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"She’s going to , Mr Sheridan But Dr Stone is very, very good He’s being assisted by Dr Larson, an excellent surgeon"

"Yeah," he said, running a hand over the top of his head "God" Confused and terrified, he turned around in a co to the chapel, but I’ll be right back"

Jack made one phone call, to Brie Then he found the chapel and though he had no idea what good it did, he lit a bunch of candles His shaking hand ht flicker so much he almost couldn’t make contact He didn’t even have a wallet with hi, If she lives, I’ll write this hospital a check for a ot on his knees, leaned his elbows on the pew in front of hi, but this is my woman, my wife My best friend! No, she’s so much more than that--she’s the other half of ive my life a hundred times to keep her safe! A thousand tile beat of my heart I don’t think I can live without her now Not now…Please, God Please Oh God, please…

A half hour later he was back upstairs, sitting outside the surgery He saw the second hand pass through every ery Jack stood up

"We ot so lucky We had a helicopter in flight, not far fros in ti But, Jack--I wasn’t able to save her uterus I’m sorry I know you wanted more children"

Jack fell into the chair, his elbows on his knees, his head in his hands His shoulders shook briefly as relief poured out of him, and when he looked back up at John, tears ran down his stubbled cheek and he said, "Man, the uterus doesn’thand on his shoulder "You have many years with her left to you, my friend"

"God, thank you Thank you, John"

"You and Susanthat baby to the breast to nurse," John said, shaking his head in wonder

"It wasn’t the baby," Jack said weakly, wondering if his legs would ever hold hi his fear that his lastherto keep her alive "Eht’ve given us the couple of minutes we needed to save her life"

Jack called Brie to tell her Mel was out of surgery, then he stood at the recovery-roo for another two hours until he was allowed in A unit of blood dangled above her, but her skin was still pasty white, her eyes dark and sunken, her lips so dry they appeared cracked She looked so tiny, it was scary He bent over her, slipping an ar her a bit He pressed his lips against her forehead and her eyes opened weakly "Jack," she whispered

"Aw, Mel, you scared me just terrible," he said

"There won’t be any more babies, Jack," she said

"We have all we need Two perfect, healthy kids"

"I know you were going to try to sneak oneto," he said "I promised you time to enjoy your kids I have ht I’d have"

"Well," she said, a weak laugh escaping her "As long as you’re within reach, I’m destined to never have a period"

This was so like her, to joke around with him when she’d nearly died "Close your eyes and rest, Mel I’ll stay with you I won’t leave you"

"I want to be with

"Pretty soon, Mel Shh Pretty soon I’ll take you home"

He held her like that, stooped over her bed rail, for another hour The nurse tried to urge hio John caot it" He pulled the curtains around the bed "They don’t understand about you," John said to Jack "I guess if you can deliver your own children, you’re all checked out on peri-pads"

"All checked out," Jack said, dropping another kiss on her brow "You going to stay all day?" he asked John

"I haven’t figured out how I’ back to Grace Valley yet Plus, I want to run in another unit of blood I’ll stick around for that at least"

"You aren’t hanging around because she’s in any danger, are you?"

"Nope I’ thrown out" He lifted the sheet and as he gently pulled apart her legs, she roused briefly "Good," John said "Looking much better"

"Better," Jack told Mel

"You should think about getting back to your kids," John suggested "Once I figure out the transportation, I can take you"

"Not until she’s fully conscious and knohy I’m not here Preacher would co to turn her over to Larson, and he’s going to keep her a few days," John said