Catherine lay in the center of the bed, Sofia bent and straightened her leg, rubbing the calf; she bit her lip to keep from crying. She was making progress, but it hurt more and more as feeling came back; it was thanks to Sofia. The woman had found what worked and stuck to it but it wasn't pleasant.

Tingles had come back first, and only when the limb was being moved; then it just ached. Now when it was moved and stretched she could feel light touch after it was warmed up, but that merged with pain. Slowly she was beginning to feel her limbs again; she just couldn't move them on her own.

It had taken three days, and after the first it had gotten a lot easier; her family had gotten through their drama. Even Sam had turned up at the house to lecture her, Sofia had made mincemeat of her mother when she went off the deep end. All in all she was glad to have the CSI gone cop in her corner.

She knew most people meant well but it was hard to be dependent and harder to see people pity her. She didn't see that in Sofia's eyes, or how she treated her. Yet she was glad to be at home, both Sofia and the doctor had been right; it was better to be at home.

Here she could hide out, and she used it to her advantage, Sofia had no problem turning people away. And it might not of been fair but she used her most to turn away people they both worked with; especially Grissom. She could feel the progress she was making and little by little see it but every time they looked at her she flashed back to being at work; how they looked at victims.

They tore their lives apart looking for every detail, trying to find the truth and justice. When her coworkers looked at her it felt as if they were still on the case, and justice was seeing her father fall. She couldn't wish for that, no matter how much Sam drove her up the wall.

She couldn't regret that, couldn't wish him dead; no matter how much he irritated her. All she could do was take back her life, fight for her independence and move on. When she had her life back she could take back the respect she had and face the world again.

Sofia switched to her other leg, bending her leg up to her stomach then straightened it out at waist height and lowered it. Starting at the ankle the woman moved up her leg using a lot of pressure. "Feel that?"

"Yeah."

"Pain scale?" The woman moved higher and then back down before repeating the pattern of moving the leg.

"Tolerable." It bordered on not but as Sofia let her leg rest and pressed a thumb to the top of her foot; she smiled. "I feel that."

"Good." Sofia moved up her leg and she could feel lighter touch as it got higher.

She watched as Sofia took both her hands, and held them firmly; pulling her up to sit. Catherine tried not to wince, Sofia let her hands go and she focused everything she had on staying up right. She was able to manage it but it wasn't easy.

She'd had a doctor's appointment earlier today, they'd done x-rays and scans; swelling was going down. It wasn't gone yet, but the doctors still wanted more progress. She wanted the same.

"Lift this hand." Sofia ordered softly, and she tried; she was barely able to get it up an inch. "Other one."

She obeyed, it was irritating not to be able to simply lift her arm and bend it as she wanted but then it had never been something she hadn't been able to do; until now.

"Hey you are sitting up on your own. Don't get down on yourself. Let's try and stand, just in front of the bed; lock your knees. I'm spotting you." Sofia pulled her up to stand, hands on either side of her until she steadied.

For a moment she stayed upright but it didn't last, she wobbled and Sofia steadied her again but then she knew she was falling. Her body collapsed and she wanted to bring her arms back to brace her fall but they only swung slightly; Sofia guided her back.

Hot tears threatened to spill over, she felt useless and it hurt more than pain running through her legs; it was so simple. Taking deep breaths she brought herself back under control. "I guess it's not going to happen yet."

"No, not yet but it will." Sofia pulled her up and into the position they had found worked and took her down the stairs.

Lindsay was at school and the house was quiet, Sofia moved through the lower floor with ease; she got dumped on the couch as the doorbell rang. Sofia went to the peep hole, and turned back to her. "It's Sam."

She just nodded, she'd made Sofia get rid of him the last time he turned up; it had been a job. The door opened and Sam strode through, he nodded to Sofia and adjusted his jacket; he'd probably already been on one of his casino floors. The cop excused herself and Sam moved to stand in front of her.

"You want to sit down or hover over me." She looked up at him and as he stared back at her focused all her energy on moving one hand onto her leg. It worked, but only because the hand had just slid off.

