Hello everyone! Hope you will like your week-end ;-)

To start it, I update this story. I have to thank you for the reviews you left. it's not "much" but it's so great ^^

I don't know if you will understand this chapter, because some scenes are very hard for me to translate in a proper english. Anyway, I hope you will like :-)

Have a very nice reading

Chapter 25 : New sensations

Matt was going to live a new experience in this beautiful sunny day. Leslie had opened the curtains after having covered his right eye to not be dazzled and bring back the sunlight into the room. She also opened the window slightly. Sacha had come ealier to do some exercises with Matt and strengthen his right arm. His elbow was in less pain with time, although some brutal gestures could bring back the pain. But Sacha had a great idea: he already talked to Matt's relatives to have their approval or not. As they'd accepted, he said he was coming by after lunch and a short nap, so that Matt could regain some strength. Even Kelly had approved without hesitation, seeing all the benefits for Matt. After a small meal and an hour of rest, Sacha came back into the room. Matt had just woken up and seemed surprised to see him.

"Not happy to see me Matt?"

"Uh... I should?"

To tell the truth, Matt didn't want to be tortured by Sacha. He just wanted to enjoy the sun and hi belove. But his reaction made Sacha laughed.

"I wanted to propose something to you. I already talked to your relatives and they're okay with that. I just need your approval".

Raising an eyebrow, Matt was both puzzled and afraid.

"An afternoon at the swimming pool".

Matt opened his mouth to talk, but too astonished, he said nothing. The swimming pool? But he was still locked in this bed! Seeing his puzzled look, Sacha clarified things.

"We call this aquatic therapy, or hydrotherapy. It helps in rehab".

Still as puzzled as earlier, Matt seemed scared by this therapy.

"My wife is also a physiotherapist, by hydrotherapy is her specialty at the rehab center a bloc away. She will come as soon as I call her, if you're ok".

Smiling, Shay turned her head toward him, placing softly her left hand over his right arm.

"Say yes, Matt. You won't be disappointed. And it will make you feel better".

"And... Gabby?"

"I will stay here and watch over her, don't worry", Leslie assured, still miling.

The time to take some minutes to think, he finally nodded.

"Okay".

A big smile appeared on Sacha's face, calling his wife.

"And now?"

Kelly walked into the room at the same time with the bag. Sacha turned and faced him.

"Ah, you're here right in time!"

"Yeah?"

He passedd his head above Sacha's shoulder and gazed at Matt.

"You accepted?"

Matt nodded slightly, without any smile. In reality, he was so scared about this.

"Matt..."

Kelly had immediately understood what was happening into Matt's head. He had so much questions and doubts. He stepped forward, approaching Matt slowly.

"You trust me Matt, alright?"

Very shyly, he nodded, swallowing nervously. Kelly then turned at Sacha.

"Can I come? Otherwise Matt will panic".

Kelly had understood: he knew perfectly that his best friend wouldn't be at ease in a place he didn't know, or with people he had never seen before.

"Sure, no problem at all. If it can reassure you", he affirmed warmly.

A few minutes later, a woman knocked and entered into the room. A brown haired woman with big green eyes. Matt had immediately noticed that she was limping.

"Matt, meet Emma, my wife".

"Nice to meet you".

She shook Kelly's hand, then Leslie's, and came beside the bed, near Matt.

"So, you're ready?"

She was so warm, Matt felt less scared. He trusted her because of this.

"Not really", he admitted firmly. "W-why you're limping?"

Matt discovered that he had hit a nerve when he saw Sacha behind her making some loose gestures, asking him to not go further. First lost and disconnected, Emma puller herself together and smiled.

"You'll see at the simming pool".

Matt nodded, and Sacha asked a nurse to come and help. She dosconnected the breathing machine, allowing Matt to breathe some fresh air on his own.

"It will be okay without the ventilator?" Emily worried.

"If necessary, we have one right at the poolside. At the slightest problem, we'll connect him to it".

Emily nodded, smiling in turn. The doctors unlocked the brake and slid the bed on the floof of the room, the the hallway, going down to the main floor, where the swimming pool was. Kelly followed them with the bag, happy to know that Matt had accepted. It was a new experience, but this time, it wasn't like the others: he knew this experience because he had it when he had his injury at his neck. And it helped him so much, he was sure it would help Matt as well. Arrived on scene, Sacha explained to Emma he would take care of Matt while she was preparing everything. With some difficulties, he disconnected the catheter will on Matt. Fortunately, the surgeon had removed the chest tube and his dressings had been changed the morning by Emily. She replaced them by waterproof ones. Then, Kelly and Sacha put Matt on a swimboxer and lead to the swimming pool. Entering a huge room, the smell of iodine immediately invaded Matt's nostrils. He loved going to the swimming poll, and he missed this, but he would have never thought of coming back here to do his rehab. Emma approched then the bed.

"Alright Matt! Sacha explained your injuries, so I know what we'll do. But I need you to trust me completely".

Swallowing hard, Matt nodded.

"We'll transfer you from your bed to this special one. He can go in water and can fits your physiognomy. And then we can begin. You okay?"

"We?"

