Over the course of the next several months Nancy slowly began to regain her independence. She would worry when she was ready to try new things that the girls would make her stop. Despite her worries the girls would bite their tongues and their nails as they stood aside allowing Nancy to try the things she felt she was ready to try.
In turn Nancy had gotten better at knowing her limitations, and not pushing her body beyond it's capability. She was less worried about asking for help, and as a result found the need to ask coming less and less everyday.
In the blink of an eye four months had gone by and Nancy was preparing for her final exams. Keeping up with her work load took up a great deal of her time, and what little time she had left she spent with Chad and her friends who had become a real source of comfort and distraction on her most difficult and painful days.
The sisters had battled several lower level demons during this four month time, usually defeating them with a simple spell, and almost never involving Nancy if they could help it. Nancy didn't mind, she knew they would ask for her help if they needed it, she was just enjoying being a normal teenager for the first time in her life.
With only a few weeks to go until finals were to begin, Nancy woke up early on a Saturday morning wanting to get started on her last term paper for the year. She knew she was basically waiting till the last minute, but didn't think that the paper would be too difficult. She jumped out of bed into her chair and cleaned herself up in the bathroom, before returning to her room pulling all her note cards and the few books she had acquired from the school library over to the bed. Jumping back into bed, she got comfortable and started to read through the first of the books taking more notes as she read through the very interesting material.
Just down the hall Prue woke up to the sound of her alarm, she thought about hitting the snooze button, but decided she had better just get up and get her day started. Pulling on her bathrobe she stretched and let out a big yawn before exiting her room. She noted that both Phoebe and Piper's doors were still closed tight, not a surprise since neither of them had to be up before 10:00.
As she walked past Nancy's room she was shocked to find Nancy awake with several books spread across her bed, and a pen in hand writing lots of material down. Knocking on the door, even though it was open, she waited for Nancy to look up from her books before she entered the room.
"You're up early, what's the occasion?"
"Last midterm paper of the year. It's due in a few weeks and I figured I'd waited long enough. Just wish I had a few more of the books I need to really get going."
"Do you need to go to the library?"
"No thanks. I gave Chad a list of the books I need and he's going to pick them up for me. He only lives a few blocks from the library, so it's easier for him."
"And you'll use any excuse to see him right?"
"Well…I guess. You getting ready to go to work?"
"You know it. I'm going to take a shower."
Nancy waited for Prue to be in the bathroom before returning to her reading. She was really involved with the book she was reading and didn't even realize that in no time what so ever Prue was walking out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped tightly around her head.
"Mom?"
"Who else would it be? What's up?"
"Can I borrow your laptop? I was reading in this book about a website that would be perfect to use in my paper, I would like to check it out."
"Sure it's in my room. Let me get dressed then I'll bring it to you."
"Thanks it would take me too long with all this stuff around."
Prue left Nancy's room and entered her own bedroom. Closing the door she walked over to her closet and started rummaging around for her most comfortable outfit. Being a Saturday, she didn't have to dress in her normal business cloths, she knew jeans and a sweater would be just fine for the day.
Touching up her makeup, she picked her laptop up off her desk, and exited her bedroom heading toward Nancy's. Walking inside she noticed that Nancy had moved from the bed to her desk and already had a space cleared for the laptop to sit. Putting the laptop in front of Nancy Prue plugged in the phone line then sat on Nancy's bed.
"So what class is the paper for?"
"Anatomy."
"What's it about?"
"Well we got to pick our own topics so I figured I would pick a topic that I thought I knew a lot about."
"Thought?"
"I'm researching spinal injury's and treatments that are available for them. Some of this stuff is pretty discouraging."
"Nancy you can't get discouraged. You know…"
"Relax, I'm not talking about me personally. I just mean in general it's discouraging. Most people believe that you can never fully recover from a spinal injury, even one like mine. That's why I want the website, it's a site made by people just like me, who have fully recovered. It'll be nice to see what I can look forward to."
"Good to hear, let me know the site too, I wouldn't mind checking it out. I better get going."
"I can tell your stalling."
"I am not, can't I want to talk with my daughter."
"Sure, but you're going to be late for work."
"I know."
"Hey it can't be all that bad, aren't you working with Jack today."
"I work with Jack almost everyday, but that is the one thing that keeps me wanting to back everyday."
"I'll see you tonight."
"Alright, I get the hint, I'm going."
Prue kissed Nancy on the top of the head, headed out the door, down the stairs, and off to work. It wasn't until she was in the car that she realized she hadn't even had her morning coffee.
"Oh well it'll have to wait till I get to the office."
She said to herself as she pulled out of the driveway and headed off to Bucklands. Meanwhile inside Nancy logged onto the internet and began her search for the website. After finding it, she decided to check out some of the link sites hoping to find even more information.
Six websites, and twenty note cards later Nancy pulled her eyes away from the screen to refocus her vision. Glancing at her watch she heard someone open their bedroom door, and decided to go and make some conversation if she could. Arriving in the hall she noticed Phoebe was decked out in her jogging gear, and had her tennis shoes in her hand.
"Morning Pheebs."
"Hey sweetie how's it going?"
"Fine, going for a run?"
"How did you guess?"
"Gee, I don't know. Do you think it would it be alright if I tag along? I promise not to slow you down."
"Sure, go get dressed I'll be downstairs."
Whipping her chair around Nancy rolled into her room closed the door and got out her favorite shorts and t-shirt. After changing her cloths in record time, she headed downstairs to find Phoebe leaving a note for Piper.
"Don't want her to wonder where you are."
"Right."
Heading outside Nancy watched as Phoebe began to stretch her legs, moving her body in a way that Nancy only wished she could.
"Now are you sure you want to do this Nancy? There are an awful lot of hill around here."
"Don't worry about me, I do this with Chad a lot. Last week I even beat him in a race."
"How'd he take that?"
"Not bad, after he realized he got the best workout he's had in a long while."
"Alright, but if you get tired…"
"I'll tell you , come on finish stretching, I don't want to hear about you getting a cramp."
TBC: PLEASE REVIEW AND TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK...