Chapter 14: Road to Recovery

News spread quickly around HQ that Rebecca had woken up from her coma, she was well liked and it showed in the amount of cards and flowers that arrived from well wishers over the next few days.

Every day she was getting stronger. Illya and Napoleon, along with Mark and April, spent as much time as they could helping and encouraging her recovery.

Like all Section two's, she was very strong willed and didn't want to be in Medical any longer than necessary. Illya continued to sleep in the spare bed every night, looking forward to the time when he could finally take her back home.

Just over a week after regaining consciousness, she had improved considerably; most of the medical equipment that had been supporting her was gradually removed, until only the IV remained.

Though they did it without the staff's knowledge, Illya, Napoleon and Lizzie managed to spirit Becca out of medical using a wheelchair as she was still too weak to walk. They wheeled her down to a little celebration in the office that Napoleon and Illya shared. The Russian had asked Security to turn a blind eye to the mischief and they gladly obliged by suddenly having camera malfunctions in the corridors leading from Medical to the Section II office.

When they arrived, Mark, Penny and April were waiting for them. The air was filled with the scent of delicious homemade soup and some pasta in a light sauce, suitable for Rebecca to eat and for the others, sausage rolls, quiche and pizza, as well as a selection of desserts, including Illya's favorite chocolate cake. The feast had been spread out on both Illya and Napoleon's desks and the aromas from it all made Becca's mouth water. Balloons and streamers decorated the grey walls, cheering the place up. She smiled, delighted and touched to see the small party they'd organized.

"Wow, you've done all this for me? Thank you so much."

April went over and gave her a hug.

"Well darling, it's about time you came out to play, we've missed you."

"Penny, April and Napoleon did the cooking. We thought you might like something with a bit more flavour," Lizzie informed her.

"Hopefully you should be able to manage some of it before Illya makes it all disappear." Napoleon quipped, digging the Russian in the ribs with his elbow and eliciting a scowl from his partner.

"Anyone would think I do nothing but eat." The Russian griped, then a smirk crept across his face as he looked to Rebecca, "there are other things I can do equally as well, if not better."

"Yes, well, maybe you should save that till later, tovarisch," Solo countered, "and just so you know, we didn't let him near the kitchen. Illya wanted to cook you something, but we didn't think you would have recovered enough to sample his culinary delights."

"That is not quite completely true," he replied indignantly, "I do not ruin everything you know."

Hearing the chatter and laughter coming from his agent's office, Mr. Waverly poked his head in.

"Ah, Miss Andrews, I heard you are improving remarkably well," he frowned slightly, "I didn't expect to see you this far from Medical, young lady, though it is good to see you out and about, I trust you will be back before you are missed?"

"Yes, thank you Sir, somebody has to keep these men in order, Lizzie and Penny can't do it on their own."

"Yes indeed. Erm, well as they say, behind every good man is a very good woman." Smiling, he thought of his own wife, as he left them and carried on towards his office.

A half hour later, Rebecca was returned safe and sound to Medical, much to the consternation of Dr. Towers who had not approved this little venture away from her medical bed. After a cursory examination of the patient, he found her to be fine, and agreed these small trips might do her spirit good, but cautioned them not to over do it.

She'd enjoyed the change of scenery and the small gathering; and appreciated the lighter foods they'd cooked for her, though she hoped her friends didn't notice she hadn't eaten much, as she still found eating difficult.

Becca was glad to be back in bed; the short trip had tired her more than she wanted to let on, though Illya could see she was exhausted.

"Rest now, I will go and finish some paperwork and come back later." Illya whispered.

Making herself comfortable, she relaxed into the soft pillows.

"I might just close my eyes for a minute or two." She snuggled under the blankets, suddenly feeling very tired, "I'll be here when you return."

"Sleep well, zavetnyĭ," he said, giving her a quick kiss.

"I'm not sleeping, just resting my eyes," she murmured.

Illya knew she was halfway there already, and would be fast off within seconds.

It was late in the evening when he returned, finding Rebecca still asleep. He didn't want to wake her so refrained from kissing her and climbed into the spare bed as usual, but had second thoughts.

Now that she was only on the IV he decided to share Becca's bed, he missed the feel of her body next to him.

He took a chance, and climbed in beside her, and ever so carefully, avoiding her IV line; he wrapped his arms around her. She must have sensed his presence as she stirred slightly, snuggling up to him.

He'd missed this so much and fell asleep with her in his arms, smiling and feeling more contented than he had in what seemed such a long time.

Illya woke the next morning still holding her in his arms, with her head resting safely on his chest. He stayed like that for a while, savoring the moment.

