Breathe (Bondi rescue fanfic)

Chapter 29

Chappo finished up about an hour before I did, but he waited for me in the tower nevertheless. He spent his time pacing around, getting on the guys nerves. I observed him supergluing Hoppo's thongs to the floor at one point. He spent that hour with a giant grin plastered on his face, and I swear it made my day.

After I finished up treating my last patient (who happened to be a flat rock victim), we headed back to the house for some food. I had a slight hint of sadness about me, as Hoppo was after breaking the news to me that the busy season was about to well and truly kick off. This meant that my nursing skills would be most useful at the peak time, which didn't start till about 12pm. Currently Chappo was getting morning shifts, meaning now our work schedules would only have a slight overlap, and that it would be evening time before we would get to spend any proper quality time together. I tried to shake this feeling though, I shouldn't dwell too much on it, my life was going so well right now, the last thing I wanted to do was ruin it for myself.

Back at home Chappo made some scrambled eggs and toast, seeeing as how he hadn't really had a good breakfast that morning. I passed, as I wasn't really that hungry. We sat down at the table together, and made small talk while he ate. I didn't care to say anything, but there was a sort of awkwardness between us. It was our first time alone together since what happened the night before. 

"Tiff" Chappo mumbled, his mouth full of food, "I've been thinking, and I know you'll probably say no, but would you like to maybe meet my family for dinner sometime?" I sat back in my seat, surprised at this. I had never really thought about Chappo's family, it was just me, him and our friends. Neither of us mentioned our family all that much, but I could tell the proposition meant a lot to him. "Chappo, that sounds great, I would love to meet your family" I said, and even though I was nervous, I was happy, after what had happened the night before it was a real step in the right direction.

When Chappo had finished cleaning up after eating we headed off to my physio appointment. We made it to the waiting area a good 15 minutes in advance, which was surprising, giving we were usually late for everything. I flicked absentmindedly through a magazine while we waited. It was a fashion magazine, nearly every page featuring a stunning model, striking a pose with the most beautiful makeup and clothes on. It was the first time since my accident I really longed to stand again. Just as I was coming to the end of the magazine I heard the door click open and Sarah came out. I released the brakes on my chair and wheeled myself into the room, and as always Chappo followed quickly behind. I wheeled myself over to the chair I always sat in in there. Chappo helped me from my own chair onto the other one. "Right well, we'll obviously start off with your leg strengthening exercises, and then we'll strap up your legs and get you standing. I nodded in agreement as she bent down and began to push my good leg into a bent knee position and back out to a straightened position and back bent, back straight and so on. She repeated this with my bad leg, and proceeded with all my other leg exercises, before strapping supports onto my legs and moving me into a standing position. 

I did my usual, which was to hold the standing position for a whole minute, and then balance on my good leg for 30 seconds. This time we stretched it out a bit and I stood on both legs for just over a minute and a half. Just when Chappo moved to get my chair ready for me to sit in, I decided it was time. Sarah still had a hold of me by the arm and around my waist. I looked to her and smiled, before lifting my bad leg ever so slightly from the ground and stepping forward. I looked to Chappo and then to Sarah, and both had huge grins on their faces. Now came the hard part. I needed to lift my good leg for my next step, meaning I would be placing all my weight on my bad leg, which I knew my leg couldn't cope with. I think Chappo realised this too, as he walked back over to my side, holding onto my other arm and around my waist as well. "Tiff, you have proven yourself so much today, you don't need to do this, but if you want to, that's ok too, just know me and Chappo are right here, and you can bear as much of  your weight onto us as you want. Don't over do it, you know your own limits." I nodded, placing the majority of my weight onto them, as I lifted my good leg into the air, relying on my bad leg to stay upright and not buckle under me. I swung my leg forward and placed my foot on the ground. I stood there a moment before it fully registered with me. This was the first time since my accident that I walked purely for myself, and not as a result of wanting to impress or help another person. This time I didn't need fear placed in me to move, like I did the last time. This time I did it because I was ready, because I could.

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Hope you guys enjoyed the update! Sorry if it was kind of uneventful!

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