fanfic_name = The Promise

chapter = 9

author = LTjg_GT_RDF

Rating = AP

Type = Angst

fanfic = THE PROMISE

CHAPTER NINE

From Commander Lisa Hayes’ Personal Diary

13 March 2012

Today was Rick’s second day of physical therapy. Amy’s plan is to start Rick out slowly because of all the muscle loss that occurred while he was in his coma. Before Rick’s legs were amputated, he was an exercise fiend. He was exercising all the time if he wasn’t either with me or flying. He was in the gym working out and lifting weights, running, swimming, riding his bike or playing sports. I guess you have to be in shape in order to fit into those tiny cockpits. Many of the women on base told me that they go weak in the knees whenever they see Rick because of his buff body. While I do admit that I drool whenever I see Rick without his shirt on and I see his chiseled body, I fell in love with Rick because if the man he is on the inside.

Rick’s therapy is every other day, so today was supposed to be his off day. But Amy wanted to find out how Rick’s physical condition is and she can go from there. Amy is very professional and serious when it comes to her job. Yet she is very warm and friendly. I found from talking to her that she has a boyfriend and he’s a medical student at Macross University. He works part time at the physical therapy unit at the ship’s hospital. That is how they met. She became a physical therapist because the therapy her brother received rehabilitating from having his arms amputated. Her brother was a VT pilot who lost his arms while battling the Zentraedi in the battle of Saturn’s rings. Amy was so taken by the care the physical therapists gave to her brother, that she decided to become one herself.

Even though Rick was working with light weights, his back and shoulder were sore after the therapy. Amy said it was natural since his muscles were not moving when he was in a coma. I gave Rick a massage which he enjoyed. I enjoyed giving him a massage because it gave me the chance to be with Rick and to touch him.

After I wheeled Rick back to his room after his therapy session was over, Dr. Wainwright came in to check up on Rick. Rick wanted to know when he will be discharged from the hospital and when he can do the physical therapy sessions on an outpatient basis. Dr. Wainwright wanted Rick to stay in the hospital for at least two more weeks to see if he has completely recovered from his brain injury and he want to see for himself how Rick’s physical therapy sessions is progressing. Rick was unhappy when the doctor told him he has to stay in the hospital for two more weeks. I don’t blame him. I hate hospitals.

14 March 2012

I didn’t realize how difficult it is trying to relocate several thousand people, their homes and belongings out of a space fortress. It is a logistical nightmare to say the least. Add to that, the barren landscape we are surrounded by just makes the situation worse. We are fortunate to have someone who used to work for Habitat for Humanity to be on the relocation team. He has been a real blessing to us. The advice he has given us has been so helpful. From helping secure wiring for electricity, drywall, plumbing pipes, to basic necessities and finding people to help the build the homes, he has been there for us. I don’t know where we would be without him.

Amy was sick today, so a young and pretty girl named Andrea was Amy’s replacement therapist. I hope this is not a start of a trend. But she was a professional and she did a very good job in Rick’s therapy session.

15 March 2012

Captain Gloval was promoted today. The UN and the UEG voted overwhelmingly to promote Captain Gloval. I think it has been long overdue. Captain Gloval has been through so much with us. All of us on the ship look up to Captain Gloval for strength. He was been our rock and anchor for so long. He has been more of a father to me than my own. I cannot think of a more deserving person to be promoted than Captain Gloval.

Amy was supposedly out sick again today so another replacement therapist did Rick’s therapy session today. Her name is Jessica and yes, she is young and she is pretty. Even though she is a professional at her job, I can’t help but have a sneaky suspicion that this is part of a trend. Not that I am complaining…ok, so I am complaining but why is it that Rick always has to have young and pretty girls to be his therapist? It’s almost like after Rick was injured, all the pretty young women lined up to his therapist. I was shocked when Jessica walked in. I started asking Jessica questions, which Rick did not liked. During a break in Rick’s therapy session, Rick came over to me and asked me if I had a problem. I told him I didn’t have a problem. He smiled that Rick Hunter smile at me and told me I was jealous. I’m not jealous; I’m just concerned about...ok…so I am jealous. But you can’t blame a fiancée to be concerned about another Minmei trying to steal your fiancé. If this keeps up, I’m going to have to talk with the head of the Rehabilitation Department about getting someone else to be Rick’s therapist whenever Amy is out, like her boyfriend perhaps.

