Only Us

Chapter 7.

April Sexton arrived at work a little later than usual, she had been studying hard with Noah for her med school evaluation. That's when she saw them, Sarah was in exam room 1 with Connor Rhodes and they were talking, lively, when she worked alongside them, it was mostly Reese who spoke while Connor retorted or answered her quite cautiously.

"Good morning guys." April greeted them both with a smile. "How are we doing?"

"Good." Connor looked up, his arms behind his head, Sarah just nodded in agreement.

"So, no more pain?"

"A little but it's touch and go." Connor admitted as Sarah finished warm ups and he sat up.

"Right, so do you think we could go to the treadmill today?"

Connor bit his lip. "Okay, sure."

"We'll take it slow." Sarah assured him with a smile. April eyed them both as Sarah handed him his sneakers.

"Sarah?" Dr. Charles poked his head in. "Oh, hi Connor. Working hard I take it."

"Just as I'm supposed to do." He said with a shrug of his shoulders.

"Good, that's good, sorry to interrupt but Sarah I need your help for a moment, you don't mind, do you Connor? I'm sure April can give you a hand."

Sarah shot Connor a small smile as she excused herself and followed her Uncle down the corridor.

"So, no one came with you today?" April asked as she handed Connor his crutches and the two of them moved to the wide Gym space in the middle of the clinic.

"Arthur. He's running some errands nearby." Connor said as he placed one crutch to the side and climbed onto the device slowly as the girl set it up.

"Does that mean you are going to stay with us for a while?" April inquired.

"I better or Natalie will have my head." Connor mused.

"She worries about you…"

"Yeah, I know." He replied with a huff. "And It's not like I can run fast or anything so I'm not taking any chances."

April didn't find that funny but she just gave him a smile. "Doctors I guess, huh?"

"Oh right, she's a pediatrician, isn't she? My boyfriend is a paramedic so I get it."

Connor nodded and focused on lifting his legs as the machine roared to life beneath him. "You've been swimming, haven't you?"

"You can tell?"

"Well, your legs seem a little less tense." April commented. "That's all the water's doing."

Connor smiled to himself and continued with the work without much conversation but April kept her eyes on the man in front of her and how his eyes happened to drift over to where Sarah was standing with another patient.

She noticed him and smiled, trying not to stare too much but April could tell, those two were flirting with their gaze alone.

"Are you doing okay?" She asked Connor as his legs began to slack. "We can take it down a notch if you want?"

"No, I…" Connor bit his lip, trying to regain his focus. "I'm fine."

"Okay, if you are sure." April smiled. Her phone chimed and she grabbed it momentarily as Connor kept moving his legs, his stare though would wander around from time to time.

Once they were done, she found herself with Connor down on a mat, finishing PT for the day because Sarah was still busy with other patients. "So, if you feel sore let us know okay?"

Connor winced as a spasm of pain shot through him, April had lifted his right leg upward to stretch his ligaments. "Too much?"

"I can take it." He said biting his lip.

"Okay, tell me just how far…" April said, applying a little more pressure as he nodded. "Good, just a little more."

Connor let out a loud sigh when April helped him into a sitting position on the mat so he could get his shoes on once they were done. He glanced over to Sarah who was talking amicably to a little girl she was tending to, she was about ten.

Around the same age he'd been when he had first been brought into a clinic for PT. He brushed the thoughts away and sighed as he reached to tie his shoes. "Ready? Let's get you up." April stood by his side and Connor grabbed on a chair to pull himself into a standing position. "Looks like your ride is here." April said gesturing to Arthur who stood nearby.

Connor hung his head to the side. "I'll see you guys next week?"

"Is he your boyfriend?" Jenny, the little girl Sarah was checking over asked. Sarah looked up and to the direction of where Connor stood on the treadmill with April.

Sarah let out a small laugh. "Why would you say that?"

"My brother looks at his girlfriend like that, he thinks I don't notice but I do." Jenny explained and Sarah felt herself turning red. "He's cute."

"He is and very nice." Sarah put in, trying to control the urge to look over at Connor.

"Good, you need a nice boyfriend Dr. Reese." Jenny had known Sarah for a while now. "What's his name?"

