Edam woke up in an unfamiliar place. It was white, clean and definitely not camp. He raked a hand through his hair and frowned as he felt a tug on his skin near his elbow. Looking down, he realized he had an IV in his arm. Shit, he was in a hospital.

How had he gotten there. He tried to think. He remembered being in the woods, It had been raining and he had been checking for traps. Traps! That's right he had been checking for traps when one had closed on his ankle. His right ankle. He started to panic. He was in a hospital, after something like that.

He flung the thin white sheet off on his legs to see...

Oh God. He brought a hand up to his mouth trying to hold back a sob. Tears pricked at the corners of his eyes, threatening to spill out.

His leg was gone. It had been taken off just below the kneecap.

How was he going to do his job, without a leg?

And just then a nurse strode into the room. "Oh, you're awake!" she cried excitedly, "I'll go get the doctor!"

A few minutes later a stern looking woman wearing a nice clean white coat walked into his room with a clip board. "Good afternoon Mr. P-"

"Edam's fine," he interrupted.

"Edam," the doctor finished, a softness to her voice that he hadn't really expected.

When she didn't go on immediately he asked quietly, "What happened?" while gesturing to his leg.

"When you arrived here your leg was completely disconnected," Edam winced at this news. Last time he remembered, it had been attached by a little bit. "Which, doesn't necessarily mean the limb will stay unattached. Unfortunately, in your case, the nerves were too damaged and could not be reattached. We tried for hours to save your leg. I'm sorry it couldn't happen," and she did look sorry. Edam would have liked to have blamed her, but he knew it wasn't her fault this had happened.

"Fuck," he breathed.

"Fuck is right," the doctor said with a small smile.

"Will I be able to walk again?"

Here the doctor smiled at him, "Oh yes. I'm not gonna lie, it'll be a hard process, but we'll get you fitted with a prosthetic and into physical therapy. If you really put your mind to it, you should be able to walk pretty much unassisted in about two months."

Two months... It was August. That put him past when school started.

He looked at the doctor, determined, "Let's get started then."

Jerry sighed. It had been nearly three months since he had dropped Edam off at the hospital. The camp had made him come back when it was clear that Edam would be there a while, and he hadn't been able to see the man. Now the camp season was over and he feared he wouldn't see Edam until next summer. He didn't want that to happen. Couldn't let Edam think he had just abandoned him after leaving him in the hospital.

Maybe he'd be able to visit Edam this weekend, swing by wherever the man was from for a little surprise visit. Yeah that's what he'd do. He rested his head on the uncomfortable chair desk. Why were lectures so boring?

He thought with the transfer to a new college he'd have more stimulating classes, but schools were all the same... And worse, the lecture had only started ten minutes ago. He still had another hour and ten minutes to go until the class was over. He closed his eyes.

Jerry was vaguely aware of the door opening, and a student came walking into the room, late. Instead of just taking a seat the person went and gave a quick note to the professor and then began making their way up the stairs.

Jerry could just make out, through his eyelashes, the shadowed figure made their way closer to his seat in the back.

Finally the person stopped in front of him, and Jerry decided he'd open his eyes and tell the person to move. He breathed in a gasp, "Edam?"

There in front of him was the beautiful groundskeeper, smiling ear to ear. Jerry did not hesitate in returning the mile.

"Is that seat taken?" Edam asked pointing to the seat right next to Jerry.

Jerry just shook his head and smiled. He wouldn't have to wait until the summer to see Edam. He'd probably be able to see the man every day!

As Edam sat down Jerry decided maybe this school wouldn't be so bad after all.