I pull the covers back on the bed exposing my partially dressed wife. I began to help her undress. I start to unbutton her sweater. «I can handle this» she says taking over the unbuttoning operation. «It's my leg that's broken, not my arms» she says with a light smile. «I will need your help with the bottom half however».

I begin to gently remove her shorts. I get them down to the area of her casted knee. At that point, she is able to wiggle her right leg out. I then slide the shorts down the cast. I see a wince on her face as I have to pick up her casted leg. She then pulls at her panties and begins sliding them down the cast. I help her with the struggle and once again, she slips her right leg out when they get to the knee. Again, she winces as I lift her shattered leg to remove the panties. My heart breaks every time I know I am causing her pain.

Before me now lies my beautiful wife, naked to the world except for the plaster cast that embraces her shattered left leg from her toes to near her hip. She looks so delicate and vulnerable in her compromised situation. That is the duty I have now been charged with, to make sure she feels safe and secure despite her horrible injury.

«Oh baby, you look so beautiful laying there» I say stroking her cheek. «Thank you honey, I'm so glad you like my new fashion accessory» she replies with a wry smile. «You'd be beautiful if you were wearing a suite of armor» I reply trying to lift her spirits. She responds with an even bigger smile, perhaps the best smile I have seen since her accident.

I reach into my pan of warm water and wring out the sponge. I begin to wash her face and all the way back around her ears. «You've probably never had a hooker's bath before have you» I ask. «A hooker's bath?» she inquires. «Yea, you know where you go into the gas station bathroom and wash yourself with the brown paper towels». She breaks into hearty laughter for the first time since her accident. I believe it is the best laughter I have heard in my life.

«No this would be my first» she says with her brilliant smile. I re-soak the sponge and then dab at her neck and shoulders. «See the trick with the hooker's bath» I continue, «is to concentrate on the diamond region». «The diamond region?» she asks almost afraid to hear the answer. «Yeah, that's the face, the underarms, and the genetilia». More laughter ensues. «And the key rule in washing the diamond region is to be sure and wash the face before the crotch and underarms» I say deadpan.

More hearty laughter comes from Jenny as I wash her underarms with the sponge. I see her reach up and wipe a tear from the corner of her eye as I begin to wash her in the area of her left breast. «It's great to see you crying for the right reasons» I tell her with a huge smile as I begin to wash under her right breast. I wash down her sides and across her abdomen.

I again wet the sponge and continue her bath as I dab at the area around her waist. I give her a little smile as I find myself swabbing off her vagina with the sponge. «You're so sweet taking care of me like this» she says gently touching my arm. «Think nothing of it, I'm sure if the situations were reversed you would be doing the same for me» I say with a smile. «I know, I just want to make sure you know how much I appreciate all this» she continues as I swab her right thigh. «I love you honey and I'm going to do whatever it takes» I tell her as I work the area of her right knee. She flexes her leg allowing me to wash the back side of her knee. I wash her calf area and down her shapely right leg past her ankle and onto her foot. I gently stoke the sole of her right foot causing her to giggle from the tickle sensation.

«Hey no fair tickling» she proclaims. «I'm a captive audience and can't do anything about it» she protests. I pick up her right leg and kiss the sole of her foot. «I'm sorry honey, am I forgiven?». «Let me think about it» she says in that flirty tone I have come to love her for.

I then address the area of her left leg above the cast. It is all of about 3 or 4 inches from her crotch. I swab the sponge around her thigh taking care not to get the cast wet. I then move again to the foot of the bed and gently slip the sponge across the toes poking out of the cast. I then lean over and kiss them as I toss the sponge back in the pan making a minor splash.

I then gently rub the base of her big toe. «Mmmmmm» she says closing her eyes. I move the mini massage down the row of toes poking my finger into the edge of the cast trying to massage the ball of her foot. «Ow, be careful honey» she says as the smile leaves her face. «I'm sorry baby» I say with a somber tone. «It's ok, just be careful with my toes it still hurts to move them very much» she says with a bit of a grimace on her face. I gently kiss the ankle area of her cast. «Did that make it better?» I ask. «Much» she replies with a smile on her face.

