In October Nikki could finally go home after being in the hospital since July. She still needed crutches to get around on her injured leg and was working on regaining her confidence with the stairs and her crutches.
"A backpack in the house," Owen asked as Nikki came into the living room.
"Hard to carry things on crutches," Nikki snapped.
"I would go get it," Owen said.
"No," Nikki yelled, "I'll never dance again but I at least have to be independent."
"I'm just trying to help," Owen said.
"I don't want your help," Nikki roared, "I want my life back."
"I know you do," Owen said.
"How would you feel if they broke your arm and you could never operate again," Nikki screamed.
Owen fought to stay calm. In the last few weeks after hearing that the mobility in her ankle would likely never recover Nikki had been angry, constantly ready to scream at anyone who got near her. It didn't matter who from the family was there; only Allison was safe from Nikki's tantrums.
"Like you do," Owen said.
"I'm 18 and my entire future was stolen before I even had a shot," Nikki shouted.
"That's why you were supposed to be dressed to meet the lawyer," Owen said.
"I don't want to see the stupid lawyer," Nikki yelled, "unless they can make me dance again I don't want to see them."
"Do you want to see if they can do anything for your ankle," Owen asked.
"Torres already said she couldn't do anything," Nikki screached.
"Someone else," Owen replied, "I've talked to a friend Teddy and I served with he's ortho in LA and thinks he might be able to help."
"What do I have to do," Nikki asked.
"I need your permission to send the scans and tests," Owen said.
"Send it," Nikki grumbelled, "all he can say is the same thing we've been hearing."
"I'll bring you the forms," Owen said, "what do you need to meet the lawyer?"
"My life back," Nikki screamed.
"Nikki you need to breathe," Owen said putting his hands on her shoulders.
"I can't," Nikki yelled.
"Is everything red," Owen asked.
"Yes," Nikki replied.
"Okay," Owen said, "are you scared or angry?"
"Both," Nikki yelled.
"Yelling is only going to make you more angry," Owen pointed out.
"I want to run or to move but I can't," Nikki sobbed.
"I know," Owen replied.
"I don't want to go see the lawyer and see Corinna's family," Nikki sobbed.
"It's hard to see the family when you were with someone then," Owen said, "I've done it and it's hard. I was 35 and I struggled with it."
"Will mom meet us," Nikki asked.
"Mom, Teddy, Callie, Arizona, Dr. Webber, Nathan," Owen said, "they're all taking the time to meet today. You have all of us."
"Do I have to talk to Corinna's mom," Nikki asked.
"If you want to," Owen said, "you should at least say hi."
"Will they be mad at me," Nikki asked.
"No," Owen said, "none of this was your fault."
"We were singing and laughing when we got hit," Nikki said, "if I hadn't put Roar on and if we weren't singing maybe she would have seen the truck."
"No," Owen said, "this was an accident. I've seen the police reports. You were in the intersection on a green light, you weren't the first car to go. The driver was drunk and high and didn't see the red light. He has admitted he ran the red."
"Can you explain how Corinna died," Nikki asked, "I don't understand."
"Her spinal cord was severed where it attaches to her brain," Owen said, "there was no way for the signals for her to breathe or her heart to pump to get through. Even if I was there we couldn't have helped her. She didn't feel anything."
"Is she in heaven," Nikki asked.
"She is," Owen said.
"With Meg," Nikki questioned.
"If they are together Meghan will look out for Corinna," Owen said.
"I wish Meg was here," Nikki whined.
"So do I," Owen said.
"We could do it with the three of us," Nikki said.
"You have me," Owen promised, "I will help you figure this out."
"Is Teddy okay with that," Nikki asked.
"She is," Owen said, "she's worried about you two. She wants to help but won't push you to talk to her."
"Talking doesn't solve the problem," Nikki said.
"It helps," Owen said, "I see a psychiatrist because of what I've seen. Teddy has. Nikki there's nothing wrong with getting help and talking to someone."
"I don't want to go today," Nikki groaned, "I don't want to see people."
"I know you don't but they need you there," Owen said.
"I don't want to," Nikki snapped.
"Nikki this isn't really a choice squirt," Owen sighed, "do you want me to help you with the stairs."
"Mom brought my stuff down it's on the table," Nikki said.
"Do you need to change," Owen asked.
"Yes," Nikki grumbled, "and do my hair and make up."
"How can I help," Owen asked.
"Can you move the hanger to the downstairs bathroom," Nikki asked.
"I will move things," Owen said. He went to the kitchen and picked up nikkis dress and tights and put them in the downstairs bathroom for her.
When Nikki was dressed Owen asked, "chair or crutches outside?"
"Crutches," Nikki said, "I won't get stronger if you keep making me use the wheelchair."
"How's your leg," Owen asked, "it looks swollen to me. Did you have physio today?"
