Chapter 3

Paul, Mark and Glenn came running through the doors of the hospital, immediately going to the elevator up to the 5th floor...the cardiac floor...

It had been 3 hours since Stephanie had called Paul...she was pacing up and down the floor of the room as Jennie and Melissa watched her...she was nervous that Paul wouldn't make it before Alyssa had to go into surgery. Alyssa being the fighter, was calm as a cucumber...she really wanted to talk with Paul, but understood, he might not make it.

The nurses came in and started unhooking tubes and preparing Alyssa's IV, getting her carefully moved over to a lone stretcher that sat next to the bed, waiting for her, to take her to surgery. After they had her all loaded up, they said they could take her slowly, incase her brother showed up.

Stephanie grabbed her hand and started walking with them down to the nurse's station. They met Dr. Sheppard at the nurses station and he was reading over the chart...Stephanie said, "Someone will come out and tell us what's going on right...because believe me you don't want her brother to have to come looking for someone for an update"

Dr. Sheppard chuckled a little and said, "Miss. McMahon, I'll have someone come out every hour and let you know what's going on...I promise." Stephanie nodded.

Paul saw them moving Aly and yelled, "I'M HERE! WAIT I'M HERE!"

Paul came to a screeching halt, when he saw how pale and sick Alyssa looked...it broke his heart...growing up he could beat the shit out of any bully who fucked with her...and threaten her boyfriends right and left with an inch of their life...but this was something different. He felt so helpless...He was powerless against her heart condition...and it was killing him inside...

Paul touched Alyssa's shoulder and said, "Trying to get better without my help?" Alyssa grabbed his arm and said, "You...made...it." Paul nearly busted out bawling, her breathing was so shallow, she had to take a breath in-between every word she tried to speak. Paul said, "I wouldn't be anywhere else honey...you know that." Aly said, "Just...figured...you'd...have...to...work."

Paul said, "No chance. I wouldn't miss this for the world." She smiled one of her brilliant smiles...Even with all the shit that was going on, she could still smile at the dumbest things. Aly said, "I'm...so...scared." Paul said, "Don't be...they will take excellent care of you."...Paul kissed her forehead and said, "I love ya sis...I'll be here when you get out...you remember that." Aly smiled and said, "I...Love...You...too."

Paul watched as Mark, Glenn, Melissa, Jennie and Steph all gave her soft kisses on the cheek or forehead...

Then Paul watched with a heavy heart as they wheeled his only sister, only living family member into Heart transplant surgery...It would be a 50/50 chance...the surgery would go either extremely well, or extremely bad.

There were a few time Paul broke down and cried...he'd never tell anyone...or let anyone see him...but as long as he was alone, he knew he could cry all he wanted.

After the 6 hour surgery, for some reason, Alyssa fell asleep and wouldn't wake back up...they said it was her body shutting down so she wouldn't get any infections, and so she could heal on the inside.

Paul never left her side...he stayed morning, noon, and night...Mark and Glenn tried to get him to go and sleep a little, he said he could sleep at the hospital just as easy...he didn't wanna miss on the off chance she might wake up...even for a split second.

She was sleeping peacefully for 4 weeks...

One night out of the blue, Paul watched as her eyes opened...

And stayed open.