When Sheldon walked into Mac's apartment that evening, he was surprised to smell food cooking. He set everything down that he was carrying and headed for the kitchen. "Mac?" he called, wondering if Mac was trying to cook something and if he was…how did he get into that chair?

Just as Sheldon was nearing the kitchen doorway, Rhonda came from the kitchen. "Hi," she said.

Sheldon sighed with relief. "I thought Mac was in there," he said. "I was wondering how on earth he got into that chair."

"I'm just fixing some dinner for him and me. I told him I was going to have dinner with him so he wouldn't be so lonely."

"Okay."

"Oh, and by the way," Rhonda said a little irritated. "Do you know where I found him?"

Sheldon stared at her. "Where?"

"He was sitting in his wheelchair asleep. He had gotten off that bed, into that chair and had gone to the bathroom here all alone but he couldn't get back on the bed."

Sheldon shook his head. "I'm going to tell you something about Mac…that is the most stubborn man you will ever meet."

Rhonda smiled. "I think I'm beginning to see that."

"Is he okay?"

"Yes, he seems to be, but he was asleep in his chair. He could have fallen out of it."

"I'm going to have a talk with him."

"Instead of doing that while I was here, he waited until I left."

Sheldon went to Mac's room while Rhonda went into the kitchen. Sheldon walked into the bedroom and folded his arms. "What do you think you're doing?" he asked.

Mac looked at him. "What?" he asked. He was lying on the bed now.

"You know what. Do you know you could have fallen and injured yourself worse and could have been lying there for hours?"

Mac folded his arms and stared at the ceiling. "Don't give me a lecture," he said. "I had to go to the bathroom."

"Why couldn't you have gotten off the bed while someone was here?"

"Because I didn't want to."

"Pride, pride, pride. You don't have to have so much pride. I'm glad that home health care nurse will be here tomorrow."

Mac looked at him. "A nurse?"

"Yes. You have to have someone look after you. There will be a nurse here with you all day starting tomorrow."

Mac sighed. He knew he needed someone around but he did not have to like it. "Thanks."

"I got those ramps for you to go up and down those stairs in there. That should help you to get around your apartment."

"Thanks. I appreciate everything you've done for me."

"You're welcome."

Sheldon left the room. Mac stared out the window. It was starting to get dark now. He supposed there was one good thing about his situation now…his allergy was gone. They had given him something for it in the hospital. He could smell whatever Rhonda was fixing for dinner. He knew it had tomatoes in it because he could smell them. He was getting hungry too.

Sheldon soon came back into the room and told Mac that he would be back later. "I'll spend the night here," he said, "if you don't mind."

Mac looked at him a moment. "No, I don't mind. I would rather not be alone."

"Okay. Tomorrow morning, the nurse will arrive and I will be at the lab."

Mac nodded. "Okay."

"I'll let you and Rhonda have your dinner," Sheldon said with a smile.

Mac shook his head. "Don't even think that," he said.

"Hey, she's an attractive woman. I wouldn't blame you if you decided to make her more than a friend. She obviously likes you."

"Okay, Sheldon."

Sheldon chuckled. "I'll see you later."

Mac rolled his eyes as Sheldon left the room. They always wanted to tease him. Soon, Rhonda came into the room with a tray. She smiled. "I hope you like this," she said. "I thought some good beef soup would make you feel better."

Mac sat up as she set the tray on the bed. He looked at the soup which looked delicious. It had chunks of meat in it rather than ground meat. "Wow, that looks good," he said. He looked at Rhonda. "You cook a lot?"

"It is another one of my many talents," Rhonda said with a smile. "I love to cook. I'll be right back."

Mac's mouth watered as he smelled the soup. He thought if it tasted as good as it smelled it would be glorious. There was also a roll to go with it and a glass of tea. Rhonda soon came back with another tray with her food on it. "Have you tasted it yet?" she asked.

"Not yet," Mac said. "I was waiting for you and smelling that wonderful aroma."

Rhonda smiled. "I hope it's as good as it smells."

"I'm sure it is."

Mac got a spoonful of the soup and blew the steam away. As he was about to take the bite, he remembered when Cassandra Ross was forcing him to eat that soup with the extreme pepper. Mac swallowed hard as he looked at the soup and then at Rhonda. "Is there something wrong?" she asked as she was taking a bite herself.

"No," Mac replied. He put the bite of soup in his mouth and it was just as good as it had smelled and he did not taste a hint of pepper except bell pepper. "That is good."

"Thank you." Rhonda stared at him a moment. "Why did you hesitate?"

Mac thought she must be a very good therapist. He chewed a moment. "She force-fed me," he said.

Rhonda's mouth dropped open slightly. "Soup?"

Mac looked at her. "Yes, but…"

"I am sorry. I didn't know."

"You couldn't have known. I didn't tell anyone." Mac looked at the soup. "This is good and I like it. She had made it extremely hot to torture me and she forced me to eat it."

Rhonda just stared at him a moment. "I won't make soup again until you're ready for it," she said.

Mac looked at her with one of his tender looks. "I appreciate what you've done and the dinner is delicious."

"I'm glad."

They ate in silence for a few minutes. Mac tried not to think about the situation he was in. He could not really remember everything about the wreck but he remembered waking up lying on the steering wheel. He also remembered waking up in that wagon with hay. It was like grabbing at bits and pieces of a puzzle and trying to put them together because there were so many gaps. He certainly remembered the end of the situation. He had not dreamed about it so far but he figured that was on the way.

When they were done eating, Rhonda took the trays to the kitchen. "That was very delicious," Mac said when she came back in.

"Thank you," Rhonda replied. "I'll be more careful from now on when I'm fixing you something to eat."

"Don't worry about that. I shouldn't have even told you."

"Yes you should. You need to talk these things out."

"I suppose I do but I don't want you to feel sorry for me."

Rhonda put her hands on her hips. "Now, when did I say I felt sorry for you?" she asked.

Mac smiled. "You haven't."

"Well, don't accuse me of that then. I don't intend to feel sorry for you. I just want you to get better." Rhonda looked at her watch. "I have to go. I won't be able to be here tomorrow because I have to work but if you need someone to talk to, you can call me any time of the day or night. You have my number."

"Thank you," Mac said.

Rhonda smiled and then left. Mac sighed. He had to admit he enjoyed having her around. Maybe he would consider taking her on the cruise with him. She was certainly beautiful and he wondered what she would look like in a bikini. Mac cleared his throat with that thought. He would have to get a new person hired in that lab before he went running off on some romantic cruise. How did he even know she would want to go? She had seemed interested though and she came and cooked dinner for him. He supposed they were getting started at something. He would just see how things worked out from now until he was ready to go. He would not be going anytime soon because he had to get well first. He hoped things would work out…