Part 2


When Sydney's eyes opened the next morning he was sitting there, waiting for her 
to wake up. She closed her sleepy eyes and smiled at him.

"Good morning" She said.

"Hello" He answered and smiled back.

He just sat looking at her.

"I must look a mess." She said running her hand through her disheveled hair.

"You look like you were in a wreck." He said smiling and looking at her broken 
leg.

"Yeah, did you get the number on that truck by the way?" She joked.

"Yeah, it was me." He joked back. 

They talked about the coming days and how they would work things, her staying 
with him. He would get her to her interview when she needed to. She questioned 
him about his work hours, he laid out his work schedule and she realized he 
worked for himself and could pretty much be where he needed to be whenever he 
was needed. 

He didn't have another scheduled trip for two weeks. He would take care of this 
broken angel until then. She would be much better by then, all would be fine.

About ten in the morning the doctor came blasting into the room without so much 
as a hello. He asked her how she felt. All in all she was doing ok. He told her 
there would be no lasting effects and she could schedule an appointment to have 
the cast looked at in about six weeks. They would then replace the cast with 
another one. 

"You're dismissed." He said as he blew back out the door.

Michael and Sydney just sat and looked at each other for several seconds. Then 
Michael got up slapping his hands on his knees and started gathering her things. 
There was blood on her clothes and Michael had thought to bring her a robe 
figuring that she wouldn't be putting clothes on anyway. 

He pulled a new robe from a bag and handed it to her as she slid off the cast 
off the bed with his help. He bought it several months ago and hadn't worn it. 
Luckily it would fit for a man or a woman.

"For me?" She asked smiling.

"Yes indeedy." He answered, smiling back at her.

Michael helped her out of bed and she kept her cast off the floor. It was a 
little big, fitting loosely, but it was ok. An orderly came in with a 
wheelchair. She took a seat with her cast resting on the leg rest and Michael 
followed them down the hall. A nurse met her at the desk and had her sign some 
more papers. 

Michael ran ahead when they got to the first floor. He raced to the Parking lot 
and got his car. He pulled to the circular exit drive and got out and helped her 
in the back seat with her long cast. He did put the crutches in the trunk. She 
was in obvious pain as she shifted her broken leg. 

He got her home as quick as he could, she needed to be more comfortable as soon 
as possible. 

He pulled into the drive and opened the garage door. He lived in a three 
bedroom brick home. It was nice. He wrapped her arm around his neck and eased 
her into the house. He made his way to a large couch, sat her down and lifted 
her cast onto a large soft pillow. 

She was aching from the ride home. She let out a deep sigh and closed her eyes. 
Michael had a message on his machine. He needed to go take care of a little job 
for a client. He would only be gone for an hour or so. She assured him she would 
be alright. She fell asleep soon after he left.

When he returned she was standing with the help of her crutches at his picture 
window gazing out into his manicured backyard. She turned slowly and carefully 
not to hjit her broken leg and smiled at him. He put his briefcase on the dining 
room table, disappeared for a second then joined her.

"I like your place, this is nice. And your backyard is so pretty." She said.

"Well thank you, I think you need something pretty in your life right now don't 
you?" He asked.

"Oh I think so, with all the ugliness of the last twenty-four hours." She said 
sighing but still smiling.

"Hey, Sydney, let me show you your room!" Michael said excitedly. 

"Ok." She said.

She was feeling better now that she had rested and since she had been on 
crutches before she was a natural using them. Her room was sunny. Michael had 
bought flowers and put in her room to welcome her. The room smelled so fresh. 
She loved it. It had a decidedly masculine feel but she liked it, it was nice. 
Her things were on the bed, she hadn't brought a lot with her. She held up her 
ruined dress and sighed.

"This was the only decent dress I brought with me, I just needed it for the 
interview." She looked so disappointed.

Michael reached into the closet and pulled out a dress as close to hers as he 
could find. He had taken her things from the hospital last night. He had taken 
time to go by the mall while out taking care of his client earlier. 
      
