The Road To Recovery

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Title: The Road to Recovery
Author: Pammie Helton
Email: bjtvgcd@aol.com
Rated: PG
Challenge: 93) Mark, Steve, Jesse, and Amanda are held hostage. Steve is seriously wounded. - Bbw517536
Summary: This is kind of a sequel to my other story, Trapped. The whole gang goes out for a day of fun, but somebody wants to be sure that they don't have fun.

* Special thanks to Betty for the title and proofreading *

Disclaimer: I do not own these characters, I'm just borrowing them for a while.

*****************

"Steve," Amanda said as she walked onto the beach house deck.

"Oh, hey Amanda."

"Dion's birthday is coming up, and he wants to spend the day at the zoo."

"That sounds great."

"Yeah he's never been to the zoo. Anyway, he wants it to be a family gathering, and he wants you there. Do you think you'll feel up to it?"

"Yeah. I think I can make it with this cast on. I've been working at Bob's so I should be okay. When are you going?"

"Next Thursday. Dion would love it if you came."

"Well I can't let him down, now can I."

"Thanks, Steve." Amanda walked back into the house where Mark was sitting.

"Is he going?"

"Yeah."

"I knew he would. So," Mark said getting up, "can Jesse make it?"

"Yeah, he's going. I think he was more excited than CJ and Dion combined," Amanda answered.

"This is going to be a pretty good day," Mark said walking to the kitchen.

"Yeah. Dion can't wait. He has never been there before."

"Well, then he is going to have a wonderful time."

"I need to get going. We're meeting here, right?"

"Yeah."

"Alright, we'll be here at 8:00," Amanda said getting her purse.

"Does Jesse know?" Mark asked as he followed Amanda to the door.

"I don't know. I'll talk to him and find out. Bye Mark," Amanda said as she walked out the door.

*****************

Thursday morning

"Where is Jesse? I told him to be here at 8:00. If he's not here in five minutes, we're leaving without him." Amanda said as she looked out the window.

"Amanda," Mark guided her away from the window, "he'll be here. There was a major accident last night, and he worked kind of late. He called earlier and said he had overslept, but he would be here soon."

"Alright."

Jesse opened the door, "Sorry, I'm late."

Mark answered for Amanda, "That's okay. Let's get going."

They all went to Mark's car. Mark drove, Steve sat in the passenger seat, and CJ sat between them. Jesse and Amanda sat in the back with Dion between them. They traveled for a little while, and eventually pulled into the parking lot. Everybody got out of the car and walked to the ticket counter. They failed to see the person that was following them. They walked through the zoo, looking at all kind of animals. Then they walked into a museum, and the stalker followed. There were only a few other people in the building. The stalker pulled a gun and shouted, "Everybody, get down on the floor right now!" This announcement shocked everybody. The two couples froze. They didn't know what to do. Amanda grabbed CJ and Dion behind her and pushed them to floor. She followed and hovered over them. Steve pushed Mark and Jesse down. Then before he went down, he told the other people to get on the ground.

The gunman made sure that everybody in the building was in this front room. He pointed his gun at Steve, and said, "You caused my brother and my father to be arrested. It's time you pay." But the gunman moved his aim towards one of the couples. He fired and hit one of the men in the shoulder.

Steve stood, "Listen, Conner, these are innocent people. You want me. So let the others go."

"So, you do recognize me. I'm glad. Now, shut up and get back down, or I'll kill everyone in here," he shouted.

Steve sat back down. He looked over to Amanda and her boys. They looked terrified. Amanda was trying to calm them. He looked over to the other people in the room. The man's wife was trying to stop the bleeding that the gunshot wound had caused. She was crying. Mark was easing his way to Amanda so he could help calm the boys. Jesse looked scared, but Steve knew he could count on him if he figured a way out.

Conner went to the window and looked out, he saw several cops already, "Great." He turned to Steve, "You know this is all your fault. If you had just minded your business, this wouldn't be happening right now."

"Oh. And how is that?" Steve asked

"With the drug deal. If you had just died there like you were supposed to, this wouldn't be happening. It was just you before, but now you've dragged other people into it. And now I'll make you suffer like I've been," he pointed his gun towards Amanda, who instinctively shielded her sons with her body. She looked terrified. The gunman aimed the gun at her head. He pulled the trigger, but before the bullet hit Amanda, Steve jumped in front of her and knocked her and the boys to the ground. Steve landed hard.

