Dave adjusted his hospital gown as he looked over at Aaron. "Did you see her?" he asked, hoping that he didn't sound as desperate as he felt.
"She was following Harriet and Greg down to the pre-op room with Helena. Hopefully, she'll be able to see you before you succumb to the anesthesia." Dave nodded, knowing that he was frowning a little. Though they hadn't found time to talk between, he had sent her a few texts to let her know that he had updated his will to include her and the children, if anything should happen. Her response had been to tell him that she wasn't certain that was necessary, but that it was a good thing to make certain their children were looked after. "What is it?"
"I'm just lost in thought. Listen, if Erin doesn't make it back here before they put me under, please, tell her that I love her. And give her the box in my pocket." He pointed towards his jacket, and Aaron went over there, pulling out the box and bringing it over to his bed as he took a seat in the chair. "It was always going to be her promise ring, but I never got around to giving it to her yet. I want her to have it, Aaron."
"I will make certain that she gets it, Dave. Don't let it bother you." He nodded as he flopped back onto the bed, staring up at the ceiling. "You're going to live to see it on her finger, I promise you that."
"Shouldn't make promises you can't keep, my friend," he replied as he looked over at the door, hearing a noise. Doctor Brody came through the door, a smile on her face as she bought the anesthetist along with her. "Hello, is it that time?"
"Yes. The other anesthetist is putting Helena under as we speak, and we head back into surgery as soon as you are completely under." He nodded, feeling his heart sink in his chest at the thought of not seeing Erin before he went into surgery. Giving Aaron a searching look, he watched his best friend nod before he left the room. "I'll see you in the recovery room, David."
"I'll count on it, Doctor Brody." They nodded to each other and then the anesthetist was doing his job, and Dave found himself out for the count before he could even get to ninety on the countback. The next thing he knew, he was waking up in the recovery room, the top of his stomach aching fiercely. He went to sit up, only to find himself a little too weak and in a little too much pain to do so. Carefully, he settled back onto the bed and reached for the remote so that he could call the nurse.
After pressing the button, Dave closed his eyes once more, finding himself strangely tired. He wondered of that was a side effect of the anesthesia, and he groaned lowly as he carefully reached up to rub at his temple, trying to ease away the headache there. "You woke up earlier than expected," Doctor Brody said as she came into the room. "You have a number of people who want to see you, but that will come after we've talked through a few things."
He nodded a little, listening to a chair scrape against the floor. Turning his head, he opened his eyes and tried to focus on her, bought found his vision swimming a little. "Is Helena all right? That's the only thing that matters," he replied.
"She made it through the surgery quite well, yes. Her parents are with her as she begins to wake up from the anesthesia, but that might take a bit, since babies react differently than adults to that. Now, you will be in hospital for the next week, though I know that you will be itching to get out of here sooner than that. However, we need to make certain that you're recovering well enough to be home on your own. From there, it will be six to eight weeks spent recovering at home, and then you can go back to light duty at work. I've already spoken with your partner and Ms Garcia, and they have assured me that they will make certain that you hold to that embargo."
"Why am I not surprised? Are they some of my visitors?"
"Ms Garcia and Agent Hotchner are the first who asked to see you," Doctor Brody replied, and he gave a small nod before turning his head back to look straight up at the ceiling. He was disappointed that Erin wasn't outside, but knew that he had to put on a brave face for Penelope and Aaron. "All right, I'll send them in. Try not to let them stay for much longer than fifteen minutes. You need to rest right now."
"Yes, Doctor Brody." The woman patted his hand gently before leaving the room.
There was a brief moment where he was alone with his thoughts, and Dave wondered how Erin had reacted to being presented with the ring. He hoped that she liked the gem he had chosen, having not wanted to go with a diamond, as that seemed too generic. Instead, he had chosen a ring that had reminded him of her eyes, and what had been a sentimental choice to him was suddenly starting to seem out of place. And then the door was opening, and he could hear Aaron and Penelope talking outside his room as someone came into his room.
"I don't have much time, they're moving Helena soon, but I wanted to tell you yes. Once we've figured out whatever issues are between us, I want to spend the rest of my life with you." Erin reached out and pressed her hand against his cheek and he could feel the band of the ring on her finger. "I do love you, even if you might not feel that love right now." And then she bent down and kissed him softly.
"I love you, too," he replied as he looked up into her face, seeing that she was close to tears. "Give Helena some love from me."
"I will," she said before kissing him once more. And then Erin was scurrying from the room, taking his heart with her, and he gave in to crying, not caring if Penelope or Aaron saw him in tears. There was only a few moments between Erin leaving and the others coming in, but it did feel like a lifetime before Penelope took a seat next to his bed and took hold of his hand, squeezing it tightly.
"Did everything go okay between you and Erin? She was crying, too, when she left."
"We love each other, but there's still a barrier between us that I can't seem to break down. I deserve the wall, but I don't know what to do."
"Just love her, David. That will always save the day." She picked up his hand and squeezed it tightly as Aaron came around to his other side. "We're going to take turns keeping you company for the next week, too. I already made up a schedule for us all, Erin included, because you two need to work out your issues, and there's nothing like being forced to interact to make that happen!"
"I do not entirely approve of that idea, Dave, just so you know." He chuckled a little and then groaned, touching his incision site gingerly with his free hand.
"Laughing is not a good idea right now, but I am so glad that the two of you are here. It's nice to have friends who care." He smiled at them both before letting his head thump back onto his pillow, wondering how he would get through these next few months before he could go back to work.