"So is someone ready to come home?"
Nancy simply handed them her bag and waited for her wheel chair to arrive. Lucy took that moment to walk in the room.
"You're not here to tell me I can't go home are you? Cause if you are you better have something to knock me out, or I'll go nuts."
"No you're still going home. Prue I need you to sign these papers. I know you've been having trouble finding another doctor for Nancy, if it's alright with you, I would like to continue to be Nancy's primary doctor. I have an outpatient office here at the hospital."
"I think that would be wonderful. Nancy seems to like, and trust you."
"As long as she's not sticking me with needles."
"Nancy behave yourself."
Prue gave her best stern voice to Nancy as she signed the paper, and watched as Phoebe and Piper placed her into the wheelchair that had just arrived.
"Here are just a few reminders about her home care. Don't hesitate to call if you have any questions."
"We'll be fine. Can we go now?"
"Nancy I'm not going to tell you again. Don't be rude."
"Sorry, I just really want to get out of here. Piper you are cooking dinner tonight right?"
"Yes, why?"
"You try a week of hospital food, and you would know why. Goodbye Doctor Campbell, I guess I'll be seeing you soon."
"From now on you call me Lucy. Take care of yourself."
With that the girls wheeled her out of the room, down the hall, and waited for the elevator. Lucy grabbed Prue by the arm before she could leave the room. It was obvious that she wanted to say something with Nancy out of earshot.
"Prue, are you guys sure you can handle everything. She is still in a lot of pain, even though she tries to hide it."
"We're sure. We can monitor her better at home. Piper doesn't heave to go into the club till late in the afternoon, and starting this week I work half days. So when Piper can't be there, I can."
"Alright, just remember she needs to say on all four of the medications, to keep the fluid build up from returning."
"We have it all mapped out at home, and a special alarm to tell us that it's time."
"Great, I'll see you in about a week for a check up."
Prue shook her hand, said goodbye, and headed to the elevator where the others were still waiting. When the doors opened, Sam, Megan, and Jamie were standing inside.
"We were hoping to catch you before you left. We wanted to say goodbye, and talk to Phoebe for a minute."
"Sure, why don't you guys take Nancy downstairs, and I'll meet you there in a second."
Prue and Piper politely said goodbye and took a very anxious Nancy downstairs.
"What's up?"
"We just want you to remember that if you have any problems, you can call us. We only live a few minutes away from you."
"Also, I wanted to remind you that Nancy will do just about anything to stay away from the shots. Watch for the signs that she needs it. You remember them right?"
"No problem Sam, I got them straight. Come to think of it, I could use your help with something. Working here, I've had lots of practice giving Nancy her shots, but Prue and Piper haven't. Do you guys think you could come by the next couple of nights, and help supervise them? I would feel better if qualified people were talking them through it."
"We'll be there as soon as our shift lets out."
"Thanks."
By the time they finished talking a new elevator had arrived and took them all downstairs. Once outside, Phoebe found that Nancy was already loaded into the jeep, and Prue was just folding up the chair, and loading it in the back.
"Don't worry Nancy, Prue has already ordered a minivan that has a build in ramp. We should have it in a few weeks, so this won't always take this much time."
"Oh goody. How long before I won't need any of this?"
"You know we don't know the answer to that. Hey look on the bright side. When the new van shows up, I'll get to drive you around more, since it'll be mine, when the others don't need it."
"That's good because?"
"Who else takes you to the movies or ice cream after Physical Therapy?"
"Oh yes that. I have to go five days a week now. How exciting more pain."
Nancy had started therapy while in the hospital. Of course working with Greg, the hospital therapist was not the same as working with Jamie, but the pain was no different. Her back felt like it hurt all the time, and it was difficult not to show it. Phoebe hopped in the back seat and fastened her seatbelt.
"Mom, when do I get to go back to school?"
"If all goes well, and you do everything your asked to, without a fight. Maybe, and that's a big maybe, you can go back in a few weeks."
"Mom if your still worried about it, you can take me on my first day back. I'll even let you take me inside. You can meet some of the people I know. Then you'll know them too, and won't be so worried."
"We'll talk about it later. Until then you know what you have to do?"
"Yes, every night, Jill or Susan will drop off my homework, that's due for the next day. I need to do it, put it in an envelope, and you guys will put it on the front porch in the morning. The bus will stop by the house, and the girls will pick up the packet, and hand my assignments in for me."
"That's right, and IF you go back, you will make up the test you missed, as the teachers see fit."
They pulled up to the house and lifted Nancy out of the car and into her chair. Nancy immediately noticed the difference on the outside of the house.
"What happened here?"
"Well we had ramps installed on all the stairs outside, and wait until you see the inside."
Nancy started to push herself toward the house. Prue grabbed hold of the back of the chair and stopped her. Nancy tried to fight it, but wasn't winning."
"The therapist said I needed to get used to doing stuff like this."
"Not yet. Remember Lucy only let you come home under strict orders that you are to stay in bed."
"Oh Man! You mean I actually have to follow those rules?"
Phoebe pushed Nancy up the stairs, and when they came inside Nancy saw the lift for upstairs.
"You guys have been busy!"
"Come on, let's get you upstairs."
They lifted her out of the chair, and onto the lift.
"Eventually, you'll be able to do this yourself."
"Eventually, I won't need this at all."
"Ok, now just hit the button on the side."
Nancy pushed the button and the chair began to lift her up the stairs. Not being use to it, she gripped the side, afraid she was going to fall out. Once they reached the top of the stairs, she found that they had another wheelchair waiting for her.
"One for upstairs and the other for everywhere else."
They explained as they lifted her out of the lift and into her chair. Wheeling her into her room, she again noticed all the changes. In the closet, they lowered the rail so she could reach all her cloths. The legs on the bed had been shortened making it easier for Nancy to eventually get in and out of bed on her own.
"So what do you think?"
Nancy didn't say anything; this was become so real for her now that she was home. This was really her life now, and she had to learn to accept it. Piper leaned over and whispered into Prue's ear.
"I think reality is just starting to sink in. Don't push, give her sometime."
Nodding her head in agreement, Prue decided to just focus on getting back to work. Piper started to unload Nancy's back, putting the dirty cloths in the hamper, and the unused one's in the dresser where they belonged.
"Come on, let's get you into bed."
Prue and Phoebe lifted Nancy out of her chair, and placed her gently onto the bed.
"Thanks guys."
"Do you want anything?"
"Maybe just my headphones and then some food."
Phoebe retrieved Nancy's CD player and her portable CD case, kissed her on the head, and exited the room with the others. Nancy felt strange being home again. She put her headphones on, and closed her eyes. Before she knew it she fell asleep listening to the soft music that was playing in her head.