#it makes me laugh cause I have a big orthopedic boot

[whump-galaxy]

“I don’t see you as…injured.”

[ourloveisforthelovely]

Omen 6

A/n: no warnings 

Link to Chapter 5

Words: 3,739

Pairings: Gabriel x Reader

______

“So I guess I'll see you, I'll see you around. I'm spinning while I'm falling down. Now you know why I'm begging you, I'm begging. Cause I can't stop it now. Its so amazing how, I know I can't, I could never walk away.” ~Cartel

After your nap, you went downstairs with Gabriel. It was painfully clear that Michael wanted nothing to do with either of you! Instead of talking to Gabriel, the eldest archangel simply glared at that two of you. Gabriel shrugged it off like Michael's behavior was no big deal.

You however, glared right back at Michael. The last thing that you wanted him to do was get comfy. You wanted him to know that you didn't like him. He had taken so much from you and the last thing that you wanted was for Michael to think that you had forgotten any of it!

Gabriel's eyes were looking between his brother and you. He heard every cold thought that you were shooting toward Michael.

“You have take so much from me. I don't care what universe you came from! You took my twin brother from me. I will never forgive you for what you have done to Gabe either! I want you to remember my face mother fucker because it will be the last thing that you see one day.”

Gabriel was worried how Michael would react to that one. When Michael didn't move a muscle and only starred at you, he felt better. Gabriel reached up pulling you onto his map.

“That's enough.”

He whispered longingly to you. All it took was a couple of kisses to completely have you like butter in the archangel's hands. Gabriel always knew how to make you forget what you were pissed at for the moment and focus on those talented lips of his.

Gabriel meanwhile, glanced at his brother who was busy watching the two of you make out. Michael's face showed nothing nut pure disgust. He stood a moment longer before storming out onto the porch.

Michael noticed Jack sitting on the porch.

“So what Gabriel and Y/n are doing...does this happen often?”

Jack looked up. His frowned before answering his uncle.

“You mean have sex quite loudly?”

Michael winced at his nephew's bluntness.

“Sure.”

Michael replied trying not to gag on his words. Jack meanwhile, nodded with a smile.

“A couple of times a day. My suggestion is to invest into some good earplugs. They are happy so I am happy.”

Michael groaned.

“Of course you take up for Gabriel and her.”

Michael's tone turned negative at the word “her.” Jack looked automatically offended but didn't move to get up.

“Well they help take care of me. You however, are stuffy”

Michael, realizing that he wasn't going to get anywhere with his nephew, walked back inside with a growl.

He froze again at the sight of Gabriel and yourself making out even more. Looking down, he smiled seeing Jody's decorative throw pillow on the couch. Michael raised an eyebrow before picking up the pillow and looked at the back of his brother's head. He slammed the pillow into the back of Gabriel's head.

It took all of two seconds for Gabriel to turn to face his brother.

“The hell was that for?”

Michael scowled at Gabriel.

“I don't want to see you with your tongue down her throat! Married people don't act like that.”

Gabriel chuckled.

“Jokes on you ass hat! We aren't married. Second, I'll put my tongue down her throat or other places anytime I damn well please.”

Michael looked like he could vomit! He had thought the two of you were married by the way that you were asking. That had been another part of his hostility to you. The last thing that he wanted was for his brother to be married to a dirty human!

“You mean that the two of you aren't married and acting like this? This disaster keeps getting worse!”

Gabriel smirked before looking back at you. He was glad to see that you were silently laughing at Michael.

“So sugar, want to marry me so Mr. Holier than thou doesn't have an aneurysm?”

You laughed ruffling Gabriel's messed up hair before standing up.

“You are so funny, Gabriel.”

He frowned looking up at you.

“I was serious.”

He said in a low displeased tone. You, however, knew better! Gabriel would never ask you to marry him. That as too much of a human thing! From the moment the two of you got together you immediately had the vibe that Gabriel wasn't the “settling down type.” Sure, he would stay with you as long as he could in addition to keeping you young and healthy but marriage? It wasn't happening.

You figured this behavior was just him trying to antagonize Michael.

“The day you marry me is the day I become an astronaut.”

You replied with a smile. Michael, meanwhile, looked between the two of you with almost a confused expression.

“Angels can't marry humans.”

He replied after a moment. Gabriel glowered at his brother.

“I do what I want.”

Michael rolled his eyes. He could see through Gabriel right now. His younger brother was beyond offended! He clearly expected you to say yes when he asked you to marry him. When you shot him down thinking this was just another one of his tricks, he was livid.

“Gabriel, we need to go see if we can find alternate me. As much as I enjoy witnessing you two and your domestic fluff, I have bigger fish to fry.”

You stopped in your tracks before turning to look at Gabriel. He stood up and was clearly having a silent conversation with his brother. Gabriel yanked on his leather jacket before turning to face you. He new right away you were panicking!

Gabriel was at your side in an instant and pulling you into his arms.  

“Y/n, please don't make this difficult. I will be home in a few days.”

You shook you head.

“I don't want you going anywhere with him.”

Michael frowned.

“Oh jeez, don't go anywhere with Michael! He's crazy!”

You nodded.

“At least you can admit it. Gabriel, please don't do this. You know I can't stand the thought of you going off anywhere with him. We just talked about this!”

Gabriel sighed.

“Y/n, I have to keep psycho Michael from coming here and hurting anyone. Its going to come down to this Michael and I to take care of the situation. Babe, I can handle myself. If it makes you feel better I will take Jack. You of all people know he can handle this.”

You nodded. If you trusted anyone to join that fucked up hunting party, it would be Jack. He could put Michael in his place quick!

“Fine.”

You muttered, looking down coldly. Gabriel pushed a strand of your hair away from your face and pressed a tender kiss to your forehead.

“I promise you I will be home soon. Trust me, okay?”

You nodded, still not feeling very trusting. Gabriel knew that you wasn't trusting a damn thing about this situation and it was dumb to ask for your trust. It was like him stabbing you in the leg and asking you not to bleed.  

