leah replies smiling. She carries the baby over and gently places the baby in Imogen's arms as the Aussie smiles and gazes down at her.

'Hello, little one... You're like a little dream, aren't you?' Imogen almost whispers as she runs her finger down Rory's cheek.

'Do you think you'd be alright with her while I go get dressed?' Leah asks watching the brunette glance up at her, her eyes wide as her gaze flickers between Leah and Rory.

'Like on my own?' Imogen asks.

'If you're not comfortable then it's fine. I can just take her with me? I'll just be through in the bedroom.' Leah replies.

'No, it's okay... We'll be fine, won't we?' Imogen says softly and Leah nods her head.

'I won't be long, I promise.' Leah replies.

****

'Manage?' Leah asks softly as she watches Imogen manoeuvre herself out of the car using the crutches the blonde had passed to her.

'Mm... Think so.' Imogen replies smiling slightly as she gets herself into a standing position with the help of the crutches taking most of her weight from her bad leg. Once the brunette is steady, Leah closes the car door and locks it before taking hold of the pram and they begin to make their way towards the large store.

'Let me know if I'm walking too fast or anything.' Leah says grabbing a basket and balancing it in the crook of her elbow causing Imogen to smile.

'You're absolutely fine, I promise.' Imogen replies. They make their way slowly around the store, the blonde throwing bits into the basket that she needs for Rory while chatting away with the brunette.

'I really thought she would wake up more during the night.' Imogen says nodding her head in the direction of the pram containing the sleeping Rory.

'What do you mean?' Leah asks.

'Well, I thought she'd wake up more than the once that she did last night.' Imogen replies causing the blonde to laugh.

'Oh, Immy... She woke up three times, that was the second time she'd been awake when you woke up. You just slept through the rest of them.' Leah says.

'Seriously? I slept through her waking up?' Imogen asks and Leah nods her head.

'Mm-hmm... You were absolutely out for the count.' Leah replies.

'Oh really? Well here was me thinking you had an absolutely angel baby who practically slept through the night.' Imogen says causing Leah to laugh.

'She is an angel baby, just a hungry angel baby.' Leah replies.

****

'You okay?' Leah asks softly as she watches Imogen get into the passenger seat from where she's sitting in the driver's seat with Rory curled up on her chest.

'Mm-hmm... They said I should receive a phone call with the results of the scan and until I do then I've just to keep doing what I'm doing.' Imogen replies and Leah nods her head.

'Sorry you were waiting for so long... I didn't realise I'd be in there for ages.' Imogen admits causing the blonde to smile.

'Don't be silly... Gave me time to give her a feed then have a little bit of a snuggle, didn't it?' Leah replies running her hand down the baby's back.

'Do you want to maybe come back to mine and chill? We could watch a film or something? You can stay with me if you want until you're a bit more mobile?' Leah suggests causing Imogen to smile.

'Are you sure? I know you've got a lot going on with just having Rory and stuff. I don't want to impose.' Imogen says.

'It'll be nice to have you around. Although obviously I don't have a spare bed so as long as you don't mind bunking up with me.' Leah replies and Imogen nods her head.

'Then being able to stay at yours would probably be very helpful while I'm hopping about on one foot.' Imogen says and Leah nods her head.

'Then that's a plan. You can stay at mine for however long you need to. We love having Immy around, don't we Roo.' Leah replies smiling as she leans down to kiss the top of the baby's head.

****

'What did they say?' Leah asks softly as Imogen drops her phone onto the sofa with a sigh. Covering her face with her hands, Imogen shakes her head causing Leah to make her way over to sit down next to her.

'Hey, what's going on? What is it?' Leah asks.

'I'm out for probably three months. They've said a high ankle sprain but because I still have so much tenderness I need to keep wearing the boot and using the crutches. Six to eight weeks before I'll be able to return to normal life and then potentially another four before I can start properly training again.' Imogen replies with a sigh.

'Three months is shitty but you'll get through it, Ims. We'll all get you through the next three months.' Leah says draping her arm around the brunette's shoulders and pulling her into her side.

'Three months just feels so long.' Imogen moans, her head resting on the blonde's chest as Leah runs her hand up and down her shoulder.

'I know, I know it does. You'll come back stronger than ever though and until then you've got me to keep you company.' Leah replies smiling.

'I'm not allowed to drive.' Imogen says shaking her head.

'I can drive you wherever you need to go.' Leah replies.

'I can't ask you to do that.' Imogen says.

'You're not asking me to do anything, Ims. It makes sense; I'm essentially on maternity leave. I don't have a whole bunch of things I need to do so I can drive you wherever you need to go, pretty much whenever you need to go there.' Leah replies.

'You're amazing, do you know that?' Imogen asks tilting her head to glance up at the blonde who smiles.

'You're amazing.' Leah repeats, a small smile on her face.