"I did," Nikki said, "it's sore."
"Don't over do it," Owen said, "let's take both."
"Can I have Advil before we go," Nikki asked, "it's upstairs."
"Your bathroom," Owen asked.
"Yes," Nikki replied.
"I'll get it," Owen said running up the stairs.
Owen brought Nikki the Advil and a bottle of water.
"Let's go," Owen said.
Nikki got to the top of the steps, "I still need help on the stairs."
"I'm just going to carry you from here to my truck," Owen said.
"Not Allison," Nikki snapped.
"Just go with it please," Owen said, "we're already late."
"Fine," Nikki huffed.
Owen Piggybacked Nikki to the truck.
"I hate being treated like a baby," Nikki grumbelled.
"I know," Owen said, "we just want to help."
"I don't like needing help," Nikki said, "I should be able to do it myself."
"I know," Owen said, "you will. Your stronger then you were when you came home last week."
"But it's not enough," Nikki whined.
"Give it time squirt," Owen said, "your back pack solution is pretty good."
"Exept it means I have to drink out of water bottles or travel mugs so they don't spill when I move them. It's like being a baby with a bottle or a sippy cup," Nikki whined.
"Soon," Owen promised, "we're all going for dinner after and you don't have to carry anything."
"Where for dinner," Nikki asked.
"Teddy voted pasta, I said thai, mom wants fish and chips," Owen said, "so you choose."
"Thai," Nikki said.
"That's two votes for thai," Owen chuckled.
"Why do we have to see the lawyer," Nikki asked, "doesn't he have all the information."
"He does have the paperwork and your chart," Owen said, "what he needs today is to talk to us. Hear every one's stories. Sydney's family wants to sue the driver and the trucking company for everything they can. Corinna's family agree and so do mom and I."
"So you and mom decided for me again," Nikki snapped.
"No," Owen said, "we wont do this if you don't agree but you should hear it out."
"Owen stop trying to be my dad," Nikki growled, "I don't have a dad mine didn't want me. That doesn't mean you have to make up for it. I don't need a dad, I don't even know what they really do. What I need is my brother to be cool for once."
"I'm trying Nikki," Owen said, "I'm angry about what happened to you. We came so close to losing you. I know that there will be medical terms thrown around today that you don't know and sound scary. You were septic, that means your organs were shutting down. We didn't know if you would make it. I'm trying to protect you because I couldn't stop the accident from happening."
"You were at work," Nikki said, "who was the first doctor to see me when I came in?"
"I was," Owen said, "I was paged to the helipad for a trauma all I knew was a 17 year old female going up with difficulty breathing so Teddy was with me. She's a great cardio surgeon but she is amazing at cardiac traumas that's where she shines."
"Did you treat me," Nikki asked.
"I couldn't," Owen said, "I was too upset seeing you. I couldn't think everything went red. Teddy and I were with you until you went in for your first surgery."
"Some one held my hand and kissed my forehead before I went in," Nikki said.
"I did," Owen said, "I was so scared we would lose you. I saw your injuries, I've seen guys come in with the same injuries and not make it. You made it because Webber and Nathan knew what they were doing."
"Nathan," Nikki asked.
"The only reason they got you through that was that Nathan kept your heart going," Owen said, "some is his skill a lot is that he knew enough family history to help."
"Family history," Nikki said.
"What he knew from Meghan," Owen said, "and that your a redhead and that you might break down the medications differently."
"Does that really matter," Nikki asked.
"It does," Owen replied, "why did you start dying your hair?"
"Its a sore spot with mom dont bring it up," Nikki said, "it was a casting thing. I wasn't getting roles because the red stood out too much so she agreed to the blonde highlights. I need my roots done again and a hair cut."
"You could leave the red," Owen said, "match me and mom."
"Mom's hair is grey," Nikki snorted.
"It was red," Owen said, "i like the red."
"Not when it's kick a ginger day," Nikki said.
"What," Owen asked.
"Kick a ginger day," Nikki repeated, "everyone at school kicked the red head. I was the only red head."
"When was this," Owen asked, "why didn't you tell me?"
"You were away, it was a month before we lost Meg," Nikki said, "she knew. I told her, she helped me with the arguments to get mom to let me dye my hair in one of her last emails."
"She helped you," Owen asked.
"Just with how to convince mom," Nikki said, "she tried to talk me out of it first. But the day I emailed saying every kid at school had kicked me she gave in."
"No one told me," Owen said.
"Meg knew so did Teddy," Nikki replied.
"What," Owen said, "why didn't anyone tell me?"
"It was before you cared about me," Nikki said, "we didn't bother you with my stuff."
"I always cared," Owen replied, "I was a bit afraid of you as a newborn."
"I was a baby," Nikki said, "how could you be scared of a baby?"
