//------------------------------// // Chapter 54: Final Steps // Story: Through Crimson Eyes // by Level Dasher //------------------------------// “There you are! I’ve been looking all over for you!” Tess exclaimed as she came up from behind me. “What are you, hiding from me?” I’d been walking around the floor. I felt comfortable enough after lunch to give walking a try. I didn’t need an escort anymore; I’d been going for at least one lap every day since I started physical therapy. Now I had something new to get used to. “No, just going for a test run,” I answered, walking around the last corner to go back to my room. “Test run for what?” she asked, coming up beside me. “Take a look.” I lifted my wing and showed her the button, a new piece of gauze wrapped around the contact point with my skin. “Is that the button thing you told me about?” I nodded, and her eyes lit up. “Wait, does that mean—” “If all goes well, yes,” I said with a smirk. “Awesome!” She nuzzled up against my cheek as I kept pushing my pole forward with my other wing. “Yeah,” I said. “I just hafta get used to this thing. It feels a little tight, but I don’t feel like going through what I went through this morning again with a bigger one. I don’t even know if they’d do that.” “Does it hurt?” she asked. “No, not really. It’s just kinda uncomfortable, but that’s practically how everything is around here.” “Good point,” she said, as we walked through the door back into my room. “So… how much longer—” “A few days in here with this thing, a few more meals, a couple successful trips to the rooms, and I should be outta here by next week,” I answered with a smile as I sat down in one of the chairs. “Yay!” she cried as she hugged me around the neck from behind. I reached up and pulled her head down into my neck to nuzzle her. “‘Yay’ is right,” I said with a smile. “Indeed,” Gramma said from behind me. I didn’t even bother to look, I could tell she was smiling. Tess wiggled her head out from my neck and asked, “Hey, what’s with the bandana?” I’d tied my blue bandana on my forearm. I knew I’d find a use for it sooner or later. “New lucidity cue I’m trying,” I said. “My mane’s growing back, so I won’t be able to use that much longer. Princess Luna showed me a new one.” “I still can’t believe we missed her again,” Mom complained. “Eh, one of these days,” I said. “Anyway, she said something about the complexity of the knot in my bandana. I just need to check it every day so it becomes habit… but it keeps sliding down to my knee.” I pulled it back up to its proper place. “It’s all Prench to me,” Gramma stated flatly. “Believe me, it took awhile for her to explain it to me, too,” I said. “I just gave you the short version. Using my mane as a cue was pretty easy— not so much with the bandana. It’s gonna take me a few tries.” “Hey, whatever works,” Tess said. “I kinda like it— it matches your mane.” “Thanks,” I replied. “At least this way I don’t look like a thug.” I smirked, looking over at Mom. “Well, whatever you’re doing, just keep yourself in line for the next few days,” she said. “The last thing we need is for you to do something silly and have to stay in here longer, especially when you’re so close to being discharged.” “I know, I know. It’s not like I’m bouncing all over the place,” I quipped. “I’ll wait until the button’s out to do that.” Mom glared at me. “Watch it, buster. You’ll still have some physical therapy to take care of when you get home. That comes first. I mean it— no silly business until this is all straightened out.” I didn’t think I really needed the PT, but I didn’t feel like arguing. “Alriiiiiiight,” I groaned. The next few days were more eventful than I expected. The doctors took me off the IV to see if I could get the nutrients I needed from food alone, but they left the PICC in just in case. I could finally take my walks around the floor without the stupid pole, and I was able to do it at a steady trot. The heart monitor around my shoulder wasn’t much of a problem. They also wanted to do one more scan just to make sure everything on the inside matched how I felt on the outside, which was awesome. I mean, I was eating actual food, using the bathroom fine, walking without any major attachments—I don’t count the heart monitor—and I was getting used to the button. So of course, the one day Tess couldn’t come see me in the afternoon, I really wished she was there. High Flyer came into my room with a long face and a folder. I was sitting in one of the chairs by the one table in my room— now that I didn’t have to stay in bed, I tried sitting up as much as I could. “Hey buddy,” High Flyer sighed, coming over to the table. “We’ve got another good-news-bad-news scenario.” I had a feeling he was leading me on again, but I couldn’t tell for sure. “What’s up this time?” I asked, cocking my brow. He opened up the folder. “Well, I’ve got your scan results, your blood results, your nutrient levels…” “And?” “Bad news, buddy.” “What?” “Starting tomorrow, I’m not gonna get to see your smiling face anymore.” He slowly broke into a grin. “Do I need to tell you the good news?” I beamed and hopped around the table to give him a hug. “Congratulations, buddy. You did it!” he said, returning the hug. “Oh, thank Celestia,” Mom said. “You had me worried for a moment, High Flyer. You can’t do that to a mother!” He chuckled. “I’m sorry, I couldn’t resist. With how well Crimson has done the last few weeks, I had no doubt he would be leaving. I didn’t think you’d fall for that charade again.” “I almost did,” I said, smiling. I gave him a small whack on the shoulder. “Mares are sensitive! Don’t do that to them!” High Flyer laughed, “I think I just heard your dad there.” He tousled my mane, which was still filling in. “I’m sure he’s really proud of you, bud. You stuck to your guns and made it all the way through this mess. You’ve just gotta deal with that button for a couple of weeks, but I don’t think you’ll have a problem.” “Nah,” I responded, glancing down at the cap. “I already got used to it.” “Great,” High Flyer said. “Well, I’ve got one more piece of news before I go back to my post.” I looked at him for a second. “Why isn’t it good news?” “Well, it’s kind of both. You’re going to have dinner a little late tonight, so you might get a bit hungry.” “Why?” “Well…” He smirked. “Before you head out tomorrow, we’re gonna take that sucker out tonight,” he said, pointing to my PICC. I glanced at my foreleg. “Seriously?” “Yep. No accoutrements except for the button are going with you when you leave. You’ve done that well,” he said. “I know it was torture, but the extra waiting paid off. Most patients would have to continue their liquid nutrients for at least a week after they leave, but your body’s been working just fine with the food alone. And based on what I’ve heard from your family, you’ll be well-fed at home, so you don’t need to keep the PICC in. Celestia forbid something crazy comes up, we might put one back on your other side, but that’d only be if something really funky happened. You’ve been doing so well, I don’t think you need to worry about it. Just don’t do anything reckless with that button in, got it? Oh geez, now I sound like your mother,” he laughed. “Good!” Mom responded. “He needs to hear it from somepony else— he won’t listen to me.” I laughed, “Okay, I get it, I get it!” “Alright, buddy. Start packing up your stuff. You’ll hopefully be out of here by early afternoon tomorrow. Your mom will just need to go over some paperwork,” High Flyer said. “Have you gone for your walk yet today?” “Not yet,” I answered. “I’ll do that now. Actually, can I use the phone in the hallway while I’m out there? I need to make a couple of calls…”