She rummaged around in the kitchen for pots and pans and soon had a wonderful breakfast cooking. She flipped some pancakes onto a plate and added some bacon strips alongside them. A couple of eggs were boiling away on the stove. Kathy took the plates out to the dining room and went back for coffee and juice, before going for Nick. "Hey sleepyhead!" She knocked lightly on the bedroom door as she called out. "I’m awake!" Nick responded. "Everything smells wonderful. I’m starving!" Kathy entered the room and pulled his blankets back. "I’m right here." She placed her hand on his shoulder. "Thanks, I’m gonna try to make it to the dining room myself, okay?" "That’s great Nick." Kathy stepped back and watched admiringly as he slowly found the doorway and, once in the hallway, stretched his arms out to the walls. He let his fingers slide along, helping him get his bearings, until he reached the end of the hall. Nick paused, turning his head and smiling. "You would think I should know which way to turn, wouldn’t you?" Kathy laughed and pushed him to the right slightly. "This way." Nick walked, taking baby steps since there was nothing to hold onto anymore, almost directly to the table. Kathy ran up beside him and gave him a hug around the waist. "Yay! Nick that was wonderful!" He smiled shyly. "I guess I just need to concentrate more and I can do it."

They settled down for their breakfast and made plans for the morning. "I’ve got the doctor at the top of the list. And I have to call your mother about the dogs." Kathy scribbled on her pad. "There are a few more stops to make, but we’ll see how you feel before we decide." Nick opened his mouth to say something and the jangling of the phone interrupted him. "I’ll get it. Where is it?" Nick laughed. "The TV room. It’s a portable." Kathy found it and returned to the dining room, chatting away. "No, he’s right here and would love to talk to you. Hold on." She placed the phone in his hand. "It’s for you."

Nick held the phone up to his ear. "Hello?" He broke into a wide smile, when he heard the voices on the other end of the line. "It’s the guys!" "So, how you doing man?" AJ's voice boomed out of the phone. "I walked into the dining room today!" Kathy smiled at the pride in his voice. "Nick, man, so did I!" She could hear AJs laughter pouring out of the phone and Nicks face dropped. "I did it by myself." he said defensively. "AJ, you jackass!" Kevin's smooth voice came out of the phone now. "Nick? That’s great to hear, that you are walking and starting to get around by yourself!" "Thanks." said Nick, weakly. "Don’t pay any attention to him, man. He’s brain dead." "Yeah, I know." "How are things going? We should be back in a couple of days." "That’s great! You’ll all come over right?" "Of course we will!" They talked back and forth for a few more minutes, until Kevin said they should go. "We trying to get everything done so we can get back and see you, okay? I’m glad you’re doing okay." "Thanks man. See ya." Nick clicked the phone off and slumped in his chair. "I miss those guys, you know." Kathy took the phone from him and patted his hand, sympathetically. "I know you do."

"So, should I go get ready to leave or what?" Nick placed his hands on the table and stood. "Let me call your mom and I’ll help you get some clothes, okay?" He nodded and began his way to the hallway. "I’m gonna try and make it to the bedroom, by myself." "Good for you!" Kathy encouraged him. She watched with a bemused smile on her face as he bumped his shin on a chair and then a floor vase. "I’m gonna kill myself!" he moaned. "No you won’t, you’re almost to the hallway." She began to clear the dishes from the table and laughed out loud when she heard Nick holler "I made it!" from the bedroom a few minutes later. "Yay Nick!" she yelled back to him. "You’re getting the idea now." She hummed softly to herself as she dialed his parents house. "Hello?" "Yes, could I speak to Jane Carter please?" The voice on the other end of the line was quiet for a moment. "May I ask who’s calling?" "It’s her son's, Nick's, nurse, Kathy Westerfield." "Oh Kathy! It’s BJ! How are you?" Kathy let out a small breath in relief. She would much rather talk to BJ then Jane. "I’m fine BJ. Listen, I’m going to be taking Nick out to the doctor this morning." BJ gasped. "Is he alright?" "Oh no, he’s fine. It’s just a checkup, very routine. But he wanted to pick up the dogs, do you happen to know where they are?" "Oh yes, um, let me find the book with the address, hold on." BJ read off the name and address of the kennel and gave Kathy the directions to get there. Kathy thanked her and hung up. "Okay, doctor, dogs, cane, we’ll improvise after that." She stuffed her notebook in the back pocket of her jeans and started to Nick's room just as he hollered out.

"Kathy, did you forget about me?"