*************

Outside the police heard the shot, "What do you see?"

One of his snipers answered, "The gunman shot somebody. We're not sure who it was though."

"Do you have a clean shot?"

"Yes, I do."

"Then take him down."

The sniper obeyed and he fired a shot and the gunman went down.

*************

Amanda raised herself slightly, but before she saw Steve, a bullet came soaring through the window, and the gunman went down. She looked to Steve who hadn't moved since the man shot. She saw blood, but she didn't know where it was coming from. Police entered and went to the gunman first. They moved the gun and checked for any sign of life, "He's dead," one officer said.

Amanda checked Steve's pulse, and then called to Jesse, "Jesse, come here. He doesn't have a pulse. We need to do CPR." Jesse moved to Steve and took over chest compressions on Steve. Mark stood, shocked, and watched his friends working on his son. Mark couldn't move.

The paramedics came in. Amanda told them, "He doesn't have a pulse. We're doing CPR to try and revive him." Amanda moved over and let the EMT take over. She walked over to CJ and Dion to make sure they were okay. They were, so she walked over to Mark, who hadn't moved since the man shot.

Jesse stopped compressions and checked for a pulse. "We've got a pulse. Let's bag him and move him. Take him to Community General. I'm a doctor there."

The paramedics loaded Steve on a stretcher and then put him in an ambulance. Jesse got into the ambulance right before they closed the doors. The sirens wailed and the ambulance sped out of the parking lot. Amanda managed to get Mark to his car. She put him in the passenger seat and loaded the boys in the back seat. She got in the driver's seat, and made her way to the hospital.

****************

The ambulance rushed to the hospital. Jesse jumped out and reached in for the stretcher. They rushed Steve into the ER. Another doctor and several nurses met them. Jesse told the other doctor, "GSW to the head. At least 1 liter of blood loss, maybe 2. He needs to be intubated," they pushed Steve into a trauma room. Jesse gets at the head of the stretcher and opens Steve's mouth. Jesse puts a breathing tube into Steve's airway, "okay, start bagging him." A nurse moves over with an ambu bag and starts breathing for Steve, while another nurse starts an IV. The heart monitor starts making a loud beeping, "He's in V-Fib. Charge to 300," Jesse gets the defibrillators, "Clear," he yells right before he shocks Steve. The heart monitor returns to a normal beeping. "Get two units of O-neg. started. Pulse is rapid and irregular, eyes are 6 mm and sluggish," Jesse lifts the gauze off the wound and looks at the wound, "looks like it went in at an angle. We've got to get him into surgery, or he's not going to make it. Call the neurosurgeon on call and get him to the OR." They pushed the stretcher into the elevator just as Mark and Amanda came into the ER.

Jesse saw them and ordered the nurses with Steve, "Get him upstairs and prepped. I'll be up in a minute. Tell the neurosurgeon that I'm going to assist." The elevator closed and Jesse came over to Mark and Amanda, "He took a bullet in his head. We had to intubate. We're taking him to surgery now," Jesse walked off quickly.

Amanda had to guide Mark to a chair. When he sat down, he looked to Amanda, "Why is this happening again?"

Amanda looked at the pale face of her mentor, her second father, and her friend. She wanted to tell him it would all be okay, but she didn't know and she couldn't lie to him, "I don't know Mark."

After a little while, a nurse brought CJ and Dion to Amanda, "Thank you so much for watching them. Guys, your babysitter is waiting for you. She's going to take you two back to the house."

"When will you be home?" CJ asked.

"I don't know sweetie. I'm going to stay here with Mark for a while, okay?"

"Alright. Will Uncle Steve be okay?"

"I hope so." The two boys walked off with their sitter, and Amanda walked back to Mark. She handed him a cup of coffee.

"Thank you, Amanda," Mark said taking the cup. "I hate this waiting. Was the shooter dead?"

"Yeah, he was. Bullet straight to the heart," she said as she sat down.

Several hours passed before Jesse came into the room. Amanda saw him before Mark saw. When Mark noticed her looking, he turned around and stood up, "Jesse, how is he?"

"He's alive. The bullet went into his head and barely missed his brain. The bullet was lodged in the skull. When we tried to get it out, he hemorrhaged." Mark looked down and Amanda went over to support him. Jesse continued, "We got the bleeding under control, but it took us a while. He may have some brain damage, and he's still at risk for seizure, but right now he is stable," Jesse patted Mark's shoulder.

