Claimed by the Biker Giant (Maxine and Tank) novel Chapter 230

Storm POV

Cloe managed to shock and surprise me as she wheeled herself into the kitchen and demanded that she was here to help. She was so cute when she looked at me with those demanding eyes, her voice firm and clear, that I handed over the plates, saying she could manage to put them in the dishwasher. Cloe didn’t drop any, and I had a chuckle to myself when she filled one dishwasher, and I opened another one. The shock on her face was worth having her in the kitchen, considering it was her first time in the chair; she adapted quickly, and the kitchen was clean in half the time.

Dad said to let Cloe try anything she wants; it’s part of Cloe’s learning curve. Dad also said that, although she was undernourished, she was very strong for her size and might surprise us all with her ability. It sounded like her whole life, she had been the one doing all the work, so she was used to long hours and hard work. After seeing her in the kitchen, the first day out of the hospital, I agree with him. She’s going to blow my mind, and it will be me, trying to keep up, and I am looking forward to every step of the way, whether it’s hard or not.

Cloe was fitting in well with the family and friends, not just at the meal table, where she accepted sitting on my lap with a blush. I think having others sitting the same way helped, in that regard, but also when we joined the others in the lounge. I appreciated that everyone didn’t bombard her with questions like an inquisition, but let the conversation flow, finding our little bits of her life without actually pushing for answers. We avoided the show and shine, afraid it would bring back thoughts of the accident, but Cloe brought up the question of who won best bike, which was when we learned she was into bikes, more than just riding them, and that Cloe would love to learn to paint them. Mum offered to teach her as soon as Cloe had time.

“Your schedule with rehabilitation and your online course might take up most of your time.” Mum smiled kindly at Cloe as she thought about what Mum said.

“I will make time,” Cloe argued back, her face and crossed arms in defiance, giving Mum little option but the nod, and wait for Cloe to come to her for lessons.

The night ended with Cloe almost asleep in my arms; as much as she fought it, she needed her sleep. The family was giving me the hint to take her upstairs, so that’s what I did.

“Do you need the bathroom?’ I asked softly, unsure whether to place her on the bed or go straight to the bathroom, in case she wanted to brush her teeth.

“Wheelchair, let me try.” I didn’t want to, but her pleading eyes had me caving, and I placed her gently into the chair.

Watched her wheel herself into the bathroom, and to my relief, she didn’t close the door, just enough to give her privacy. Removed my shoes, shirt, and jeans, and changed my underwear, all the time, listening for any sounds from the bathroom, which was of distress. I heard her fumble around and complain, but not call out for help, not the sounds of falling. I had to assume Cloe was okay. It was hard to stay away

from the bathroom and check on her; I knew my showing up would annoy her. So I did the only thing I could think of, a little underhanded, but it would make me feel better, I walked to the bathroom door and knocked.

“Hey Cloe, you doing okay, need a hand?” I asked softly, resisting the temptation to push the door further open to reveal what she was doing.

“Almost done, do you need the bathroom?” She squeaked, sounding out of breath.

“Yeah, need to brush my teeth.” It’s true, I did, but I could have waited.

“You can come in. I am almost done.” I pushed the door open to see that Cloe had changed into her PJ’s, her stumps hanging over the edge of the wheelchair, and she was struggling to get the bottom half of her PJs over them; the thick bandages made it difficult.

“Want a hand? You know you don’t need to struggle. Soon those bandages will be off, and you will have no trouble getting changed. Please, for me, ask for help; it worries me to see you struggling.” Cloe looked up at me, studied my face, before nodding.

“Yes, please, it’s hard over those bandages, and for some reason, they are extra tender today.”

“Do you need me to call Dotty to check the stumps?” I hate calling them that. We need a better word for her legs.

“She won’t mind?”

“Sweet dreams, babe,” I leaned in and kissed her nose.

“You aren’t going to growl at me?” She whispered, but loud enough for me to hear, the fear in her voice.

“Why would I growl at you?”

“I didn’t tell you I was in pain, and we had to call the nurse up; she had to be in bed at the time.” Cloe’s bottom lip was quivering, trying to hold back her tears.

“Nope, I don’t know you are in pain, if you don’t say something. Hey, maybe you like being in pain, not that I like that idea. We can’t help you if you don’t let us. Promise me that you will open the sweet mouth of yours, and tell me when you are in pain, so we can get you some relief.” I was stupefied that she was too scared to tell us.

“I promise.” Cloe slurred back. The tablets Dotty had given her, plus the exhaustion from what she had done today, had tuckered her out; she was asleep, her face relaxed, and the fear was gone. I leaned in and stole a kiss on her lips, our first, of many I hope.

Reluctantly, I left her to sleep, heading to my old, old bed, itching to have her in my arms, and resisting was difficult.

Sleep took its time to claim me, but it felt like I had only just gotten there when Cloe’s scream had me rushing out of bed, dreading the worst. I thought she had fallen out of bed.

Rushing over, she was crying, and fighting her bedding, mumbling words I didn’t quite catch, but it was enough to know she was in a nightmare, and her father and sister were in it. I tried to crawl into the bed to hold her, but felt the bed was too small and risked hurting her more, so I picked her up, her arms thrashing about, and I hit my lip, another in my eye. I climbed into bed and lay down, holding her till she stopped fighting me, and sleep found us both.