"Together! First, we'll lower the bed at its maximum level, then carefully, we'll slide you on this one and we'll go in water. Finally. You'll see some magic".

"And... And my right leg?"

"The one hurting the most?"

Matt nodded, frightened.

"Don't worry Matt. I promise that everything will be alright. The slightest problem and you stop us, okay?"

Taking a deeper breath than usual, he shook his head.

"Here we go then!"

Sacha and Emma lowered the bed. They adjusted the height required for the special bed and Matt's bed, so that they were glued to optimize the transfer and reduce any possible pain that might feel Matt. Slowly but surely, he was transferred, and the bed was soaked in water until it reaches Matt's chin.

"Okay. Matt? I would like you to trust me, alright? It's necessary".

Reluctant, Matt signed to Kelly that he wasn't really trusting her but he had no choice, making Kelly smile. Sacha and Emma not talking ASL, he explained his reluctance, and the young woman had to reassure him for about five minutes before finally trusting her. She signed to Sacha, and the bed tilted forward. It scared Matt, but slowly the bed straightened and Matt could stand on his legs with Kelly just behind him to help. This sensation of touching the ground made Matt smile while closing his eyes. He moved his toes, touchign the ground for the first time in a month.

"How do you feel Matt?"

"I... I feel... Fine", he assured smiling.

Matt had water up to the middle of his chest. He was moving his left arm, and decided to move his right one, but he was unable because of the splint.

"Now, I will enter in water to help you".

Emma removed her shirt, revealing her swimsuit. She sat on the poolside, Sacha entering in and helping his wife. Matt and Kelly didn't understand for a moment, until the young woman removed her pants. By doing this, the let appear a prothesis. Matt's eyes widdened when he udnerstood: she just had one leg. Sacha removed the the prothesis, and Emma came in, jumping to face Matt.

"We can begin now".

Feeling a nerve, Matt didn't ask any questions, and nodded. Slowly, Emma removed his plint, and he began to move his right arm. Slowly but surely. His elbow was hurting, but it was more an inconvience than a real pain.

"Alright Matt. We'll do some exercise for your arm first, and then, we'll start with your legd. Your legs are hurting?"

"No, not yet".

"Okay. As soon as you feel any pain, tell you alright?"

Matt nodded, forcing a smile while Emma began to work with him. For about twenty minutes, they worked together, strengthening the muscles of his right arm. Some movements were still painful, but the pain was minimal in water. He was puzzled.

"W-why I'm not in pain? In water?"

"Water resistance against your body compels you to force for a movement. Logically, you should be in more pain, but water relieves pain".

"Is this... Why you took this specialty?"

Matt couldn't resist but ask this question, it was stronger than him. He already saw this king of injuries like hers, and he knew they were hard to bear.

"Sort of, yeah. We can continue?"

Emma was showing obvisouly some avoidance, then Matt stopped thinking about this, realizing it would be hard to think about it for her. If she had chosen this specialty, then it was because she wanted to ease the pain of her patients, but also hers. Matt and Kelly understood this.

"Okay! Matt? I would like you to grab these bars and trust me completely".

Reluctant, Kelly forced him to nod.

"You will walk toward me, slowly and carefully. The bars are here to help you".

Matt hit a huge and high wall. He seemed lost, scared, distant. As if he wasn't there anymore.

"Matt?"

Kelly worried when he saw Matt lose all his colors on his face. He had become pale in a second, maybe less.

"You... Were there".

"Matt? What are you talking about?"

"Below the car...", Matt whispered, his eyes closed. "You were there, reassuring me".

Kelly understodd: Matt had another flashback. He nodded, but his friend couldn't see him.

"Yeah, I was there. Trying to keep you awake. In vain".

"It hurt so bad Kelly..."

Matt let out a fear tears. He felt overwhelmed because of these flashbacks. And Emma knew what was happening: Matt didn't want to walk because of this pain he'd felt.

"Matt, I can guarantee that walking will less the pain. This pain".

"I... I don't know h-how...", Matt finally admitted, looking down as he was ashamed.

Kelly then remembered this conversation he had with Dr. Riley. He warned him that Matt might have to relearn some things, as talking or walking.

"What? You don't know how?" Emma asked, frowning and puzzled.

"He doesn't know how to walk", Kelly explained. "He has to relearn. He had to relearn how to talk, same for his walking".

Kelly affirmed his support to Matt by placing one of his hands over his right shoulder, whispering into his ear.

"We'll do this together".

Emma smiled again, approaching Matt, holding the bars.

"Well, we'll face this new challenge then! Can you move you right leg toward me?"

But Matt sill didn't get it. So Sacha came to help.

"Matt? You remember our PT sessions? Leg up to strengthen it?"

"Yeah".

"Imagine you're lying in your bed for a new PT session. It's the same movement, but today, you're on your feet".

"Okay. Okay...", he managed to whisper.

Matt clsoed his eyes, focussed on this exercise made in a lying position. And very slowly, he moved surely his right leg toward Emma, resting it again to the ground.

"Very good Matt! Can you do this with your left leg?"

Still focussed ans maintained by Kelly at his back, Matt did the same movements easier with his left leg. He smiled, then laughed slightly and opened his eyes.