"Can I see him?"

"He's still in the recovery room, but I'll come out and get you when you can go in," Jesse said as he left the room.

Amanda guided Mark over to a chair. He looked pale. For a minute she thought he was going to faint, "Here, Mark drink something."

"What if he doesn't wake up? What if he's a vegetable the rest of his life? What if he never remembers anything? Any of us?" he looked to Amanda, "I don't think I could handle that."

Mark had never before shown such emotion in front of her. She had no idea what to say to him. But the more she thought about it, the more she realized he wasn't really asking a question. He just needed to say it.

Another hour passed before Jesse came back into the room. "Mark, you can go on and see him now. I have sedated him so he can just rest and heal, so he wouldn't be awake. He's in the ICU in bed 4."

"Thanks, Jess," Mark got up and walked down the hall. Jesse and Amanda watched as Mark walked down the hall.

"Has there been any change with Steve?" Amanda asked hopeful.

"No. He was unconscious until a little while ago, and when he started to wake up, he became agitated, so I sedated him. He's still on the vent."

"What's the chance that he won't have any brain damage?"

"Slim. But we're lucky we were able to save him. A couple more minutes and he would have died. But I didn't have the heart to tell Mark yet," Jesse said sitting down.

"I think he knows how close it was and about how much brain damage there could be. I just don't think he wants to believe it," Amanda said sitting down next to Jesse.

"I think Steve will be able to overcome the damage, it's just going to take a lot of work and endurance on his behalf."

**********************

Mark walked into Steve's room. Steve's head was bandaged, and he was still hooked up to the ventilator. He had IVs coming out of both arms, and the only sound in the room was the steady beeping of the heart monitor. Mark walked over to Steve's bed. He laid his hand on Steve's head. He started talking to his son. "Today, I guess I was just about as proud of you as I've been in a long time. You jumped in front of Amanda and CJ and Dion to protect them from that bullet. You thought of them before you thought of yourself. You've always done that. Always thinking of others before you think of yourself. I have to believe you are going to get better, and knowing you and your stubbornness, I think you will pull through this. I love you, Steve. I don't tell you that enough, but I don't always know how to tell you." Mark finished and then sat down next to the bed.

A few minutes later Jesse and Amanda came into the room. Jesse checked the monitors, and then checked Steve's eyes.

"Jesse, are they reactive?"

"Yeah, they are. That's good news."

Amanda sat down to Mark, "How are you holding up?"

"I guess I'm okay. This is bad this time isn't it?"

"It is pretty serious, but we're certain Steve will pull through."

"Yeah, he will," Amanda reassured.

"Mark, you look tired. Why don't you go home and rest?" Jesse asked Mark.

"There's no way I can leave. At least not now."

"Alright, but I'm going to stay right here with you," Amanda said, "but first I have to call home and tell the sitter."

Jesse walked up beside Mark, "And I'll be in the ER. I've got duty tonight. So we'll both be here if you need something."

"Thanks. It helps having friends here."

Amanda came back, "The sitter can stay the night."

Jesse walked to the door, "Well, I've got to get downstairs. I'll come up when I can to check on him."

***************

Later that night

Mark had finally fallen asleep. Amanda knew he was uncomfortable, but at least he was sleeping, so she didn't bother him. She, however, could not sleep. She kept thinking about earlier that day. She kept thinking that it was her fault. Steve jumped in front of her. He had saved her life. Maybe he had even saved CJ and Dion. There was no way of knowing where the bullet could have gone. She owed Steve so much, now she felt she owed him more. But she knew how Steve would act. He would act like it was nothing. But what if Steve never recovered completely? Could she handle that? She was almost in tears, but her thoughts were interrupted when Jesse entered the room. He saw that Mark was asleep, so he motioned for her to come outside. She got up and met Jesse outside.

"How is Mark doing?"

"He fell asleep a little while ago."

"What about you?"

"I can't sleep. I keep thinking about today."

"Come on. Let's get some coffee." They walked to the doctors' lounge. They each poured themselves a cup of coffee and then sat down on the couch.

"Jesse, I can't get this morning out of my head. Steve jumped in front of me. He saved me. Maybe even CJ and Dion. What if Steve never gets better? What if he's got brain damage that can't be repaired," tears were brimming in her eyes, "I don't think I could live with myself knowing that if he hadn't tried to save me, he wouldn't…" her voice trailed off as tears streamed down her face. Jesse set his and Amanda's coffee cups on the table and pulled Amanda to him. He held her while she cried.

