A/N – Thanks for the comments! Sorry I'm late. Crazy day at work. Glad you're digging the drama!

Chapter 19

Katherine didn't know what to do. She was going crazy. Pulling out her phone, she texted Johnny. "I know this is out of the blue, but Kylie is in the hospital again and I need you to talk me down."

He was just finishing up a business lunch and said goodbye and headed to his car. "Katherine?"

"Hi. I hope I'm not interrupting."

"I'm in Maryland. What's going on?"

"She's having seizures and she's back in the hospital."

He let out a harsh breath. "I'm so sorry."

"I just needed someone to talk to and you were great the night of the accident."

"Don't ever apologize for needing a friend."

She walked into the chapel which was empty and sat down. "I have a confession to make. I just can't hold it in anymore."

He slipped inside the car and waited for her to continue. "You can tell me anything."

"Kylie isn't mine. She's my half-sister's child."

Johnny certainly wasn't expecting that. "Then why do you have her?"

"Kylie's dad, Jake, had beaten Danielle and she told me to run."

"Katherine. You could be charged with kidnapping."

"I know, but I do have my sister's permission, just not his. I just—what was I supposed to do? He's dangerous and I was scared that he'd hurt her."

"Have you heard from your sister?"

"Yes. I spoke to her after the accident to let her know. She said it wasn't safe to come back."

"Jesus."

"I was going to leave town because there were pictures of me at the nurse's ball. I didn't realize it was going to such a big thing until it was too late, but now, I can't leave. She needs help."

Johnny closed his eyes. "I have some friends. They are bodyguards. I'm going to put one on you."

"Thank you. When are you coming home?"

"Tomorrow morning." He hadn't planned on it, but he felt like he should be there.

"We'll be here."

He ended the call and then dialed his friend Max and asked him if he would do him a favor and then called Francis.

"Hey. I need a favor."

Francis closed his door. "What's up?"

"Katherine is in trouble. She's in the hospital with Kylie. Can you check on her every once in a while. I'm out of the area."

"Of course. How worried should I be?"

"Very."

"Okay. I was surprised that you left."

"I needed to think about what I wanted."

Francis closed his eyes. "Did you make a decision?"

"Yes."

"She's a good woman."

"I know. I just think our timing sucks."

"Well, be gentle."

"I will."

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Patrick approached Amelia in the break room. "I need your help."

She put down her mug, surprised that he was talking to her, but she could see the serious look in his eyes. "Okay."

He followed her into a room and Patrick put up some scans. "What do you think?"

She carefully studied the film for a few minutes. "At first glance, I would say it's inoperable."

"But?"

"If we can get the swelling down in this area," she made a circle with her finger, "then I think we could do it."

"That's what I thought."

"I want in."

He closed his eyes.

"Talk to me."

"It's someone close to me. I don't know if they'll agree."

"If you do nothing then you will lose them."

"I know. She didn't want anyone to know."

Amelia noticed his slip and tried to think who it could be.

He sat down and his shoulders slumped forward.

"I lost my sister."

He raised his head.

"She had an aneurism and there was nothing I could do and she died in my arms. I completely spiraled out of control afterwards. If there was something I could do to rewind time and save her, I would. You have to do everything you can because time is not on our side. You are neurosurgeon because you are that good, not because you think you're God, that's just an added bonus."

Patrick smirked.

"I want to help. Let me help you save her."

"Okay."

"Can you tell me who it is?"

"Not without her permission. Can I get back to you?"

She nodded sure.

About two hours later, she saw Patrick pull Epiphany to the side and saw how his demeanor changed. She had seen them interact before, but this was different. It just clicked for her and she knew what she had to do.

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Epiphany followed Patrick into an on call room. "You're not about to get fresh right?"

He smiled but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "No."

The fact that he didn't return her volley with a clever quip didn't escape her. "You saw the scans."

"Yes."

