Wheelchair Bound Pt 03

"YES!"

Neil raised his fist in celebration as Jax slammed home another three-pointer. Janelle "Jax" Navarro, point guard of the Empire State Vixens, was one of his favourite players. And she was good, though not as good as Avery, he told himself. Well, not as good as Avery would be when she got into the game. Still, right now, Jax was once again making her mark against the Denver Thunder Rollers at the top of the US women's league. She was fluid, fast and accurate -- amazing.

The microwave beeped, calling his attention back to the breakfast he was making. Well, brunch, sort of. It was almost noon. Apparently Avery preferred to sleep in these days.

The rice was done. He'd scrambled the eggs, heated a can of peas from the back of her cupboard, and grated some cheese. Now he just had to mix it all together and melt the cheese on top. He'd wanted to make her a breakfast fit for a hero -- this was the best he'd been able to achieve. Even that had used most of the decent ingredients she had left in the house. The rest had been microwave meals, half a frozen pizza, and some ruined takeaway packages. Oh, and the strange, fluffy mix he'd found in a bowl. It was only when he took a sniff he realized it was just eggs and sugar beaten together.

He sighed. It showed how far Avery had fallen. She'd given up -- a sign of just how much the accident had hurt her. Well, he was here now and he was going to make sure she rose again. Things were going to change. Today.

"Morning!"

Avery's voice drew his attention. She sounded upbeat, but Neil knew she was masking. He'd seen his mother do that many times, mostly when she didn't want him to know how much she was struggling with pain or her breathing. That could explain things with Avery, he thought, but just as likely was all of yesterday's embarrassment.

"Morning, Avery," he said as she entered the living room. "Breakfast is just about re--"

"What the hell is that?!"

Avery glared at the tv set which was showing the YouTube video of the game.

"Turn that shit off!" She rolled across the room as fast as she could and stabbed her finger into the power button. "Are you trying to make me feel bad?"

"No... I..." Neil was shocked.

"What the hell, Neil? I can't even play basketball anymore --" she slammed her hands down on the arms of her chair, "since I got stuck in this fucking thing!" And you put that crap on?!? Are you making fun of me?"

"No... look... I..."

She glared at him, saying nothing. Neil struggled to deal with this new Avery, this ball of rage that lashed out at him for watching the sport he knew she'd be good at. It wasn't fair. But... he had to fix this.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I should have thought. I've been watching the sport for years but I should have realized it would upset you. I'm sorry."

Avery sighed. "It's ok... I suppose. Just don't do it again, huh? If you want to watch that stuff, maybe watch it in your own room?"

"Ok," said Neil.

He finished preparing their meal and placed two plates of what passed for a very desperate attempt at fried rice on the kitchen table. Avery pulled herself up to it and chuckled.

"Real food?" she said. "I'd forgotten what it was."

"It's not much," said Neil. "You don't have a lot in right now. I figure I'll go shopping later and pick up groceries. If that's ok of course. Maybe I can get the shower chair as well?"

Avery nodded, the third spoonful of food already halfway to her mouth. "Yeah, that sounds good. I've got enough money for us to eat ok, I just haven't been bothered lately. Damn, this is great!"

Neil wanted to argue. It wasn't what she deserved. It certainly wasn't what she needed. But compared to what she'd been eating it probably felt like fine dining.

"Hey, can I ask about the egg and sugar mix you left in the fridge? What's with that?"

Avery's head sagged. Her eyes flashed to him under her bangs before looking down at her food bowl. "Umm... I like it..." she said. "It's comfort food I guess."

"It is?"

"Yeah, I know, dumb right? I used to make it as a kid. Mom and dad hated it." She chuckled. "I got a beating for wasting the eggs more than once."

Neil frowned. It wasn't healthy - nutritionally dead and risking salmonella - but if it started as a rebellion against strict parents maybe he could understand it. Maybe that wasn't the first thing he needed to change.

Avery stirred her remaining rice, apparently thinking hard about what to say. Finally she looked at Neil, frowning before speaking again. "So, why do you watch that stuff anyhow? I mean it's just a bunch of cripples in chairs, like m--"

Neil scowled at her. It stopped her from saying another word. His head throbbed as he tried to deal with what he'd just heard. "A bunch of... what the hell, Avery?!" He didn't even realize he was standing up, leaning on the table as he glared at her. She was the Hero of Hell's Hall. HIS hero... and now she was acting like a villain. He knew she had been depressed after her accident but that foul bigotry? That wasn't her! It couldn't be. "How dare you!? What? You think they're lesser athletes just because they have to use chairs instead of having the luxury of running around? Do you have the faintest idea how much harder that is?"