"Connor." Sarah told her.

"What happened to him?" Jenny asked. "Was he born like me?"

Jenny had spina bifida and her mother had known Daniel for a long time and she'd taken a shine to Sarah since day one.

"Well, he…" Reese hesitated. She knew Connor had acquired CP due to an accident, one that was briefly mentioned in Daniel's chart but she hadn't asked him a lot about it. "You know Jenny, to tell you the truth, Connor is a bit shy."

"Oh." Jenny bit her lip deep in thought. "Well, you two should talk a bit more if he's your boyfriend." The little girl mused and Sarah could only nod in agreement.

She didn't get to see him the rest of the session but Jenny was done almost at the same time as Connor so the little girl made her way over to him as soon as her mother was distracted enough. "Hi, I'm Jenny." She said, Connor stood there in his crutches as Jenny sat on her wheelchair. "I wear those too but I don't like them very much, they make me tired, although Dr. Reese says I should try." Jenny said before Connor could reply. Connor glanced down to his sides and smile.

"You should listen to Dr. Reese then, I'm sure you'll get used to them."

"I guess." Jenny shrugged biting her lip. "Are you Dr. Reese's boyfriend?" Connor froze on the spot.

"I…"

"Don't worry, I won't tell." She assured him. Connor only nodded as Arthur came back to inform him the car was ready and Sarah met him halfway.

"You are right, he's shy but I think he'll tell you if you ask him." Jenny said to Sarah casually. Connor shared a confused glance with Sarah as Jenny said her goodbyes.

"What was that about?" Connor asked.

"Oh, nothing, I'll walk you out." Sarah said with a small smile as both of them followed Arthur outside.

Connor stopped her by the corner, a wall column covering them from view. "So, you talk about me to your other patients?" He inquired playfully.

"Only to Jenny." Sarah said. Connor laughed.

"I see." He mused. "And what is it that we need to talk about exactly?" He asked curiously.

"Nothing…"

"Sarah...if you want to ask me something, you can." He told her in all seriousness. Reese bit her lip.

"How about we go for coffee?" She said after a moment. "I know this great place."

Connor's eyes lighted up."Okay." He smiled and then took a turn to his car as she waved him goodbye.

"Sarah, would you come here a moment?" April called for her as soon as she made it back inside. Sarah sighed but met her roommate in one of the empty rooms.

"So, are you going to tell me what's going on with the two of you? I kept watching him so he wouldn't trip because he wouldn't look down to his feet. Only at you."

"I don't know what you are talking about." Sarah said as she turned to take her leave.

"No, I think you do."

Sarah sighed. "Okay, but you can't say anything…"

"I promise." April assured her with a smile.

"We, uh, we sort of kissed the other day…"

April's eyes went wide as she screamed in delight but Sarah gave her a panicked nod, gesturing over to Maggie and her uncle.

"Sorry, I just...How was it?"

"April!" She hissed.

"Oh, come on Sarah, he's Connor Rhodes, do I need to list all the pros and cons again?"

"It was sweet and brief." Sarah informed her and April groaned.

"But you are seeing him again, aren't you?"

"Okay." Jay said sitting beside Connor on the terrace holding on a beer and placing it on the small table, right in front of him. "Spill, something is going on with you."

"I don't know what you are talking about." Connor huffed beside him.

"Oh, but I think you do. Did you and your Dad have a fight?"

"No, we're barely on speaking terms..."

Jay bit his lip in thought. "You and Will butting heads again? I mean man, you know my brother, he wants to play dad on everyone."

Connor sighed. "Drop it Jay."

"Why?"

"Because it's none of your business."

"Ah, but that's where you are wrong." Jay told him with a smile. "Of course, it is, come on man, it's me. You can tell me."

"I kissed Sarah." Connor let out after a moment. Jay's eyes widened. "But I just, I don't want her to lose her job over this."

"Wait, man, allow me to process this, you actually made the first move?" Jay mused sweetly. Connor glared at him. "Right, sorry. Well she does work with her Uncle, I don't think that would be much of an issue." They stayed silent for a moment. "But that's not what's really bothering you, is it?"

Connor was about to reply when Erin and Natalie came into the house, the kids were at their grandparents for the weekend and Will was working late again so Nat had asked Erin to come over. "Oh, good you are here already."

