Michael had come to work with him from home as he was the last one planned today anyway. He had some of the equipment at home as well. It really helped him as he did not have to worry about getting to the hospital. He would start working again next week. It was two weeks since the surgery and even though his back was still sore, overall it had gotten a lot better. Under the line where it had been no feeling before, he felt some pressure from time to time, and he hoped it meant more feeling was returning.

His hands were a lot more stable and even though he did not have a lot more power in his hands yet, it did helped that his hands didn't shake as much anymore. They had not expected that would have happened with the surgery, but it had. It made Robert excited to find out what more the surgery had done to his body. He hoped it would mean that he would still get a lot more use back.

''Alright, think this session is over.'' Michael said as he took the dumbbell from Chase. His hands and wrists were hurting a bit from this exercise, but he knew it was working.

''Going to do anything fun tonight?'' Michael asked as it was Friday.

''No, no, probably just going to sit on the couch and watch a movie probably.'' Chase admitted. Michael helped him up back into his chair.

''Not the outgoing type?''

''I used to be. Just don't think it for me anymore.'' Chase admitted as he took the towel and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

''Why not?''

''Will just be in the way with my wheelchair. Not exactly doing that well with the ladies either.''

''Hate to hear you say that. Why would you be in the way?'' Michael said as he packed his bag.

''Just the way I feel about it.'' Chase said.

''Alright, I think you should just go out if you want to.'' Michael told him. ''Could be a fun time and it will be good to go out on your own right? Well, see you next week.''

''See you next week.'' Chase mumbled as Michael left and he let out a loud sigh. He knew Michael was right, but after the last time he had gone out to a bar he really did not feel comfortable doing it again. Especially not alone.

Making his way to the bathroom for a quick bath, he looking into the mirror as the bath was filling.

He didn't look bad, he knew that but he wasn't that sure about his looks anymore. Looking at his thin body and the wheelchair, he was not so sure about himself anymore. He was sporting nearly a full on beard as he had not shaven since the surgery and even though he didn't like that, he was not sure about just leaving it. At least the scar was less clear now.

But he also knew that Michael was right, he should still just have fun. Finally he decided to just go tonight on his own. He was even closer to the bars than before and he could always go home early.

Making his way to the mirror, he felt even luckier his hands were more stable. Slowly but steadily he managed to shave the scruff of his jaw and throat.

Getting ready then after all, he made the bath a really quick one and made his way to the wardrobe. He knew that he had limited options, having to dress himself but just went for his favorite pair of jeans and a sweater. On the bed he struggled to get dressed. Especially the jeans took a long time, having to pull it up bit by bit. Usually with Yvon he was done getting dressed within five minutes, but now it took him nearly twenty minutes, and he almost fell of the bed in the process as well.

Grabbing his shoes, he slipped them on his feet but had nowhere to put his feet to tie the laces. He knew that if he did it from his wheelchair he would most likely end up on the floor and instead he just lifted up his foot and put the laces under his shoe before putting his foot down again, hoping it would keep them in place there. Even if he had somewhere to tie them, he was pretty sure he wouldn't manage with his hands. At least he didn't have to walk on them anyway.

After a quick dinner, he made his way out and went to the bar he had been a while ago with Thirteen. He was a bit nervous as he made his way inside alone. Ordering a beer, he really noticed the difference with before the surgery grabbing money from his wallet and taking the glass. Making it back to the table he had been before as well, he put it down and looked around.

Besides that, he had usually been stuck in bed on Fridays night because his back pain had been too bad.

Suddenly he noticed the girl he had met the last time and dropped his beer over. For a second he thought about just leaving so that she did not see them. But instead he took a deep breath and made his way towards her.

''Hey, glad you got the dress cleaned up.'' He said as he stopped his chair beside her and she noticed him, looking at him with a smile.

''I did - sorry I left last time.'' She smiled.

''That is fine. Can I buy you a drink?'' Chase offered.

''Again, actually there is a lounge bar nearby, want to go there? Bit easier to chat.'' She offered as it would be a bit easier to talk.

