"What exactly did your mother mean about risk," Ducky asked once they were back in Chicago at Ducky's apartment.
"You remember me mentioning burning out, right?" Aleah answered honestly.
"What is burn out precisely, as you and your family never did," explain," Ducky asked.
"That was just so many other things going on that it kind of just got brushed over, but not explained indepth," Aleah acknowledged. "Basically, what my mother and I were talking about is it possible to burn out your magical pathways in your body. If you took an x-ray of somebody with magic you wouldn't see any difference that doesn't mean there isn't just that current medical equipment isn't capable of detecting it, which is a good thing when you think about it. You could burn out the ability to do magic at all if it's bad enough until it heals and that takes a long time. It could take years to heal that kind of damage without the help of another healer like my brother Aeon or my sister Ariana. Also, overextend yourself too much and you could put yourself in a coma, because you use to much energy at one time, which could be permanent or temporary depending on the situation at the time. Since I'm immortal that could be very bad if that happened as my family would have to find a way to either wake me up or kill me, because I would never age if I was on something like life support, which means doctors and other hospital staff would start to notice that I wasn't aging at all."
"I see why your mother warned you to be careful about burn out," Ducky said having listened patiently, but now knowing the possible consequences if Aleah used to much of her ability at once.
"Exactly," Aleah said. "I'm always careful not to use too much of my ability at one time to where I put myself in a coma. I know the risks that come with my ability, so I make sure I get plenty of rest as that helps, as does eating a meal. I also take days off when I don't use my ability hardly at all, as it gives my body time to rest and recover."
"So healing Kelly's legs...," Ducky left the question hanging and Aleah answered.
"Shouldn't be too hard actually, though as I explained the leg bones will be weak, because she hasn't been using them for several years. I'll send a little healing energy into her legs every time I visit them and that will help strengthen them, but it will be a long process, if I do it carefully, so I don't wear myself out."
"So a few weeks?" Ducky asked trying to work out a timeline in his head.
"At least two or three months," Aleah answered.
"Well, that's a little longer than I was imagining, but on the other hand, you could've said a year or more," Ducky said.
"Oh, Kelly will be walking before that, but she'll only be able to hobble around the house like an old woman," Aleah said. "She won't be able to stand for long periods of time like in line at a restaurant and will need to sit down frequently. Kelly will start to notice minute changes in her limbs, as the muscles in her legs strengthen."
"I think they will agree to anything just to get Kelly walking again," Ducky said. "Well, anything legal anyway."
Aleah laughed at that and she and Ducky simply sat together on his nice dark leather sofa the color of port, which was very masculine, even as they continued to talk softly, simply getting lost in each other.

~~~Aleah and Ducky~~~

Several months later

"Your sure the cancer is gone?" Jethro asked Aleah looking disbelieving. It had been such a long hard fought battle, that he had trouble believing that it had finally been won and that his little girl was going to live. She hadn't even lost her hair like he and his daughter had feared, as Aleah had warned him it was possible, as well as losing her appetite to where she hardly ate, as that's what radiation did to you. Radiation could steal your appetite and also could make your hair fall out and grow back thinner. Luckily, for Kelly, the doctor had caught her cancer early at one of her regular appointments and then Ducky had sought out expert help and Jethro was grateful.
"Kelly is in remission yes, as her tests that I sent to the labs came back clear. The cancer could come back though, so be warned," Aleah warned Jethro, seriously. "This battle has been won, but it could come back more aggressively than before in a few months, as that happens a lot with cancer or it could be gone for good, as it all depends. If it doesn't come back within five years then it's not as likely to reoccur, as the odds drop to just 10 percent after you hit that milestone. Kelly will need regular doctors appointments make sure the doctor draws blood so that testing can be done to make sure the cancer doesn't sneak back in, because the sooner you catch something like that the easier it is to deal with, at least usually."
"I'll make sure Kelly has regular doctor's appointments," Jethro promised.
"Every couple of months is good," Aleah said, giving Jethro a timeline, as to when to set up the appointments. "Make sure whatever doctor you go to does regular bloodwork."
"I will," Jethro promised. "I'll be forever grateful to you for all you've done for Kelly over the last year so."
