Bong Bong
Last year for Lee’s birthday…i wrote this for him.

BONG BONG.

Catherine Willows of the Las Vegas Crime Lab was just about ready to go home after a long shift. All she could think of was sinking into her featherbed and sleeping for the next twenty four hours. She FINALLY had a day off, but the ring of her cell phone got her before she hit the time clock, she HAD to take it.

“Aaaaaaaaaaah! Damn! Willows. Hey Brass. Tropicana and Canal. Okay, be there in a few.” She flipped the phone closed, turned and when back to get her kit. ‘Damn, damn, damn.”

She stopped off and got a huge cup of steaming, black coffee to push her numb body into being awake. Quick, easy car accident. So she thought. When she arrived at the scene, she found ambulances and police cars all over the place. She also saw it wasn’t a car accident, but a bus verses a motorbike.

“Oh this is NOT going to be pretty, I can see it now.” She saw Brass and headed toward him. “Hey, what’s up?”

“Bus traveling too fast, just about came around the corner on two wheels, over corrected, and clipped this poor bastard. Paramedics are working on him, hope he makes it. Flew a good fifty feet and hit the brick wall there.” Brass thumbed the direction to Catherine. “Man that had to hurt.”

“He’s still alive?” Cath was surprised after seeing the twisted metal of the bike. “Be right back.”
She headed over to where the paramedics were working on a crumpled and bloody body. She heard a groan. “Hey guys, how’s he doing?”

One of the paramedics looked up. “Hey Cath. Well he’s banged up to say the least, we’re not sure all the damage but…..right now we’re gonna board him and get him to Desert Palms ASAP. I don’t think he can talk.”

Catherine walked over after they put him on the back board and strapped the young man down so he could not move and damage himself further. She saw his eyelids flutter. “Hey hang in there honey. You’re alive. You were in an accident. Don’t try to talk just lay there. Okay?”

The young man looked over at the voice. He blinked several times, smiled, and passed out.

“Hey guys let’s move it here.” Catherine didn’t know why but she just knew he had to get to the hospital and now.

She spent the next two hours working the scene, taking the tire marks and talking to some of the witnesses. It seemed to be totally the bus driver’s fault. “Gods, we better make damn sure this guy loses his license.” She headed back to the Lab and put the evidence into the system. Once she finished that, she was going to head home.

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

She got into her SUV and started to head home. But for some reason, instead of turning right, she found herself in the left lane turning towards Desert Palms Hospital. “What the heck am I doing?” She sighed, “Well, while I’m this far might as well see if that biker boy is still alive. It is my case.” Sigh.

She found out he was just coming out of surgery, so she had the nurse page the doctor. He just finished scrubbing down, he came out of the swinging door in sweat soaked operating scrubs. “Ms Willow?”

“WillowSSS, CSI. Did he make it? How is he?”

“Couple of broken bones, some internal damage, nothing too much. Gonna have some nasty bruising, I am worried about his lower half. Thank God he was wearing a helmet. Otherwise you would still be hosing in down at the crash site.”

“What about the lower half?”

:”Not sure, we’re going to have to wait until the swelling goes down and see if he can move his legs. I honestly don’t know, but he is alive, that’s a start. Did you nail the idiot who hit him?”

“Oh we got enough against the bus driver. Think he’s going to be barred from pushing a hot dog wagon by the time we finish with him. When do you think I can talk to him?”

“Tomorrow, he’s gonna be out for a while. Wouldn’t want to be awake anyway…the pain’s gonna be something. Sorry, being paged again.”

“Thanks.” With that Catherine walked out to the nurse’s station and asked if a note could be put in the file for her to be contracted if there were any changes.

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

Catherine finally got home and into a tub of hot bubbles with a glass of wine, soft music and scented candles. She just wanted to lay there and float into nothingness. There was a light tap at the door. “Shit. Yes Lindsay.”

“Mom, can I come in?”

“Sure honey, come on in. Pull up a toilet.” That always set Lindsay off in giggles. They did a lot of their talking in the bathroom. “What’s up honey? Are you okay? Need something?”

“No just haven’t seen you for a while and just wondering.”

“Wondering what?”