He hadn't told her, but he was due to leave with Napoleon on an assignment the next day, it would only be a few days as it was more or less a baby-sitting affair. He decided he would break the news to her after breakfast.

He slipped away from her trying not to wake her up and went off to get changed and freshen up. When he returned, she looked at him questioningly, with a sparkle in her eyes.

"I could have sworn someone shared my bed last night, but I must have dreamt it as I was alone when I woke up."

Illya smiled slyly, "Ah, you had that dream last night too?"

"Mmm, it was a certain, blue eyed, blond Russian who held me in his embrace."

"Not quite like mine then. It was a brown haired English lady with lovely hazel eyes that I had my arms around."

"It sounds like the same dream, but from different perspectives."

"Of course, you must be correct; in that case, I am looking forward to more," he replied with an amorous look.

"Me too," she smiled seductively.

Her playfulness abruptly disappeared and her demeanor changed to a more serious mood.

"When are you leaving?" The expression on his face betrayed him. "Don't look at me like that Kuryakin, I've known for a while."

"How did you find out?"

"An interrogator never reveals her secrets."

"If you were not still recuperating, I would..."

"Ooh, is that a threat or a promise?" She interrupted, unable to stay cross with him.

"You are incorrigible, Miss Andrews."

"I know, and when were you going to tell me Mr. Kuryakin?"

"Zavetnyĭ, you are recovering so well, I did not want you to become upset."

"I know you have to work, Illyusha. It's not going to upset me knowing you have to go, I can't expect you to stay until I'm cleared for duty."

"Yes, you are right, I should have told you. We are leaving tomorrow afternoon, and should be back in three days."

"Then we'd better make the most of the time we have before you go," she smiled.

The seriousness gone, she grabbed his hand and pulled him closer to the bed. Climbing in, he wrapped his arms around her, kissing her with enthusiasm.

"I'll keep the bed warm for your return. I know how you tend to come back," she giggled.

"Humph. You are a wicked woman Rebecca," he grinned; his eyes sparkling with desire, "but keep it warm for me anyway – just in case."

While Illya and Napoleon were away, Lizzie was Rebecca's constant companion, helping with her daily exercise routine to improve her strength and level of fitness.

With Rebecca arriving at her first physiotherapy appointment, Lizzie assisted her out of the wheelchair and onto a set of mats spread out across the floor.

Bruce Pennington, the physio, put her to work with a set of leg and arm exercises, he was glad to see that the simple routines he had devised for her to do in bed had helped to strengthen her muscles. After some time, he felt she could move to an exercise ball and light dumbbells which she coped with very well.

"Right Miss Andrews, I think we have done enough here for today. I'll see you again tomorrow. Keep doing those exercises and I think we'll have you back on your feet quite quickly."

"Thanks Bruce." She spied the parallel bars on the far side of the room. "Do you think I can try on those tomorrow?"

"Ah, I'm not sure you're ready for them yet, I think you'll be pushing it to get on the bars tomorrow."

Rebecca grinned and promised herself that she would do whatever she could to get her way.

Lizzie guided her back to the wheelchair and returned her to her room.

"I know what you're thinking Becca, please don't over do it." She sighed in resignation, "though I know you're going to go right ahead and do what you plan anyway. So I'd better help you and make sure you don't do yourself an injury."

Rebecca smiled and had the decency to look slightly chastised. Lizzie continued.

"I'm off in ten minutes, just promise me you won't try anything until I come back after I clock off. Please?"

"I promise Lizzie, I'll wait right here for you to return."

"You'll get me shot if they find out about this, Becca," she grinned.

True to her word Rebecca waited for her friend to return and with the nurses help she worked the muscles in her legs and arms using a set of dumbbells she had managed to smuggle out.

"I think it is time to rest now, Becca, you have done more than enough for one day."

"Yes, I am feeling tired, will you stay for a while? I'd appreciate the company."

"Yes, of course, Napoleon's not going to be home, so I'd only be on my own anyway."

The two friends chatted away into the evening before Rebecca fell asleep exhausted. Lizzie tucked the blanket around her and dimmed the lights before leaving.

The next day, Rebecca was again brought to rehab. Pennington, assessed her condition as he watched her exercising on the mats and with the ball; he was pleased to see she'd made good progress.

"Bruce, can I try the bars?" The physio started to shake his head, "Please?" Becca persisted.

He sighed, "Well, you have regained strength in your arms and legs, more so than I'd expected, If I didn't know better..." He looked pointedly at her, she blushed and looked sheepish.

"Lizzie, can you help her over to them, please."

"Sure, Mr. Pennington."

He watched as Becca was helped back into the wheelchair, before wheeling herself across to the bars.

