DISCLAIMER:Don't Own it. No Money Made... Just for fun and enjoyment.

A/N: Wow... Judging by the speed that last chapter was gobbled up, I'd guess you're anxious for another... And I've even given poor Sara a little time off ;)

REVIEWS: Thanks to all who have reviewed. And thanks to some reviewers, I have found the most wonderful CSI (among other shows) site; YTDAW. I even took the plunge last night and registered. :D


Chapter 25

It had been a fairly uneventful shift at Desert Palms Hospital, but Dr. Thomas O'Halloran was still exhausted after spending nearly twenty of his twenty four hour shift finishing up patient charts and notes that had been neglected after the previous week's rotating door in the Emergency Room.

When he originally found out that he had not matched at any of the Los Angeles area hospitals, but instead had been chosen by Desert Palms, he was seriously depressed. But, after seven months at the Las Vegas hospital, he realized, that in this environment, he had made far more advances in his learning than he did in his entire time at UCLA, and far greater strides than any of his counterparts still in Los Angeles.

At Desert Palms, he was the new hot shot resident surgeon. In Los Angeles, he would have been a number, or just another surgeon looking to make a name for himself. In Las Vegas he was performing cardiac re-sections following substantial gunshot wounds. In Los Angeles, he would still be operating on bowel obstructions and performing cut downs in the Emergency Room. As much as it pained him to be separated from the woman he loved, he knew that he was a far greater surgeon because of the match he made and chose to follow.

Fortunately for him, his fiancé was feeling the same pains of separation, and she was in a better position to find another job, since she had already completed her residency. Also in his favor was the fact that she had followed her heart and not his advice.

Upon learning of her position at the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office, he told her she would be giving up too much to follow him to Las Vegas and that she should worry more about her career than their relationship. He felt that if their relationship was meant to survive, they could handle the separation for the duration of his residency. And for a surgeon, that was a foolish thing to say, since he knew full well a man cannot live without his heart.

He had wept upon seeing her face the last time he managed to get away for a couple of days, and went to see her back in Los Angeles, and so had she. For the two days they were together, they had not been able to be apart from each other for even a minute. He had nearly walked into the ladies' room of the restaurant they dined at the second night, because he was so in need of her touch.

When she took him to the airport the following morning, they both broke down on the departure platform, and she informed him that as soon as she had completed a full year at the coroner's office she was going to give notice and come to Las Vegas to find work. He half-heartedly tried to talk her out of it, knowing it could mean she was giving up her dream of practicing forensic pathology, but his heart was telling him to shut up with every word. In the end, she told him that she would never give up her dream, but would just have to work a little harder for it.

At the end of her full year of employment, she gave her notice to the County Coroner, who had actually begged her not to go, but she was resolute in her decision. She gave him six weeks notice, and told Thomas that, with or without another job, she would be in Las Vegas in six weeks.

When she called him at the end of the fourth week to give him her flight itinerary for the one interview she had been able to acquire, he learned that she had been asked to interview for another position as well. When she told him who it was with, his heart jumped up into his throat, because Thomas knew how she had dreamed of a job like that her entire life. She would not only get the chance to continue in forensic pathology, but she would be working side by side with one of her idols. He went straight to the hospital chapel and said two extra sets of prayers that night. The chaplain had come in and thought he was there worrying over a family member or a particularly bad patient. So, when Thomas explained to him what was going on, Father Wilhem promised to light a candle for them both when he returned to St. Anne's that night.

Father Wilhem nearly cried that afternoon, when Thomas had asked him to perform their marriage ceremony in less than two weeks. In the seven months Thomas had been in Las Vegas, Father Wilhem had become his greatest friend and he held the man's opinion in very high regard.

Thomas had not been blessed with the kind, loving and supportive upbringing his fiancé had been given. He was practically raised by the Brother's and the Sister's of the parochial school he had gone to as a boy. He had never known his father and his mother was a part-time prostitute, when she couldn't stay straight long enough to keep any other job.

Brother Angelo was his protector on numerous occasions, and when Social Services was ready to take Thomas and his older sister into custody, it was Brother Angelo and Mother Agnes who stepped in and offered them both a place to board at the school. His sister had considered it a punishment most of the time, but Thomas thought it was his greatest blessing. She was housed with the Novitiates in the Convent wing and he with the other Monks in the Monastery wing. He ate dinner every night with Brother Angelo and Father Gregario, and they became his family.

His sister was sixteen when they were given refuge at the school, but when she turned seventeen, she convinced Social Services to emancipate her, and she returned to living with their mother. Thomas, however, stayed with the Monks until he left for college on a full scholarship to UCLA, which was Father Gregario's alma mater. Thomas was most proud of the study bible that Father Gregario had given him when he left for college, as it had been the Father's when he was a student. He still kept it in a place of honor in their home, alongside Father Gregario's funeral program.