“How you are? Anything special or any ONE special that I should know about? Thought by now you would be dating. Dad’s been dead now almost three years and well to put it nicely….you need someone.”

“Excuse me?”

“Well yeah, you’re kinda…. well..you know.”

“No, I DON’T know. Tell me.” Catherine was trying not to laugh, but was also angry that her own daughter was asking these kinds of questions.

“Aren’t you lonely? You and Uncle Gil aren’t dating. I wouldn’t mind that. Uncle Warrick’s nice too.”

“Honey they are friends, I don’t see it happening. At one time Uncle Gil yes, but that was way before I met your Daddy. In fact, I sorta met your Daddy thru Uncle Gil. He said that was the biggest mistake he ever made. But then, I wouldn’t have had you, and for that I will always love Uncle Gil.” She reached over and put some bubbles on Lindsay’s nose. They both laughed. .

“Well then Uncle Warrick?”

“Well, I think Uncle Warrick is really special but, I see him as a really good friend and I just don’t want to lose that.” She cocked her head wondering where this inquisition was going.

“Well then what about that Mr Yeckie you keep talking about?”

“Mr Yeckie…Yeckie. Oh GODS you mean Conrad Ecklie! Oh dear God in heavens NO!! Oh No!” She sunk below the bubbles and came back up dripping and covered in bubbles. “Oh God, I had to rinse that thought out of my head.” She ran her hands over her strawberry blonde hair and turned to Lindsay. “Honey, it’s ECK lee. Not YECK lee. But in one way you are right. Oh,” she shivered…”….no GOD no!!”

“That bad?” Lindsay looked at her Mom. Catherine nodded her head ‘yes’ and Lindsay sighed. “Well, still I could like you to find someone. Think you need some good sex to make my life better.” She got up and started to leave.

“YOUR life? Whoa whoa, get back here. SIT!”

“Well ghees Mom, you’re so….bitchie. Just thought a good f….man might make you happy. That’s all.”

“Oh we are SO not having this conversation. Lindsay, MY sex life is none of your business.”

“But it is Mom, until you get some, my life is hell.” She was up and out of the room so fast. Catherine was laying back and her mouth open, but couldn’t say a word. She sunk below the water again.

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

Catherine knocked on the office door of Gil Grissom, who looked up and smiled. “Hey Cath! Come on in. Did you have a good day off? What did you do?”

“Oh had a talk with Lindsay. A verrrrrrry interesting talk.” Catherine sat back and folded her hands and raised one eyebrow.

“Oh? Ohhhh, what did my favorite girl do now?”

“Did you know she thinks I need to have sex so that HER life will improve? She suggested you, Warrick and then, of ALL people, Ecklie!’ She looked and Gil’s mouth opened and then he made a ‘yeck’ face. Which set Catherine to laughing. “Exactly what I said.”

“Well, I agree with the first two, but NOOOOOOO on that last one. EEEyeck.” He chuckled, “Well you know she’s not far off the mark. You could probably use some…errr…’R and R’.”

“And what about you? Mr Dalli Lama? How long has it been for you? Ummmmm?”

“Me? My sex life isn’t up for discussion. It’s your’s. This morning, Heather, thank you very much.” With that he smiled with a devilish grin and raised and lowered his eyebrows quickly.

“Oh you bastard. How is she?”

“Fine, said to tell you hello and don’t forget lunch on Thursday.” He sat back in the chair and took off his glasses and laid them on the case file. “Really Cath, Linds isn’t too far off the mark. You should be finding some ‘nice’ guy. You deserve to be happy, healthy and errr …..”

“Not so bitchie?”

“Well I was going to use the word ‘content’ but unbitchie works.” Catherine stuck her tongue out at Gil. “You’re not that bad…..all the time, just some days. So what’s on your plate for tonight? Did you ever go back and talk to that biker boy?”

“No, no. I do need to go there and check on him. Might do that before I go home. He’s probably sleeping now.” She looked at the clock. “I keep forgetting that the world is in reverse sometimes. Humans sleep during the night. Except for criminals and CSIs. Well, better get moving. Thanks, I’ll tell Lindsay Uncle Gil is on HER side.”

Gil chuckled as she left the room. “Soon Catherine, soon please.”

