The day Justin had waited for had finally arrived. The day when Dr. Hughes would remove his cast and he would be able to walk out of that office like a normal person, rather than his 'jacked up pimp-gimp strut' as Joey liked to put it.
Waking up early, Justin quickly showered and dressed before hobbling downstairs for breakfast.
When Ryan came down about an hour later, she was surprised to find him at the kitchen table, quietly reading the paper.
"Are you feeling okay?" she asked as she entered the kitchen to look at him closely.
He raised his eyes from the paper in his hands to look at her. "Yeah. Why?"
"Because, you're out of bed on the day of a doctors appointment without me having to bribe you."
Justin chuckled at her before folding his paper and placing it on the table in front of him. Squirming in his seat, Justin adjusted his cast on the chair across from him.
"I take it you are looking forward to getting that thing off." Ryan said as she fixed herself a bowl of cereal.
"Do Joeys farts stink?" Justin asked sarcastically.
Ryan rolled her eyes before joining him at the table.
The last week had been long for both of them. The guys were expected to start rehearsals in three weeks, which meant a tour within the next couple of months. Ryan and the rest of the image crew had been working on knew ideas for clothing and makeup, so she had been pretty busy.
The week had dragged for Justin because he couldn't wait to have the cast removed. He was actually looking forward to the grueling dance rehearsals Wade would undoubtedly put them through. At least it would help him get back in shape. He had lost a lot of weight since his accident, considering that he wasn't able to be as active as he normally was. He was skinny, and his broken leg had shrunk considerably. Joey had teased him endlessly over the last week that he would look like one of those little play dough people they used to make in kindergarten with one of his legs squeezed up.
"Do you think you'll be healed up enough for rehearsals next month?" Ryan asked over the rim of her glass.
"I hope so." Justin said as he set his chin on the table. "I just want to get back in shape. I hate the fact that even JC is bigger than me now."
Ryan giggled at him before speaking again. "Don't push yourself, Justin. You've been though hell and you shouldn't expect too much too fast. I just don't want you to push yourself too hard at first and end up hurting yourself again."
"Dr. Hughes gave me the okay to start rehearsals already, and I'm going to see him a few days before we start anyway He said I will be okay, and I promise I wont push too hard." Justin raised his hands to give scouts honor as he smiled at her across the table.
Ryan knew that Justin was probably going to push himself when rehearsals did start up again. He was a perfectionist, and hated it when things didn't go right. But the fact that his body wasn't in the usual physical shape he was used to made her worry that he would push himself too hard too fast to try and speed up the process. If he encountered problems because of his injuries, she was concerned that he would get angry and push harder only to end up hurting himself more. She was worried that if he experienced any pain, that he would keep it to himself so not to hold back any of the rehearsals.
Justins mother entered the kitchen and smiled at the two sitting at the table.
"Good morning, you two." she smiled cheerfully.
"Morning Mama." Justin sang from the table.
"I assume that you are up this early because you are excited about the cast being taken off, right Justin?" Lynn asked as she joined them at the table.
"You bet your ass-" Lynns look of warning stopped Justins words and he quickly corrected himself. "I mean, you bet Mom."
"Why do I have the feeling that he is going to go running around the yard screaming 'I'm free, I'm free' when we get back?" Ryan smiled at Lynn.
"Probably because he will." she grinned.
"I will not." Justin pouted.
Finishing her breakfast, Ryan jogged upstairs to shower and dress before taking Justin to the hospital to have the cast removed. She could hear him rambling away downstairs to his mother, calling up to her occasionally to tell her to hurry up.
Rushing back downstairs, she laughed when she found him standing at the front door, already wearing his shoes and jacket.
"Are we a little anxious?" she teased as she slipped on her shoes.
"No, not at all. I always dress like this when I want to just sit around the house." he replied sarcastically.
After saying goodbye to Lynn, they headed out for the car.
Justin hopped in quickly, bouncing in his seat excitedly.
Ryan headed down the street, turning onto the highway towards the hospital.
Justin chattered away about the upcoming tour, rehearsals and everything he wanted to do now that he was going to be free. She laughed at the way he made it sound like his cast had been a jail.
Pulling into the hospital parking lot, Ryan had to rush to keep up with Justin as they entered the building and headed straight for Dr. Hughes. office. After checking in, Justin was happy to find that he was able to go right in and see the doctor without having to wait.
Knocking on the closed office door, Justin waited for an invitation to enter.
"Com'on in, Justin" Dr. Hughes called.
Opening the door, Justin slid inside and closed it behind him quickly. "I'm ready to be set free, Doc!" he exclaimed excitedly.
Dr. Hughes laughed at the young mans enthusiasm. "Good to know. What do you say we head on down to an operating room and get that thing off you?"
"Race ya there!" Justin said as he turned back to the door.
Ryan agreed to wait in the office waiting room, since Justin would have to come back and have a physical after the cast was removed.
As they walked down the hall, Dr. Hughes turned to Justin. "I'm sorry to hear about Doc. I know you two were close."
"That's alright." Justin said. "He was a great guy, and I'm sure he's happy."
The doctor nodded in agreeance as he guided Justin into an empty room.
Sliding onto a long table, Justin laid back and waited for the doctor to begin.
