"Well, Jimmy, I am happy to say that your shoulder is healing nicely. The Physical Therapy you have been doing has been keeping everything mobile. The x-ray of your collar bone is looking very good. I think we will consider keeping the plate in there for now. Is it bothering you?"

"No ma'am, it feels just fine."

"And your ribs feel completely repaired. You don't feel any pain when I put pressure on them?"

"No ma'am, they feel good to go."

"And your lung capacity, I see you have been running on the treadmill. Have you had any shortness of breath or pain?"

"Nope, I'm good."

"Then I think we can pretty much say that you are released from my care. I have written a prescription for continued Physical Therapy. When the PT thinks you are strong enough, she can release you for shooting practice. Your ribs feel good and your collar bone is healed just fine now but I think you need a bit more muscle rebuilding before you can begin shooting, okay?"

"Yep, sounds good!" He pulled on his shirt and jumped off the examining room table to button it up.

"You are looking healthy again! Looking forward to going back to work?"

"Yes ma'am."

"Alright, here is your release form from me. I have a copy in your files here. If you need anything or have any pain, let me know, okay?"

"I will. Thank you" and he walked out of the room to head out the front door of the hospital for the last time.

Annie sat in the car playing with her phone. She had come with him to his appointment but could not bring herself to enter the hospital waiting room. She looked up when the driver's side swung open. Her partner stood there slingless. It took her a moment to realize. Suddenly her face broke into the biggest smile she had had in months. "JIMMY! You don't have a sling!"

"Nope. I've been released by the doctor. Now I just have to pass with my physical therapist…. and Joe, and I am back to work!" He piled into the SUV and started up the engine.

He looked over at his beautiful passenger. Since that fateful day in the bunks, Annie had kept the walls down for Jimmy but ONLY Jimmy. They had been supporting each other for the past 4 weeks, going to therapy sessions and PT together. It had worked better than he could have imagined. That sparkle she had before the nightmare was back – so was her spark.

"Lucky you" that spark side pouted. "You will get to go back to work but I still have to be released. You will get to have stuff to do. I am going to go insane with nothing to do." She was seriously putting herself in a mood. "awesome."

"Annie, that is ridiculous. You have your final appointment for your leg tomorrow. Even your PT said you were coming along better than expected! I am sure you will be released. I still have to get my shoulder ready for shooting practice. Now quit pouting. Where do you want to eat?" He pulled the truck into traffic and headed down the road.

"I'm not hungry."

"Annie, come on. This cannot really have you this mad." But she kept staring out the window.

When he drove past their favorite lunch spot without even slowing down, she reacted, "Hey!"

But he just shook his head and chuckled, "you said you weren't hungry!"

She snorted, "I'm not" and turned back to the window.

They drove in silence for about 10 minutes and he turned the SUV into the parking lot of his destination. He initially had thought that her sullen attitude was nothing. But she clearly was upset. Her funk had unhinged him. Things had been so good, so positive for so long that he had forgotten how to deal with her frustrating side.

"Why are we at the shooting range?" She spat the words out like venom, "you can't shoot yet."

"Something wrong with your arms? Your shoulder? Your hands?" He pressed the lever to park, turned off the ignition and turned to face her.

"What?"

"YOU can shoot. I cannot. So we are here bc that will put you ahead of me." He knew giving in to her sulking was not a good idea but he just couldn't help himself because here it came…

Annie's face broke into a massive grin from ear to ear. Her eyes lit up like flashlights. "I can shoot!"

His attitude lit up in reflection. Her happiness was always contagious with him. Now, apparently, so was her bad attitude and he could not afford to take any steps backward at this point. He was too happy at being released.

They entered the familiar storefront and ambled down to the actual range, stopping only to check out a rental gun on the way. They had not brought their own. Jimmy stood behind her as she carefully aimed the rifle at the paper outline a quarter of a mile away.

-\\-

The shooting range had been just what the doctor ordered. Annie was decidedly happier then she had been. She had scored through the roof and clearly would have no problem being reinstated from that stand-point.

