Chapter 10

Dr. Denny silhouetted the doorway of the occupational therapy room, where she stood watching her patient struggle to move the wooden pegs from one end of the board to the other. Every time a peg slipped from his grasp onto the floor, a piece of her heart went with it.

"Now Doctor, I'm not going to have to report you for stalking your patients, am I?". The words came softly from behind, and the breath tickled the back of her neck. She shivered slightly as she turned around to face Jesse Hawkes, eye to eye.

Elizabeth gave a bashful smirk, but played along. "Mr. Hawkes, you should know better than to ask that". Jesse couldn't help but smile at her reply and gave a curtious nod. She tried not to focus on the flutter of intimidation he always managed to inflict upon her, and return her attention instead to the real reason for her presence. "I know it's a tad early, but I was here giving Matt his six month evaluation".

"And did he pass?", he asked teasingly.

"With flying colors", she retorted, just as playfully.

Jesse took purchase next to the good doctor and followed the path to where her gaze had been, only a few minutes ago. He blew out a heavy breath and shook his head in disbelief. "Six months already?". Dr. Denny could see a fresh wave of pain resurface in the older man; and without having children of her own, she could only imagine how difficult all of this must be for him.

Elizabeth's eyes remained on Jesse as he watched his boy work through the exercise. The stony expression he was wearing only allowed room for one small smile when the therapist uttered the encouragement, "Great job Matt. Let's try it again".

"He's doin' good, isn't he?".

Elizabeth was slightly surprised at his choice of words, but a smile of her own spread across her lips. "Yes he is". There was no denying that her patient had improved quite a bit since he'd been transferred to the inpatient rehabilitation wing of the hospital, only two and a half months ago. But progress was still painfully slow for Matt, who sometimes went days or even weeks, without much or any improvement at all. "Strength and fine motor skills are the hardest to recover. Retraining damaged nerves can be a tricky thing".

"But it'll happen, right?", Jesse prodded.

"That's what we're working toward", she answered confidently, but the frown that followed told a different story.

Jesse noticed the change in her expression and felt the need to ask, "How is he doing otherwise?".

Elizabeth took in a deep breath in preparation to get out everything she needed to say. "His legs still aren't responding, but given the extent of nerve damage Matt sustained, that not surprising". It was the look of steely determination that settled in Jesse's eyes that made it very clear that answer was not good enough for him. Dr. Denny realized it wasn't good enough for her either; or Matt. "That's not to say we're just closing the door on the subject. You see Mr. Hawkes--".

"It's Jesse, please". Enough was enough, they'd know each other far too long for this type of formality.

"Fine then. Jesse.", Dr. Denny quickly corrected herself, and proceeded. "Most purposeful recovery usually takes place within the first year of the injury. However, we have had patients that make great strides for years following an injury. There's still a chance, however slim. And I hope for Matt, that's the case".

"Me too", Jesse replied, matching the smile Elizabeth was giving him.

"Much of the sensation in Matt's arms and hands has returned, and we're optimistic the numbness in his fingertips, as well as the lingering weakness in his left arm and hand, will improve in time. Our main goal now is to work on regaining as much strength as possible. ", she added hopefully. It was obvious Jesse was carefully listening to every word.

"It's going to be a long road", he replied, also hopeful, but much more realistic.

"Yes it is". Dr. Denny nodded solemnly in agreement. "But Mr. Hawk---Jesse, that isn't my only concern. It seems as though Matt's recovery has hit a bit of a crossroads, and I'm very concerned about how he's doing psychologically". Jesse didn't look surprised in the least that she'd mentioned this. Maybe he was worried about it too. "After all that he's been through and is going through now, I think it would be wise if Matt started seeing Dr. Phillips, our staff psychologist. Maybe just once a week at first, more if he'd like to". Elizabeth hesitated for a moment, then looked Jesse straight in the eye, "Because to be honest Jesse, even the best therapy won't work unless Matt's mind is in it too".

"I agree with you doctor. I think that is a good idea for Matt to have someone he can talk to". A wily grin began to form at his lips; Jesse Hawkes was obviously up to something. "But I think there's something else we can do that might help Matt even more", he offered, giving a suggestive wink. "And I'm going to need your help to pull it off".

It was a Wednesday. Jesse knew Matt would be busy with therapy all day, so it was the perfect opportunity to put his plan into fruition.

He walked into the room later that afternoon to find Matt in his usual place; sitting with his back to the door, staring out the large picture window of his room. "Hello son".

"Hey Dad", Matt replied without even bothering to turn around, or look over his shoulder. He just continued to stare out the window. Jesse stepped around the bed, over to the chair opposite his son, and sat down. It was then Matt noticed the duffel bag and jacket his father had placed on his bed. "What's that for?", he asked curiously.

"Thought you could use a few days away from this place". Jesse watched as the wheels started turning in Matt's head. "Tomorrow's Thanksgiving, and you're mother and brother are expecting us for turkey dinner".

"I thought they were coming here", Matt challenged.

"Change of plans. We're going to them", Jesse retorted, slapping his knees as he stood up.

Matt looked incredulously up at his father. "Dad we you can't just break me out of here--- ".