I cover Jen back up with the covers and proceed to put away the bath pan. «What would you like to wear while you sleep?» I ask coming out of the bathroom. «How about your old dress shirt? That should be easy to get off and on» she suggests. I retrieve from her closet my one of my dress shirts that she sometimes wears as sleepwear as it is big enough on her to go down well past her waist. «This is a good idea, then we don't have to struggle getting something over the cast» I say as I help her sit up far enough to get the shirt on her.

As I ready my wife for sleep I get a glass of ice water and set it beside the bed. I try to think of everything she might need during the night. «Are you coming to bed too, I really enjoyed snuggling with you this morning». «Yeah, I'm beat, are you sure I won't hurt you in the same bed ? I'd hate to flop over on you during the night». «I'm willing to risk it» she said with that smile of hers.

I check the house to make sure everything is secure and the lights are out. I return to the bedroom and strip down to my underwear, my normal sleepwear. I very gently sit on the bed and proceed to lay down doing my best not to jostle Jen's shattered leg. I gently slide up next to her. I lay on my left side and am able to hold her right hand, my right arm lay across her chest embracing her right shoulder, and her healthy right leg lay tucked between my legs. I feels so good to have my lovely wife wrapped in a tight embrace where I know she is safe.

«Am I hurting you?» I ask her after settling in. «Not at all» she says in a comfortable sleepy tone. «Good, let me know if it gets uncomfortable» I say as I feel myself drifting off to sleep. «Night, night» she says. «Goodnight» I reply in the dark.

As I lay there embracing my beautiful wife, I can't help but think of how good she looks with those toes of hers painted pink poking out the end of her cast. I can feel the inside of her casted thigh against my right knee. I feel so comfortable holding my wife as I drift in to sleep.

«Honey?» I hear through my sleep. «What is it?» I respond as I realize it is Jennifer speaking to me. «I have to go to the bathroom, can you help me?» she asks with a somewhat embarrassed tone. «Sure honey» I reply instinctively. I carefully crawl out of our embrace being careful not to jostle the bed. Sleepily, I walk around the bed, click on the bathroom light and head to the crutches leaning against the wall.

«I'm sorry honey» she says. «Don't worry about it» I reply as I look at the LED readout on the clock that reads 2:13. Carefully, I help her lift her leg off the pile of pillows on the bed. In the dim light bleeding out of the bathroom I see her wince with pain as I set it level on the bed. «Are you ready?» I ask of the effort to stand her up. Silently she gives a slight nod. I gently turn her and set the casted leg on the floor. I can see her teeth clench as the blood again rushes into her shattered leg. I help her stand on her good leg and slip the crutches under her arms.

«Are you ok?» I ask. «Yeah» she says as she slowly works her way toward the bathroom. «Holler if you need me» I say as I sit on the foot of the bed after I help her into the bathroom. She stays in there for maybe 10 minutes which seems like an hour. I start to worry and consider asking if she is ok. Just then I hear some movement in there and the toilet flush. I hear the door opening and see her slowly emerging. As she emerges, I can see her grimace with each movement. I know my baby is again in serious pain.

I help her sit on the edge of the bed and take the crutches from her. As I help her, I can see a tear again forming in the corner of her eye. Her teeth clench as I pick her shattered leg up and set it back on the pillows. «Oh god, it hurts so bad every time it hangs down» she confesses. «I know honey, let me know if there is anything I can do for you» I say trying to make her feel better. «Can you get my medication?» she asks in an exasperated voice. «Anything darling» I say as I retrieve them from the dresser. She quickly gulps down some pills and chases them with a slug of water.

