Disclaimer: I Don't Own 'The Facts Of Life' Never Have Never Will. Although Some Characters In This Story Are From My Own Mind.
A/N: 1 - This is A Re-Posting Of The Jo And Blair Story. I Wanted to Go Back And Check My Spelling, And Add Or Remove A Line If Needed.
A/N: 2 - This Is Something I've Been Working On, It's A Challenge I Posted On A Group I'm With. But It Seems No One Took It Up. Be Honest And Let Me Know How It Is, And How I Should Take It. As For The Title, I'm Working On That.
A/N: 3 - I Was Going Over What I Had Already Did And Decieded To Take The Story Into A Different Direction. I've Decided To Throw In Some Sience Fiction. Just To Give A Different Twist.
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Peekskill New York/Peekskill Hospital
The Doctor looked at the Paramedics as they entered the Emergency Room with a young female on the gurney, "What do we have?"
The female Paramedic looked at the Doctor, "Twenty-Two year old Female, Caucasion. She was involved in an accident, a drunk driver hit her as she was riding a motorcycle."
The Doctor went to work on the girl and then looked at the Nurse, "Get her typed and crossed matched for four units of blood. I also want a full series of X-Rays, especially on the right leg. I don't like the was it looks."
The girl followed the Doctors with her eyes watching everything they were doing to her. Then she seen the X-Ray Machine being wheeled in. With the help of the Nursers they cut away her clothes
She watched as the machine was wheeled over her and began taking X-Rays.
The Doctor looked at the man taking the X-Rays, "I want those as soon as they are developed."
A moment later a Police Officer walked up, "Here's her Drivers License, her name is Joanna Marie Polniaczek."
The Doctor nodded and then turned to the girl, "Joanna I'm Doctor Phillips, I promise I'll do everything I can to help you."
FoL FoL FoL FoL FoL FoL
Edna's Edibles/Peekskill, NewYork
Jo was one very happy girl, Her beloved Princess had given her five tickets to see a New York Yankees game with her Uncle Sal and her Cousins. Blair got her the tickets as an anniversery gift.
Jo looked at Blair, "Are you sure you don't want to go to the game?"
Blair laughed, "Will you get out of her you greese monkey."
Jo leaned in and gave Blair a passionate kiss, "I'll be home around twelve."
Blair smiled, "I'll keep the bed warm."
Jo wiggled her eyebrows, "Sweet." The two shared another passionate kiss and then Jo turned and left for New York City.
FoL FoL FoL FoL FoL FoL
Peekskill New York/Peekskill Hospital
Several minutes later the X-Ray Technician handed the Doctor the X-Rays, "Here's the X-Rays Doctor."
The Doctor turned and put them on the X-Ray Lamp, "Bumps and bruises, her left arm is broken and she has a few broken ribs one of which has punchered a lung." He then put the X-Rays of Jo's right leg on the lamp, "Damn, that's what I was afraid of."
The Nurse walked up to the Doctor and looked at the X-Ray, "How's it look?"
The Doctor shook his head, "She's going to lose the leg, the damage is just to massive."
FoL FoL FoL FoL FoL FoL
Jo was happy she got to spend a special day with her Uncle Sal and her Cousins. At the stadium she ate several hotdogs, a couple of bags of popcorn and drank several sodas. And she caught a foul ball that hit her Uncle Sal's head first. So to make sure she didn' t lose the ball, she was going to let her Uncle Sal keep it for her.
After the game the six were standing in the parking lot outside Yankee Stadium, Jo smiled, "Hey Uncle Sal, would you hold on to this for me, I don't want to risk losing it when I head home."
Sal smiled, "No problem Jo."
Jo got on her bike, and then leaned over and gave her Uncle and Cousins a hug.
Sal smiled, "Be careful headin' home Jo, I don't think that beautiful girlfriend you have would like it if you got hurt."
Jo grinned, "I know she wouldn't Uncle Sal, she already warned me that I would be sleeping on the couch for the next year if I got hurt."
Sal took Jo's chin in his hand, "Just be careful."
Jo smiled, "I will." Jo put her helmet on, started her bike and headed out for the two hour ride back to Peekskill.