"You're doing great Matt! Can you lift your leg?"

He frowned, asking himself what did she meant.

"Look".

Emma grabbed the bars, lifting his knee. And then, she put it down a few seconds later.

"You can do than with one of your leg?"

Matt focussed again, raising his right knee. He wasn't in pain, but step by step he raised it. Until the pain came. He winced, Emma noticing he was in pain.

"Alright, we're going to put your leg down slowly and we do the same with your other leg".

Matt took a breath, putting down his foot to the ground, then lifted his other leg, much higher than his right.

"Excellent! We'll put it down, we'll relax and end the session for today. Okay?".

Matt nodded, asking himself what she meant by relax.

"Okay, Kelly? I'll ask you to help me put Matt on his back. You know, as to float".

"Okay".

"Matt? Can you lift your left leg the higher possible? And Kelly, can you place one of your hands on his lower back to counterweight?"

Matt was scared, but his best friend was still murmuring some engouragements in his ears, and it reassured him to have some supports. He did what Emma asked, Kelly placing his hand in the small of his back.

"Now Matt, you'll let yourself go. You will lift your right leg. Don't worry, Kelly's hand is here to help you. Kelly? Place your other hand at the back of his head please".

"There won't be any problem with his skull? I mean, it's safe?" he asked, remembering Matt's injuries.

"No danger Kelly, it's safe", Sacha assured. "You can do it without any fear".

First reluctant, he placed his hand at the base of his neck carefully, scared to hurt Matt. Emma gave the signal by grabbing his left leg, Matt lifted his right one. The faster she could, Emma grabbed it and asked Kelly to push on Matt's back and tilt his head backward. Now, Matt floating.

"Good job! Now, we'll move to this small corner and we'll relax here", she said with a soft voice.

They moved to a warmer corner of the swimming and closed a barrier. Quickly, the water was warmer.

"Alright Kelly? We'll tilt Matt froward again".

"Up again?"

"Yes, we'll try to have a seat Matt".

Together, they helped Matt to stand again, and Emma gazed at him.

"No worries Matt, okay? Sitting shoudn't hurt you because of the heat".

He said nothing, he didn't show any emotions despite the fear still invading him, but Kelly was there to reassure him, still whispering, here for him in every step. Emma placed her hands under Matt's arms and asked him to lift both his knees. Very scared, he did it, and to his surprise, he wasn't in any pain. Once seated, Kelly sat at his right and Emma at his left as she asked Sacha to turn on the mechanism. This corner of the pool was a jacuzzi. Matt closed his eyes a moment, but knowing that PT sessions in a pool were stressful, Emma shook Matt slightly to make him open his eyes.

"Don't sleep Matt, now yet".

"Too hard", he managed to whisper.

Kelly heard him, and it worried him to know that his brother could fall asleep anytime.

"You said you have a breathing machine here?"

Sacha nodded.

"Yes, you want me to bring it?"

"Yeah, thanks. If Matt falls asleep, he won't breathe".

Sacha ran then toward a smaal room and came back a few seconds later with the machine.

"I don't know how it works though", the physiotherapist admitted.

"I do", Kelly affirmed. "Emily showed us how it works, I think I know make it work. If it works like the one into the room".

Kelly pushed somes buttons, turned it on, then thought. He didn't remember which button Emma pushed to make it work.

"Left... Mid... And left... Twice", Matt murmured, closing his eyes dangerously.

This made Kelly laugh: matt remembered and he didn't. The world upside down. He pushed the left button, then the one in the middle, and finally the left one again, twice. And then, the breathing machine started to work.

"Matt? It won't be pleasant because you're still awake, but this one doesn't have a smart mode. You won't breathe on your own".

Matt nodded, too tired to talk now, his eyes closed. Kelly removed the tip of the tube in his throat and connected the ventilator to it. His chest rose and fell regularly, Matt not struggling. Kelly sighed in relief. They did it. After ten minutes, Emma suggested to get out the water to put him in a more comfortable bed. They repeated the entire procedure in reverse, from their arrival in the jacuzzi corner to their entering in water. Sasha and Kelly wiped Matt, reconnecting the catheter and sliding him into his bed as Matt was totally asleep, exhausted by this session. So tired that at no time, he had opened his eyes. After finally got in the room, they reconnected his bed and Gabby's, activating the brakes. Serena then came to reconnect the respirator from the room and all the machines and IVs. She checked his vitals to see if all was well, that was the case, sending a smile to everyone while she got out of the room.

"So? How was it?" Leslie asked, kissing Kelly.

He took several seconds second to answer, and smiled.

"Perfect", he assured, kissing her back, taking her into his arms. "I think Matt needed this. He needed to know he could do it, know what he could do despite his injuries".

Looking toward the beds, toward Gabby and Matt sleeping, they smiled.

"He will get through this. He will show to these doctors that despites his inuries, despite all the problems, he can do it. He can continue his dream. He will prove it, to these doctors who had buried him".

"You're right. He's too stubborn, he will continue the job of his dream".

"Yeah. He can do it. It's Matt. It's my brother and I trust him".