Monday, May 13th Pt. 18
“Aaron showed this to me when he asked if you had done a sensory test on him last night. I told him that you didn’t as we weren’t aware that it was even there.”
“Did Aaron do a sensory test on his back?” I ask concerned that’s why he’s so fearful.
“He wanted to but I didn’t allow him to.”
“He actually listened when you told him no?” There’s a chuckle behind the seriousness of my voice.
“No. I had to physically reinforce what I knew was proper. I knew he couldn’t handle the sensory test Aaron wanted to do.”
“There’s two different ones.”
“I know. Aaron wanted to go vertical, straight line from shoulder to rump but I knew that wouldn’t go well. It’s critical that you trust me, Deven.”
There’s something about what he says that makes me stop my movements and look him in the eyes.
“Colton, I realize that the sensory test Dr. Hamilton wanted to do would have been painful, which is why I stopped him. You can trust Deven to do the same with me but my plan is different. I am doing a sensory test but it’s important that you focus on me.”
I watch as his finger tips touch the top of his back exactly where his back and neck meet.
“I don’t want you to wait until this is painful. A change in sensation is all I’m looking for.”
His voice continues to be calm and encouraging as he slowly runs his fingers side to side on Colton’s back. Cole manages to turn his head and loosen his grip on the pillow in his hand.
“Well done Colton. That’s exactly what I need. Now, I need you to stop me when the sensation changes. Don’t wait for it to hurt you.”
I watch my friend closely. Colton is silent, almost relaxed with what’s going on until he suddenly changes.
“Stop! Please! It doesn’t feel good anymore.”
The beginning is panicked and ends with a whining note. I look over his shoulder to see Cass has indeed completely stopped all movements.
“This shouldn’t hurt you but I’m going to put a small black dot where you stopped me. It’s a felt tipped marker so nothing sharp.”
He reassures as he delicately places a mark beside his fingers.
“You did very well with that. Based on the scarring I see the second part of this may not be as easy but I need you to try. Be still. I do need to pull your shorts down so they rest below your hips. It’s going to expose some of your rear but there’s no punishment here.”
Cassius tries again to reassure him but true to what I’ve seen, Cass is right, this is not easy on him.
“No. No. I can’t be naked.”
He whines quieter than the first but his fight is stronger. Rolling from side to side, Cass is unable to get his hands on the waistband of Colton’s shorts. After several attempts the behavior isn’t settling down he finally decides to speak.
“I need you to be still Cole. There’s no pain or punishment. Just be still.”
He gives a short, loud whine of relentment as Cassius placed his hand between Cole’s shoulders.
“That’s it.”
He murmurs gently as he returns to the task he’s trying to complete.
“Just like before, you will feel my touch gentle where your skin appears normal. I will travel up slowly. You are to stop me when the sensation changes before it causes pain. Do you understand your instructions?”
“Yes sir.”
His breath stiffens as Cassius touches his skin. His discomfort with this part of the sensory testing is much higher making me think his pain level may be more severe.
“Please don’t. It doesn’t feel right. I don’t know why but it hurts. Please stop.”
The panic is huge as he attempts to explain what he doesn’t remember happening. I’m relieved when Cassius lifts his hand and moves back to his head.
“Relax Colton. I hear your words but I need you to be calm to make certain you understand my question.”
I’m surprised when he nods.
“Do you think you can handle me laying with you?”
“Are you going to keep going with my back?” His voice is nervous.
“No sir. I think any further sensory testing needs to wait until you are farther along in your healing. Both physically and mentally.”
Colton seems to relax as Cassius pulls his shirt down and tugs his shorts back to his waist. He pauses a moment as if he’s looking for something before stepping away and heading to the closet.
“Is he due for any medication and have you been tracking his temperature? I know the two questions don’t match. They’re just my immediate concerns.”
“He’s due for both Vicodin and toradol. I’m certain he’d appreciate your presence during both as he is very sensitive to medication.”
Cassius nods as he brings a heavy flannel sheet over.
“Let me know if this is too heavy but most find comfort in a little bit of weight on them.”
He swings the blanket so it opens before laying it over Cole. He pulls on the blanket gently so it doesn’t become tight as he lays down.
“I hope you can forgive me. I’m sorry to have stressed you. Deven is right to be concerned about your back. It is a very large scar and your reaction is very telling.”
He explains as he makes himself comfortable, chest to chest with Cole.
“Thank you.” Colton has calmed down relatively quickly and his voice, while quiet, certainly shows it.
“I’m not out to hurt you Colton.” Cassius starts talking to him as he whines subtly. “I want you to stay with us. At least until we can find out who you are and where you need to be. What do you remember being said in the hospital?”
He nods slowly as he instinctively seeks Cassius’s scent. He adjusts his position easily giving Cole access to his neck.
“That I had been in a battle. If my brother hadn’t found a way to step in and stop it I would be dead. It didn’t make sense to me because the male that was constantly with me after I woke up, I was terrified of him. His name was Andre and I was told he was my brother. I feared him more than I fear the two of you and you’re both strangers.”
He pauses a moment as he gingerly shifts his body. I can’t help but wonder how he made it several days on the street with the kind of persistent pain he’s experiencing.
“The doctor didn’t spend a lot of time with me but he felt familiar. Like I had spent time with him before. He told me that I was given the name Colton Allen Zander before I left the other hospital. I had been in a coma for three weeks and as soon as it was suitable for me to travel Andre would be taking me to the next pack in the operation underground line up.”
“Did they tell you which pack that was?”
“No sir. All he mentioned was that the end goal was to get me back to an Alpha Demetri by the end of the year. That each pack I went to I would receive carefully planned therapy to start teaching me the way a normal pack works. He mentioned that I’ve suffered through a lot of trauma for a very long time and he didn’t want the amnesia to resolve suddenly without having me in therapy. I asked a lot of questions during the one time he stayed a while with me. He was persistent in not telling me a lot of my own history. He felt it would be easier on me if I didn’t know where I came from just where I was going. He said I needed to return to Alpha Demetri we’re I’d be safe and reunited with my mate, Jessa.”
“Why did you run from the hospital? It sounds like they were trying to help you.”
“The dream with the boy being beaten started happening after he told me that he was returning me to Alpha Demetri.”
“You’ve equated the two. You think Alpha Demetri is the one beating the boy?”
I pet Colton’s head gently as I wait for the feeder to finish. I’m silently impressed with how well Colton is responding to Cassius’s questions.
“The dream started after he was mentioned.”
“I see.” Cassius whispers. “Do you think that this dream is more than a dream? That maybe it happened and it’s the reason you ran?” He speaks slowly and gently.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