FoL FoL FoL FoL FoL FoL
Peekskill New York/Peekskill Hospital
The Doctor went to Jo's side and looked down at her, "Joanna, it's Doctor Phillips again. Do you remember what happened and where you are?"
Jo nodded.
Doctor Phillips nodded, "You have some bumps and bruises, some nasty cuts and scrapes. Your left arm is broken and you have a few broken ribs one of which has puncherd a lung."
Doctor Phillips sighed, "Joanna, I'm not going to beat around the bush, your right leg has been crushed beyond the point of saving it. I'm afraid you're going to lose it."
Jo looked at Doctor Phillips and pleeded with her eyes for him not to take her leg.
Doctor Philips sighed, "We're going to take you up to surgery now."
All Jo could do was silently cry.
FoL FoL FoL FoL FoL FoL
Jo was happy she got to spend the day with her Uncle and Cousins and now she was going home to share a warm bed with the girl she loved with all her heart. She looked at her watch and knew she would be home in five minutes, but what she didn't know is that those five minutes were about to turn into a nightmare. As Jo was pulling into the intersection, she turned her head just in time to see a car blow the red light and hit her square on.
The first thing she seen was her bike several feet away from where she was laying, the next thing she knew was the aweful pain that was shooting through her body plus she was having trouble breathing. The pain was so much that she passed out. Several minutes later she woke up to see two Paramedics hovering over her, she turned her eyes and seen the Police lead away an older looking man in handcuffs. From what she could see the man was having a very hard time walking straight. A few moments later Jo passed out again.
When she woke up she found herself in the back of an Ambulance with a female Paramedic looking down at her smiling. A moment later the doors opened up and she was being pulled out and being taken into the Emergency Room.
FoL FoL FoL FoL FoL FoL
Jo woke up feeling like she had been asleep for days, she looked around and seen her mother, her father and Uncle Sal.
Uncle Sal spoke first, "She's awake."
Rose looked at Jo and smiled, "Hey sweetie." Rose looked at Sal, "Sal go get the Doctor, let him know Jo's awake."
Jo's father Charlie smiled as he took her hand, "You had us worried there for a while, they nearly lost you twice when they had you in surgery."
Jo blinked and mouthed, "How long."
Rose looked at Jo, "You've been asleep for almost two weeks, everyone has been worried."
Jo closed her eyes trying not to cry when the Doctor walked in, "Hi Joanna, I'm Doctor Phillips. I was the on-duty Doctor in the E.R. when they brought you in." The Doctor sat the clipboard down, "As I said I'm not the one who beats around the bush. We nearly lost you twice on the operating table, but thankfully you have a strong will to live. Now we were able to repair the punchered lung and the broken arm and other injuries, but we weren't able to save your right leg. I'm sorry to tell you but we had no choice but to amputate, the leg was far to damaged for us to save.
Right then and there Jo broke down and cried.
Rose looked at Doctor Phillips, "She was very athletic, she was on her college's softball and basketball teams."
Doctor Philips handed Rose a paper, "This is a list of Doctors that specilize in patients who lose a limb, they help them to cope with the loss and how to move on with their lives."
Rose nodded, "Thank you Doctor."
Doctor Phillips nodded, "No problem, by the way there's a Blair Warner, Natalie Greene, Dorathy Ramsey and an Edna Garrett here waiting to see Joanna."
Without thinking and in a panic Jo sat up, "Mrs. G, Nat and Tootie can come in but I don't want Blair in here, I don't want her to see me like this."
Rose looked at Jo, "But Jo, it's Blair."
Just then the four entered the room.
Jo started to cry as she screamed, "GET HER OUT, GET BLAIR OUT NOW I DON'T WANT HER HERE. I DON'T WANT HER TO SEE ME LIKE THIS. SO GET HER OUT." Jo grabbed the water pitcher and threw it towards the door. Jo fell back and cried.
FoL FoL FoL FoL FoL FoL
When Jo started to throw things Mrs. Garrett quickly got Blair out of the room.
Blair had tears in her eyes, "What was that all about?"
Mrs. Garrett sighed, "Jo has been through a tramatic expereance and she afraid you'll see her differently."
Blair was on the verge of crying, "I would never do that."
