Lily Potter was sitting at her desk, she was meant to be catching up on paperwork but she just couldn't concentrate. Would she even be known as Healer Potter for much longer. She and her husband James had agreed to separate three months ago, she hadn't spoken to him since. Although they didn't see a lot of each other while they were married, he was an Auror and she a Healer so they were both really busy, she missed him. They had only been married for a year, and now it was over.
And she was pregnant and she hadn't told James.
Her life was one big mess. She lived a flat that was still being decorated, she had been on call at the hospital for three days straight to avoid going to her undecorated flat. She still hadn't had a check up for the baby, she couldn't even think about the baby. She had no idea what to do and she didn't have much time left to decide. She was fourth months along, in a few weeks it would be too late to terminate the pregnancy. Should she get in touch with James and tell him? Her life basically sucked right now, so she coped the only way she knew how. She worked until she couldn't stay awake to think anymore.
"Healer Potter, we have a major trauma victim," shouted one of Lily's subordinates.
"I'm coming," she said getting to her feet too quickly. She suddenly felt nauseas, she rubbed her growing bump. Luckily it wasn't big enough for anyone to notice yet, it just looked like she had put on a little weight. "Don't start, we can eat later."
Lily ran down to the ER and saw the patient, he was unconscious and covered in blood. Wait a minute she knew that hair, her blood ran cold.
"Name?" Lily demanded from the nurse going through the patients personal affects.
"David Potter, Auror injured in the line of duty," said the nurse.
"Thank god," whispered Lily, then she felt terrible. Why was she thankful that James' father was the one that could possibly be dying. She knew David, she liked him he was just an older version of James. "Get him in trauma two!"
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Twenty minutes later, Lily was still working on David. He was in really bad shape and they couldn't save him without an operation potions and spells weren't working. They had to go in and cut out the poison that was slowly shutting down his organs.
Lily had just got David stable enough to be taken to surgery, so she looked out into the waiting area. James, Sirius and Gloria Potter were anxiously watching.
"Take over for me," Lily ordered one of the other healers. "I need to get the family's consent for the surgery."
"The nurse usually does…" started the healer.
"I know the family," snapped Lily. "They are prepping the OR, take him down once you administer the last of those," she said pointing to the potions on the tray.
"Okay."
Lily took a deep breath and stepped out into the waiting room. James, Sirius and Mrs. Potter immediately jumped up.
"What's going on? Where are they taking him?" asked Gloria, sounding almost hysterical.
"They are taking him to the Operating theatre," said Lily, taking Gloria's hands in hers and guiding her to sit down.
"How is he?" asked James sitting down next to his mother.
"I'm not going to lie. It's very serious, we think he was hit by some sort of poison. The poison is now working its way through his system causing his organs to shut down." Said Lily seriously. "I know it sounds scary, but Gloria we think we can fix it with an operation. It involves cutting the affected tissue manually and repairing the organs. We don't think the poison has had enough time to do irreparable damage."
"What are the risks of the surgery?" asked James, knowing that Healers never operated manually if they could help it.
"There is the risk that we might not get all the poison, nerve damage, organ damage. He could be paralyzed if we make one small mistake. It's risky, but if we don't operate…he'll be dead within the hour," said Lily trying to sound professional and unaffected.
"Oh…" gasped Gloria and she started to cry.
"It's okay." Said Lily soothingly, hugging Gloria. "I'm going to do everything I can to make sure he is okay. I promise."
"What do you think? If it was you, would you have the surgery?" sniffed Gloria.
"I think David would want to fight this, he wouldn't give up." Said Lily, avoiding looking at James.
"Okay then, you think you can do it?" said Gloria.
"I think so," said Lily.
"Alright then." Nodded Gloria.
"I just need someone to sign…" said Lily quietly.
"I'll do it," said James taking the clipboard from Lily's hand and scrawling his name.
"I'll come and find you as soon as we're done," said Lily taking the form from James, trying to ignore her racing heart as their hands touched.
"You'll look after him," said James looking deep into Lily's eyes.
"I promise," she whispered.
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David's surgery had been a complete success, Lily had told James, Sirius and Gloria and they were with him now. Lily was in the locker room, her boss had ordered her to go home. She had been sick three times since she came out of surgery. She never got her morning sickness in the morning, her work schedule meant that she was working almost all night so her body was out of sync with everyone else. So she expected her morning sickness around mid evening most days. She knew she had to make a decision about the baby soon, she should talk to James. But she couldn't do it now, his father had almost died, she couldn't tell him now.
"How are you feeling David?" Lily asked cheerfully as she walked into his room before she went home.
"Happy to be alive," he said. "From what I hear you are a very clever girl, getting rid of all that nasty poison."
"I had a lot of help," said Lily lifting his chart.
"You going home?" Gloria asked noticing that Lily had changed into jeans.
"Yeah I've been here for three days straight," said Lily scanning the chart.
"You don't look well dear. Are you alright?" asked Gloria concerned. After the death of Lily's parents Gloria took it upon herself to become a surrogate mother to her.
"It's just exhaustion," lied Lily. She felt bad about lying, but she couldn't just announce she was pregnant.
"Have you been sick?" asked Gloria.
"Hmmmmm I'm fine really," Lily insisted.
"You need a good meal and some sleep."
"I know," smiled Lily, it was nice how concerned Gloria was about her even though she wasn't even with James anymore.
"You're recovering well David, you should be discharged in a few days," said Lily noticing that James was looking anywhere but at her. "I'll come by and check on you in the morning."
"Oh no you won't. You are taking the day off," Lily groaned when she heard the voice of her boss, Calvin.
"I'm fine," she insisted.
"You haven't slept in three day, and you look like death on an ugly day," said Calvin.
"Oh thanks," she said sarcastically.
Calvin was only slightly more senior than Lily and had recently taken it upon himself to look out for her, like a big brother. He was married but his wife had died a year ago. He was the only person that knew Lily was pregnant, because he had caught her being sick and noticed the weight gain. They were now sort of friends, they kept each other company and talked about the things they couldn't with anyone else.
"I'm just being truthful," said Calvin casually putting his arm around Lily's shoulder. "You are going home right now, and I'm going to make you dinner."
"Right…I better go, I will come by and see you before you are discharged," said Lily to David.
"Take care dear," said Gloria.
"I will and you."
James just sat there and watched some guy he had never met lead his wife out the room. Was she seeing him? They had only separated three months ago, Lily wouldn't get over it that quickly would she? He hoped not because that might mean he would have to start accepting the fact that their marriage was over. He wasn't sure he was ready for that.