A/N first off let me apologise for you having to wait so long for what is essentially a filler chapter- the product of a nasty writers block, its mostly fluff with some angst if you squint? For the next chapter I'm doing a little time jump and moving Audrey out of CTU, I'm getting tired of the place. Just as a little add on for your imagination, Dr Okara is sort of based on Colin Salmon's performance in Merlin- his tone of voice/demeanor etc so hop on to youtube if you're not familiar with him. Sorry for the rant and enjoy :D

Chapter Fourteen- Understanding

Amanda and another doctor were in her office, deep in discussion. She was shaking her head in disbelief whilst the man opposite her listened intently… 'I've never seen anything like it, the sadism expressed in her scars- it beggars belief. For one person to go through so much… I'm sorry, Lee, you're not here to listen to me venting.'

'It's okay Amanda, I understand. Trust me; I feel exactly the same way about all the young men coming through my clinic. The war certainly leaves its marks.' Lee replied gently.

'Yes it does' Amanda murmured, and then shook her head again, trying to clear it. 'Sorry yes, as I was saying, I suspect she has a partial, if not complete, tear to her median nerve- although of course it may stem from the lateral cord given her general difficulty in moving the arm. During my earlier examination she was unable to pronate the wrist and formed the Hand of Benediction when I asked her to make a fist.'

The other doctor nodded, 'that would certainly indicate damage to the median nerve. Did you note any muscle atrophy? And you mentioned a traumatic injury to the left knee?'

'Yes and yes. With the knee injury I would guess it to be between five and six months old going by the scaring.'

'Have you been able to determine a cause?'

'That bit wasn't difficult, it's a gunshot wound- entry and exit scars rather gave it away.' She cringed at the thought of the agony Audrey must have been in as the bullet tore its terrible path through muscle, tendon and bone. Lee also winced. 'Neurologically speaking I think the injury is fairly minor- she still has relatively good control over the lower limb. However her mobility has been severely impaired and as far as I can tell it is still causing her no small amount of pain.'

'Okay, well I'll complete a more in depth assessment and then we can start drawing up a treatment plan. Is she currently on any pain medication?' Lee made a few scrawled notes on his clipboard.

'We gave her a dose of Naproxin about 4 hours ago to take the edge off but that should be wearing off now.'

'Good' the doctor opposite her finished writing. 'Let's find out exactly what we're dealing with' He opened the door and held it for Amanda, 'Lead the way'.

Amanda paused at the door to Audrey's room, 'I'd better go in and explain everything first; Audrey doesn't cope very well around people she doesn't recognise and Jack is very protective of her…' Lee nodded in understanding, and waited out of sight as Amanda walked into the room.

Audrey was sat across Jack's lap, with his arms wrapped protectively around her shoulders. He absentmindedly tangled his fingers through her hair whilst she leant into his touch, her head resting against his chest. It warmed Amanda's heart to see the couple so content in spite of the rocky road which had brought them here. She tapped lightly on the doorframe. Jack looked up and Audrey jumped a little, startled, but settled again when she recognised Amanda. She moved off of Jack's lap so that she could twist round to face her. Amanda smiled.

'I've got another doctor outside who wants to take a closer look at your arm, and your knee if you'll let him.' Audrey eyed her dubiously and glanced at Jack for reassurance.

'It's alright' he whispered, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. She nodded nervously.

'Okay'

Without further ado, Amanda nodded to Lee, who stepped through the door. Audrey's knuckles were white as she gripped Jack's hand, shifting so that she was behind him. Jack rubbed his thumb along the back of her hand. 'Hi, I'm Doctor Lee Okara, but Lee is fine' the tall doctor said cheerfully. He extended his hand out to Jack, who shook it firmly, and then to Audrey, who hesitated for a moment before cautiously mimicking his gesture.

