Della was heading down the basement stairs to switch the laundry around when she tripped. She missed the last four steps and landed on the cement floor, on her knee. She cried out in pain. "Della!" Perry yelled. He ran to the basement door and saw his wife on the floor. He rushed down the stairs, "what happened?" he asked as he knelt beside her.

Della was in tears and trying to breathe through the pain, "I tripped." She groaned in pain, "I think it's broken."

"Your knee?" he asked. Della nodded in affirmation, "I'll carry you up and then call Jenny to come sit with the kids."

"Jenny and Denny are away this weekend." The couple had married the previous year and were away celebrating their one-year anniversary.

"Don't worry," he said, "I'll find someone. Nicky might be able to. Are you ready?"

"No, but I'll never be ready."

Perry gently maneuvered his wife so he could lift her. He ended up having Paul and Gertie come sit with the kids. Della did break her knee. The doctor put some screws in it and Della stayed in the hospital for a week. The doctor wanted her to start physical therapy at the hospital. She was up and using a walker by the time she was discharged, but she needed a wheelchair to travel long distances. Perry took time off until Della's rehab was further along.

Nicky was a junior at UCLA. He lived on campus to help him get comfortable with his independence. However, when Della broke her knee, Nicky decided to go home the last two weekends of the semester. Perry went to work those two weekends to try and keep up. Nicky's first weekend taking care of his mother was a bit rough. He had the instructions, but Della was still in a lot of pain. Nicky walked into the living room with a tray of food. He placed it over her lap, "do you need anything else?"

"No, thank you."

Jenny took care of the little kids while Nicky took care of his mother. "After this, you can have more pain medication."

"Good," Della sighed. "I'm sorry you got stuck with me."

"I didn't get stuck with you. I offered," he said.

"What about your finals?"

"Trust me," he said, "I've been studying. You underestimate how much you sleep."

"I don't even know what day it is."

"Saturday," Nicky said.

"What's the date?"

"That I don't know."

Della chuckled and continued eating her lunch. "I should probably use the bathroom before I take my medication. Could you get Jenny?"

"I can help you."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes," Nicky helped her to gently put her leg down, "ready?"

"No, but let's go."

Nicky handed his mother her walker and helped her slowly stand. He placed a hand on her back as they made their way to the bathroom. Della was embarrassed at first, but her son was so caring that she quickly got over it. He helped her back to the couch and helped her to lie down before giving her pain medication to her. "See ya in a few hours," he smiled as his mother was overcome by sleep.

Three hours later, Della woke up and saw her son studying on the floor. "What are you studying?" she mumbled.

Nicky looked up and smiled, "government. You need anything?"

"I'm okay right now."

"Well, it's time for a study break."

"How long have you been studying?"

"Since you fell asleep three hours ago."

"Three hours? You were right when you said you were able to study enough."

"Dad called and said he probably won't be home until late."

"I'll go to bed early so you can get off the clock."

"Don't worry about it."

"Could you help me sit up?"

Nicky got up and helped his mother sit up. She placed a hand on her head, "you okay?"

"I got a little dizzy. It's normal with these pills."

"Just sit back until you wake up more."

After dinner, Della returned to her couch. Jenny left after she got the little ones to bed. Peggy and Nicky sat in the living room with their mother. "Nicky," Peggy whispered to her brother. He looked and saw what she saw. Their mother was struggling to stay awake.

"Go get the bed ready and I'll get mom." Peggy left and Nicky walked over to his mother. He gently lifted her into his arms and carried her to bed. The woman jolted awake when she was placed on the bed. "Easy," Nicky said, "you fell asleep so I brought you to bed."

"Teeth," she mumbled.

Nicky smiled, "okay." He carried her to the bathroom and helped her to brush her teeth before taking her back to bed.

"Change," Della said.

"I've got it," Peggy said. Nicky turned around but stayed in case she needed help. Once Della was changed and under the covers, Nicky turned back around. He gave his mother more medication. The two said goodnight to Della and left. Nicky was awake when Perry got home and told his father when his mother could have more pain meds. When Perry got into bed, Della didn't even stir. Each week, Della needed her meds less and slept less.

A month after breaking her knee, Perry and Della decided to return to work. Perry wheeled Della into the office, "welcome back, Della," Gertie said.

"Thank you, Gertie."

"Gertie, Della will be in my office for the time being."

"Yes, Mr. Mason."

Gertie opened the door and Perry wheeled his wife into his office before Gertie closed the door. "You should have stayed home."

"Well, I can't help with the children and Jenny isn't responsible for me."

"Do you want to move or sit here?"

"Could you help me up?"

Della winced when Perry helped her up. She needed the wheelchair to move long distances, but she could walk short distances with a cane. "You okay?"

"I've just been sitting too long."

Perry moved the chair out of the way while Della limped over to his desk. "Are you sure about going to court with me?"

"Perry, I'm going stir crazy. I won't be walking in court anyway."

"I know," he said, "I just don't want you to hurt your knee even more."

