The Tracy Family and Thunderbirds are the creation of Sylvia and Gerry Anderson

HyperCaz: Thanks for your review and I do appreciate your point. I'm glad you have enjoyed the story up until now, however, this is a story about one man's journey in a recovery from a serious injury and invasive brain surgery and I have tried to inject as much realism into this as possible; that being the case you just don't get up and walk away from that in a few days time. There are many steps and stages on that road that I felt were necessary and are necessary to give the reader an idea of just what is involved in a recovery. As well as his physical recovery I have wanted to explore thoughts and feelings, not only his but also that of his family, how they have all been affected and how they all pull together in a crisis. But he hasn't made this journey alone, he found love and happiness along the way in a place he least expected to and I wanted to explore his struggle in accepting that he could be loved as he is, at his lowest point. That being the case there have been many important conversations needing to have taken place, not least from Jenna's point of view, as she fell in love with him and her struggle from an ethical stand as a nurse. I have tried not to make the chapters themselves too long and this may account for why there seems to be so many but this is an in-depth look into the recovery process so I hope you will understand.

Thanks too to all my other reviewers for your continued encouraging remarks.

Author's Note: The information regarding the Neurocheck is taken from a standard Neuro Form, which was supplied to me by my friend and medical advisor, FellowRiverrat. A reference is made to Frankenstein, a novel by Mary Shelley.

Chapter 51

"Will you give that back," Jenna laughed, trying to snatch the Touch Screen Info Pad from Scott's long reach as he held it above his head. "We have a lot of work to get through this morning," she playfully chided him.

The Touch Screen Info Pad was pretty much as its name suggests; a pad on which a lot of information could be stored digitally and accessed by the touch sensitive screen, making the gathering of information quick and easy. Jenna, though, always did a written report as well, at Jeff Tracy's request, should such technology ever play up and information be lost. He also liked to read the written word as well, said it kept him in touch with reality, that it was comforting, as it was more personal, making the reading of even the most boring reports that much more bearable.

"Ah, ah, not so fast, Nurse Rollins," Scott teased, all thoughts of the previous evenings humiliation gone from his mind, which Jenna was glad to see. "You know I'm always happy to spend time working with you but…there is a price to pay!" he grinned cheekily, keeping the Pad just out of her reach as she tried to swipe at it. He closed his eyes briefly, breathing in her scent with the closeness of her as she reached up his arm, steadying herself against him.

"Now let me see…just what would that price be, I wonder," Jenna mused, putting on an exaggerated frown and pretending to think really hard. "A kiss, perhaps!" she said, giving a wry smile.

"You got it in one," he replied, his boyish grin getting bigger. "You know…you oughtta be something real smart…like a…nurse," he added in wide-eyed amusement, causing her to laugh and shake her head in exasperation at his obvious flattery.

"You are such a charmer Scott Tracy….do you know that," she responded laughingly.

His mood changed almost instantly with Jenna catching the wince that flashed across his face, as though having been hit by something sharp or stinging. "Scott!" she asked gently, sensing that she was, somehow, the cause of his now pensive mood.

"Is that what you think of me Jen? Is that how you see me? A charmer….some sort of womanising playboy?" he asked, the hurt and bewildered look in his eyes evident. "I don't ask for the attention. I can't help the way I look…or did look," he added with a half-hearted smile.

"Oh no, of course I don't think of you like that Scott," she quickly reassured him. "I'm sorry if I hurt you," she said softly, holding his face in her hand and needing him to know she would never hurt him intentionally.

"I guess I have to be honest and say, when I was in the Air Force I was flattered by all the attention. I was young…heck yeah…I took advantage of the situation but I'm not like that now, Jen…haven't been for a long time. In fact…it's sometimes downright embarrassing," he explained, needing her to know how he felt and not wanting her to have that image of him.

"You make it sound like a curse," Jenna said gently, sensing he wanted to share feelings he had kept buried deep for a long time.

"In a way it is. Never knowing if somebody wants to know me or love me for…just being me…or because of the way I look or 'who' I am…Scott Tracy, wealthy son of a wealthy billionaire. And people project a certain image onto you, have certain expectations, like I must be some sorta wealthy playboy….well, that's not me Jen…I'm not like that," he finished adamantly.