"I'm not breaking you out, Matthew". Jesse tried to keep his grin at bay. "Dr. Denny's given her okay for a weekend pass. Said I just need to have you back here by Sunday at night".

A wave of anxiousness washed over Matt. He'd only been out on the occasional day pass, and never for more than a few hours at a time. Now, not only was his father talking about an actual road trip, but an overnight one to Tahoe. "Dad, we can't go to Mom's---". Matt drew a blank when trying to come up with a better excuse, so he used the obvious, "---she lives on the second floor".

Dr. Denny warned Jesse that this might happen; she was almost certain that Matt would be nervous about leaving the safety of the hospital for an extended period. Little did they know it went much, much deeper than that.

Jesse placed his hand on his sons shoulder and gave a quick, reassuring squeeze. "Relax son, it's all been taken care of. We're meeting your mother and brother somewhere more---comfortable". While that news did offer Matt some consolation he still had some reservations about going, but knew protesting would be futile. When Jesse Hawkes was determined to do something, there was no stopping him. So instead, Matt simply let his father help him into his jacket and lead him out the door.

"What the hell", Matt mumbled when Jesse stopped next to a new looking maroon van parked at the end of the hospital carport.

"You like it?", Jesse asked as he opened the side door to let the hydraulic lift down.

"Sure. It's nice". It was all Matt could come up with in his current state of shock. Then it occurred to him, "Wait, you bought this?".

Jesse chuckled softly. "I thought you might be getting tired of that same streetcar route".

"But how?".

The elder Hawkes gave a mild shrug as he climbed in after Matt was safely loaded. "I used some of the extra money from the rewards". Matt knew his father had been working vigilantly on quite a few bounty hunting cases over the past weeks since those responsible for injuring him and killing Hart and Cutler, were put behind bars. But he never thought the payouts had been as large as this. "I got a good deal too. This is a top-of-the-line model, but Merv at the dealership was able to give me a pretty hefty discount because they needed to make room for their next years inventory".

Jesse caught a hint of a smile working it's way across Matt's lips. "What?", he asked innocently, his blue eyes sparkling as he looked back into the rear view mirror at his son.

Matt shrugged and blew out a bewildered sigh. "I just can't imagine you driving a van".

Jesse could hear the mild amusement in Matt's voice, and that made him happy. "Well, it's only until your ready to take over", he added, leaving the words hanging there for a moment. "Merv also said it wouldn't take much to have this thing adapted so you can drive it".

"Really?". It came out as a mere whisper. Matt almost couldn't believe it; up until now, everything had been about hospitals, tests, therapy, and all the things that had been lost that day. He never thought it would be possible to regain any of those things.

Through the mirror, Jesse could see the change that notion brought about in Matt. He smiled as he turned the key in the ignition. "Really".

Matt dosed off about halfway through the ride, something Jesse was grateful for. He was hoping to at least get to the gravel road that led up to the building before that happened. Because if his boy were to wake up now, even in the dark of night, he'd definitely recognize his surroundings.

The pair of headlights that shone through the window, tipped the rangers off that unexpected guests had just arrived. Frank and Robin were first to the door.

Matt shifted to stretch out some of the kinks that had settled in his shoulders during the ride. Then the door was suddenly lowered and Matt was face to face with the people and place that had been haunting him for the past six and a half months.

"They're here", Frank could be heard shouting.

Robin was next. "Cody, I thought you said they wouldn't be here until tomorrow morning".

"That's what my Dad told me".

Dad.

In a surreal moment, they were all gathered around him. Everything was a blur. He vaguely remembered being lowered to the ground, then suddenly Cody was behind, pushing him. There was a ramp, new obviously, leading up the steps to the porch. Then they were inside and the brightness of the room made Matt squeeze his eyes shut. It was hard to keep track of the conversations, the voices were lapping over one another.

"I wish we'd known you were coming early. We would have made sure to finish the sign". Robin. She was obviously talking to his father. Matt opened his eyes to see a long banner hanging across the pool table, only half of the words painted in, Welcome home Matt.

Matt's chest began to tighten, he almost couldn't breath.

"Where's your mother?", he heard his father ask his brother.

"Working a double to get Friday off. She should be here by eleven". Even his mother was in on it.

"Hey Matt, you hungry after that long trip?". It was Izzy. Matt's mouth ran so dry, and he almost couldn't answer.

"Ah no thanks". He hoped it didn't come out rude, since it was almost impossible to hear his own voice with the loud ringing in his ears. "Hey Dad, can we get to the place we're staying at. I'm a little tired---".

"You're staying here", Cody cut in as if reminding his brother of "their" plans. He stepped back behind Matt and started to push him toward the back of the cabin. "We renovation that huge storage area into two bedrooms---".

Jesse paused his conversation with Grizzly to ask, "Where're you two going?".

"Matt's tired after the long ride. I thought I'd show him--".

Jesse let out a small chuckle. "Tired? You just slept for two hours".

Matt looked up, nearly glaring through Jesse. "I guess it wore me out", he sputtered, then took hold of the control of his electric wheelchair, and headed down the hall.

Alone.

I want to thank everyone who was kind enough to review the previous chapter(s). I really love reading what you have to say. The response to this story has been remarkable. My sincere apologies to all of those who I've "addicted", though.

Thanks.

~Missy~