16 March 2012

You are looking at the newest captain in the RDF. Admiral Gloval told me today that he recommended me for promotion for the work I did in the final battle with Dolza’s Grand Fleet but the paperwork was lost. I really didn’t mind not being promoted because Roy, Claudia Captain Gloval, Exedore, and everyone else did most of the work. I just made a suggestion to help us win the battle. Not only was I promoted but also Kim, Vanessa and Sammie. Claudia was promoted to commander. She kidded me about despite her having more service time than me, I still outrank her. I guess being an admiral’s daughter has its advantages. I hope that’s not the case. Roy could have been promoted but he refused. I guess he wanted to try to stay close to the troops I told Admiral Gloval that I will not accept the promotion without Rick by my side. Admiral Gloval agreed so we all went to Rick’s room in the hospital. Rick was surprised, to say the least to see Admiral Gloval, a photographer and all our friends follow me into his room. He was thrilled when I told him that I was being promoted and he was part of my promotion ceremony. “Does that mean I have to salute you again?” What a joker.

Rick’s therapy session went off without a hitch. Sammie wanted to have a party to celebrate our promotions but I told everyone that I will not do it without having Rick with me. I went to Dr. Wainwright and asked him if Rick could spend some time with me so he can celebrate my promotion with me. I was pleasantly surprised when he agreed with me. Since it was Friday, I wanted Rick to spend the weekend with me, so I risked Dr. Wainwright rejecting my request to let Rick spend the weekend with me. At first, he said no because he said I was not used to having to take care of an amputee, which is correct. I told him that I understand the challenges of Rick’s disability but if Amy could give me tips in helping Rick get around, and helping him get in and out of bed, I can handle it. Besides, I want Rick beside me in bed. I want his arms around me and around my waist. I want to hear him breathing and his heartbeat. I want to feel his life essence. I’m tired of sleeping alone, eating alone, spending nights alone. I want Rick beside me and with me, even if it is only for two days. He agreed to let Rick stay with me for the weekend.

Right now as I am writing this entry into my diary, Rick is my living room so I will have to cut this short. I am planning on having a wonderful evening and two days with him and do a lot of things. Writing in this diary is not one of them.

19 March 2012

I reluctantly returned Rick to the hospital. I loved having Rick with me even though it was only for 2 days. Yes, it was difficult helping Rick in and out of bed and his wheelchair, but I didn’t mind it at all. I love Rick with all my heart and I would do anything for him. I reminded myself that Rick would only have to spend one more week in the hospital before he is released from the hospital. Afterward, he will continue his physical therapy on an outpatient basis. This will be the longest five days of my life. We talked before I dropped him at the hospital about where he will be living after he is discharged. Naturally, I want him to live with me. Rick said no because he did not want to burden me and the hospital has arranged for an assistant who will help him and she will live next door to him in an empty BOQ. As usual, Rick was thinking more about me than himself. I shyly told him that I beat him to the punch by arranging with the hospital earlier last week to have an assistant to live next to my BOQ. All Rick could do was to shake his head and smile when I told him that. I want Rick to be with me as often as I can.

Amy still has Rick doing weight training with light weights. But starting next week, she will increase the poundage and will continue to slowly increase the poundage of the weights until she and the doctor thinks that Rick’s upper body strength will be strong enough to support him in helping him to learn to walk with the bio legs. She thinks it will take at least several more months, which will most likely be middle to late summer. Rick wants to rush things but I’m getting him to slow down and to work with the time table Amy has set for him

23 March 2014

HOORAY! Today is Rick’s final day in the hospital! Rick’s coming home to live with me! It has almost been a year since Rick has been in my arms and that is too long. As soon as Rick is discharged from the hospital, I am going to cook him the best dinner he have in a very long time. Afterwards…well…we are going to do things that I am not willing to write in a diary.

From Commander Rick Hunter’s Personal Journal

23 March 2014

I am being discharged from the hospital today. Dr. Wainwright has approved my release from the hospital. Starting on Monday, I will be doing my physical therapy as an outpatient. As I look back on the past months since I almost lost my life after crashing my veritech on the flight deck of the Prometheus after almost being shot down by a battle pod. And after being in a coma for almost a year and my legs being amputated, there have been two constants in my life, my big brother Roy Fokker and my beautiful fiancée Lisa Hayes. I know if it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be alive.

Roy is the brother I never had. Roy has been there to talk to me and to listen to me. If it wasn’t for him and stopping me when I tried to kill myself, I would have drowned in the therapy pool. Roy could have reported me but that would have meant my flying status would have permanently been pulled and I want to go back to flying.

But if there is one person who has been with me through all of my turmoil, it has to be Lisa. This beautiful woman has never turned her back on me and has always stayed with me no matter how many times I tried to push her away. Lisa has been my rock and anchor. She is also my guiding light and my lighthouse. I never thought I would fall in love with a military woman, but Lisa is very special. She has been there through my good times and bad. I am very lucky to have someone like Lisa.

I am reminded of a story I heard when I was young, of a Navy river boat gunner while serving in Vietnam, was seriously burned by a white phosphorous grenade that exploded in his hand by an enemy sniper when he was about to throw the grenade at a bunch of river reeds where he thought an enemy solider was hiding. He was burned beyond recognition and there were doubts that he would ever survive. He spent fourteen months in a military hospital in Texas and underwent fifteen reconstructive operations. During his stay in the hospital, he had seen many burned and severely wounded soldiers die when their wives put their wedding rings on the table. It was only his wife’s love that he was able to survive the painful operations and recovery. I cannot imagine what his wife went through much less Lisa. Lisa never gave up on me. The only thing I can do is not to give up on myself.

From Captain Lisa Hayes’ Personal Diary

31 August 2012

Rick’s upper body strength has improved enough that Dr. Wainwright thought it was time for Rick to have the bio legs surgically placed on his body and the microchip implanted in his cerebellum. Even though the legs will be surgically placed, it can be detached easily. The operation is for today. I am nervous about the operation especially about the microchip implanted in his brain. Dr. Wainwright has assured me that a neurosurgeon will perform the operation and he will be assisting. It will be a long operation but he has told me that he is confident Rick will make it through the operation.

1 September 2012

Rick made it through the operation. It had taken over 6 hours for the surgery to be completed. He is in a drug induced coma so his body and brain can slowly recover from the surgery. Dr. Wainwright said Rick will be in the hospital for at least 2 weeks before I can take him home again. It will be two weeks too long and I am missing him already.

I visited Rick in the recovery room after the operation. Rick looks so much at peace now than when he lost his legs. He has moved on with his life and is at peace with his changed life. Rick has been through so much these past months and it takes a strong man to endure what he has gone through. He still has a long way to go before his life can have some sense of normalcy and he can return to flying. I intend to be there with him every step of the way.

14 September 2012

Rick has recovered enough that Dr. Wainwright is allowing Rick to be discharged from the hospital. He is to start therapy on Monday to help him adjust to the bio legs and learn how to walk with them. Amy said it will take at least middle to late winter before Rick will be used to walking with the bio legs. For now, all I want is to have Rick beside me

17 September 2012

Today was Rick’s first day on the parallel bars that will help him adjust walking with the bio legs. I never realized just how difficult it is trying to walk with what are basically artificial legs. Rick only walked several inches until he had to rest. He wanted to go further but he was so fatigued, he had to stop. He had to rest for almost 30 minutes until he had enough of his strength back to try to go further. Rick managed to take about 4 steps until he had to stop again. That was when Amy stopped him for the day.