"Amanda, listen. It is serious, but Steve will get better. It may take time, but he should be able to recover completely. He's going to need support from his friends. We've got to be able to give him that support. And you know he wouldn't think twice about saving you. In fact when the man first shot, he pushed me and Mark to the floor. He made sure that the other people got down quickly. He was the last one standing. He was making sure everybody else was okay before he got down." Amanda sat back and Jesse handed her a tissue. "He's just that kind of person. I wish I was that brave." Amanda smiled.

"I just can't get the picture of him lying on the floor out of my mind. Jesse, he was so lifeless. Blood was just pooled around his head. I thought I was going to break down."

"But you didn't. You saved Steve's life just as much as he saved yours."

"I don't think so."

"I do. It took those paramedics at least a minute or two to get in there. By then you had already started CPR on him. That little bit of time probably saved him from being in a coma the rest of his life."

"But anybody could have done CPR."

"Are you kidding? Mark was frozen. I was in shock because of what happened. But you… You started right away. You called me over to help. You did save his life."

"But still. It's just so hard seeing him lying in that bed. He's so helpless. You know Steve's not supposed to be like that. I hope you can take him off the sedative soon. That way we can see how much damage he has."

"Yeah, it might be a little while, though. I want to try to keep him sedated so he can heal. The less movement he makes the better. Why don't you get back? My break is almost over. I've got to get back."

"Alright. And Jesse," she said as they started for the door.

"Yeah, Amanda?"

"Thanks for letting me cry on your shoulder."

"Anytime."

***************

Amanda walked back into the room. Mark didn't notice she had come in. She reached for a blanket and covered him with it. She went back to the other chair, but she couldn't sleep. She pulled out a book and started reading it. The next thing she knew she was waking up and it was morning. Jesse was checking Steve's eyes. He looked over and saw that Amanda was awake, "Sorry."

"Oh, that's okay. I don't even know when I fell asleep."

"It had to have been right after our talk. Because I came in here about 20 minutes afterwards to make sure the IV was okay. One of the nurses had called to ask if the dosage was right," Jesse then checked the monitors and the IVs. One of the bags was low, so he called the nurse to change it. The nurse came in and changed the bag. Jesse told her something and then she left.

"So, how is he doing?"

"Real good. I could bring him out later today. But I may wait until tomorrow. A lot of the swelling has gone down, and I really want to see how much damage there is, but he could still have a seizure and that could only cause more damage. If I do bring him out, I may put him back under if he becomes too agitated."

"It may be better to wait. You never know how he might react if he can't move his legs or his arms."

"Well, I'll come back in a few hours. I'll decide then if I'll bring him out," Jesse walked out of the room.

Amanda walked back to her chair when she noticed Mark was stirring. She walked over to him and he opened his eyes. He looked to the bed and remarked, "So, this wasn't just all a bad dream. It's real."

"Yeah, Mark, it is," Amanda patted his hand, "but, Steve is strong. He's doing well."

"I know. But you know there has to be some damage. There's rarely a time when there is uncontrolled bleeding that there is no brain damage."

"I know, Mark. But you have to look on the bright side. Steve may not have that much damage. He will recover Mark. He probably has a long road ahead of him, but we'll all be there to help him through."

"Thanks, Amanda. Did Jesse say when he will bring Steve out?"

"He was up here a little while ago, and said he might do it this afternoon. But he thinks it will probably be tomorrow. He doesn't want to rush things."

****************

Later that day, Jesse came back to the room. He decided to wait on waking Steve. Mark understood, but he was adamant about staying the night again. Amanda and Jesse didn't argue, and this time it was Jesse who stayed the night with Mark. Amanda had to get home to CJ and Dion.

Mark watched his son sleep. His thoughts kept wandering. Jesse noticed that Mark was being quiet. He figured Mark was just thinking. But Jesse decided not to interrupt. Mark eventually fell asleep. Jesse read the newspaper for a little while, but he also ended up falling asleep. Amanda walked in early the next morning. She found both Jesse and Mark asleep. There were no more chairs in the room, so she sat down on the floor to wait until they woke up. She didn't have to wait long before Jesse woke up. He looked over and they both went outside.

Amanda was the first to speak, "Any changes?"

"No."

"How is Mark? Did he sleep any?"

"He slept. But I don't think it was a restful sleep."

"Are you still going to bring Steve out today?"