"I thought it meant mom would replace me and Meg," Owen admitted, " I was jealous and you took all her time. And I wanted to go out and hang out with my girlfriend but I had to babysit so mom could work."
"You were jealous of me," Nikki asked.
"I guess," Owen admitted, "then you've been babied in ways we never were. Mom spoiled you compared to me and Meg."
"Have you met my friends," Nikki said, "they're spoiled."
"Mom gave you her old car," Owen said.
"No," Nikki said, "I was to start paying her back as soon as I started getting paid by the company."
"Didn't know that," Owen said.
"You didn't need to," Nikki retorted, "it was between me and mom. My friends just got their allowance. I had a double sided chore list to get mine."
"Double sided," Owen asked.
"Mom split the house work in half with me," Nikki said, "and I baby sat for a few families at church for spending money."
"Were we supposed to pay you to babysit," Owen asked.
"No," Nikki said, "family is different."
"Do you have any idea what Teddy is planning for next weekend," Owen asked.
"Ask your not really my wife," Nikki said, "why aren't you two married yet?"
"I was going to propose," Owen said.
"What stopped you," Nikki asked.
"The accident," Owen admitted, "that was Thursday I had a whole plan the perfect Teddy day planned the Saturday. Mom was going to have Allison for the day and I was going to propose to Teddy."
"Do it now," Nikki said.
"I will soon," Owen said, "it has to be perfect for her. I want it to be perfect and romantic."
"Just do it," Nikki said, "and tell her I want to be a bridesmaid."
"I'm sure she'll include you," Owen chuckled, "which means we need you walking."
"You should before Allison turns one," Nikki said, "you should have before she had the baby."
"I thought about it at Christmas," Owen said, "Teddy loves Christmas. But I didn't want her to think I was only proposing because of Allison."
"Was that it," Nikki asked.
"No," Owen said, "I've loved Teddy since I met her. I broke up with Beth because I love Teddy more than I could ever love anyone else."
"Just propose already," Nikki said.
"I'm planning it," Owen replied.
"I'll help," Nikki offered.
"I have an idea I just need to do it," Owen said, "I may wait for snow."
"Snow," Nikki asked.
"Teddy loves snow, it's her favourite thing," Owen smiled.
"What like take her sledding," Nikki rolled her eyes.
"Snowshoeing," Owen said, "perfect picnic and a snowshoe. It's something she really likes to do."
"Hard to give her ring if she's wearing mittens," Nikki replied.
"Maybe we'll go up to Whistler and snow show, spend the night some where go for dinner and I'll ask her after the perfect day," Owen said.
"Your daughter," Nikki said.
"If your up to it you can baby sit," Owen said, "take a long weekend go up the five us of you and mom babysit that night."
"Mom and I don't make it romantic," Nikki teased, "you suck at this."
"Maybe I need help," Owen agreed, "but we're here. So chair. It gives impact for the lawyer."
"Crutches," Nikki argued.
"There's Callie we'll ask her," Owen said.
"Get her to referee our debate," Nikki asked.
"Torres," Owen bellowed.
"Hunt," Callie said, "what's the emergency?"
"Nikki wants to use her crutches," Owen said, "I think her leg looks swollen and she should be in the chair."
"I'll look," Callie said.
Nikki opened her door and Callie examined the leg.
"It's a little swollen but it's not too bad," Callie said, "have you been going to physio?"
"Everyday," Nikki said, "monday to friday. And I do my exercises two or three times a day at home."
"It's inflamed lets sit for now," Callie said.
"That means Owen acts all protective," Nikki moaned.
"Trying to be the cool brother," Owen said, "I promise no race car noises this time."
"Race car noises," Callie asked.
"He raced my chair against Teddy and Allison," Nikki snapped, "with race car noises."
"Hunt that's pathetic," Callie teased.
"Allison giggled," Owen replied.
"She's 9 months," Nikki argued.
"Help out squirt," Owen offered.
"Maybe," Nikki said, "it's a long way down."
"I've got you," Owen said, lifting Nikki into the wheelchair.
They made their way up to the Lawyers office.
"Nikki," Corinna's mom greeted.
"Mrs. Jones I'm so sorry about Corrie," Nikki said.
"We miss her," Mrs. Jones agreed.
"I miss her two," Nikki said.
"We're glad to see you're doing better," Mr. Jones said, "we heard it was touch and go for a while."
"She's on the mend," Evelyn rescued Nikki, "how was your morning darling?"
"Went to physio, did home work, yelled at Owen," Nikki said.
"Why were you yelling," Evelyn asked.
"Just frustrated," Nikki said.
They joined the lawyer in the conference room to share their stories and gather all of the information.
Please review. I'm trying to decide if Nikki will dance or not. I have two possible ways the story could go to reach my end point that I want.