"I can understand how you feel," she replied sympathetically, knowing what it was to have guys want you for looks alone. "I get that too sometimes. Oh..not the wealthy part," she added hastily with a laugh, bringing a faint smile to his face. "And being a nurse!….guys think they're onto a good thing and have a certain image of you," she sighed with the accepting air of one who has had a lot of unwanted attention.

"I guess that's something else we have in common," Scott smiled warmly with the relief of knowing she understood. "And that's what makes you different, Jen….you've seen me at my worst…when I've been stripped away of what everyone else wants of me. Heck…I look like hell…I'm not whole, I've a useless arm….and I even pee myself…and you fall in love with me…the real me! You've seen past any superficial looks and you see me, who I am," he said incredulously. "And I guess I'm still findin it hard to believe, like I'm gonna wake up and find it's all been a dream, that you're not real," Scott admitted honestly.

"I figured as much," she said gently, understanding why he had been finding it hard to accept her love.

"I guess it's because most of my adult life people have been wanting and taking from me, women practically throwing themselves at me, just to be seen out with me. Even the job I do…did…in IR, sometimes the girls we rescued would 'sprain' an ankle just to get carried," he explained, shaking his head at the embarrassment it caused him. "After I met Megan, the girl I told you about….I thought she was different," he said, his voice having an empty ring to it. He explained they had been together almost 3 months and that had been well over 2 years ago. "Even she ended up wanting something, she wanted to know my secret….wasn't prepared to trust me. She took the love I had to give and ripped it up into little pieces and threw it back in my face," he stated, shaking his head, as though disbelieving that anyone could do that to someone they said they cared about.

He took her hand in his, as she gently stroked his face, and kissed her fingers. "You made me love you, Jen because you want to give, not take….you don't ask for anything in return. You haven't asked me anything about International Rescue even though you already know about us," he laughed, that kind of laugh that finds things amazing and incredible. "Aw Jen…I'm only like this because I'm with you," Scott smiled fondly, meaning her reference to his being a 'charmer'. "You bring it out in me…you make me feel…," he added, becoming embarrassed with a 'little boy' look.

"How do I make you feel, Scott?" Jenna gently urged him, her heart having been touched by what she heard.

"You make me feel…..playful!" he laughed and finding it incredulous, not only that he should say it but also that he, at 30 years of age, should be feeling playful.

Jenna put her fingers to her mouth as a huge smile lit up her face in a gesture he had come to find so…endearing, so…Jenna, that and biting her bottom lip, which he had to admit, did other things to him as well.

"You make me feel…young and alive, Jen," he continued, his face now lighting with an inner glow.

"But Scott…you are young," she remarked, giving him a puzzled look.

"With what we do…with the decisions I've had to make, Jen…you get to feel old…very quickly," he replied, his face clouding with the reality of knowing what his job entailed. "I've seen things….we've all seen things no one should have to see….that no one should have to remember. With each decision I make that sends my brothers into danger….with each decision where I have to choose who lives and who dies because of priorities and because we can't get to everyone…a little piece of me dies, Jen. And every time I go into a life threatening situation I wonder….," he paused, feeling a well of emotion rise in him and wanting now to pour out his heart and soul to her.

She felt her eyes begin to fill, her heart aching for him as she took his hand in hers, knowing he was speaking of things he had maybe never voiced before.

"…..I wonder if it's gonna be this time…..is this gonna be it and I won't know what it is to love and be truly loved by someone," he confessed, causing a few tears to spill over and down her cheeks.

"Oh Scott…is that what it's been like for you!" she responded with all the love in her heart and thinking, despite the love of his family, he sounded so lonely. She wished she could make all those bad memories disappear for him.

"Yeah, pretty much," he acknowledged. "Jen…the reason I didn't tell you about my life in IR….well..apart from needing to know you would trust me….," he started to say before she put her finger to his lips.

"It's OK Scott…I don't need to know," she smiled assuredly. "I just want you to know that you'll always know what it is to be truly loved," she continued; wrapping her arms around him she drew his head to rest on her chest in a loving and protective embrace, he having slipped his arm around her waist. He closed his eyes briefly, listening to the sound of her heartbeat, knowing this was where he wanted to be for time and eternity, wishing that time could stand still.

Opening his eyes but still within her protective embrace he explained, wanting her to understand, "But I want you to know, Jen. I wanted you to be apart from all that…to be my haven…an oasis outside of all the bad memories…to be free from the taint of…death…like this island is a place to hide away on…I wanted you to be my island. Does that make sense?"

