CHAPTER TEN

Maggie greeted the sleepy couple with a grin and a full breakfast. "Good morning! I hope the storm didn't disturb you too much," she said with a wink to Calypso.

"Storm? Did you hear any storm Angel?" Foreman asked her innocently, knowing full well that Maggie had heard them.

"Nope, no storm," Angel giggled, turned red.

"Well, if you're into seashells, there will be a treasure trove out there today. Hope you enjoy the breakfast. I've already had mine, so I'll leave you two in peace. Come along, Calypso," Maggie called, the cat following her with a protesting yowl.

"Oh…my….I don't think I've ever seen such a huge breakfast for two people!" Angel's mouth watered, trying to decide what to have first: fresh fruit crepes, chocolate croissants, fruited rice pudding, chocolate chip banana bread and homemade mimosas. They ate, laughed and gave loving looks across the table. "You know, if we keep this up, Maggie will think we're more than just dating."

"Well, she already did…when we checked in and you were waiting outside, Maggie asked how long we'd been married," Foreman said, laughing at the shocked look on Angel's face. "Said she's rarely wrong."

"At least if we do, we know where to come for our honeymoon," Angel replied with a wink, giggling at the stunned look on his face. "Seriously. Promise me this is our place. When we want to get away from everything. Promise to bring me back here when I'm better and it's warmer."

Foreman took her hand and kissed it. "I promise."

When Angel absolutely positively couldn't eat another bite, she began begging Foreman to take her down to the beach again to look for shells. How could he say no? You'd never know she had cancer, he thought to himself. He wanted to pack every ounce of happiness into every day for her in case….Foreman angrily shook the idea out of his head. She would live. He couldn't afford to let down his guard near her, lest she see hope fade in his eyes. He had to be strong for her.

With a bag from Maggie, they set out for the beach once more, only after Angel swore to Foreman she would not pull a stunt like yesterday and go barefoot in the surf. Foreman held the bag while Angel darted to and fro like an excited child hunting for Easter Eggs. She gasped at one—time and weathering had shaped one ridged shell nearly in the shape of a heart. There was even a small hole that she could loop some cord through and wear it as a necklace. "It's a sign!" She said, giddy. And with that, an impish look crossed her face.

"Angel, what are you up to…you promised me…" Foreman began, shaking his finger at her, looking stern.

"No this is something different. Turn around. Trust me." Angel took some steps back; he could hear her feet crunching in the sand, now solidly wet and covered with bits of shells. "Okay, you can look now!"

With her cane, Angel had drawn a giant heart and on the inside, had written AH + EF, just like a schoolgirl with a crush. He could see her blush from here and smiled as she jogged back to him to get a view. "I love it….I love you," Foreman said, wrapping his arms around her, pressing their cheeks together as they watched a sandpiper skitter across her artwork.

Try as it might, the sun couldn't break through the clouds. Even when Angel started shivering a bit, Foreman didn't insist they went inside. He knew they would be leaving soon and reality would come crashing back. He wanted this to last as long as possible for Angel.

They found the bench and sat with his body trying to block the wind. He had the bag of shells tucked in his coat pocket. She mused on coming back to sketch the beach when it warmed up, a talent that surprised Foreman. "You're a surprise a minute," he said, kissing her temple. He pulled back and looked at her. "Angel, are you feeling okay?" He could have sworn her skin felt warm, but maybe it was just where her cap had been pulled down…

"A little tired, but okay, why?" Her smile was so big, Foreman waved it off, but did notice it was time to start heading back. He hated telling her; a few big teardrops welled out before she could stop them.

"I'm sorry baby. I wish we could stay longer." It made his heart hurt to see her put on a brave front about leaving. She hadn't just fallen in love with him; she'd fallen in love with this place, the ocean, Maggie, Calypso.

They started hiking back, into the wind. Angel felt her skin ache and her eyes sting. Walking through the denser sand made her legs feel wobbly. She reached out with her other hand to feel a bit more secure, but she started feeling so warm and nauseous. "Eric?" He turned to look at her with concern; she collapsed into his arms.

"Angel! Baby?" She didn't respond to his voice or gentle shaking or patting her cheeks. They were in sight of the inn; Foreman picked her up and carried her as fast as he could. Maggie had the door open, a worried look on her face; she must have seen them coming.

"Do you want me to call 911?" Maggie asked, wringing her hands.

Foreman shook his head. "Not yet. Let me check her out." He got her up to their room and onto the bed. After loosening her clothing he was able to take her vitals. "Her temperature is 100 degrees. I need to make a call."

XXXXX

Wilson answered the phone after a few rings. "Foreman, what's wrong?" Foreman began to fill him in. House limped into the room, grouchy at the telephone ringing. That was replaced by concern when he learned Angel had a fever. He kept trying to take away the phone; Wilson kept dodging about the kitchen, just out of reach, pausing now and then to hiss at House.

"Okay, I want you to hang an IV, give her the whole bag. Add a dose of the antibiotics, just to be on the safe side. If after that her fever doesn't go down, bring her here. If it goes up, call an ambulance. Keep me up to speed. I'm sure Angel will be fine." Wilson's hand was shaking when he hung up.

