A New York Secret

Chapter Twelve

Emily quickly grabbed a towel from the bathroom counter and placed it over Loki's lap to make him as decent as possible. "You can now," she called.

Mary walked in a minute later with a walker and fold up shower seat. "I found a new walker. I honestly didn't trust anything from his old room." She admitted, leaning them against the wall. "Do you need help moving him to the shower?"

"He wants to wait until after the experiment Tony and the healer want to do," she replied.

"He shouldn't wait to shower, not after having the catheter." Mary said, worried about potential infections.

Emily nodded, then looked down at Loki. "Mary's the boss. She's your doctor now."

"It's not worth the effort if I may not even survive." Loki grumbled.

"You know how to deal with him, make him take a shower." Mary told Emily.

"You're going to survive Loki. I promise you that," Emily stated, though she narrowed her eyes at Mary. "C'mon, let's get you in the tub. I'm sure you'll feel a lot better afterward." She took the chair Mary sat against the wall, then unfolded it and placed it in the tub.

Loki glared at Mary, but listened and pulled himself to his feet, letting the towel drop to the floor. "I can't bend my leg enough to step over the tub wall." He told Emily.

"It's alright," Emily said, "Brace yourself on the wall and I'll help you bend it. We'll go slow."

Loki nodded and braced himself against the wall. "I am ready for help with my leg now." He said, and didn't argue when Mary helped brace him as well.

Emily helped him put his good leg in first then bent down and gently lifted his bad leg at the knee so it would naturally bend. "Easy does it," she murmured when she saw him grimace. It didn't take long for him to get into the tub and sit down. "There you go."

Loki gave a big sigh when he was finally sitting down. "That leg feels like it's getting worse." He grumbled.

"It's not, I promise. You're just sore from using it," Emily assured. She reached up and removed the shower sprayer and turned on the water. "How warm do you like it?" She asked.

"I don't like it very warm at all. I don't do well with heat." Loki replied.

Emily nodded as she made the water lukewarm, then held the sprayer where he could reach it. "How does that feel?"

"It is a little warm, but I can handle it like this." Loki said truthfully and took the sprayer. He looked at it curiously, but quickly figured out how to work it.

"If you want to wash your hair, just let me know and I'll help you," she said with a smile as she put a bar of soap and a rag within his reach, then sat on the toilet.

"I am going to take the bandage off your side, it won't hurt much." Mary told Loki. When he didn't argue, she stepped forward and quickly but carefully took the bandage off his side.

"I do want to wash my hair. It still itches me." Loki said, washing up most of his body. "I can't reach my back like this either."

"I will help you," Emily replied. "Just let me know when."

"I am ready now." Loki replied simply.

She nodded and moved to sit on the edge of the tub, then grabbed the rag he offered her before gently washing his back. "Do you want to rinse? Or me?"

"Would you mind? It hurts to reach around behind me." He admitted.

"Sure hon," she replied and gently took the sprayer from him before she rinsed his back. "Want me to wet your hair so I can wash it?" She asked.