“Maybe when I come back I can talk you into marrying me?”

You looked up at that. Gabriel's face was dead serious and it was making you wonder why he kept trying?

“Yeah, we'll see.”

You replied. Gabriel stepped closer tilting your chin to his face. His fingers traced over your cheek.

“I mean it baby. I want you to be mine forever.”

He pressed his lips to yours, kissing you hungrily. Gabriel had quickly realized the seriousness of the situation. He savored the moment, the way you felt against his body, and how you nibbled on his bottom lip.

“Enough lover boy.”

Michael snapped. Gabriel pulled away from you slowly.

“Stay here and don't go hunting”

Gabriel said calmly. He and Michael vanished before your eyes.

“And the nightmare continues.”

You said before going to the couch and laying down.

2 days later...

“Easy does it, Dean.”

Sam hissed as Dean carried you into Jody's living room. Dean looked over at his shoulder.

“Sam, I know how to handle this! I'm not going to drop her on the floor!”

Jody hand dropped the dish that she was watching before rushing in. Her face was immediately worried as she looked at you.

“What happened?”

You smiled down at your foot that was over Dean's shoulder.

“Vampire got a little handsy.”

You said with a grin. Jody quickly walked to the couch fixing a space as Dean sat you down. Jody carefully inspected you foot while Sam explained the whole situation. Had you not tried to be brave and rescue Sam, this may not had happened. You didn't care though. A hurt foot was better than your brother being dead!  

“Sweetie, I really think that your ankle is broken.”

“Fudge.”

You grumbled angrily. Now you knew that you were in for it! Not only were you injured but now you had no angels to heal you at the moment. That mean that Gabriel would find out that you were hurt! Cas had went to join his brothers. Jack was with them as well...you were screwed! Hopefully Cas or Jack would show up first so they could fix you up before Gabriel turned up,. You could already see the disapproving expression on your lovers face and already expect the lecture that you had coming!

Later that night, Gabriel, Jack, and Cas appeared in the living room near midnight. Gabriel smiled when he saw you curled up on the couch. Your face was snuggled into a pillow while clutching a soft blanket the way you held onto him at night.

Sam was passed out on the other couch while Dean sat beside you. He was half asleep while watching some western movie. Gabriel rolled his eyes and fought the urge to call Dean an old man. However, the urge to tease Dean stopped the moment that he saw the orthopedic boot on your right ankle.  

As soon as he was about to say something, your eyes fluttered open. You immediately smiled seeing him.

“Gabe!”

You said his name sleepily. Jody had given you some strong pain medication to knock out the pain in your ankle. Little did you know that you had no tolerance for hard core pain medication. It put you out like a light!

Gabriel raised an eyebrow before giving you that smile on contempt that he wore so well when you did something stupid. You internally winced knowing that he was well aware of your injury.

“Hi sugar, why don't you come kiss me? I've missed those pretty lips of yours.”

You sat motionless for a moment. Gabriel gave you a quizzical expression before tapping his foot. It was all over! You luck had ran out on you! Deep down you had been wishing that it was Cas that came home first so he could heal you really quick but nope! There stood you very annoyed looking archangel of a boyfriend looking at you with that all knowing expression.

As slowly as possible you gingerly stood. You made sure to put as much of your weight as you could on your good foot before limping your way toward Gabriel. His golden eyes immediately went to your bad foot.

“What happened?”

His voice was calm and even. Dean was looking between you two with wide eyes as you started to mumble your words together. Gabriel meanwhile, was busy playing dumb.

“What was that lovey? I can't hear you.”

You sighed.

“Its a funny story...I kinda...went hunting and a vampire broke it. He was big mother too! Bigger than Sam...if that gives good visuals. Well anyhow, that big mother fucker was bashing Sam into the floor. Just look at his handsome face! So I gave the big mother fuck a fist full of don't mess with my family. Mistakes were made and he snapped my ankle but don't worry the rest of me is good.”

Gabriel didn't smile. His face remained totally annoyed.

“You went hunting?”

You nodded, looking like a child who was about to be scolded by their parents. Gabriel sighed.

“Didn't I ask you not to go hunting?”

You nodded.

“I was bored and I missed you.”

You were trying to think of any sweet thing to say so that Gabriel wouldn't completely go bat shit. Gabriel chuckled.

“So getting your ankle broken by a vampire is what you do when you miss me? Y/n go upstairs and wait for me while I speak to your brothers.”

You quickly walked to the stairs saying “ow” after every step. Gabriel snapped his fingers and the next thing that you knew, you were on the bed. You wished that you could be listening to what Gabe was saying to your brothers. Part of you, however, knew that you really didn't want to!

Meanwhile,

Gabriel was glaring at Sam and Dean. Both of the Winchesters sat casually like they had done nothing wrong.

“What part of don't take her hunting baffles the two of you so much?!”

Dean shrugged.

“Shes a grown woman, Gabriel. Y/n knows how to hunt. Gabriel, you can't be with 24/7 to make sure that she doesn't harm herself!”

“Like hell I can!”

Gabriel snapped. Dean's looked a little creeped out at Gabriel's comment.

“Dude, that as kind of creepy. I don't like the idea of you watching my sister's every move. One word: Stalker.”

Gabriel blinked.

“Two words: Fuck you.”

Gabriel vanished immediately. Sam groaned before laying back down on the couch.

“I think you offended him.”

Dean rolled his eyes, not giving a good god damn!

“I don't don't care. I hate the idea of that son of a bitch with or sister. I just have to deal with it because she is happy!”

Sam smirked. He knew that Dean flinched every time that he say you and Gabe together. But he put his feelings in the closet so you could have your happiness.  

“What are you going to do when he asks her to marry him?”

Dean choked on his drink.

“Sam that will be the day that I die.”

Meanwhile,

You sat on the bed, not daring to move. Not only did it hurt too much but you knew Gabriel would be even more annoyed when you left the room. He had clearly put you here for a reason.

Gabriel appeared in the room after about 10 minutes. His face was still furious as he walked to you. “Let me see your ankle.”