He was a little nervous when he noticed that the cast was going to be cut off, but it wasn't as bad as he had thought. It tickled a little, and the feeling of relief when the heavy cast was lifted off was better than Justin ever could have imagined.
Looking down at his leg, he was a little nervous. It was thin and pale, with little indents from where the cast had dug into his skin.
Noticing Justins gaze, Dr. Hughes set his fears at ease. "Don't worry, its supposed to look like that." he laughed.
After helping Justin off the table, Dr. Hughes helped him walk a few steps without the crutches before asking him if he wanted to try it without any assistance. Of course Justin wanted to start walking normally again, so he let go of the doctors hand and took a few cautious steps.
It hurt a little since it had been so long since he had actually walked properly on that leg. The feeling was awkward, but Justin had no doubt that he would get the hang of it again in no time.
Dr. Hughes suggested that Justin continue to use the crutches from time to time until he got the feeling of walking normally again. He didn't want him putting sudden stress back on his leg, and urged him to ease back into it.
Using the crutches to return to the office, Justin smiled at Ryan as he entered the waiting room. She was a little surprised to see him still using the crutches, and stood to meet him half way as he entered the room.
Stopping a few feet from her, Justin handed the crutches to Dr. Hughes and began taking small, careful steps towards her. Ryan smiled happily as he neared and hugged him tightly when he stepped up in front of her.
"Look at you!" she said excitedly.
"Oh yeah, baby, I'm motoring now!" he joked.
After explaining to Ryan how Justin was advised to continue using the crutches until he gain some muscle back to his leg, the two men returned to the office to go over Justins medication and for the checkup.
The doctor took Justin off the pills he had been taking, leaving him with one bottle of painkillers to take if he experienced any discomfort in his leg while regaining its full use. He also said that if Justin had any pain once rehearsals started up, so let him know incase it turned out to be something serious.
After checking Justin over, Dr. Hughes gave him the all clear. His ribs were healing, and by the time rehearsals started up again they should be set. With a little exercise Justins leg should regain the muscle he needed to start back on his normal routine, and all other injuries that he had suffered from his accident had healed long ago.
Thanking the doctor again for all he had done, Justin left the office and joined Ryan in the waiting room.
"All is good?" she asked as she stood to leave with him.
"Yup. My ribs are healed up for the most part, and my leg is gonna be good as new when I start working it again. By the time rehearsals start up again, I'm gonna be kickin' some ass." Justin explained excitedly as they exited the hospital and headed for Ryans car.
Hopping in, Justin tossed his crutches in the back seat. He looked down at his legs, which were now appeared to be the same size under his pants. He was happy to be able to put a shoe on his one foot again, and couldn't wait to start weight training on his leg.
He was determined not to hold the other guys back anymore than he already had. The tour had already been pushed back over two months, and Johnny was still skeptical about setting any dates until he was assured that Justin was in perfect physical condition again. He didn't want the young man hurting himself further for the sake of a tour.
When they finally arrived back at Lynns, Justin smiled when he noticed JC and Lances cars in the driveway. He was even more surprised to find that Chris, Joey and Lois were also there waiting for him.
Lois had made him a card for his happy day. Looking over the front, Justin laughed.
There was a little portrait of him like the one she had drawn on his cast. A little arrow pointed down to him with his name above.
Flipping it open, he laughed again.
Another little figure, with the name Lois above smiled back at him. The little Lois figured appeared to be kicking the little Justin figure. Reading over her message, Justin grinned. "You're all better now, so all Lois coupons are hereby void."
Looking to up her, he gave her a look. "I don't think so, Lois. I don't remember them having an expiry date. Or anything about them becoming void."
"Well, they are." she said firmly. "Because there is no way I am rubbing your stinky feet or being your slave."
Justin was about to argue with her further when his mother came up and hugged him tightly.
"Dont you make me have to chase you around the yard, young man. Ryan already told me that Dr. Hughes said for you to continue to take it easy and slowly ease back into your old routine." she warned.
"Ill be good, Mom" he promised.
Chris came up to him next and looked down at his crutches confused. "Dude, why are you still using those? I thought you weren't a gimp anymore?"
"I have to keep using them from time to time until I get my leg back in shape." Justin informed him.
Chris pouted. "But I wanted them!"
"You can have 'em when I'm done, dude." Justin laughed as Chris sulked.
JC came up to Justin, giving him a brotherly hug. "You all ready for the rehearsals from hell, man?"
"You bet. Bring 'em on, man, I'm ready to go." Justin bounced with enthusiasm.
"I have a feeling your gonna be wishing you had your cast back when Wade is workin' your ass." JC teased.
"Hey, did you keep the cast?" Joey called from across the room.
"Yeah, its over by the door." Justin called back.
Joey rushed over and grabbed the cast from its place by the wall. Entering the living room, everyone followed his lead over to the mantle.
"Here ya go, J. Its like a painting, except its cooler cause its by me and Chris." Joey said as he placed the cast on the mantle and smiled proudly.
Everyone laughed as Chris and Joey began to argue over whose drawings were better.
Hobbling over to the couch, Justin sat down as Ryan joined him.
"Are you ready for the next step?" she asked as she smiled at his content face.
"Even though its probably going to be harder than the first, yeah, I am." Grinning back at her, he kissed her gently before continuing. "You know I love a challenge."