19 September 2012

Today has not been one of Rick’s better days. He tried his best to go farther than he did on Monday but couldn’t. Amy tried to assure him that is only natural that he will have his good days and bad days. Today seems to be one of his bad days. Rick became frustrated but to his credit, he didn’t give up. After a while, Rick admitted that his knees are sore. Because of that, Amy cut the session short. After I brought Rick home, I gave him pain killers for his painful knees and I promised that I will massage his knees and legs when I get home from duty.

After I came home from duty and cooked him dinner, I massaged his sore knees and legs. As I was massaging, he gave a look that…well, you know the old saying, and a look is worth a thousand words? It was that sort of look. It was a look that said more than “thank you”, it was a look that said “I love you” and much more. He then reached over to me and kissed me. It wasn’t just a kiss, it was much more. It was a kiss that made me tingle all over. I don’t know how long we held that kiss, but I do know it was a long time. I can still feel the warm effects his kiss has on me hours later as I am writing this entry. No one has ever had that effect on me, not even Karl. Rick is a wonderful kisser and much more. It’s amazing that we ever fell in love concerning the way we first met, but I’m glad we did. What happened to Rick only makes my love for him even stronger. I made a promise to him never to leave to his side and I will never break that promise.

21 September 2012

Rick’s session has gone more smoothly today than on Wednesday. Rick easily managed to go halfway on the bars without any problems. Amy was very pleased with the small steps Rick is taking towards his rehabilitation. Rick is well on his way to getting back to a new normal way of life.

From Commander Rick Hunter’s Personal Journal

3 October 2012

Max and Miriya became parents for the first time today. After my therapy session today, as I was getting ready to go home, Max came in with the good news. It’s a girl and they are naming her Dana after Max’s mother. It was amazing that Max and Miriya are parents considering the fact that no child has been born out of a human and a Zentraedi. The OBGYN did not know how long Miriya’s pregnancy will be because not much is known of the Zentraedi race. They are all clones and none is known if a Zentraedi female can conceive a child, much less with a human partner.

I am so glad for Max and Miriya but at the same time, I am very concerned for the baby. I have a bad feeling that someone in UEG will want to use the baby as a guinea pig. I will have to tell Max to watch out for scientists in the UEG who will want to experiment Dana for “altruistic reasons”.

From Captain Lisa Hayes’ Personal Diary

21 November 2012

Today is Rick’s final therapy session for the week. Amy is taking tomorrow and Friday off for Thanksgiving. Admiral Gloval is letting the five of us have tomorrow and Friday off for the Thanksgiving holiday. Roy, Claudia, Max, Miriya and baby Dana, Rick, I and the Terrible Trio will get together for Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow. Considering all the troubles and trials that I went through this past year, I do have a lot to be thankful for. I am thankful for friends like Roy and Claudia but mostly for Rick. Rick came into my life at a time that I thought I would never fall in love with someone again. Rick is so warm and caring, I cannot think of anyone I want to spend the rest of my life with.

21 December 2012

Rick’s therapy is going good as expected. He is progressing very well and he should be able to start taking small steps with the bio legs without assistance of the parallel bars. Amy is taking the Christmas and New Year’s holiday off, so Rick will not begin therapy again until after the New Year. Rick asked me what I want for a Christmas present, I told him nothing. I already have my Christmas present in him. After almost loosing him when his VT crashed, him being alive and being near me, is all I could ask for Christmas.

10 January 2013

Rick told me this evening that he has something special to show me tomorrow I have a suspicion of what he wants to show men but I am going to let him show me tomorrow.

The next day

As Lisa walked into the therapy room, Rick as usual was sitting in his wheelchair and had a bright smile on his face. He told her to stay where she is standing.

“Lisa, I want to show you something.”

Rick then slowly lifted himself out of the wheelchair. Amy was standing nearby to help Rick get up. Rick told her that he is doing fine but to stay nearby just in case he falls. Rick stood up on his two feet and smiled. Lisa looked at him with a smile as tears of joy fell from her face. “Oh Rick. Oh Rick” was all she managed to say. As Rick began to take steps towards her, he lost his balance and fell to the floor.

State = Continuará/To Be Continue

feedback = Sí/Yes

email = georgemtATearthlink.net