She was still bragging when they headed to their Physical Therapy appointments two hours later.

But on their way home, both were silent. He wasn't sure if it was because she was as tired and sore as he was or if she was in another one of her moods.

She rolled her head over to look at him. "Wanna pick up something to eat?" It wasn't traditionally her thing to discuss food. That was usually his territory. But his stomach rumbled in response so he pulled into a nearby Diner parking lot.

They heaved their sore, exhausted bodies out of the truck and shuffled in to order.

The food invigorated both of them and in no time they were laughing their way back to the loft. The night progressed happily until it came time to get ready for bed.

Annie clutched her robe and apprehensively approached the bathroom. Jimmy watched her out of the corner of his eye. This was a moment he had been dreading for her. She cautiously went in and he heard the water turn on. He waited….and waited….and waited. He did not hear the distinctive sound of water hitting body so he headed toward the door.

As he entered the bathroom his eyes scanned from corner to corner until they found her. There she sat, in under the sink in her special spot. She wasn't shaking this time so he wouldn't need the Valium. He wasn't sure what to do until Annie looked up at him and stood up.

She stood there, miserable. Jimmy did the only thing he could think of. He reached for her hand to guide her. He would stay in the bathroom so that she was not alone. She took his hand and headed toward the running water.

From behind he gently pulled her brand new puffy robe off her shoulders as she stepped between the shower curtains into the shower. He tried to wait again, but the urge was too strong…

She stood frozen in the warm water unable to close her eyes or become distracted by soap or shampoo… until he stepped in and joined her.

He gently kissed her as he grabbed the bar of soap and began helping her soap up. With the fluffy white wash cloth he rinsed the bubbles off her body. His delicate touch was making her dizzy and she reached up to steady herself.

With both hands on his chest her eyes caught the pink scar from his shoulder surgery. She slowly leaned in and kissed it then paused before she continued kissing up his neck as high as she could reach until she was nibbling on his earlobe.

He let out a small moan, dropped the washcloth and pulled her to him.

She reached up on her tip-toes to catch his fervent kissing. His hand slid from her face to massage her breasts.

She gasped at the pleasure and shifted her arms up to pull his head to her . She slowed the kisses making them deeper and more passionate.

It was all the encouragement he needed and she could feel how ready he was. He deserted the gentle massage of her breasts to cup her bottom lifting her to his level.

She wrapped her legs around his waist and allowed him to enter her. Slowly she began to rock her hips back and forth. He was breathing heavily with each movement she made and she could tell he liked it. Making him happy became her focus but he had other ideas as he backed away from her kisses, bent his head down and began to gently suckle her nipples. Annie arched her back to provide him better access. It felt so good.

They were both out of breath.

This time it was Annie's turn to moan. With each tug and flip of his tongue on her nipple, she would gyrate more until both were rhythmically undulating and groaning.

Suddenly Annie could take it no more. The pleasure of his touch was taking her to heights she had never felt. Her heart was going to burst and she squeezed him tighter. Rocking her hips more rapidly as her head fell back, she let out an unbridled sigh of happiness.

The urgency of her motions took Jimmy over the edge. He wanted to make sure she found pleasure first but it was too much and he couldn't control himself. He held her body tight to him. It wasn't until he reached his climax that he realized she had joined him.

In their fervor, they both almost fell over until Jimmy reluctantly took one hand off of her and placed it on the wall to steady them. She just held on as tight as she could.

The two looked like prunes when they finally emerged from the shower wearing two satisfied smiles and a holding their quiet secret in their hearts.

The rest of the night they barely parted using every opportunity to touch each other. The connection bristled with electricity and both were unable to resist each other. They went to bed early but neither was particularly ready to sleep. Too much had happened that day and they didn't want it to end.

At one point, Annie rolled over with that suspicious grin on her face. Jimmy was glad that he had been working out in his PT sessions. It was going to be a wonderfully fulfilling night and he needed to be physically fit!