Hey everyone! Thanks for the feedback! Here's the next part. Enjoy!
Title: Wild horses won't keep me away
Category: Grace/OMC, Grace/Luke, Adam/Joan
Summary: Grace suffers a bad fall, which leaves her partially paralyzed. Her boyfriend leaves her during her physical therapy and Luke comes to the rescue.
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I do not own JoA, Luke, Grace, Adam, or anyone else related or on the show. I have nothing so please don't sue.
Luke Girardi was a busy man. He buried himself in his work at the lab and this caused him to miss going home for some holidays. Luke usually closed himself off when he was working but he could be sure to remember the real world and go out.
Luke had gone to MIT and was maintaining a relationship with his high school girlfriend, Grace. But soon the long distance began to take its toll and they parted on mutual terms. While they were both hurt, they knew it was better to end it. They still chatted once in a while and Luke knew about her relationship with Tom. He also knew that Joan despised him and couldn't help but feel the same. Luke, though, hated anyone who Grace dated. Grace secretly hated anyone he dated, well besides Glynis. They came to a mutual understanding and had learned to tolerate each other over the years.
Luke was working when the door opened and his assistant walked in.
"Luke? Phone for you."
"Tell them I'm busy." He said distractedly.
"It's your sister. She says it's an emergency." The woman said urgently.
Luke looked at her. Joan hardly ever called him when she knew he was at work and she wouldn't have called if it weren't an emergency.
"Thank you."
Once she left, Luke put a hand on the phone dreading what he was about to hear. He finally picked it up.
"Joan, what is it?" He asked.
Joan let out a breath. "It's Grace."
Luke closed his eyes. His heart ached wanting to know what happened to her. "What happened?"
"She fell off her horse. She's paralyzed Luke."
Luke nearly dropped the phone. Of all the things Joan could have said, this was not one of them he was thinking! Luke couldn't picture the fact Grace, the tough girl he still admitted to loving, possibly wouldn't walk again.
"Permanently?" he whispered in agony.
"We don't know. But it's not that bad where the doctor doesn't recommend physical therapy."
"Thank God. How is she?" he asked.
"She's scared." Joan shook her head. "Luke…is there a chance you could come home?"
Luke sighed. He knew this was coming and while he wanted to jump on the next flight, he felt queasy.
"Isn't Tom there?"
"Well yeah but…Luke we're the only ones who pretty much know how to handle this. She needs both of us. Luke, please…I know you want to jump on the next flight. Will you?"
"I'll be there early tomorrow." Luke finally said.
Joan squealed. "Thanks Luke."
"Yeah." Luke hung up and buzzed his assistant.
"Yes Luke?"
"Get me the next flight to Arcadia, please?"
She smiled and rushed off to do what he asked. Luke turned to look at a picture of Grace. It was an old one taken at her Bat Mitzvah. He gently ran a finger along her face.
"Oh Grace…don't worry. You'll walk again." He said, both for himself and his ex.
In Arcadia, Grace was asleep when she thought she heard a voice.
You'll walk again.
Grace opened her eyes and looked around. Tom was there but he wasn't awake. She thought she imagined it so she shook her head and went to sleep.
Helen smiled when she saw her youngest son walking out of the terminal. Luke looked exhausted but by the look in his eyes, she knew there was only one person on his mind.
"Hi sweetheart." She hugged him.
"Hey. Where is everyone?" he asked looking around.
"Kevin is at the baggage claim with your father. Joan and Adam are at the hospital with Grace."
Luke nodded and they walked towards the baggage claim in silence. They both remembered how they felt when they heard Kevin wouldn't walk. Helen felt the anguish only a mother could feel and Luke…well he had felt happy but he also felt that sense of dread.
Once they got there, Will hugged his son.
"Hey kiddo."
"Hey." Luke said softly. "I don't want to make any stops. Just get me to Grace."
Will and Helen smiled. Kevin socked Luke gently in the shoulder. "You're a good guy. Even when you know her current boyfriend may be a little hesitant to have you around."
Luke rolled his eyes. They got his bags and went out to the car. They got to the hospital and went inside. Luke found Joan and Adam and hugged his sister.
"Hey." He said.
"Hey." Joan's eyes had lit up when she saw Luke. "Tom's down at the cafeteria so you can see Grace."
Luke nodded. He went into the hospital room and saw Grace. He couldn't believe he was looking at her like this. His heart broke for her. Grace looked up and was surprised to see him.
"You came." She said softly.
"You didn't think I would?" Luke smiled. He walked over and kissed her forehead before sitting on the chair.
Grace sighed. "This sucks."
"I know." Luke chuckled. "So…other than that Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?"
Grace laughed slightly. "Ugh. They checked my reflexes. I can still feel some tingling."
Luke perked up. "Well that's good!"
"Yeah. For them." Grace said bitterly. "I just want to get out of here. I don't want to be dependent on anyone."
Luke nodded. "We're here for you, Grace. I promise."
Grace smiled at him. He took her hand and gave it a squeeze. Grace tried to ignore the tiny spark that seemed to ignite when he touched her. The door opened and they looked up to see Tom.
