Linda woke up in excruciating pain. As the medicine cleared her brain from all flooded areas and she was able to control her movements, her muscles complained the activity. Her legs could send her hissing for hours. A nurse stopped by and noticed the girl's discomfort. She never complained, so it was up to the medical staff to realise if she was in pain and give her painkillers.

After a whole morning of exercise, Linda was ravenous by lunchtime. Dr. Wilson checked her signs and her mood. She was very motivated, and very optimistic about the treatment. The doctor informed her that in a few days, she would be getting crutches, and she was very anxious about it. Linda knew that this was one of the last steps before she could be back to her apartment again. Dr. Wilson recommended rest in the afternoon, after such strain on her legs. Once more the doctor alerted Linda she could be overdoing it, and it was not good for her recovery.

Ma Vecchio came in at the first of the visiting hours. Linda's smile lit the whole room. "Hi, Ma."

"Bambina," She kissed Linda soundly in the cheeks and smiled. "You look very good today."

"I had a good day at therapy room. I made my best walk on parallel bars".

"Parallel bars? Isn't that for Olympics athletes?"

Linda laughed softly. "And for crippled people, too." She used her arms to drag her useless legs out of the bed. "I know you don't like it when I use the word."

"Because it is a wrong word", scolded the matriarch. "You will walk again, the doctor said so."

"I know I will. I just wished I could have my crutches. Then I could go home, walk Dief a while."

"You miss the dog, don't you, bambina?"

"Of course I miss him. He is family, too."

"And a fine family he makes. You know he sniffs all over me every time I get back in the house. He recognises your scent, and he knows every time I come to visit."

"Isn't he lovely? Oh, I miss him very much."

"Don't worry. You will be home soon."

"Yes, I will." Linda asked, "Ma, did you hear from Ben?"

"No, I guess he is still working. Raymondo has called, and said the work took longer than they expected."

Linda pouted a little. "But it is Saturday. I was hoping he could spend the day with me."

"I am sure he would have come if he could, Bambina."

"No, Ma, I don't mind. If he is with Ray, I am glad. They need some time together, too."

"They are such good friends", said Mrs. Vecchio. "I am glad they are this close. Lately, they have been working together again. It's been some time since they last did it. Raymondo is very focused on his work, and Benton is always there to help him."

Linda smiled. "It is so good, Ma. It seems our life will get on its tracks at last, and all the nightmares will be over."

Mrs. Vecchio took Linda's hand and patted it. "See, cara? There is always sunshine after the storm, they say. You deserve to be happy."

The girl was beaming. Then she frowned. "Ma, could you please call a nurse? I think I have to go to the bathroom."

Ma Vecchio called the nurse and left the room, so the two women could have more space to their activities. The old Italian woman could not help to feel satisfied. Not often did Linda feel this good.

She spotted her son and his best friend coming up the hall and smiled. Linda would be very happy to see both of them there. Then Mrs.Vecchio picked up their faces and the way they were walking. Even before she realised they looked tired and sad, she knew something was wrong. A mother's heart just senses things like that. She rushed to their side.

"Benito, Raymondo, what is wrong?"

Ray hugged her hard, and she sensed all the tension in her son. He did not utter a word, and swallowed a sob instead.

"Santa Maria, figlio. Don't frighten your mother like that."

"Ma, is Linda in there?"

"Yes, the nurse is helping her right now. What happened, Raymond? Don't try to change the subject."

Ray looked at Benny, who looked awful, but said. "I better talk to her alone."

"OK, Benny." Ray gently led his mother. "Come with me, Ma. Let's sit down somewhere."

Mrs. Vecchio looked at Fraser and asked, "And you, caro? Will you be OK?"

"Yes, Mrs. Vecchio, thank you. I have to see Linda."

Ray said, "I better warn the doctor."

"Yes, please, you do that."

The Canadian watched Ray take his mother down the hallway. The nurse left the room in that moment and smiled in pleasure to see her. "Good afternoon, Constable. Linda will be glad to see you."