"For?" Jay piped up at his friend and Erin, who he didn't expect to have tagged along.

"I live with way too many boys, so I invited Erin over, you can say thank you Jay." Natalie mused, much like a teenager other than a 30 year old woman.

"Thank you?" Jay said looking over at Connor who suppressed a laugh. Erin greeted the boys hello and sat beside Jay on the chair.

"You're taking advantage of the fact that you are kid free for two days, aren't you?" Jay said as he took a sip of his beer.

"Am I a horrible person?" Natalie laughed.

"No, you are an amazing Mom." Jay retorted. "And this way you can focus on your other kid here." Connor wasn't amused as he glared at his friend again. "He's having girl trouble."

"Jay…" Erin chided. "Wait, is it about Sarah?"

"Shut up." Connor said, glaring at Jay. Erin and Natalie shared a glance and smiled.

"Oh, yes, something happened?" The detective said, sometimes they were such teenagers, all of them, Will would say, even of his wife and tonight, he would be right.

"Oh, come on Connor, tell us." Nat pleaded, hitting his arm playfully. "Please?"

Connor sighed. "We, uh, we might go out tomorrow night." He said slowly.

"Ha! I called it, those eyes are not for nothing." Erin said, earning a glance from her boyfriend.

"That's great buddy." Natalie said without thinking.

"Buddy?" Connor retorted raising an eyebrow at her.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I guess I do need some time away from being a Mom once in a while." She said, blushing. "But no, honestly, that's amazing Connor, where are you guys going?"

"For coffee." He said, a small smile creeping in. "To talk." Connor admitted. "My guess she wants to ask me about the accident."

The other three looked at each other. "What? No, I'm sure that's not it." Natalie said.

"It's fine, it was bound to happen eventually, the scars don't leave a lot to the imagination."

"Are you okay?" Natalie asked after a moment.

"I will be. I mean, if I really want to get somewhere with her, I guess I have to be honest for once, right?"

Natalie took his hand in hers. "Listen to me, what happened to you, was horrible, but it doesn't define you Connor, neither does your disability."

"No, but, it's all what my life has been about, with my Dad, Claire and every other relationship I have ever had."

"Tell her about the kiss, that should cheer you up." Jay said as Connor sat there somberly and Natalie tried to find the right thing to say.

"What kiss?" Erin asked and Connor shot Jay a weary look.

"Connor kissed Sarah." Jay put in. He knew that was one way to get his mind of that dark place he was used to going, because as soon as that came up, he could see his best friend smiling.

For once, Jay found himself being the one alone at home and for a quiet Saturday night in. Erin had been called on a case and Nat and his brother were out on a much deserved grownup night out.

He was the one to drive Connor to the cafeteria where he would meet Sarah. "So, remember, just be yourself, alright?" Jay chided as he opened the door to the car and helped him with his crutches.

Connor rolled his eyes. "You are worse than Natalie, I don't need you too to be supervising my love life."

"Ah, but then where would the fun be?" Jay joked walking him further inside and spotted Sarah waiting for him.

"Jay." She said as soon as she spotted the younger Halstead brother. "Here to chaperone?"

"No, actually, I'm going. You two kids play nice." He said, winking at her and smiling at Connor.

"Erin's busy, so…" Connor said as soon as Jay disappeared by the corner.

"Ah, right." Sarah said with a smile, Connor hung his head to the side, biting his lip and then moved to kiss her on the lips, supporting most of his weight on the crutches. "Hi."

"Hey." He said as soon as they broke apart but Sarah pulled in to claim his lips again, Connor felt his feet wobble a bit under his weight.

They went into the café and took a table by the far side. "I love this place, ever since I moved here, April and I used to come all the time in college." Sarah began as a waiter came to take in their order. "What?" Sarah asked after a moment, Connor hadn't noticed he'd been staring.

"Nothing, sorry." He admitted shyly. "It's just… nah, you are going to think I'm pathetic."

She bit her lip. "Connor, come on, you looking at me like that..." She hesitated. "I just mean that you seem to have something on your mind."