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

Lindsay was over her Aunt Nancy’s, Catherine’s sister, so Cath knew she didn’t need to rush home. She decided to head over to Desert Palms and check out that ‘biker boy’ Hopefully he would have regained consciousness and could talk. Might even be nice if he remembered anything. That, Catherine figured, he wouldn’t since it would not have had time to ingrain itself into his memory. Maybe again, it was a blessing. Who would want to remember flying thru the air and going head first into a brick wall. “Brass was right, that had to hurt.”

She walked the hospital hallway until she came to room 104 She lightly knocked before slowly opening the door. She spotted a woman sitting by the bed. She smiled as she came further into the room. Catherine steeled herself up to see what this poor ‘biker boy’ was going to look like. She could only remember that he was bloody all over, they didn’t remove his helmet until he got to the hospital figuring it would protect his head from any further damage. She had no idea. “Hello, I’m…”

“My angel.” a weak voice said.

“Ca-Catherine Willows. Angel? Ask some of my co-workers and daughter, they would disagree with that one. How are you? I’m from the Crime Scene Investigation part of the police department. I was sent to investigate the accident. You are one lucky dude to even be alive!”

“I remember you. You were my angel. You said everything was going to be okay. I remember that….not much else, but that I remember. How could anyone forget a face like that? Mum, didn’t I tell you?”

“Yes you did Bongoboy. Yes you did.” She spoke with a slight British accent.

“Are you here on vacation? Gods what a horrible way to spend it.”

“No, I flew in overnight, I haven’t been to a hotel yet.” She pointed to her luggage. “Came here straight away, had to see if my boy was alright and being looked at proper. They’re taking right good care of him here. Oh sorry, Gladys Taylor.”

“Mum, I’m gonna be fine. Soon as I can feel my legs again. The doctor said we had to wait until the swelling goes down, to be sure. My name’s Lee, Bongoboy is a nickname.” He tried to lift his hand to shake Catherine’s but he was just too weak and in pain. Catherine got closer and patted his hand.

“It’s okay honey. For what you’ve been thru, we can skip the politeness. Do you remember ANYTHING about the accident? We have enough statements from the passengers and witnesses but I just wanted to check with you.”

“Nope, not much just seeing an angel….you.” Catherine blushed this time.

“Do you need anything? Magazines, has anyone been to your hotel room?”

“I’m living in Vegas, been here about three months. Going to the college here. I need to do one semester to qualify for my certificate to be an Inspector…er Crime Specialist. I want to work for your department. See you are my angel! I want Mum to stay at my place and take care of Stella while I’m here. Don’t have any wheels now, besides couldn’t get Mum on the back of a bike if her life depended on it.”

“No, I wouldn’t and I don’t see you riding one again for a long time coming! Yes, I’ll stay at your flat. I hear the prices of the rooms here are a bit steep. I’ll take a taxi to the flat. Think you need to rest now. The nurses gave me a packet with your wallet and flat keys. So, is there anything you want, I can bring it to you when I come back.”

“No, Mum. Just tell Stella where I’m at. So she doesn’t worry. She might be off her food for a bit, not knowing you. And she might jump on you in bed, she sleeps next to me. Thanks Mum.”

“I take it Stella is your pet.” Lee nodded, Catherine smiled. “Can I run you to the apartment? It’s not a problem. I’m on my way home, I work graveyard.”

“Oh, I don’t want to put you out, thank you kindly.”

“Mum, take angel, er Mrs Willows up on it. You don’t know where it is.”

“Ms Willows, divorced.” She smiled. That made Bongoboy smile even broader, tho it was killing him to do so. His face was still somewhat swollen. “You know that helmet saved your life. They had to saw it off, but it kept your brains inside rather than all over the brick wall.”

“Thank Mum for that. Since I started riding, she said she EVER caught me not wearing one….I’d have to have a new nickname.” Lee smiled, this time he chuckled and the pain hit him. “Ooooh, I can’t be laughing for a bit. Mum, see you later. Angel, errr MS WILLOWS, thank you for taking me Mum home. Hopefully, I’ll see you when I finish this semester.”

“Oh, I think we might just run into each other before then.”

