A/N: I've loved your responses to the last chapter, lol! Sorry, but the passion for our couple was evident and expressed in some comical ways ;-) You're great! Now, on to what happens after...

"Charles, talk to her. Try to keep her awake."

Charles nodded, his hand clasping Elsie's. "Els, did you hear Richard? You have to stay awake. Come on, Lass. Stay with me."

"Charlie," she whimpered, desperately trying to keep her eyes open.

Richard heard Charles pleading with Elsie to stay with him, to stay awake, and heard her weak whimper in response. It only served to remind him, to flood his mind with memories of another time this had happened. He'd been a young doctor then without the medical advancements he had at his disposal in most cases now days. But not today. None of the things he needed were here. Even if he'd had his medical bag from his office at home, he still wouldn't have everything.

"Richard?" Isobel whispered.

"I can't stop it, Isobel. We need the life flight, not an ambulance."

"They won't listen to me."

"I know. You dial, I'll talk. Hurry," he whispered.

Isobel knew what her husband wasn't saying. Picking up the phone, she felt her throat constrict as she dialed.

If they didn't hurry, they were going to lose their friend.

"Elsie! Wake up! Elsie!" Charles' hoarse cries startled the baby causing her to cry and Beryl to leave the room and walk with her up and down the hall.

Richard did the best he could, talking as fast as was possible when Isobel held the phone to his ear. Telling the dispatcher who he was, what he wanted, and giving instructions and info about what was going on, he breathed a thank you then nodded for Isobel to hang up. "They're en route now."

"I'll go make my way to the roof to open the door." Isobel told him as she pushed herself up.

"Hurry, Iz."

"Richard?" Charles looked up at him as Isobel rushed from the room. "Tell me the truth."

Richard never looked up, still concentrating on Elsie, but answered quietly, "She's lost a lot of blood, Charles. They're bringing the needed medication I need to stop it, but I just don't know. I just don't know."

CnE

Charles sat in the corner of the waiting room, head in his hands as he waited to hear news of Elsie. The baby was fine, she was perfect, just as he'd said. It was just his wife.

Dear god.

What was he going to do if…

He shook his head.

No.

Elsie was not going to leave him.

She was not.

She was too much of a fighter.

She wanted this baby too much to leave her.

Leave him.

His heart stuttered its beating at the thought.

How would he raise a baby by himself?

He knew nothing of babies, of children.

He didn't want to be a father without Elsie.

She gave him the courage to be a father.

His thoughts were interrupted by a gentle squeeze to his shoulder. Looking up, he was caught in the red rimmed eyes of their friend. Leaning forward, he laid his head against Beryl and let out his fear in the tears he'd been fighting.

Beryl wrapped her arms around Charles and tenderly caressed a hand over his head. She knew besides Elsie, she was all that he had, the only other person he would ever trust enough to let himself go like this with. They'd been friends long before Elsie and the others came along, and it had been Beryl that had comforted a very young Charles when his mother died.

"I can't lose her, Beryl," he breathed.

"They're doing all that they can, Charles. You know that Richard will fight with everything he has to make sure she comes back to us." Beryl wiped at his cheeks with her thumbs when he looked up at her. "Come see your baby. She'll help you think of something else for a moment."

Charles shook his head. "I can't leave. I have to be here when," he stopped when he spotted Richard.

Beryl backed out of Charles' way when he stood, following him as he walked toward Richard. Holding his hand, she prayed the news was good.

"Richard?"

"We've stopped the hemorrhaging and we're replacing the blood she lost, but she's not out of the woods yet, Charles. It's still not a sure thing."

Charles closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Can I see her?"

"In a few minutes. I'll tell a nurse to come and get you when Elsie has been settled into a room."

Beryl reached out and clasped Richard's arm. "Thank you," she whispered.

"Yes, thank you. I knew she was in good hands because you were there." Charles looked at his friend.

Richard smiled tiredly. "Go see your wee lassie, Charles."

"The nurse won't be able to find me if I go."

"I promise if a nurse comes before you get back, I'll come get you." Beryl reassured him. "Besides, if Elsie wakes up and asks you about Baby, what will you tell her if you haven't seen the babe?"

Charles nodded. "Promise?"

"I promise."

"I'll go and see her then." Looking at Richard, he gave him a weak smile. "Can I hold her?"

"Yes. They'll let you hold her."

Nodding, Charles followed Richard out of the room. "Richard?"

"Yes?"

"Go find Isobel. You need her."

"I don't need to find her." Richard told him as he pointed to the woman coming toward them. "She found me."

CnE

Charles sat holding Elsie's hand, thinking back to his time in the nursery with their baby.

Once he'd held her, he hadn't been able to put her down without her crying, so he'd sat down and rocked her, humming his and Elsie's song. He'd smiled when the baby wiggled down until she was laying on his chest instead of his shoulder. She was just like her mommy, the rumbling of his voice soothing the wee thing as it did his Els.

"Oh Els," he whispered as he watched the blood flowing through the line into her arm. "You have to wake up, Lass. They're asking me what our wee lassie's name is, and I don't want to tell them without you." Caressing the soft, still hand he held, Charles kept talking. "Baby likes to hear her daddy's rumbling voice just like her mommy. I had to hum to her to get her to let me put her down. She likes me, Els. I was so afraid she'd know how much I didn't want to be a father before and not like me. But, she does. It was as if she knew me when I spoke to her."

Elsie swallowed a few times then murmured, "She does," before squeezing his hand.

"Els. Oh God, thank you." Charles breathed as he stood up and pressed a soft kiss to her dry lips. "I knew you wouldn't leave us."

Elsie's eyes fluttered open as she gave him a smile and weakly squeezed his hand, her eyes closing as she fell back to sleep.

Charles sat down and watched her sleep, thankful to have seen her beautiful eyes for just the few moments she'd been awake. He knew now it was going to be okay.

Everything was going to be okay.