Mrs. Garrett took Blair in her arms as the young girl began to cry, "I know Blair, I know."
Blair looked up into Mrs. Garrett's loving eyes, "Am I going to lose the love of my life? Am I going to lose Jo?"
Mrs. Garrett held Blair as she continued to cry, "I don't know, all we can do is giver her the time she needs to heal."
Just then they seen three Nurses enter Jo's room.
FoL FoL FoL FoL FoL FoL
The Next morning Jo woke up with Doctor Phillips at her side along with her family.
Doctor Phillips looked at Jo with a grin, "If you want to throw things, at least wait until you've healed first. Once we sedated you, we had to take you down and redo a few stitches."
Jo sighed, "Sorry."
Doctor Phillips smiled, "Just take it easy."
Jo nodded, "I will."
Phillips looked at his watch, "I need to make my rounds, I'll be back in a few hours. If you need me for anything, just let the Nurse know." A moment later Doctor Phillips left to make his rounds.
Uncle Sal walked up, "Hey Jo."
Jo smiled, "Hey Uncle Sal."
Uncle Sal lifted a bag up and placed it on the bed next to Jo, "I have a few gifts for ya." Sal reached into the bag and pulled out several cards, "These are from all the guys at the garage, they also pitched in and got you some flowers.
those should be here in a..."
Just then a florest delivery man entered the room, "I have a delievery for Jo Polniaczek."
Jo smiled, "That me."
The man sat the flowers on the tray and left.
Jo smelt the flowers and smiled, "Tell the guys I said thanks and the flowers are beautiful."
Sal smiled, "Now for a real kick in the pants surprise." Sal reached in and pulled out a larger card and the foul ball Jo caught, "The New York Yankees heard about your accident and they all signed this card and they all signed your ball and had it encased in this casing."
Jo smiled as she read the card that held five new tickets to a future game. She then picked up the encased ball and looked at it, "This is awesome, thanks Uncle Sal."
Rose knew she couldn't put the subject off any longer. Reaching over Rose brushed some hair from Jo's face, "Blair was here again wanting to see you."
Jo sat the ball down, "And as I said before, No."
Charlie looked at Jo, "She loves you Jo and she's hurt that you won't let her see you."
Jo looked at her father, "I dont want her to see me this was. I'm going to have a hard time dealing with the fact that I'll never walk again and that I'll be in a wheelchair for the rest of my life. Having her here just makes it worse."
Sal looked at Jo, "No one never told you that you would never walk again. In fact, once your fitted with a prosthetic leg you can do anything you want."
Jo shook her head, "I'll never walk again period."
FoL FoL FoL FoL FoL FoL
Three months later Jo was sitting in her wheelchair in the hospital's rehab gym.
Kelly Affinado who once tried to steal some things from the shop was now Jo's theripst, "Jo if you don't start excersizing, the muscles in your left leg will atrophy."
Jo snorted, "Can't anyone get it through their thick skulls that I'll never walk again."
Kelly looked at Jo, "No one never told you that you would never walk again."
Jo looked at Kelly, "That's because they didn't have to. I no longer have my right leg, which means I'll never walk again."
Kelly sighed, "I guess I'll have to tell all those like you that they can't walk again either, even if they do have prosthetic limbs."
Just then a huge black man entered the room, "Morning Kelly."
Kelly smiled, "Morning Tank, I'll be right there." Kelly looked back at Jo, "I'll be back just as soon as I get Tank started on his excersizes."
Jo snorted, "You can come back, but it won't change anything."
Kelly sighed and went over to where Tank was.
Tank looked at Jo and then at Kelly, "She still won't excersize?"
Kelly shook her head, "No, and I'm afraid if she doesn't start, the muscles in her good leg will start to atrophy."
Tank smiled and stood, "Let me handle this." Tank moved to where Jo was.
Jo turned when she heard someone moving behind her, "What do you wan..." There making their way infront of Jo was Tank.
Tank leaned in, "That's right, I have no legs. I lost both in Afganistan do to an IED (Improvised Explosive Device). As for what I want, I and the others here want you to quit your damn belly aching and get your ass moving and start excersizing."
Jo had tears in her eyes, "People just don't understand that I'll ne..."
