For the next several hours, Patrick and Sister Julienne could only sit next to Shelagh, talking to her, praying for her, and singing songs that might bring her comfort if she was on the road towards her heavenly father. When they could sing no more, they turned to prayer and silence, fitting for a woman who began her time in Poplar observing hours of silence every day.

Then, like a shooting star across the night sky, Shelagh awoke for more than just a moment. Years later, Shelagh would recall the moment as though it felt like the fog had lifted, and she was in control of her body again.

"Patrick?" Shelagh whispered weakly.

"I'm here, Shelagh. Sister Julienne is here as well. How are you feeling?"

"Okay."

With glances to speak between them, Patrick and Sister Julienne made a decision they would not regret. They decided that they would spend time with Shelagh before they alerted Doctor Evans. The trio spent the better part of the afternoon enjoying each other's company and filling Shelagh in on the events during her slumber. Once Shelagh was sufficiently filled in, it was time to allow Doctor Evans to examine her.

"Ah, Mrs. Turner. Glad to see you've returned to us. Now, I think it's best if both of you would excuse yourselves from the room while I complete an examination on Mrs. Turner here."

Luckily for Shelagh, Patrick, and Sister Julienne still could sense her non-verbal cues without evidence.

"I beg to differ, Doctor Evans, Shelagh has only just woken up. I'm sure she'd feel more comfortable if the two people she knows and trusts the most were with her."

"Very well, then. I ask that if you are unwilling to leave the room, then you step away from the side of the bed."

It was that moment when Patrick Turner's faith and composure ran out.

"Get out of my surgery. Now. Do not return." Patrick Turner yelled suddenly at the top of his lungs.

"I apologize, Doctor Turner, but I am the one in trust to care for your wife."

"Out. Now." Patrick yelled again, louder.

"You'd best be off Doctor Evans, Shelagh and Doctor Turner are the people who are in trust of this surgery, and who are responsible for its reputation. Be off with you." Sister Julienne finally spoke up.

It was several hours before Shelagh, who had been upset by Doctor Evans's commotion, was calm again, and everyone was sure that he was gone.

"Shelagh, I don't want to upset you, but I should examine you to make sure that you're alright."

"Please don't make Sister Julienne leave." Shelagh whimpered

"I wouldn't dream of it Shelagh, you need her just as much, if not more than me right now. Would you like her to hold your hand?"

"Yes." The look Shelagh gave him at that moment was one of pure love and gratitude.

It was by no means a full physical exam, but rather a combination of vitals and checking eyes, ears, and the throat. It was enough to trust that Shelagh was okay and not overstep her unspoken boundaries at that moment. Once done, both Patrick and Sister Julienne could hear Shelagh's silent plea for them to hold and comfort her. After a few hours, Sister Julienne excused herself back to Nonnatus to tell Timothy and Angela that Shelagh was awake, giving Patrick and Shelagh a chance to talk privately.

"How are you feeling, Shelagh?"

"Oh, Patrick, I've never felt better."

"Shelagh, I know you're scared. We're here for you."

"I'm scared that I am going to get worse, Patrick. I'm scared that I'm not better."

"Shelagh, having this conversation is one step towards healing. Shelagh, are you afraid that you aren't a good mother because of your depression."

"Yes," The only meek whisper Shelagh could muster.

The rest of the night was spent comforting Shelagh and helping her understand that depression made her no less of a mother, nurse, secretary, and friend. Even seeing Timothy and Angela the next morning did not seem to help. It appeared as though even Sister Julienne was struggling to get to Shelagh.

"Shelagh," Patrick probed one day as he took her hand.

'Yes, Patrick"

"How would you feel about going home to Timothy and Angela."

"Oh, Patrick, do you think I'm well enough?"

"Shelagh, I think having you home will help you heal more than spending your days in this room and rarely seeing a soul, aside from Sister Julienne and I. Shelagh, you need time and a safe place to heal. It won't be instant or ever complete, but rather an ongoing process. Somedays will feel better than others. It might also help to have Angela and Timothy when you need someone to make you laugh or help you with overwhelming tasks."

"Okay," Shelagh agreed after quite a while. However, she didn't want Timothy and Angela to struggle with her problems, the prospect of having purpose glimmered above everything.

The first week was rough, but Trixie and Sister Julienne's visits seemed to help, especially when Shelagh could catch a rest on the Settee. Then it was like something turned on a dime. Shelagh was becoming gradually more anxious to stay home with Timothy and Angela without another adult present. It wasn't helping that she did not sleep that well at night either. The final straw was coming home to Shelagh sobbing on the floor of the kitchen, whispering something about being a "failure of a housewife" through her tears.

Through the grapevine, news of Northfield's new Family Residential Program made it's way to Patrick. It seemed like the answer to helping Shelagh. The program structure made it so that Timothy would continue his studies while he and Angela remained with Shelagh. It also allowed Sister Julienne to come as a companion, allowing Patrick to continue working and visit on his off days. Although it was unusual when Shelagh didn't have a protest to going away, it confirmed to Patrick that she needed time outside of Poplar to grieve and heal.

After six months away, Shelagh returned to the flat part-time under the observation of Sister Julienne and her team at Northfield. A further six months of the part-time arrangement passed before a two-week trial of full-time home living occurred, ending with Shelagh returning to Poplar permanently, under the care of her new team at Harley Street.

In the years following, Shelagh appeared to return to her "old self." Yet, Patrick, Shelagh, and Sister Julienne could attest that bad days still came up, albeit less severe than before treatment. Even during her pregnancy, when Shelagh's team insisted on watching her like hawks, she remained stable.

When the choir began 'O Nata Lux' that year, Shelagh felt the song's truth in her heart. Looking among the faces in the pew with her, Shelagh felt a weight lift off her chest. As tears of joy and gratitude slipped down her face, she pressed a kiss on her smallest boy's head.

Domine, dona nobis pacem.

Finis.