This Woman
ladero
Rating: G
Diclaimer: Do not now nor have I ever owned these characters. I'm currently borrowing them a while.
A/N: This story is companion piece to my story "This Man" and it might helpful to read the other story. If you don't want to do that, this story will make more sense if you know that it takes place in a hospital.
She's still here. I told her to go home, but when has she ever listened to me? For more than thirty years, she has been impervious when it comes to my edicts. Still, I can't imagine what my life would have been without this woman. In truth, I could imagine, but I'd rather not.
This woman has brought joy and laughter to my life. All those years ago, she asked me to take a chance on her. Being a man of great foresight and wisdom, I handed her my badge, but it took me a while longer to give her my heart. Fortunately, this woman was patient enough to stick around until I figured it out. It took a few Mandy's, Joey's, and Amy's, but eventually I realized this woman was the only one for me. Unfortunately, it also took a terrorist's bomb to drive that point home. I came so close to losing this woman.
God, she's so beautiful. It's not just the silvery hair that was once shiny and blond. It's not her famed alabaster skin, or the lovely blue eyes that still sparkle with wit and intelligence. The warmth radiates from her and the heart that has shown me how to love make her truly beautiful. They say true beauty comes from within and they couldn't be more right in this woman's case.
I can feel her hand in mine. I've held this woman's hand through the best and worst moments of my life. When I woke up after being shot, and throughout that long summer of recovery, I clung to this woman's hand. In the hospital after Gaza, I thanked God that I still had this woman's hand to hold. As I promised to love and honor her as long as both shall live, I could feel her hands trembling in mine. On three separate occasions, I stood by her side (alternating between anxiety and excitement) and held her hand as she brought our beautiful children into this world. Now this woman's hand is once again my anchor as I cling to these final moments. I wish I didn't have to go just yet, but at least I was blessed enough to spend a lifetime with this woman, my Donnatella.