Taking a few deep breaths, Rebecca geared herself up to the task ahead. With Lizzies help she pulled herself up out of the chair and held on to the equipment.

After ten minutes she had reached the halfway point, slowly placing one foot in front the other while supporting herself on the rails, Bruce nearby, ready to catch her if she lost balance.

He could see that it had been hard work for her to get that far, but she kept going, determined to get to the end.

"Hey Bruce, how am I doing?" She grinned, pleased with her efforts.

"Remarkably well, Rebecca, take a rest when you get to the end, I'll get the chair for you."

"No, I want to make it back again before I sit down."

"I don't want you overdoing it," Pennington warned.

"Listen to him Becca," Lizzie added.

"I can do it, please let me?"

"All right, but it's against my better judgement. I'll make you sit if I think you really need to though," Bruce replied.

"Fair enough, just help me turn around."

Once facing the opposite direction, she slowly made her way back, stopping a couple of times to catch her breath, before gratefully collapsing in the wheelchair.

"Excellent. Keep it up like that and you will be yourself in no time. But I warn you, don't overdo it, what you have just done is more than enough, no more today."

He gave her a stern look and she nodded meekly.

"Fine then, I'll take your advice, no more on the bars today."

"Good, and make sure you keep up with the exercises I gave you."

Lizzie jumped into the conversation. "I'll keep an eye on her; I know what she's like." She announced it was time for the patient to return to her room.

"I want to be able to walk unaided before Illya and Napoleon get back Lizzie,"she whispered as she was wheeled out into the hall.

"They're only going to be gone for three days. I think you'll be pushing it."

"I can do it, Lizzie, I know I can," she insisted.

"I'll never understand you agents, you always push yourselves to the limit, and beyond," Lizzie sighed.

After two more days of exercising her leg muscles, walking around her room, when Lizzie wasn't looking, and intense work on the parallel bars in rehab, Rebecca could walk quite well with the help of a pair of canes.

Becca insisted on trying without them the following afternoon. By the end of the day, she could manage short distances between pieces of furniture. It looked as though she would be able to achieve her goal after all.

Napoleon and Illya's three day mission turned into a week due to their charge being wanted by THRUSH, but he was eventually brought to New York HQ only a little worse for wear; unlike the two agents, who had more than the usual contusions and bruises. Napoleon suffered a mild concussion and a broken arm, while Illya had a dislocated shoulder.

Upon their return they were ordered to report directly to Medical, to be checked over, before going anywhere else. The Russian complaining and grumbling through it all as usual, as he was impatient to get away from the doctors and see his Becca.

When eventually they arrived at her room they found it empty, with the beds neatly made.

Napoleon could see the worry showing instantly in his partner's eyes.

"Where is she?" He asked as fear colored his voice. Had something happened to her, was she dead and no one told him?

They stood aghast in silence, both fearing the worst had happened, when they each felt a hand on their shoulders. It was Lizzie.

"Where is she?" Illya demanded.

"Just come with me please."

Leading them to the day room, she told them to sit down and wait before leaving them. As they looked at each other, each fought back the worry that was both filling them.

A figure slowly walked into the room and they stared in disbelief at what they saw.

Rebecca was walking towards them, unaided. Her face was positively glowing as she proudly smiled at them, her eyes sparkling at her Russian.

Illya returned her gaze with his happiness twinkling in his eyes. He rose from his seat, wrapping his good arm around her waist.

"Becca, vozlyublennyy, I can not believe my eyes. When I saw your empty room, I thought something terrible had happened, but never expected this." He gave her such a kiss that even the normally unflappable Napoleon blushed.

"Hey, tovarisch, put her down, and get a room."

"I am unable to pick her up with only one good arm, but I do have a room not far away." The Russian looked to Solo with a wicked grin.

Napoleon rolled his eyes as he walked past the embracing couple to greet his own Lizzie who had walked in behind Becca, ready to catch her if she fell. He wrapped his good arm around her waist as well, pulling him to her and giving her a lingering kiss.

"Medical has cleared me for light duty as of next week, at which time I'll be allowed to go home as long as I'm not on my own. They think I'll be ready for fieldwork re-assessment in another six weeks, but I'm aiming for half that." Rebecca told Illya as she put her arm around his good one. "Any ideas what we can do until then?"

Illya pulled Becca close to him as a sly smile crept across his face, accompanied by a mischievous look.

"I can think of quite a few things we can do; but first I would like to go out for a nice dinner, as I am starving."

They all laughed as they heard Illya's stomach give a loud growl and Rebecca rolled her eyes.

"Then that sounds like a plan, let's go and feed our hungry Russian," Rebecca announced.

"After you ladies," Napoleon gestured gallantly at the door, winking at his partner, knowing they were both very lucky men.