Altruism | Part Four : Love

Episode Twenty

"hold on just a minute, Tim will come get you, he's just grabbing the bags" Aaron says, opening the passenger door to see Ana trying to get out.

"n-no, wanna try to walk" Ana insists, weakly.

"I don't know if that's the best idea" Aaron frowns.

"please" Ana whispers.

"okay" Aaron agrees, hesitantly, helping her out of the car.

Her legs are trembling like a fawn's, and she grips Aarons hands tightly as she takes slow step after slow step. Each movement makes her heart beat faster and sweat bead down her face.

"hey, hey, babylove, you already practiced today, we don't want to push you" Tim rushes over, easily sweeping Ana into his arms.

"I wanna walk again" Ana murmurs.

"I know, love, and you're doing so good with the physical therapy but we just have to be patient" Tim soothes.

"come on, let's get you in the house" Angela says, walking over.

Ana nods, letting Tim carry her into the little beach house them and the team are staying at and setting her down on the couch.

"hey, Ana, you want a blanket?" Lucy asks, sitting down next to Ana and offering her a blanket.

"yes, please" Ana nods and Lucy spreads the blanket over her legs and allows Ana to curl into her side.

Tim and Angela watch from the kitchen as Ana and Lucy cuddle on the couch.

"how's she been doing?" Angela asks.

"it's been rough" Tim sighs. "we have to dialysis every night and she's getting frustrated, just wants to be able to not feel weak anymore"

"she blames herself?" Angela guesses.

"yeah" Tim nods. "doctors say that since it hit her directly in the liver, her entire body will be weak for a while"

"that sucks" Angela sighs. "you think this beach trip will cheer her up a little?"

"I'm hoping it will" Tim responds. "she-... she feels useless, cries herself to sleep every night and I can't do anything about it"

"you're not useless either, you're helping her a lot by staying" Angela assures him.

"god, she's so damn selfless, she could be so much further along in her recovery if she had just let Carmen fall" Tim groans.

"but you love her" Angela reminds him.

"I do, I love her more than I've loved anyone else" Tim agrees. 

"we're making carnitas tonight, to hopefully help her mood, even if only a little bit" Angela tells him.

"that sounds good, I've tried and it does cheer her up, but mostly because of how much I fail and it makes her laugh." Tim smiles.

"that works too" Angela grins.

[Meanwhile...]

"how are you feeling?" Lucy asks Ana.

"okay, kinda hurts to talk" Ana admits.

"we don't have to talk if you don't want to" Lucy assures her.

"no, I don't mind" Ana murmurs.

"what's the doctor saying?" Lucy inquires.

"at least six more months and no chance for having babies in the future" Ana explains, softly.

"it made you infertile?" Lucy frowns.

"no, just the pregnancy itself would be too hard for my body to handle" Ana elaborates, softly.