My noteā¦The purpose of this fic, is to write an accurate and realistic explaination for the promos we were shown. It was never my intention, nor do I think it ever would be, to magically make Jimmy stand up walk after over two years confined to a wheelchair, with no signs of recovery or return of function. I'm not denying that miracles do happen, but it just doesn't seem possible after what the writers have given us. I hope no one was offended by that...I'm kinda figuring that's why the first chapter didn't get a very good response...oh wait, there was that AMAZING review from Kelley(lilfiftyfour)...and one amazing review it worth the weight of one hundred so-so reviews...right?.
ONE SMALL STEP...
CHAPTER 2: AN UNEXPECTED ALLY
Anya sat in her art class, as she did for the past three days, and studied the boy that sat at a private desk in the corner. She was hoping she'd find the courage to approach him and start up a conversation, but the time was never right. Then she thought that maybe he'd remember her from the rehab center, but figured, why would he notice her when he's going out with the most beautiful girl at the school.
The period was almost over and the boy began packing his things up. The teacher looked up from her desk, giving him a slight nod of permission to leave the room and he did. Another missed opportunity.
Anya looked back over to the now empty desk and smiled. A slingle blue notebook was lying on side, propped up on the leg of the desk. It must have slipped off the top when the boy bumped the table with his wheel as he backed out from underneath the desk. She waited for the bell to ring before jumping up from her seat to retrieve the spiral bound book.
Anya walked into the cafeteria and scanned the room for the boy in the wheelchair, so she could give him his book back. He wasn't there, but she did spot the girlfriend sitting with the student council president and vice president as well as an out of place looking boy in camouflage. God, I really need to learn some names, she mused.
"Ani...over here", a voice called out Anya immediately recognised as her best friend Jane. She walked over to the table and sat down next to the girl. "I was waving for like, ever", she teased, offering Anya one of her Twinkies. "I can't believe you didn't see me".
Anya blushed slightly as she took out her lunch bag. "Yeah, sorry...I must've blanked for a minute", she scanned the room one more. "This place is so crazy crowded at lunch time".
Anya and Jane talked and laughed as they ate their lunches. As she took the last bite of her sandwhich, the girlfriend walked passed Anya's table, giving her a friendly smile as she went by. Anya briefly considered stopping the girl and giving her the boyfriends book, but didn't...she needed to talk to him...alone.
After fifth period math and sixth period gym, Anya was definitely ready for seventh period study hall, and back to the caf, she went. She found a nice empty, quiet table in the back, near the vending machines and took a seat. Opening her bag to get her science book out, so she could study for the quiz she was about to take next period, Anya also pulled out the stray notebook. She didn't want to be nosy, but her curiousity got the best of her.
The front cover was maked with pen doodles and scribblings. Some of the drawings she recognized as the boys, others were more femanine and flirty...one thing was for sure though, the girlfriends name was definitely Ashley and the two 'hearted' each other...very much. Anya was just about to open the book when she heard the sound of a pair of sneakers and a set of wheels enter the room from behind her.
The tall man in the seakers, Anya knew as her math teacher and Degrassi's number one coach, Mr. Armstrong and of course she recognized the boy in the wheelchair. "Yeah, anything to get out of seventh period chem", she heard him say to the older man, and they both laughed.
Anya turned her attention back to her science book and soon fell into a focused study pattern. She almost didn't notice that the snekers had left, but the wheels were still there. Anya repacked her bag, all except for the blue notebook she clutched to her chest as she slowly walked it over to it's rightful owner. "You're Jimmy Brooks, right?", she asked quietly to the figure that was intently perusing over a stapled stack of papers.
"Ah yeah, I am", Jimmy replied skeptically to the stranger in front of him. "Do I know you?", he asked politely.
"Um yeah, I mean no...um, not really", she stammered slightly and bit her lip nervously. "I'm Anya, I'm in your art class, you left this there", her stammer turned into a ramble as she extended the book out to Jimmy.
"Thanks", he smiled genuinely and took his chemistry spiral. "I'm glad I didn't need this today, I missed class because of a coaches meeting...would've been up a creek without it though".
Anya smiled back and nodded, but didn't leave. "Was there anything else?", Jimmy questioned quizzically.
"Um no, not really...", she turned to leave, but paused. "You go to the Ryan Recovery Center for physio, right?".
Jimmy was a little surprised by the question. "Yeah...how did you know?", he asked skeptically.
"Oh, I work there", she answered quickly. Jimmy studied her, trying to place the face with the center. "I just started...", Anya started to clarify. "...and I thought I recongnized...".
"Yeah, it was probably me", Jimmy chuckled, glancing down at his chair. "Where do you work?".
"Audiology, with the hearing impared kids", she stated, proudly, without being boastful. "I sign".
"That's cool", Jimmy replied genuinely and offered Anya the seat across from him. She took it hesitantly and waited for him to speak again. It didn't take long. "I'm sorry, what was your name again?".
"Anya, Anya Chekofsky", she answered with a smile.
"Chekofsky?", Jimmy snickered, and Anya's smile faded. "You're Boris' daughter...you're Ani", he stated, more than questioned.
Anya nodded nervously.
"So, did your dad send you to find me and yell at me for him?", he quipped, getting right down to business.
"No, not really", she stated cautiously. "But after I realized I went to school with you now...he may have asked...if I pass you in the hall or something...if I would ask you...if you plan on going to your session on Saturday?", she asked, running off the last sentence.
