"Who are you calling?" Miguel asked as he walked up to
where Kay was on the phone.
"Whitney." She said. "And then Mom."
"Why Grace?"
"Cause someone needs to take care of the boys tonight.
Sheridan needs rest and I am not
leaving till you do."
"Baby"
"Don't argue with me Miguel you know you won't win." Kay
said just before she snapped to
attention. "Whitney Russell-Maxwell please.
This is Kay Lopez-Fitzgerald."
"I'm gonna go back to the waiting room." Miguel said kissing Kay lightly before he left.
"Dr. Russell what's wrong with Theresa?" Luis asked, fearing the answer.
"There's a lot of damage and internal bleeding. The
fact that she hasn't woken up yet isn't a
good sign either. We've got her stable but I won't
lie to you at this point it could go either way.
Luis you might want to call Father Lonigan for last rites."
"Oh my God." Miguel said as he felt for his seat.
"Can we see her?"
"One at a time." Eve said before she left to confer with another doctor.
"I'll go call Father Lonigan." Sheridan said.
"Thank you." Luis said as he slowly walked into Theresa's room.
Sheridan looked around her. Miguel was being held
by Kay who had just gotten back and
Ethan, oh God, she didn't think she'd ever seen Ethan
look so totally dispirited and crushed
since Theresa had left town.
"Ethan?" She said softly reaching out a hand.
"I'm gonna take a walk."
"Are you okay?"
"I'm not sure." Ethan said walking away.
Ethan's walk brought him to the hospital chapel.
He sat down in the front pew and put his head
in his hands as he allowed the tears to come. He
hadn't wanted to cry in front of Luis or
Miguel. For Luis it was about not giving him the
satisfaction of seeing him lose it and he had
already cried in front of Miguel once this lifetime.
"I thought you loved me."
"I do. Resa I love you more then anything."
"Stop lying!" She demanded tearfully.
"I'm not lying. Resa what's wrong with you?" He
reached out to touch her but she backed
away.
"I saw you Ethan."
"What are you talking about?"
"I am talking about what you and Gwen did last night."
Ethan went totally white. "What?"
"That's right I know Ethan. So tell me something
how long were planning on sleeping with both
of us?"
"Resa listen to me for a minute."
"Do not call me Resa. You don't have the right anymore."
"Theresa just listen to me a minute. Let me explain. I was drunk."
"That is not an excuse Ethan!"
"I know but-"
"No. No buts about it. You slept with Gwen
Hotchkiss while you and I were still together.
There is no excuse for that."
"What are you saying?"
"I never thought I would be saying this but I never want to see you again."
"You don't mean that." Ethan said while icy fear settled around his heart.
"Don't tell me what I do and do not mean."
"Theresa don't do this, please." Ethan pleaded. He loved her and he didn't want to lose her.
"I've already done it. Good-bye Ethan." Theresa
turned and walked out of the room. Ethan
started after her as tears fell down his face.
As he got to the stairs Miguel met him.
"She doesn't want to see you so I suggest leaving before
Luis gets home and I let him handle
you."
"Miguel please let me see her."
"No." Miguel said as he forced Ethan back to the front
door and then shut the door in his face.
Ethan lifted his head and reached into his coat pocket.
He had quickly put something in there
before he and Kay left to come here. It was the
St. Jude medallion Theresa had given him the
morning after they made love for the first time.
She had explained that he was the patron saint
of lost causes and that she had bought it when they had
seemed like a lost cause. She also
told him she had prayed to him and that she firmly believed
that those prayers had helped them
come together. Ethan had never been much for praying
but he was willing to try anything right
now.
"Please, please don't take her away from me again.
She has sons who need her and I need
her so much. Please don't take her away just as
you're giving her back." He said softly, hoping
that whatever saints and God existed would allow Theresa
to live on.
"Ethan?" A voice said softly.
Ethan looked up and saw Sam Bennett in the door.
During the time he had thought Sam was
his father the two had bonded and there were times when
Ethan still went to Sam for advice.
"You know?"
"Kay called and asked if Grace and I would watch the boys
for the night. How are you?" Sam
asked sitting down next Ethan.
"Scared. Angry."
"I can relate. Seeing someone you love so close to
death is enough to scare anyone. As for
the angry part I remember what that was like too."
"I don't want to lose her. I couldn't take it again."
"Have you seen her?"
"I didn't bother asking. Luis won't let me in."
"C'mon let's go see if we can't convince him to let you in."
<><><><>
"No way Sam." Luis said.
"Luis, look at him." Sam said, pointing to where Ethan
was looking at Theresa through the
glass. "He deserves to say his good-byes too."
"Alright fine. Ten minutes that's it."
"Fifteen." Sam bargained.
"Fine." Luis conceded.
"Thank you." Sam walked over to Ethan. "I got you fifteen minutes."
"Thanks Sam." Ethan said as he slowly entered Theresa's
room. He sat down and gingerly
picked up her hand. "I'm supposed to be saying good-bye
to you but I can't do it. Maybe that's
because I did that once already this lifetime. Resa
you can't leave me again, you hear me?
And the boys? What are they gonna do without you?
They need their mother and I need you to
help me know what to do with them. You said I was
good with kids but I am not the one they've
been with since before they were born. We're a family
Resa, we always have been even when
I didn't know it. So come on. Open your eyes
and look at me. Tell me you still love me as
much as I love you." Ethan kissed her hand and prayed
that somehow she heard him.