Chapter Seven

Despite the fact that Johnny wasn't over the worst of it, and despite the fact that there was still a chance he'd die, Reed managed to convince everyone it was time to go home. Johnny would get well best if he was given the opportunity to heal. So with the doctor's help, he convinced Ben, Alicia and Sue to head home with him.

Even Dr. Nelson retired to the on-call room, with strict instructions that if anything changed in Johnny's condition he was to be notified immediately. Katie remained. She wasn't sure what it was about this young man that she was so interested by, but she was definitely interested.

For twelve hours straight, she sat in his hospital room. Watching him, his chest rose and fell. Despite what the Dr. Nelson said about not seeing improvements for twenty-four hours, she already was beginning to notice. His muscles were twitching, in his legs and in his arms-that was good it meant A) he was having a REM cycle so he was sleeping and B) that his legs had potential to function again. She noticed his skin color go from a pale white, to a more rosey pink color.

His breathing, which prior to this point had appeared labored, was also coming easier from the looks of it. She took a good portion of the evening to really study the man behind "The Human Torch". He was handsome, but not stunningly so. He was definitely good looking and had a well toned body despite the obvious injuries.

He clearly had a devoted, albiet dysfunctional family. He appeared to be capable of loving, as she could tell he adored his sister every time he looked at her. Katie wondered if Sue saw it, the same look of adoration and amazement in his eyes everytime Johnny looked at her. It was unusual to see such devotion from someone his age.

She managed to avoid the nurses for their midnight shift, it was nearing eight in the morning and she knew morning rounds were coming soon. She glanced at his face, preparing to leave when she realized blue eyes were staring at her.

He weakly moved his good hand up and pushed the oxygen mask off his face. He looked at her, then glanced around the room as if looking for his friends.

"They're at home resting. It's been a busy week."

He nodded he opened his mouth to speak but ended up coughing. He looked around to see if there was anything he could wet his mouth with.

"Here," Katie grabbed the nearby plastic pitcher and scooped some ice chips into the cup. "You'll want to start out with ice chips, people in your shape need a once over to make sure it's okay to have liquids." She took the spoon sitting in the plastic cup and dumped a few ice chips on his tongue.

He sucked on the chips for a few moments before sighing and looking at her, "Katie?" He asked.

"Yeah, I'll be your phsyical therapist once you're feeling better."

He nodded slowly, "Better soon. How long?"

"You've been unconscious for three days since you had the cardic arrest. You've been here overall about a week."

Johnny absorbed this information, "Paralyzed?"

Katie sighed, "Not if I have anything to say about it. Your family says you're very strong, and from what I've seen you go through this week they're right. This doesn't have to beat you."

"Why are you here?" He finally managed to congeal an entire sentence in his mind.

Katie wasn't sure, it was a fair question but she hadn't quite figured out the answer to that herself. "You sister was concerned about you…I felt a night alone in a hospital warranted a stay."

He nodded, "Thanks." He offered weakly. "I hate hospitals," he whispered.

"Not many people like them." Katie replied matter of factly.

"True, but I'd like to think my irrational fear isn't all that irrational," he supplied.

She chuckled softly, "Why don't you like them?"

"Spent a lot of time in them as a kid, I got used to the pokes and prods…watched a parent die here."

She was silent, so there was much more to the Human Torch than anyone let on. "I'll try to keep it as unscary as possible," she offered.

He chuckled, but his chuckle turned into a cough. She helped him sit up as he groaned. "God, broken ribs suck," he mumbled as he took a slow breath.

"Yes they do. I should get a nurse and Dr. Nelson, they wanted to keep an eye on you. According to them you shouldn't have survived."

Leaning back against the bed he smirked, "I'm a hard man to kill."

"I'll check up on you later this evening. I'm going to go get Dr. Nelson."

Johnny looked at her, but instead of a cocky smirk he gave her a warm smile. "Is that a promise?"

"Which part, Romeo?"

Grinning he looked seriously at her, "The part about coming back?"

"Why do you care?"

He shook his head as she tossed him a smile over her shoulder before walking out of the room. He hadn't expected to wake up to an unknown face, but she certainly had a nice face. Beautiful gray blue eyes and dark brown hair, he'd noticed her body too, she was about average height and weight, he guessed she had to be on the sturdier side with her job, but she didn't look fat, rather phsyically fit. She was clearly a strong personality as well because she didn't seem to mind going face face with strong willed people. He smiled and shook his head as he leaned his head back against the pillows and focused on getting some more rest.

Katie stepped out of the room and paused, tilting her head to the side, she couldn't quite figure out what it as that lured her to him. He was different, unlike any patient she could recall and she'd been doing this for five years.

Dr. Nelson stepped into the hospital room fifteen minutes after Katie left. She'd let him know Johnny was awake, so he'd washed up briefly and headed into the hospital room. "Well, I must say you certainly are looking much better for a man who's been through what you have."

"Thanks," Johnny offered with a smirk. "So what's the prognosis?"

Nelson looked Johnny over, checking his vitals and everything. "Getting better everyday. We were all pretty worried about you for awhile there. Can you push you're feet against my hands."

He watched and waited, some of Johnny's muslces twitched but nothing else occurred. "Katie will work with you on building up the damaged nerves and muscles."

"She's good?" Johnny asked.

Nelson chuckled, "Kid, she's been doing this for the past five years, in those five years she's only ever had two people who she couldn't help. Neither one was her fault. She's the best damned phsyical therapist in three counties and given a few more years probably the best damned one in the country. She's smart and we're lucky to have her."

"She datin' anyone?"

"Boy you are just a play boy aren't you, she's not that kind of girl-"

Johnny held up his good hand, "Relax doc, I'm just askin'. You related to her?"

Nelson sighed and he sat down on the edge of the bed. He smiled, "I've known that girl since she was three years old. Her father was my best friend and I was her God-father. Her father passed away about seven years ago when she was still in school. You'll forgive me if I naturally take his position."

Johnny smirked, "Believe me, doc. I can relate. I understand…I lost my mother at seven, Sue's the closest thing I've got to a mother and sister."

Nelson eyed the young man, "Quite right. No, she's single. And if you plan anything with that girl you best plan long term if you understand. She's a fine young woman whose goal is to become a wife and eventually a mother, along with that I'm pretty sure she'd like to be phsyical therapist of the year."

"I'm not here to stop that. I'm simply checkin' doc."

Nelson shook his head, "All right then. How do you feel?"

Johnny took mental inventory of his bdoy, "Like crap, but I'm here."

"Well right now, that's saying a lot. I'll go call your family, son. Is there anything you need?"

"You're the doctor you tell me."

Laughing, Nelson made a few notes on the chart, "How about some breakfast?"

"That sounds great."

TBC