Thanks so much for all the great reviews!! We're nearing the end so I'm working overtime to get this story done so I can focus on Hope Floats before I leave for college.

Enjoy!!

Chapter 13: Doctor's Orders

Julia's eyes fluttered open as the morning light filtered through the blinds. She blinked in confusion, trying to figure out where she was. She glanced over and saw Phil, sound asleep beside of her with one arm wrapped around her waist.

She smiled sadly as it all came back to her in an instant. She sighed and brushed his hair with her fingers, wondering what the doctors would do to get this man, whom she cared for deeply, healthy again.

Just then, the door creaked open and a man dressed in all white walked into the room.

"Well, good morning!" he said in surprise when he saw Julia, "And here I thought I only had one patient to tend to!"

Julia smirked and slowly rolled out of the bed, lifting Phil's arm so she could get up.

Phil's eyes flew open and he looked around with a panicked expression.

"Julia?" he murmured sleepily.

"I'm right here, Phil," said Julia in a soft, reassuring voice, "It's okay…the doctor's here."

Phil seemed to relax instantly when he made eye-contact with her. He glanced briefly at the doctor and muttered something under his breath.

"So…what is it?" asked Julia, her eyes suddenly looking fearful, "What's wrong with him?"

The doctor sighed, "Well I'm afraid it was rather serious. Captain Harris had a pulmonary aneurism."

Julia's eyebrows shot up in surprise. She and Phil exchanged concerned looks before the doctor continued.

"Basically what happened was a blood clot traveled up from your leg and went through your heart. You're a lucky man, Captain Harris. Most people don't survive that…and those who do usually don't survive it again."

Julia felt panic rise in her chest and her throat began to close up with the strength of the emotion that flowed through her. Was the doctor telling her that the man she was falling for wasn't going to make it?

"So…so what do we do? What's the procedure? Does he take medication?" rattled off Julia, hands shaking and voice trembling.

The doctor held up a hand to calm her down.

"He'll need to give himself a shot everyday and cut out certain food groups from his diet…mainly cigarettes."

Phil's head shot up off the bed at the sound of that.

"Okay…the shots are gonna hurt like hell, but I can handle that, the cigarettes? It ain't happenin' doc."

Julia shot Phil a very stern glare. He flinched slightly, surprised that she was capable of such an intense glare.

"Phil Harris you will do just what this doctor tells you to, is that understood?" she said in a very firm and insistent voice that left absolutely no room for argument.

The doctor had to stifle a laugh at the shocked look on Phil's face. He had never seen a captain take orders from a doctor very well, but it seemed that they took orders from their women quite well.

"Um…yeah, sure…okay," stammered Phil, still stunned by Julia's reaction.

Satisfied, Julia turned back to the doctor.

"Okay…so when does he get released?"

The doctor glanced down at his charts and hesitated for a moment. Then, with a slight smile on his face, he looked back up.

"Well that depends."

Julia narrowed her eyes and put her hands on her hips. Phil smirked slightly. She was a tough-cookie, this woman was!

"Depends on what?" asked Julia, in a tone that said she wasn't in the mood for games.

"On whether or not you'll be the one taking care of him," replied the doctor as he glanced at Phil to gage his reaction.

A slow, Cheshire grin crept across Phil's face and his eyes danced happily. Julia narrowed her eyes at him, but couldn't suppress a smile at his response.

"Yeah I suppose I can look after him for a while…so long as he does what I say."

The doctor laughed, "Mam…from what I've seen so far…that's not going to be a problem!"

…

PLEASE REVIEW!!

Sorry it's a shorter chapter…I'm guessing we have one more and then an epilogue but I'm not one-hundred percent sure…you know me. I say one thing's gonna happen and then something else entirely different happens!! So we shall see!!