AUTHOR'S NOTE: You all have been so kind to ask for more of Lee & Shady. So, Shady tells me there's this story & one more she'd like to share. From Shady's humble scribe - thank you for reading!

Be damned if they weren't in the jungle again. And, surprise, surprise, running for their lives. The last few missions, Lee and Shady had been the trailing team, giving the cover fire for the others. So, Shady shouldn't have been shocked when she felt the tell-tale burn and knew she'd been shot. However, this time there was something different. Her right arm had gone completely numb. Shady had instantly dropped to her knees, wincing in pain. Without a second thought, Lee had grabbed Boots' vest and jerked her up, "C'mon, woman. No laying down on the job."

She knew they had another couple of miles to get to the plane. It would mean that she'd be good and bloodied by the time she got on board – and that would mean another butt-chewing from Lee Christmas. But, the butt-chewing was going to be the least of her problems. Shady was hurting and it was a pain as bad or worse than when that knife had been rammed through her arm, pinning her to the floor.

The plane was in sight. The former North couple could hear the rotors fire up, indicating Barney Ross was at the controls. Lee leapt first and then turned to his girl. He reached a hand out and Shady grabbed for it, tripping as she did. She felt his warm hand wrap around hers and, one more time, Powell knew she was safe. He pulled her in as their transport lifted off. Christmas gave her a rakish grin and a quick peck before turning to go forward to take the co-pilot's seat. He heard his quietly spoken name. Lee turned back quickly and saw the distress on Shady's face. He knelt before her.

"What's wrong," was his simple inquiry.

"I'm hurt," she spoke softly.

He immediately ripped her vest off and then her shirt and leaned her forward. The blood staining her back was a large circle. Lee felt her breath hitch against him and he knew she was crying. If he hadn't known he would have when she spoke, "I can't feel my right arm, Lee. Nothing. And the pain…"

Shady trailed off and he answered back, "Hang on, Boots. I've got to tell Barney so we can get you help."

She looked up to him and nodded but Lee knew she was deteriorating. Boots was pale and sweating profusely. He put a hand on either side of her face and noted the clamminess of her skin. Lee grabbed a blanket from a nearby stack of supplies and wrapped it around her. He gave a quick glance to Yin who had joined them and had been listening to the byplay between the couple. Yang nodded as Lee quickly went to their pilot.

"We've got a problem," Lee said quietly.

"Yeah?" Barney responded without looking back.

"Boots has been hit. No feeling in her arm," he answered back.

Ross looked over his shoulder, "Bad?"

Lee nodded, "I can see the entry wound and I don't like where it is."

Barney replied seriously, "There's a hospital near the strip where we'll refuel."

Lee gave a curt shake of the head in response and returned to the girl. He once again knelt in front of Shady and spoke her name. She roused herself to make eye contact.

"I need you to stay with me, Boots," Christmas commanded. "Do you hear me?"

She swallowed trying to moisten a dry throat and stay focused on Lee but the darkness and the pain were overwhelming. Shady gave him an apologetic look and answered, "Sorry," as she passed out.

The next thing Shady realized she was in a hospital bed. Lying on her left side, her right arm was in a sling against her body and she still had no feeling. Boots could, however, hear voices.

"When can she go home," Shady recognized Barney.

"Mr. Ross," a man replied with a heavy Nigerian accent, "your niece lost a good deal of blood and she has yet to come out from the anesthesia. It would be best to keep her here overnight."

From the bed, Shady replied groggily, "No, I'm awake." And she turned where she could see the two men and continued speaking, "And, I want to go home."

"Mrs. North, that's just not advisable," the Doctor answered.

"Get me the papers and I'll sign myself out," she argued weakly. The man shook his head, no. So Shady took a different tack, "Look, Doc, if I can get up from the bed and even take a step without passing out, you'll get me the papers?"

"If you can get up from the bed and not pass out, I'll sign the papers myself," he responded arrogantly.

Shady nodded, took a breath and threw back the covers. She pushed up with her stronger left arm, swung her legs over the bed and then stood up. She steadied herself took a step and turned to face the doctor, a triumphant smile on her wan face.

