Well here we are at the final chapter. Thank you for all your kind reviews. Am working on a bit of fluff for christmas that hopefully will be up soon.
Two years later
Dan walked down the hospital corridor towards the gym, studying his list of patients for the day. It was going to be a busy one by the looks of it, before his eyes alighted on one patient he was due to see in the afternoon and his heart sank a little.
Ben was a teenager who had been involved in a rather nasty road traffic accident. He had just passed his driving test and had been a little overconfident in his skills. He had suffered a broken pelvis and legs as a result.
He had become quite depressed about his situation and lacked all motivation in his physiotherapy. Dan was running out of ideas on how to get through to him. He was disturbed from his musings as someone literally crashed into him. "Woah! Steady!" he exclaimed as he fought to stay on his feet.
"Sorry mate!" the person who had barged in to him apologised whilst trying to help steady Dan.
Dan looked up and into a familiar face. "Steve!" he exclaimed.
Not expecting to hear his name, Steve finally registered who he had nearly knocked over. "Alright mate!".
"How're you doing?" Dan enquired.
"Good. Good," Steve replied, a little distracted.
"We should catch up," Dan suggested.
"Yeah," agreed Steve. "I've got something important to do right now but I'll come and find you later,".
"Sounds good," Dan replied before Steve dashed off. Dan watched him go pleased to note he looked to be running fine after his injuries. He wondered briefly what was so important that had Steve running around the hospital. Probably something police related he thought.
"Have you practised any of your exercises since last time?" Dan asked Ben later that day. All he got was a shrug of the shoulders. "Why not?".
"Don't see the point," Ben replied sullenly. "It's not helping,".
"I promise you it will," Dan said getting a little frustrated. "It just requires a bit of effort on your side,".
"Hi!" said Steve cheerily as his head popped around the gym door. "Is it alright to come in?".
Normally Dan wouldn't let visitors in whilst he had a patient but an idea started to form in his head. "Sure," he replied.
Steve briefly disappeared before he entered behind a plastic crib on wheels that carried a sleeping baby.
"Wow!" Dan couldn't help but exclaim. "Was that the important thing you were talking about earlier?".
"Yeah," said Steve, a large smile plastered over his face that had refused to leave since his child had entered the world. "My daughter," he said proudly.
"When was she born?".
Steve looked at his watch. "Two hours and forty four minutes ago," he announced precisely. The time would forever be etched in his memory.
Dan raised his eyebrows. The tiny baby was a lot younger than he expected. She definitely held the record of youngest person to ever be in the gym. "Obvious question but her mother knows where she is right?".
"Of course," Steve replied.
"Wonderful," Dan said greatly relieved. For a moment he had panicked, thinking he might have to deal with an irate new mother invading his gym but Steve appeared to have everything in hand. "Your visit has been really well timed," he mentioned. "I'd like you to meet Ben," he continued, pointing out the young man in a wheelchair.
Checking his daughter was still sleeping soundly, Steve left her and wandered over to the teenager. "Alright Ben," Steve said as he held out his hand.
"Ben, this is Steve. He's a previous patient of mine," Dan said, completing the introductions.
"Hi," said Ben as he took Steve's hand.
"Steve had injuries very similar to yours," Dan explained. "As you can see he's recovered fully,".
"Yeah?" Ben asked, interested.
"Broke my leg, pelvis, back and skull," Steve listed, almost like a badge of honour. He showed Ben his scars as well to prove he was telling the truth. Dan could see they had faded and were almost invisible now. "What've you done?".
"Both legs and pelvis," Ben replied. "How did you do it?".
"Got thrown down four flights of stairs," Steve answered.
"Shit!" said Ben.
"How did you do yours?".
"Car accident," Ben said.
Dan stood quietly watching the two. He could see the teenager opening up to Steve and didn't want to interrupt. He was hoping that by seeing that Steve had returned to a normal life, Ben might get a bit of motivation.
"How's the physio going? You walked the length of the bars yet?" Steve asked. Ben didn't say anything.
"Ben is lacking a little bit of enthusiasm for physio, aren't you Ben?".
"Oh mate, you don't wanna do that," Steve warned. "You've gotta trust Dan here. He knows what he's doing. Trust me," he continued. "Walking that first length of the bars was the hardest bit for me, wasn't it, Dan?".