“Oh please! I don’t want to run into anything else ever!” He started to laugh again and stopped.

“No jokes yet!. I’ll see you later.” Catherine patted his hand, then went over to collect Lee’s Mum’s suitcase. “Ready? Lee what is the address?”

“1975 Baltimore Ave”

“Got it! Take care.” With that Catherine walked out of the room to give them some privacy.

“Wow Mum, she’s a looker!”

“Now, you behave yourself. Get well first, ya never change, always after the pretty ones. That’s my son!” She started to lean over to give him a kiss and though better of it. “No, don’t think I’ll touch ya yet, don’t want you to be in pain. Bye Lee.”

“Bye Mum.”

After Lee’s Mum left the room, both women heard a wolf whistle and a ‘Hubba hubba’ coming from behind the closed door.

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

Catherine took Mrs Taylor to his apartment. She wanted to make sure she was able to get in and had some food, until she could find her way around Las Vegas.

“If I know my boy, he’s got plenty and it’s neat and proper.” She opened the door and turned on the light switch. “Ahh, there’s the kitchen, come in and sit a spell. Let me check, see if he has cat food, poor dear must be starving.”

Catherine came in and closed the door. “Would you like me to help? Check the kitty litter or something?”

“Oh no dear, you’ve done way more than enough.”

“Wow, this has to be the cleanest man’s apartment I’ve ever been in. Nothing’s out of place.”

“Oh Ms Willows come in and look in his icebox and his cupboards.”

“Oh my word ! I’ve got to get this man to talk to my daughter!! Everything is neatly lined up and good grief, in alphabetical order! I need him to come in for ME !! I finally might be able to find something in the rush to get to work! How does he do this?”

“If I know my son, his aftershave’s lined up like little soldiers in the bathroom closet. Let me check on the kitty litter, it’s probably in the bathroom. Come in and chat while I er…well, poor thing been two days without a litter change. If you can stomach it.”

“Sure no problem, sure you don’t want me to help? I am taking you to the store. I’m sure you don’t have an American money, you probably just dropped everything and flew in.”

“Ahh that I did. Don’t even remember if I told the postman. Oh well, I’ll be ringing up the neighbor later today. Oh wait it’s…. oh what time is it home?”

Where England? It’s seven hours difference. We’re behind you. So just add seven to now. Oh so it’s late afternoon.”

“Thank you my dear. Stella! Stella! Where are you? Ahh, you have to love a man who can take a liken to a cat. Dogs are nice but a man who loves cats….rare indeed. Stella! Pardone me while I clean this poor dear’s box.”

Catherine sat down on the edge of the bed. She no sooner did that when a black long haired domestic cat jumped up on the bed and purred around Catherine. “Well hello there Stella, I presume. You must be hungry. Mrs Taylor I’ll go feed Stella. I’m sure I can find the food.

Mrs. Taylor looked out, “My goodness didn’t she take a shine to you! Well smart cat. That would be lovely, then while we are at the market, she can eat.”

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

Mrs Taylor enjoyed walking thru the grocery store. She hadn’t seen such a selection of any one food. She lived in a small town and the markets there were used to one or two brands, not seven or eight. “How do you choose? Mercy!” So Catherine suggested the brands she usually used. That way if she didn’t like them Catherine would buy them back and get another brand for her.

They came back to the apartment and put the groceries away. Mrs Taylor suggested Catherine stay for a cuppa. Catherine insisted on taking Mrs Taylor out for lunch or dinner for the time zone change. She agreed to that, since she was getting rather hungry and tired. It had been a long day.

“So Ms Willows, tell me more about yourself. You said you had a daughter?”

“Umm, Lindsay she’s twelve. And a handful.”

“So where’s her father? Oh I am sorry, it’s none of my business.”

“Oh that’s fine. He died two years ago, he was shot. He wasn’t much of a nice guy towards the end. I did love him at one time, he killed that. There’s no one in my life and I just had this conversation with my daughter. Only with you it’s not the inquisition. She gave me the third degree. A twelve year old!”

“Today’s children, shame a good spanking is allowable now. Seems a lot of them could use a good swat on the bum once in a while. Raised my Lee that way and he’s better for it. Knows right for wrong, knows how to treat a lady like a lady. And no sassing me back or he knows I’d box his ears, don’t care if he’s ten or fifty.”

