Dr Rachel Armstrong entered the waiting room and observed many inhabitants of Summer Bay

holding a vigil for Mattie Hunter.

All of them were holding each other's hands and silently praying that their friend would come out

of surgery okay.

That she would be able to fulfil all her dreams and hopes.

-

-

Her glance shifted towards Jack , Tony and Lucas.

They were sitting separately from the others , just staring into space.

Those three men's heart were breaking , she could tell just by looking at them.

Her heart went out to them , for she knew that their lives would change forever now.

-

Their Mattie was gone.

And she was the one who would have to tell them.

Collecting herself , she closed her eyes and took a deep breath and slowly started walking

towards Tony.

-

Tony immediately saw Rachel approaching and jumped up.

"How is she ? Is she okay? Did she make it?" he asked.

Upon hearing Tony asking those questions , everyone stopped what they were doing and walked

over to Rachel.

-

Rachel's thoughts drifted to the events that occurred in the OR just an hour ago.

"Damn it , her blood pressure is dropping fast. We're losing her'

Rachel looked at Mattie and prayed : "Come on Mattie , you can do this,"

And all of a sudden the machine that monitored her heart , made an awful sound :

BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP.

For a moment Rachel thought that hey had lost her , that she would have to tell her friends and

family that Mattie was dead.

Fortunately the doctors had been able to revive her and they hadn't been any other complications

Through surgery.

-

"Mattie made it through surgery successfully." she heard herself say.

She could feel the relief and joy from everyone that were standing near her.

"However , there were some complications". That announcement made Lucas look at her with

an intensity she hadn't seen for a long time. "What kind of complication?" he asked.

-

"Because of the excessive bleeding and internal injuries her blood pressure dropped very low.

That caused the heart having difficulties. So at one point , her heart stopped."

Everyone gasped at this revelation. They knew that they could loose her , but that remark made it

seem so much realer.

-

Rachel looked at Tony and said : "Tony , can you and Jack and Lucas come with me please?

There is something that we need to talk about."

Tony just nodded and so the three Holden men followed Rachel into her office.

-

Rachel just closed the door behind them and motioned for them to sit down.

Tony grabbed a chair while Lucas sat down on the couch , but Jack remained standing.

He had been sitting long enough in those hospital chairs.

-

Rachel sighted. She knew what she had to tell them and she wasn't looking forward to do so.

How could she tell them that the Mattie they knew and loved , would probably be gone forever.

She embraced herself for their reactions and started talking. Blaming herself for all the heartache

and grief she was about to put these three men through.