Lucy walked into the exam room after the x-rays were taken, slapped them into the light box and clicked on the light. Nancy didn't mind this part of the exam, she could almost read the x-ray as well as Dr. Campbell.

"Well Nancy, the swelling is going down nicely and according to your therapist's notes, you are ready."

"READY? For what?"

"For these."

Doctor Campbell walked to the cabinet, opened it, and pulled out two metal braces.

"What are those?"

"These are your new leg braces. We feel that you are ready to start getting on your feet. These will help support you until your legs are strong enough to support themselves."

"But I still don't have a lot of feeling in them. I just feel occasional tingling in my feet."

"I know, but that's why we can do this."

She sat on the stool in front of Nancy and started to place the braces on.

"Piper, pay attention to how I am putting these on, she will need help for awhile until she is used to them."

Piper watched as she put the first brace on, and then she put the other one on to make sure she understood.

"Now, she doesn't have to wear them all the time. For now, just at therapy. After a week or so, you should be able to get around some of the time without the chair. You will still need it, but you will be able to walk with these."

She handed her two crutches, putting them in Nancy's hands. Lucy locked the braces into place and called a nurse in to give them a hand. Nancy was surprised when the lady that walked in was the school nurse named Abby.

"Abby?"

"Hi Nancy, how's it going?"

"Fine, when did you start working here?"

"I work here during the summer, and on weekends. When the school's not open, I still have bills to pay."

"Right."

"Abby could you give me a hand, I want to stand her up and make any adjustments necessary to the braces."

"You bet."

Abby stood to the side of Nancy as Piper started to get out of the way.

"No Piper we'll need your help too. What I would like you to do is stand behind Nancy and let her lean against you."

"Sure."

"But, wait…what if I fall?

"We won't let you fall, just lean against Piper, I just need to make sure everything is secure, and not cutting into your legs."

Abby and Lucy got Nancy standing up, totally taking her weight on them. Piper put her arms under Nancy's arm pits and took a bulk of the weight off them so they could make the appropriate adjustments to the braces.

Nancy just looked at the braces, she hated them already. Although she was thrilled with the idea of getting out of her chair, she wished she didn't need the braces to do it.

"I have scheduled a therapy appointment for you tomorrow. I want you to start going six days a week for awhile. Then, you can cut back to three days in a few months."

"Six days?"

"Just for a few months. The more practice you get, the sooner you'll be out of this chair."

"I know but six days a week. I mean it's the end of the school year, and I have exams and term papers, and the Prom…."

"I know but this is important too…"

"Alright, if you say so, but so much for my summer vacation. Can't these things at least look stylish. I want to wear short every day during the summer and these things are not going to help me get them tan."

"They don't look that bad…"

"Piper, give me a break…"

"Alright that's enough. Now Nancy I want you to take the crutches. These cuffs go around your wrist so if your hands slip they won't fall out of your reach."

"Slip?"

"Don't panic. The height looks good, and the cuffs aren't to tight, I think your good to go. Piper you can set her down now and I'll show you how to take them off."

Piper lifted Nancy back onto the exam table and watched as the leg brace was removed then she removed the other. Nancy started to put her jeans back on over her shorts and hopped off the table back into her wheel chair.

"So I guess I'll see you in two weeks."

"Hold it…"

"Oh come on, do we have to do this every month. Please no spinal tap, I saw the x-ray there is barely any fluid there."

"No, you don't need a spinal tap this month, but you still need to have your blood drawn."

"Why?"

"Nancy I need to know if we are over medicating you, and we can only get that information through a blood test."

"Fine."

Abby walked in and drew Nancy's blood, with little pain involved and Nancy exited the room before Lucy could change her mind about the spinal tap.

"Nancy, slow down, where are your manors."

"Sorry, thanks for the hideous braces…."

"NANCY!"

"Just kidding…."

Nancy rolled out the door heading toward the car mumbling under her breath 'not', in reference to the just kidding. Waiting by the van she expected a lecture from Piper on the drive home, but was grateful when it never came.

Arriving home Piper went inside with Nancy, watched her get into her chair lift, then handed her the leg braces to take upstairs.

"What am I suppose to do with these?"

"Put them in your room. They are your responsibility, so take care of them."

"Sure whatever."

Nancy headed upstairs as Piper headed into the kitchen where she could smell coffee being brewed. Arriving in the kitchen she grabbed the coffee cup that was already filled on the kitchen counter and started to drink it.

