The lingering accident

A random day

Everything seemed to go well for a while and the incident on the new years party moved to the background. Steve worked like he normally did, glad he was still able to do this job. He remembered they had thrown him a little welcome back party when he had returned, Pete later told him it had been Clair and Jill who came up with that. It had been a nice feeling, to be welcomed back to work like that, it gave him the feeling he mattered. And it was nice to return to work and pick up his life again, like nothing happened.

Steve walked with Clair, Bob and Pete to the small kitchen for some more coffee, but suddenly, when he leaned on his right leg, pain shot through his leg. He groaned softly and his eyes narrowed as he stumbled on his left leg, taking the pressure of his right, and he fell behind a bit.

Pete immediately turned around, needed mere seconds to know what was going on.

"It's nothing," Steve said, taking a new step, where he carefully put some weight on his right leg. The pain was gone, but he was always careful after something like that happened, afraid that it might come back.

Clair and Bob had turned around as well and it took them longer to realise what had happened. Now that Pete's concern dropped, Clair started to look worried.

"Your leg?" she asked.

Steve just nodded, reluctant to dwell on it.

Pete turned around, ready to walk on. "I hope the coffee isn't to strong this time," he said, changing the subject, but Clair frowned at him.

"You can show some more concern."

"Why?" Pete asked, looking over his shoulder. "He's fine."

"And you call yourself a friend?!" Clair snapped at him, her blue eyes glaring intensely at Pete.

Pete's eyebrows rose and he blinked, trying to understand why she was mad at him all of a sudden.

"Your friend is in pain and you think about coffee?"

"But..."

"I'm fine," Steve said, interrupting Pete. "I'm not in pain anymore. It was just a short stab of pain, it happens. No need to dwell on it." In fact, Pete had once again shown he knew him very well, by just ignoring the whole thing. He wished Clair would do the same and he started to regret he had told them. "Seriously," Steve sighed, walking to the kitchen again. "Let's go. And I disagree with you, Pete." Steve walked up front, so they couldn't see his annoyed face. "I could use strong coffee."

With each a big mug filled with steaming coffee, they walked back to their workplace. Even though Bob spoke with Steven and Pete, Clair still seemed upset by what happened, but the guys ignored that.

Back at their workplace they all went to their desks, but it didn't take long before Clair got up and walked over to Jill, to tell her what had happened. After that they both sent an icy look in Pete's direction, who sighed. He knew he had done nothing wrong, but the women seemed to disagree. And the compassionate look the sent in Steve's direction wasn't received well either, Pete noticed. Steve seemed annoyed by it, but ignored it. He was busy typing on the keyboard.

Pete also turned his attention to his work, when suddenly a small square appeared on the screen, informing him he had a new e-mail. He looked up to Steve, who drank from his mug while reading something on his computer screen, and then back at his screen. The mail was from him.

I've seen them look at you. Don't worry about it. I appreciate how you handled the situation. Right now I regret that I told them.

Pete looked up again and now Steve was looking in his direction, winked and returned his attention to his computer. Pete knew he had done nothing wrong, but to get a conformation was nice.

With a click of his mouse he was ready to sent his reply.

I'm not bothered with it. And it wasn't something you could hide for them forever. They'll let it rest, like they did after the party.

With another click of the mouse he sent the message to Steve, who smiled moments later and looked up. Now it was Pete who winked and Steve nodded before they returning to their work.

***

There were times that nothing happened for weeks and there were times that Steve experienced those shots pain in one or both legs for a couple of days in one week. There was no way of predicting when it would come and he had come to accept that, even though he hoped it would just end one day. If he didn't experience any pain for a few weeks, the hope that it was finally over started to rise, only to be crushed when the pain returned. But those shots of pain was something he could live with. Those awful cramps were what he feared most, and his worst fear for that matter was to be alone when something like that would happen.

Angela and Steve had their circle of friends they often visited, Pete and Karen in the first place and three more couples with their children. On one of their birthdays they were always invited over, along with the family members. In this circle of family and friends, Steve found support, be it exaggerated with some, which could annoy him to no end. But at least it was support. It was better then those people who thought he was faking the injury to get financial support for disabled people or to have an excuse so he wouldn't have to work. That angered Steve, who wanted nothing more then to go back to his life before the accident, before the injury. Before the pains.

At his work opinions were divided. The women were concerned about him and exaggerated in it. Most were neutral. Some believed he attudinized or even lied about it to get attention. Steve just tried to ignore them and was glad to have Pete around, so he had someone to talk with about it.

They had a bowling night, Angela and Steve with Karen and Pete and it had been one of the best evenings in a while. Karen proved to be a star at bowling and beat them all. The women both drank juice and the men were drinking beer. There had been a lot of laughter that evening and Steve was grateful to have spent the evening with his wife and close friend, without anything happening to ruin that.