"It makes perfect sense," she said assuredly and lovingly, realising things must have been that bad at times he feels he needs a haven, an oasis to hide away in. "I'll be anything you want me to be, Scott…I can be your haven but I want to share those bad times with you, if only to hold you like this and tell you how much I love you," she encouraged him, to which he did, telling her his deepest fears and worries as he clung to her, like a drowning man clings to a life raft for his salvation in a stormy sea.

He told her of his worst time, of being trapped and she confessed she already knew of the incident, his father having told her during his fever. "You were delirious, Scott, calling out and your father told me what it was about."

"I knew you were there…I could feel you holding me…comforting me," he told her, feeling now that very same comfort as she held him close.

"It was so dark, Jen…dark and quiet after the light gave out…after the communication stopped…it got damaged…the communicator..in another rock fall. I didn't know what day it was or how long I'd been there. After that initial fall….when I came too…I knew I was trapped…I couldn't move. It hurt, Jen…it hurt so bad," he told her, lost now in his memories as though it were yesterday. She felt him draw in a breath and wince, as if he were actually experiencing the moment. She held him that bit tighter, closing her eyes and feeling for his pain, just letting him talk.

"I heard Virg...the communicator was still working….I was so glad he was alive…thought he had been caught up in it. He sounded so relieved to hear me, Jen…that I was alive…I told him I wasOK, just couldn't move…they promised to get me out…I knew they would…just couldn't tell him I hurt like hell. I know he feels guilty enough for not getting me out sooner…I know him…told him it wasn't his fault. I could hear more rock falls….hoped they were all right…that's when the communicator got busted….must've driven them back further."

"Then the light gave out," he continued his tone becoming graver, colder as he remembered. Jenna felt him shiver against her and she pressed him to her, willing him to feel her warmth. "At times it was hot and dusty…must've have been earlier but then it got cold….and I was thirsty, so thirsty. I could see a pool of water…shimmered with the most beautiful light…but I couldn't get to it," Scott said, anxiety creeping into his tone, as his face changed expression with each new memory. Jenna recognised this as the onset of his delirium.

"Ssshhh…you're safe now…you're with me," she assured him and rubbing his back as you would to comfort a small child.

"They came to me, Jen…they all came to me," he announced, in a strange far away tone, after a few minutes silence.

"Who Scott…who came to you? Virgil? And Gordon and Alan?" Jenna asked gently, wondering if that was the moment they had broken through to him and wondering if he would have remembered it, though something told her that wasn't who he meant.

"Everybody I couldn't save…they were all there…in the dark….thought they were accusing me, for not savin them….told them I was sorry…I was so sorry…I'm sorry….forgive me….should have tried harder...I'm sorry," Scott kept apologising, his eyes now closed as he got deeper into his memories.

Jenna realised he had changed his perspective, from telling her to telling them, knowing he was back there in his mind and that this was a very critical time for him, that these were issues he had not yet dealt with or he wouldn't still be apologising. She hadn't known how this morning would go and she certainly hadn't expected this turn of events, thinking they should have been half way through his neurocheck by now. She also hoped and prayed no one would come in and interrupt this healing process.

"And did they?….forgive you," she asked gently again, stroking his left temple in a relaxing fashion as he lay against her. She felt him flinch.

"I..I..don't….I don't remember…can't remember," he agonised, his face contorting into a heavy frown.

"Did they accuse you?" she continued, as if she were talking of real people who were actually there, knowing, for him, they were very real indeed.

After a few moments Scott shook his head. "No…..smiling…some are sad."

"They're not there to accuse you Scott, they're not there to blame you. They want you to know you did your best….you gave them a chance," she said, hoping to encourage him to see the truth. "See…they're smiling."

"No…no…didn't do my best….sad because I didn't try harder…I'm sorry…I'm sorry…forgive me," he cried apologetically, his anxiety and heart-rate rising.

Jenna could see he was fighting a battle in his subconscious, part of him wanting to hang on to his guilt, feeling he didn't try hard enough and the other part of him desperate to let it go, wanting forgiveness.

"Scott, they're only sad because you won't forgive yourself. Can't you hear them telling you that. All you have to do is listen," she urged him as she swayed him in a gentle rocking motion.

