Throwing his energy into his recovery and thinking about everything he was told..

Aurthur threw himself into his recovery, following the doctor's instructions for his safety but always pushing to do a little more than they asked. He wasn't a masochist or any such thing, he just wanted to get better quickly and get out of the hospital. It also helped that he used all the time he was exhausting his body to focus his thoughts on what Abigail had told him. Aryica, or Jax is who she was now, was afraid to see him because of how much she changed in appearance. He had to ask himself if her looks were more important to him that who she was. The quick and easy answer was that he didn't love her for what she looked like, but the heart, the personality that made her so special. However, he had to take this seriously and push himself on all of the questions. Aurthur asked himself what the change in her appearance would mean for him. Aryca had been a stunningly beautiful woman and that caught his attention immediately, he lusted after her on sight. He wasn't a shallow person and looks alone wouldn't have been able to keep his interest in anyone for long. It was her sense of humor, the kindness she showed to everyone she met, the smile when she caught him staring at her, her love of books and sharing stories, all those things and more were why he loved her. The biggest thing that always worried his was that she was way out of his league and somehow, he captured her heart. He couldn't understand how he had gotten so lucky. He also had to admit that he was vain enough to enjoy the looks he'd gotten from men and women alike when they went out, all of them silently asking what she was doing with someone like him? Ultimately, he decided that it was Aryca the person and not the body that he loved.

That thought out he still realized that it wasn't going to be that simple. He knew in his core that working through getting to meet her as Jax and see if they could work through the awkwardness of the change she's undergone would just be the start of the hurdles they'd face going forward. So, the next questions to ask himself were was it something he truly wanted to do, and would it be worth the work and possible heartbreak for both of them if they didn't succeed? The easy answer for him was absolutely, he refused to lose the woman he loved. Again, he had to think about Jax as well, was it fair to her to try and make this work if he felt that it would end with the pain of broken hearts? Knowing himself and not wanting to cause her pain he would be willing to walk away, but he knew Aryca would kick his ass for taking the decision away from her by giving up without even trying. From what Abigail told him about Jax's fears about this, Aurthur believed that she still felt that way. The put the answer to both those questions firmly in the yes column.

With those decisions made, he continued to push himself along the road to recovery. I felt more like the rush hour traffic at a standstill road to recovery, but he was working to get out of the hospital. It was early on Saturday morning, four days after her visit, that Abigail called him in the hospital. Aurthur answered his phone, "Hello?"

"Hello Aurthur," a slightly familiar voice came through clearly, "It's Abigail Gates. I'm calling to check in on you as we discussed the other day. How are you feeling and how is your recovery coming along?"

Aurthur smiled and responded, "I'm exhausted, but it's coming along alright according to the nurses and physical therapists. The doctors I haven't seen much of because I have a lot of healing to do before they will even think of letting me out of here. The insurance companies told me that if I even think of checking out AMA, they'll refuse the claim."

"That's gotta suck hard Aurthur," Abigail chuckles.

"Yeah, it does. I've been thinking about those questions you asked me, and I have some answers for you. Not all the answers because no one has all the answers."

"Okay, what have you decided Aurthur?" Abigail asked with a slight edge in her voice.

"I admitted to myself that her looks were what honestly first attracted me to Aryca, but it was who she is, not her appearance that I fell in love with. You've been with her for at least a month now, so you would understand what I mean by now. I also know that getting used to Aryca now being Jax wasn't going to be just a simple decision, but a lot of work and possible heart break for both Jax and myself and possibly others like you and Kasey. I whole heartedly believe that she's worth the hard work and the risk for me to try. I also asked myself would it be better for her and everyone else if I simply let her go and not risk causing her greater pain if we failed to get through this. Aryca would have come here to the hospital and give me a full account of my level of stupidity for not trying and still wouldn't let me break up with her. Then once she got me out of the hospital, she'd kick my ass until I was just hurt enough not to wind up back inside....," all that being said, Aurthur paused for a couple of breaths. "It all boils down to this Abigail; I want to meet Jax and give things a chance whenever she's ready to risk seeing me."

"I'm sure she'll be happy to hear that. Right now, she is in an afternoon lecture class for the degree she's been working on. I'll tell her when she gets home and call you when she's ready to schedule a time to come visit." Abigail's tone turned serious, "I'm glad you thought out everything not just for yourself but for her feelings as well. That makes me like and respect you a little more. Get well quickly, for both of you. Talk to you again soon."

"Thank you, Abigail, goodbye," Aurthur said as Abigail ended the call.