He did not return her smile. "Thank you, Patty. Could you fetch me Dr. Lennyard, please? I think we will need him pretty soon."

The nurse seemed puzzled, but agreed. Fraser sighed and opened the door. Linda was sitting at the edge of the bed and split her face in a very big grin when saw Fraser.

"Ben, it is a surprise. I thought you were with Ray."

"Yes, I was. But I came as soon as I could. Linda, I have news." He closed the door. "We need to talk."

Linda could feel the sunny day turning into a heavy cast sky inside her room. Her heart clenched with dread. "Ben, what is it?"

He sat by her side and took her hand. "It is about the investigation Ray and I were conducting."

"Where is he? Is Ray alright?"

"Yes, Linda, Ray is fine. We were trying to find the couple who had our baby. Ray and I have been out of town the last few days trying to find them."

Fraser felt her hand tighten between his. She stared at her lap, in silence. "Ben... did you find them?"

He nodded, the saddest way possible, then lowered his voice respectfully. "We found them in a hospital, Linda. The child was ill. I am sorry, my love, but our son is dead."

Linda did not move.

"I am sorry, Linda." Fraser tried to look at her face, but she kept her head down, and did not move. "Linda, please. Did you hear what I have just said?"

There was the slightest nod. Fraser gathered her in his arms, feeling her body shaking lightly. Neither of them spoke. The silence was so oppressive that for a moment Fraser imagined he could hear her heart breaking apart, and all her dreams shattering. He thought his chest had never been tighter, and the pain would swallow him whole. Tears fell freely from his cheeks, and a sob or two wrecked his whole body.

Linda was still shaking, and her breath was irregular. But Fraser realised she was not crying. Her skin also seemed cold. Suddenly she sagged against him, unconscious.

Alarmed, Fraser recognised the symptoms. She was in shock.

The Mountie hit the emergency button and gathered the covers from the bed, wrapping her around and putting her into bed, as the door opened and a nurse went in. "What is it?"

"She is in shock!"

Dr. Lennyard came inside running. He opened her eyes, used a lantern and saw the pupils dilated. "Please step aside, Constable. But tell me what happened."

As the medics worked on her, Fraser could gather a few words to explain the doctor her state to the physician. The doctor swore under his breath and turned his attention from her. "You should have waited for me."

Before Fraser could retort, one of the nurses said, "I think she is coming to."

Linda moaned, then whispered. "Ben..."

He tried to get closer, but there were about three people over her, and he was blind, deaf and focused. He never heard a word they said, all he could hear was her voice. Weak. Calling him.

"Ben... please..."

Without ever knowing exactly how he moved, Fraser found himself in bed with her, taking her into his arms, shooshing her gently. She was not really crying, merely whimpering and clutching to him as if he was her last line of life.

"She is stable. The sedatives will kick in," informed the nurse.

Fraser felt her struggling to sustain her grip on him, but the muscles were giving away. It pained him to see such grief in Linda. In a few minutes, her hands fell from his chest. Dr Lennyard patted Ben's shoulder and gestured him to go outside. Ben gently separated from Linda and noticed her weak protests at his departure.

Outside her room, Ben expected to be greeted by a fuming psychiatrist. That was not the case. Still, he thought he owed the doctor an apology. "Doctor, I am sorry and -"

"No, Constable, it is all right. It is not your fault. Linda would have to be told sooner or later of what happened. We can't be so protective of her all the time."

"Still, I should have foreseen her reaction a little better."

The doctor touched his shoulder and managed a smile. "Maybe you were in no shape to foresee anything, Constable. I should be the one apologising. It was your loss, too. I am sorry."

Fraser was startled for a minute, then he controlled the tears raising in his eyes. "Thank you."

Another pat on his shoulder. "I suppose you will be staying the night." Ben nodded. "Call me if you need me."

"Thank you, doctor."

Dr. Lennyard smiled, then walked down the hall. Fraser watched him go, pensively. Then went back inside the room, to take care of the woman he loved.