"Yeah. I stopped the sedative last night, so he should wake up sometime later this morning."

"I'll stay with Mark today. It's Saturday and I don't have to work."

"Yeah. I've only got to work a few hours, so I should be able to be up here in a while. But right now I have to get downstairs. See you later."

"Bye." Amanda walked back into the room. Mark was now awake. He looked up to her, "I was wondering where everybody went."

"Jesse and I were just talking in the hall."

"Did Jesse take Steve off the sedative yet?"

"Yeah, so he should wake up soon," Amanda sat down and waited with Mark. She knew it was going to be a difficult wait for Mark; it was difficult for her.

A couple of hours passed and Jesse came back into the room, "The nurse told me he hasn't woken yet."

"He hasn't," Amanda answered.

"Well, I'm off for the day, so I'll just stay up here."

A little while later and Steve's hand started to move. Mark was the first to notice, "I think he's waking up." Mark stood back a little ways just watching.

Jesse walked over and shined the light into Steve's eyes. Steve blinked at the brightness of the little light. Jesse moved back. Steve opened his eyes, but closed them suddenly. The lights were just too bright even though the room was slightly dim. He opened his eyes again and blinked a few times. His eyes had adjusted to the lights. He stared at the ceiling for a minute until Jesse said something, "Steve, can you hear me?"

Steve rolled his head ever so slightly, just enough to see Jesse. He nodded slowly. He looked like he wanted to say something, so Jesse had to stop him, "You can't talk right now. There's a tube down your throat helping you to breathe." Steve nodded again and closed his eyes. Jesse continued, "Steve, do you remember what happened?" Steve shook his head saying no. Jesse told him, "You were shot. We brought you to the hospital and did surgery. We removed the bullet. You've been sedated since the surgery. Being sedated has helped you heal quicker."

Jesse stopped and let Steve absorb what he had just said. Mark walked over to Steve and put his hand on his son's forehead. Jesse pushed the call button and told the nurse that he was going to extubate, and that he needed an extubation kit. The nurse came in a few minutes later. Amanda walked over to Mark and led him to the other side of the room. Jesse walked to the side of the bed. He laid a sterile drape on Steve's chest. He put on sterile gloves and told Steve, "I'm going to take the tube out. When I count to three, I need for you to give me a cough so I can pull out the tube." Steve nodded and Jesse continued, "Okay, 1…2…3." Steve coughed and Jesse pulled out the tube. The nurse wiped Steve's chin, and Steve rolled his head to the side and coughed again. He closed his eyes in pain when he coughed. Mark walked over to the bed and held Steve's hand. Steve opened his eyes and looked up to his father. He wanted to say something but Mark told him, "Don't try to talk right now. Get adjusted to not having the tube in." Steve just nodded and closed his eyes. Steve was soon asleep and the three left to go to the doctors' lounge. Mark went back to the room after a while, but Jesse and Amanda stayed a while.

"When are you going to test him?" Amanda asked as she poured herself some coffee.

"I was going to do it right after he woke up, but he was too tired. I'll probably do it later today."

Jesse and Amanda went back to the room and waited with Mark. Steve stayed asleep, although now the sleep wasn't induced.

A few hours later Steve started to move some. Mark rushed to the side of the bed. Steve opened his eyes and looked at Mark. Steve grimaced when he tried to raise his head. Mark told him, "Try not to move too much." Steve closed his eyes.

Jesse waited a minute before he started, "Steve?"

Steve opened his eyes and looked towards Jesse.

"Okay, Steve, during the surgery to take the bullet out, you started to hemorrhage. We got the bleeding controlled, but it may have caused some damage." Steve just looked at Jesse. Jesse continued, "We need to do a few tests to give us an idea of the extent of the damage." Steve nodded. Jesse reached over and held both of Steve's hands, "Okay, I want you to squeeze my hands as hard as you can." Steve squeezed and Jesse looked up to Mark. "Alright, Steve. Good." Jesse walked to the foot of the bed. He untucked the sheets and put his hand next to one of Steve's foot and told Steve, "Push against my hand as hard as you can." Steve did and Jesse moved his hand to the other foot, "Okay, now push against this hand." Again Steve complied. "Alright, Steve that's good. Why don't you rest a little? We'll come back later and finish up." Steve responded by closing his eyes. Jesse started to walk out of the room, and Amanda went over to Mark and guided him out of the room.

Once in the hall, Mark turned to Jesse and asked, "Is it bad?"