"Hey get your own."

"Sorry Prue."

"That's alright, I'll pour another cup. How was Nancy's appointment, did they do a spinal again?"

"No just drew her blood, and Lucy gave her some new equipment."

"Equipment?"

"According to Jamie's physical therapy notes and Lucy's x-rays Nancy is ready to start doing some walking. She got her first pair of leg braces today."

"That's great, Nancy must be so excited."

"I don't think excited is the right word."

"Why not? She has been itching to get out of that chair."

"I know but these leg braces are not exactly this years fashion accessory. Not to mention Lucy wants her in therapy six days a week during the summer."

"Oh, I see…."

"Yea, Nancy's a teenagers, and is not looking forward to wearing leg braces during her summer vacation."

"I got it, but hopefully she'll just learn to accept it, and not dwell on it."

"I wouldn't count on it. She didn't say a single word on the way home. She's usually really talkative after any appointment when she doesn't have to have a spinal."

"Give her time to accept it, it's a change like all the others and she'll adapt just like she always does."

"I hope your right."

At that moment they heard a thud and yelled upstairs.

"Everything alright?"

"Fine Mom, just lost my balance."

Nancy had tried to get into her chair upstairs and lost her balance while trying to hold onto the leg braces and crutches. Losing her grip on both she fell on the floor, thankfully not falling down the stairs in the process.
Phoebe came hobbling out of her room using only one crutch for support with her bad knee. Not wanting to embarrass Nancy Phoebe stayed out of sight and waited to see if Nancy needed help.

"DAMN IT!"

Phoebe could tell that Nancy was having trouble getting back into her chair with the braces and crutches and took the chance to walk up casually to Nancy.

"Need some help?"

"Yea, I guess I do. Thanks."

Phoebe used her good leg for leverage and let Nancy grab hold of her arm and lift herself back into her chair. Once she was seated Phoebe picked up Nancy's braces and crutches handing them to Nancy who placed them in her lap.

"Got some new stuff."

"I guess, they say I'm ready to start walking."

"That's great!"

"If you say so. Thanks again Pheebs."

Nancy headed into her room then closed her door. Phoebe stood in the hall for a moment then was about to head back into her room when the phone rang.

"I got it!"

She yelled to everyone in the house as she picked up the cordless phone in the hallway.

"Hello. Sure Chad, just a minute."

Hobbling over to Nancy's door she knocked on the door.

"Nancy telephone, it's Chad."

"Just a minute."

Nancy was trying to put the braces away, but they were awkward and bulky, finally throwing them on the floor she let out a semi loud grown.

"I hate these things, why can't they just teach me to walk on my own!"

Phoebe who was trying to act like she wasn't listening at the door stepped away when she heard Nancy opening it and handing her the phone.

"Thank you. Hi Chad."

"Hey babe, how was your appointment?"

"A party like always. What's up?"

"Well I needed to ask you about your dress again…"

"My dress, I told you it's purple…"

"I thought you said navy blue!"

"Right that's what I meant, my Prom dress is navy blue. I was thinking about another dress. What's the question?"

"Do you think you can give me a sample of the color so I can get my bow tie to match?"

"I can try, but I can't get it by tomorrow."

"That's alright, as long as I can have it by Tuesday or Wednesday. I also need to know, as far the corsage, do you think I should go with a pin on, or a wrist corsage?"

"I don't know, which ever."

"I didn't know if I got a wrist corsage if it would get in the way with…"

"Oh right…no it should be fine. Nothing to worry about."

"Sorry honey, I didn't mean to upset you, I didn't know how else to ask."

"You didn't upset me, it's just been a long day, and you know how much I love going to the doctors. You can ask me anything, I know your not being mean when you ask. I have to get going so I can get some studying in."

"On a Friday night?"

"Well I don't want to be working on it all weekend, but maybe we can hook up tomorrow. After I go to therapy."

"Since when do you go on Saturday."

"Since now, until my doctor says otherwise. I have to go six days a week for a while."

"Well, how about you call me when your done and we'll go do something."

"Sounds good. Goodnight."

"Night."

Hanging up the phone she placed the phone back on the charger and shook her head.

"What am I going to do about my dress?"

She mumbled her herself as she headed back into her room.

Phoebe waited till Nancy was back in her room with the door closed before she walked out of her room and headed downstairs. Hobbling into the kitchen she leaned against the counter and interrupted her sisters conversation.