Chapter 2:
Thanks to all the people who reviewed and subscribed to the fic. It means a lot to know that I've got this much support behind me. I hope you enjoy the chapter and please review. If you want anything specific to happen (or not happen) please let me know, either through PM or review. I write for all the readers, so please let me know what you want to see happen to our two favourite characters.
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"Tumours?" Henry asked blankly "there are new ones? How many?"
"We've found four new ones, two are near the liver, one near the bowel and the other one close to your stomach" Owen explained regretfully.
"Ok" Henry sighed and nodded calmly. He was used to the bad news, but Teddy on the other hand…..wasn't. She was lying on her side huddled close to Henry, trying to fight her urge to breakdown. But it was too late, large teardrops were already rolling down her cheek and a small sob escaped her as Henry brought her closer in to his chest.
"What's the plan doc?" he asked expectantly. "Surgery right?"
Owen nodded silently, maintaining his stance. "I've paged Doctor Bailey and Doctor Webber, they will be down here soon to talk you through the procedure. We'll give you and…." He glanced at Teddy "some time to process it all".
"Thanks Dr Hunt" Henry smiled politely as Owen left the room.
Henry glanced down at Teddy and put on a brave smile. "It will be ok hon" he reassured her soothingly. "I've had over 80 surgeries" he reminded her with a chuckle.
"Yes" she nodded, looking up at him with tear glazed eyes. "But I've only been your wife for a few- this is all still new to me, I love you so much and the just knowing that you are in a room somewhere, being cut open, it's scary to me. I've never had someone to love, someone to worry about, this is all still unexplored territory".
Henry just smiled warmly and gazed at her lovingly "well I'll just have to make a special effort to stay alive" he grinned.
"Stop it" she whacked him playfully on the arm. "Didn't you hear what I just said!"
"I heard" he nodded "but it doesn't mean that I can't have a little fun, I'm a man in gown with four tumours sitting in his gut, I think I'm allowed to tease my wife- just a little".
"I'll let you get away with it" she grinned "only this time" she reached up and planted a long kiss on his lips. "Remember I love you" she told him as she stroked his face.
"I love you too" he replied.
"Well this is how you can show me- just stay alive"
"Deal" he nodded in agreement, his blue eyes lighting up with a bright smile.
Teddy huddled closer in to him, resting her head on his chest, feeling his chest rise and fall with every breath he took. Henry placed his arm over her and sighed contently.
"Sometimes I wish we could stay like this forever" he told her, resting his head on hers.
"I know" Teddy agreed. "Just pause the moment and forget the rest of world".
"Well unfortunately that's not really possible" he chuckled gently. "In this world, I'm as sick as a dog and the OR is my second home, but at least I've got a hot wife waiting for me at my bedside".
Teddy glanced up at Henry and smiled dryly "no need to be sarcastic" she scolded him.
"I'm just a realist. You know me, I tell it how it is- no bullshit" he shrugged.
"Guess that's one of things I love about you" Teddy smiled and pecked him on the lips. "I better pop home and get you a few things before your surgery" she told him, rising from the bed. "You're right, we can't stay like this forever, you've got major surgery coming up".
"Did you have to remind me?" he laughed.
"You're the realist" she reminded him with a grin.
"Touché"
Teddy slipped on her shoes and shrugged on her coat. "Don't let Webber or Bailey cart you off anywhere until I get back" she warned, leaning over and giving him one last kiss.
"You got it boss" Henry smiled, giving her a mock salute. Teddy gave her husband a quick wave as she walked out of the room.
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Teddy walked back into the trauma room to find Dr Webber and Bailey standing in the room, chatting with Henry.
"What's going on?" Teddy asked, walking into the room and dumping the bag she was carrying on the table nearby. She walked over to Henry's side and took his hand. "When are you taking him for the surgery?"
"We're going to do the surgery tomorrow" Bailey answered calmly "we're basically going to get in there and cut the tumours out- simple".
"It should be nice and easy, we're going to go in and get the ones from your liver first, then move up to the bowel and stomach" Webber added, giving both Henry and Teddy a reassuring smile.
"Please try and keep all my internal organs in one piece this time" Henry joked with a smile.
Webber smiled and nodded "Promise to do our best- we'll see you tomorrow" before walking out.
"Doctor Bailey" Henry addressed the small doctor "please don't let my wife freak out- I heard last time that she drove you nuts. I trust that you will be able to keep her under control" Henry smiled, glancing at his wife.
"Henry!" Teddy scolded, hitting him gently on the arm. Bailey glanced Teddy over and smiled playfully.
"Don't worry Henry, if she's gets in my way, I'll be sure to get her in line- I may be short, but don't underestimate me" she grinned.
"I have complete faith in you Dr Bailey" Henry smiled and nodded.
"What is wrong with you" Teddy smirked as Bailey left the room.
"I just want someone to look after you during the operation" Henry told her. "I don't want you tearing out your hair and hassling the nurses, they've got more important things to worry about".
