"And look who's up!"

Pops looked over at the cheerful announcement as his wife and Torie walked out of the hospital, his son in a wheelchair in front of him. It pained him to see Speed in the chair but he knew there wasn't anything for it. The number of injuries he had sustained the year prior had taken their toll on him.

'But the doctor says that he'll be able to walk again in time. I just hope he hasn't lost any of his determination to succeed.'

"Good to see you up, Speed," he said, plastering a smile on his face.

"Feels good to be up," Speed stated, his eyes bright.

"And there's more good news," his wife beamed. "I talked with Dr. Richmond. He's updating Speed's dietary status to see if he can handle solid foods and in a few days he'll be able to go home. Isn't that great?"

"Sure is," Sparky agreed. Pops noticed Speed's smile dimming a little and sighed to himself.

'For some reason, he's resigned to stay here. But why? There's nothing here for him! How can anyone move away from what they already have?'

The answer eluded him and he failed to notice that Trixie had left without saying a word.

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"Take care of her for me, will you? She's a stubborn gal, hides a lot of what she's feeling, and prefers to deal with things on her own, but she is a sweet one."

"But what if she refuses to have me around?"

"She won't." He heard the smile in the other man's voice. "I know Torie very well. A lot of men have always been interested in her but she follows her heart. She has the heart of a winner, Speed. So do you."

"That I'm not so sure about . . ." Speed turned his head away. "I can't even take care of myself right now. How am I going to be able to help her if I can't even help myself?"

"By not feeling sorry for yourself," came the reply. "You have the strength and determination to get through this. Just look within yourself. You only have to prove your own worth to yourself. No one else and she'll tell you that herself."

"How will I know she'll feel the same way?"

"Play her a song, Speed. Play her a song."

"Which one?"

"When the time comes, you'll know. Now get some sleep. You've got a lot of work ahead of you. Torie isn't easily won. Something your brother is about to find out."

"My brother? What do you mean by that?"

"Good night, Speed. I'll talk with you soon."

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Speed opened his eyes to an early morning light and an empty room. Robert had been released the day before and his parents had gone to stay at a hotel to get some much needed sleep. At least, he assumed he had been alone until a gentle voice spoke.

"I didn't expect you to wake this soon."

"Trixie?" he whispered.

"Yes," she whispered back, stepping into his view. "I can't stay long. I'm going to be leaving Philadelphia for a while . . ."

"I won't ever see you again, will I?"

"No," she shook her head. "You won't. I'm sorry, Speed."

"Trixie . . ."

"Look, Speed. I've made several decisions this past year, decisions that I have to live with. It isn't fair for me to take you down. Take care of yourself, okay?"

Before he could say anything more, she leaned over and kissed him then disappeared out the door. His spirits sank low, lower than what they had the first time she had walked away from him and he fought back the tears as they threatened to overtake him.

"No," he murmured. "I can't do this . . . I can't let this bring me down. I have to pull through . . . I have to . . . for my own sake."

He knew he'd be going home soon. His father had been very adamant about that. Pops wanted him to carry out his physical therapy at home while he wanted to stay. Rather than argue about it, he had agreed, much to his parents' relief.

'But I'll come back. In six months, I'll come back . . . and I'll be walking. That way no one will have to worry about taking care of me. I'll be a champion once more, a champion of my own heart and my own life.'

Finis