When Perry walked into the waiting room alone, everyone began to panic. "Where's Della?" Paul asked.

"They're taking her into surgery."

"What?" all three men asked in shock.

"She has a blood clot in her brain. Actually, she had two but one ruptured and caused a mini-stroke. That's most likely what happened on the stand. Both the stroke and the clot are causing what's called aphasia. That's why she can't understand words. The doctor said that after the surgery and some speech therapy, she should be okay."

"Man, she cannot catch a break," Paul said.

"I know," Perry said, "I need to call her parents." The man walked over to the phone booth and closed the door behind him. Della's mother answered the phone. "It's Perry Mason, Mrs. Street."

"Oh, Perry, how are you? How's Della?"

"That's actually why I called. Is your husband there?"

"Yes, he is."

"Tell him to get on the extension." Perry heard Daisy tell her husband to pick up the extension. The man told Perry when he was on the line. "The doctor is almost certain that she'll fully recover, but Della had a mini-stroke."

"What?" Daisy gasped.

"She'd been quite forgetful since yesterday. Today, she was having trouble comprehending words and finding the words she needed to speak. She was having difficulty writing and reading. Della ended up being called to the stand today, and she just got lost. She couldn't understand what anyone was saying. The doctor thinks that's when a brain clot ruptured and caused the stroke. She's in surgery now to fix another clot they found. He said the surgery should really help and therapy will fix the rest."

"I don't know what to do," Dan said.

"Why don't you stay home for now? I'll call you once she's out of surgery and I've seen her. Then we'll go from there."

"Daisy?"

"I guess that's the best thing to do right now. Thank you for calling us, Perry."

"Of course," he said, "anytime. I know it's difficult, but try to hang in there."

"You too," Dan said and they ended the call.

A few hours later, Perry walked into Della's room. She was in her bed, asleep. He took a seat next to her bed and held her hand. About ten minutes later, Della started waking up. She opened her eyes and looked around until she saw him, "Perry," she said softly.

"Hey, darling," he smiled, "welcome back."

"What happened?"

"You had two blood clots in your brain from the accident. They think that one burst while you were on the stand. You had surgery to fix the other clot."

"I had brain surgery?"

"Yes, you did. There's a bit more."

"What?"

"The clot that burst, it caused you to have a mini-stroke. The doctor doesn't see any reason you shouldn't make a full recovery. The clots were probably the cause of all of your other problems. Only time and therapy will tell."

The doctor walked in and began to assess Della. He wasn't going to have her try to walk for another day or two. He wanted the anesthesia to completely wear off and needed her wide awake. She could move her limbs and everything appeared to be better. Her speech was better, and they'd test her ability to understand words when they had her try to walk. That day came two days later. Perry placed an arm around Della's waist and took her hand in his. He helped his fiance to slowly stand up. She was a bit wobbly, but Perry had a firm hold on her. Della took five steps before having to go back. Perry went over what he was having Della dictate just days ago. She asked him to repeat the last part again more slowly. When he did, she understood. Della told Perry to tell her parents to hold off on coming up right now. That Perry would keep them updated because she was a bit uncomfortable talking on the phone. Things were looking up and the woman was very optimistic. Maybe a bit too optimistic.

Perry shut his practice down. His only priority was getting Della well again. The woman was becoming increasingly frustrated with her situation. There were days when she was too tired to get out of bed. Plus, she needed her walker again. Her speech and cognitive therapy were going a lot better. There were times she'd need someone to repeat what they said or times when she hesitated before speaking. Della was released from the hospital two weeks after surgery. Perry took her home and made her use the wheelchair to get to her apartment.

"I could have walked," she grumbled.

"Darling, you still tire quite easily. Even if I hold onto you, you'll wear yourself out before we even reach your door."

"Perry, I'm not an," Della paused for a moment. Perry knew to give her enough time, "invalid."

"I never said you were." They reached Della's apartment. Perry unlocked the door and opened it before wheeling Della inside. He shut her door and locked it. "Would you like to walk to the couch?"

"Yes," she answered.

Perry took Della's hands and pulled her to her feet. He placed an arm around her waist while still holding her hand. The man heard Della breathing heavily the entire way. He got her to the couch and helped her to sit, "I'll go get you some water." Perry hurried to the kitchen and back. "Here, darling," the man handed his fiance the glass but noticed how much her hands were shaking. He helped her to hold it steady while she drank from it. Then he placed it on the table next to her. "I'm going to get your walker." Perry pushed the chair to the side so it was out of the way. He dug out Della's walker and set it up within her reach.

"I'm sorry I snapped at you," she breathed out.

"It's alright," he said sympathetically, "you're understandably frustrated. I can take it."

Della looked down, "you shouldn't have to."

Perry gently lifted her chin with his index finger, "we're not going through this again. I love you more than anything, and I love taking care of you."

"Okay," she said softly. Perry kissed her and brushed a strand of hair out of her face. He knew this would be difficult for her. That she'd get frustrated and direct it at him, but he didn't care. She could yell at him all she wanted. He was just thankful that she was alive.

Perry was in the kitchen making dinner, "Perry!" Della called.

He walked out of the kitchen and found her leaning heavily on her walker, panting. Perry rushed to her side, "what's wrong?"

"Thought I could make it."

He took her back to the couch and sat her down. The man sat in front of her on the coffee table, "where were you going?"

"To sit with you. I'm bored," she said.

"I'm almost done. Just sit here and catch your breath. I'll be right back."

Della sat and waited for Perry. Sure enough, he returned a few minutes later. "I'm sorry I keep worrying you. I'm just so sick of being laid up."

Perry put an arm around her and pulled her closer to him, "I can understand that. I'd feel the same way."

"Perry, what if I have another stroke? I mean, now that I've had one, I'm more likely to have another one that's worse."

"We'll just do what the doctor says to help you recover. I'll never leave you, Della. I'm here for the long haul."