He gave her a shy smile. "When I was growing up, Claire used to take me out with her and her friends as much as she could so I wouldn't be so secluded but people would just not, dare to talk to me, let alone girls." Sarah felt her heart constrict in her chest. "Jay and Natalie were the same but I just felt like sometimes I couldn't keep up with them and I just didn't want to be a burden." He continued. "Sorry, I didn't mean to bring you down or anything but it's just a little surreal how a girl like you can be with me, right now and not look at me like…"

"Like what?"

"Like you feel sorry for me."

She leaned into kiss him deeply, taking him completely by surprise. "Does that feel like pity to you?" She asked.

Connor bit his lip. "No."

"Did I ever tell you why I became a doctor in the first place?" Sarah said after a moment, it seemed she kept losing herself in his deep blue eyes, so immersive and somehow haunted.

"Because you wanted to help people." Connor retorted.

"Right but, that's not the whole story. When I was little, my cousin Robin who's a bit older than me became sick. I found it strange, the fact that the child of a doctor could get sick but, well, it just happened and we all felt so powerless over it, specially my Uncle."

"What happened to her?"

"Leukaemia" Sarah said. "She was 11."

Connor felt like kicking himself, he had survived and he was pining over it.

"My point is, Robin didn't survive and it just changed me but It also helped me understand that horrible things can happen to the best of us and sometimes it's not even in our power to prevent that sort of tragedy, but by helping people like Jenny...or you." She paused, brushing his hand with hers. "It makes the biggest difference in the world."

Connor smiled at her. "Well, I'm pretty sure that's exactly what you are doing, for me."

"What if I told you that.. I'm 100% sure it's the other way around." Sarah said with a grin and Connor wouldn't dare to look at her. "You are amazing Connor, you just have to give yourself a chance to see yourself the way others do."

Connor bit his lip and took her hand in hers, tracing circles on her palm."I wish I could"

"Well, I'm here if you need someone to show you." She told him. They ended up talking about everything and nothing, it was enough heavy conversation for the both of them to have for the night. She walked him to the car. "I had a really great time Sarah."

"So did I." She beamed.

He leaned to kiss her softly and she responded by wrapping her arms around his neck, he balanced his crutch to the side so he could brush her cheek with his hand. "Alright, kids break it up or this one is going to fall over." Jay said from the car. "Are you sure we can't give you a ride, Sarah?"

"No, thanks, my car is not far," She said. "I'll see you Monday?"

"Monday, right." He mused.

"Oh, and just so you know? April knows, apparently we're not so good at pretending."

Natalie opened the door for the boys as soon as they made it home. "I take it, it went well?"

"Why don't you ask lover boy here?" Jay mused making his way over to the kitchen. Natalie beamed at Connor. "Did you talk to her?"

Connor nodded. "Yeah, but for the first time it wasn't all about me, she made me think of things and that maybe I have been looking at my situation the wrong way. Does that make sense?"

He walked into his room with Natalie following closely behind."I'm glad she's there for you, that's all I can say, what you learn from each other, that's the adventure."

Connor huffed. "And where's that adventurous husband of yours?"

"Upstairs, I just wanted to check on you before I went to bed."

"Nat, you know you don't always have to make sure I'm okay? I'm a big boy."

"I know." She said as soon as she sat beside him on the bed and Connor took off his sneakers. "But I still worry, and don't tell me to stop, because I never will."

Connor sighed. "Sadly."

"It's not funny Rhodes." She shot at him.

"Who says I'm laughing?" He mused. "Go, I'm just going to go to bed." Natalie sighed, smiling at him as she went.

Connor changed into a pair of boxers and a shirt and slipped into bed, the events of the day playing in his mind until he fell asleep.

There was snow and icy roads ahead and all he remembered was yelling, Elizabeth and Cornelius had been fighting about something for the last 20 minutes in the back seat of the van, while he and Claire pretended to be asleep.

All Connor could gather from the conversation though was something about money, about investments; which his father always said were really important; but Connor didn't want to hear any more so he shut his eyes closed and covered his ears. Claire was leaned against the window beside him and he turned back to the other side. The next thing he heard were tires screeching and a scream.

He woke up in the hospital two weeks later. His mother was gone and he couldn't feel his legs.