It seemed like night fell quickly over the city. Taylor wheeled herself to the kitchen to grab a bite to eat.
"Let me fix you something." Beth said when she noticed Taylor come in.
"Please mom, let me learn to do this on my own." Taylor requested
"Okay." Beth wasn't exactly sure how to handle the situation
"I'm sorry mom, I didn't mean to…" Taylor realized just how hard it was to live life disabled.
She brushed her hair back with her hand.
"This is hard on me." She admitted
"I know honey." Beth said
Taylor laid the bread and some lunch meat on the kitchen table.
"You'll get through this." Beth said
"I know, but I'm not giving up. I WILL walk again" Taylor said
Beth had a faint smile cross her face, "I know you will."
Beth walked out of the room and Taylor continued to make her sandwich. Carefully she layered the meat and cheese on one side of the bread. She took the top off of the mayonnaise jar and started to spread a thin layer of mayo on the other slice of bread. She laid the knife back down on the table but inadvertently she hit the jar lid, knocking it to the floor.
"Damn." Taylor said as she tried to maneuver her wheel chair to pick up the lid.
She reached down, but leaned over a little too far and she fell out of the chair as it slid away from her and crashed into a cabinet. Taylor let out a cry as she hit the floor. Her mom heard the commotion and came rushing down the stairs.
"Alex!?" She cried as she rounded the corner into the kitchen.
Taylor looked up with tears in her eyes.
"I'm okay mom." Taylor said as she surveyed the situation
"Let me help you." Beth said
"I don't think you're strong enough to get me up by yourself." Taylor said
Beth had a helpless look in her eye.
"What should I do?" Beth asked a tear had fallen down her face.
"You're going to have to call someone to come help." Taylor said
"I can't call your brother, he's at work. Your uncle's out of town." Beth started going through the list in her head.
"Call the firehouse." Taylor said. "It's out of their response area, but maybe one of the medic units can come out just to help me up."
"Are you sure?" Beth asked knowing that Taylor didn't want her friends to see her like this.
She had a strong Irish pride. If she couldn't do something herself, she hated to ask to get help. But in this instance she was more embarrassed and upset that she couldn't do it on her own.
Beth's fingers trembled as she dialed the phone. She was both upset and afraid at the same time.
"Hello, is Lieutenant Johnson available?" Beth asked
After a short pause she began talking again. "Francis, it's Beth Taylor… I need help… Alex fell and I can't get her up… I don't think she's hurt, I'm just not strong enough to get her up off the floor… thank you." Beth said and then she hung up the phone.
"He's sending someone over." Beth said as Taylor looked up at her helplessly from the floor.
The Squad was relaxing in the lounge. Kim and Carlos were sitting at the kitchen table as Lieutenant Johnson walked in. Everyone looked at him.
"Something wrong Lieu?" Jimmy asked
"Taylor fell out of her wheelchair." Lt. Johnson said
Everyone prepared to jump up.
"Hang on. She's not hurt, just needs help up off of the floor." Lt. Johnson said
"So she's okay?" Walsh asked
"Yes." Lt. Johnson said. "Kim, I want you and Carlos to go over to her mom's and help her up. I've already called dispatch and let them know that you're going out of service."
"Okay." Kim said
Lt. Johnson looked around the room. He could see that Walsh was worried.
"Billy, go with them." Lt. Johnson said
Walsh was relieved. "Okay." He said
Not a single member of the Squad would object. They all wanted to pile in the truck and go, but then that would leave their response area vulnerable.
"Tell her we said hi." Jimmy said
Walsh shook his head.
Kim was driving and Carlos let Walsh ride up front.
"You know where she lives right?" Walsh asked
Kim laughed, "Yes, I know where Taylor's mom lives."
Carlos laughed "Relax."
Kim smiled in agreement with Carlos. "She's fine, if she wasn't she would have had her mom call 911 instead of the firehouse."
"This ride is taking forever." Walsh said, "You should have let me drive."
Kim laughed. "You don't need lights and sirens." She said when he noticed that he was looking at the light panel.
Walsh put his hand back in his lap like a chastised little kid.
They soon pulled up in front of the house. Walsh jumped out of the bus and ran for the front door. Kim and Carlos walked up behind. Beth answered the door and the three of them walked in.
"She's in the kitchen." Beth said
They entered the kitchen.
"Are you okay?" Walsh asked as he knelt down beside her
"Yeah, I just got off balance." Taylor said
"You should be more careful." Walsh replied
Taylor glared at him.
"Alright Alex, let's get you off this floor." Carlos said as he knelt down beside her
Together Carlos and Walsh lifted Taylor off of the floor and put her back in her wheelchair. Kim watched as they carefully seated her.
"You sure you're okay?" Kim asked. "There's a little blood on your forehead, did you hit it on the table?"
"Probably." Taylor said.
"Is she going to be okay?" Walsh asked
"She'll be fine, it's Alex." Carlos said
"Thanks!" Taylor quipped
Kim wiped the blood off of Taylor's forehead.
"I'm off tomorrow, maybe I can come over and we'll do something." Kim suggested
Taylor wasn't in the mood to be patronized though.
"If you want." She said, still embarrassed that her coworkers had to get her off of the floor.
"I'll call you in the morning to see if you're up to it." Kim said
Walsh knelt down beside the wheelchair.
"It's only because we're concerned about you. You should know that." He said. "Having Kim come over won't hurt. I'll be over later tomorrow too."
Taylor nodded gently.
"Thank you." Taylor said
"I'm glad you're okay." Carlos said as he walked out the door
"I'll talk to you tomorrow." Kim said as she followed
Walsh really didn't want to leave. "Call us if you need us." He said and then he kissed her forehead.
Taylor nodded again.
Beth walked to the door with Walsh.
"Thank you Billy." Beth said
"If there's anything you need, you know where to find us." He said
Beth nodded as he walked out the door. She shut it gently and then turned around.
"They really do care about you." Beth said
"I know, I'm just not ready to see them all. I'm just not ready to be the object of their pity right now. It's going to take some time." Taylor replied
"At least let Kim come over and keep you company." Beth suggested, "I really can't be that good of company."
Taylor smiled. "It's okay mom."
Beth leaned over to hug Taylor.
"Now will you let me help you?" She asked
"Of course." Taylor smiled
Beth finished making the sandwich and then the two of them went into the living room to watch FRIENDS.