You slowly put your foot out wincing as he took the boot off. Gabriel gently ran his fingers over the swollen purple bruise.

“Its definitely broken. Sugar, why do you have to keep putting yourself in danger?”

You was quiet a moment.

“Its because danger is kind of part of my life, I guess.”

Gabriel looked up at you sadly.

“I don't like this. Any time I am away from you this happens. I don't like seeing my girl hurt.”

He was kind of right there. Any time that Gabriel was away from you for any length of time and you went hunting you were getting hurt. Possibly you were getting hurt because your head really wasn't in your job. Your mind was off wondering where Gabriel was and missing him, which was clearly bad as a hunter!  

You reached down running your fingers over Gabriel's cheek. He looked like he could purr from the moment of contact alone.

“I'll be more careful. I love when you call me your girl.”

Gabriel smiled before healing your ankle.

“Because you are my girl and if I have to spend eternity healing your boo boos and ouchies I will.”

The next morning while you were still sleeping, Gabriel went downstairs to make sure that Jack had gotten back in one piece. Gabriel walked into the kitchen only to be met with Dean half screaming at him.

“IS Y/N BEHIND YOU?”

Gabriel raised an eyebrow.

“No, why are you yelling? Its too early for that shit.”

Jack poked his head up happily.

“We are planning Y/n's birthday party!”

Gabriel's master plan came right back as he smiled gleefully. Cas looked up from the table as well.

“Come plot with us.”

Gabriel sat down crossing his arms over his chest.

“I know what I am doing already.”

“Well tell us what it is.”

Sam replied. Gabriel shook his head. The last thing that was going to do was reveal his secret.

“Nope. You will have to wait and see. Its too epic to share.”

Dean rolled his eyes.

“Whatever! Anyhow, where were we? Jack what are you getting her?”

Jack grinned happily.

“She was telling me about her locket that her father got her and how it got broken in a hunt. I fixed it myself. I like to make her smile.”

Dean looked at the boy with a proud smile.

“Good move. Y/n will definitely smile. She will love that.”

Jack was clearly pleased with Dean's comment and went back to the book that he was  reading. Gabriel was proud of Jack on that one and also slightly confused. You had never told him about a locket.

“So what you two mutton heads getting her?”

Sam and Dean looked instantly proud of themselves. Dean grinned evilly.

“I got her a new gun. For her to use when we go hunting together.”

Gabriel looked totally pissed after that one. Sam quickly started talking to avoid any showdown's between Dean and Gabriel.

“I got her a sapphire bracelet that Y/n has had her eye on for sometime.

“I got the matching ear rings!”

Cas said suddenly as if he too was wanting to prevent his brother and Dean from fighting too. Gabriel smirked.

“Well that's nice Cas. Good job.”

Sam and Dean had arranged to make the party the day before heading back to the bunker. Dean had convinced Jack to take you out to watch some pretend monster. Once you were out of the house, Dean started getting everything ready. Bobby, Charlie, and Marry showed up an hour or so later.

“Glad you all came now. She just left a bit ago.”

Sam said showing them into the house while Cas walked into the house carrying the cake that Sam had ordered. Dean let go of of his mother and nervously looked at Cas.

“Cas man, please tell me that you didn't have them write, “Its your birthday” or something else odd.”

Cas frowned, looking highly offended.

“I had them write the usually Happy Birthday. I thought that was the standard message.”

Dean looked relieved at that.

“Good job. I was worried there.”

Cas gave Dean a glare before stalking off to help Jody with the snacks. He turned seeing Gabriel sitting on the couch looking very “un Gabriel” like.

“Is something bothering you?”

Cas asked calmly. Gabriel shook his head. He didn't turn to look at his younger brother. Cas knew the response coming before he even said it.

“Gabriel, don't tell me no. I am not blind.”

Gabriel turned looking at Cas now.

“I have a lot on my mind that's all.”

How was Gabriel supposed to tell Cas everything what he was feeling. He would never understand. No one in the house would understand! Michael sure as hell would never understand! Not one soul in the WORLD would understand what he was going through mentally.

An hour or so later you walked in with Jack behind you. You were indeed shocked when everyone started yelling surprise. Jack wrapped his arms around you eagerly. When he let go Sam and Dean group hugged you.

“I'm going to kill you two. I said no party!”

You giggled. Dean shrugged.

“We don't listen.”

“Every girl needs her birthday.”

Sam said with a smile. Jack quickly reached out grabbing your hand.

“Come open your presents!”

You chuckled at Jack's eagerness. Someone watching from the outside would have thought that it was Jack's birthday.

“Wait, where is...”

“Right here, sugar.”

You relaxed the moment that you heard Gabriel's voice from beside you. He smiled at you but something in his eyes was worrying you. Jack quickly handed you a box. After a few minutes of opening you were beyond happy with your new gun (even though Gabriel looked less than amused), the bracelet that you had been trying to justify buying and the matching ear rings. You had almost cried all over Jack when you saw that he had given you the locket that was a gift from your father. Jack looked rather proud of himself that he made you that happy.

“I fixed it myself!”

He said gleefully.

“Well you did amazing!”

You said tearfully as you put the locket back on. It had been of the few tender moments that you had shared with your father. One where he saw you as his daughter not as a third boy

Gabriel stepping in front of you made you look up.

“My turn.”

He said with a small smile. You didn't know what to expect from your boyfriend. Gabriel had to be the most unpredictable person that you had ever known! Gabriel held out a hand helping you out of the chair. You frowned becoming worried w hen he simply stood looking at you for a moment.

“You know I love...”

He began. Something inside you began to snap. Was this a break up?! Was he permanently going off with Michael? The other stuffy archangel stood across the room looking less than interested.

“Gabriel, what are you doing?”

Gabriel took a breath.

“Something that I should have done a long time ago. Y/n will you marry me?”

______

@gone-to-fight-the-fairies

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[vthiker09]

My Back?