“Would you take Lindsay for a month please.” They both laughed. They chatted like old friends. Catherine was enjoying it was much as Mrs Taylor. It was rare she could talk to people about anything other than work. She found out Lee’s father left when he was a baby. Mrs Taylor worked two jobs getting him thru college. Was hoping to be a granny by now but no one was good enough for her Lee. She would know the minute she met the lass. Mrs Taylor was smiling inside. She finally yawned and Catherine realized how long they had been sitting there chatting.

“Oh I am SO sorry. I shouldn’t have rattled on like that and you’re so tired. Come, let me take you back to the apartment. I can pick you up in the morning and run you to the hospital, if I don’t need to work a double. I’ll call you.”

“Ah now you’re being an angel.”

“No just want to make sure you are okay. We can find the money exchange at the local bank and do anything else you need. But right now it’s sleep you need.”

***********

Catherine went to work that night after sleeping a few hours. She came in whistling and Gil heard her coming down the hall. He peeked outside his door and wiggled his finger for her to come into the office. She walked in smiling “What’s up?”

Gil closed the door. “You apparently. Ahhh, not to be nosy but did we get some last night? Do you want to tell me something? “

“Nnnno, why?” She looked at him funny.

“Oh nothing, just smiling, whistling. Practically skipping down the hallway. Where’s Catherine Willows? What have you done with her?” Gil grabbed Cath’s shoulders and shook them in a playful manner. “I DON’T want that Catherine back, I want THIS one! I LIKE this one!’ She punched him in the stomach, not hard but enough that he felt it. “Oh damn, the evil one’s back. Thought it couldn’t last long.” He rubbed his tummy. “Glad you didn’t put much into that. I just had some coffee. It wouldn’t have been pretty.” They both chuckled. “Now, tell me why you are so chipper.”

“Oh I don’t know, slept good. Nice lunch yesterday with ‘biker boy’s mom’. Just enjoyed talking to a woman as a friend. That doesn’t happen to often, and not one word about any cases. Just a nice afternoon, and Lee Taylor’s waiting to see if the feeling in his legs come back. He’s still quite swollen, and….. he thinks I’m an angel. So put THAT in your pipe and smoke it.”

“Do do do do, do do do do. Now I KNOW I’m in the ‘Twilight Zone’. Please let me stay here. I like it!” He dodged her swing this time. “Here’s your assignment tonight. Get going! Need anything call.”

“Will do.” As she left the room she turned around, “Oh and Gil?” He looked up, she blew him a kiss.

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

Catherine didn’t work overtime at the end of the shift, everything seemed to just fall into place. She sure wasn’t going to complain, she called Mrs Taylor and then picked her up and took her into the hospital. “Think he would mind if I popped in?”

“No dear, I think you will brighten his day. Come on.” Together they walked in and were laughing as they came thru the door at room 104. Lee just finished his breakfast, he had taken all of two bites of Jello and chicken broth.

“Mum! Ms Willows!”

“Catherine or Cath’s fine. Stella sends her love. She’s a pretty cat. How are you today?”

“You’re not eating? Why? You got to keep your strength up. What’s not to your liking?”

“Ah Mum, look at this stuff. Dishwater, and WHO eats green Jello? I want some FOOD. Pasta, something Italian, Greek, a bloody steak!”

“You watch your mouth around this lady.” Mrs Taylor raised one eyebrow.

“Yes Mum, sorry Ms er Catherine.”

Catherine smiled and sat gingerly on the edge of the bed. “Now let’s see if we can eat a little more.” She tucked the napkin under Lee’s neck and held the bowl close and spooned a bit into Lee’s mouth. He was lapping it up, before he realized it, he finished the entire bowl. Lee’s Mum just sat back and watched the interaction between the two. She was smiling inside.

The doctor came in as Catherine was getting ready to leave.

“Well I will see you later. Mrs Taylor, you have my phone numbers call if you need anything and I’ll call YOU later and check up on you.” She patted Lee’s hand. “Bye!”