Sunday was a weary day. Linda was still heavily drugged and responded only to Ben, and yet barely, sleeping a lot, in and out the whole day long. She did not eat, she hardly pronounced a word, and she did not recognise anyone except for the Mountie. Dr. Lennyard stayed there the whole day long, too, even though he was off duty. He just observed, and asked Fraser not to pay attention to him. His eyes were fixed on Linda, her every reaction being carefully studied.

Actually, Linda would look at Ben, and her eyes would flicker with some recognition. She would stare at him, as if silently pleading something. It tore Ben apart that he could not read her eyes as he wanted. Sometimes he kissed her hand, praying that she could snap out of it. His despair was not alone.

Ma Vecchio prayed endlessly by Ben's side, and took gentle care that the girl was never alone. Even though Linda ignored everyone but the Mountie, her room was constantly flowing with Vecchios. Ray was on duty at the station, handling the reports Welsh demanded about the trip to Pittsburgh. He stopped by the hospital at the end of his shift, but did not stay long. After all, the Italian was wake 48 hours straight, and was no help to take care of Linda.

Night was falling on Chicago when Linda was coaxed into drinking a few sips of water. Such a simple gesture, and yet it brought so much relief to Fraser. The Mountie was much too afraid that Dr. Lennyard might decide to remove Linda to a psychiatric ward if she became truly catatonic. It would be such a downslide in her process.

Linda closed her eyes and seemed to be asleep early in the evening, after she was medicated. A bed was brought to Fraser and the Vecchios said their goodbyes. Dr. Lennyard also bid them farewell, then called Fraser to the hall outside. The Mountie blanched, afraid that the psychiatrist might want to transfer Linda right away.

"Constable, I would like to ask you something. Can you stay tomorrow with Linda the way you did today?"

Fraser shook his head, and he felt guilty. "I am sorry, but no. I do have the early shift tomorrow, though. It means I'll be back in the evening."

The doctor nodded. "Yes, it would be good. I am very optimistic about her."

That caught the Mountie completely by surprise. "Really?"

"Yes. This is the first time Linda reacted this way. Se did not cut her bonds with reality. And you, Constable, have the role of a link. You are the link she seeks."

"I am?"

Dr. Lennyard really seemed excited to explain. "Did you notice the way she looks at you, as if asking for something?"

"Yes," agreed Ben, his heart wrenching as he remembered her pained look cast at him. "She seems to be pleading for something I don't understand."

"She is just asking for help. And you are helping just by being by her side. Normally, she would have gone in her own world, cut off from real life. But not this time. She may seem distant, but she is still here, Constable. This is very promising."

"I am glad you think so," admitted Fraser. "I was afraid she might be relapsing back into a catatonic state."

"No, she is still here. Of course she is hurt, she is in a lot of pain. But she has not slipped into oblivion, as she did so many times before. Don't you see? She has changed the pattern. This is tremendous progress, Constable. Er... May I call you Fraser?"

"Certainly, sir."

"I wished I could stay with her and observe more, but my fiancée is waiting for me. I think Linda is on the verge of getting back to real life fully. If she cried, we would know for sure that her grief would start. But that is all she can do for now, and it is a good sign, Fraser. This change in pattern is really promising."

"I have to confess, doctor: I am very surprised at your words."

The doctor patted the big Mountie's shoulder. "Never give up hope, Fraser. She needs you. You are her anchor to reality."

"What can I do to help?"

"Now, that is tricky. You see, Linda has to make up her own mind. It really is up to her. If you push her, she might feel threatened and retreat into her world as before. If you just don't pay attention to her, she might feel abandoned and want to withdraw from reality just the same. Just keep doing what you are, I guess."

"But I can't be here tomorrow."

"We will have to deal with that, then. Don't worry. I will be here, though. Would you like me to give you a call if anything changes?"

"I would appreciate it, yes."

"Ok, then. I take it that you will stay the night with her?"

"That is correct. I don't have to leave until early morning."

"Keep me posted, then."

"Sure. Thank you, doctor."

"Don't mention it. Good night."

"Good night."