Will is an interesting quality.  Often mistaken for stubbornness, will allows you to decide something has improved or you are on track to accomplish a certain task.  Will, much like many human emotions, can often times be rooted in nothing more than your desire for a certain result - even if you are ignoring the obvious.  When I look back at my social media posts from a few weeks after my third surgery, I see all of these dramatic posts about how much my injury improved and how I thought this was a turning point for me - finally in the right direction. 

Will takes strength.  Particularly in situations where the desired end result isn’t easy, a person with strong will, will often persevere more often.  Having said this, often in instances where will is confused with stubbornness, a person won’t have the ability to acknowledge they cannot bull their way to their desired result because for whatever reason, there isn’t enough will in the world to reach the goal.

In late September, I was sent back for another round of PT.  This time, I opted to go to the PT practice in the same building as my surgeons.  I had struggled in the past to have any line of communication between the PT’s I saw and the surgeons I was working with.  I thought perhaps if they were in the same building, it would help this problem.  I also thought since this practice was associated with an entire crew of surgeons, they probably knew the scope of good, bad, and awful injuries.    I was paired, yet again, with someone who focused on ankle injuries and worked with folks who were trying to get back to an active lifestyle.  

Although the end result was pretty awful, through no fault of this PT, they were the best PT I’ve worked with.  It was the first PT I worked with who I felt truly understood what I was trying to accomplish and instead of giving me the standard list of exercises everyone gets to rehab an ankle injury, took the time to evaluate where I was at, where I wanted to go, and how to help me get there.  It was also the first time a PT saw me as an entire person vs. a busted ankle.  Once we started to work together, this became an important distinction.  I realized quickly it wasn’t just my ankle which sat on that couch for a year, it was everything.  Every muscle I needed to hike those mountains, had been de-conditioned in the same way my ankle had been and needed some work.

Unlike all my other PT’s, instead of a long list of ankle focused activities, this PT gave me body focused activities with a heavy dollop of ankle work.  Besides being more interesting than the previous regimens I had been given, I felt like I was finally working with someone who cared even slightly as much as I did about helping me get back to the mountains.  Despite what I believed to be better care and my steadfast will to get better, I quickly started to realize something still wasn’t right. Here’s a good gimpy kid tip: hold all your dramatic social media posts for until you start to move.  When it comes to orthopedic surgery, it’s really easy to say “it’s great!” when you are in a walking boot or a brace.  The true test is when your limb has to function on it’s own and move in the ways you want it to move.

Many things hadn’t changed: my range of motion in certain directions was still not functional, I had post-surgery swelling along with continued general swelling, I had continued bruising in areas which were not operated on, and my ankle in general hurt.  To add to my routine list of woes was increased nerve pain.  Now, I had had “nerve pain” the whole time.  What I had now was NERVE PAIN.  I had constant pins and needles, burning, and shooting pain which felt like razor blades in my foot.  To say the least - it was unpleasant.  Joining my nerve pain was what I believed to be ligament pain on the inside of my ankle.  

When I met with the second surgeon, he asked me if the inside of my ankle hurt.  He asked me because my MRI had shown my deltoid ligament was damaged.  Two things: a) yes, you have a deltoid ligament complex in your ankle and b) deltoid ligament ruptures are the actual root cause of a high ankle sprain.  Think of it as one big bad chain of events: first you rupture your deltoid, which allows your ankle joint to move majorly in the wrong direction, your syndesmosis tries to pick up the slack, fails and ruptures, and then your ankle joint moves even more in the wrong direction and breaks your leg.  It was a given my deltoid was hurt.  What wasn’t a given was whether it would heal on it’s own.  In most instances it does and doesn’t require any intervention.

For some reason, on this day, I told the surgeon “no it doesn’t hurt.”  I don’t know why, because it did.  Perhaps in this one moment it didn’t and I was being narrow minded in my response.  For reasons I will describe later, I really wish I had said “yes.”  These reasons started to reveal themselves a few weeks into PT.  The inside of my ankle truly started to hurt.  There was one session with my PT where I said, I think my deltoid isn’t functioning properly.  This was after weeks of me saying “I have some serious nerve pain going on.”  After tugging on my ankle, my PT said “roll over.”  She promptly began to push on my back and asked me if it hurt, which it did.  She explained often times back injuries create symptoms in a person’s leg and/or ankle in the form of nerve pain.  She believed perhaps I had a slipped disc and this was the whole reason I often couldn’t feel my foot.

I was given a set of back stretches, which made it way worse.  In the course of a few days, I went from having no clue my back might be hurt, to being in serious pain.  I emailed my PT saying “it hurts to breath,” she told me to stop doing the back stretches, and we would talk next week.  The following week, she said I should see a back specialist.  Now, at this point I had heard a bunch of bad news.  I was working on three surgeries and had finally began to cope with the fact dashing ER doctor was really wrong and I wasn’t going to be hiking in the spring.  At the same time, my ankle was injured - not my back.  I also, much like most people, have this perception of back issues being much more severe than ankle issues.  Whether this is true, I felt like I went from being sort of busted to being much more hurt. 

At this point I had really bad nerve pain, my ankle still didn’t function in many of the same ways it didn’t function before surgery number three, and now my back wasn’t happy.  To say the least, I wasn’t a happy camper.  Despite my lack of happiness, my will was still strong and if seeing a back specialist was going to make me feel better, than so be it.  I promptly called the spine people, who happen to be right across the hall from my ankle surgeons and made an appointment for a few weeks later. 

I’m not going to spend a lot of time on this because I don’t even believe it deserves the effort it takes to type about it.  In short, my experience with the spine team was awful and I won’t be recommending them to anyone - ever.  Here are the highlights:

1. I met with a provider on January 4th.  They asked me what was worse, my ankle or my back.  I told them this was hard to distinguish between because it was the same ankle I had been struggling with for quite some time and it wasn’t clear to me which pieces were caused by my ankle injury and what was caused by the mysterious back injuries, I didn’t even know I had.  Their response was “Look, I am a spine specialist.  I’m not here to talk about your ankle.”  At this point I almost walked out of the appointment.  It made no sense to me, medically or otherwise, that I couldn’t talk about my ankle injury when my back symptoms were in the same place.  I only have one right ankle.