“Well it’s sure nice to see a patient eating everything and smiling to boot. How’s the pain? Hello? Mr Taylor?” Lee’s attention came back to the doctor after watching Cath leave the room.

“Sorry Doc, just watching an angel flutter out of the room. Always thought angels would have spun gold hair. She’s got ….”

“Strawberry, we call it strawberry blonde here. She is an attractive woman. She’s on the force, you two might end up working together.”

“Right, if I get the feeling back in these fu……legs. Sorry Mum.”

“How’s it going? Feel this?” The doctor was sticking Lee with a pin while a nurse held up the bed sheet so he couldn’t see whether or not he was being stuck.

“Nope, nothing. Doc, what’s going on? I’m a physically active man, as you can see. The thought of not being able to….well it’s JUST not going to work.”

“Give yourself time to heal Lee. It’s only been three days.”

“Your Mother is right. You have a lot of swelling to go down, inside and out. I don’t even want you to shave for a few more days.”

“By the way can I have a mirror? I want to see what I look like.” Lee looked over to his Mum and back to the doctor, then the nurse. “That bad? Oh ghees.”

“Now Lee…”

“Mum I don’t want to hear it. Just leave me alone right now okay? Just go look at Las Vegas. Leave me alone. Please.”

“Lee, depression is normal in cases like this. Time will take care of it.”

“Listen to the doctor Lee.”

“Mum, he can’t promise me I’m going to be right as rain, so don’t tell me how to feel. Just go, please just…..go.”

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

Catherine stopped by again in the morning to bring Mrs Taylor, she popped in to find a depressed and angry man. “Whoa whoa, what is this. You were so chipper yesterday. Did something happen?”

“No that’s the problem. Still can’t feel anything.”

“Hello it’s been what four days. What are you Superman? Well, okay so you flew thru the air. Oh wait, you’re one of those crash dummies? God Lee, give yourself a break. Be grateful you DIDN’T break your neck. The swelling will go down, in time.”

“See she knows. If you will not listen to me, or the doctor, listen to her, she’s an angel.”

Lee didn’t say a word. He just sulked.

“Okay Mr Bongoboy, this is YOUR angel talking. We are going to eat this whole breakfast and see what we need to do to get you well. Did the doctor say you couldn’t have hand weights?”
Lee shook his head no. “Then we’ll bring in some light ones, I saw some in your apartment. So tomorrow we’ll bring them in so you can keep these bulging arms of your’s in shape. I got a friend at work Nick, he’s gonna die when he sees you. His girlfriend Mindy, just loves to have him in short sleeves to show off his muscles. Honey, I’m putting you in a muscleman’s tee shirt.” She smiled at him. “Now eat.” He did, the entire tray.

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

The days Catherine showed up Lee’s attitude would be upbeat. He’d eat his breakfast and be smiling all day. The days when Cath had to work overtime he was depressed. It didn’t help much when his Mum had to fly home. Stella was being cared for by Lindsay. Catherine had taken the cat and brought her home to keep company with Lindsay. Catherine would stop by every time she could, bring in the mail and keep an eye on the apartment. She also brought in Lee’s books and arranged for a computer so that he could keep up with his studies. The swelling started to subside and Lee was finally able to try and see if he could walk. He had some feelings in his lower half, but the doctor was not sure yet what the out come was going to be.

“Hey! Look at you! Up and out of bed!” Catherine came in the room, Lee was sitting by the window for a change. “Well, how did it go?”

“Got from the bed to the chair. That’s it.” He wasn’t happy. Cath kneeled down in front of him, and stroked his face. “How can I be a CSI if I can’t walk to the crime scenes? Damn it. This is NOT supposed to happen. This was NOT in my plans.”

“Hey you got out of bed, remember baby steps, got to crawl before you can walk and walk before you can run. When do you start therapy?”

“I’m waiting for them now.”

“Fine then I’ll stay and watch and I can learn, so we can do them when you get home.”

“Ghees, I didn’t think of that. How am I going to do this at home by myself?” He put his hands over his face. “Oh this is so not what I planned.”

“Lee, ONE day at a time. We’ll figure something out. Even if you have to stay in a rehab place for a while, it will work out. Didn’t I tell you things would be okay?”