The doctor left, and Ben went back inside the room feeling his heart so much lighter than before. Dr. Lennyard's attitude also surprised Fraser. After all that time, it seemed the psychiatrist wanted to befriend the Mountie. Maybe the good doctor was getting a little soft, thought Ben.

He returned to Linda's bedroom and sat beside her bed, so he could watch her sleeping. Very carefully, he took her hand between his, hoping she would react soon with more than those pained stares she was giving him.

It did not take long till he grew tired. He had slept more or less the same time Ray had and was exhausted, mainly emotionally. Even Mountie stamina could dry up eventually, so he stretched his abused backside and brought the extra bed closer to Linda. Then he lay gently by her side, still holding her hand.

His even steady breathing when he surrendered to sleep was the clue to a pair of green eyes that became alert and were fixed on him all night long. Linda watched Fraser asleep, and the thoughts in her head were a mystery.

Fraser's internal clock did not fail him. Early in the morning, pained as he was, he had to leave Linda to get to go home and prepare for work. When he approached her still form in bed to kiss her, he saw the green eyes watching him in total alertness. He whispered, "Good morning."

She just looked back at him. Then, she whispered back, "Ben".

That startled him, but he quickly hid it. "I have to go to work. But I will be back as soon as I can. I can call a nurse so you won't be alone."

She kept on staring at him, expressionless, then she just said. "No."

He did not know if she was asking him not to go or not to call the nurse, but he settled for a kiss on her forehead. "I love you, Linda."

Her green eyes went moist. Then the door opened.

"Ray?"

"Heya, Benny. Good morning, Linda." He closed the door behind him, arms full. "Thought you might be needing this, so I brought it to ya." He raised his hand where there was a hanger with the red serge uniform wrapped in plastic. "Took it to the cleaners, too. And I also got your hat, and everything you need if you wanted to shower here." The cop deposited all his burdens in the table nearby, taking care of the uniform. Then he turned to the couple. "Come on, Benny, or you're gonna be late. And you don't want to get the Dragon Lady mad at you, now, do you? Go shower while I pick up breakfast. Coffee or tea?"

Fraser was so touched by Ray's gesture that he had trouble to speak, "Tea, please, Ray."

"Linda?"

There was tension for a while in the bedroom, that went silent with expectation. After a minute, though, Linda answered, "Cocoa".

Ray smiled, "Hey, nice answer. Maybe I'll get some cocoa myself. Move, Benny, move!" The Italian seemed electric in the morning. "Ah, Linda: will you be all right by yourself, honey? I won't be long, but if you want, I can wait until Benny is back."

Ben deliberately took his time to pick up the uniform Ray brought as he waited for Linda to answer. Ray tried to look casual but he was nervous, too.

"Please go, Ray."

He couldn't help a smile. "Ok, then, sweetie. I will be right back." He turned to the Mountie. "You hurry up, Benny. I won't be driving you today, because I will be staying with Linda."

"That is fine, Ray."

"You two - behave."

The two men ate breakfast and Linda even took a few sips of the cocoa Ray brought her. Then Benny kissed her goodbye and left, after making sure Ray called him the minute he needed. Linda closed her eyes and tried to sleep a while, since she had not done it at night.

Ray had the day off, and he was so distressed by the news his mother brought from the hospital that decided to make everything he could so that Linda would feel better. But he found the girl was better than what his mother described.

Dr. Lennyard arrived early and was surprised to see Ray with Linda. He basically kept on the observation routine he had done Sunday. Linda slept and ignored the doctor totally, as she did Sunday.

The nurse woke her up to take her vitals. Ray noticed she hardly moved. She almost ignored the nurse. That sank his heart.

When the nurse left, Ray tucked her. "I think you want to rest some more, right. Linda? Unless you are you hungry, then I can fetch you something."

Linda closed her eyes and sighed. Then she shook her head and grimaced. Ray kissed her forehead, his heart quite tight. "I take that as a no to lunch. OK, sweetie, you can rest if you want, now."

