Olivia watched Mellie walk out with her agents and wondered why two of them were staying. She closed her eyes and nearly fell asleep again. After several minutes she opened her eyes. She could feel that Fitz was somewhere near her. She looked around and laid her eyes on the door. Within seconds, Fitz came bursting in.
"You are awake. Mellie wasn't lying."
"Mellie is cruel at times but she wouldn't tell you I was awake when I wasn't."
Fitz bent down and kissed her and this time she was able to kiss him back.
"Hi." He waited for her to say something but nothing came out. Fitz watched her mouth move but no sound. "Livie, say something."
Two nurses came in and took Olivia to get some tests done before they talked with anyone.
"I'll be right here when you get back, Livie."
After an hour Dr. Shelep came back in.
"Mr. President," Dr. Shelep announced when he went in the room. James and Cyrus followed behind him.
"She actually is awake," Cyrus said filled with joy.
"Would you all mind coming out to the hallway with me?" Dr. Shelep asked. Fitz, Cyrus, and James went to the hallway to the waiting room where the gladiators were at. "Ms. Pope is indeed awake. And responding to us in some way. Still, she has no function in her arms of legs. She knows where she is but not how she got here. She isn't speaking because she can't. Her scans show that the bullet nicked her the part of her brain that controls her speaking, and major motor functions. She has no feeling in her arms or legs. For now, she is paralyzed from the neck down. There is a chance that she will be better with some intense physical therapy and speech therapy. But even then, there is a chance that it will not happen."
"So you're saying that it is more than likely that she will be paralyzed forever?" James asked.
"It's about a 98% chance that she will be like this for the rest of her life. The therapy can help some if she really wants it to help. A lot of doctors think it's just mind over matter in therapy. If Ms. Pope wants the therapy to help, it will help," Dr. Shelep explained.
"She can't even speak for herself what is she supposed to do at therapy? Keep shaking her head no?" Cyrus yelled.
Fitz excused himself and went back to her room. He stood outside the glass doors watching her. Olivia stared at him through the glass. She could see that he was upset, upset enough that his eyes started to water. As soon as his did, she started to get teary. Fitz wasn't sure he was strong enough to go in and tell her that she might never walk again. But he knew that he had to be the one to tell her. Cyrus would make it seem worse than it is. James would get too emotional. Her gladiators weren't in a position to tell their boss that she would never run again.
Slowly, Fitz walked into the room taking a seat on the bed next to her.
She looked between him and the agents outside the door with Tom and Daniel.
"What are they doing here?"
As if he could understand her question he answered. "Everyone knows about us now. I have to make sure that you are well protected. These two agents are here to do that. They are just to make sure that no one that isn't allowed comes in here to see you." Liv's heart beat started to speed up. He could tell that she was getting upset about it. "Olivia, listen to me. It's for your protection. They haven't been in the room to see you. They just guard the door. You aren't going anywhere for now. They are just here outside the door. Relax, sweet baby. They aren't going to follow you."
Olivia relaxed a little and her heart rate started to slow down to where it should be.
"We are going to get you the best therapy there is. But you have to want it for it to work. Dr. Shelep says that you don't have feeling in your arms or legs. We are going to find the best treatment for you and get you back on your feet. And your speech isn't working so we'll find you the best way for that too. But you have to want it. I need you to want it. So that you will get better. Please, Livie. You want to get better right?"
She nodded her head yes.
"Good, I'll be back in a few minutes." He kissed her cheek and left the room. "Dr. Shelep?"
"Yes?"
"Get me the best therapist number you can find for both physical and speech. Olivia will be taking it. Fly them in immediately. I don't care the cost of anything. Get me the best. Cyrus will coordinate the details of getting them here."
Dr. Shelep looked passive at him. "I'm sorry, Sir. It isn't you decision to make. Mr. Novak has to make that decision for Ms. Pope until she is able to tell us what she wants."
James walked in front of Dr. Shelep and looked him in the eyes. "Make the call."
