A/N: Thanks for all the great responses, dear readers! Nice to know there are George fans out there who want to know more about the character as I've chosen to portray her.

George sat, idly rolling the chair back and forth in place. She'd just completed a session with one of the therapists, Andrea Hudson, and now had some time to herself.

It had been a challenging session, but learning to use the wheelchair was imperative. Today had again been all about mastering the wheelstand.

Andrea had George repeatedly flip the chair in a backwards motion, so it was balanced on the wheels, almost like popping a wheelie on a bike. Mastering this was one of the fundamentals in maneuvering around in the chair. She'd be able to navigate down off curbs, descend slopes, ramps, even stairs by maintaining the wheelstand.

Other exercises were aimed at improving strength in her shoulders and arms. Since she'd be getting around on arm power from now on, she was eager to get into a routine to build the muscle in her arms and shoulders. Her therapists were only too happy at her enthusiasm and were willing to oblige her - to a point. They didn't want her to overdo it. Gradually, she was regaining some of the muscle mass in her arms and strength she had lost during her stay in hospital.

Other skills George was learning to master included practicing how to right herself in the event that she fell from the chair; re-positioning herself from various sitting and lying positions; moving from chair to bed, and back again.

It was all truly exhausting; physically, mentally and emotionally. And it was all difficult going in the beginning, given the injury to her right shoulder blade. She'd had to keep the right arm immobile to facilitate proper healing.

But she was determined to be independent, and was willing to do whatever it took to get there.

Lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice she had a visitor.

"George?"

She looked up in surprise. Poking his head into the room was Charles Jonathan Springer, otherwise known as 'CJ'. The two had first met on a cycling trip when CJ was a student at Emerson. Sparks had flown, and they'd seen each other on and off a few times.

After Jon Bernsten had left for Calgary, she and CJ started dating each other again. In the months before the shooting, however, their relationship had been on a downward spiral. While they were on good terms, they seemed better suited as friends than significant others.

"CJ! What are you doing here?" George finally greeted him. She had not been expecting to see him. Not here. Not in this condition.

In spite of the state of whatever relationship they might not have, she still admired his tall, muscular frame, and smiled at his shock of very blond hair.

"Grab a chair," she offered, and pointed to one in the corner of the room.

CJ pulled it so he could sit closer to her and settled down.

His mild, blue eyes reflected worry and concern. "When I heard what happened...I just couldn't believe it. H-How are you?"

"Never better," George quipped.

"I can't tell you how really sorry I am this had to happen to you. It's not right. If I ever catch the guy that fired that gun -"

"CJ," George broke in, "it wasn't your fault. Shit happens. Pardon my French."

CJ shook his head, a smile creeping up on his face. "Well, I can see this hasn't affected your humor any."

"Are you kidding?" George said. "The drugs sure make me feel pretty crabby. And some of the painkillers they were giving me...whew...I can't tell you some of the crazy hallucinations I've had."

The young man cracked a smile, then grew serious.

"What have the doctors told you? What are the chances you'll walk again?"

"Slim to none." George said, in a flat unemotional voice. "My...injury...was what they call 'complete'. The cord was severed. Those nerves don't regenerate. Can't feel a thing below my waist." She slapped her knees to demonstrate. Whack!

CJ flinched at the noise. He swallowed nervously. "I'm so sorry..."

"Everyone keeps saying that," George replied with a shrug. "But you didn't put me in this chair. You have nothing to be sorry about."

"I know that...It's just that...You didn't deserve this," CJ said helplessly.

And Nancy didn't deserve to die! George wanted to say. "Thanks, CJ. I appreciate how you feel about it."

He reached out and stroked her cheek gently. "George...I want you to know you're not alone. I'm -"

"CJ, stop." George said, bringing her hand to meet his as it rested on the side of her face. She paused to gather her thoughts.

She looked him straight in the eye and continued: "No one's going to think any less of you if you don't stick with me through this, and whatever is beyond. We both know our relationship was cooling. We were saying our goodbyes. You have to admit that we both knew it was going to be over. We'd be fooling ourselves if we thought otherwise."

"But I can't just call it quits now! Not when this has happened! It's just not right." His eyes were tearing up.

"And I won't hold you hostage. That wouldn't be right. If this hadn't happened, we would have parted ways. We're not married, CJ. There's no 'for better or worse' clause here."

"But...I'd feel like I was abandoning you...people will look at me like I'm some kind of coward for walking out on you. You know: 'There goes CJ; the guy who split because he couldn't handle his girlfriend being in a wheelchair.'"

"It wouldn't be like that. You're not a coward, CJ. I'm letting you off the hook. You don't owe me anything. And you can tell people I dumped you, if it helps."

"You know, you're something else, George Fayne," CJ said admiringly. He stood then. "I wish things could have lasted between us. I really do."

"Me, too. You're a great guy, CJ. Thanks for the times we did have together."

He bent over and kissed her cheek. "Take care of yourself, Fayne. Good-bye."

"Good-bye." she said steadily.

CJ turned and left the room.

George sat very still. She stared after him for a long time after he was gone. Then she closed her eyes and silently wept.

See Nancy Drew Casefile #87 'Moving Target' for further details about George and CJ.