2. At the end of exam, the recommendation was a cortisone injection. After they spoke with their supervising surgeon, the recommendation was an MRI.  I left not being pleased, got a phone call later that day and scheduled the MRI for January 26th with a follow-up on February 5th.

3. I got the radiology report from my back x-rays.  They didn’t match what I had been told by the spine provider.  I called them to ask “why isn’t this the same information as what you told me two days ago?”  They tried to tell me I was wrong, which I wasn’t and then proceeded to laugh at my questions.  After I hung up, I promptly called saying I never wanted to see this provider again and was told if I didn’t, I would be a new patient and the wait would be months.

4. I called another hospital, they wouldn’t see me until they had my medical records.  I called the hospital I was working with and had my records sent.  They were sent a few months ago and I still haven’t heard from the other hospital. 

5. After an insane amount of nagging from my parents, I saw a chiropractor.  They saw my x-rays and flipped out.  Their exact words were: “I’ve never seen a spine move like this.”  Apparently when I bend backwards, my L5 and S1 come a little too close for comfort.  After three or four appointments, the chiropractor said: “I can’t fix this” and referred me to pain management - who never called.

6. I had the MRI done, requested the films, and figured out pretty quickly I had a few bulging discs and one, in particular, didn’t look good.

7. I went to the February 5th appointment, with the provider I really didn’t care for, and was told what I already knew: I have bulging discs between the L3 and L4 vertebrae and the L4 and L5 vertebrae.  I also have a herniated disc between the L5 and S1 vertebrae, which is pushing on the right side of my nerve root in my spine.  This sort of explains the nerve pain in my right foot - because the disc is pushing on the right side.  The provider again recommended a cortisone injection and then said this gem: “My hope is this will provide you with some relief and you can try harder in PT to push through whatever is going on.”

8.  I got super mad someone had the guts to say I wasn’t trying and promptly called the hospital again thinking maybe I could see someone new faster.  Again, this wasn’t the case.  While all of this was going on, my parents were trying to find another hospital I could go to all together.  At this point, there were just too many missteps, what I perceived as a lack of caring, and I was confident a new set of providers were in order. 

My aunt, little did I know, had been going through a similar nightmare.  After an unsuccessful surgery at Mass General, fifty failed PT visits, and two years of pain, it had been suggested she go to a private practice in southern NH.  She had seen both their hip and ankle surgeons and had nothing but fantastic things to say about them.  Although a haul from my central Vermont location, I was so fed up with the care I was receiving, I was willing to try anything.

I called this practice, gave the receptionist the short (which is really a long) version of what was going on and was told they couldn’t schedule with me until they had my medical records.  Although medical red tape makes me want to scream, I noticed two things: 1. This person was nice to me.  She seemed to care even though she had never met me and it didn’t feel like she was staring at a calendar and blindly trying to put me in a slot.  She listened and treated me like a human.  2. The wait times weren’t something I needed to worry about.  This practice wasn’t booking out several months - they were booking out about a week and a half.  Even after 18 months, I could wait 10 days.

I promptly hopped in my car and drove the hour to get all my medical records.  This required three stops and nearly a hundred dollars to fax/overnight all the information to NH.  I was surprised to see a NH phone number pop up on my phone within an hour of me faxing my paper medical records.  The same pleasant women started with “you poor thing” and then proceeded to schedule me to see their ankle and spine surgeon.

Hold tight to hear all about my first experience with a private practice and what turns out to be some pretty bad news.

[underopenskies]

Big Boy Shoes

((AKA Hamish no longer has to have the trashbag of shame :D Our lovable little cowfolks also learn the gender of their baby.))

@fontsandsins

Skylar shifted the truck down a gear, and clenched her teeth quietly as she eased into the next lane of traffic, to bring them over towards the clinic. She was about eighteen weeks now- so they were going in for their appointment to see their baby’s gender. They were also going to be getting Hamish out of his cast- and into a walking boot. For which, Skylar was quite glad. She was quite tired of driving- and once he was in his boot, he’d be able to drive them back.

Given that the stress of driving kept making her feel less than stellar when they got home now, it was definitely for the best. Stress wasn’t good for pregnant women- and she was still early enough that there was a risk for miscarriage. And driving? Driving definitely was enough stress to cause that. At least, based upon the number of finger marks marring the surface on his steering wheel, it certainly was.

“So, you excited t’ be out o’ th’ cast, Haz?” She asked lightly, flinching faintly as someone honked behind the truck. She tugged her shirt down a little over her belly, and swallowed with a soft noise as she felt the faint fluttering of their baby from within. God, she hated driving- she hated it with a passion. “I know m’ excited for ya t’ be out of it.” It was starting to smell funny- as all casts were wont to do- but they couldn’t exactly go scrub it clean of that old-cast stink that casts tended to get.

Hamish grinned. "I'm damn ready to be out of this thing. It means I can look after you now, instead of you having to look after me so much." He said. He reached his hand out to gently rub Skylar’s shoulder, trying to ease away some of the tension.

His hands did help her ease off the tension- particularly since they weren’t far from the clinic. She exhaled gently, downshifted some, and then made a turn onto the road that would take them straight to the clinic. “I don’ mind havin’ t’ look after ya, sugar. But, it will be nice t’ have some help when it comes t’ cleanin’ th’ stalls.” She manages to give him a lopsided grin. “Particularly with our little one growin’ so big.” The baby was making her round ligaments ache something fierce- but there was nothing really to be done about it.

Skylar flipped on the truck’s blinker, ready to turn into the clinic as it came closer into view.

Hamish sat up and watched the cars as Skylar parked. His truck was bulky and sometimes it was bigger than it looked; he wound down his window and stuck his head out, checking the car next to them on his side. "You're doing good babe." He smiled, rolling his window back up. "It will be nice not needing to lug the crutches around everywhere we go too."

Skylar took her time easing the truck into place. It was a slightly tighter fit on her side- but that was slightly intentional. He needed space to be able to work his crutches- and she didn’t. Once the truck was parked, she slid the parking brake into place, and turned it off. “Yeah, it’ll be nice indeed. Though th’ crutches more or less come hand n’ hand with luggin’ you places with me, sugar.” She winks at him faintly, and exhales softly. Skylar collects her purse, and eases herself out of the truck- which involves a little bit of squishing and awkward angling of her skull to work the unbending forms of her horns out without getting them stuck, since there wasn’t much space to open the door. But, it was doable, and she was soon shutting her door and heading around to help him out of the other side. “Heh- ‘f ya think you’re up to it, sugar, you get t’ drive home t’day.”

He smiled and eased himself out of the car, keeping his weight on his good foot. He closed the car door and used it to hop over to the tray, reaching in to untie the crutches. "Oh, I'll be driving. You've stressed yourself out enough." He rubbed her back and pressed her gently against the truck so he could hold her belly and kiss her.

Skylar didn’t mind being pressed against the truck, and a soft laugh left her as she returned his kisses with gentle gusto. She hooked her fingers gently in his belt loops, tugging his hips gently against hers as her lips met his. Her middle pressed into his, well on it’s way to becoming an obstacle for them- but she was still able to crane past it for now. “Mmm, ain’t that th’ truth. M’ afraid y’ steering wheel ain’t in th’ same shape it was before I drove it with it.” Soft blue eye lights peered up into his reddish brown ones, and she quirked a smile up at him. She’d gone without her hat today- which wasn’t something she did often- so there was nothing obscuring her view.

He chuckled, a smooth but deep sound. "I need a new truck anyway… if we want something we can put a baby seat into." His cheeks heated slightly when she pulled him against her and his… friend downstairs have an approving throb. He let out a breath.

Skylar loved his laugh- the deep sound always made the baby in her belly flutter with the small quickening movements that she’d been picking up from time to time. “Given tha’ we wanted t’ have lots o’ kids, a new car of some sort is probably in our future. We can start lookin’ into somethin’ that you’ll like, since you’ll be drivin’ it th’ most.” Skylar might not have felt the throb, but she felt him twitch against her in his jeans. A slow grin crawled up her face, and she kissed him again, peppering soft kisses from his mouth down to his jaw, and then scraping her teeth lightly over the bone of his neck. No one was in range of seeing them in the parking lot- she could tease him just a little bit. “Ya know what else you getting’ out o’ ya cast means, Haz?” She purred. “Ya get t’ top again~”

Hamish felt that familiar feeling of arousal bubble in his stomach; he glanced around, and then rocked his hips against hers. "Mn." He rested his head against hers and laughed again. "With our luck the ultrasound doctor will tell us to hold off on sex for while or something."

She nuzzled her face gently to his, a pleased sound leaving her as she felt him rock into her in turn. If it wasn’t for the fact that she had no desire to have sex in his truck- or in public- she’d probably continued to tease him. Skylar couldn’t help the soft laugh at his words. “Well, ‘f ya go and jinx us, then the doctor probably will. I don’t see why they would though- M’ healthy, n’ we’re usually pretty careful.” Other than some cramps after an orgasm, nothing hurt or was uncomfortable either.

Hamish kissed her again and lifted the crutches out of the truck, tucking them under his arms. "Lets go; we keep cuddlin’ and I don't think I'll be able to stop myself."

She laughed, and let him head out first. That gave her the chance to reach out and lightly pinch his ass. Heh- soon, he’d be able to get her back for doing that. She honestly couldn’t wait. “As much as I love ya, Hamish, I’d rather keep our bedroom shenanigans in th’ bedroom. Now, lets go get ya out o’ that cast, and into probably a walkin’ boot.”

Hamish laughed again and crutched himself into the clinic, waiting for Skylar.

She wasn’t far behind him, keeping up with his more-practiced paces with easy steps of her own. She held the door for him, got him in, and then headed for the front desk.

The nurse behind the desk gave them a smile, glancing between the two of them lightly. “Checking in?”

“Yes.” Skylar nods. “We technically have two appointments, but we want t’ get his done first before we get t’ doin’ mine. It should be under Hamish Parker?”

The nurse at the reception desk hums, and quietly looks it up. “It looks like Hamish is expected down at Orthopedics for a cast removal? I can get you checked in, Ma’am, and they’ll be ready for you when you’re done with Mister Parker’s appointment.”

The horned skeleton nods. “Fiancé- but ya, tha’ sounds about right. If it’s not too much trouble, then sure. Should be an ultrasound scheduled for Skylar McQuillin.”

“Missus McQuillin- ah, yes.” She clicks a few buttons, and nods to the two across the counter. “You’re all checked in. Orthopedics is actually in the same waiting area as the OB, so it’s just down that hall down that way.” She directs them down the hall to the right. “They’ll call Mister Parker back, and you can either go with him or wait for him to return to the waiting room. When he’s back, they’ll call you back for your ultrasound, Missus McQuillin.”

Skylar nods and smiles. “Thank you, Ma’am.” That done, she turns to Hamish with a big smile, and motions him forward. “Ya want me to come back with ya while ya get your cast off, sugar?”

Hamish pouted playfully. "I might need you to hold my hand." He said, making his way to the waiting room.

“Then I’ll be there.” She smiled.

The waiting room had several people in it- only a few seemed to be there for orthopedics though. There were several that seemed to be there for ultrasounds, like Skylar was, in various stages of later pregnancy.

Skylar guided Hamish towards a set of chairs near the orthopedics door, and eased herself down. She made a fist, and rubbed her fingers gingerly into her side as it pinched slightly. The round ligament stretching was unpleasant, truly. “Alright~ Heh. M’ excited t’ be able to hold your hand while we’re walkin’ around again.”

Hamish flopped into his chair, resting his crutches against them. He relaxed into the chair and curled his fingers around Skylar’s.