Dan nodded in agreement. He remembered how despondent Steve had got every time he failed to complete the task.
"But once you do it, the rest is a bit easier," Steve advised. "I'm not going to lie. It's hard work and you'll get frustrated by it. But you've just got to put your head down and get on with it," he continued. "You got a good support system at home? Parents? Girlfriend?".
"Yeah but they've got no idea how hard it is. They don't get it. How painful it is to stand. How tiring it is just to take a little step," Ben explained.
Steve looked at Ben as he considered what he was going to do next. Kate would have a lot to say about it but she knew he was a bit of a sucker for lost causes. Those boys at Sands View children's home came to mind. "But I do," Steve pointed out. He fished in his jeans pocket for his wallet and handed Ben one of his contact cards. "Phone me if you're having a bad day or anything,".
"You sure?" Ben asked, surprised a virtual stranger was helping him out.
"Course," Steve said. "Just maybe perhaps don't call in the middle of the night. My wife will probably kill me if we wake her up," he continued, nodding in the direction of his slumbering daughter.
"What do you think, Ben?" Dan asked. His plan had gone far better than he had ever dared to hope. Steve acting as some sort of mentor for the teenager might be just the thing he needed to reengage with his rehab.
"Yeah, I might do that," Ben said.
"Great," Dan said. "Why don't you head off. We'll start afresh next time and please do some exercise practise," he begged as Ben wheeled himself out of the gym.
"Thanks, Steve. That was a very generous thing you did there," Dan said.
Steve shrugged his shoulders at the praise. "Gotta help him get back on his feet," Steve answered.
"Fingers crossed it gives him the kick up the arse he needs. I'm running out of options with him," Dan explained before changing topics. "So, wife eh?".
"Yeah," Steve said as he held up his left hand. A platinum band now circled his ring finger.
"Kate?". Steve nodded and Dan was happy for him. "You worked out all the complicated work stuff?".
"Yeah," Steve said as he checked on his sleeping daughter. She was still in a milk coma after Kate had fed her. If she carried on like this, Steve couldn't envisage any of the problems that new parents complained about. "Kate quit AC-12 and now works in MIT,".
"MIT?".
"Sorry. Murder squad," Steve explained, forgetting Dan wouldn't know police abbreviations.
"Oh right," Dan replied. "So you got a new partner?".
"Yeah. I've got a DS after getting promoted to DI,". The gaffer had finally given Steve his promotion, making him the same rank as Kate again.
"And married life treating you well?".
No complaints," Steve said. "Mind you we've only been married nine months. Think we must have conceived her on the honeymoon!".
"Everything in working order then," Dan teased, remembering Steve's other problem.
"You could say that," Steve replied before changing topic. "It's good that I've run in to you actually," he said. "I've been meaning to try and come and see you,".
"Oh yeah?".
"It's my back," Steve explained. "Recently I've been getting a bit of pain again and its getting more frequent. Nothing too bad at the moment and it goes with a bit of ibuprofen, but I just want to make sure everything is ok. Nip it in the bud before it becomes more of a problem and I'm hooked on pain killers or something,".
"Hop up on the couch and let's have a look," Dan said. He wanted to make sure Steve was ok. He ran through a few stretches with his old patient and noticed he was a bit tight. "At the risk of sounding like a broken record, have you been keeping up with your exercises?".
"I did," Steve replied, "but I've sort of lapsed recently, what with Kate being pregnant and everything. Perhaps I haven't been going to the gym as much as I should have,".
"Well that's understandable," Dan acknowledged. "But I think the quicker you get back to them, the quicker your pain is going to disappear,".
"So it's nothing serious then?" Steve asked relieved as he sat up. "I haven't mentioned anything to Kate as I didn't want to get her worried,".
"I don't think so. Maybe being a mentor to Ben will benefit you as well. You could come to a few of his sessions and participate in them.
"Yeah. I might do that," Steve said as he considered Dan's suggestion. "Wouldn't have to tell Kate about the pain either," he reasoned.
"I don't think that's a good idea," Dan mentioned.
"There you are!" Kate said as she gingerly made her way in to the gym, interrupting the men's conversation. She was still a little sore after giving birth earlier that morning.