"Can't remember…can't….can't remember….just want them to go away….leave me alone," he agonised with a heartfelt cry. His heart-rate was climbing and she could feel the beads of perspiration that had broken out on his forehead as she stroked it in a calming action. Her heart went out to him but this was something he had to do for himself, only he could let go.

"They'll leave you alone, they'll go away…just as soon as you forgive yourself….then you'll remember that they forgave you. You can't remember because you don't want to remember…you want to hang on to your pain," she said gently.

No, no….not true…..can't look at them, make them go away," he groaned, gripping her tighter he turned his face into her. Putting her hand to his head Jenna held him, feeling for his pain but she was not prepared to let him give up now.

"Only you can make them go away, Scott. You must look…..you did your best….you can't save the whole world," she encouraged him.

Scott slowly turned his head. "Did my best…..I tried….I did my best."

"Yes you did," she continued to encourage him.

"Can't save the whole world," Scott acknowledged.

"No, you can't," she said gently, smiling to herself as she felt him begin to calm. "And what are they saying now? Do you remember?" Jenna urged him.

"Remember….all smiling…..they…they forgive me….I'm not to blame….they don't blame me….they're leaving….all gone," he replied, the relief and calm in his voice evident of his having come to terms with it.

"Do you remember Virgil finding you?" she next asked.

"Virg…why don't you come…it's dark…where are you?" he called out, reminding her of how he was during his fever. "I'm sorry Dad….I can't hang on….I can't do this….I'm not what you think….I'm…I'm…," he added, his voice trembling with emotion, making her aware another fear was arising.

"What does he think, Scott? What are you?" she continued to ask gently.

"That I'm strong..and brave…..his hero son…..I'm not…I'm sorry Dad….I'm..I'm…," he answered, his face contorting as he fought to face his fear.

"It's OK, Scott…..just let it go….what are you?" she coaxed as she rocked him.

"I'm afraid….I'm afraid they won't….find me in time….I'm afraid I'm dying….Don't wanna die alone….I'm afraid I won't see them all again…Don't wanna die alone…," he poured out his confession in heartfelt agony.

Jenna had to fight back the emotion that was filling her as he dealt with his deepest fear. Wiping away the tears that were brimming over she automatically held him to her. "It….it's OK to be afraid, Scott…it's nothing to be ashamed off….it's perfectly natural," she replied, trying to remain composed.

"Need me to be strong..and brave….not to be afraid," he responded anxiously.

"Not all the time," she gently assured him. "They don't expect you not to be afraid….it's OK…they've all been afraid, they understand….and they did find you in time," she reminded him, feeling him relax against her.

"Don't remember….just thirsty…so thirsty," he replied, swallowing against the dryness that he remembered. Jenna knew that this not remembering was just due to his delirious condition when he was found and not that he was trying to block anything out.

"Do you remember waking up?" she asked gently.

"They were all there…all there," he responded, causing Jenna to momentarily become worried that he had slipped back into his previous state.

"Who was there?" she asked tentatively.

"My family…they were all there…waiting for me…..everything…so bright and clean…hurt my eyes," he said remembering.

Jenna breathed a silent relief. "At the hospital….of course they were…they love you. And do you remember this time?" she asked.

"Didn't want to wake up….wanted to stay," he replied a lot more calmly than he had been.

"Why didn't you want to wake up Scott?" she asked, curious now to know what went on in the mind of an unconscious patient.

"Needed to rest….too much duty…responsibility….wanted to stay with you….we were happy….bathing together in warm water….I made love to you…..didn't want to wake up…too comfortable…you loved me there..," he responded, his tone having changed from anxious and agonising thoughts to beautiful memories.

Jenna flushed slightly at this confession, thinking it was no wonder he didn't want to wake up, and smiling at his reference to bathing in warm water, recognising it must have been when she was washing him. "But I love you here and now," she assured him, kissing the top of his head in a loving gesture.

Scott took in a deep breath and sighed, as though stirring from a sleep. "And I love you, Jen….you make me feel…young and alive and…," he said lovingly.

"Playful?" Jenna offered, knowing he had come back to reality.

