Chapter 15

After leaving Tad reeling, David walked over to Erica. "Did you find out where Dylan is?"

"He's with Dixie."

"Dixie?"

"I was just making sure Ruth was okay. I'll go get him."

"Okay just take the car. I'll call and let you know what's going on here."

"Alright." She said kissing him before she turned to leave. "David, what did you say to Tad?"

"I was just tired of hearing him complain and bitch about how dad treats us. He should see how lucky he is to have someone that cares as much as he does."

"Because you care about him too."

"Of course I care what happens to Dylan's grandfather and as a doctor."

"You can't lie to me David. I can read it all over your face. And you called him dad." She smiled before she headed for the door.

They watched as Tad walked over slowly. "So where are we?" He asked like nothing had just happened.

"Well we're going to prep him for the surgery and then it'll take a few hours."

"But wait. David, you aren't cleared for surgery like this yet." Jake half asked, half said.

"And you don't feel comfortable being my hands like we've been doing?"

"I don't want to risk it. Wait, the new technique you've been working with. It's less invasive and you're able to use robotics." Jake remembered.

"But you know I haven't used it yet. You're willing to make your father a guinea pig?" David asked, a little taken aback.

"Well he needs this. And I don't think either of us is comfortable to do it ourselves." Jeff said about himself and Jake.

"And you owe him right? He did for Erica and Dylan what you couldn't." Jake added.

"If Ruth agrees, I'm on board." He said, them all turning toward her.

"You boys are all the doctors. If you think this is best, then do it." She told them.

"Alright, let's all go prep. You two are scrubbing in with me. If something happens you two can back me up. After all it was my little protégé's idea." David said of Jake. Jake had spent the last 3 weeks shadowing David on his Cardiology rounds and had even done a few surgeries as lead. He would never admit to anyone that he actually learned quite a bit working with David. It actually opened his eyes to how gifted David Hayward really was.

She knocked on the door a few times and waited. There was no answer so she knocked again, harder this time. The door opened and she saw JR had been the one to open it. "Is your mother here, JR?"

"Yeah she's holding the baby." He said as he started walking back into the living room, leaving her still standing there. I guess I can come in. She thought as she walked in and closed the door behind her.
"Hello Erica." Dixie said as she saw her come in.

"Hello Dixie." Erica greeted.

"I assume you're here for Dylan?" She half asked, half said. "Did you hear anything about Joe?"

"When I left the hospital, David, Jake and Jeff were discussing surgery."

"So it's serious?" She asked, handing Dylan to Erica as she got up.

"Yes. Isn't a heart attack usually serious Dixie?" She threw at Dixie as she gathered her son in her arms.

"Well I knew he probably had a heart attack, but he's had them before."

"Thank you for watching him, Dixie. I'm sure you weren't thrilled about it."

"He's surprisingly good, quiet. Must take after his father." Dixie quipped.

"Well he does take after his father. And I get them both." Erica smiled, putting Dylan in his car seat.

"Not for much longer. David's going to see that he made a mistake with you. You're all about yourself."

"You're still pining after him after all this time Dixie? He's done with you. You do realize that you were a rebound Dixie? Does Tad know you're still barking up David's tree? That you probably sat there and thought Dylan was yours and David's?

"You make is sound like I'm some psycho bitch Erica."

"Just calling it like I see it." Erica said looking her up and down.

"Get out of here and take your little brat with you." Dixie said, not liking her insults at all.

"Thank you again. I would have watched your brats too." Erica smiled as she neared the door.

"Out." Was Dixie's only response as she pointed to the door.

"Why are you fighting with Dylan's mom?"

"Because she isn't a nice lady."

"But Dylan's our cousin right? Grandpa Joe said so. That makes her our aunt." JR remembered what he learned earlier that night.

"She is most definitely not your aunt. Why don't we just worry about Joe. I'll call in a little bit and see how he's doing okay?" She said as she stroked his blond hair.

"Alright mom. Jamie and I are going to bed. Can you wake us up if Tad comes home?" JR asked.

"Why?" She asked.

"Because he'll know how grandpa is." He told her before walking out of the room.

"Ugh David, why her?" Dixie thought aloud before going to check on the boys.

"Is everyone ready?" David asked of Jake, Jeff and the rest of the surgical team. He saw nodding heads. "Martin, do you want to make the first incision? I mean Jake. I'm so used to using your last name. Now there's three of you in here. I'll have to go by first names." He half laughed half said. He was a bit nervous, trying to lighten the mood, cut the tension in the OR.

"David could you please cut the comedy act. We need to stay focused." Jake told him.

"In case you didn't notice Jake, we're trying a never before attempted procedure on the man who gave us all life. I can feel the tension like a steel rope wrapped around us."

"Let's all take a breath boys." Jeff said.

"You sound just like him." David said with a little laugh and so did Jake.

"Alright I think we're ready to start now." Jeff said as a response to the seemingly lighter mood.

"Mark the time. 20:25." David said, as Jake officially began the operation. This was probably going to be the most awkward, strange and amazing thing he's ever done. He was working with one of the people he'd hated most in his life, Jake Martin, who also happened to be his brother, another brother he had just met, and they were working together to save their father. He couldn't wait until it was over.