A Diamond with Scars

Battle Scars

That went on for a couple of weeks until he was able to wear his new leg and she started to help him walk.

Anya wrapped a gait belt around Mark's waist. "Seriously? What is with this thing..." Mark grumbled as he took notice of the hideous belt now around him before looking up at her glittering oceanic eyes. On top of his progress, he had also gotten to know Anya better. And it was safe to say, he really liked her company. Really liked her.

"Yes, hospital rules." Anya rolled her eyes. "Ready? We are going to stand, hold on to me if you need to steady yourself." She placed a leg between his and locked the wheels to his chair. Counting to three, Mark pushed up from the chair, her arms semi around him, hands looped around the gait belt to steady him. "That's it...perfect!" she smiled up at him. He had come so far, and it made her very happy to start seeing the darkness in his eyes starting to disappear.

Mark had his hands on her shoulders to keep steady on his wobbling leg. It would take some getting used to but he did enjoy the closeness of her at this moment. He could smell the soft scent of her shampoo tease his nose. He made the mistake of looking down as she looked up. For a short moment their eyes locked in a strange way. A way that made him want to kiss her.

"Try to take a step." she said softly, also feeling the heat rising between them.

Mark obliged and took a crooked step closer to her, his body brushing against hers. That was a mistake and it sent pain shooting through his leg. "Ah fuck!" Mark groaned and stumbled a bit.

Anya wrapped her arms around him to steady him from falling forward "Whoa there!" She backed him up quickly to the chair so he could sit. "I'm sorry...maybe I pushed you too soon." She knelt down in front of him and unhooked his prosthetic to check for injury. When she didn't find anything, she let out a sigh of relief. Working with phantom pains and nerve pain were very difficult sometimes. "Are you okay?" she asked, worried.

Mark blew out a breath and nodded, "Y-yea...just a spasm I think..." Shit. He was hoping to be able to do more, he liked seeing her smile when he achieved a milestone. "I'm okay..." he cupped her face and had her look at him.

Anya blinked in confusion at the somewhat intimate gesture. "Maybe we should take a break for today and just let you wear it before we have you stand again." She suggested as she stood back up and took a step back. "It's nice outside." she glanced out the window. "How about a trip outside? Some fresh air will do you some good. Plus it's lunch time."

"Sounds like a great idea." Mark nodded and slipped the prosthetic back on. It would take time, and at this point he was okay with it. It meant he would spend more time with Anya. Mark pulled the foot rests forward and used his arms to wheel himself. "Ready when you are."

Leading the way, Anya took Mark to her favorite spot at the hospital. A small garden where she tended to eat her lunch during the warmer months. "I love it here." Anya stated as they got to the spot with a bench.

Mark watched her closely. Watched the slight breeze make her hair float slightly and she took in a deep breath. The way the sun glistened and made her eyes shine a bright silver. He wondered what she looked like when she wasn't in scrubs. What she did on her days off. He bit his lip. "How did you get those scars on your back?" he asked finally.

"Huh?" Anya glanced out of her daydream and over to Mark. The last few weeks she had a lot of fun working with him. He was a very funny guy, but very serious too. He had taken his therapy head on since the moment she gave him his pep talk. No one ever asked about the scars, because not many saw them. When had he? "When did you?"

"That first day...when you grabbed my clothes. Your shirt rode up in the back and I saw them." Mark admitted.

Anya looked down at her hands and shifted slightly. "Remember when I told you I knew what it was like...to be in your position?" she noted his nod. "I was in a really bad car accident when I turned 18. I woke up a month later...hooked up to a bunch of machines...and I was paralysed." Mark stared at her, shocked, and she continued to tell him the story, all the way up until she graduated college and started working at the very hospital where she was treated. "They said I would never walk again. But I wouldn't believe them." She swung her feet and chuckled a bit. "I laid in the very same bed you did. Same room." she looked over at him.

"Damn..." Mark was never expecting to hear such a personal story. "Do they...do they still bother you?" He remembered seeing a twinged look on her face that day too.

"If I bend in certain ways, yea...The skin is tight. They itch in the winter...and they are ugly and deep." she admitted. "I have to avoid certain materials and I don't wear stuff that shows too much of my back...Tank tops push it."

"They aren't ugly." Mark's brows knit together at the very thought. Everyone had scars. So what if she had a few extra. They proved to be more like medals to show how far she had come. What she had overcome. Battle scars.

"Tell that to every guy I have dated since then." Anya clenched her jaw. Shit. She didn't mean to let that slip. It was still a weak point for her that caused dark thoughts to come back. The boy she had been dating at the time of her accident strayed away from her the month she was unconscious. Then really broke things off when he saw how bad the damage had been. Didn't want to be with someone who would be wheelchair bound forever. That had also fueled her desire to prove people wrong. Although she never told anyone that. Until now.

"Wait...what?" Mark shook his head in disbelief. It sounded the same as his story. Lori had left him at a vulnerable time as well.

"My boyfriend of 2 years left me after my accident...much like you." Anya shrugged. "Sorry...Lisa filled me in when I came back and took on your case."

"Word gets around in a hospital I guess." Mark glanced outward like she did. "For what it's worth...I think you look badass with those scars." Mark placed a hand on top of hers and gave a wicked smile.

Anya felt her heart leap into her throat and the touch and smirk he gave her. "They didn't look so 'badass' when they were red and inflamed." she said bitterly.

"Clearly I wasn't the one you were dating at the time." Mark said sharply. "I wouldn't have done that to you. Just like I doubt you would have done that to someone you loved. Seems like we just had shitty partners at a bad time in our lives."

"Yea...I wouldn't do that to someone. I just don't understand how someone could..." Anya's eyes showed a lot of emotion. It was clear to Mark that this was a really hard thing for her. And dear Lord he wanted to kiss her. Fuck.

"So you really do know what it's like to be in my position." He continued to keep his hand on hers. "Got hurt by the one who was supposed to stay with us and help us through it."

Anya nodded in agreement. "Life huh?" She smiled softly. She gave pep talks and shared some things with her patients. But never on this level. The feelings swelling inside her were very concerning. He was her patient. Falling for him was unethical and wrong. She had to do something to stop them. She would only end up getting hurt and hurting him in the process. Plus there was no way he felt anything for her. This was supposed to be strictly professional and she was pushing the limits. It didn't help that he was so easy to talk to, open up to.

Mark swallowed another question when he saw the conflicting stare in her eyes. She was battling something. He wondered what it could be. He would save more of the personal questions for another time. Maybe once he was able to walk and go home he would take her out on a date. A part of him rebelled against the idea, so soon after his breakup, despite it being close to 2 months now. The other part of him felt a stronger connection to her than he ever felt with Lori. Maybe it was lust and just a mutual passion they had shared. Maybe he never truly felt love for her either. The question was, would Anya go for half a man like him?

Anya sighed and inhaled a deep breath of fresh air. "I'm sorry you were treated like that." She said finally.

"Not your fault. She was a bitch and I didn't know it. Honestly, I am better off without a woman like her. Too bad it took 4 years to realize it. I think I need someone more sensitive...kind hearted, loyal, strong." Mark gave her a look that shouted, a woman like you.

A pit formed in her stomach. No. He was her patient. This was wrong.

Mark smiled at her, making her heart flutter once again. This was going to be a long few weeks.