He took the dress to a store and asked a saleslady to get as close to it as she 
could. She had done a good job. He held it up for Sydney and she looked in the 
mirror shaking her head and looking at Michael.

"You're too much. When did you have time to do this? You were at the hospital 
first thing this morning." She said amazed.

"Just a minute ago while I was out, do you like it? I didn't want you worrying 
about it, I didn't see anything else in your things that a beautiful woman in a 
full leg cast could wear to an interview." He asked anxiously. 

"If it isn't right we can go shopping later."

"It's perfect Michael, it couldn't be better. I like it better than my old one; 
it looks great. You're one wonderful thoughtful man Michael, thank you again. If 
you had a dollar for every time I have thanked you in the past day..." She 
laughed, pain crossed her face when her cast touched the dresser. 

She sat down on the bed, dropped her crutches to the floor. She closed her eyes 
and started to lay back on the bed. Michael took her casted leg once more and 
helped her. 

He sat on the bed beside her and held her hand. It took so little to cause her 
pain in that broken leg of hers. She rolled onto her side and looked up at him. 
She slowly closed her eyes and seemed to be more at ease.

She still had her robe on but just draped over her shoulder on her left side. He 
laid down beside her, his face to her back and pulled the robe off her shoulder 
and began to gently rub her back. That stupid gown would have to go soon but for 
now it was the most sensible apparel she had. 

She fell asleep. As much as he wanted to lift her robe and check out this hot 
little bottom he resisted. The thought of taking advantage of this injured  
woman put a sour taste in his mouth. He got up when she was asleep and went to 
the kitchen. What would he fix for dinner tonight?

Michael was busy cutting vegetables for a salad; the smell of something 
wonderful was cooking in the oven. She yawned and stretched her arms and 
shrugged her shoulders. 

"Something smells good Michael, what is it?" She asked smiling standing in front 
of him on her crutches.

"Pork chops. I hope you like them." He answered continuing with his salad.

"Umm, I do." She took a seat on a stool at the bar looking into the kitchen. 
With both her arms she managed to pick up her long cast and rested the broken 
leg on the other chair

She watched as he danced around the kitchen like he belonged there. Doing this 
and doing that. He was experienced in this place. She was amazed to watch him 
work.

When dinner was on the table he helped her hop to the table. He would normally 
have a nice white wine but he decided that in her fragile state she better stay 
as sober as possible. She said she would normally drink a glass of wine but she 
agreed with him this time. They had iced tea. 
      
Everything was perfect Sydney thought. The chops were wonderful. The salad was 
great. She was hungrier than she thought. She hadn't had a lot to eat the past 
two days. She ate until she couldn't eat another bite. Michael loved watching 
her. 

They retired to the living room and sat and talked for hours after dinner. She 
was applying for an assistant editor's position with a local publication. She 
was excited about getting the job and moving here, especially now that she had 
met Michael. Sydney was feeling better all the time. She would shuffle on the 
couch to get comfortable with her broken leg. 

When the pain got too intense Michael got her some pain pills the hospital had 
sent home with her. She was off to Lala land in no time. She would laugh at the 
slightest joke. Michael took advantage to make her laugh, hoping not to cause 
her any more pain. They talked and laughed for another hour. 

"Michael do you have a plastic bag I could wrap around my cast, I would love to 
take a shower." Sydney asked.

"Yes of course." Michael said going to the kitchen and returning with an extra 
large trash can sized bag.

He pulled the bag over her broken leg and used tape to keep the plastic bag in 
place. She took her crutches and slowly retired to the guest bath. He could hear 
the shower turn on. He turned on the TV and waited for her to come back. He had 
only been watching for five minutes when he heard Sydney scream. He rushed to 
the bathroom.

"Sydney! Are you all right?" He called through the door.

"Ohhh." Was all she could say.

"I'm coming in." He said and opened the door. 



Part 3 to come