"No thanks necessary as I went to this profession to help children," Aleah said. "I didn't have children of my own and I was nowhere close to marrying at the time I decided on what I wanted to do for a career."
"That's no longer true is it," Jethro said looking at Aleah with a knowing expression.
"I suppose not," Aleah admitted blushing at Jethro's knowing look. "We've tried not to be obvious about our relationship."
"You haven't seen the looks Ducky kept shooting you when you weren't paying attention," Jethro said. "It helps that I know him, as we've been friends for a long time. I've never seen him so infatuated with a woman."
"You know you remind me of my father just now," Aleah told Jethro. "He's very knowing sometimes, especially when it comes to his children. He knows things, even when you think that you've been subtle about it."
"I think that is the nicest compliment I've ever received. To be compared to your father I mean," Jethro sad smiling.
"You would like him if you ever met him, but he and mom live in Minnesota, so unless they come down here to visit me or you go up there, it's unlikely you'll ever cross paths," Aleah said. "Should we go tell Kelly the good news that her cancer, at least for right now, is gone? Of course we also need to caution her about the fact that she's not out of the woods completely and won't be for five years, which I know is a lifetime for a kid Kelly's age."
"Yeah, let's go tell her the good news," Jethro agreed actually smiling, which was a rather unusual expression on his nearly always sober and serious face, but then he had a lot to be happy about right now so it wasn't surprising that he was actually smiling.
Jethro finally knew that all the expense, all the testing, radiation and everything Kelly had been through that her cancer had finally been put into remission had been worth it.
He was grateful that Aleah Rossi had come into his and Kelly's lives and grateful that Ducky had been the one that had done the research to find the best cancer doctor in Chicago. Ducky had gone to the trouble of contacting Aleah Rossi himself asking for her help for his two friends and Jethro was grateful.

~~~Aleah and Ducky~~~

"It's really gone?" Kelly asked her tone one of disbelief.
"You're in remission yes, as your blood tests came back clean," Aleah said gently. "However, you and your father are going to have to watch out for any sign that it's returning, as right now it's in remission, but it could come back. Once it's been gone five years then it's unlikely to ever return."
"Five years is a long time," Kelly said.
"I know it is for someone your age, as you're only 11," Aleah smiled, even as she stroked Kelly's hair soothingly. It was nice and soft and smelled nice. "Still, this is a very good outcome Kelly, trust me on that.
"We might even be lucky and it never comes back and stays in remission, but you still need to watch out for signs that it is starting to reappear as the sooner we catch it the better. Those five years will be over before you know it, as you'll be so busy living your life, going to school, spending time with your friends and getting ready for college in a few years that that time will be upon you before you realize it."
"But how can I have a good career when I'm stuck in a wheelchair?" Kelly asked looking defeated.
"People who are stuck in wheelchairs can still do anything they want to do Kelly all you have to do is have determination to reach your goals and you'll find ways around your disability," Aleah said. "I've known several people over the years that were just like you. They were in horrific accidents and while they lived they lost the use of their legs."
"But what happened to me wasn't an accident it was a drug dealer's thug that wanted to get rid of me and my mother so that mom couldn't testify against him," Kelly said.
"I know, but your situation with those people I've met over the years is still similar," Aleah said. "You should be grateful that you lived, even if you lost the use of your legs, that all your other facilities are intact like your brain for example." Aleah drove her point home by tapping Kelly on the temple, so she wouldn't mistake what she meant.
"You can do anything you want to do with determination, and what I like to call grit despite your disability. You shouldn't let those thugs that did this to you and killed your mother win by giving up on life. You should want to prove them wrong by maybe one day becoming a great baker for example or a great lawyer. You can be anything you want to be."
Jethro listened from the doorway and agreed with Aleah's advice to his daughter, because he agreed 100 percent with what Aleah was saying. Aleah was basically telling Kelly that she could go into any career she chose, despite her disability, she just had to be determined. It was very good advice and Jethro knew that his daughter was taking it more to heart then she would if it was him telling her the same thing Aleah was, mostly because he was her father and he was supposed to encourage her. Aleah, on the other hand, was just a friend and the woman that had basically saved her life by taking her on as a patient in the first place and at a reduced cost, so Kelly would take any advice she gave differently.
