12. Grey

I thoughtmy headaches were bad before, but shit, I feel like someone is drilling in the side of my head. It's been almost three weeks and I still feel like total shit. Progress is slow because of my prior brain injury. The neurosurgeon told me, in a way, it was a miracle. When they opened my skull it relieved the pressure that I was ignoring. So it was like a two-for-one, I guess. A more positive person would think it was a miracle. I think it's just my bad luck.

Abigale and Trudy have been beyond wonderful and accommodating. Trudy gave up the main floor bedroom so I could have it because my walking is still off. Sometimes I'm fine, other times I'm wobbly or bouncing off walls. Best thing about this whole shitty situation is that Abigale and I are inseparable. Sometimes when I'm having a rough night after a long day, she'll stay with me through the night. Don't know what I'd do without her, she's my saving grace. There really isn't anything I've not shared with her because if we are going to keep moving forward, she needs to know what she's getting into. She's not had it easy either. Though she's not had a lot of relationships, the couple she's had were way fucked up. One guy stole from her, while the other raised a hand to her. Abigale told me she's not been with anyone for at least two years, if not more. I'm shocked because she's beyond gorgeous on the outside and beautiful on the inside.

Trudy contracted some of the Blue Sky Sanctuary folks to help her work on the cabin behind the house for her and the kids. It's actually pretty big, though when she started—I'm not sure, ten days to two weeks or so ago—it was beyond a fuckin' mess. My friends—and, yeah, that's what they are—have been coming for the last week to repair and remodel the cabin to make it into a home for the three of them. Abigale told me even Avalanche and Panther have come with Tink's man Noodles to help. These people are just plain amazing and unbelievable. Who would have thought, not only would I get this damn surgery, but have so much support after. The neurosurgeon told me I'm doing really good but not to rush anything. Since I've been back here at Abigale's farm, Ollie has two therapists coming out, one for PT, the other for occupational. I still Zoom with my other therapist since I can't drive to Billings. Shit, at this moment in time I can't drive at all.

The room is beyond dark. Before I was released from the hospital Abigale, Spirit, and Paisley worked on the room to make it more like mine. Abigale and I haven't talked about the future but by her actions, I kinda get that she wants us to continue moving forward with our relationship. Not that I'm in any shape to take it to the next step, yet. The room is a stormy blue-gray with a white ceiling. The wood floors have been cleaned. The five windows have new darkening blinds on them with modern long curtains. The bedding has been changed to a dark gray, white, and blue pattern. The en suite is plain white but the towels match the bedding. Personally, I love it and am so humbled because as far as I can remember no one has ever done anything like this for me. Even when in foster care, if I got a bed to myself, it was threadbare sheets and maybe one blanket.

Hearing the door open, I shift my head and squint to see Abigale coming in quietly. She's got the ice pack and a huge travel mug with what I'm assuming is ice water. She's pink in the face and I can smell she's been cleaning stalls or pens like she always does. Since there's been no issues recently, she currently has Fern and the big male wolf here with us. Fern wouldn't leave if we tried to get rid of her. I think she has more dog than wolf in her. Abigale is getting a DNA test done. The male wolf is another story. Phantom, Dog, and Jeffries all told me how upset the wolf was when he didn't see me anywhere. Dog took an old T-shirt of mine and threw it in his run and it kind of quieted him down. When I finally got back here, he went nuts. Even though I've never put a hand on him fully, with Abigale's help I walked over to the outside run and just stood by the fence. He came by, smelled and scented me, then first sat then lay down. From what I was told that day was the first he slept throughout the night. Even the kids told me how he would howl all night long. Guess my wish of owning a wolf came true in the end.

I almost jump when Abigale places the ice pack on the top of my head. Then she reaches for a wet washcloth, putting that behind my head on my neck. Instant relief.

"Thanks, Baby. Feels good. How are you doing?"

"Welcome, Grey. Got help today so things are getting done. Mom's place is coming along. That new woman from the sanctuary who worked the electric said it's now safe and updated by code. The septic tank is going to get pumped later today. Since they are here, going to have them pump the house too. Plumbing is good from what we've been told, so now it's insulation then drywall. Since she removed that wall where the beam went in, she has some repairs with drywall and stuff. Still, I'm surprised at how fast this is moving along. Enough about that, how are you feeling today? Maybe later you can sit on the front porch, depending on how you feel."

