Bob and Jane walked in, with Aaron following along behind them.

"Good afternoon." Bob greeted her. "Do you have a few moments to talk?"

Kathy looked from Bobs friendly, open face to Janes slightly hostile looking one. "Is something wrong with Nick?" she asked.

"No, he's doing as well as can be expected under the circumstances. We appreciate the care you have shown him."

Kathy shrugged. "It's my job, nothing special."

Bob settled into a chair across from Kathy. "Nick seems to think it is. He told us that he asked you to come home with him and provide care for him."

Kathy nodded slowly. "Yes, he did. It was a bit of a surprise."

"Have you given it any thought?"

"A bit, yes."

"What are your main concerns? You will be paid well, and of course will be living in the guest house at his house."

Jane interrupted. "Now, Bob, we have discussed Nick coming home, you know."

Nicks father looked up at his wife. "He's not a child anymore Jane. He has his own house."

Kathy could feel the tension between the two of them. "If I may say so, Nick should learn how to do things on his own. If he starts out with people doing everything for him he will never learn for himself."

Bob smiled slightly at her. "I think you would be wonderful for the job Kathy. Would it be possible to let us know by the end of the week?"

Kathy stole a glance at Jane again. She obviously didn't want Kathy working for Nick, or with Nick, for some reason. She didn't want to start trouble in the family. She would have to give this a lot of thought.

After her break was over and Nicks parents had left, Kathy went to visit Nick. She tapped on the door before entering. "Hey there, how you doing today?"

Nick swung his head around at the sound of her voice. "Kathy?"

She perched herself on the edge of his bed. "Hey, you're doing pretty good recognizing my voice!"

"I'm trying." he laughed. "Have to get used to it, right?"

"This is true." Kathy agreed soberly. "Anyway, how do you feel about taking a tour around the grounds, getting some fresh air in your healing lungs?"

"Sounds good to me. Can you get my robe for me?"

Kathy grabbed the robe off the back of the door and went to help Nick get out of the bed. He was clad only in a pair of dark green pajama pants. Even with a bandage running the length of his chest, this view of him took her breath away.

"Are you okay?" Nick asked, hearing her sharp intake of breath.

"Wow, you really are good at this!" she marveled, slightly embarrassed. "No, I'm fine." She assisted him into the wheelchair and got his broken leg settled on the support. "Okay, here we go!"

Kathy escorted him around the lush gardens surrounding the hospital and finally sat in an enclosed area with benches and lots of shady trees.

"I wish I could see this." Nick said mournfully. "From the way you have described everything, it sounds so beautiful!"

"It is, I wish you could see it too." Kathy studied his sad face. "You know, this might be the wrong time to bring this up. Your parents talked to me this afternoon."

"They did? About you coming home with me?"

"Yes, Nick. I don't think your mother is very fond of the idea. She said you might be going home with them even."

"What?" Nick exploded. "I have to learn to do things for myself don't I? How in hell will I be able to do that with her around?"

Kathy placed her hand on his lower arm. "Settle down sweetie. That is exactly what your father said and I pretty much backed him up. You DO have to learn for yourself."

Nick grinned slightly at her. "So does that mean you are coming?"

Kathy laughed at his sudden change of mood. "I'm still thinking! But I want you to know that if I do come, you will have to work. Once your cast is off and the doctors say you can start moving around we are gonna get you back into shape."

Nick ducked his head down. "I never was in shape."

"You look pretty good to me for someone not in shape." Kathy clapped her hand over her mouth as she realized what she had said.

"Is that what that deep breath was for back in the room?" Nick giggled.

"I'm sorry." she apologized.

"It's okay, but I don't get it." he admitted. "I'm flabby." He grabbed some skin at his waist and shook it to demonstrate.

"Not everyone likes muscle men." she told him, blushing even though he couldn't see her. "I don't."

Nick grinned again. "Are you flirting with me?"

Kathy blushed again. "I'm trying not to! I'm supposed to be professional!"

They passed a few moments of awkward silence then. "Are you really gonna think about coming with me?"

She looked over at him, head down, fingers slowly tracing designs on his cast.

"Yes, Nick. I'm thinking about it, a lot."