''Sure.'' Chase smiled.

They might their way over the bar where the music was a lot calmer and they could talk a lot easier.

They ordered some drinks as they got settled by a table.

''Promise I won't throw this drink all over you this time.''

''Sounds good, I should have reacted better though.'' She apologized.

''That is fine, it was a shitty situation for the both of us.'' Chase shrugged it off.

''After that exciting story you told me, why did you move here for work?'' She tried to pick up conversation again after the last time.

''I am a doctor and did a fellowship in Princeton and I stuck around after, still a part of the same department.''

''General or teaching?''

''Teaching.'' Chase answered.

''I work in general.'' Julie smiled.

''Do you?'' Chase said pleasantly surprised.

''I work as a nurse practitioner in the ER.''

''You are a braver person than I am. I was a resident in ER and the stress gets mad.'' Chase shook his head thinking about the crazy years in Melbourne.

''I remember the clinic closing about half a year ago in teaching because of a shooting incident. It was absolute madness in our ER.'' She laughed as she knew he would understand, the smile sliding from her face as she saw his.

''I am sorry, were you there?'' Her face started to get red.

''Yeah-''

''Oh god, I am so sorry.'' She said putting the pieces together in her head.

''It is fine, but yeah, I am thát doctor.'' Chase explained.

''I am so sorry.'''

''It is okay, really.'' He assured her. ''To answer your next question, the paralysis is because of the shooting.''

''Spinal cord injury?''

''Yes.'' Chase nodded. ''The vertebrae the bullet hit shattered because of the impact. Bone fragments got in the cord and it took days before I was stable enough to have them removed. Some damage was done then.''

''And that scar in your neck is not from the shark and the croc I think?''

''Second bullet, that one hit an artery. Pretty sure after two days I had more blood from transfusions than from myself.''

''I am really sorry.''

''It is fine, I can't change it, just got to make the best of it. Had a surgery two weeks ago and still improving.'' He said as he finished his drink in one go.

''I am just glad that you made it through and we get to share some drinks now.''

''Me too.''

''And don't worry, I had another surgery and my hands are lot more stable now.'' He joked as they got new drinks from one of the waitresses.

''I shouldn't have reacted like that-''

''Again, shit situation for the both of us.'' He shrugged it off.

''So what department do you work in?'' Julie asked.

''The diagnostics department.''

''Damn, I am stuck stitching up drunk people and dealing with snotty babies with overconcerned mums and you get the real good cases.'' She joked.

''My boss doesn't take too many cases so it can get very boring.'' He admitted.

They chatted a while longer and Robert was so glad to chat with her about anything and everything. His world had been so small since getting short with being home and in the hospital most of the time.

Unfortunately, it didn't last long enough.

''I need to go home soon, sorry.'' Chase said as he checked his watch. Yvon would be there at eleven and he did not want to waste her time. Before he had stayed out till deep in the night but now he had a curfew.

''That's a shame, had a great time.''

''Let's exchange numbers.'' Chase smiled and she put her number in his phone.

''I can't text yet but I can send you voice messages.'' Chase said and she nodded.

''Yeah, that is good. '' She smiled. Together they made their way to the exit. He offered to call her a cab, but she assured him again that she lived very closeby and they parted ways, he was barely on his way when he heard her voice again.

''Robert?'' He suddenly heard and he turned his chair around.

''Yeah?''

''You should invest in some Velcro shoes.'' Julie laughed. He started to laugh as well seeing the laces dragging over the pavement and after tucking them in his shoes, they really waved their goodbyes.

Yvon was just unlocking the door as he arrived.

''I had expect you to be on the couch honestly.'' She said surprised as she saw him.

''Gotta enjoy the party life while I am still a young god.'' Robert joked.

Yvon closed the door behind him. She was not sure what had happened, but he was glad to finally see Robert Chase in good spirits.


Wow, I did really just end the chapter on a positive note! I hope you liked this chapter, thank you so much for reading!