"I told you th—"

"Piph, if we can get the swelling down, I can operate. I let Amelia look at them."

"Patrick!"

"I didn't tell her that it was you. She has no idea. Look, she said what I already knew, that it's operable and time is not our friend."

She shakily sat down. "You are not facing the facts. I could die on that table and you will not recover from that. I know you."

"Then let her do it. She's good."

Her brows shot up.

"I know you never thought you'd ever hear me say that, but it's true."

"Patrick…."

He got down on his knees. "I can't lose you. Every day I look forward to coming to work and you're a big part of it. You call me on my shit and make me laugh. I need you in my life. Please, will you at least consider it?" He understood why the other doctors didn't want to take the chance, but he had to do everything he could to save her.

She closed her eyes. "If I decided to go through with this, then what?"

"I'd need you to give someone your power of attorney who is in on this."

She understood that it couldn't be him. "Elizabeth has it."

"Does she know?"

"No."

"You're going to have to come clean with her."

"She has so much going on right now."

Patrick gripped her hands. "She is one of the strongest women I know. Talk to her. Holding all this emotion in is not helping. In fact, it could do more damage."

She knew he was right. "I will think about it."

"Okay. I won't tell Amelia anything until you're onboard." He was ready to beg, but didn't want push her.

"How much time do I have?"

"You have twenty-four hours to decide. Will you at least start taking the anti-swelling medication?"

"I'm already on it."

"How long?"

"A week."

"And is it working?"

She shook her head. "No."

"Then I'll put you on a different one. Do not give up hope."

He hugged her as she softly cried. "I love you and I'll get you through this." He ached for her, knowing she was scared.

It was exhausting holding it in and Epiphany let go and let him comfort her. She had a lot of thinking to do and she needed to get things in order just in case.

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Jeff knocked on Andrea's office door.

She was very surprised, but please to see him.

"Did you remember that tomorrow night we have dinner with the kids?"

"Yes." It was her birthday, but there was nothing happy about it.

"I'll try to be cordial," Jeff said.

"Thank you. I checked your schedule. We have an appointment with the counselor tomorrow morning at 9:00."

"Okay."

"Can I come to the house and drive to the restaurant with you?"

He shifted uncomfortably. It was hard to be nice when all he wanted to do was ring her neck. "Fine. I have to go."

She watched him leave. Jeff was stubborn, but she really hoped that the counseling would help and show him that she would do what it took to get their marriage back on track.

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Elizabeth walked into Lainey's office.

"Hello. Have a seat."

"Thanks."

Lainey glanced at the time so she could track it. "So, why don't tell me what is going on?"

"Well, you know about the wing collapsing, right?"

"I do."

"And about my confession at the ball?"

"Yes."

"Well, between all of that and my baby's father showing up out of the blue, things have been a little challenging."

"I think you might be understating it, but go on."

Liz let out a noisy sigh. "When Sophie died, I think a piece of my heart did too. I was devastated. I don't know how it's possible to love someone so much that you barely knew, but I did."

"For nine months, you carried her and talked to her. The two of you were bonded."

"Exactly. I know my parents wanted me to give her up. The moment I saw her cute little face, I knew that there was no way that I could. She needed her mom and I needed her.

Lainey pushed a box of tissues closer when she saw a tear fall.

Liz took one. "I called home and my mom sounded almost relieved. She'd never admit it, but she did. I was distraught and my dad tried to calm me. At that point, I just wanted to run away, but I really wasn't thinking straight because there was nowhere I could have run to that would have made me forget watching my baby take her last breath."

Liz paused to wipe her face.

"Then what happened?"

"My dad came and got me. I stopped talking for a while. One of the nurses had taken a picture for me and I put Sophie in a heart locket. My mom insisted that I speak to a therapist."

"Did it help?"

"Yeah. I mean, I was still messed up, but to my mother's relief, I was functional."

"Are you mad at her Elizabeth?"

She shrugged. "Would it do any good to be?"

