A Life full of Surprises and New Friends

Part Seven

by

Sabrina Lonewalker

It had been four months since Darick and Rose had come to Pete's mansion from the infirmary at Torchwood. Darick was almost fully recovered from the shooting but there was a noticeable limp in his left leg that had Rose concerned enought to call in Doctor Barrowman. He was upstairs with Darick right then as Rose sat in the den having tea with her mother, who was getting noticeably larger with Rose and Darick's child. Jackie was on the sofa, her legs up as per Rose's demand. So far, everything in this pregency had gone smoothly and Rose hoped it would continue to do so.

Upstairs, David was putting Darick through a series of leg exercises to see if he could determine why Darick's left leg was not healing as it should. Finally, drenched in sweat, Darick sat back down on the bed. David's frock coat had been tossed over the back of the chair David was now sitting on and the cravat was loosely hanging around his neck, his shirt partially open from the work he had been doing. He sat back with the chart in his hands. Darick had laid back in the bed, his face twisted with the pain he had been experiencing. David was frowning. Darick didn't like what he saw. "Dr Barrowman?"

David looked up. "The damage to your left knee was more extensive than we first believed. Darick, it looks like you're going to have to have a total knee replacement. The damage to your knee is bad. The kneecap was almost totally disintegrated and the ligaments are permanently damaged. Surgery is your only option, I'm afraid." Darick laid back on the pillows and stared up at the ceiling. He had never faced this before, surgery? He knew that being partially human would subject him to different things but this? He looked at his Doctor. "What's the risk?" He asked. He didn't want Jackie or Rose upset. David leaned back, "Frankly, Darick, I don't know. On a full human, I would say very low to none but, with you being part Time Lord, we're working in uncharted territory here. I'll have to run a slew of tests and, most importantly, check your blood type. That could be where our problem comes in."

Darick nodded then, a strange expression crossed his face. "Doc, I know this may sound totally crazy and out in left field but, you remember my telling you how I came to be?" David nodded, Yes, you said you were what's called a Meta-Crisis creation between the Doctor and..." His voice trailed off as he realized what Darick was saying. "You don't think...?" Darick smiled. "There's only one way to find out. Besides, I really don't think we could call on him to help this time." David nodded, "True, that is no longer an option. Ok, I'll start checking the charts and I'll need you back in the infirmary in a week." He buttoned his shirt, retied the cravat and shrugged on the coat. "You want me to tell Rose?" Darick shook his head, "No, I'll tell her. I'll see you in a week." David nodded and skipped downstairs, talked to Rose for a minute, checked Jackie and tripped out to his car, a 1898 Edwardian roadster, dark blue. He roared off.

Rose came upstairs and sat on the edge of Darick's bed. "Dr Barrowman said you wanted to talk to me?" Her eyes were guarded. Darick took her hand in his, "Yes, I'm going to have to have knee replacement surgery, my left kneecap is almost totally gone and the ligaments are permanently damaged. David said surgery is my only option in order to get my leg functioning normally again." Rose's eyes widened, "I see. Any risks?" Darick smiled, "We did discuss that and we'll take all the precautions necessary. I'll be fine. I have two things to live for, remember, you and our baby." Rose smiled and leaned over to kiss him, "And don't you forget that, Mister." He smiled, "Believe me, I never forget that."

"Darick," Rose said slowly, "What about blood type?" Darick smiled, "David is going to look into that and, we may have a solution, if I'm right." He looked at his wife and smiled as her eyes widened, "Donna? Dr Barrowman's wife?" Darick nodded, "Yeah, it's a possibility and really the only option we have since, we can't exactly call him, now can we?" Rose nodded in agreement, "You're right we can't and with you being physically human, it just might work." Darick smiled, "That's my Rose." He squeezed her hand. "Rose, I'll be fine, I really will. Dr Barrowman is a skilled surgeon and, he's going to have his wife on stand by just in case, I'll be fine. Like you said, I have two very important reasons to live." He pulled her hand to his lips and kissed it.

One week later, Darick was wheeled into surgery at Torchwood. Rose was pacing but Dr Barrowman had told her that this was routine surgery. She wanted to believe him but nothing that happened with her and Darick was ever routine. Turned out that Donna's blood type did match Darick's and she had already donated the blood needed so, everything looked like it was going to be all right. David told Rose that the surgery would probably take two to three hours so, she was in her office at Torchwood and Pete was with her. Both had insisted that Jackie stay home with the pregnancy advancing normally. Rose had promised that she would call her as soon as they knew anything.

TBC

YES! Something is going to happen while he's in surgery but don't worry (evil laugh) Next chapter will be up when my Muse gives it to me. She can be so cruel at times. Reviews will make her (and me!) very, very happy! More suprises are in store as well. Till Then! SL.