Doc laughed softly.
"You're right."
He leaned closer.
"I'm working on an idea. But the grown-ups who know about your health and safety have to help us decide if it can work."
Ellie nodded.
"Because of my muscles?"
"That's part of it."
She studied him.
"Do you think they're going to say no?"
Doc hesitated.
"I don't know, sweetheart."
Ellie looked down at her drawing.
For a moment, Rachel feared she would become upset.
Instead, the little girl nodded.
"Okay."
Doc looked surprised.
Ellie lifted her head.
"Can I still see it if they say no?"
The question caught him off guard.
He looked toward Rachel, who gave a small nod.
"Of course," Doc said.
Ellie smiled.
"Good."
She returned to her notebook.
Then she added, "Maybe it can just sit there and be pretty."
Doc felt a strange ache in his chest.
He had been so focused on making something move that he had forgotten how much Ellie loved simply being near the motorcycles.
He smiled.
"That's a pretty good backup plan."
The visit continued into the afternoon.
Rachel showed Doc the seating supports Ellie used in daily life, carefully explaining which features had been selected with professional guidance. Mark described how they transferred her safely and why certain positions were uncomfortable.
Doc did not attempt to handle Ellie's medical equipment.
He listened.
He asked questions.
And when he couldn't follow an explanation, he wrote it down to review with the people qualified to make decisions.
Ellie grew tired after lunch.
Rachel recognized the change immediately.
Her daughter became quieter, her head leaning slightly toward one side as she stopped asking questions. The excitement of meeting Doc had taken more energy than she realized.
Rachel approached.
"Time for a break, sweetheart."
Ellie frowned.
"But he's still here."
Doc stood.
"I'll come back another day."
The little girl looked disappointed.
"Promise?"
He hesitated.
The word carried too much history.
Then he smiled.
"I promise I'll ask your mom when a good day would be."
Ellie considered that.
"Okay."
As Rachel helped her prepare for rest, Doc walked into the kitchen with Mark.
He looked toward the hallway.
"She's something else."
Mark smiled.
"Yeah."
Doc turned toward him.
"She talks a lot."
Mark laughed.
"All day."
The biker's expression softened.
"Sophie used to do that."