One Shots

One-Legged Man [Straight]

One-Legged Man

Pain. Pain is the first thing that sparks through the darkness, bringing Parker back into the present. As he slowly gains consciousness, it's with some effort he bites back the pain long enough to lift the deadweight's that are his eyelids. It's a white room, beeping machines coming from either sides of him and the chatter of people surrounding him.
Slowly piece by piece, he comes to the conclusion he's in a hospital room but judging by the lack of air-conditioning and sweat pouring off his body, he's certainly not in the same place as when he lost consciousness.
Before he can even begin forcing himself to remember how he got into this predicament, there's shooting pain from his left leg, a low throbbing one, that's constant and unrelenting. He hisses back the groan of agony as his fingers clumsily search on the side of the bed for some kind of device to call for a medical professional.
He presses the buttons on there hoping one is for a nurse, or doctor, or even death. With that he closes his eyes again, willing himself not to focus on his body's warning.

Minutes later his bed is being cranked upright and Parker's coffee coloured eyes shoot open, taking in the sight of a large, white, nurse with relief.
"Hello Mr Marsh-"
"My leg," croaks Parker, gazing down in horror at his swollen red calf pushed into some kind of contraption that seems to have needles shooting from it into his flesh.
"Yes, your leg, the doctor will be around in a minute. How is your pain level right now?"
"Bad," whispers Parker as the nurse finally hands him a bottle of water.
His motions are shaky but he does eventually manage to lift the thing up to his lips and take a large gulp of the cooling liquid. Before he knows it, he's finished the whole thing; while his nurse notes down the machine readings in silence.
"Well, I'm afraid I can't give you anymore morphine until the doctor's seen you," explains the woman and it's only with the clarity of water in him, that Parker suddenly notices that she speaks with an American accent.
And not just an American accent but a Midwestern one as well.
"Where-where am I?" he asks gazing around the room as seeing other patients, young and old, in their own cots.
The nurse simply blinks at him, providing an answer that shocks and confuses him.
How the hell did he get home?

***********************

It turns out that after the IED explosion and the quick stitch up job by the base doctor, they'd transported him back to his home town. It's a blurry recollection for Parker having been in and out of consciousness but the explanation is plausible. Of course, after such an event the first person he calls is the most important woman in his life-his mom. Only it turns out that she's in Europe with his step-dad and it took much convincing to get her to stay put, despite his battered leg.
The same battered leg that is now practically useless, unless it is for stimulating enormous amounts of pain for him. Naturally, that meant when the doctor gave him the option of having it amputated, Parker didn't ponder on it too long.

******************************

The operation goes without any hiccup; a streak of good luck Parker considers himself lucky to have after everything. He's soon back at his tiny box home with his crutches, trying to adjust to the loss of his limb. It's difficult. In fact, he'd found an old bed sheet to cover his full length mirror with and trousers have been a definite no-no. Thankfully, the May weather is hot enough to allow him to comfortably wear shorts but even he can't bear to glance at his stump.

********************************

Actually, he can't even bare to step out of the house. After all, how would anyone else be able to stand to see that stump when even he can't? Thankfully, his old friend Juan is on hand to help. Like many friendships theirs was born a long time ago in the blissful land of Kindergarten by rivalry. Both having a love of football meant competition was fierce however a few scuffles later they'd patched their differences. Juan now works as a male nurse and despite his reluctance at first in that field; he's grown to love it. It's through his job he learns of his friend's return and injury.