“You’ve been so wonderful to me a total stranger. I can imagine your friends are the luckiest people in the world. Thank you.”

Catherine blushed. “Oh I think they would laugh hearing that. They deal with my PMSing and I won’t tell you what they call me then.”

“Would you PLEASE let me see myself? The nurses come in and shave me every morning. No one will let me have a mirror. Why? I didn’t think I was Cary Grant before but what? Am I …the Hunchback now?”

“No, the swelling’s coming down, you’re still a bit black and blue and some raw spots yet but…”

“Then give me a mirror. Please.”

Just then the doctor came in. “What do you need? A mirror?” He sighed, “Well, I’m not sure if you are ready for that yet.”

“Hey I gotta see myself, can it be THAT bad?” Catherine just looked at the doctor and shrugged.

“Well, Lee if you are sure. It’s not pretty, you are still quite bruised and swollen, but….” The doctor was trying to figure out how to explain it. He realized the depression was not going to be helped by seeing himself. “Well, might as well get it over with.”

The nurse replaced the mirror in the bed tray drawer. Then the doctor suggested Lee get back into bed before he looked..

“Why am I going to faint?” Again Cath looked at the doctor.

“Well, let’s just say you’ve been up enough for the first time.”

After slowly getting back into bed. The doctor pulled the bed table over so Lee had the ability to pull the tray out with the mirror. “Now remember you have a lot of swelling and raw spots. Those will heal. Go ahead.”

Lee slowly pulled the tray out and the mirror flipped up. At first all he saw was bed hair. He started to pat down the cowlicks that he could see. Then he lowered the mirror to face level. There was nothing he could say to vocalize his shock. Catherine came over and sat on the edge of the bed and stoked his hand. She very quietly said , “The swelling WILL go down, you will recognize yourself again. Give it time.”

“If it’s this bad now, what was it before? Oh God. Don’t look at me.” He pulled the sheet over his head. Catherine looked at the doctor, who shook his head and left.

“Bongobaby listen to me, it will go down. It’s not that bad. A few more weeks. You’ll be back to normal.”

From under the covers just as quietly as Catherine spoke, “How could you stand to look at me? Oh and Mum! Poor Mum. You don’t have to stay and look at me. I’ll be fine.”

“No way Bongobaby,” she started to pull the sheets down but he stopped her by holding on to them, “hey I see a handsome man under those bruises. Sweet caring, extremely funny man who makes me laugh more in the last week than I have I think in my whole life. I don’t care what you look like now or later. I like what’s inside. So, I’ve seen you at your worst. It can only get better from here. So either you put the sheet down or I’ll start at the bottom of the bed and pull the sheet up from there. Your choice.” She got up and went to the bottom of the bed and started to yank the covers out from underneath the bed.

“You wouldn’t! All I got is this open air short crappy dress on! I’m not decent under here!”

“Well, it’s YOUR choice.” She started to pull the sheets up past his feet.

“Okay, okay.” He lowered the sheet. “Gods you drive a hard bargain.”

“Don’t mess with a pro. Now, don’t we have therapy?” She leaned over and kissed his nose.

*********

After a two week stay in the hospital came a long six weeks in a rehab hospital. Everyday she could Catherine showed up, always smiling and happy to see Lee, who she now kept calling Bongobaby. She often brought Lindsay and sometimes Stella would be allowed in for a brief purring session. She would sit on Lee’s lap and just purr and rub, she too missed her master.

Finally Lee was released to go home. By then he had graduated to using canes to walk. Once in a while he would have some numbness, but the doctors hoped that would eventually disappear. He saw his apartment for the first time in over two months.

“Wow, sure is good to be home. Funny how it looks different. Smaller, something, I just can’t put my finger on it. Oh wow, the bathtub, I can’t get into the shower. Oh this is going to be harder than I thought.”

“Well then, would you consider staying with Lindsay and me? Stella’s use to the house and I’m all on one floor, nice patio in the back, inground pool–therapy, and most of all walk in shower in the spare bedroom. Lindsay will be out of school in a week, she would normally go over Nancy’s but….while I’m at work you two can keep each other company and ……”

“Gods Cath, you’ve done so much already for me. I can’t barge in and stay at your house. That would be…oh ghees, what would Mum think? Other than you’re an angel for asking me but, whoo, Mum would box my ears for sure.”