"Hi Kate!" Greeted Dan as he made his way over to her and gave her a hug. "Congratulations on your wedding and daughter,".
"Thanks!" Kate replied as she hugged Dan back. "Although I'm regretting one of those things at the moment," she continued before turning to her husband.
"Me?" Steve asked.
""Yes you!" Kate retorted. "It's hardly going to be our daughter is it! Has she been ok by the way?".
"Fine. Slept the whole time," Steve informed her. "You going to tell me what I've done?".
Kate looked at him. He was a complete idiot sometimes. "Oh I don't know. Maybe taking our daughter off the ward whilst I was having a well earned nap,".
"I left a note!" Steve argued.
"Gone for a walk," Kate said, quoting the message he'd left on a scrappy bit of paper. Dan raised his eyebrows. It was as he had initially feared. Steve was a dead man.
"Thought I would make sure you got a well earned rest," Steve reasoned. "Anyway I told the midwives,".
"Yeah. They're getting a bit angsty as well. You left over an hour ago and they're fretting they've got a baby kidnap on their hands!" Kate explained. She had been a little flummoxed at their dramatics on the ward as she knew her daughter would be safe. Her husband would be guarding their child with his life.
"I'm sorry. I don't realise I'd been gone that long," Steve apologised.
"Then I remembered you mentioning you'd run in to Dan this morning in between my contractions so I thought I'd come and check down here before they called the police!".
"Sorry," Steve mumbled. Looks like he had inadvertently caused a bit of drama in the hospital.
"Your parents have rung as well. They'll be here in about fifteen minutes," Kate informed Steve. They had been so excited about their first grandchild ever since Steve had told them that Kate was pregnant. They were going to be their first visitors.
"Right,".
"So you better get your backside up to the ward quickly mate or I'm going to put you back in a wheelchair and all Dan's work will have been in vain!" Kate jokingly threatened. "Sorry Dan," she apologised to the physio.
"Well, while all that's been going on, he's done something incredibly nice for me whilst he's been down here in the gym,". Dan jumped in to stand up for Steve.
Kate looked at Steve. "Yeah?" she asked, "What's he done?".
"Helped me get through to a teenager with similar injuries to Steve who has been struggling a bit,".
"How did he do that?" Kate asked. Despite being a bit of an idiot Steve had a kind heart which she found a very attractive quality. She was proud of him if he'd done something good.
"Said he could phone me if he was having a bad day and struggling. I can help because I know what he's going through. Might join him for a few physio sessions," Steve informed Kate.
"It's actually given me an idea," Dan mentioned to them both. "Maybe we can start some sort of programme up where former patients can help current ones,".
"You did good," Kate praised Steve as she moved toward where he sat on the physio table and gave him a brief kiss,".
"So no divorce?".
"Not today," Kate said as she hugged him. "Sorry if I was a bit off. Just a bit hormonal," she apologised before a thought hit her. "What are you doing on the couch? Dan assessing you again?" she teased before catching the glance that Steve cast at Dan. "Steve?".
"Just been having a bit of back pain recently," Steve confessed.
"What?! Why didn't you say?" Kate asked, instantly worried. This was the last thing they needed right now.
"Well you've had a lot on your plate making sure our daughter was safe. You didn't need me adding to your problems,".
"You're not a problem, Steve," Kate told him. "It's not bad is it?".
"Just needs to do some exercises regularly ," Dan informed Kate and she relaxed a little.
"Don't keep secrets from me," Kate told her husband as she gave her husband another hug.
The telephone in the gym started ringing, finally waking the sleeping baby. Dan went to answer it as Kate went to retrieve her daughter.
"Hello?" said Dan as he answered the call. "Yes they are...ok, I'll let them know...thanks," Dan said before hanging up. "That was the post natal ward. Your parents are here Steve,".
"We better get going then, hadn't we?" Kate cooed to her daughter who was resting in her arms. Her crying had stopped now she had been picked up. "Grandma has been waiting to meet you for six months or so, so we shouldn't keep her waiting much longer,".
Steve huffed. He'd pretty much been ignored by his mother for the last couple of months. Much more interested in Kate and her pregnancy whenever he called. It looked set to continue for a little while at least.
You ready?" Kate asked Steve as she placed her daughter back in the crib.
"Yeah," Steve replied as he hopped off the couch.