Tank cut her off, "Enough, you can walk again and you will. All you have to do is excersize your good leg and when they fit you for a prosthetic leg you'll learn how to use it. Once you're good enough, most people won't realize that you have only one leg."
Tank went behind Jo picked her up and took her to the ballancing bars.
Jo was screaming, "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING? PUT ME BACK IN MY CHAIR!"
Tank smiled as he left Jo at the bars and moved her chair to the other end, "Now, if you want your chair back. You'll just have to go get it." Tank turned and went back to where Kelly was.
Kelly smiled, "Do you think that was wise?"
Tank smiled, "Something had to be done."
Kelly smiled, "You do realize you declared war."
Tank smiled, "I'm a Marine, so bring it on."
And Jo brought it on. For the next two months, Jo and Tank would fight each other as he lifted Jo from her chair and left her at the bars with her chair at the other end.
FoL FoL FoL FoL FoL FoL
On the start of the fourth month of therapy Jo was wheeled into the gym by a Nurse and left in her usual spot. Ten minutes later Tank and Kelly entered the room
Tank went to Jo cracked his knuckles and smiled, "Ok JoJo, where do you want to start? Should you start punching before I pick you up, or should I pick you up and then let you start punching? It's your choice."
Jo wheeled over to the bars and smiled as she leaned in and grabbed the bars and lifted herself up, "No need."
Just then everyone in the room started to applaued Jo.
Just then Doctor Phillips, Rose, and Charlie entered the room.
Doctor Phillips smiled, "And now we can take you down to be fitted for your prosthetic leg."
Jo smiled, "How long have been watching?"
Charlie smiled, "The whole time."
Doctor Philips smiled, "We wanted to make sure that you were ready. Besides, it wasn't easy for Kelly to get this guy to come here."
Jo looked at Kelly and raised an eyebrow, "You know Tank?"
Kelly smiled as she wrapped her arms around Tank, "He's my husband. His real name is Commander/Doctor David Preston. He wasn't in the Marine Corp, he was a Doctor in the Navy , that's where he got the nickname Tank. And he did lose his legs in Afganistan to an IED, he was deployed with a group of Marines when he was injured."
Tank smiled, "I spent almost a year in the Bethesda Naval Hospital's Rehab Ward recovering, and when I finally got out. I swore I would never step foot in another."
Jo smiled, "That is untill you heard about me."
Tank nodded, "I knew I had to convince you one way or the other that you can still lead a normal life without your leg. Look at me, I may have lost both my legs. But I'm still a Doctor, husband, father."
Jo looked at Kelly with tears in her eyes and then hugged her, "Thanks Kelly."
Kelly returned the hug, "Anything for a friend."
Tank smiled, "Now, I need a question answered."
Jo smiled, "Fire away."
Tank smiled, "Is it true that my lovely wife tried to do a five finger discount at your store?"
Jo smiled, "Let me tell you all about it."
Kelly rolled her eyes, "Not now."
FoL FoL FoL FoL FoL FoL
For the course of another two months Jo was fitted for her prosthetic leg and learned how to walk with it.
Kelly smiled, "Well Jo you're done here, you're free to go."
Jo smiled as she hugged Kelly, "I'm gonna miss you and Tank."
Tank smiled, "It doesn't have to be forever, we can always have get togethers."
Kelly smiled, "Yea, and when it come to cooking on a grill. Tank is a wizard."
Jo smiled, "I look foward to it." Jo gave her two friends a hug, "I'll see ya soon."
FoL FoL FoL FoL FoL FoL
Back at Mrs. Garrett's Blair just sat at the table staring at her tea.
Mrs. Garrett touched Blair's hand, "Your tea's getting cold."
Blair sighed, "I'm sorry Mrs. Garrett, Im just..." Blair now had tears falling down her cheeks.
Mrs. Garrett smiled lovingly, "You're worried about Jo."
Blair looked at Mrs. Garrett, "Why won't she see me? It's been almost six months since she was hit by that drunk driver."
Mrs. Garrett nodded, "Some people need time to heal, she maybe physically healed. But there's still the mental state."
Blair sighed, "I miss being held in her strong arms, and knowing she's there to protect me." Blair laid her head on Mrs. Garrett's shoulder and started to cry.