It didn't seem like I had been sleeping long, when I wondered again why I was awake. Perhaps it was that annoying ringing somewhere nearby? My eyes adjusted to the darkness and then over to my phone, and saw it lit up and buzzing on the stand next to me.

Reality was settling in as I realized where I was. "Kevin?" My voice was still thick with sleep as I sat up in bed.

"I am so sorry, Jackie."

"You didn't know this would happen."

"No. But I should have. We have gone through this once before. Just tell me how to make it up to you."

"You can talk to Sophie."

"I'm supposed to take the next flight out of here today. I'll talk to her then." I swallowed down my anger. "We'll have plenty to talk about later, so I'll let you get some sleep. When is your doctor planning on releasing you?"

"I'm going to try to get them to release me today. It would be nice to at least spend a day together as a family before Sophie goes back to school."

"I couldn't agree more. If that doesn't work, I'll see what I can do." I felt a wave of appreciation run through me, which caused my anger to subside for the time being. "I love you, Key."

"I love you too."

When I woke up again, the sun was shining through the hospital curtains. My phone was almost in the exact place that I had put it, which almost made last night's conversation-or this morning-almost like a dream.

Eyeing my phone, I checked the phone history and saw that my conversation with my husband hadn't been just a dream. He really was coming home and hopefully he would talk with Sophie and we could put all this behind us and move on.

"Knock knock." Dr. Winston greeted; clearly in a cheerful mood this morning. "How are we feeling today?"

"Much better than last night."

She smiled before looking over my chart. "Good. Feeling any dizziness or experiencing any headaches?

"No."

She paused, scanning over my chart again. "Go ahead and sit on the edge of the bed for me." Feeling a bit stiff, I slowly unwrapped myself from the covers and she took my vitals and looked me over. "Well, everything sounds fine, but that doesn't mean it is." Pulling up a chair, she went on. "I'm concerned, not only because of what happened last night, but also because you missed your appointment last week."

"I know. I meant to reschedule, but things have been pretty hectic lately."

"We all run hectic lives, Jackie. Now you just have to decide when you're going to start putting yourself first instead of last." Her words caused something to stir inside me.

"I guess I've never thought of it that way."

"You're the wife of a General, have been in numerous organizations and functions and you have two grown children."

"It sounds like you've done your research."

"I do it for all my patients. Not because I want to pry into your lives, but it helps me understand where you're coming from. I don't usually say this, but I was a lot like you. I had a busy life as a doctor and being a mother. I was so consumed with my line of work and my life, which didn't leave much time to take care of myself. I ended up burning out and having to take some time off because I couldn't take care of my children or my patients."

"I've been trying to get away for awhile now."

"I get it. Your loyalty is to your family, your friends and supporting wives whose husbands deploy. The point I'm trying to get across is how can you take care of them if you're not taking care of yourself?" Standing up, she looked over my chart. "Now I'm sure you're wanting to get out of here, so I will discharge you on two conditions: make an appointment to see me in a couple days, I want to see how you're doing. I'm also going to be prescribing you a low dosage of a substitute to what you were taking. And make an appointment with our therapist.

"I'll make it before I leave."

"I'll be prescribing you only a few pills, just enough to get you through the next couple days. Clicking the pen, Dr. Winston approved with my reasoning and signed off on my chart. "If you have any questions or concerns, you can call me day or night." She handed me her card with her name and number scrawled on the back.

"I will."

Dr. Winston nodded and pocketed the pen. "Take care, Jackie. I'll see you in a few days."

"Bye." I offered softly, watching as she closed the door behind her. A few minutes later and the nurse had my IV out and was going over discharge instructions with me. I was able to change back into some comfortable jeans and a v-neck t shirt, before Sophie walked in around nine thirty.

She was wearing a green shirt, jeans and black flats; a few curly waves had fallen over her shoulder. "So, I guess they decided to discharge you early?" Her presence brought me out of my thoughts.

I nodded absently. "I have to come back in a couple days."

"For what exactly?"

Zipping up my bag, I sat down on the edge of the bed. "Dr. Winston wants to make sure that I'm still feeling good and I'm supposed to make an appointment with the therapist."

Her eyes widened with surprise. "You...going to therapy?"

"I know it's not ideally what we do in this family-"

"We're supposed to be strong. At least according to Dad." She shrugged before pausing; wearing an expression like she didn't quite know what to think as we walked towards the door. "Aren't you supposed to wheeled off the premises or something?"

"I think your father will always will be that way. Though in his defense, he learned it from his father and I learned it from mine."

"And Patrick and I learned it from you and dad." Sophie sighed, having heard that phrase many times.

"Mrs. Clark?"

"Yes."

"It's hospital policy to wheel you out." She reminded me gently, moving the wheelchair a few steps closer.

"I'll take that." Sophie took the bag out of my hand and adjusted the strap over her shoulder. I knew it wouldn't help to argue the point, so I got as comfortable as I could in the wheelchair and we were on our way.