Jimmy chewed heavily on his lower lip, he didn't like being put on the spot like that and he didn't feel like having to revisit the events of last week, that led to him blowing off his session with Boris. "Are you angry?", she asked, cautiously gauging his reaction.
"Only with myself", Jimmy shrugged indifferently and sighed.
Anya nodded in acknowledgement, but still looked worried. "So, you're not mad at me?", she whispered softly.
Jimmy smiled at her. "No, but you should probably be mad at me for not recognizing you sooner", he stated apologetically. "We've been in school together over a week now...we even have the same art class...".
"How could you have recognized me?", Anya giggled. "My dad still has my grade five school photo on his desk".
"The one with the pigtails and bows?", Jimmy teased, noting how different Anya looked with her long braids...and no braces.
"Ugh...yeah", she cringed and wrinkled her face in disgust.
Jimmy laughed at Anya's reaction, and she joined in too. He watched her for a split second...she was a sweet girl, a lot like her dad. Anya started to blush under Jimmy's scrutinity, but luckily the bell ringing, broke apart the awkwardness. She gave Jimmy a small smile as stood up and grabbed her bag, before heading to the door.
"Hey Anya", Jimmy called out and she turned to face him. "Thanks for returning my notebook". She nodded in acceptance and turned again to leave, but his voice halted her once again. "And tell your dad I'll see him Saturday".
With that, Anya's grin widened, and she practically skipped from the room...mission accomplished.
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Jimmy pulled up to Lana's desk, a peace offering, sitting on his lap. Her eyes only left the chart she was writing on, momentarily, to eye the bag suspiciously...Tim Horton's. "You're early", she declared, as she continued on with her task.
"You were expecting me?", Jimmy asked hesitantly.
"It's Saturday...why wouldn't I?", Lana simply asked back, eyes still plastered on her work .
"Well since I ignored all the voice mails you left on my cell all week...", Jimmy trailed off and started poking at the cardboard beverage tray on his lap. Lana bit back a chuckle as she continued to avoid any eye contact. "I thought we could talk before my session", he offered vaguely, a few seconds later.
"Is that custard filled?", Lana inquired about the contents in the bag that accompanied the beverage tray.
Jimmy lips worked their way up into a genuine grin. "Of course", he replied naturally, placing the bag on the desk next to her elbow. "I wanted to apologize for last week", he started sheepishly. Lana finally looked up at Jimmy with gentle, understanding eyes. "What you were saying...it all just kinda took me by surprise...".
"So did your reaction", Lana cut in, scooting her seat back and crossing one leg over the other to get more comfortable. Jimmy looked down, ashamed. "I've had clients get nervous before Jimmy, but no one's ever flat out refused", she added delicately. "I though you of all people, would wanna get up, and out of that chair".
"I thought I would too", he admitted softly, nervously picking at his finger nails.
Lana looked at him critically for a moment, before the weight of his words sunk in and it all began to make perfect sense. "Getting up isn't the problem is it?", she asked rhetorically, and knew by the look on Jimmy's face, she was right. "It's the getting back down".
Jimmy smirked slightly and let out a huge sigh. "I'm just now starting to be okay with this", he motioned to his chair and hesitantly continued. "...starting to accept the fact that I'll always be sitting...".
Lana leaned forward, "Jimmy, it's not all that different from being upright on the tilt table...".
"But it is...", he interrupted firmly. Lana waited patiently as he paused to get his thoughts in check...as well as his emotions. He nodded over to the forementioned table "On that thing, I'm just velcroed on and tipped up...I just a part of therapy". Jimmy then gestured in the direction of the parallel bars. "Over there...I'll actually be standing...on these...something that was never supposed to happen...", he paused as he ran his hands down his thighs. "...but then when it's all over...you'll have to take the braces off...and they still won't work".
Lana patted the now still hands that rested on his knees. "Jimmy, I wasn't trying to give you false hope, or imply that this was a quick fix or a miracle cure", she assured him. "This too is another form of therapy...just a more advanced one. And while it won't change the status of your injury, it will help increase bone density, flexibility and circulation...three very important things that need to be maintained".
Lana could see Jimmy was mulling this information over in his head, so she decided to give him one more option. "If you'd like to talk to someone about what you're feeling, before we go ahead with this...Jerry's door is always open", she offered, giving Jimmy the opportunity to talk to the staff psychologist. He frowned disheartedly. "Or maybe Ashley could...".
"No", Jimmy cut in so quickly, it made Lana look up in surprise. "I don't want Ash or my parents to know about this", he added adamantly. "...not yet". Lana smiled satisfactorily to herself, when Jimmy added, "So where do we start".
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Yes, another short chapter...but they will get longer as the story continues. I wanted the first part of the chapter to be a little vague, because Anya doesn't know that much about Jimmy and Jimmy doesn't know her at all...yet they have that connection that's revealed in the little plot twist I added...hope you liked it. I love plot twists...almost as much as cliffhangers.
I'm really interested in seeing where the writers are going to take this storyline. I haven't heard anything yet, but speculation(and some really off the wall suggestions). I just hope they keep the storyline 'real'...Jimmy's too great of a character to be messed with.
To my dear Kelley, one shout out was not enough...so thank you again. And Heather, for putting up with my incessant e-mails and questions...you are a total life saver, thanks.
Degrassi and Tim Horton's are not mine...but after being on the website for TH, if I ever get the nerve to drive the 8 hours and 56 minutes it would take to get to Toronto...I am so there.
