Maggie looked at Ellen and Hannibal as Face left the gym. "Let me talk to him a minute alone," she said as they both nodded.
Maggie followed Face to his room and closed the door behind them. "What makes you think Doctor Carson isn't telling the truth?" She asked when he turned around.
"I told you, Maggie," Face said almost pleadingly. "I felt something, I know, I did! Why won't you believe me!"
"I believe you, Face," Maggie said quietly. "I didn't trust a word that doctor said."
"You didn't?" Face asked in surprise as Maggie continued.
"I saw your reaction myself, I know you felt something," Maggie replied with a grin. "But, I think we aught to keep it to ourselves for now and I'll work with you when no ones around, understand?"
"Yeah," Face said with a nod. "I think that would be for the best as well."
Maggie knew she could trust Hannibal, Murdock, BA and Ellen but some one some where for what ever reason didn't want to see Face get better and until they figured out who it was and why, Maggie and Face decided to keep his progress to themselves.
Working late into the night for the next several weeks, she helped him strengthen his legs until he was practically standing on his own. The next part was going to prove to be the most difficult, taking a step and for that, he needed to have control over his legs again.
"You're trying to hard," Maggie said frustrated before sweeping her hair up into a rubber band and then she met Face's eyes. He was lying on the table in the gym on his back and sighed in frustration as Maggie put a hand on his shoulder. "Okay," she said taking a deep breath. "Remember what we did the first time. I want you to clear your mind, don't focus on your legs or your feet."
Face nodded as he closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"Relax," Maggie whispered soothingly. "Now, without thinking about it, just wiggle one toe."
Face nodded again as Maggie turned to watched the Lieutenant's feet. Ten seconds, twenty seconds, thirty seconds nothing happened and then just like before, the slightest movement.
Maggie smiled broadly as she smacked Face on the shoulder.
"Ow," he yelled opening his eyes. "What was that for?"
"You did it!"
"Did what?" Face asked before it dawned on him. "I moved it?"
"Yes," Maggie yelled excitedly. "You moved a toe!"
"I want to do it again!" Face said watching his feet.
Maggie grinned and nodded when he not only moved one but two toes the second time. "Alright," she said putting a hand on his arm. "That's enough for tonight."
"Ahhhh, Maggie," Face whined.
"You heard her, Face," Hannibal said stepping into the room. "Nice work, Doc."
"You saw that?" Maggie said turning around as Hannibal nodded.
"Head to bed, Lieutenant," Hannibal ordered as Face got himself back into his chair.
"Yes, dad," Face teased before wheeling himself out the door.
Maggie giggled as Hannibal looked at her. "It's not funny, Doc."
"Sure it is, Dad," she said giggling again before heading for the door.
Hannibal shook his head as he smiled and then followed her out of the gym.
Face was to keyed up to sleep as he went into his room. It was only going to be a matter of time before he was walking again! He knew Doctor Carson had been lying but why? What would he have to gain by lying to him?
Ellen's wedding weekend quickly approached and Face agonized over whether or not he was going to be ready. Working with Maggie alone hadn't gotten him the results he wanted but taking steps between the parallel bars with her there was risky enough, he couldn't take the chance of doing clandestine work outs at night and injure himself.
"Alright," Maggie said standing beside him as he took another step. "Let's stop for a bit, you're pushing yourself to hard."
"I...can...keep...going," Face said straining to stay on his feet. "Please!"
"No, Face," Maggie said sternly. "You've had enough! I'm going to get your chair, don't move!"
Maggie turned around to grab Face's wheelchair and wheel it behind the Lieutenant's position on the parallel bars so he could just sit down. But, Face decided it was time to meet her at the end of the rubber track instead.
'It's only four steps away,' he thought before letting go of the bars.
When Maggie turned around, she gasped when he took the first step by himself. As she silently watched, he took two more before stopping and grabbing the bars for support.
Racing forward, she grabbed him under his arms when his knees finally buckled under the intense pressure.
"I did it," Face whispered exhaustedly as Maggie nodded.
"You sure did, kiddo," Maggie said softly as tears came to her eyes. "You sure did!" Face closed his eyes as Maggie nodded. "You rest a minute and then we'll get you in bed."
"Yeah," he said with a nod. "No argument here."
Hannibal chuckled as heard what Face said when he stepped into the room. "That's a first," he said as Maggie grinned in appreciation for his presence.
"Just in time to help me," she said as the colonel easily lifted Face's smaller frame out of her arms and settled the Lieutenant into his chair.
Afterward, Maggie greatly accepted Hannibal's help in getting Face into bed as the exhaustion of walking wore him out to the point that she had to change his clothes and put him to bed.
"He'll be alright," Maggie said after seeing the concern on Hannibal, Murdock and BA's face's. "He's just pushed himself to exhaustion."
"No surprise there," Murdock said shaking his head. "Faceman really did take a few steps on his own?"
"Yes," Maggie said excitedly. "He'll be walking on his own in no time if he don't kill himself from exhaustion first."
"Whatcha think, Hannibal," BA said looking at the colonel. "You think it's time we got involved."
"Yeah," Hannibal said chomping down on a cigar. "You done did your part, Doc. You can leave the rest up to us now."