Ê Ê"Kids've been gone a long time," ÊSam said quietly, gently stroking Catherine's fingers as he talked. ÊHe had been a bit concerned at first, Noah going off with them with how Cosmo had reacted but.... ÊThey were good kids, if they had been gone this long, they must have worked things out. ÊHe shook his head slowly, determinedly. ÊDamn well better have worked things out. ÊThey needed to pull together now, not bicker and fight. Catherine needed them, needed all of them, and Sam would not tolerate anything but calm, soothing behavior around her.
Ê ÊHe smiled slightly when he felt Catherine's hand twitch in his grasp. Ê "They'll be back soon," Êhe told her, reaching out to gently stroke her forehead with his other hand. ÊHot, her skin felt much warmer beneath his fingers, something he hadn't really realized until then. ÊHe closed his eyes for a moment, concern washing over him. ÊFever going higher, that couldn't be good. ÊThey needed to get hold of Kimble, find out if there was a specialist they could get in here to take a look and fast. ÊHe wasn't losing Catherine, not now, not when they finally had a chance to be together again.
Ê ÊHe stood, moving over to the small bathroom, finding a washcloth and running cool water over it before coming back to Catherine's side once more, gently pressing the cloth against her forehead. Ê"That feel any better, darlin'?" Ê he asked quietly as he took her hand again, felt a tiny bit of pressure on his fingers. Ê"Good. ÊWe're going to take good care of you, baby. ÊYou'll be better before you know it." ÊHe sat there quietly, gently stroking her fingers for a few moments before continuing.
Ê Ê"Don't know if there's any place special you'd like to have the wedding but kids and I visited this island once chasing this fugitive, Mackinac, I think. ÊIt was pretty. That might be a nice place." ÊSam closed his eyes for a moment once more, thinking of the wedding, remembering what he and Catherine had planned so long ago. ÊNot what he supposed a lot of women would want, just something simple at a courthouse but.... ÊHe was going to give her something better this time, maybe not perfect but at least they'd finally be together. Ê
Ê ÊHer family, her family would be a major problem. ÊHe wondered if he should call them, let them know what had happened. Ê'Damn, guess I should. ÊLast thing I wanna deal with now. ÊMaybe Savannah can do that when the kids get back. She's real diplomatic...' ÊHe shook his head slightly as he thought of Catherine's family. ÊThey had hurt her, hurt her badly after Patrick's birth and death. ÊProbably wouldn't come when they heard what had happened but if they did show up.... ÊThey weren't hurting her again. ÊHe wouldn't let them.
Ê ÊJust then he heard a noise and turned as the door opened, surprised to see an older man dressed in the garb of a priest entering instead of the kids. Ê Ê'Priest? ÊWhat's a priest doing here?' Êhe thought, worry rapidly replacing surprise. ÊHe didn't think that Catherine was even.... Ê"Can I help you, sir?" Sam asked automatically. The priest waved a gentle hand in dismissal.
Ê Ê"No, son, I'm here to help you. ÊI'm very sorry for your loss. ÊThe hospital called me a little while ago," Êthe priest said in a gentle tone as he reached out, patting Sam gently on the shoulder before the marshal could react. Ê It was always so tragic, losing someone so suddenly like this. ÊHe reached into the bag he had brought with him, taking out the necessary items for administering last rites. ÊThis was one of his least favorite tasks. ÊBut he prepared calmly under the disbelieving stare of the marshal. Calm, the old priest had found, was a good thing in a situation such as this. It tended to ease the emotions of the bereaved. And this poor man, he thought, looked like he could use a soothing presence.
Ê ÊSam couldn't bring himself to speak, shock now overriding worry as he watched the priest praying over Catherine, gently applying some sort of oil... Ê He vaguely recalled seeing something like that once or twice with a victim. Ê Last Rites? ÊBut.... ÊNo, this couldn't be happening. ÊShe couldn't.... ÊHow long? ÊThey hadn't told him she was dying. How long did he have with her? ÊThis wasn't happening, he wouldn't let it happen. ÊHe felt tears stinging his eyes, tears he could barely force back. ÊHe reluctantly let go of Catherine's hand, half afraid if he let her go, that she would slip away automatically under the priest's ministrations. ÊHe hurried to the door, motioning to a passing nurse, pulling out his badge as he did so. Ê"Have Cosmo Renfro, 'Vannah Cooper, Bobby Biggs and Noah Newman paged now! ÊI want them here five minutes ago!" Êhe demanded before rushing back to Catherine's side once more. ÊHe couldn't lose her, not now, not like this. ÊHe could only stare at the scene in horror as the priest continued his task.