I can't help myself; I hold my hand out and she instantly takes it, squeezing it.

"Lie down with me for a minute, Abigale. Want to feel you next to me."

She immediately pulls her hand away, kicks her shoes off, then looks down at her clothes before removing her jacket and the long-sleeve shirt. When she pushes her jeans down, I almost lose it. My God, she's gorgeous and so unaware. In her panties and a T-shirt she comes to the bed, laying down on it, coming directly to me, placing her hand on my stomach, and her head on my shoulder. We lie in each other's arms for so long, I start to doze. When I feel Abigale relax, I do the exact same thing. Last thought is how much this woman is starting to mean to me. And for that I'm thankful I took the advice of that doctor and searched out Ollie and his sanctuary.

Not sure whybut something has woken me up. Abigale is gone to the world, so carefully I move her to the other side of the bed. Then I reach for the walker by the bed. As much as I hate it, I'm not stupid enough to try and walk without it. I get dizzy or off-balance, so can't afford another slip, or worse, a fall that might end up with me landing on my head again. I slip my feet into the slippers Trudy bought with the rubber bottoms. She told me they won't let me slip and fall. Slowly making my way to the door, I look back to see Abigale moved and is now on my side, face in my pillow. Poor baby hasn't been sleeping much. Hopefully, this too will pass and I'll heal and be able to give her a hand with the farm's chores.

Opening the door, I shuffle through closing it quietly behind me. I make my way to the front room to see Phantom up in Crowbar's face, with Dog and Spirit on either side of him.

"What the fuck is going on?"

They all turn when they hear my voice. Phantom gives Crowbar a shove before he walks toward me.

"Shit, sorry, brother, didn't mean to wake ya up. Found this fuckhead going through the house. Not sure what he's looking for, but I don't trust him as far as I can throw his ugly ass. Might want to give him the boot, I'm not sure about having him around Abigale when she's by herself."

I turn to look at the man in question, but he won't meet my eyes. Had enough of his bullshit.

"What you looking for, Crowbar? Ain't got anything of value here. You've had a hard-on for me since I arrived, want to tell me what the fuck is going on? Sick of the looks and snide comments, brother."

"You ain't my brother, Grey. Don't understand why everything is Grey this and Grey that, when I bust my ass daily and get absolutely nothin'. I'm sick of it and thought when I heard you were injured it might work out for me if you took a turn for the worse. But, of course, you didn't and now you're bedding down with one of the only single women in this lousy little town in the middle of Buttfuck, Egypt."

As I'm trying to get my thoughts together, Spirit comes up behind Crowbar, jumping up on his back. He automatically starts to fight her but she's already got her arm around his neck and with her other hand squeezes the vagus nerve. In no time at all, Crowbar starts to fall forward as Spirit leaps off of him, landing on her feet. When she meets my eyes, she shuffles up her shoulders. Dog and Jeffries pick up the asshole and drag him out the door and go to throw him in the back of the truck. From the way Phantom is watching them carry him out, the hate on his face is shocking. Usually, he's a calm kind of dude. Something more is going on between the two men though by the look on Phantom's face now is definitely not the time to ask him any questions.

"I'll let Ollie know what went down here today with that lying prick. Your job is to keep getting better while you take your time recovery. Have you named that huge as fuck wolf yet? He cornered me when I got here until I threw that T-shirt I stole from you. Crazy fuckin' animal, just like his owner I'm thinkin'."

We both laugh but I've been giving it a lot of thought. If I've adopted him, which I guess you'd call it that, he definitely deserves a name. It was Panther who helped me find the name that fits. He told me his wolves were his brother and sister. That was exactly how I feel so I asked him for the word brother in Navajo. He told me it was Shilah so that's the huge male wolf's name now. Not sure what has brought him into my life, but I've come to like having him around. Abigale let him come inside the house when I was in the great room and he came right to me again, no touching but laid down by my feet. Shilah is the brother I never had but always wanted is the way I'm looking at it.

Before Phantom leaves, he tells me he'll talk to Ollie and one of them will get back to me in regard to Crowbar's sneaking and searching around. Once he's out, I go and lock the door then set the alarm. With care I make my way back to the bedroom to see Abigale has barely moved since I left. After walking to my side, I sit and after much struggle, I lie back down. Abigale immediately turns and pushes up close to me, her hand resting on my stomach. This is what I'm getting used to. And if I'm honest, I'm lovin' every single minute.