“Well then why don’t we call her and ask?” Catherine put his hands on her hips. “Go on call her.”

“Now?”

“Yes now. So while you do that, want me to pack some stuff for you or…..”

“Whoa whoa! I …er…Cath!”

“What I KNOW what your underwear looks like. Remember I’ve been washing it for six weeks. So what’s the problem. Call…..your…..mother……now!”

“Ghees American women are so bossy. I love it! Okay, let me go into the bedroom.” Lee walked into his bedroom and found everything nice and tidy. He could tell Catherine had come in and cleaned some from the lemon smell. He chuckled, “Bless her heart, she really is an angel.”

He dialed his Mum and they chatted for a few minutes and he yelled for Catherine to pick up the kitchen extension.

“Hi Mrs Taylor! Fine, you? Good. So what do you think? Lee you didn’t tell her? I want Lee to stay with Lindsay and me. GOOD! See told ya! Bye Mrs Taylor. “ Catherine hung up.

A few minutes later Lee came out, “I don’t believe I was talking to me Mum. She would have killed me if I called and asked her something like that a year ago. I don’t understand it. What’s gotten into Mum?”

“She knows you’ll be looked after.” She smiled devilishly.

“Ah wait a minute. You cleared this with her first didn’t you?”

“Yep and she was thrilled. She was worried how you were going to do it. This way she’s okay. She knows no hanky panky’s going on. So….pack, so we can go home. Bring some of your music and whatever else you want. I can always pop over after work.”

Lee tried to hug Catherine but his balance was a little off and they both ended up on the sofa. Lee was looking down on Catherine. Neither one said anything nor did they move. Then Catherine slowly pulled her face up to kiss Lee. Soft gentle one for their first kiss, but both of them felt a warmth spreading thru their bodies. Lee pulled away and tried to get up, Catherine then slid off the sofa and helped him completely up. They both just looked at each other and smiled. “I err…better….ummm…pack.”

“Catherine just answered “Ummmm.”

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

Two weeks went by and life in the Willows’ household was changing for the better. Catherine came home to find a nice breakfast waiting for her each morning. About an hour before she would head off to work, Lee made sure she had a light lunch and sometimes packed a dinner for her to heat up for later at work. He and Lindsay got along great and they did a lot during the day, baking cookies and Lee was able to get Catherine and Lindsay’s closets and pantry organized and neat. Catherine came home one morning, dog tired and found her bathroom turned into a elegant oasis for her just to undress and slip into. When she came out a hot meal was waiting.

“Gods I could get used to this. I thought I was supposed to be taking care of YOU!! Not the other way around, and what did you do with my daughter? She’s human, and her room!! I thought I was your angel, heck you’re my miracle worker!” She reached over and hugged him and looked up and thought, ‘the hell with this, I want this man.’ She kissed him long and deep.
“Lindsay’s over Nancy’s today?”

“Yeah, some mmm girl’s pj party thing, shalln’t be home until tomorrow night.” Lee just smiled., “Cath, I want you to be sure about this. What happens when I start working at the lab. Wouldn’t this come back and bite us on the bum? I’m not going to get you in trouble, not after everything you’ve done for me.”

“Don’t worry, you’ll probably go on swing shift first for a few years and then ….we’ll deal with it. We just can’t be on the same shift, but that’s okay. We’ll see each other at the beginning or end of the shift and when we come home.” She started kissing him again. “So….Bongobaby wanta show me why your mom has called you that since you were a kid?”

“MUM TOLD YOU! Oh bloody hell!” He turned crimson. “Sorry, Angel.”

“Hey, it’s NOT a problem.” She smiled, “Glad she did, I’m not into surprises. So…..” She started to undo his shirt. “Got anything in mind? Big fella? When you’re completely well, I expect to be swept off my feet and carried off somewhere. But for now…..I’ll deal.” She led him back to her bedroom and closed the door.

Stella was pawing at the bedroom door, her little head cocked to the side when she heard Catherine from the outside saying….

“Oh Bongoboy! You put Big Ben to shame. Come ring my chimes!”