"Believe me, I don't want that either. Now, what do you have for me to do?"

"Honestly, nothing," he said.

"What?"

"Della, this is my first day back too. I don't have any cases right now. Everything was put on hold. The only reason I'm going to court with this case is that I had most of it prepared when you broke your knee."

"I bet Tragg and Burger have enjoyed your silence."

"Most likely," he smiled. Della slowly sat in the chair by Perry's desk, "you okay?"

"Yeah," she sighed, "it hurts whether I'm on or off it."

"Put your leg on my lap so I can take a look." Perry needed to help Della lift her leg, "it's a bit swollen. You've probably walked enough today."

"I've hardly walked at all."

"Yes, but with your knee this way, I'm sure it's enough. Your incision is healing well."

"Perry, are you tired of me?"

"What? Why are you asking me that?"

"Well, with the pregnancies and this, you probably get tired of taking care of me."

"I'll never get tired of you or taking care of you."

"This is a far cry from what you had in mind that night at the nightclub."

"Not too far. I knew I was going to marry you. Hell, I asked you that night."

"I almost said yes too."

"I knew we'd have beautiful children together. Not as many as we had though."

"I never thought we'd have that many either."

"And I knew there would be times when you would need taken care of."

"You did?"

"It's in the vows, darling. 'In sickness and in health.'"

"Come here," Della smiled as her eyes watered. Perry gently put her leg down and leaned in to kiss her, "I love you."

"Not as much as I love you."

Perry and Della left for court earlier than usual because of how long it would take to get Della in and out of the car. Perry wheeled his wife up to the swinging doors at the front of the gallery. He and the guard held them open so Della could wheel herself through. The guard put a chair aside and went back to the doors. "You good?" Perry asked.

"As good as I can be."

Perry noticed his wife push her chair back, "what are you doing?"

"I need to walk some before we get started."

"Well, here," Perry rushed over and helped her up. "Do you need me to hold onto you?"

"I've got it," Della smiled. Perry hesitantly went back to his side of the table while Della started walking, "Perry," she said, "I don't got it."

He walked over and took her hand before helping her back to the chair. "Are you going to be able to sit through this?"

"I should be fine."

The courtroom began to fill up. Burger and Tragg were seeing Perry for the first time in a month. "Well, long time no see, counselor," Tragg said.

"I bet you've both missed me," Perry smiled.

"No, not really," Burger joked.

"Why were you off for so long?" Tragg asked.

Perry simply pointed at his wife who rolled her eyes, "she fell down the basement stairs and broke her knee."

"How are you doing?" Burger asked Della.

"I'm going nuts not being able to do things the way I usually do them. Other than that, I'm fine."

Just then, the bailiff walked up to Della, "Mrs. Mason, don't worry about standing for the judge until you're better."

"Thank you," she smiled. Everyone took their seats and court began. Towards lunch, Perry noticed Della's face become more pained. When court adjourned for lunch, the bailiff took Perry's client.

Perry sat on the chair his client had once occupied. "Do you want me to take you home?"

"I just need a pain pill."

Perry gave his wife her pills. "Do you need to walk?"

"I don't think I can."

"Why don't I take you back to the office and you can rest for the rest of the day?"

He expected a fight that he didn't get, "okay."

Tragg and Burger held the swinging doors open for Perry and Della. At the office, Perry made sure Della ate before helping her to lay down on the couch. "Gertie's going to check on you from time to time. I put the phone right by you. Call her if you need something or need to get up. She won't be sending any calls this way."

"Okay," Della said.

"Want me to call your mother?"

"I'll call her if I need her."

Perry kissed his wife and reluctantly left. Della fell asleep, but woke up when she heard someone enter Perry's office, "shh, go back to sleep," the voice said.

Della opened her eyes, "mom?"

"Perry called me."

"I told him I'd call you if I had to."

"Well, he was worried and knew Gertie was busy. Now, go back to sleep."

Della yawned and quickly fell asleep. Her mother sat in a chair across from her to keep an eye on her. Della was still knocked out when Perry returned. The pain pills usually did that. They decided to wait until Della woke up to leave. Her recovery had been difficult and it was taking a toll on her. Perry knew it was important for her to be at the office. He also knew that it was easier than being home with the children. It still made for a difficult recovery.

Two months after breaking her knee, Della could get around with just her cane. She had worked very hard in physical therapy and was hoping to be better in the next month or two.

"You're sure you're alright?" Perry asked as he and Della made their way through the courthouse.

"I'm fine, sweetheart. I'll let you know if that changes."

When they sat down, Perry gave his wife a thermos with cold water. She still tired easily. "You are a lot better. Usually, you drink half of that after you sit down."

Della smiled, "I can't wait until I don't have to have a drink right when I sit down."

"At this rate, that day will come before you know it. I've never seen you work harder for anything else the entire time I've known you." Her hard work paid off. A month and a half later, Della could walk unaided. Perry, as always, was very proud of his wife.