1Stella's Point of View:

There was a knock on the door followed by Hawkes voice. "Stell, are you ready? We need to leave soon." I rolled myself over to the door and turned the knob, seeing Sheldon on the other side, armed with a big smile and a friendly hug. He bent down and gave me a light kiss on the cheek and enveloped me in a hug.

I grabbed my purse and Sheldon rolled me out of Mac's apartment and over to the department issued Avalanche. He helped me into the front seat and put my wheelchair in the back. Before walking over to the driver's side he made sure I was settled and comfortable. It was really sweet, but it was starting to get old, having people think that I was invalid or not capable of doing anything.

Hawkes pulled away from the curb and we settled into the steady stream of traffic. He looked over at me and as if he read my thoughts started to speak, "I'm sure you're starting to get restless and it probably doesn't help that people are treating you like you're going to shatter into a thousand pieces. Anyways, I'm willing to guess that with the progress you've been making you will definitely get your cast off your wrist today. You probably won't get out of the wheelchair, but you're doing much better."

I sighed before speaking, "You have no idea how restless I am. I know he means well, all of you do, but it is starting to get old. But everyone has been so helpful on the road to recovery and I am defintely not going to complain. Besides, Mac is taking me out tonight and I am getting this freakin cast off, whether the doctor does or I have to convince you to do it for me."

Hawkes chuckled before replying, "No way would I remove it for you. I like being alive, and I'm pretty sure that Mac would change that pretty quick if I did that. He already threatened me today, so I'm gonna stay out of it."

"Figures he threatened you. He is so protective." I paused before continuing. "But really, I wouldn't have it any other way. He loves me so much and I love him so much, too." I laughed before speaking again, "Sorry Hawkes, you probably don't need to hear about Mac's and my love life."

"Nah, it's ok. I'm glad you guys got together. You both deserve to be happy. Ok, we're here, Stell." He pulled into the lot by the clinic and parked the car before getting out and placing my wheelchair by my open door. I held onto my purse as he helped me out of the frontseat and got me settled in my chair.

Sheldon rolled me into the front door of the clinic and I spoke to the receptionist, an older woman with warm eyes and a friendly smile. "Hi, I'm Stella Bonasera and I have an appointment at 1:45 with Dr. Shepard." She smiled warmly at me and replies softly, "Of course, let me get the forms for you to fill out and I'll let him know you are here."

"Ok, thanks." I filled out the forms, waiting for the doctor to come out. Sheldon was in the corner absorbed in a medical magazine. When I finished up the forms I rolled up to the desk and handed them over to the woman who introduced herself as Rosalina.

After waiting for about 10 minutes Dr. Shepard comes out and calls my name. I roll my wheelchair after him as he leads me to an exam room. Sheldon decides to wait in the lobby during the examination and then have Dr. Shepard page him back during the results.

In the exam room Dr. Shepard asked me to take off my shirt and lay down on the table in the middle of the room. I do as he asks and he begins to ask me questions as he examines my back. I answer the questions the best that I can and am surprised when he touches my back and I feel no pain. When he is finished he takes me down to the x-ray room and has the technician x-ray my back.

Then he leads me into another room with several expensive looking instruments. He has me sit

down on the table and he cuts the plaster on my cast. I expect to feel at least a lit pinch of pain, and again am surprised when I don't feel anything. When he finishes I pulled my engagement ring off of my necklace and put it on my finger. I had tried to wear it with the cast, but it was a little hard for me.

After we are done there he pages Rosalina and tells her to send in Hawkes. Sheldon walks into the room and Dr. Shepard launches into a huge, long explanation about my back, and how it's healing and what's going on with my medical condition. Dr. Shepard looks over at me and asks, "Ms. Bonasera do you understand all that?" I look over at Hawkes who is trying not to laugh at the expression on my face and I decide to save some time I'll lie.

"Yes, Dr. Shepard I understand. Thank you so much." At his nod I begin to roll my chair out until he stopped me again. "Ms. Bonasera while I trust you understand you need to be careful, as well as you are healing I see no reason to further refrain you from having sexual intercourse, while postions with you on your back are not advised the choice is ultimately yours. Still try to refrain from more vigorious activities until you have completed physical therapy."

I nodded as I tried to hastily make an exit, Dr. Shepard oblivious to my discomfort and Hawkes who looked just as red as I did. When our trio made it to the lobby I thanked Dr. Shepard again and he gave me some great parting news. "While you are aware that this is a tenative estimate which can further be decided when I receive the results of your x-rays, I would guess that you may be able to return to lab duty only in the upcoming month. Field work is absolutely out of the question for another 2 months at least. Although I must say that you are making a remarkable recovery, Ms. Bonasera."

After recieving such wonderful news, it was all I could do not to scream in excitement. Both Hawkes and I thanked Dr. Shepard once more and after saying goodbye to Rosalina we made it to the car. Hawkes helped me in once again and climbed into the driver's seat.

He dropped me off at Mac's apartment and helped me get in and asked if I needed anything. I assured him that I would be fine and asked if he would explain what Dr. Shepard was talking about because I didn't have the slightest clue. He agreed and left me with a hug and a friendly goodbye kiss on the cheek.

I glanced at the clock and noticed that it was only 3:00 which meant that I could slip in a quick nap before Lindsay arrived. Searching through my purse I found my phone and hit the familar speed dial number.

"Taylor."

"Hey babe it's me."

"How did the doctor's appointment go?"

"It went fine. Ask Hawkes about all the technical stuff, but the doctor did say depending on how my x-ray looks I might be able to go back to light lab duty within the month."

"That's great Stell. Anything other good news?"

"Yep. But you're going to have to wait until tonight to find out." I couldn't resist teasing him, so I added a bit of a sultry edge to my voice.

I heard a faint groan before he replied again, his voice noticably lower, "I can't wait."

"Well, you're gonna have to. I'll see you tonight at 7. I love you. Bye"

"Bye Stell. Love you too."