For Joan

[theodorelasso]

Continued from here.

(warnings: sexytimes. also, panic attacks, brutal violence, attempted murder, discussion of suicide and actual murder... )

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[formersurgeon]

She's glad for his help, even if still frustrated she needs it. She wonders if she'll get used to needing help before she doesn't need it anymore.

When he holds out the showerhead, she half reached for it, then pulled back. "It might be better to keep it on the wall," she says.

[theodorelasso]

"Oh, I just wanted you to test the water to make sure it's not too hot or cold," he explains. You know, before just turning it on her, since she can't very well get out of the water herself.

He also fully intends to help with most of the washing. They've helped each other wash in the shower before, so it's not like that part will be new. He'll just get to pamper her a little bit extra.

[formersurgeon]

"Oh right." She holds her hand in the spray and nods. "It's perfect."

They have washed each other before, so it's a little different from being carried around and dressed and fed. She actually looks forward to it.

[theodorelasso]

He leans down and pecks her on the cheek, then straightens up and puts the shower head back on the wall, turning it towards them, making sure to avoid it going too much in her face.

He grabs the loofah and wets it and puts soap on, before handing it to Joan. That at least is something that doesn't require too much strength or dexterity, until she needs to do her back or feet or something, and Ted can handle that.

"Want me to wash your hair?" he offers.

[formersurgeon]

Joan smiles at that kiss, then leans back against him with a sigh, enjoying the feel of the warm water on her bare skin. She takes the loofah and begins to scrub gently at the gunk on her chest.

"Yes, please," she says to the offer. It would be hard to do that on her own.

[theodorelasso]

Ted grabs the shampoo and squirts some into his hand, makes sure her hair is wet enough, then starts gently massaging it into her hair, making sure it doesn't run down into her eyes. He's done this for Michelle a few times, and Henry a lot of times, though of course he didn't have quite so much hair.

"I know it's frustrating not to be able to do it yourself," he says softly. "But I do really enjoy the chance to get to pamper you a bit."

[formersurgeon]

She closes her eyes and sighs in pleasure as he gently massages her scalp.

"That feels good," she murmurs. She smiles. "I'll allow it," she teases. It helps that she can see him doing this for her even if she wasn't too weak to do it herself.

[theodorelasso]

Of course he would. He likes to make her feel good. That doesn't have to be sexual. Of course, whenever they shower together, it has a tendency of being before or after sex. (They have yet to have sex in the shower, but he wouldn't say no.)

"Don't quite notice just how much hair you've got until you start doing this though, huh?" he says with amusement, making sure he actually gets to suds up all of her hair.

[formersurgeon]

Sex in the shower is definitely something Joan would love to explore when she's well again, but for the moment this gentle, non-sexual intimacy is perfect.

"I've thought about cutting it at times," she muses with a smile. "But I think it looks good in a ponytail."

[theodorelasso]

"It does," he agrees, grabbing the shower-head to rinse out her hair properly. "Better than Beard with a ponytail, that's for sure," he adds with a chuckle.

[formersurgeon]

The water feels so good that Joan almost missed that last bit. "Wait," she says as it finally registers. "Beard had a ponytail? When?"

[theodorelasso]

Ted grins. "Back when I first hired him, when we started coaching at Wichita State," he answers. "There is no end to the surprises from that man, I promise you."

[formersurgeon]

"I believe it!" Beard has already shown a number of sides of himself to Joan, each delightful in their own way. She's fond of the man.

"It would be nice to see him," she says, almost wistfully.

[theodorelasso]

"I'm sure he'd be happy to stop by," Ted answers, putting the shower back and grabbing the conditioner. "I can invite him when I go by the club later today."

He wouldn't mind spending a little bit of downtime with him either, without too much drama happening.

[formersurgeon]

"That would be good," she agrees. She had forgotten about him going to the club. "How are you feeling about talking to the team?" She can imagine it's going to be complicated at best.

[theodorelasso]

Ted lets out a soft groan. He's not enjoying having to tell this whole story over and over. Even without delving into the traumatic bits, it's still just... not very nice to talk about.

"I mean, I'm sure they'll have my back," he answers, massaging conditioner into her hair. "Roy had a whole little speech about it. But it'll probably upset some of them. And I'm just... already kind of tired of talking about it, you know?"

[formersurgeon]

"I get that." She knows it's never easy for a trauma victim to have to repeat their story over and over. "Do you think Beard could talk to the team for you?"

[theodorelasso]

"No, I want to do it," he answers, even though she's sure Beard would gladly do it for him. "They deserve to hear it from me. Just wish I didn't have to, that's all."

[formersurgeon]

She can understand that. She wishes she could go with him and be there for moral support. She reaches back with her right and and gently brushes her fingertips against his legs, wanting to offer at least a little bit of comfort.

[theodorelasso]

Ted smiles at the gesture, and bends down to give her a soft kiss. He's glad they can both give each other support, even when they're both struggling with their own things.

[formersurgeon]

She smiles into the kiss. She loves that they love and support each other, even when there are things they have to face on their own for one reason or another.

She goes back to scrubbing at the gunk on her chest. "I hate this stuff," she comments. "I mean, I love it when it's doing its job, but I hate the residue."

[theodorelasso]

"Is it from those.. measuring thingies?" he asks, grabbing the shower to start rinsing out the conditioner. Ted obviously has very little clue about what any of that stuff is called, or even what it really does.

[formersurgeon]

"The electrodes," she says. "It's important that the adhesive not come off with the moisture and oils from the skin, but that also means soap and water are less than effective."

The spots are starting to wash away now, though, much to Joan's relief.

[theodorelasso]

"Makes sense," he answers, nodding. "Like band-aid glue," he observes, combing his fingers gently through her hair to make sure he's getting out all the conditioner. He just likes standing here, being affectionate while doing mundane grooming rituals. Such a moment of comforting normality, which they've been sort of lacking in lately.

[formersurgeon]

"Exactly," she says, the last of the adhesive peeling off and washing away.

She puts her hands in her lap, leans back against Ted, closes her eyes, and just enjoys the moment, the warmth of the water and of the man she loves, the feel of his fingers gently combing through her hair. She takes a deep breath and sighs it out, feeling a lot of her worry and tension washing away.