When he first met Stephanie at UCLA Medical School, he was amazed to find another student of the medical school at mass. She claimed that she found comfort in the traditions of the church, and she felt that her family was what it was because of the gifts the church had given them. When he learned that she felt that way because both of her parents had been raised in Catholic orphanages, he knew he had met the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. What cinched it for him, in the end, was the fact that she was also probably the smartest woman he had ever met, who was also deeply religious, as well as possessing one of the keenest wits and sharpest tongues he had ever known.

He knew he was in the presence of an exceptional woman, and he was going to do everything in his power to be the man she would want to spend her life with. As it turned out, he already was that man, so there was little effort on his part. The two just seemed to click instantly. He knew it was a done deal when he had met her parents and the famed "Uncle Gil."

Her father and uncle were in Los Angeles for a forensics convention of some sort and the trio had come by to meet "this young man we've been hearing so much about." At the end of the weekend, her mother had given him a hug and thanked him for making her daughter so happy, her father shook his hand and told him to study hard, and her uncle shook his hand and gave him a silent nod.

Thomas had known from Stephanie that her uncle was not a very social man, and that if he acknowledged him in any way, that he could consider that an in. When the trio left, Stephanie had been dumbstruck, and when Thomas questioned her about it, she just said, "I've never seen Uncle Gil take to someone so fast… You must be the one." She had meant it as a little joke, but Thomas took her at her word.

When they traveled to San Francisco to spend Thanksgiving with her family the next month, Thomas had come prepared. Right after dinner, when he knew everyone would be slow to move, he got down on one knee and proposed right then and there. Thankfully for him, she accepted, and they were given her parents' blessing. He had promised her father that he would never ask her to give up her dreams, and that he would do everything in his power to help her achieve them. Her father thanked him for saying so, but then he told Thomas that he knew his daughter well enough to know that she would make her own decisions based on her own best interest, and he would just have to trust the both of them to understand what that meant to everyone.

The only truly rough spot in their relationship came when Stephanie's father passed away unexpectedly. She was upset that her father would not be able to walk her down the aisle at her wedding, and for a short time, she blamed Thomas for not wanting to get married until they had completed their residencies. It did not last long, and Thomas remained at her side through the entire ordeal, never letting her forget how much he loved her and that her father would always be with them, even if he was no longer on this earth.

After it was all over, Stephanie confided in him that it was his strength which allowed her to grieve in her own time, and she was deeply apologetic for having blamed him for anything. Thomas merely assured her that it would take a lot more than a few angry words spoken in the throes of grief to get rid of him. And when he was sure she was ready, he told her that it would most likely take something on the order of a tactical nuclear weapon to get rid of him at that point in their lives. That was when he knew everything was going to be just fine, because she responded with, "I think that can be arranged." He so loved her dark sense of humor, especially in tense situations.

It was with those thoughts, and with the fatigue of his shift, that he entered their home through the garage door to find a surprise he never would have suspected in a million years. "Mom? How did you get here?"

"Hey, Thomas… What would you like for breakfast this morning?" The older woman was standing on the other side of the island in their kitchen, her white hair practically glowing from the morning sun coming into the kitchen from the window.

Before he could try to form an answer in his head, his fiancé came bounding into the room, "Hey, gorgeous!" She wrapped her arms around his neck and placed a kiss on his cheek and looked at the other tall woman in their kitchen, "Mom, you can just get him some tea and some toast… He's probably ready to crash by now, huh, honey?"

"Coming right up." She set to work adding another cup to the tray she was setting up when he entered the house, and Stephanie started leading him into the living room.

Just as he was about to ask her where in the world her mother had come from, Thomas was greeted by another woman in his living room, "Catherine?"

"Well, good morning to you, too." Catherine was sitting on the couch with a bunch of brochures and flyers spread out on the coffee table.

"Morning…" He turned to Stephanie with a completely confused look on his face, "Did I fall asleep at the hospital and miss a week?"

Stephanie and Catherine immediately started laughing out loud, "Oh honey… I'm sorry, I guess I should have warned you, huh?" She stroked his hair a moment and then leaned her head against his for reassurance. "Catherine is here to help with the wedding stuff… She has some great contacts around Vegas."

"But your mother wasn't supposed to be here until Friday." His face still showed all signs of complete confusion.

"Oh yeah, well, she caught the first flight in to Vegas this morning, after she and I talked last night. She wanted to help out, so we weren't overwhelmed with all the plans and work… You don't mind, right?" Stephanie guided him into sitting down in his Barcalounger.

Once firmly seated, and Stephanie's mother had taken her seat on the couch next to Catherine with a tray set up for tea and coffee, he shrugged his shoulders and said, "Well, no… I was just a little shocked to see everyone in here, I guess."

Stephanie sat on the arm of his chair and cradled his head against her side a moment, "That's okay, honey… Take your tea from Mom, I'll go get your toast, and then you can go to bed… When you wake up, the world will be right side up again."

As she got up to leave the room, he found that his arm was being tapped and a cup of tea was waiting for him. "Thanks, Mom." The older woman patted his forearm, and he felt the warmth from her hands.

Once his mind finished processing everything, he felt like the world was back in its rightful place. Dr. Thomas O'Halloran had a family, and he was truly happy.