"Prue, I've been thinking, our house isn't exactly wheelchair friendly. I mean, even Nancy's room is upstairs."
"I know what you mean. I've been thinking about that too. Do you think you could give Dan a call? Maybe he can come over and help us discuss what we are going to need to have done. Maybe he can at least give us an estimate."
"I could give it a try."
Piper pulled out her cell phone and dialed Dan's work number. She wasn't on the phone long; Dan was always willing to help when it came to his girlfriend's family.
"He said he would come over as soon as he gets done with his job today."
"That's fast!"
"Well it helps that he lives next door. Beside he would do just about anything to see me tonight."
They laughed all the way to the car. Later on that night, Dan sat with notebook in hand, making a list of everything they were going to need to do.
"So how much do you think this is going to run us?"
"Well with me doing it, the labor will be free. Supplies shouldn't be too much. I can get most of it at cost price. The big stuff, it's hard to tell. Chair lift, special shower, etc? You know, Nancy isn't exactly adopted yet, I'll bet the state will pay for some of it."
"We'd rather not get them involved at this time."
"What about the checks they send you every month?"
"Out of the question. We think it's really stupid for them to pay me to be a foster parent to someone who is my flesh and blood. Every one of those checks gets put into an account for Nancy. It's her college fund."
"Her social worker does know right?"
"I called her when we got home. She's going to the hospital tomorrow morning to talk with the doctors."
"She doesn't think you had anything to do with it, does she?"
"I don't know. I mean to the outside observer, you have a pretty health child one day, and the next she can't walk. She wouldn't be doing her job if she didn't at least look into it. I'm not worried."
"You know Prue, I can probably ask around the hospital and find the most cost effective way to get what we need."
"Good thinking Pheebs. See what you can get, give all the information to Dan. I'm not working for a least the next week, and Piper has the club taken car of, so Dan if there is any little things we can do on our own, when you can't, just let us know. You think we can have it all ready before she comes home?"
"Don't worry. One way or another we'll get it all done."
The following morning when Prue arrived at the hospital, she was not surprised to find Jamie, Nancy's social worker sitting in the chair talking to Nancy. She quietly stood in the hallway, out of sight, waiting for their conversation to be over.
"Now Nancy, I want you to be totally straight with me. Has anyone at home hit you, or hurt you at any time?"
"NO!"
"Alright, calm down. You know that I like you family. I have to ask these questions, or someone you don't know might come in and ask them."
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to yell at you. It's just for someone to even think that they would hurt me, it's insane. I mean Piper and Phoebe couldn't hurt a fly, and Mom, well she may be strict, but she's not violent, or crazy. Believe me, after what I've already been through in L.A., if there was a problem at home, you would be the first to know. If you want to put the blame on anyone, for not finding out about this earlier, blame my doctor."
"Doctor Campbell?"
"No, not her. The idiot I've been seen since I got here. I know my Physical Therapist has sent him letters on my progress, which wasn't half as good as it should have been. He said I wasn't working hard enough, and that I need to do the work, even if it hurt. He didn't even give me a new x-ray or anything. I hate him for not listening to her, or me."
"How do you know the letters she sends to him?"
"She told me she was going to send it, and I know he got them too. He talked to me about it at my last check up. I told him my back so stiffer then it had been a month ago, and if I moved around too much it would tighten up and become sore. I also told him how winded I got after a long workout, or a long walk. He said I was being lazy, and needed to do better. I overheard him say to a nurse that he thinks teenage girls are lazy, and don't want to do the work. I was working hard in therapy, and I know now, I'm going to have to work harder, but he should have listened to me. I know my body better then anyone, it's with me all the time."
"I agree with you, he should have. I will have someone look into him. He may have a lawsuit on his hands."
"Not from me. I'm not going to have him sued, maybe we can just make sure he can't treat young women. I know he's a good doctor, he has taken care of several people on the guys sports teams, they like him. I've seen them at his office, he's just not good with young women."
"Alright."
Jamie took the last of her notes, thanked Nancy for her honest answers, and corporation, and then left the room. She bumped into Prue who was sitting in the hall, hands covering her face.
"Prue? You alright?"
"I didn't mean to listen to your conversation, but I overheard what she said about Doctor Jenson, I can't believe him. All that time she's been telling him, and he wouldn't listen, why wouldn't she tell us?"
"Kids sometimes think that doctors are never wrong. No matter how smart Nancy may be, she isn't immune to sometimes still thinking like a child. I will handle Jenson, Nancy may not want to sue him, but the state might have other ideas. After all, the state recommended him for Nancy's care, something I'm going to make sure doesn't happen again."
"Thanks, I'm glad to hear that."
"Well it's been nice seeing you again Prue. Wish it was under better circumstances."
"Believe me, I understand. I take no offense to you asking questions about us. We have nothing to hide."
Of course in the back of Prue's mind she knew part of that was a lie, but being a witch was the last thing on her mind right now.
"I've already talked to the doctors, Nancy's teacher, and the school nurse. You have nothing to worry about. I do have one question for you though. Did you know that Nancy was calling you Mom?"
"Yes I did. Is that a problem?"
"Not at all. In fact that shows how much she has progressed in a short amount of time. You girls are definitely doing something right. Keep up the good work."
"We will. Thanks."
Prue shook Jamie's hand and then walked into Nancy's room. After asking how she was feeling, and talking about her homework, and plans for getting it handed in, Prue was ready for a real Mother, Daughter talk.
"Nancy, I don't want you to think that I was eavesdropping, but I overheard what you told Jamie, about Doctor Jenson."
"Yea?"
"Why didn't you say something?"
"I don't know. Part of me thought he was right. I thought maybe since I didn't want to be there, I wasn't working hard enough. Then I thought maybe I was just complaining too much."
"I want you to make me a promise, one that you can never ever break?"
"What is it?"
"I want you to promise me, if you ever talk to someone about how you feel, or what's going on in your life, and they don't listen, you will come and talk to me. If you can't talk to me, then talk to Piper, or Phoebe, we can't help you, if we don't know what's going on. Promise?"
"I'll try. I'm sorry you have to go through the trouble of finding me another doctor."
"When it comes to your well being, it is never trouble. Now, I have to get going, do you need anything from home?"
"Nope, you brought my school books, so I think I'm good. Maybe, if you guys could, I kind of miss my music, can I have my CD player, and some CD's?"
"Sure. I think Phoebe is working this afternoon, if I can catch her before she leaves, she'll bring it by. If not, Piper is coming this evening, she will. Alright?"
"Thanks Mom. I…"
"You?"
"I…I…I Love You."
"I love you too."
Prue remembered the feeling she had only a few years ago when she finally was able to tell her sisters that she loved them. She never realized the impact it had on her sisters, now she knew. Kissing Nancy on they cheek, she gave her a gentle hug, then headed home to start getting to work on the house's overhaul. They knew they had a lot of work to do, and not a lot of time to do it.