day 10 19438

Rick took the glass back. “Do you feel like food yet?”

Kell said. “No but give me some anyway. As much energy as I have used I am not going to want food until I eat. Is that glass empty?”

Rick looked at it. Not quite, I can fill it as I get the food.”

“Before you do I want to see if I can hold it.” Kell slowly moved her right arm out to take the glass. “Well it does pull, but not to bad. Still some healing yet I think.” She picked up the glass an managed to set it down. “You win. I can't lift it full yet.” She looked at her left hand and shook her head. “Nor with this one, not as it is. Did I lose my bags? If not there should be a pair of light, soft gloves in the out side pocket. If you could bring them to me they will help keep this hand safe. No I won't use it to lift anything, but it would save it some should I forget and try to. Or put it out to steady myself.”

Rick nodded. “I will be back in a bit, are you all right, or do you want to lie down?”

Kell said. “I have been lying long enough. I am fine. Go if I find I need to move I can all ways get help.” Rick shook his head, but kissed her and left. Kell watched him go with a smile. Once he was out of sight she went to work on her shoulder. Getting it to loosen up some.

Mel came by as she was slowly raising her arm and nodded. “How does it feel?”

Kel allowed herself a grimace. “It is stiff, and the muscles are bruised. But it feels good. It is not up to lifting much. I did mange to set the empty glass down instead of drop it. But that was will power.”

Mel moved over and felt the joint. “If you can lower your shields I can do a bit more about the swelling and that will let it move a bit easier . But you will still not be able to lift much more than a fork.”

Kel dropped the part of her shield that was blocking him. “If you can then I would appreciate. But don't use energy that you need for others.”

Mel said. “I am going off duty, others will be taking over. I will have time to rebuild what little it will take me to help that shoulder.” He laid both hands lightly on her shoulder and soon a warmth was passing though and surrounding it. It was not long tell he moved his hands. “Now try and see how it fills” He watched her move it and nodded. Then handed her a stick. “This ways about the same as a fork full of food. If you can stand it then you can feed yourself.”

Kell smiled. “Thanks that will help. And I am feeling a bit more steady. I might be up to standing, after I eat something that is.”

Mel said. “Just take it slow. There is some pain meds in on the desk there if you need them. They would knock most out so should serve to take the edge off for you.”

Rick sat a tray on the stand and moved it over in front of her, then said. “Are these the gloves you meant? They seem a bit fancy, but they were what was in the outside pocket.”

Kell nodded. “Those are the right ones. Mel you want to check them? They should have seams to rub, but I never got that far. I was thinking that it would give a layer of protection on my hand.”

Mel took the gloves then blink. “They should be fine. A reminder of home?”

Kell said. “Actually I bought a few pairs when we were in Melina. But I did send a bunch home with one of Fathers traders I happened to bump into. One of the few times I sent anything to them. They did not cost as much as you think. The other pair has leather palm, but that would be to harsh on my hand just now, I thought.”

Mel nodded. “These will fine. Save the others for when you can use the hand.”

Kell nodded and reached for the fork and stabbed a piece of meat. Closed her eyes and made herself eat it. Mel watched her and then nodded when she went for more with an apparent appetite. She smiled. “That first bite is the worst.”

Mel nodded. “But at lest you are eating. I was worried you might have to be forced.”

Kell said. “Been there done that. I will not need to go back. But would it hurt to mix some kale in the water to help with the burn out?”

“It should be all right, but get some more food down. And don't be shy about taken the pain medicine. I know you don't want to, but you don't need the pain. Now I am going to get my own lunch.” With that he turned and left.

Kell looked at the food. “Rick I am going to need those  big pieces and the vegetables cut. Sorry to be such a pain.”

Rick smiled. “No problem. You know I don't mind.” He reached over and cut it. She concentrated on eating, and made short work of the food.

“Now have you mixed kale before? I don't think you use it much down here, and the last time I did I was able to fix it myself.” Rick shook his head. “It is not to hard. Getting the right amount is the tricking part. But I have enough experience now that I don't over do it to often. Open that box there and take out the second spoon from the left.” He took it out and held it up. She nodded. “That’s the one. Now fill it with the powder in the gray jar and then put it in the empty glass.” She watched as he did so. “Good. That’s it. Now then fill it with water, don’t worry is supposed to foam like that. Go ahead and set it down. Now then take out the red jar and open it.” He did so. “Take out the littlest spoon and one scope to the water. The foaming will stop and the color will change. Then you need to stir it until it turns blue. Then it is ready to drink. Well sip, you don’t dink it fast.” Rick finished stirring and brought the glass over to her and held it so she could get a drink. “There has got to be a way that I can drink with out needing you to hold the glass.”

Athions said, “Not with your magic so spent, a straw would still need some lifting of glass. Unless it is me holding it. How are you feeling love?”

Kel said. “All right, well for some one who has went though what I did.” She looked at the glass and Rick lifted it so she could get anther drink. “How are you and what has been going on?”

He smiled and took a sat on the bed beside. “Rick let me have the glass and you go finish your food. I take that is yours and she ate hers?”

Rick hand him the glass. “Yes she ate hers” he moved back to his. “I was just.”

“Just more worried about me. You should have said you hadn’t ate yet. I could have waited for this.”

Anthions held the glass to her lips so she could get anther sip. “Don’t worry we have been eating as you healed. One late meal won’t hurt him, and yes I ate before I came over.” He held the glass up again, lowering after she took anther sip. “There was some residue down in the town to clean up and I wanted to wait tell it was clean, before cleaning my self and come to see you. It has been about four days since the battle. Two and half since you were awake last.  The burns were pretty bad, so your body help the meds keep you asleep. Or so Steven told me. He and Rick have been siting with you, and playing runner for the docs. His magic is the wrong kind for cleaning but he was able to feed energy to the healers. He is the reason there were so few losses. Even so a few healers over did and had killer head aches, but they are mostly recovered now.” He held the glass so she could finish it, then filed it with plan water and had her drink some of that.

“You did burn the buildings they had been using for, that is the most contaminated ones?”

He nodded. “Not my fist rodeo. They were burned to ash and the ash mixed with lime then turned in. It checked out as clean.”

Kell nodded and took anther drink of water, looked over and saw that Rick was done eating. “So how about helping me stand?”

Rick stood. “Are you sure?”

Kell said. “I am not going to do anything more than stand up. But it should be all right to try that much before I lie back down.” They frond but did as she asked. With there help she got to her feet and stood a bit, then carefully set back down. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but I think it is nap time again.”

Rick smiled and helped her back on the bed. “Sleep well. One of us will be here when you wake.”