"So,are the kitchen appliances the best thing to talk to around here or will I do?" Kathys upstairs neighbor, Roberta, popped her head in the door.

"Oh, hi Rho. Don't you have to work today?" Kathy offered her a mug of coffee and they moved to the dining table.

"Nope, got the day off, have to go to the doctors and take the car in, so I took the whole day off.. So what was the intense convo with the toaster about?"

Kathy wrapped her hands around her mug and sighed. "You know the patient I've been telling you about?"

"Nick Carter, hell yeah! I'm waiting for you to tell me when his buddy Howie is visiting him."

Kathy smiled. Her friend was Howies biggest fan and had been bugging her to smuggle her in to meet him. "Yeah Nick. He offered me a job position to care for him when he goes home."

Robertas eyes grew large and she stared at her friend in disbelief. "And you haven't accepted yet? What is wrong with you? Have you seen his house?"

Kathy held her hands up. "Stop for a second! I would love to go with him and care for him and help him get settled, but what do I do after?"

Rho snorted. "Marry him!"

"What?"

"Marry him! He's a good looking man, you'll be together all the time, it won't be long before you two are bumping. ug...."

"Now hold on!" Kathy barely got the words out, she was laughing so hard. "I barely know him! He's probably got some gorgeous girlfriend back in Florida."

Roberta gave her a knowing look. "Have you seen a girlfriend around, any females not related to him visiting?"

Kathy shook her head. "Nope, just Carters all around. But if I do go with him, it will not be to marry him eventually. It will be a job." She glanced at her watch. "And speaking of a job, I have to get ready or I won't have one."

Roberta finished her coffee and set the mug in the sink. "Do you want my advice?"

Kathy placed one hand on her hip and waited. She knew the advice was coming whether she wanted it or not.

"I would go with him. You're an excellent nurse and have the patience to deal with any problems he might have adjusting to his being blind. You know you will be able to find another job when he doesn't need you anymore, even if you have to come back here to do it."

The two friends hugged. "Thanks Rho. I'll think about what you've said. Now I gotta go!"

Aaron waited outside the door of Nicks room. He wanted to go in, but he was afraid of Nick getting upset and yelling at him again. He took a deep breath and knocked.

"Who's there?" Nick called out.

"It's me, Aaron." he said softly.

"Come on in, Air."

Aaron closed the door behind him and hesitated near it.

"Where are mom, dad and the girls?"

"Oh, BJ brought me. Mom and dad are coming later with the others. I told BJ I wanted to see you alone first."

Nick held his arm out. "Come here."

"Are you gonna yell at me again?"

Nick heard the near sobs in his brothers voice. He knew he had been awful to him. "No." he said softly. "I won't yell at you, come over here."

In the next instant he felt Aaron snuggling next to him and he could smell his hair and the shampoo he used. "I love you Air. I'm sorry I made you sad. This is just really hard to deal with and I'm upset about it. I don't mean to take it out on you. I'm sorry."

Aaron reached up and patted Nicks cheek. "It's okay Nick, just don't yell at me again, okay?"

"You got a deal, little buddy." Nick hugged his brother close. How he would miss seeing his smiling face!

"I brought you a present." Aaron said proudly.

"What is it?" Nick asked, eagerly.

"Well, I didn't wrap it." Aaron said, apologetically.

Nick smiled. "That's okay. Let's see if I can guess what it is." He held his hand out and waited.

Aaron pulled the object out of a bag and dropped it into Nicks outstretched hand. He set it in his lap and ran his hand over it. "It's very soft." he remarked. "And squishy." He held it close to his face and rubbed it against his cheek. "Is it a Beanie Baby?"

Aaron clapped his hands together and smiled. "Exactly! Can you guess which one?"

"I have no idea!" Nick admitted. "I thinking it must be a new one though."

Aaron held Nicks hand and moved one of his fingers along the stuffed creature. "Can you tell now? And it's not one of the new ones."

Nick looked puzzled for a moment. "Is it a shark?"

"Yeah!" Aaron cheered. "I didn't think you had seen him and I thought you would like him."

"I love him!" Nick cuddled the shark to his face again and squeezed Aarons hand. "What's his name?"

Aaron grinned. "Crunch!"

"I love it!" Nick laughed. "It's perfect!"

Aaron began tickling Nicks neck with the shark and playfully pretended to introduce it to Nicks shark tattoo. This left Nick collapsed in a fit of giggles.

Catching his breath, he gently pushed Aarons arm away. "Okay, let me catch my breath." He put his hand to his chest and breathed deeply.

"Are you okay?" Aaron asked, concern etched on his face.

"Yeah, I just can't go crazy like that quite yet. My heart...."

"I'm sorry Nick. I didn't mean to hurt you."

Nick moved his hand over to Aaron, feeling for his cheek. "You didn't hurt me, Air. I just need to take a breather and not overwork my heart too much yet."

Aaron took his hand in his and squeezed it. "Are you sure I didn't hurt you?"

"I'm sure." Nick reassured him.

Jane and Bob were pleasantly surprised to hear the sound of laughter coming from Nicks room. "It sounds like he and Aaron are getting along." Jane remarked.

They waited outside the door, peering in the small window at their two sons hugging on the small bed. "I would say so." Bob answered, pushing open the door.

"Hello boys!" Jane smiled, joining in the hug session. "How are you doing today Nick?"

"I'm feeling pretty good. I just have to remember to take it easy and not try too much."

"That's wonderful, dear." Jane settled into one of the chairs that Bob had pulled close to the bed.

"Where are the girls?"

"Oh, they saw BJ and headed to the cafeteria for a bit, they'll be down to see you."

"Good." Nick smiled.

"It's nice to see you smile son." Bob said.

"Well, Air here has cheered me up quite a bit today. I'm trying to think positive and deal with this." Nick frowned slightly. "But it is a difficult thing to deal with and I may be miserable sometimes, so please don't get mad at me."

Janes face went pale remembering the other day when she yelled at him and walked out. "I'm sorry honey. We are trying to come to terms with this too. We'll all have to work together."

"Thanks mom."

Jane looked to Bob and prodded his arm. "We were talking to the doctor today son. He thinks you are well enough to be moved back to the hospital in Florida. And then it won't be too long until you are able to go home." "Isn't that wonderful news, honey?" Jane asked, smiling.

Nick nodded slowly. "Yes, I would love to go home."

"What's wrong?"

"I asked my nurse, Kathy to come with me to take care of me."

"Nick, I told you I would hire the best people for your condition."

"It's not a condition mom, it's my life now, I can't see." Nick said bluntly.

"What was her answer?" Bob asked, quietly.

"She wanted to think about it."

"She's awfully young." Jane hesitated.

"We'll talk to her, okay?" Bob offered. "We'll check and see if she is scheduled for today and have a chat."

Nicks eyes lit up. "Really?"

Jane looked from her son to her husband. Bob looked pointedly at her and forcefully said., "Yes, really!"

Aaron hugged Nick around the neck. "Kathy's cool, it would be great to have her come with you!"