"Why you approved this asinine idea, I'll never know!" House growled with a hard look at Wilson.

"House, this is the last chance she'll have in a long while to do something that doesn't involve cancer. She's never seen the ocean—"

"That she can remember," House grumbled.

Wilson snorted briefly, lips pursed. "Still. You know how rare Multiple Myeloma is. She's not strong to begin with. This treatment is going to be hard. She deserved to spend this time with Foreman to forget about everything. And….God forbid…." Wilson trailed off, choking up.

"She's going to be fine!" House shouted, slamming a fist onto a counter, rattling the dishes nearby.

Wilson walked over to House, putting a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Foreman's watching her like a hawk. I'm sure this was nothing but overexertion and dehydration. He loves her. He wouldn't let anything happen to her." Their eyes met, held for a moment, and then House looked away, shoulders slumping...

XXXXX

Maggie placed a cool cloth on Angel's forehead and tried to keep the cat off the bed. Foreman told her it was ok, and soon Calypso was curled up by Angel's hand, licking it every so often. He had the IV bag rigged up on a coat rack and soon had it in place. Foreman began to apologize for not making checkout, but Maggie put a stop to that.

"Don't you worry about this. You stay as long as you need. The only thing that is important is her getting better." After her speech to Foreman, she went back to mothering Angel, stroking her hair.

After the IV had been in for a short time, Angel's eyes fluttered open. She smiled faintly at Maggie and Foreman and weakly patted the feline. "What happened?"

"You're probably dehydrated, possibly a touch of an infection. I spoke to Wilson, just going to keep an eye on you while you go through this bag of fluid. There's a dose of antibiotics to be on the safe side. What we do next depends on your temperature. Think cool thoughts," he gently teased.

"Kind of hard with you around," Angel joked quietly, closing her eyes again. She opened them again and gazed at Maggie. "Thank you for being so kind."

Maggie simply leaned over and kissed her cheek with a tear in her eye. "You're not hard to be kind to. And you are welcome here any time. It's been a genuine pleasure having you two here."

Foreman encouraged Angel to just rest. As he'd hoped, her temperature fell as the bag emptied. It hovered near 99 but a quick check with Wilson indicated she was fine to go home. He was to run another bag of fluid with another dose of antibiotics and of course call him with any change. Everyone was relieved. Even Calypso returned to a soft slow purr as Angel rubbed her belly.

Maggie helped Foreman take their luggage and things to the car. She also included a surprise—a Styrofoam cooler filled with soup, dinner leftovers, more crème brulee, and some breakfast goodies. "I don't know how to thank you," Angel gushed, hugging her tightly. "This is truly a magical place you have here." She even gave Calypso a big hug, who did not protest.

"Sometimes I think the people who visit bring their own magic," Maggie said with a wink and a smile. She promised to keep in touch. Angel wept as they drove away, watching her ocean for as long as she could see it until they got too far from the coastline.

XXXXX

Foreman put Angel to bed as soon as they returned, hanging the second bag of fluids and adding some morphine. Angel was starting to hurt, and she was sad to be home, back to reality. Foreman put some of the seashells into a bowl next to her bedside. He promised to print out the photos so she could take them to the hospital on Monday. She spoke to Wilson on the phone who ordered her to stay in bed tomorrow; reluctantly she promised.

Angel was ready to hang up when House grabbed the phone away from Wilson. "House, I'm okay. Really. I'm just tired now."

"Angel what were you thinking? You could have gotten pneumonia; your immune system is compromised!" House blustered and scolded but Angel couldn't help but smile, glad he couldn't see her face.

"But I didn't. I swear, you sound just like—" Angel caught herself before the words 'my father' slipped out, but she quickly recovered. "You sound just like other doctors I know and love who worry about me too much. I'm going to get lots of rest and fluids. See you on Monday?"

Defeated, House mumbled okay and gave the phone back to Wilson. "I'll check on you tomorrow. Glad you had a good time, Angel."

Angel sat looking at the phone after she'd hung it up. Foreman caught her odd expression. "Angel, what is it? Did House say something to upset you?"

"No, not at all. He was just concerned." She smiled at Foreman. "I think I am a bit hungry, but you might have to help me out with this hep lock in my hand."

He balked when she said she wanted the crème brulee. Angel laughed. "Hey I have cancer, might as well eat dessert first!" She saw his face fall. "Oh Eric, I'm sorry….sometimes I feel if I don't laugh I'll cry. I didn't mean to make you feel bad."

Foreman sat by her, stroking her cheek. "No, it's ok. You do what you have to so you can cope with this. Your dark humor will just take a little getting used to. I'll get that dessert," he said with a wink.

As he fed her slowly, watching her delight in every creamy mouthful, he thought of one of the last times he'd been home before his mother died. He'd watched his father feed his mother. Foreman was determined to move Heaven and Earth to make sure Angel would beat the cancer. With that memory in his head, he knew he wanted to be with Angel always, to grow old with her.

Later, as she was trying to nap, Angel kept thinking about what she'd nearly said to House. Her father-was that how she felt about him? She didn't even know what it was like to have a father. Angel grabbed her journal, jotted down some notes for Nolan, and shut her eyes, thinking of the ocean.