'Let's begin shall we? Do you mind if I roll up your sleeves?' Lee asked. Jack nudged Audrey forward so that Dr Okara could actually see her properly. Audrey shook her head but didn't say anything. Lee quickly rolled up the sleeves of the hospital gown so he could compare the two limbs- yes there was definitely some muscle wasting in the right. 'Before I start, are you in any pain at the moment?'

'Um hum' Audrey mumbled, then pointed to her right shoulder.

'Okay, and how long has your shoulder been hurting for?'

'I… I'm not sure… A long time' her mind flashed back to a dark room, on a cold metal table with her arm twisted behind her back. The knife, followed by the acid they had used to cauterise the wound. Her breathing sped up as the memory threatened to overwhelm her. Lee noticed her distress and spoke again, his voice drawing her back to the present, 'That's okay, it's hard to keep track of time sometimes isn't it?' Audrey nodded. 'Can you hold your arms out for me?'

She did so, although her right arm trembled violently with the effort. 'Now touch your nose with your left index finger.' Audrey obeyed. 'Okay, you can put that arm down now.' Her arm fell to her side. 'Touch your right index finger to your nose'

Audrey frowned in concentration this time. Again the arm twitched but you could have mistaken it for the general shaking throughout the limb as she struggled to keep it in the air. She looked down into her lap, ashamed. Jack snaked his arm around her waist and whispered something reassuring in her ear.

Dr Okara continued with his examination for the next five minutes, testing her reflexes, muscle tone and power, and finally sensitivity. He paused to watch her for a moment; she had been calm earlier but now her control was beginning to waver. She tapped out that odd rhythm on her knee and shuddered when her thoughts betrayed her and she found herself back in China for a moment- moments that were becoming increasingly frequent. Lee knew that he needed to wrap things up soon because before long not even Jack's whispered reassurances would be able to keep her in touch with reality.

'Have you felt any unexplained tingling or pain in your arm since the… incident? Any muscle spasms or cramping?' Jack glanced at Audrey but her eyes were miles away. He answered for her.

'I don't know about tingling but her arm cramped up earlier, from her reaction I'd say it was painful' he turned his attention back to her, 'Audrey sweetheart, stay with me, hang on for just a couple more minutes. The doctor's almost finished' Jack murmured, stroking her arm. She drew a shaky breath and nodded but it did little to slow the irrational panic that she could feel building up inside her chest.

'Audrey, I just want to get a quick look at your knee and then we're done' although Dr Okara's words had little effect on Audrey, Jack couldn't help feeling a little relieved. But as Lee brushed his thumb over the ugly scars that disfigured her knee, it all became too much for her. She flinched away and drew her legs up to her chest, leaning into Jack and clenching his shirt in her fist.

'I'm sorry, can we do this another time? I just… I just' she paused and took another shaky breath, trying to find the words to communicate the jumble of emotions that were running around in her head, 'I just can't do this right now.' She fell into an incoherent babble. Jack spoke for her.

'I think we should call it a day.'

'I understand, but bear in mind that the sooner I know exactly what's wrong, the sooner we can begin her rehabilitation.' Lee replied.

This time it was Audrey's turn to speak, 'I've managed for five months, I think I can survive another two weeks. Just please, don't make me do this now…' she sighed in frustration. She couldn't explain why she felt the way she did, only that no matter how hard she tried to fight it, her heart was beating too fast and there didn't seem to be nearly enough air in the room. She could feel a fine sheen of sweet covering her back and she didn't know what to make of her temperature; her hands were cold and clammy but the room was sweltering. 'Jack, I think I'm going to be sick.' She whispered desperately.

Lee stepped forward immediately to help as Jack wrapped his arm around her waist and walked her as fast as he could to the bathroom across the hall. He held her hair back and rubbed her back as she heaved into the toilet bowl. Lee ran her a glass of water and handed it to Jack. Their gazes met as Jack took the glass, and Jack saw something he didn't expect. He had expected to see sorrow in his eyes, or worse, pity. Instead, all he saw was understanding.

If you have any ideas of where you want this story to go, feel free to PM me :)