10.

Fresh tears fell as the doctor showed her to Terry's bedside in a private room and then left her alone. For a moment, Tammy stood frozen a little distance from the bed just taking in the scene in front of her. Terry lay propped up by pillows and surrounded by machines, motionless, his eyes closed and pain written all over his face, an oxygen mask covering his mouth.

"I can't do this." she panicked to herself, "I can't see him like this."

However, just then Terry opened his eyes and looked straight at her. She saw that, although he was still drowsy from the aenesthetic, he was trying to say her name and that broke the spell which had rooted her to the spot. Moving to his side, she sat down on a chair, pulling it close, and took his hand in hers.

"I'm here, baby, I'm here. Everything's going to be okay." she murmured, hoping she sounded more convincing to him than she did even to her own ears.

"Tammy," he managed, his voice barely more than a whisper, as he tried to take off his oxygen mask.

"Shhh, Terry." she soothed, "You don't have to say anything; you have to keep that on ....."

"S-Sorry ....." he tried, even as she tried to replace the mask.

"What? You don't have to apologise - this isn't your fault. You just concentrate on getting better."

Once more, he pulled the mask away and spoke haltingly, "So m-much ..... I need to tell ...... y-you."

"Well, there'll be plenty of time once you're feeling a bit better." she said, ignoring the pleading look he was giving her, "You need to rest now ......"

"Please, Tammy," he said desperately, gasping with pain, "We b-both ..... know ....."

"Don't, Terry." she begged, pulling her hand free from his and covering her face, her shoulders shaking with the effort of holding back her sobs. "Don't talk like that - I need you."

Not without some difficulty, Terry reached out with one hand and cupped her cheek, gently brushing her tears away with his thumb.

"I love you." he whispered.

"Then don't leave me." she pleaded.

He tried to answer, but a wave of pain overtook him and he squeezed his eyes closed tightly and tried to keep from crying out.

"Terry? Do you need me to get someone?" Tammy asked frantically, but he shook his head stubbornly. In a minute his gaze was focused on her again and he spoke softly.

"I ..... I don't w-want to ..... leave you - I wanted ..... WANT to spend the rest of my ..... life with y-you. Didn't think that w-would be so ..... so short." he tried to smile, but it barely reached his lips, never mind his eyes. "Was thinking 'bout t-that when ..... I got your p-present."

"The only present I need is for you to get better."

"J-Jacket pocket." he insisted.

Humouring him for the moment, she searched in the pockets of his jacketuntil her hand closed on something small and she drew out a little dark blue box. She looked up at him slowly, realisation dawning in her eyes, and her hand flew to her mouth.

"Aren't you going t-to open it?" asked Terry.

Opening the box, Tammy saw the most beautiful diamond ring she had ever seen and gasped aloud. The large solitaire diamond was set in a band of white gold and sparkled from its resting place amongst the velvet.

"Oh, God; Terry, it's gorgeous!" she said sounding stunned.

She admired the ring for a moment, but seemed distracted, as if she was really considering something else.

"Isn't there something you're supposed to say?" she asked, trying to hand him the box.

"I can't ..... Not n-now." he said sadly, "Just wanted y-you to know ..... how much I love you."

"You can't give up all hope." she said with new determination, "I've got a surprise of my own and it's a damn good reason for you to at least try."

"Tammy," he tried weakly to reason with her, "I can't ask you ..... something like t-that, knowing I won't b-be able to see it t-through."

"If you don't love me ....."

He saw the tears springing into her eyes again and knew he wouldn't be able to refuse her for long.

"That's not f-fair, Tammy." he whispered, "It's BECAUSE I love you that I c-can't."

She lowered her head as tears fell steadily; she knew and understood his reason, but it seemed so final and she couldn't hold back her emotion, especially as she still had to find away to break her own news.

"Tammy," tried Terry, thinking he had really hurt her.

When there was no reply, he ignored the pain caused by the slightest movement and lifted her left hand.

"Tammy, will you ..... marry me?" he asked quietly, sliding the ring onto her fourth finger.

Although she nodded, her only words were a plea for him to stay with her instaed of a mere affirmative and sobs now racked her body. Greatly worried about her, Terry completely forgot his own injuries and reached out to tilt her head up so she would meet his gaze. However, Tammy caught his hand in both of hers and pressed it, palm downwards, to her stomach. Even before she could speak, he felt the slight change in her slim figure and she heard his sharp intake of breath as he guessed what she was trying to tell him.

"That's why you can't give up." she managed between sobs, "I'm pregnant, Terry; I'm pregnant and I can't do this on my own."

It was only then that she would meet his gaze and for a second she saw a flash of joy in his dark brown eyes, but they were quickly clouded by sorrow and then filled with tears at the thought of everything he stood to miss out on.

"My baby ....." he murmured, swallowing a sudden lump in his throat, "Oh, Tammy, darlin' ..... come here."

Not caring about anything else, he held his arms out to her and she slipped onto the bed beside him and into his embrace, resting her head on his shoulder. In spite of the fact that what little remained of his energy was rapidly draining away, he concentrated on trying to comfort Tammy. With one hand resting on her stomach and the other lightly stroking her hair, he pressed a lingering kiss to her forehead.

"I love you." he murmured, his voice breaking, "B-Both of you."

*****