"Muggs." His voice cracked as he sat beside her, she just stared back at him levelly; he wore his pity on his sleeve every time he came.

"Don't get excited Sam, I can only make my hand move about an inch and only if I focus on it."

"It's a start, are you in pain Muggs?"

"They gave me drugs for that." She wasn't going to tell him what she felt, not when it meant he would only look at her with more sadness.

"Listen, Catherine, are you sure more care wouldn't help? I can still get that team back here, you can stay at home."

"No, Sam, Sofia is taking care of me fine; I want to get my independence back. Not depend on people forever, the fewer people I have to deal with the better." Catherine glared at him.

"You know you always make life difficult for yourself, much more difficult than it has to be. I could have somebody here to take care of you 24/7, someone who knows what they are doing; went to school for it." Sam's voice rose, and she glared at him.

"Or I could have a friend, someone I trust help me. Someone who wants to see me on my feet as soon as possible; not drag it out and make more money. So maybe you could be nicer to Sofia because I appreciate what she is doing for me." Catherine snapped back, not ready to let him push her into a corner.

"Muggs, you make it harder on yourself than it has to be." He shook his head and she looked away for a moment; then stared back hard.

"Why don't you consider the person who is taking care of me? I work with her, I count her friend and it embarrasses me to have her take care of me. She helps me shower Sam, and dress, then she carries me around the house."

"Damn it, I'm an invalid, I can't do anything for myself and almost everybody who looks at me feels sorry for me. You do too, it's why I duck almost everybody except my daughter and someone I only knew casually. My child wants her mother back, and she's so scared I'll just up and die that she clings when she's home and updates me on everything I nagged her for before."

"But Sofia, doesn't pity me, doesn't make me feel useless. Instead she's using her vacation time to help me heal, she's trying to help me get moving again. Stretches my joints and keeps me moving so I won't lose all my muscle tone." She took a breath and Sam stared at her silently for a moment; she continued.

"I appreciate her help but I am afraid, I'm afraid I'll be the reason she throws her back, hurts herself; and I end up costing her the career she has worked for. I know how hard it is to get a job and earn respect in the PD. But it's less humiliating to have her help me than to have someone on your payroll. And Sam all I want is my life back, and someone is helping me; and you treat her like dirt while I use her as a shield."

They were both quiet for a long moment, she looked away and sighed. She was upset and thinking about it was making her legs cramp; pain raced through her body. Then Sam reached out and caught her chin, turning her face; his hand stroked her cheek.

"You took two bullets for me, and the day before I smacked you; the only time I've ever raised my hand to you. And your daughter was missing, your child and I struck you; you were already hurting more than I knew. I didn't know it until I had your blood on me; waiting to find out if you'd live. I am sorry if my pity repulses you, I am concerned for my daughter."

"Sam, you slept with my mother but never told me, I found out by screwing up a case. I had an idea on that long before but by confirming it I let you walk; I still regret that. I don't want or need your pity, or your help; I'll get by." She jerked her cheek free and turned away.

"We will talk, Catherine; and it will be soon. I'll let you rest."

"And keep paying off the nurses at the hospital to get your gossip." He glared at her but she stared back.

"If my daughter won't tell me how her recovery is coming than I will have to find it from other sources." He stood and headed for the door, Catherine glared at his back, and Sofia stepped into the doorway and watched him leave.

The door closed and she sighed. "Guess that means patient confidentiality means squat where his money is involved."

"You already knew that." Sofia strode across the room to sit beside her. "Hey Catherine, you know I am here because I want to be."

"I know that, Sofia, I do and I appreciate it but I still worry; no matter what you say." She looked down, her leg was seriously sore.

"You need a pain pill, and Catherine; he really does want to help you." Sofia stood up and went back to the kitchen; returned a moment later with a pill and glass of water.

Sofia took her hand and wrapped it around the glass, placed the pill between her lips and guided her in raising the glass; she swallowed the pill. "Thanks."

"If you are feeling more pain that could be a good thing. All the same I think you should lay down and be still for a while. Lindsay will be home soon, rest so that you can spend some time with her." Sofia took her knees and swung her around.