"You should never let anybody tell you you're worthless or you can't accomplish something, just because you can't use your legs. In fact, you should go out of your way to prove those naysayers and doubters wrong about you being worthless, just because you've lost your ability to walk," Aleah told her.
Kelly's expression hardened at Aleah's words and Jethro knew that his daughter was now determined to prove that she could still accomplish something great, even without the use of her legs.
"Will you be back now that my cancer is in remission?" Kelly asked once Aleah was done encouraging her.
"Kelly, Dr. Rossi is very busy with all her patients, I'm sure she doesn't have time to just come by for no reason..." Jethro spoke up for the first time since they had broken the good news.
"Actually, I'll always make time for my favorite patients and Kelly has certainly stolen my heart," Aleah said making Kelly smile brightly. "Since Ducky proposed, I'll come over as often, as I can manage. Ducky considers the two of you his family and so do I," Aleah added making Kelly hug her from her position on the bed. "You'll see so much of me I'm sure you'll think I live here. Both of you are free to contact me if you need anything at all. Perhaps Kelly and I can spend some time together when I have a free day."
"That would be great," Kelly said enthusiastically looking much happier now that she knew that Aleah was still going to come and see her and not just abandon her.
"You're welcome anytime, Dr. Rossi," Jethro said. "With or without Ducky."
"I always make time for family," Aleah said. "I need to go now Kelly, Ducky and I have a date in a couple of hours, so I need to get ready, but we'll see each other again soon I promise."
"OK," Kelly said smiling, as Aleah rose from the bed and walked towards Jethro who were still standing in the doorway.
Both Jethro and Aleah left Kelly in her room and walked downstairs silently.
"You made her day, doctor so thank you," Jethro told Aleah as soon as they were out of Kelly's hearing range. "She took your advice to heart more than she would have for me or Ducky since she's known both of us since the day she was born."
"It was my pleasure Jethro and I intend to keep my promise and visit as often, as my time allows. As for the advice, you're welcome. I know you're right about her taking my advice differently than she would yours or Ducky's, if only because I haven't known her as long as you two have. I'm the relative newcomer and I did help save her life, which Kelly is well aware of, so that means she's more likely to listen and believe me then she would be you or Ducky," Aleah said warmly. "I really do need to be going though to get ready for my date. Ducky is taking me somewhere fancier than we normally go so I need all the time I can get to clean myself up and do my hair differently. Luckily, I already have the exact outfit I want to wear in mind and it's already in my closet, because I haven't had time to go shopping."
"See you soon," Jethro said before he showed her out.

~~~Aleah and Ducky~~~

"This is really nice, Ducky," Aleah said she looked around at the elegant surroundings. They were in one of the best restaurants in Chicago and normally this was not the type of place that she went to on a regular basis, just on special occasions or with her family. "How in the world do you get us into one of the most exclusive restaurants in Chicago? It usually takes months to get a reservation."
"The owners claimed they owed me, so Daniel said I was welcome to come for a free meal had to bring a friend if I cared to," Ducky said. "The wife Arbella had cancer in her spine that would have left her in a wheelchair if it had continued to spread effecting the nerves and I helped put it into remission before she lost her ability to walk like Kelly. Really, all I did was recommend a treatment plan for her so she could have the best possible chance of getting rid of it, but the husband insisted that he owed me. I don't think I really did anything special, but the owner Daniel insisted, so I figure why not take advantage of a free meal? I couldn't convince him that he didn't owe me a thing, as it is my profession after all. I've never used that free meal that Daniel claimed he owed me until tonight and I helped out Arbella several years ago."
"Well, if the owner insists he owes you at least one free meal for what you did for his wife, even though you tried to tell him he didn't you might as well take advantage of his generosity," Aleah said, even as she ate bite of her crab.
"Which is why we're here tonight and I'm not paying a cent for this delicious meal," Ducky said, even as he ate a bite of his tuna.
Both of them had ordered seafood, which was another point they had in common, as both Ducky and Aleah loved all kinds of seafood.
Aleah noticed a man approach their table and since Ducky waved when he saw him she assumed that this was Daniel who owned the restaurant.
"Hear us discussing you Daniel?" Ducky asked the man and Aleah knew she had been right on the guy's identity.