He stroked her hair tenderly, and Linda felt so loved it almost ached. She kept her eyes shut for most of the day, thinking. Things were so difficult to sort out.

Ray tried to keep himself busy, always alert about Linda. He reviewed some reports he was due in the station, and kept an eye on her. Nurses came and went, trying to check her vitals. Linda did not open her eyes, but she was plenty aware of the nurses handling her, even Ray's occasional caresses.

It was close to sundown when Ray noticed Linda's eyes open, staring at him. His face lit up on a smile, that one he reserved for the few privileged person who saw it.

"Hey, beautiful. Hope you slept well," he caressed her hair gently. "You must be hungry."

"Ray." She said softly. "My baby."

Ray's hairs on the back of his neck stood up. He tried to keep his voice even and casual. "Yes, Linda, what about the baby?"

"Tell me about it." Her face was expressionless, her voice was flat and low.

"Well, Linda, I don't know what you want me to say. We were looking for the kid, and we found him. We did not know the child was sick."

"Sick?"

Ray took her hands in his and nodded. "Yes, it was sick. I spoke to the doctor, and he said it had a heart disease no one knew about."

Linda blinked at Ray. "Was it a boy or a girl?"

Ray felt his throat tightening. "It was a boy, Linda. His name was Robert."

"Robert," she whispered quietly. "Good name."

Ray stole a glance at Dr. Lennyard, who was at a corner of the room, taking notes. He gestured the cop not to pressure Linda.

"Ray?"

"Yes, Linda?" He saw her wincing, a hand to her stomach.

"I think I am going to get sick."

Out of impulse, Ray brought the trash bin from the bathroom and she promptly retched violently there. She could not throw anything up, for she had not eaten in two days. Dr. Lennyard called a nurse, who helped Ray clean Linda when her stomach finally settled down.

"Are you all right now, honey?" Ray kept caressing her. "Would you like some water?"

Linda looked up at Ray, shaking her head. Then Ray noticed her eyes glassy and huge, filled with tears. Her face crumpled and she sobbed once. "Oh, Ray..."

That was all it took. The Italian gathered her in his arms, and she held on to him, weeping silently. For long minutes, they held on to each other, both crying now. Ray cried with relief that Linda started to grieve the loss of her son. It was a signal to health. Dr. Lennyard patted Ray on his shoulders, smiled and left the room, satisfied.

On his way to his office, the psychiatrist bumped into Fraser, whose shift was finished. The physician was glad to tell him what happened, and the Canadian rushed to Linda's room.

"Benny!" Linda threw herself in his arms, mindless of his pea coat, eager to be with him, to have him console her, holding on to him as if her life depended on it.

Ray rose up, wiped his own tears and said, "I am gonna get us dinner."

Fraser looked at him, a little amazed at such a prosaic worry. Linda looked up, too, and nodded. That made for a brilliant Italian smile, and Ray left off.

Fraser looked down at Linda. She whimpered, "We lost our baby, Ben. I am so sorry."

"So am I." He kissed her cheek and licked a tear off her face. "But I am relieved about you, now."

Linda swallowed. "Sorry I scared you. Ben, I need to know. Tell me about it."

He nodded and handed her a paper tissue. "All right. I thought you would want to know."

She wiped her tears and blew her nose, and he took her hands. "Did you see him, Ben?"

The Canadian shook his head. "No. We... arrived too late. But I have a picture." He retrieved the Stetson and produced the photograph from there.

Linda had shaky hands when she took it. She looked at the smiling face, the pinkish cheeks, and the big blue eyes. She seemed awed. "He is so beautiful. Ben, he looks like you." Linda raised her head and looked at Fraser, tears once more forming in her green eyes. "Why did he die, Ben?"

"The doctor said it was a heart disease. There was nothing he could do. The baby was in the best hospital in the whole country, and had the best care. The couple who adopted him had resources and spared no money."

"Benny... Did they love him?"

"Very much. They were devastated."

"Do you believe they were good people?"

"Yes. They were very upset with the things we told them. The thing they told us were also very upsetting, but we were expecting that."

