Johnny awoke the next morning by the alarm clock blaring beside his head. He hadn't been asleep long. He and Baby were up most of the night. But, he wasn't going to complain, he enjoyed every minute of it.

At the same time Baby was coming to her senses too as she reached over to see if Johnny was still lying beside her. "Good Morning."

"Good morning beautiful." Johnny said pulling her close to him.

"I wish we had time to just lay here." Baby said wishing they could. "But, today is the day."

"I know honey but we got to get moving." Johnny said sitting up in the bed. "We need to hurry."

"Well, I will get Josie up if you want to get ready." Baby said climbing out of bed.


The three made it to the hospital at about ten till six. They were escorted right into a room and were told to wait for Dr. Fleming to arrive. Baby seemed to pace back in forth, Josie was a sleep on the bed, and Johnny just sat there quietly in a chair beside the bed.

"You okay?" Johnny broke the silence.

"I am just scared. I just want everything to come out okay." Baby said continuing to pace.

"Just have faith Baby." He told her.

"You seem so cool and calm." Baby told him as she couldn't understand why.

Johnny rose to his feet and walked over to her. "Because I know I am doing something to help Josie. I am not scared for me. I know I will be okay. I can tell you to relax but I know right now you are worried. It's natural."

"Well, good morning." Their attention was diverted to Dr. Fleming walking into the room. "How is everyone?"

"Anxious." Baby spoke for them all.

"Everything is going to be okay." Dr. Fleming directed his attention toward Johnny.

"We just need to get you and Josie prepped for surgery."

"How long will it all take?" Baby asked him as she looked over at her sleeping daughter."

"I would say no more than about three hours or so for the transplant. Both will probably need to be in recovery for at least an hour or two." He told them both. "But we do need to go ahead and get started."

Baby stepped over to wake Josie up. "Time to go now sweetheart."

"She'll be fine. Don't worry." Dr. Fleming said taking Josie by the hand as she climbed off the bed.

Baby knelt down to Josie. "I love you and will see you soon. Okay?"

"I love you too." Josie said still half asleep.

"I will be here when you wake up." Baby said as she tried to hold back her tears for Josie's sake.

"Mr. Castle you can follow us down." Dr. Fleming said.

"Can you give me just a minute?" Johnny asked the doctor.

"Sure. Josie and I will wait outside." He told Johnny and he and Josie stepped out the door.

Baby took a deep breath as Johnny walked up to a tearful Baby. "We will be back in no time."

"Oh, Johnny." Baby threw herself into his arms. "Thank you!"

"Shhh…..don't thank me. Just be strong okay." He told her as she held her tightly. "You going to be okay?"

"Yeah, mom and dad will be here any minute." Baby said breaking the hug to wipe her tears.

"Well, listen to me." Johnny started as he cupped Baby's face. "Promise you won't worry yourself to death."

Baby managed to get a little laugh out. "I promise."

"I will see you soon." Johnny said leaning down to place a gentle kiss on Baby's lips. "Plus you and I have a lot to discuss when this is over."

Baby followed Johnny outside the hospital room and kissed Josie one more time as she watched them walk down the long hall. With a wink at Baby Johnny and Josie headed down to surgery prep.


Jake and Marge made it to the hospital not long after Johnny and Josie headed down. Jake seemed to be the calmest out of all of them. Baby and Marge were just alike pacing back and forth. Seems like their eyes were glued to the clock and that made time seem to drag by.

"Will you both please sit down?" Jake asked them finally.

"I can't sit still daddy." Baby told him as she fiddled her fingers.

"Jake will you go and see if you can't find anything out." Marge asked him.

"Marge when they know something they will come and tell us. I promise you they won't hesitate to come and give us an update." Jake said trying to make Marge understand.

"I know." Marge sighed as she walked over to Baby. "Hopefully it won't be too much longer."

"We told her last night that Johnny was her father." Baby told her mother as she took a sip of her coffee.

"Let me guess, she was thrilled." Marge responded.

"Yes. She seemed to be on cloud nine. It looked like it made her day. She likes him to much. I am glad we told her I just wish she had of always known that was her father. Things would be so much simpler." Baby looked away from her mother at that point. "I made a bad decision. Thank God Johnny forgives me."

"Well, now she will know her father. He seems like he is ready for that responsibility." Marge told her.

Jake walked in on the conversation. "There is still something there between you and him. I can see it."

Baby shook her head yes as tears formed again. "Johnny and I have so much to talk about now, more than just Josie."

Before another word was said Dr. Fleming entered the room and all attention was turned to him. "Everything went off without a hitch."

"Oh good. When can I see them?" All Baby wanted to do was see her family.

"Well, they are both in recovery right now. As soon as Johnny wakes we are moving him to room. As far as Josie, when she wakes up we will probably keep her in recovery a little while longer since her surgery was more in depth." He told the family.

"So, they are both fine?" Baby asked to make sure.

"Yes, Ms. Houseman, they are doing fine. I will have Josie back here in the room as soon as I feel it is appropriate." Dr. Fleming could see the worry in Baby's eyes. "Johnny should be out soon I will come get you or send a nurse down to take you to his room. He might feel like going home tomorrow."

"What about Josie?" Baby asked.

Dr. Fleming cleared his throat. "She will need to stay longer to make sure her body does not reject the marrow. Sometimes this happens and we just need to keep her here for observation."

"Thank you." Jake said as she went to shake Dr. Fleming's hand. "Just keep us updated."

"Always." He said with a smile as she excited the room.

"See that wasn't so bad." Jake said as she put his arm around Baby. "Everything is fine."

"Now I just wish I could see Josie." Baby said trying to smile.

"You will in time honey." Marge chimed in. "I am just glad this cancer will be all behind us now."

"We'll now that we know everything is fine why don't we all head down the snack bar. I could us a little something in my stomach." Jake told the women.

"I think I will just wait till they come and get me." Baby told them. "You two go ahead. If your not back when we can go in I will come and get you."

"Okay, if you need us we will be downstairs." Marge said kissing Baby on the cheek.

Baby took a seat in the chair next to the window and stared out at the crowded parking lot. Wasn't much scenery out the window? But, it did make her mind drift back and forth from Josie to Johnny and Johnny to Josie.

She had no idea what was going to happen in the recovery process with Josie. Hopefully if would be too difficult for Josie to get past this ordeal and move on to a healthier life now. Baby owed it all to Johnny.

Then her mind would drift back to Johnny and wonder what was happening between them. What did he want to talk about? Baby knew it involved them but what?

"Ms. Houseman?" Baby's thoughts were shut off at the sound of a woman's voice. "We have Mr. Castle in a room. He is asking for you. Follow me and I will show you where his room is."

"Thank you." Baby said following the nurse.