Rafe stumbled to the waiting room his mind had flown away his heart still sat on the floor where he was standing when he got to news. He banged his head on the door jam as he leaned against it for support.

"Evelyn has cancer." His voice was empty emotionless almost robot like. "They can't operate until after the baby's born, but by then it maybe to late."

"Captain McCawley, your wife would like to see you now." The nurse told him in a small voice.

"Hey, beautiful." Rafe forced a smile as he walked to Evelyn's side.

"Stick to the truth Rafe you're better at it." She joked with little strength. "I want to go home."

"Go home? You can't go home Evelyn you're sick. You need to stay here so they can' take care of you. So we can have a long happy marriage."

"What type of marriage would it be if I spent it laying here in this hospital? Rafe if I stay here if I go home, if this cancer wants to take me it's going to. Now if I have to die to keep my child safe I will do that all to gladly, but I want to know that I lived before I died. I can't do that sitting here waiting. I'm a nurse Rafe I have the medical knowledge to take care of myself. I just want out of here." Evelyn's brown eyes had never had such seriousness in them.

"What am I going to do if she doesn't make it through the next 6 weeks? I love Evelyn but there is nothing more important to me then that baby." Danny sat in the car waiting for Rafe and Evelyn to come out so he could drive them to there new home,

"Walker don't worry about that now. Evelyn is a great nurse she can take care of herself, maybe better then we'd take care of her at the hospital. Besides you don't think any of the nurses will let her be alone for a minute do you?" She gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. And he nodded at her clenching his lips together.

Rafe opened the car door and ushered Evelyn inside.

"We made a deal if I signed myself out I had to have one of you guys at the house with me at all times that won't be a problem will it?" Evelyn was heavily medicated though no one knew on what.

"As if you had the choice." Annaly responded smiling.

As time passed Evelyn grew weaker and weaker. It killed Rafe to watch his once strong wife decaying slowly in front of his eyes and he was powerless to stop it.

"Rafe why don't you go for a walk or something?" It was Sandra's turn to take care of Evelyn and she knew Rafe hadn't left the house in days. His handsome face was unshaven his magnetic eyes were purple and swollen from the lack of sleep and he still refused to leave her side.

"Rafe sweet heart go. You haven't been out to see the guys in weeks. I feeling pretty good today please." Evelyn was sitting up under her own strength and was even writing in her journal.

"Ev-"

"Rafe Steven McCawley I love you to death but if I have to get out of this bed so help me." She made it look like was trying to get up. To which Rafe contented to go along with her.

"Okay you win just stay there."

"Say hi to Red, Mike and Gooze for me. Oh and honey shave."

"So how are you feeling really Ev?" Sandra adjusted her glasses and looked at Evelyn's chart

"Great today honestly I may beat this thing yet." When Evelyn was up she was definitely up but when she was down she couldn't get lower. "So how's Annaly doing?"

"Terrific as far as I've seen. She hasn't been home much though any time she's not here with you she's out with Danny." Sandra stared out the window growing very quiet.

"What's the matter Sandra?"

"It's silly really, lately I've been thinking. You have Rafe, Annaly's got Danny, Barbara was with Billy and little Betty had Red. I just sort of wonder what would've happened if I had been nicer to Anthony."

"It's not stupid Sandra in fact if you didn't wonder I would worry about you. Anthony was a real sweet guy that went out of his way to get you to like him."

"Yeah I know."

The conversation was cut short by a knock at the door.

"Hey in the mood for some company?" Annaly and Danny poked their heads in.

"Hi guys." Evelyn smiled again. She was so sick and tired of being sick and tired. The visitation was coming as a breath of fresh air. "Hello Danny" She noticed he wouldn't step over the thresh hold and stood there giving her curious glances. "The baby's fine Danny. Just one more week and you'll be able to hold your child."

"Thanks." Danny gave her one of his trademark half smiles.

"Rafe went to the club to meet up the guys."

"Why don't you go too. There's no reason for you to stay here listening to us girl talk." Annaly gave Danny a gentle kiss on the cheek.

"Alright, I'll meet you at the diner for dinner. Love you."

"Love you too."