"No, I just wanted to come see if the meal this to your satisfaction," Daniel said. "I didn't think you were ever going to take me up on my offer of a free meal for you and a companion, as it's been years."
"I know you offered me a free meal for two, but you really don't owe me anything Daniel," Ducky said. "I was only doing my job."
"It was your job to be so kind and ease our fears that Arabella would be stuck in a wheelchair if the cancer along her spine had spread," Daniel asked Ducky with raised eyebrow skeptically.
Aleah watched the conversation and said nothing but inwardly she smiled as her mate was so humble about his skills as a doctor and it was very enlightening and sweet. He changed peoples lives and yet he almost never took credit for all he did to help patients recover from their disease.
"So who is this lovely lady?" Daniel finally asked changing the subject.
"Oh this is my fiancé Dr. Aleah Rossi," Ducky introduced realizing that he had been rude to not introduce Aleah immediately.
"It's nice to meet you, dear lady. It's nice to know that Dr. Mallard has finally found someone to settle down with," Daniel said shaking Aleah's hand.
"It's nice to meet you too Mr...?" Aleah left the last part hanging as she didn't actually know Daniel's last name.
"Croft," Daniel said. "So I take it that he never mentioned me before he brought you here tonight?"
"I'm afraid not, but then, we've only known each other for a little over a year so he's never had the opportunity to really mention you or anybody else that he's helped," Aleah said.
"So what are you a doctor of if I might inquire?" Daniel asked.
"Cancer in children," Aleah answered. "I could give you the medical term for my specialty, but I just figured it be easier to understand if I didn't."
"Well, I can see now at least one reason why you like her so much, Ducky," Daniel told his friend.
"Her profession is only one of many reasons Daniel," Ducky said. "I could give you a dozen reasons I fell in love with her right off the top of my head, but our food is getting cold and it's too good to go to waste."
Ducky's Scottish accent had thickened slightly, which told Aleah that he was annoyed as usually it was very faint.
"Oh, sorry, I was just so glad to see that Ducky had finally taken me up on my offer that I forgot my manners. I'll leave you to your meal and I hope I'll see you again sometime."
"I'm sure you will, as the food is fantastic," Aleah said complimented Daniel's restaurant.
"I like you," Daniel told her with a smile. "You have fine taste."
"Actually, I'm usually more of a casual restaurant sort of girl, but that's only because I'm so busy, I don't usually have time to come to come to places like this."
"You wound me," Daniel said dramatically staggering back a step placing a hand over his heart looking heartbroken.
Aleah giggled at Daniel for being so dramatic.
"I'll leave you to your meal," Daniel said. "I'm glad you're enjoying it."
Daniel walked away and Ducky and Aleah went back to their food.
"That was rather interesting," Aleah noted.
"You do know that Daniel was flirting with you, don't you?" Ducky said.
"I did notice that yeah," Aleah shrugged not seeming bothered or interested. "You don't need to worry about any man that flirts with me, as I'm not interested in anyone, but you and you know the reason why."
"Yeah, I do," Ducky said relaxing, as he went back to his fish while Aleah took a bite of her crab.
"Besides, Daniel is married and even if I was interested anybody but you, I would never go after a married man. Immortals never cheat on their mate. They never even think about cheating," Aleah added so softly that the other diners couldn't possibly have heard what she said.
"That's good to know," Ducky said before changing the subject since they were in public.
The two chatted cordially, as they finished their excellent dinner's and then simply left the restaurant, as Daniel had already taken care of the price of the meal.
"We'll have to do that again sometime," Aleah commented.
Ducky had already used the remote to bring the car around inside the restaurant without even having to go and get it in the parking lot, as technology was such that the car could be brought to the owner's location.
"Yes, we will," Ducky agreed, as the doors of his vehicle automatically opened once it had stopped right in front of them.
Ducky climbed into the driver's side while Aleah got into the passenger seat and once they were situated all their limbs inside the car the doors automatically closed. "I'm glad I could share the experience with you though and not anyone else. That's what made it so special because I shared it with a woman I love."
"That's very sweet Ducky. I love you too," Aleah told him kissing his cheek before Ducky started the car to where it rose into the air, joining the sky traffic.

~~~Aleah and Ducky~~~