I help her settle back in and then take my place next to her in bed. As I again embrace her I can tell she is still awake. After a few minutes I ask her «Are you alright honey?» «Yeah, it just hurts from being up on it, it will feel better in a few minutes». «Let me know if I can do anything for you» I whisper. «I will» she says trying to reassure me.

I awake to realize there is daylight poking in through the vertical blinds. I look at Jen and see she is crying. «Honey, what's wrong?» I ask trying to asses the situation. «Nothing» she replies. «My leg has just been pounding since I was up». «Why didn't you wake me?». «Well I had already taken my medication so there was nothing else you could do». «Aw honey, I say wiping the hair from her face. «You know we are in this together». «I know but you have done so much already and will have to do so much more for me» she said. «Don't worry about it» I say as I get up and walk around to her side of the bed.

I look at her toes and make sure they aren't swollen. They look as good as they ever have. «Well the toes aren't swollen, that's a good sign». «I'm sure I'll be fine in a while» she says trying to dismiss the obvious pain she is in. «I know you are in a lot of pain and I don't want you being brave for my sake» I remind her. «I know honey, you've been great» she says patting my arm.

«Would you like some breakfast?» I ask. «Maybe just something light» she said halfheartedly. «Your wish is my command» I say giving a ceremonial bow as I leave the room.

I return a few minutes later with a tray with 4 pieces of toast, a glass of juice, and some sliced fruit and the folded newspaper. As I enter the room I see she is again reading depositions. «Here you go» I say as I approach the bed. She sets down the paperwork as I set the tray in front of her. «Thank you» she says. «Can I get you anything else?». «No, I am alright for now thanks» she replies sheepishly.

«Does the paper say anything more about the trial?» she asks as she unfolds it. «Nothing we don't already know, I'm sure» I say somewhat sarcastically. She picks at her toast and has a little fruit while she reads the newspaper. I sit in the chair reading the sports section while she eats.

After breakfast I return to the kitchen to clean up from the breakfast. I see out the window that Renee is pulling up in the driveway. I meet her at the door.

«How's Jen doing» she asks. «OK I guess, but she is still in a lot of pain». «Oh the poor thing» she replies. «She got up during the night to go to the bathroom and she was never able to get back to sleep» I say sadly. «Well how are you doing Tom ?» she asks as she touches my shoulder. «I'm doing fine so far». «Well don't be afraid to ask for help if you need a break, you guys have so many friends there are plenty of us to help». «That's good to know, I may take you up on it at some time».

«Would you like to see Jen?». «That's why I stopped in, just thought I would see how she was doing now that she is home». «Come on in, she just finished breakfast».

We enter the room to find Jen reading depositions again. «Look honey, company». She looks up from her work and gives a slight smile to Renee. «Hi there, how you doing?» Renee asks. «So much better since I got home» she says setting her paperwork down again. «Tom has been great for all of this» she says offering me a smile. «Good, glad to know your doing better» Renee replies. «I brought you something» Renee says reaching in her purse. She pulls out a bell. «Here, this is so you can get Tom's attention when you need something» she says as she gives the bell a jingle. «Oh, thank you» Jen says taking the bell and trying it herself. «It will come in handy, believe me when I broke my leg 2 years ago it was a life saver».

«Well I just wanted to stop in and say hi on my way to work» Renee quickly interjects. «Thanks for stopping by» Jen says glad she would be able to get back to her work. «Thanks again for the bell» Jen says giving it another ring. «You're welcome» Renee says. «And remember it could be worse, you could have bought that 3 story Victorian you were looking at» she says with a smile. Renee is right that hadn't even occurred to me. Luckily we are in a one story house.

After Renee leaves, Jen gets back to her work and I get back to my chores. I check back in several times to see she has her nose in the depositions so I don't bother her. After about an hour I notice she ss lying back down. I slip in the room and sit next to her. «How you doing honey, have you broken the case yet?» I say as I take her hand. «Not yet, but something doesn't seem right about his story. I hope to have a handle on it soon» she says as I stroke her hair. The pain must have subsided for her as she drifts off to sleep.