She glared back and shouted. "Do I have any idea? Of course I fucking do! I'm the one stuck in this damn thing, Neil, not you!!"

"Then don't fucking call them a bunch of cripples! You know how hard it is, so now try imagining playing ball in a chair. They're not worse athletes playing the same game - they're much better athletes playing a completely different one that just happens to score the same way!"

He sighed and forced himself to relax as much as he could.

"Look, I shouldn't have said what I did and I'm sorry. But you know what you said was nasty. Don't say that. Don't even think it."

Avery stared at him. Her eyes burned into his. As the seconds ticked by Neil became sure he was being sacked. He'd stepped so far over the line they'd have to find a new desert to draw the next one in. But this, this was something he wouldn't back down from. Not even for her.

"Ok," she said finally, looking away. "Okay... maybe I was wrong too. I'm sorry. But still... why watch that when you can watch the Nicks or the Liberty?"

Neil struggled not to lash out again. She still wasn't getting it, still thought wheelchair basketball was a lesser sport, a fake sport almost. But there was something different in her voice now, underneath the anger. Curiosity?

"My uncle runs a local wheelchair basketball team," he said. "I've been watching it since I was a kid. I'm telling you, Avery, these athletes are amazing. I don't think anyone in the NBA could really compete with a wheelchair athlete while in a chair - despite their overblown paycheck. What NBA stars do for fame and cash, wheelchair athletes do for pride and joy. You'd be great at it, I swear. It would fit right into your style - the hero you were and still are to me."

Avery's head drooped. "Don't, Neil," she said. "That's over for me. I'm not her anymore... Listen, since you're done eating, do you think you could go shopping now? I think I need some alone time."

Neil nodded. "Ok, just call me if you need anything."

----

A comprehensive shop took a few hours. Not that Neil was surprised, there was just so much to replace. As he finally pulled into the parking lot of "The Disability Store" he ran over the list - meats, vegetables, beans, fruit, good desserts and snacks... although he did allow himself to vary from healthy selections a little there. By the time he was done, his car was loaded with enough goodies to fill Avery's fridge and her chest freezer. Now it was time to pick up some disability aids.

"Hi, Margeret," he called to the woman at the counter.

He knew her, of course. She'd owned the store for decades, as much a stalwart of the local accessibility supply scene as his own uncle. He'd gotten to know her through all the years of looking after his mother in her decline.

"Afternoon, Neil!" she called back. "Haven't seen you in a while."

"Not since mom died, I know. I have a new job now though..."

"Oh? And you have to come here for it? Where are you working?"

"Remember Avery Morgan?"

"Oh god, yes. Poor girl. What happened to her was horrible. I'm surprised she hasn't been in yet, or sent someone in to get stuff to help her out."

"She has now..." Neil grinned as he let the sentence trail off.

"You? You're working for her? You were a fan of hers weren't you? That must be your dream job!"

"Pretty much. Anyhow, I just need to grab a couple of things."

"Sure, let me know if you need any help."

There were two things he needed and he found them immediately. The first was a shower chair, simple and sturdy, just as Avery wanted. The second was a grabber, to help her reach things that might now be too high, or too low, for her. It wasn't perfect, but with practice she would find herself with a lot more freedom. He made his way to the counter.

"So, you're working for Avery Morgan!"

"Uncle Frank!" Neil smiled at the middle-aged man standing at the counter. "Sorry I missed the game last night. I'd just moved into Avery's."

"Hmmm..." his uncle frowned at him. "Are you sure that's a good idea, kiddo?"

"Yes, absolutely."

"You don't think maybe it's a bit too... personal for you?"

"Huh?" Neil stared at him, confused. "I mean I'm a fan, sure, but that just makes me want to do even better for her. I admire her."

"Admire... that's one word for it."

"Look, uncle, if you're trying to say something then just say it ok?"

Frank sighed. "No, it's ok. I trust you. I just... Look, just be careful ok? I wouldn't want to see you get hurt, or get into trouble."

