It didn't take Robert long to extract the bullet from Festus shoulder wound or repair the damage it inflected. He was just thankful it didn't cause any damage to vital organs. His father would recover quickly enough. But the blood loss coupled with the muscle loss and amount of bone removed to repair the wound would all take time to heal and he was quite certain his Pa wouldn't be happy about that.

Pushing the rolling table into the opposite ward that Doc was in was sure to garner several questions from the older physician but it couldn't be helped, Robert wanted to keep an eye on his father without disturbing Doc.

"How's he doing?" Doc asked when Robert left his father's bedside.

"His pulse is strong and his color is returning," he said with a yawn. "That arm's going to be pretty weak for a while, he isn't going to have much use out of it until it's completely healed."

"He's gonna love that," Doc replied dryly.

"I'll explain it to him," Robert said with wiry grin before taking on a more serious tone. "I've got everything ready for tomorrow but I want you good and rested. I can give you something to help you sleep."

"No," Doc said quietly. "I'll be able to sleep now that I know everything's okay."

"Good," Robert said checking the time on his pocket watch. "I'll have Julie come in and stay with you and I'll see you in the morning."

Doc nodded as Robert went to his office and Julie went in to stay with Doc. He wanted to take the time to go over the medical texts again. While advancements had been made in surgical interventions regarding the heart and bullet wounds, this was something totally new and foreign to him as a surgeon. While opening the chest cavity strictly to repair damage caused by a bullet was necessary in some cases, Robert would be doing it just to clear the blockage that caused Doc's heart attack. The oath he took as a doctor was adamant about not causing any undue harm upon a patient and right now, Doc was alive but this surgery could change that. Was it against his very principles to to even attempt the surgery? He'd asked himself that question many times over the last few days and he still didn't really have an answer. The only thing he knew for certain was that without some kind of intervention on his part, Doc would die.

When morning came, Robert wasn't the only one still awake. Julie sat up watching Galen's chest rise and fall in peaceful slumber as the sun rose. Afraid for the future and terrified she might lose him to the risky surgery, she wished she knew what he was thinking.

"Morning," Doc whispered when he opened his eyes and saw her smile.

"Good morning, my dear," Julie replied with a long sigh before taking his hand in hers. "Are you ready for today?"

Doc knew she was worried and he'd like nothing more than to put her mind at ease. But, he knew the dangerous nature of the surgery so he couldn't bring himself to lie to her about it. "As ready as I could be."

Julie closed her eyes as she brought his hand to her lips and gently kissed it. "Just make sure, you come back to me."

"I'm going to do my best," he said with a slight smile. "Will you get Matt for me, there's something important I need him to do."

"Of course, I will," Julie said squeezing his hand. "I'll bring him right back."

Robert was busy soaking the instruments in alcohol and then arranging them to his satisfaction in the order he would need for Doc's surgery when Newly stepped into the surgical room. "Newly," he said with a nod before intently looking over the instruments. "I've decided to use ether rather than chloroform. It's been known to affect the rhythm of the heart."

"I agree," Newly replied quietly watching Robert getting everything ready. "How you feeling about the surgery?"

"Fine," Robert said looking up. "I mean, this is just Doc's life we're talking about. It's not like, we've done this before."

"I know," Newly replied gently. "No ones going to blame you, if things don't work out the way we hope they will."

"But it has to work, Newly," Robert said sternly. "It just has to."

Matt took a seat next to Doc's bed and watched the older man for a moment as he slept. "Doc," he said gently as the physician slowly opened his eyes.

"Matt, didn't know you were here?"

"Julie said, you wanted to see me?" Matt replied evenly. "What can I do for you, Doc?"

"It's not what you can do for me, Matt," Doc said as Julie came into the room. "It's what you can do for us."

Matt looked up at Julie as she shrugged innocently before looking at Doc. "Galen?"

"Matt," Doc said wearily. "I want you to marry us."

"Right now?" Matt said as Doc's words dawned on him. The older man nodded.

"Galen," Julie said going to her knees next to his bed. "Are you sure?"

"Absolutely sure," Doc replied squeezing her hand. "I can't do this if I don't have you by my side."