Linda shook her head. "That woman... That woman... must have said horrible things about us. About me."

Fraser kissed her front. "Now they know that it is not true. They were very surprised, and loved him very much. We did not spend much time with them, but we could tell that they took good care of the baby, and they really loved him."

Linda smiled, as the tears fell from her face. "That is good. He was loved, and it is very good." Then she was serious again. "Did they know he was a stolen baby?"

"No, they were surprised about it. They were under the impression that the whole adoption was a legal procedure, and that the money they paid was a fee to the baby's mother. They are scared that they might be prosecuted and face trial."

Linda's eyes widened. "Benny, they could be? They did not do anything wrong."

"Yes, Linda, they could. After all, they bought a baby and that is illegal."

"It is?" Linda seemed surprised. "I did not know that."

"It is, Linda."

She thought for a few minutes, then said. "I would not like them to be prosecuted."

"And why is that?" Ben wrapped his arms around Linda.

"They loved our baby, Ben. They seem good people, from what you say. They don't need more suffering. It is enough that that woman brought so much of it to our lives. At least, she was not responsible for this tragedy."

Ben had to say. "Linda, she was."

Linda turned to look at him, and saw the pain. "What do you mean, Ben?"

"Victoria was responsible for the baby's death."

"But you just said, the baby died from a disease."

"It was a malformation in his heart. The doctor is still going to make an exam, but he was pretty sure that the malformation was caused by wrong kind of drugs taken during the gestation."

Linda was not sure she understood what he was saying. "Drugs?"

"Yes, probably the ones you took when you were pregnant. Remember? Those were strong chemicals. It took almost a year for you to get back to normal. Imagine what they could have done to a small baby forming inside of you. He was born with a weak heart, and it just did not have strength to keep on beating. That was how he died."

Linda's face slowly crumpled as her heart shattered in a thousand pieces. "Oh, no, Ben." Her voice was small and she hardly could breath, as she looked up, tears back in her cheek. "So... it was my fault?"

Ben rushed to assure her. "Of course not, Linda. Not your fault. The drugs were given to you." He held her to his arms, shooing her. "It was never your fault. The couple who adopted Robert knows that. And Mrs. Kilshaw asked me about you."

That brought Linda's attention. "She did? What did she ask you?"

"She wanted to know if you ever wanted the baby. Then she gave me the picture. Took it from her own purse."

Linda nodded, with a sad smile. "A good woman, Ben. See? She doesn't need any more suffering."

Ben held her closer. "Neither do you, my love. I wish I could take this pain away from you."

"Oh, Ben." Linda snuggled up against him. "I love you so much."

"I love you, too. And I will love you even more if you eat and sleep as I am sure Dr. Lennyard wants you to do it, too."

"Will you stay here? Please?"

"Of course. Ray needs to go home."

"He is such a good friend. He has been here all day."

As if in cue, Ray opened up the door. "All right, Benny, Linda, we gotta eat this real fast. Head nurse is bound to come here, and she ain't happy that I smuggled dinner. She hinted that food coming from other places than the hospital kitchen would be confiscated, and I just almost killed an old woman who wanted to get her hands on this pastrami sandwich."

Linda had to laugh at the long tirade, and all three of them settled in Linda's bed for a genuine picnic. So, when Nurse Patty came in offering dinner, Linda said she was not hungry. The nurse immediately glared at Ray. "What?", asked the innocent little Italian angel.

However, Linda could not escape the sedative and night medication. This time she slept all night long. So did Fraser and Ray.

The aftermath of little Robert's death was not at all as Ben had expected. It seemed Dr. Lennyard was really good at predicting Linda's reaction. She was a little sad and depressed for the rest of the week, and her improvement in physical therapy halted for a few days. But sooner than the Mountie thought, she was alive and kicking back again.

During the bad days, Linda got a lot of visitors. Meg Thatcher came, and they talked about Canada. Mrs. Mutchnik stopped by and they had a chat about quilt and knitting. Then Turnbull stopped by on his day off, and made Linda very happy. Diefenbaker was also "smuggled" in, and the patient was delighted. So was the wolf, who missed the girl a lot.