"It's fine!" said Neil. "Actually it's great. Hey do you think she could try out for the Hotwheels some time? She'd be great for the team!"

"What makes you think she even wants to?"

"Well..." Neil paused as he remembered the fight that morning.

"Exactly. Look, she's welcome to come down to training any time she wants, but don't try to push her to do it. She might not want to have anything to do with sports after what happened to her. Give her her space, ok?"

Neil nodded. "All right, all right. You're right. When she's ready... Anyhow, you have to excuse me, I need to get back and make sure she's ok."

He left quickly and got in his car. He slammed his hands down on the steering wheel, fuming. How dare Frank come out with that? His uncle should understand. Someone like Avery needed the challenge, and the sport needed her. The US womens' team lost to the Netherlands in the Olympics, for god's sake. They really needed her! It wasn't a choice! It was fate!!

He had one more stop to make; that was to pick up something for dinner. He'd been out so long he didn't think either of them would want to wait for a meal to be prepared. Besides, after the fight they'd had this morning Neil thought it might be nice to do something to make it up to her. He remembered reading a comment from her on a fan message board where she said she loved the beef bowl from the Chinese restaurant where her parents live. It was a local restaurant, not a chain, so she only got to have it when she visited her folks. That, he felt, would be ideal. After that, he headed home.

"I'm back," he called out as he walked through the door, his arms laden with shopping. "Everything ok, Avery?"

For a moment there was no answer. He strode into the living room and saw her watching the television. She was so focused on the screen that she hadn't heard him. He grinned as he realized it was the finals of the women's wheelchair basketball league from last season.

"I'm back," he repeated.

Avery grabbed the remote quickly and stabbed her finger at the power button to shut off the tv. She turned to him and forced a smile. "Oh, hi," she said. "Wow, you bought a lot. I guess I was out of everything, huh?"

"That's ok," said Neil. "We're fully stocked now. I just need to bring it all in. So, how was the game?"

"What ga..." she paused, realizing there was no point in denying she'd been watching it. "Different, I guess. Not for me. But I can see why you said they're skillful. Hey, can I help you with that?"

She indicated the shopping he was carrying.

"Oh, it's ok," he replied. "I got it. Though I did pick up some dinner from a local place. Maybe you can dish up for us so we can eat once I've got this lot put away."

He put the bag of takeout down on the dining table and carried on through to the kitchen. Once he'd dropped the shopping he was carrying he passed her some plates and cutlery.

"It'll help speed things up a bit. Thanks."

He continued putting away the groceries as Avery opened the bag.

"You got the beef bowl from Pandahouse? I haven't had that in ages. It's my favourite!"

"Oh, I know," he said.

"You do? How?"

"You mentioned it once in a food discussion on a fan site."

She frowned as he said that. "I did? I don't remember that... and you do?"

Neil smiled, taking her response as a compliment. "Yeah. I figured it was a good way to make up for this morning. I'm sorry I didn't think about how seeing that might hurt you."

Avery sighed. "It's ok, I was kind of a bitch. I just... it's hard you know? Dealing with all this. And then I see you watching wheelchair basketball and it all just hit home. You don't have to apologize."

Neil shrugged. "Ok, well, I still think I should since I'm your employee, but let's just let it drop and enjoy a meal huh?"

He decided not to bring up the fact that she'd had the game on. It would probably still seem like he was pushing her too much. He did wonder how long she'd been watching though. He'd been gone about 5 hours, he thought. Had she been so fascinated by it she'd been glued to the tv since then?

"Sounds good," said Avery. "Hey, I'm kind of drained. Would you like to eat this on the couch with a movie?"

"Yeah, I'd love to," said Neil. "What did you have in mind?"

"Volcatno," she replied. "Don't laugh... actually do, but not at me. It's a really dumb disaster movie spoof about a volcano that erupts angry cats as well as lava. I just figured after everything from the last two days it would be good to settle down with something ridiculous and easy to watch."

"Volcatno..." said Neil. "Sounds good. And somehow still more logical than the Human Monopede."

Avery snorted. "Oh god, you saw that too? That had to be the stupidest thing ever."

They looked at each other and grinned, lost in a shared moment of joy. It might just be a bad movie and some takeout, but the look on Avery's face was the first sign of hope Neil had seen since arriving. And he'd helped her get there. He realized he was right. Whatever concerns his uncle thought he had, Neil was going to be so good for her.