"I can't believe you won! Are you sure you've never played Scrabble before?" Carla looked at Steve suspiciously.

Steve shrugged. "Beginners luck," he replied with a sly smile.

"Uh, huh. Sure." Carla gave him a suspicious glance as she got off the bed.

"How about another game?" He tried not to look too eager.

"Can't. I have some things I need to get done. Why don't you relax? After lunch, Richie will be by for your therapy session."

Steve frowned but didn't say anything.


After lunch, Steve was sitting comfortably in his wheelchair staring out of the window. He envied the people walking by. He used to be one of them…taking for granted the ability to get up on two legs and move about freely. He looked down at what was left of his legs. Two stumps. Two useless stumps. God, he used to take so much for granted.

Looking back up out the window something caught his eye. It was Carla strolling down the sidewalk with a tall blond man. Carla was laughing and seemed to be enjoying the man's company. A pang of jealousy came over Steve. He continued to watch the couple. He was watching them so intently that he didn't notice that he was no longer alone.

"Watcha lookin' at Colonel?"

"Nothing." Steve abruptly turned his wheelchair around so quickly Richie had to jump back to avoid being hit.

"Careful! You're dangerous with that thing!"

"Sorry. Let's get started. Okay?"

Richie could tell something was eating at Steve even though he tried to hide it. Walking up to the window, Richie looked out and saw Carla and Jason.

"Are we going to get started or not?" Steve asked impatiently, hoping to draw Richie's attention away from the window. It wasn't working.

"Uh-huh, so that's the problem. You got the hots for her, don't you?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Steve replied.

"I'm talking about mister tall, blond and handsome talking to your girl."

"She's not my girl!"

"Not yet. But she will be. You mark my words."


Steve was resting comfortably in bed that evening when Rudy walked in with Carla.

"Good evening, Steve," Rudy said cheerfully. "How are you feeling this evening?"

"Fine," Steve replied to Rudy but he was looking at Carla as he said it.

"How did your therapy session with Richie go?"

"It went fine," Steve replied while still looking at Carla.

"Are you sure you're okay? You seem a bit distracted." Rudy drolly noted as he glanced at Carla.

Steve forced himself to look at Rudy. "No, I'm okay. Really."

"Carla, can you leave us alone? I'll call you if I need you."

"Yes, doctor." Carla opened the door and left.

Steve frowned as he watched Carla leave.

"Now, if I can have your attention, there's something I want to clarify."

Steve looked at Rudy.

"Steve, Oscar informed me you were upset about my reinforcing your pelvic bones with cirosium without your consent. I want you to know that was completely my decision. Oscar knew nothing about it."

Rudy had Steve's complete attention now. "It was just you? Oscar didn't order it?"

"That's right. And I want to apologize. I never should have done it without getting your permission. It wasn't part of the osteotomy but it just made sense at the time. I was already in there. I figured why not just get it done."

Steve thought for a moment before replying. "Don't feel guilty, Rudy. I'm not mad anymore. Besides, that means one less surgery now, right?" Steve smiled at him.

Rudy smiled back. "Right."