Finally, the day came when Linda received her crutches. It was a sure nice sight, and Dr, Lennyard began to mention a release. That was a boost to Linda work even harder in her recovery. The end of the year was approaching, and she might be home before Christmas.

"I was hoping for Thanksgiving, but Dr. Lennyard says it is not likely."

Ma Vecchio smiled. "We are all hoping that you can be soon at home, bambina."

"I have been here for so long," said Linda. "I miss my home."

"The doctor said you will be out of medication in a few days."

"Yes, isn't it great? I won't be fainting as much. Poor Ben, he gets so scared."

"He worries about you. He is a very good man."

"Yes, that he is. Ma, are you sure you can afford to be here all afternoon? I don't mind the company, of course, but I know Thanksgiving is next week, and you sure has a lot of thing on your mind, because of the family dinner."

"Don't worry about it, bambina. This year we are doing things differently."

"What do you mean? There will be a family dinner, won't it?"

"Of course. But this year, everyone will bring something. So, Aunt Lucia will bring the yams, Uncle Lorenzo will get the wine, my sister Cecilia will bake pies, and so on. I won't have as much work. Chesca is helping me, too."

Linda said, "I wish I could help, too. Maybe I will be able to do that on Christmas."

"Sure you will", Ma Vecchio patted her thigh. "I heard you are learning handcrafts from your nice neighbour, Mrs. Mutchnik. Would like me to bring something to do, like Christmas angels or the hanging from the tree? You could do that here in the hospital."

Linda beamed. "Oh, I would love that. Can you do that?"

"Of course. There are decorations for the outdoors, and I could use a little help, if you are willing."

"I sure am, Ma."

There was a polite knock on the door and Dr. Wilson came in, smiling. "Oh, hello, Linda. I see you have visitor."

Mrs. Vecchio said, "I can wait outside if you want, doctor."

"No, there is no need, Ma'am. I just need to talk to Linda about her condition. You are welcome to stay, if you like."

Linda was curious. "What is it, doctor?"

The doctor sat on her bed. "Well, Linda, I am very pleased you the results you are showing. You have been evolving very nicely, and as you know, we will soon start to get you off the medication."

"Yes, sir, I know that."

The neurologist spoke with a solemn voice. "I know you are anxious to get back home, but now comes a very important part of your treatment. We must avoid, at any cost, that you fall when using your crutches. A broken leg or even a broken arm may set you back in months of treatment. So, we don't want you taking any unnecessary risks."

Linda understood fully the seriousness of his words. "I won't, sir."

"Good, Linda, good." He smiled and patted the chart. "Now, I keep having good news about you. These charts tell me that the blood remaining in your brain is minimum, and the damage made by those massive strokes you had almost a year ago is almost completely fixed. So, I will be able to release you in a very short period from my care. After that, it will be up to the physical therapist and Dr. Lennyard to grant your full release - so to speak."

Linda felt the anxiety rising in her heart. "I can hardly wait."

Dr. Wilson was smiling. "I have told you that you had a very good chance of being able to walk again, and now it seems a matter of a few weeks. I am very proud of you, Linda. Congratulations."

"I thank you for everything, doctor."

"I was only doing my job, really. And believe me: I wish more of my patients could be as motivated as you have always been. Well, now I have some more of them to see. Do you have therapy today?"

"Yes. But it is only before dinner."

"Oh, you enjoy your rest, then." He smiled at Mrs. Vecchio. "And thanks again for those cookies, Ma'am. My wife is still impressed with them."

The old Italian woman blushed. "I am pleased you liked them. It is the least I could do after what you have done for my bambina."

Linda was very grateful to know that Ma had baked her famous cookies to Dr. Wilson. He had been really very nice to her, and the gesture was a simple, yet very sincere one. When the doctor left, Linda realised that even though she would still be in a hospital, her Thanksgiving would be very busy, for she had indeed plenty of things to be grateful this year.

On to the last part!