"Actually, it would be good to let it out so you aren't shoving your feelings down."

"I'm kind of like her now."

"What do you mean?"

"She shoves her emotions down to put up a brave front. The funny thing is that I never wanted to be like her, but that is what I became so that I could deal."

"Maybe that is how she learned to cope too."

"I wish I knew. She's not very forthcoming about my grandparents, whom I've never met, or her childhood. When I got back home, John was gone and it was like I was completely alone. His father had taken him away so that he couldn't be trapped by the whore Lizzie Webber. Apparently, it was all my fault."

"Did John know that the baby died?"

"Yes."

"Did he ever try to contact you?"

"Yes, but my parents changed our number and his father took his letters to me."

"And what does John mean to you now?"

"I don't know. I mean, I will always care about him and I do feel like we were robbed of being together, but I'm not the same person I was back then. I buried Lizzie deep inside me and I don't let her out much."

"Why?"

"The pain—because I'm scared I'd go wild like I used to. I have responsibilities now. I bury myself in my work because every child I get to help save allows me deal with her loss."

"And what about your personal life?"

"I have a boyfriend. I think he's about to break up with me though."

"Why?"

"I wasn't all in. I held back because I'm scared to let someone totally in again."

"And now that you're confronting your fears and trying to move forward, do you see yourself doing that with him?"

"He's such a great guy, but I don't think he would like me as much once I'm back to myself."

"I want to dig into that more, but we're out of time today. I think I have a pretty good idea how to help you move forward."

"I'm glad you do, because I'm clueless."

Lainey smiled. "I'm so glad you came to me. Can we meet again in a few days?"

"Yes. I'll make time."

"Alright, I just need to check on one thing. I'll text you later."

"Thanks Lainey."

Elizabeth walked out, feeling a little better that she had taken the first step in healing. She went to find out which room Kylie was in.

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Epiphany approached Amelia who was sitting on a table getting some sun. "Hello there."

Amelia brushed a tear away. "Hi."

"Are you okay?"

She nodded. "Tomorrow is the anniversary of when my sister died. I was talking about it early and my emotions snuck up on me."

Piph sat down. "How did she die?"

"It was a brain aneurysm. It's pretty ironic that she was related to the one person that could have possible helped her. She had been having headaches, but was misdiagnosed."

"That's rough."

"Yeah. Something in my gut told me that she needed me, so I flew out to see her. She collapsed outside and that was it. She was gone."

"I'm so sorry for your loss."

Amelia could see that Piph was emotional. "So, what's up with you?"

"I'm the patient."

Amelia swallowed hard. "I thought that maybe it was you. I'm here if you need to talk."

"You really think that you and Patrick can save me?"

"Yes."

There was no hesitation in her voice or on her face.

"I'm scared."

"I think anyone would be. It's a risk."

"But I don't have much to lose right?"

"It's true that you don't have a lot of time left, but I would understand your decision either way. I would never judge you for it. Would I be disappointed if you chose not to have it? Hell yeah, but it's your decision to make."

"I'm scared that Patrick will be devastated if I die on that table."

"Patrick would find a way to cope, but I'm not trying to see that ending. You are a fighter and so are we. Together, I think we can do it."

Piph sighed. "He said I had twenty-four hours to decide."

Amelia looked out at the skyline. "The sooner you decide, the better." She was scared that the tumor would take Epiphany before they could operate.

"You never think that something like this could happen to you. I don't want to die. I just don't want to destroy everyone on the way out if it's my time to go."

"I get that, but they will be destroyed regardless. You are loved around here. I see how much people revere you. We'd be a mess without you."

Piph wiped her face. "Thank you for saying that."

"Don't let the fear take over."

"Something tells me that you have some experience in that area."

"Yeah. I'm a little twisty."

"All the good ones are."

Amelia smiled. "I like you Epiphany. I'm hoping we'll become good friends."

"Me too."