"C'mon, Doc," Barney said, "let's go get those papers." The doctor gave his patient a disapproving glare and then turned on his heel and left the room. Barney grabbed a set of scrubs from a nearby cart and pitched them on the bed, "Lee, get her dressed." He then went down the hall in pursuit of the physician.

Lee Christmas had been sitting in a chair watching the display. He knew immediately when Shady had come to, watching her flex her fingers to determine if she had feeling. When she had started arguing with the medic, Lee knew she had a plan up her sleeve. He smiled when she finally made eye contact with him, standing up and grabbing the scrubs to help his "wife" get dressed.

"You've done that before," Christmas said knowingly.

"A couple of times," she answered breathlessly, "but I won't be able to do much else."

He put a steadying hand on her hip, "You won't need to. Let me help." And Christmas took over. He held up her undies, "Someday you will tell me why you wear these lacy things under your fatigues."

She smiled in response, "Hang onto them for me as a reminder." He chuckled and then got her dressed.

After that, it was all pretty hazy. Boots' memory was in flashes…leaving the hospital…being carried onto the plane…Gunnar holding her the flight home like he had Blanca Correa…the rest she couldn't be certain. All she knew was Lee's voice was the only constant, keeping her grounded which, in turn, meant Boots was safe.

The next time she came to, Shady was ensconced in a comfortably soft resting place. She looked around the room and realized she was home, lying in the middle of Lee's king sized bed. There were also a few other things Shady realized – she was naked under the covers, she still had no feeling in her right arm and she was being watched.

"You know I hate it when you do that," Powell spoke quietly from the bed.

Christmas chuckled and then crossed to the bed, "I thought you were awake."

She struggled to sit up, dragging the sheet with her, the moan slipping out before she thought.

"You hurting?" Lee asked.

She nodded and he responded hesitantly, "I can see about getting you something."

"No," Shady shook her head, "not with my history. I'll be okay." Lee didn't answer and she continued, "How long have I been out?"

"Over a day."

Boots nodded and then, taking a breath, asked reluctantly, "So what's the verdict?"

"The bullet pinched a nerve. The doctor was able to remove it but given the severity of the damage your arm had already sustained, it resulted in temporary paralysis. With rehab, the doctor believes it'll be possible for you to regain use but…" he trailed off.

"But, considering that I already have limited use, the probability of getting back all of what little I did have is slim and none," Shady finished. She closed her eyes, leaning her head back, an overwhelming sense of dejavu permeating her every pore.

Lee reached out and took her left hand in his. Shady opened her eyes and looked into his handsome face, "This is not like before."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

She cocked an eyebrow, "How do you figure?"

"This time," he paused and leaned forward, her hand still held in his, "you're not alone." And he finished the sentence with a kiss. Christmas broke it off and leaned back, "Now, what do you need?"

She shook her head and gave him a lopsided grin, "A shower. Oh, and privacy." When he gave her a look, she added, "I know they're here and I don't need the guys parading through the bedroom."

Lee grinned, "They won't. They're too busy eating and watching basketball."

She nodded, "March madness."

"Yep," he answered. Christmas stood up and began readying Shady's robe.

"Lee?" He looked back to the bed, "I can do this…I need to do this…on my own."

He gave her a hard stare, assessing her and then relented. He dropped the robe across the foot of the bed and headed towards the door. He stopped and turned back to her, "Boots, all you need to do is ask. I'm right here."

She nodded but didn't speak. Once he left the room, Shady got up from the bed and gathered clothes, taking them with her into the shower. When Lee bought the house, the first thing he did was gut both bathrooms. Completely remodeling the master, he changed the large bathtub to a Jacuzzi and enlarged the shower, covering it completely in large, earth tone tiles, adding a protrusion that doubled as both a shelf and seat. The showerhead was oversized and the stream could be adjusted. Boots turned on the water full force and stepped under the pulse. Too many thoughts flooded through her head but the most prevalent one was this – the career that had begun for her three years ago in the jungle had ended the same way – in the jungle.

She turned back towards the shower door and dropped down to a sitting position on the ground. She pulled her knees to her chest and put her head down. The stream continued to cascade over Shady's head, the water, mixing with her tears, and both washing down the drain.