Jesse looked hesitant but nevertheless answered, "It's not good, but it's not as bad as it could have been. He didn't have much strength when he squeezed my hands. And he had even less strength when he pushed his feet against my hands."

"Oh, God," Mark looked uneasy so Amanda went over next to him held his arm to keep him steady.

"Mark, listen. We'll get physical therapy to come up here and work with Steve. He does have some strength to work with. That's invaluable when it comes to rehabilitation. But first, we need to do some more tests on Steve. You know that if he's lost some function of his arms and legs, he may have some other problems."

Mark had turned pale, "Like not being able to do simple tasks like feeding himself."

"Mark, that's true, but we'll get the best to help him recuperate."

Amanda noticed Mark was still pale and uneasy, "Mark, let's go to the doctors' lounge. You need to sit down and drink something." Amanda led Mark to the lounge. Jesse walked to the nurses' station and called the therapists.

********************

A week later Jesse found Mark and Amanda in Steve's room. The occupational therapist was with Jesse. Jesse walked to Mark, "Do you want to stay?"

"I have to Jesse."

"Okay." Jesse walked over to the bed and laid a hand on Steve's shoulder, "Steve."

Steve moved slightly and opened his eyes. Jesse started talking to him, "Steve, this is Dr. Reynolds. She's going to test some of your motor skills. Do you think you could sit up for a few minutes?"

Steve nodded and said, "Yeah." His voice was weak and rough with sleep. Jesse elevated Steve's head. Dr. Reynolds came closer. She was carrying a pad of paper and a pen. "Hi Steve. I'm Dr. Reynolds. I'm going to ask you to do some things. You may feel weird doing them, but I need to know if you can do them. Okay?" Steve nodded. "Alright, then let's get started. First can you raise you eyebrows for me?" Steve did, but it was a struggle. "Alright, now stick out your tongue for me." Steve did with no problem. "Alright, good," Dr. Reynolds put the paper and pen on the table, "now, I need you to draw a square for me." Steve took the pen. He struggled to hold it at first, but he finally got a good grip on it. He put the pen to the paper and waited a minute. He started drawing something. Both Dr. Reynolds and Jesse looked at each other. Dr. Reynolds continued, "Alright, try once more." Steve looked devastated as he started to draw again. Jesse looked at the paper, then he looked back at Mark. Mark couldn't see what Steve was drawing. Mark moved closer to the bed when Jesse looked at him. "Alright," Dr. Reynolds said once Steve had finished, "that's good." Steve just looked at the paper. Dr. Reynolds continued, "I'll be back tomorrow. We'll start working then, okay?" Steve never let his view leave the paper, but he managed a nod.

Dr. Reynolds left the room. Steve looked up and said, "What's wrong with me? Why can't I draw a simple box?" his voice was hoarse and weak.

Nobody said anything for a minute, so Jesse started, "Steve, it's just some minor neurological impairment. It was caused by the bleeding that occurred during the surgery. It's normal for that to occur when there has been some bleeding. You are going to have to learn some things again. You will have to learn how to hold objects again, probably how to write again. You may not even be able to feed yourself for a while," Jesse told him.

"My legs feel numb and tingly. Can I walk?" his voice etched with frustration. The truth of the extent of his injury was becoming clear to him.

"We don't know Steve. Probably not for a while. A part of your brain was slightly damaged. But it's the part that controls the things you have to learn anyway. Like walking, talking, and other things. So, you have learned them once, you should be able to learn them again. But none of us thinks any of this is permanent."

"I'm tired. I want to go to sleep."

Jesse walked over, "That's a good idea. We'll be back later," Jesse lowered the head of the bed. "You will be okay, Steve. It will just take a while." Steve's eyes closed and he was soon asleep. The few minutes of sitting up had worn him out. Jesse and Amanda led Mark out of the room. Mark was in shock. He didn't say anything until he was sitting in the doctors' lounge. "This is so hard seeing him this way."

Jesse tried to make him feel better, "I know Mark. But it's not as bad as I thought it was going to. All his impairments seem to be repairable."

"He looked heartbroken when he drew a circle instead of a square."

Amanda held Mark's hand, "Which is exactly why he's going to need to have all of us there helping him through this. We can't let him get depressed."

"You're right Amanda. I can't be like this. He will need help, and he is depending on me for that help."

"There you go. Now tomorrow when they start therapy, we'll all be there with him to help him through this."

**************