Redemption (Chapter Four)
#4 of Redemption
Redemption
_ Chapter Four_
This was a blast to write. I was on a roll and here it is. Hope you enjoy and say what you think.
What the? Where was I, and why didn't my body hurt? Was I dead? I slowly opened my eyes everything was white. Shit! I was dead! Slowly everything came into focus. Wait I wasn't dead. There where white walls, a white celling, its a room but what kind of room?
"JD?"
I nearly jump out of my skin at the voice and turn my head to the right. Sarah and Brad were standing in the doorway both looking at me. Nurse Joy, Officer Jenny and Hoss stood there too.
I smile and raise my arm to wave them in. When my elbow slid from underneath the blanket dropped to the bed. I stare at the blanket then at my right arm. There was no arm....the end of my upper arm was wrapped in bandages.
"What....my....my....." I stammer as I stare at what remaind of my arm.
"The bone was destroyed."
I look up. Nurse Joy slowly made her into the room and stood next to me, placing her hand on my shoulder. She wasn't smiling, Nurse Joy always gave people a smile.
"The bone was fractured in over a dozen of places. The nerves where completely destroyed plus the glass fragments caused even more internal damage. We had no choice but to amputate your arm."
I look at her. Amputate?........AMPUTATE!
"No...No no no no no no no no." I start to get up throwing the covers off of me. My arm was....amputated!? No no it couldn't be, my job... I needed both arms for my job. I started breathing heavily. I feel someone grab me, I look up, Nurse Joy was trying to get me back in the bed her mouth was moving but I couldn't hear any words. Wait I couldn't hear anything! I push her away and head for the door. No this wasn't real it was a dream a very bad dream. I stumble to the door maybe if I left the room I would wake up back at the store with my arm still attached. Suddenly there was a sharp pain in the side of my arm. After the pain everything was starting to fade and darken. I collaspe to my knees then to my stomach. I slowly lift my head reaching out to the door with my remaining hand.
No...no...I...was....almo.....st....t...h...e...r...e. I lay my head on the floor and everything blacks out.
"Master why do we have to degrade ourselfs to....'this'?
I sigh and look back at her.
"We have no choice. If we want people to take us seriously we have to show them that we can do anything and everything it takes to achieve our goals."
She raises the sponge she was using and looks at me.
"And how does 'this' help us?"
I smile and ruffle her head fur.
"Come on don't tell me you never did some cleaning? Ya fraid to get wet?"
She smiles and returns to cleaning the floor.
"Nice movie line."
I sit up and smile at her.
"Thanks."
I kneel down and resume scrubbing the tile floor. At least my new job had something for me to do even if it was janitorial duties. I glance down at my uniform. It was blue and ragged, hopefully one day through hard honest labor I might be able to wear theirs. Help make the world a better place for people and Pokemon.
'Four hours later'
I sigh and lean against the wall. Finally we finished scrubbing the entire building. Every level, every room and closet. I smile as she lays down next to me putting her head on my lap. I put my arm around her and close my eyes. Honest labor I work hard to achieve it. I open my eyes and look down at her. She was the best friend I ever had. I rub her head and close my eyes letting exhuastion take over.
"Nnnnnnngh."
What the hell was going on? Why did my head feel like it was ripped apart by a Machamp. I open my eyes, everything was dark. I breath a sigh of relief, the cot, my home, I was back at the store. Slowly everything started to brighten revealing five people standing over me. Wait...I wasn't in my cot, this wasn't the store. Slowly everything clears enough and I reconized the faces. Hoss, Brad, Sarah, Nurse Joy, and Officer Jenny. I look over to the right. Maxy, Lucario, and Lopunny were standing in the doorway facing us.
"JD?"
I turn my attention back to them. They faces were full of concern.
"Where am I?" I ask looking at each one of them.
"You're in the hospital JD." I look over at Officer Jenny. "You were in a robbery and severely injured. When we arrived you were unconscious and you arm was...."
I look down at my right arm. I could see where it ended at the elbow, the blanket then sloped down meeting the bed. I lost my right arm.
"I know this a lot to take in JD but the first time I explained it to you, you went into shock and I had to sedate you."
I look up at her. Sedate? Wait when I felt the pain in my arm earleir and everything went dim. I weakly smile at her.
"You did what you were trained to do."
She places a hand on my shoulder.
"Aren't you in the least concered?"
"What that I lost my arm in a robbery, lost Brads engagement ring and the money, got my ass kicked and punched in the face? Sound's like everyday life for John Doe." I chuckle and look up at them. They smile and chuckle.
"Wait how did you know about the engagement ring?"
I look over to Brad.
"Please your dad maybe the boss but he sucks at keeping secrets. Jareds, envolope of cash and a month off? Two of those go together and he wanted me to help out planning it during the month off." I turn to Hoss. "Right boss?"
He glares at me and places his hands in his pockets. "Yes."
"See, even a Ryhorn could see it was obvious that you wanted me to pick up the ring and you would propose after I handed it to you." I look down at the bed. "Sorry about the money and the ring are gone though."
"Well not technically." I look up and stare at Brad. What did he mean?
*Ahem* He clears his throat and reaches into his jacket pocket. I notice Sarahs eyes light up as he pulls a small black box and kneels down in front of her. With grace he opens the box revealing a beautiful diamond ring with two curving lines connecting over the stone making a heart. It wasn't possible.
He looks over at me. "Sorry about this JD but I wanted to do this when everyone was present." I smile and nod. I really don't care if he did it in my hospital room it was something special. He nods and turns to Sarah.
"Sarah seven years ago if someone said I would go from a broken addicted man to a respected person and finding the perfect girl in the world I would have punched him. But when you found me it was as if the gods gave me a second chance. You broke my addiction, cleaned my act, and furfilled my dream all because you believed in me. I have a wonderful pokemon, a father who is proud to call me his son, and a friend who puts up with no shit all because of you who made me the man I always wanted to be. I love you with all my heart and you would make me the happiest man in the entire world if you would be my wife."
I turn and look at Sarah. Her eyes were glimmering as she stares down at him. I put my remaining hand to my mouth making a fake cough. It pulls her out of her trance. She looks at me and smiles, then she looks down at him.
"Yes."
He rose embracing her, slowly he took the ring out of the box and shakingly placing it around her ring finger on her left hand. I sit up in the bed and everyone starts clapping. Hoss starts shaking Brads hand and Nurse Joy and Officer Jenney were hugging Sarah who was crying with tears of joy. I felt a tear slide down my face. Maxy let out a joyous howl and Lucario and Lopunny stood next to their trainers embracing them both. At least I was here for such a touching event. Brad turns to me and I extend my remaining hand to him. He grasps it and we shake hands. The past is the past and now it looks like there was going to be a bright future.