"Let me know if Ben calls," Dan said to the departing couple. Steve nodded. "And I'll let you know when he's got a session that you might want to visit,".
"See you, mate," Steve said as he followed Kate out the door.
Six weeks later
Ben and Steve had developed an unlikely friendship and it was really helping Ben's rehab. He'd phoned Steve a few times and Steve had joined a few sessions in the gym, being a supporter, much like Kate had been for him.
Today was one such day and instead of being a supporter, Steve was joining in and things had become a little competitive. Both were on some mats on the floor when Kate arrived in the gym with her daughter who they had called Evie in a papoose on her chest.
The two girls had just been to their six week check up following Evie's birth in the hospital and were now in the gym waiting for Steve to finish before heading home all together.
Steve saw Kate arrive and didn't need much of an excuse to get off the floor and head over to his wife and daughter. "How did it go?" he asked Kate.
"Fine. She passed her physical with flying colours, meeting all her milestones and is gaining weight nicely," Kate informed her husband.
"That's my girl," Steve praised his daughter and kissed her on the top of her head before taking her out the papoose and into his arms.
"FYI, Mummy passed her check up as well," Kate murmured quietly to Steve. He knew what that meant. They hadn't had sex since Evie's birth and now it looked as if they had been given the go ahead to resume an intimate relationship.
"Excellent news," he said as he gave Kate a smouldering look. He'd missed her these last six weeks.
"You gonna finish this challenge or not?" Ben called from the mats. He'd given Steve adequate time to say hello to his family and now he was just procrastinating as far as he was concerned. Probably because Steve knew he was going to lose.
"Coming," replied Steve as he gave Evie back to Kate and headed towards Ben. Kate followed and took a seat next to Dan.
"What's going on?" Kate asked the physio as she sat Evie on her lap.
"Not entirely sure," Dan replied. "Said we were going to finish on the Plank and now somehow it has morphed into a competition. First one to last over two minutes and hold it longer than his competitor,".
"Right," replied Kate a little worried. She knew how competitive her husband could be. "And how's it going?".
"We've been at it nearly twenty minutes and neither is anywhere close to reaching two minutes," Dan informed Kate.
"You ready to start the timer?" Ben enquired. Both he and Steve were in position to start the challenge again.
"Yep," said Dan. "Ready?" he asked and got two nods in reply. "Go," he said and pressed the start button. "Haven't you got big since the last time I saw you?" Dan said, switching his attention to the little girl sat on Kate's lap. Evie smiled at the man. She'd only just started smiling recently in the last couple of days, and now was doing it a lot because she had worked out it meant lots of kisses and cuddles from her parents.
You flirting with Dan?" cooed Kate.
"She better not be," Steve interjected from the floor whilst gritting his teeth in concentration. As far as Steve was concerned, Evie would not be getting a boyfriend until she was at least twenty one.
"Shush you," Kate retorted. "Concentrate on your Plank. There was a time when apparently you could do this for three minutes," she reminded Steve. She knew he would be reminded of his boast during their first night together.
"Yeah well, that was before," Steve ground out. "How long?".
"Forty five seconds," Dan informed the pair.
"You gotta be joking," Ben said. He'd been quiet until now but was obviously struggling like Steve.
By ninety seconds both men had collapsed on to the floor, the challenge still not completed. After several more attempts, the result was still the same. Evie was beyond bored and Kate was having trouble occupying her. She couldn't blame her daughter. She was nearly as bored as Evie and home wasn't in sight.
"Should the time be shortened?" Kate suggested.
No way," Steve replied frustrated. He had done this before and he was determined to be able to do it again.
"Ok, can it be anyone that makes it over two minutes or just you two?" Kate asked.
"What do you mean?" Steve asked.
"Look after Evie," Kate said to Dan as she placed her daughter in his lap. It helped quieten her as she was interested in the new person and new lap. Kate stood, removed the papoose and headed to the mats. "Prepare to be beaten by a girl," she boasted to the two men as she prepared to do the Plank.
"I'm not sure about this," Ben said. He didn't know Kate all that well.
"Don't let her get to you," warned Steve. "She's just trying to psych you out," he continued, knowing his wife well. She employed the same tactics in police interviews.
"I'm actually just trying to beat you," Kate retorted as she got herself in position for the challenge.
