April had been in UNCLE's Medical Unit for several weeks. Illya spent as much time as he could by her side though he would retreat whenever Mark appeared. He didn't want to, but he knew that if anyone tried to come between him and Napoleon if either of them were injured, he would not be happy, so he gave the junior agent the same respect and space.

Napoleon, in his role as CEA, was aware that Dr. James had been testing her reflexes and feeling in her legs weekly without success. She was improving; there was definite progress, but she could not feel anything below her knees. Doctor James had explained to him, Mark and Illya that there was still swelling around her spine and he could not rule out a full recovery but neither could he rule out paralysis. It was a "wait and see" situation that could not be rushed.

Mr. Waverly had been kept up to date on her condition and progress by Doctor James. He remained hopeful that Agent Dancer would continue to improve. He had breathed a sigh of relief when told that her injuries were no longer life – threatening; he hadn't wanted to be the first Continental Chief to lose a female agent just like Agent Solo had no desire to be the first CEA to do so.

Doctor James and the three agents had developed a routine: Mark had taken to staying overnight in the bed next to his partner. Illya would arrive at six with coffee for the three of them just as Mark was waking up and would sit with April while Mark showered and dressed. After Mark would leave, Illya and April would hold hands and talk until Napoleon came through the door with his own cup of coffee about an hour later. The three of them would either talk or sit in comfortable silence watching TV until April's breakfast was brought to her around eight – thirty. They would leave so that she could eat, knowing that Doctor James would be arriving between nine and nine – fifteen to see her. When he finished his exam, he would conference call the agents to apprise them of her condition before he called Mr. Waverly.

One morning, Mark was awakened by the sound of April moaning in her sleep. He sat up and watched her, figuring she was having a nightmare and he would wake her if it became worse. Suddenly, she shot up. "Ow, ow, ow!"

Instantly, he was by her side. "What's the matter?"

"I've got a cramp! Ow!"

Mark began to massage her left calf. He could feel the knot in her muscle. "I've got you, Luv," he said as he worked the cramp out of her calf.

"That feels good, Mark," she sighed before gasping, "I can feel you touching my leg. Just like I could feel the cramp!" She reached for her right leg. "I can feel me touching my leg! Oh my God! Mark! I can feel my legs!"

Mark signaled for the nurse. When she came to the door, he ordered her to call Dr. James and tell him he need to come to Medical as soon as possible to see April.

When Illya arrived, instead of the usual scene he would see of Mark getting up to get ready to report for work, there was a flurry of activity as Doctor James was conducting tests and having nurses check vitals and take notes. "Agent Kuryakin," James said, "I have to ask you to leave so I can continue to examine Agent Dancer. I'll apprise you of my findings later, but I will tell you now that I am quite pleased."

Illya went to meet Napoleon at the agents' entrance to tell him what had transpired and they went to the Commissary so the CEA could get his coffee and then, they went to their office. After approximately forty – five minutes, the phone rang.

"Agents Solo and Kuryakin, I am certain that Agent Dancer will regain complete mobility. Her partner is with her now. I'm so happy to be able to tell you this news."

Napoleon laughed and said, "Doctor James, thank you so much for letting me and Illya know. Please tell April we'll be down to see her later." He hung up the phone and said, "Illya, isn't that great…Illya?" He was shocked when he looked at his partner to see him turning red and starting to heave his shoulders as he wrapped his head in his arms and put his head on his desk. "Illya!"

Napoleon rushed to his partner's side as he broke down in tears. Alarmed, the CEA gently pulled the smaller man to him and held him while he cried. He rocked him slightly until he could hear and feel the crying slowly stop. When Illya had stopped, Napoleon asked, "What was that about?"

Illya wiped his face and gave Napoleon a small, embarrassed smile. "I am sorry. I, I did not know I was going to do that. I wanted to stay strong for April so I had been tamping down my emotions. I had already made up my mind that she was going to be permanently paralyzed and I was preparing for that. Hearing that she will not be…I guess, well, the relief overwhelmed me."

"Never apologize for showing me how you feel. Why didn't you talk to me about how you were feeling?"

"I knew you were also worried about April, plus you were concerned about Mark's state of mind. I did not want to add to your burden if I did not have to and I took comfort in knowing that you were here if I needed you. Like now."

Just then, the phone on Illya's desk rang. "Kuryakin. Yes, I will be there shortly. Bye." He hung up and said, "April wants to see me."

Napoleon patted his shoulder. "I'll talk to you later."

Illya walked into April's room about ten minutes later, just as a nurse concluded taking April's vitals. The nurse, Betty, he thought, smiled at him as she exited. "April, you are looking so much better," he observed.

"Flatterer," she said as she motioned for him to come give her a hug. When he did, she whispered into his ear, "I appreciate you so much for sticking by me! But, if I were paralyzed, I wouldn't have blamed you for leaving me."

Illya leaned back and looked her in the eye. "You do not think much of me if you think I would sever our relationship because you were injured."

"I appreciate that, but if the worst had happened, I wouldn't want you or Mark burdened with taking care of me. I would have reached out to my family for support or gone to UNCLE's rehab facility upstate."

"I see. So. I have to ask: If the situation were reversed and I was the one who might have been paralyzed, are you saying you would not wish to care for me?"

"Honestly, I don't know."

His face showed nothing, but her words stung him deeply. He chose not to respond, but changed the subject instead. "Did James say how long you have to stay here?"

"Not in so many words, but he did say that if Mark will stay with me, he sees no problem with discharging me if my condition remains stable or continues to improve."

Illya smiled. "That is wonderful news. I would love to stay longer, but I have a meeting I cannot miss. I will come see you as soon as I can." He leaned in and claimed a kiss before rising from the bed and leaving.

He returned to his office. When the door opened, he saw that Napoleon was still at his desk doing his paperwork. He looked up as Illya came through the door. "I would have thought you would have stayed with April a while longer. I sent Mark on a quick milk run, so I know he's not there."

The Russian sank into his chair. "I thought it best to leave her. She…" he began before lapsing into silence.

Napoleon looked at him expectantly. When his partner remained silent, he said, "She what, Illya?"

He shook his head as if to clear it. "She…she hurt my feelings."

The CEA's eyes widened slightly in shock. "How did she do that?"

"I asked her if the situation were reversed and I was the one facing possible paralysis, would she be willing to take care of me and she answered that she did not know. You know that I would have cared for her, so to hear her say that made me feel like I do not mean as much to her as she means to me."

"Illya, if I were injured permanently, would you take care of me?"

"Yes, you know I would."

"Yes, you would, just like I would take care of you. We have each other. That's all we have and most days, that's enough. The same can be said for Mark and April."

"She said she would not ask that of Mark, either."

"I know you wouldn't ask me to take care of you, but you know I would without you asking. Their relationship is probably the same. She wouldn't ask Mark, but he would do it. He would insist, as I would. As you would. Accept it, Illya and move on. You'll only drive yourself crazy if you continue to focus on it."

"You are probably right."

"Of course, I am."

"You are insufferable."

"I love you, too."