She laced her fingers with his, and gave him a smile, nestling her head down onto his shoulder with a soft sigh. Her free hand wandered to her middle, folding over it out of habit, and she found herself laughing quietly at the ticklish feeling in her belly. The quickening motions felt so weird- it was sort of like someone tickling her from the inside. “I hope our baby ain’t shy,” she hums. “I really wanna know what our lil’ wiggler here is.”

Hamish tilted his head slightly. "It’s moving?" He grinned, he placed his hand near Skylar’s, he knew he wouldn't feel anything; it was more to comfort the baby.

The squirming picked up as he spoke, and Skylar laughed again, sliding his fingers down to where she could feel the movement. Nothing could be felt from the outside yet- but soon, very soon. The movements were getting stronger every day. “It is. It always moves more when ya talk. It’s kinda like… someone’s ticklin’ me from the inside. It feels really weird.” Her eye lights dance merrily though, and she beams at him warmly. “I can’t wait until ya can feel it move too. Heh- ‘s a magical feeling.”

Hamish grinned widely he watched his hand on Skylar’s Belly. The were a few other mothers in the waiting room and he could feel their eyes on them while their partners watched their phones or read magazines.

The gazes of the other mothers in the room had Skylar flushing, and she tucked her face into his shoulder with a soft laugh, though was ever mindful of her horns. She didn’t remove his hand though, and simply rubbed her thumb over his knuckles and let the warmth of his palm seep into her belly. “I think we’re bein’ watched,” she giggled lightly, her voice a whisper into his shoulder. “I wonder why.”

Hamish chuckled. "Think they're jealous?" His eyes stayed on Skylar’s belly.

The nurse entered the room. "Hamish Parker?" She called.

He sat up and got his crutches. "That's me."

“Maybe they are.” Skylar hums. Given the lack of attention she could see some of them getting, it was understandable. Not all dads were as excited to be a dad as Hamish was- and for that, Skylar was one lucky lady. When he’s called, she stands, and helps him upright with a grin. “C’mon, sugar. Lets go get ya out o’ that cast, and off of th’ crutches. Bet ya can finally scratch that itch that’s been buggin’ ya for th’ past month or so too.”

Hamish snorted. "I've been wanting to just be able to wiggle my toes and stretch out my leg for months." He said, following the nurse out of the waiting area.

Skylar followed along with him, and nodded. “Yep, I can imagine ya have been. But, you’ll get t’ do that soon. And,” she grins at him cheekily as they’re lead back, “no more trash bag on ya leg in th’ shower or when ya goin’ outside, yeah?”

"That is a bonus." He agreed. The nurse let them into a room and had Hamish sit up on a chair.

"So, we're just going to cut it off, give it a bit of a wash and then get you a boot." She explained.

"Sounds good."

Skylar took a seat in the spare chair, and left plenty of space for the nurse to work on Hamish. “Y’know, I didn’t actually get t’ see them put th’ cast on you.” She hums. She’d been hauled off for an emergency ultrasound to check the baby- something about high stress levels likely causing a miscarriage- and had missed it. She’d got to see him come hobbling out though. “S’ gonna be cool t’ see it get taken off.”

And, cheekily, Skylar offered him her hand, since he’d pouted to her about needing to hold it.

Even though it had only been a joke, he did curl his hand tightly around hers.

The nurse picked up a small rotary tool that had been fitted with a tiny blade. She turned it on and began running it up and down the plaster cast cutting into it, then she started on another area until she had created enough of a crack that she could pretty much snap the plaster in half and ease it off his leg.

The air felt odd on his bones, he leaned up a little to look. It had healed good as new. He practiced wiggling his toes and rolling his ankle around as she dampened a cloth with warm water.

Skylar smiled as his foot was bared, and patted his hand gently. “Your leg looks like it healed up pretty good,” She purred. Only a faint mark that she could see that it had ever been broken. It did, however, smell like it hadn’t been washed in three months, and that was not a pleasant smell. “How’s it feel, Haz?”

Hamish watched his foot. "Like it was reborn." This pulled a small laugh from the nurse as she rubbed soap onto the cloth then moved back and began scrubbing Hamish's leg clean.

“Compared t’ the last time we saw it, it practically has been.” She kisses his temple gently, and watches the nurse scrub his leg clean. “Is it tender at all?” She inquires. He’d need to build strength back up in his leg- and support further healing- which is what the walking boot was for. But, the boot could come off, and give his leg air time.

Hamish rolled his ankle again. "Like this… a little. That could change when I put weight on it though." The nurse nodded and then rinsed of the cloth, coming back to finish up cleaning his leg.

Skylar nodded softly. “You’ll want t’ take it easy then, n’ work ya leg back up t’ where it was, Haz.” His hand gets a gentle massage as his leg is cleaned, and she smiles faintly. “We’ll see how you’re feelin’ though, after ya first couple o’ steps.”

The nurse finished up cleaning his leg and began cleaning up the plaster. "You can try putting some weight on it while I clean up, then I'll get you fitted with a boot." She said.

Hamish nodded and sat up, moving slowly. He placed his feet on the floor and held the chair as he slowly stood up, keeping most of his weight on his good leg. He slowly eased weight onto his leg.

Skylar watched him with some concern, keeping a careful eye on him. She lifted herself out of her chair, and hovered close by just in case he needed her. “Remember to go easy, Haz,” she says gently. “But you’re doin’ good, sugar!”

He watched his legs as he stood up normally, his brows furrowed together slightly. "It's a little sore." He said, he reached out to hold Skylar’s hands and took a small more shuffled step forward.

Skylar had no trouble taking his weight and supporting him with her hands as he took a shuffled step forwards. Pregnant she might be, but useless she was not, and she didn’t have a problem catching him if he were to fall. “I imagine so- ya haven’t been usin’ it for several months. It’s probably wonderin’ what th’ heck ya trying t’ do to it.”

Hamish smiled. He kept walking very slowly, stopping after each step to wiggle his toes slightly.