"My husband is pretty important" Teddy smiled gently, giving his hand a rub.
"But you're a doctor" Henry reasoned, his smile disappearing "you understand what is wrong with me, what will and could happen. There are so many other people, other wives who have no idea what is happening, what is going on with their loved ones- they deserve the attention from the nurses and the doctors".
"Even sick, you're a gentleman" Teddy laughed, leaning in and planting a long kiss on Henry's lips.
"I'm always a gentleman" Henry replied with a cheeky grin.
"True" Teddy shrugged, kissing him again "but I love having a reason to point it out".
"You better get home and get some sleep" Henry told her. "You must be exhausted".
"No" Teddy shook her head defiantly "I want to stay with you tonight. I want to be here before they take you to the OR".
"Teddy" he smiled, cocking his head to the side "you know you can't sleep in here with me. They will probably move me into a ward soon anyway, I can't take up their trauma room. At least go into the on-call room and catch a few hours, I'm not exactly planning on going anywhere. I'll make sure that they page you if anything happens" he promised.
Teddy sighed and opened her mouth to protest.
"Go!" he instructed her with a gentle smile. "I'll be fine! And it will make me feel better knowing that you're taking care of yourself" he reasoned, hoping to use that argument to persuade her.
"Ok" she sighed resignedly "I'll see you in a few" she leaned in and kissed him "remember I love you" she whispered before kissing him again.
"I love you too" he smiled.
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"Teddy" she felt someone shaking her shoulder. She opened her eyes to find Arizona looking back at her with a concern expression on her face.
"What's wrong?" Teddy asked anxiously, rising quickly from the bed. "Is it Henry?" she demanded.
"During the night, he had some intense pain in his abdomen, but he has refused to go into surgery until he spoke to you, he has been asking for you".
"What?" Teddy frowned, standing up and shrugging on her lab coat, she had changed and slept in her scrubs. "What's wrong? What's causing the pain?" she demanded as she and Arizona left the on-call room and walked down the corridor towards Henry's room.
"Bailey seems to think that one of the tumours may be pushing on the stomach, she needs to get in immediately and remove it- but Henry wouldn't consent until he had seen you. I tried to talk him around, but he was adamant, that's why I came to find you".
"Ok" Teddy nodded, she started to feel sick, knowing that Henry's condition was getting serious, this wasn't just about a few tumours in his gut anymore, they were causing him a lot of pain and agony.
As they rounded the corner that lead to Henry's room, Teddy broke out into a jog and ran into his room. He was lying on the bed, with the usual tubes poking from his arms, but his face was contorted into an agonising frown and he was writhing in pain.
"Henry" Teddy exclaimed as she walked in "what's happening babe?"
"Teddy!" his eyes lit up as he saw her. "Where have you been?" he groaned.
"I'm so sorry Henry" she took his hand and squeezed it "I was so tired after last night and I just fell asleep, I didn't even hear my pager go off. Arizona filled me in….why did you refuse surgery?" she frowned.
"I just had to see you" Henry explained with a small moan as he clutched his stomach. "I needed to see you and hear you and touch you before I left".
"You're making it sound like you're going to die" Teddy laughed dryly, putting on her best smile as she fought the tears welling in her eyes.
Henry just glanced at her, his eyes filled with pain and fear.
"You're not going to die Henry" she told him angrily "don't even think like that" she squeezed his hand tighter as a tear escaped and rolled down her cheek.
"I'm a realist" he reminded her with a small smile, wincing.
"And that's what I love about you" she returned the smile "but now you need to forget about all that and just have this surgery and come out all brand spanking new- tumour free!" she leaned down and kissed him.
"Ok" he nodded, closing his eyes and resting his head back on the pillow resignedly. Teddy sighed and kissed him gently on the forehead.
"I'll see you afterwards- I'll be right here waiting, pulling my hair out and hassling the nurses" she whispered into his ear.
Henry smiled gently as his eyes remained closed. "You better not" he replied softly.
"Well then you're just gonna have to tell me off when you wake up afterwards" Teddy told him.
"Oh good" Bailey exclaimed as she walked into the room with a pack of surgical nurses behind her "you're here Altman, can we take your husband for his surgery now?" she asked with irritation. She was annoyed at being delayed.
"Yes" Teddy nodded, sniffling back her tears. She stood up and allowed the nurses to push his bed out. "Look after him Miranda" Teddy told her colleague, using her thumb to wipe away a tear from under her eye.
"I'll do my very best" the short surgeon nodded before following the nurses out, leaving Teddy standing alone in his room, left with only her thoughts and prayers that her husband would make it through.
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You have to forgive me, I'm not too familiar with all that medical jargon. I'm not even sure if what is going on with Henry is real, but it still makes a good story :) :)
I hope you liked the chapter and please review.
I am not too sure where to take the story next so please let me know what you want to see happen….all ideas and suggestions are VERY welcome.