Chapter 4

-Author Note-

Here I am at 3:51 in the morning… 16 beers in to a 20 pack and smoking a Pall Mall cigarette.. I've got a feeling this will be a little hard to read, give me time. I'd like to thank hrssoccergirl for her reviews… Thank ya sweetie. If you come across this and know nothing about FNL.. I don't care. Just absorb yourself into the story, and tell me what you think. I appreciate it.

Jason stared down at his hand.

It had opened completely. Holy shit, his hand had opened all the way and now rest on the wooden pole to his right.

It had released, a breakthrough… By god a breakthrough!

He turned and faced Rod, "Man… My hand… I can feel it! Holy shit….. I can feel it again!"

Rod looked down to Jason's hand a huge smile on his face,

"I'm happy for you dude, this is just the first step.. but I can sense that things are going to get better for you soon."

Jason nodded and turned back to his hand, picking it up from the pole where it lay he brought it close to his face and flexed it, pulling the deteriorated muscles of his hand together again and again. The grip was nothing like it had been.. and that troubled Jason.

"Will I be able to work back to like I was? I don't know if I can put up with this weakness."

Rod thought for a second and rubbed the darkened skin around his temple, "You will regain strength Jason. It's just weak now.. because it's been what? 2 months since you had any feeling in it whatsoever? It's ability has deteriorated. But it will get better with time."

"Thank god. Not to be negative.. But I can feel the cold seeping back into it, Is that a bad thing? Am I losing it again?"

"Pick it up and flex it again" Rodrigo ordered with a snap

Jason tried to pick up his right hand, but he couldn't. The power was gone… It was seeping away from him like water running into a drain.

"Rod… It's gone. I can't pick it up" He slammed back into the chair. "God damn! Rod it's gone! What do I do?

With the ease of seasoned parent Rodrigo soothed his patient,

"Jason calm yourself. I mean it! Calm the hell down! You got your motion back there for a second, do you know how much a good sign that is?"

He stared down at Jason,

"This is a big break through, whether you choose to acknowledge it or not."

Jason knew what he was saying was true, but he couldn't help and feel the sting of defeat. He had moved his hands completely… if only for a second…. And just like that it was gone again.

"I know Rod, any improvement is good improvement right?"

Rod smiled at his patient

"You got it buddy, please keep the faith. I will have your all-american ass walking in no time. You can guarantee that."

Jason laughed, "That's all I can ask for. I'm a little beat. Is ok if I go ahead and shove off ? Got a little lady up in the north wing…. Think I might go chat her up a bit."

Rodrigo frowned and turned back to Jason, "We just had a major breakthrough and you want to go socialize with some woman? Are you kidding me? Come on Jason."

"But Rod… She has this look to her…. I've gotta go chat her up some…. Can ya understand where I'm coming from?"

Rod grimaced and nodded, " I understand what Leila has done to you, I know that it hurts. But Nurse Jackson…"

"Wait a minute… How the hell do you know who I'm talking about?" He snapped angrily

"Word gets around dude"

That was all he needed to say. Jason understood that life sometimes was a little too like high school and it scared him a little bit. He grasped the wheels of his chair best he could and rolled towards the exit, Rod followed him.

"So you are just going to leave me… For a women… I see how it is."

"It's not a big deal. I'll be back first thing in the morning, but I just need a little time to think about today. Can ya feel me?"

" I feel you 100%. Just don't let today get you down? Alright? Promise me that. We will have you walking again man. I will see to it… I promise."

Jason grinned up Rodrigo, "I believe you, and you can bet the farm that I will be here every day until I can walk again, ok?"

"Good" Rod turned and watched Jason as he rolled out the swinging double doors.

Jason picked up speed as he rolled down the still relatively empty hallways. He thought it was still strange for a hospital to be this empty… But then again that was Dillon… slow and boring.

Rolling up to the Nurses station he saw Agnes sitting behind one of the computers,

"Why if it isn't my favorite nurse in the hospital, How are you doing today?"

Agnes blushed, Jason could tell that she wasn't used to the compliments. Poor woman had never been married, but was one of the better nurses he had ever seen. Truly perfect for her profession.

"Why Jason Street you are the absolute image of handsome this morning, How are you my dear?"

He blushed slightly at the remark. God these women knew how to make him melt. It was a little sad.

"Oh this is just how I wake up, you know we all can't be this beautiful," Jason laughed.. poking fun at his unwashed, smelly hospital attire and appearance.

"Well you brighten up my day, every day, How can I help you lad?"

"Well ma'am, I'm looking for Nurse Jackson I had a quick question for her," He blanched, hoping that it wouldn't hurt Agnes feelings.

"Need clean sheets do ya?"

"Yes ma'am! They are filthy, and my toilet is getting a little bad. I'm going to roll on back to my room, would you mind sending her my way when you see her?"

"Not at all love, Get yourself back to your room and rest. You looked like you just ran the Boston Marathon" She smiled.

Good meant she wasn't pissed.

" I would appreciate that ma'am."

Turning up the hallway Jason rolled to his room. Rolling into the sickening white-walled room, his stomach retched. God he hated it here. He rolled up to his bed and grasped the handles. Struggling he pulled himself up into the bed, panting with the effort he adjusted to the contours of the mattress and lay back, awaiting his visit from Megan Jackson.