"Yeah, playful," he laughed, all vestige of troubled, anxious thoughts gone from his mind and his face. He sat up and flexed his back. "Sorry, Jen…must have dozed off. You do understand why I didn't tell you about IR, don't you but I promise, I won't keep anything more back. I want you to share every part of me, Jen…to be part of my whole life," he told her, now feeling a weight had lifted off his shoulders, feeling he didn't have to keep his life in separate compartments.

"And I want to share every part of your life, just as I want you to share every part of mine….and don't worry about dozing off…you must have needed it," she assured him.

"Had a very real dream, Jen. When I was trapped…all the people I couldn't save came to me," he started to explain and obviously feeling quite relaxed about doing so.

"And what happened?" she asked cautiously, wondering if now he had dealt with that issue, though she didn't expect that he would no longer have nightmares about being trapped.

"I told them I was sorry…I did my best. And they told me I wasn't to blame; it wasn't my fault…that we, at least, gave them a chance. Guess Virg is right….we just can't save the whole world," he replied, remembering his brother's words and sad at the loss of life but no longer feeling guilty.

"Sounds like a very positive dream," she commented, glad to have departed from her planned schedule for the morning, knowing that life and sometimes conversations take funny turns, all for a purpose.

"And I was afraid, Jen…I doubted. Oh..not that I doubted my brothers wouldn't stop till they got me out…I doubted they would find me in time. I was afraid of dying….of dying alone….never admitted that to anyone before," he confessed, strangely amazed that it wasn't so hard now.

"There's nothing wrong with that, Scott. Everyone's afraid….no one wants to die alone. And there's nothing wrong with not wanting to admit it either….You were just trying to be strong for everyone…because they needed you," she said understandingly, giving him a reassuring squeeze.

"I knew you'd understand, Jen. But I wasn't afraid this time," he told her, a soft smile calming his features.

"You thought you were dying?" Jenna asked, not realising at just how close to death he had felt he was.

"It's all right, Jen…because you were with me….it was a beautiful place and we were happy. I know I didn't know you were real then but that didn't matter….because you were real and you came to me….when I needed you most….and we were together. I know I won't be afraid again….," Scott assured her, with all the quiet serenity of one who has come through a dark tunnel to emerge into the light. "When my time comes…."

"Scott, don't talk like that," she said, part of her not wanting him to dwell on such things, though a huge part of her just not wanting to think of him not being here.

As he spoke a light shone from his eyes, lighting up his face, a glow that only comes from total inner peace. "It's OK, Jen. When my time comes…I won't be afraid…because I know I won't be alone…you'll always come to me…you'll always be with me," he smiled, taking her hand in his and kissing it affectionately.

"You know…you really are amazing, Mr Tracy," she responded lovingly, stroking his face.

"Now…do I get that kiss?" he asked, the familiar mischievous twinkle having returned to his eyes.

"I guess you do…but we do have work to get on…..," she agreed, though somehow never got to finish the sentence due to being pulled into a burning, 'it's good to be alive' kinda kiss that left her a little breathless.

"So, what have you planned for me this morning?" he asked curiously, picking up the discarded Info Pad.

"I have…a Neurocheck….to run on you this morning, Mr Tracy," Jenna replied, trying to be authoritative, though having to smile at his boyish enthusiasm and glad to see his smile had returned.

"And what kinda ghastly experiments does that entail, Dr Frankenstein?" he grinned in puzzled amusement, causing her to laugh.

Jenna told him she had to go through a checklist of his Vital Signs, Level of Consciousness, Response To etc as well as check his reflexes. "…..and for all that I'm gonna need your full and complete co-operation, Mr Tracy….and then maybe…I'll let you go out to the pool this afternoon, if you're a good boy," she smiled wryly and trying to remain composed.

"You got it, Dr Fran….Nurse Rollins," he grinned, quickly changing his mind as he caught her glare, just daring him to say it. "So….what's first? Let me see," he said, grabbing the Info Pad and studiously reading down the list, though he was genuinely interested in how he was doing.

Scott was naturally inquisitive and interested in how things worked and why, often interested in Brains' experiments. Jenna, rather than being irritated, actually took it as a good sign of his mental alertness, co-ordination and ability to process information, all of which skills he needed as a Field Commander.

"Well…Dr Tracy?" she quipped, as though asking for a medical diagnosis.

"Well..nurse," he returned, going along with the charade. "Says here we do eyes first. I thought you knew my eyes well enough by now," Scott smiled seductively, making her laugh and wondering how she was ever going to get through this check with him being in an obviously playful mood.