"Are you all ready?" Dan asked the expanding number of people taking the challenge on. He got three nods. "Ok then. Ready ...and go," he ordered as he started the time watch.
Silence reigned in the gym for a little while as the three adults concentrated on the task ahead. After a bit, Kate decided to stir things up. "This is easy," she said. She wasn't going to admit otherwise.
"Fuck off!" Retorted Steve. There was no way Kate could be finding this a walkover. She had moaned plenty of times about her lack of core strength since she'd given birth.
"Language!" warned Kate. They had a pact not to swear whilst their daughter was in earshot of either of them.
Dan gave a little smile at the married couple involved in a little bicker whilst planking. Evie looked a little puzzled at both of her parents on the floor. Her quizzical expression remained on her face as she turned her face to Dan as if wanting him to explain what was going on.
"Mummy and Daddy are being silly aren't they?" Dan said to the little girl. "I hope for your sake that they don't behave like this at home,".
Silence spread over the gym once again as pain prevented any more banter. Dan looked at his watch and gave a little smile to himself. Two minutes was just about up but he wouldn't say anything. The threat of being shown up by a woman had done the trick.
Time?" asked Steve through a grimace.
"Two minutes, twenty seconds," Dan informed them.
"Thank god for that," Ben said and they all collapsed on the floor at the same time.
"Think that was a draw," Dan decided. "Not sure what that means,".
"Hopefully it means we can go home," Kate declared.
"What do you think?" Steve asked Ben. He was rather keen to call it a day as well.
"Yeah, ok," Ben replied, making everyone happy.
Dan got to his feet and starting packing up for the day. He took Evie with him to keep her entertained and he was getting quite attached to her. His husband had talked about becoming parents and Dan hadn't seemed so keen, but now he thought a baby daughter would be nice.
"That's actually the longest I've done a Plank for," Ben mentioned, quite proud of himself.
"Well done, mate," Steve praised.
"Just needed a bit of encouragement," Kate said.
"Is that what you call it?" Ben bantered. "Thought you said she was supportive during your rehab?".
"She was but she also kicked my arse several times," Steve replied. "Ben this is my wife, Kate. Kate, Ben," Steve said, doing the necessary introductions.
"Nice to meet you, Ben," Kate said, shaking hands with the teenager. "Glad to see you making progress. Hope he's helping," she continued, indicating Steve.
"Nice to meet you too. Steve's been great," Ben informed Kate.
"You guys ready to go?" Dan asked as he approached the three who were still on the mats.
"Yeah," said Ben. He transferred himself to his wheelchair whilst the others got their things and they all left the gym together.
"Now you've conquered the bars it might be time to try the frame," Dan told Ben. He had been really happy with the transformation in Ben and he was progressing quickly now.
"Awesome," Ben said. He could see he was making progress now as well. "See you next week," he said as he headed off to where his parents would be meeting him.
"He's doing well then?" Steve checked.
"Really good," Dan confirmed. "How are you doing?".
"Haven't had to take a pain killer in over two weeks now, so I'd say I'm doing good,".
"That's good to hear. I didn't want an initial success story to have an unhappy ending," Dan confided. "I'll see you next week, Steve. Good to see you Kate and Evie," he said before leaving the little family alone.
Heading to the car, Steve put Evie in her car seat. The coloured toys lined up on a string in front of her catching her attention immediately. Once he was sure she was strapped in securely, Steve closed the car door and gave his wife a hug. "Have I told you I love you today?".
"Maybe," Kate replied as she pretended to think about her day. In reality she knew he had. He did every morning without fail, as she did to him.
"Well I do, and I intend to show you tonight," Steve murmured in her ear.
"I look forward to it," Kate informed him. "I hope we have some condoms at home. Midwife said we should use some sort of contraception whilst I'm not on the Pill,".
"I think we might still have a box from our first night together," Steve answered. Kate had gone on to the Pill pretty soon after they started sleeping together.
"Hope they're still in date. Those Extended Pleasure ones? At least I know I can get at least two minutes tonight!" she sassed.
"Get in the car!" Steve ordered amused. Kate did as she was told. She took the passenger seat whilst Steve got behind the wheel. Expertly pulling out of the space this time he put the car in gear and drove his family home.