Burdens - Chapter 124: Gentle
#124 of Burdens
GENTLEMEN.
Chapter 124: Gentle
Roger's phone had charged enough that he was able to turn it on. The signal was a bit weak but it did what it was supposed to. He was immediately bombarded with several messages that he had missed, the majority of them coming from his lion friend.
The lion had written about what his job had become, which he thanked him for. It was something he could do wherever he was located at, so he could actually travel around while working, instead of being confined to an office. He was now the cat's secretary; as was the favor he had owed him. It was not necessarily an easy job, but with his unique skill at typing, it worked out.
Several messages that followed asked how he was doing, and since there was no response, the last one said he was going to send a message to the cat to check on him. It told him to respond when he was able.
The other messages were from his parents and a couple friends. They all voiced their concerns. His parents had apologized that they were able to come during the day. The most recent had told him that his father had come after visiting hours were over, so he was just turned back around. They would see about taking some time off.
His friend, Daniel, had caught wind of his hospital stay, but the details eluded him. He sent a message asking him how he was doing, that he had heard he was sick, and hoped that he felt better. He would come by to visit, he insisted. The day was tentative.
A message from Hunter's friend was also there. Brandon, the ferret, had sent him a short message, wishing him well, and also saying it was his intention to visit. No date was mentioned. Roger hoped it was not that day, since he wanted to wash himself before anyone saw him. Perhaps, if he were so lucky, he might be able to clothe himself.
Roger sent the lion a message saying that he was fine, and immediately had several texts telling him the situation that had occurred after he passed out in the hospital. Roger's parents had arrived that day, but it was time for the lion to depart. They had thanked him as he left, and Hunter chose to remain with them. They, as he described, looked very troubled.
After that, he went back to work, he told the fox. The company had just finished a major project and were working on the next one, as the cat had mentioned pertaining to the latter. He did not give any details, and he did not want to ask about it.
Roger put his phone off to the side and waited. He looked at the card that the doctor had given him, and he took his wallet, depositing it into a small pocket. He turned the television on and changed it to a channel that predominantly played sitcoms that he did not understand just to have some noise in the room.
After his incident earlier he did not want to move about in the room. In spite of trying to stay away from his phone, it was the only entertainment he had until the wolf returned. He eventually found himself back on it, surfing the web.
-
The weasel had eventually come back on shift and greeted him with a warm smile. He asked if everything was okay, to which the fox responded that nothing had changed since he left. The nurse mentioned that he had to turn away his father, though.
Roger nodded. He had already known that that was the case. He asked the question that was on his mind, though.
"Do you think... I can uh, get a shower at some point?" Roger hesitantly asked. He wondered if he should wait for Hunter, though.
"Well, deary," the weasel began. His pose showed that he was beginning to get a little embarrassed. "I suppose if you want a wash we can do that. You can do everything from your neck and down by yourself, but when it comes to your head, I have to do that. Have to be careful, after all. And of course, if you need help... you can ask, and I'll help."
Roger realized why the nurse seemed to be awkward about it. Still, that was not his intent. He then asked, "Do you think Hunter can help me with that after you help me with washing my head?"
There was a negative emotion that he could not place that had flashed on the weasel's face, but it was gone so quickly that he questioned if he had even seen it. He smiled warmly at the fox and agreed, that that would be acceptable to him.
He asked if he could be in regular clothes, but that request was declined. If something happened, they wanted him to be in a hospital gown. It was just easier that way. Roger acquiesced.
The weasel departed.
It still took another hour or so before the wolf arrived.
When he did, he greeted Roger with the biggest of smiles and a lick on the cheek. The fox immediately felt warm and fuzzy. It was not long ago that he had shown his anxieties for the wolf to judge, and even more recent for the two to become a pair. Everything had moved so quickly, and yet it felt like an eternity.
Roger pushed the button to summon the nurse and told him that he was ready. He was aided when moved over to a special station to wash patients.
Much like a hair salon, there was a seat that he could rest in, but they avoided it. The weasel said that was for a different injury, and that they did not want to turn his head too much. While it was fine that he laid down, it was supported by a pillow.
Roger sat down on a seat normally used by the patients that had trouble standing. Hunter had accompanied them, though it did not seem like that was proper procedure.
The weasel took a bucket out with a sponge and towel, and a small bottle of cleaning solution and antiseptic soap. He then glanced at the wolf, and Roger could swear he heard him gulp.
"So, uh, sweetie. I'm going to have to ask you to, uh... remove your garments, so they don't get wet," the nurse said hesitantly. He constantly glanced at the wolf, thinking that he would immediately find his face percussed.
Hunter made no reaction, though. Roger, on the other hand, did.
His face flushed and he asked, "W-what? Can't... can't I just wear it?"
The nurse explained, "You c-can, but the chemicals we use... to clean your wound would ruin the fabric. W-we're trying to conserve the garments, y-you see..."
Roger let out a breath through his nose, almost like a disgruntled exhale. "Fine," he said begrudgingly.
He undid the knot behind him and slipped out of the hospital gown while the nurse filled the bucket with water, mixing the cleaning solution with the antiseptic. The weasel was putting in extra effort not to look at the fox, it seemed.
Finally, everything was ready. Roger felt extremely embarrassed, sitting naked in front of Hunter and the nurse. If it were just Hunter he would have been fine. He had moved his tail on top of his lap to at least hide his genitals.
The nurse seemed a little thankful for his action. He put the bucket on the seat next to the fox, and then took the sponge and put a bit of the solution in it. He started the was by putting a paw on Roger's face, holding it still.
The fox blushed. The weasel's paw was so soft and gentle. He felt the warm water on top of his head, dripping downward. His fur began to mat, and when the top of his head had finally been cleaned, he felt a towel go over it. Next were his ears, and then the edges surrounding the shaved portion of his head. The entire time, the weasel had a firm hold of his face, yet it was soft at the same time.
The nurse's expression changed from anxiety to deep concern, sympathy, and focus. He gently dabbed the incision wounds with the sponge and whispered, "I'm so sorry, you poor thing..." repeatedly.
If the nurse was anything, he was caring. Roger could not help but feel a deep appreciation for him at that moment, and he felt a little guilty, especially with Hunter idly standing there.
After the wounds were cleaned, next was the face, back of the head, and sides. Then the muzzle was cleaned, ever so carefully. It did not take long, but the entire time Roger had been looking at the weasel's eyes. Nothing about them wished him any harm. It was heartwarming to the fox.
The weasel moved down to his neck and washed all around it. He afforded a little bit of broader movements since there were no incisions there. After all of that, he went over the same motions again, except to rinse it off.
And then it was finished. He dumped the solution and washed the sponge, putting it back where he had found it. He grabbed the shower head and gave it to the wolf, who took it with a confused look on his face.
The nurse turned to Roger and said, "Don't have too much fun, sweetie. You need to get back to bed and get better." He gave him a warm smile and stepped out of the room, closing it behind him.
"He's a nice guy," Hunter remarked.
"Y-yeah. He really is," Roger said.