"I do…but unfortunately I still have to do this the proper way," she replied with a wry smile. "I can't very well put down 'has the most intoxicatingly, intense blue eyes that do something to me', now can I?" she added with a wry grin.

"Might make for a bit more interesting reading, though, don't you think?" he remarked amusedly.

She couldn't help but agree with him there. Peering into his eyes Jenna studied the pupil size, comparing it with what was on her chart, first without and then with reaction to the light from her pencil light torch. Trying to remain totally professional at this stage was practically, nigh on, impossible, impishness shining from his eyes as he stroked a finger up and down her arm.

"Mr Tracy…I can always have you put in restraints until I carry out these tests," she threatened in a monotone voice without taking her eyes from her task.

"But then you wouldn't know the full range of my reactions and capabilities, would you, Nurse Rollins? And….isn't that the idea of these tests?" he quipped, obviously thinking of more fun ways of testing his reactions, causing Jenna to laugh, though, she noted, there was nothing wrong with his logical thinking processes.

She nodded satisfactorily, entering the data on the Pad. Next, were his Vital Signs, all within normal parameters, though his pulse rate veered towards the higher end of the scale. Considering his playfulness and earlier emotions it wasn't anything that gave concern.

Level of Consciousness was next. She read out 'Lethargic', to which both grinned and said 'Definitely not'. Restlessness and Increased Confusion got a firm shake of the head. Reading out 'Alert', she pretended to ponder and pulled her face into a frown, as Scott looked at her with wide-eyed impish mischief. "Yeah, definitely Alert," she decided.

His Speech she was able to say was Clear and not Garbled and after that came his Response To. Jenna waited until he was momentarily distracted before calling his name; although she knew this test was pointless, it had to be done, nevertheless. "Scott," she called, to which he responded promptly with 'Yeah', followed by a questioning look. "Oh nothing…just checking," she said innocently, making him grin. She entered a Brisk for his reaction.

"So…how am I doin, Doc?" he asked with enthusiastic interest, to which she replied, 'he was doing extremely well'. "Jen…why are you lookin at me like that?" he asked suspiciously, when he noted it was her turn to look at him with impish mischievousness. "Here…let me see that," he said wrestling the Pad from her hand. Reading down the chart he came to Response To: Pain. "Hey, Jen…what've ya got in mind?" he babbled nervously.

"Oh..nothing to worry about," she assured him. "I might just do this," she laughed as she poked him in the ribs, making him flinch and laugh. She knew that those reflexes were good enough but told him seriously that she had to pinch him up his arm, to which he responded in the appropriate manner. Needing to do the same test on his left arm Jenna asked him to look away so that she could get a more accurate and natural response, though, unfortunately the result was the same, in that, there was none. She produced a pin and carried out the test again, making him comment she was going to have him looking like a pincushion as he flinched and 'ouched'. The same tests she carried out on his legs, testing his reflexes at the same time.

"You still get headaches, don't you?" she asked sympathetically, to which he nodded but thankfully he wasn't suffering from any Seizures or had bouts of Vomiting. Jenna assured him she was almost finished. "Now…stick out your tongue at me," she told him, making him laugh and saying it wasn't the done thing to do to a lady. "It's a test, silly….I need to see if you can stick out your tongue straight or if it lolls to the side," she laughed.

"Well, why didn't you say it was a test, Jen….I can think of a much better test than that," he said, seriously seductive. "And we can test mouth reflexes at the same time," he added, now eyeing her intensely.

"That's not on my char…..," she had started to say but never got to finish, finding herself pulled into a kiss that he very quickly took to the deepest level and how could she do anything else but respond. There was certainly nothing wrong with his mouth reflexes she thought to herself, that was, when she could, indeed, think straight. When he finally released her she was also able to enter on the chart that he had a strong right hand grip. "And..I still….need you…to stick out…your tongue, Mr Tracy," she said breathlessly, to which he readily complied with a twinkle in his eye.

"So, will I pass? How am I doin, Nurse?" he asked expectantly.

"In my opinion…you have made…remarkable progress," Jenna smiled warmly. "We definitely deserve time out in the pool this afternoon….and tomorrow….I think we can get you up on your feet to take a few steps…that is…if you think you're up to it." she said, encouraging him to the next stage of his recovery.