Skylar watched him wiggle his toes, and quirked a little grin at him. It was good to see him back in higher spirits. “Ya toes are wigglin’ almost as much as th’ baby is.” She grins at him cheerily. “Heh. How ya doin’, Hamish? Leg still holding up okay?”

He nodded, his smile wide. He was happy; it felt nice with the sweaty, smelly cast gone.

Skylar smiled to him, and leaned up just a bit to kiss him.

Once the mess was cleaned, the nurse politely cleared her throat. “Alright, Mister Parker- if you’d like to sit down again, I can get you fitted with a boot so you don’t strain your leg.”

Hamish turned and looked back at the chair. He had managed to get himself almost a meter and a half away from the chair and now he would have to get himself back there. He reached out trying to grab at the chair so he could use it to hop himself back over to it.

Skylar rolled her eyes, and tucked herself under his shoulder instead, and had him use her for a crutch. “C’mon, handsome- don’t need ya fallin’ n’ hurtin’ somethin’.” She helped him hobble back over to the chair, and got him seated again, before going to sit herself back down as well.

The nurse simply giggled at him for a moment. “Alright- may I ask what sized shoe you wear, Mister Parker?”

He looked down at his foot and bit his tongue between his teeth then looked at Skylar. "Uh… the one that fits. I think… like a… 12 or something, shit… uh," He sat up and pulled his boot off. "This is a 13."

“A thirteen then.” The nurse nodded. She got up and went over to the counter, and began rifling around inside, before pulling out one of a proper size.

Skylar smiled slightly and chuckled. “Y’ got big feet.” She chuckled. “So do I. At least, for a lady, I do.” She wore an eleven to a twelve in women’s shoes- which was about a ten in men’s, depending on the shoe.

“Tall people generally do have larger feet.” The nurse smiles slightly. She returns, and kneels down again, carefully opening up the boot from the front, and then easing his leg into it, so she could start buckling it up and testing the fit, and trimming the straps to the size they’d need to be.

Hamish watched how she did it so he would be able to do it for himself later, it was still kinda bulky and odd. But if it meant he could walk around and look after, and help Skylar than he was more than happy.

Skylar also watched, perchance she caught anything Hamish missed.

The nurse was quick and careful about doing up the straps, and then trimming them once they were at a decent length. She sat back on her heels, and gave him a smile. “Alright, Mister Parker. Why don’t you stand up and test it out? You should be good to go, but an easy lap around the room will let us know if I need to make any adjustments for you.”

Hamish stood himself up again and put his weight on his leg. He smiled and looked up. "It feels good." He made a small lap around the room.

“Alright then.” The nurse smiled, and straightened. “You’re good to go then- just take it easy with your leg, or we’ll be seeing you back here again.”

Skylar hefted herself out of the chair and grinned at Hamish. “Look at you go now,” she grins cheerily. “You’re up and moving.”

Hamish laughed. "I'm one of the big kids again." He joked, he wrapped his hands around Skylar’s and walked with her out of the room and back towards the waiting room.

Skylar linked their fingers, and enjoyed being able to do so. “Ya get t’ have your big boy toys back.” She teases, and fiddles around in her purse to fish out the keys. They’re handed back over to their rightful owner, and the pregnant skeleton gives a content sigh as they reach the waiting room once more.

Hamish jokingly kissed the car keys. He let Skylar sit down but used the waiting room as a chance to practice walking until they where called. He felt like a toddler learning to walk all over again, a little wobbly but getting the hang of it.

Skylar crossed her legs but simply watched him walk with a smile on her face as he practice and improved.

Again, their wait time wasn’t long- she’d just started to get comfortable, when a nurse came out and called her name. “Skylar McQuillin?”

Skylar grunted and hauled herself upright, and waved to the nurse. “That’s me!” She smiles. “C’mon, Hamish. Ready t’ see our lil’ one’s gender?”

Skylar instantly pulled Hamish from watching his feet. He spun around and grabbed at the wall to stable himself before following after Skylar. "I've been waiting to see them again since last time we where here."

She chuckled, and offered her hand out to him with a warm look. “That you have been.” She agrees lightly, slowing down to allow him to keep up without stressing his legs.

He walked with her, hobbling slightly as they made it into the dark ultrasound room.

"Now Skylar, would you like to hop up on the chair for me, please."

Skylar nodded to the nurse, and hopped up into the chair after dropping off her purse. She undid the button of her maternity jeans, and folded them back to that the ultrasound tech could get at her belly. She also tugged up her shirt, showing off the growing bump.

Her eye lights glimmered excitedly at Hamish, and she all but trembled with enthusiasm. She held still all the same, though just barely. “Fifty-fifty chance of a boy or a girl,” She grins. “Wonder what we’re gonna have~”

The nurse smiled and began prepping Skylar the same way as last time.

The screen clicked on and the nurse began rolling the wand around Skylar’s belly. "Oh, there we go." She said. "Wow, it’s gotten a lot bigger- this is a good angle so I'm going to take a photo here and do some quick measurements.” She focused on the screen for the moment, measuring each part of the baby and writing it down. "Okay, now lets see if I can get a good look at the pelvis"

Hamish sat forward in his chair, watching the monitor with wonder.

The nurse froze the screen and zoomed in slightly. "Congratulations, it's a little girl."

Skylar watched the screen with rapt attention, her eyes glued to it. She watched the little one moving and squirming around inside of her and was able to place the ticklish feeling to the shape of the limb as it twitched and lashed out inside of her.

However her mouth popped open as the results were announced. "A little girl!" She beamed. "Oh, that's wonderful! We're gonna have a lil' princess to love, Hamish."

Hamish stood up and lent over to press kisses against Skylar’s face.

The nurse took a few photos for them and left them to have their moment while she cleaned up.

His peppering of kisses had her laughing with shaky happiness, and once her belly was cleaned of gel and her pants were buttoned, Skylar rotated in her chair so she could loop her arms around his neck and hug him. A little girl- that was absolutely perfect. “H-heh. Our little girl,” she smiled, “she’s gonna be perfect, Hamish.”