Chapter 16

"Alright doctors, lets close up and get him to recovery." David said as he got up from the chair he had manned for the last 3 hours. He walked out of the OR and leaned against the wall, pulling off his scrub hat and mask. Everything had went smoothly except for one tiny hitch. Joe's pressure had dropped significantly in the middle of the surgery but after a few meds it went back to normal, but it had scared him nonetheless.

He felt a hand on his shoulder. "Good job in there." Jake said.

"Yeah, you too. I thought you were closing?" David half asked, half said.

"I asked Jeff to do it. I needed to get out of there too." He said, leaning against the wall too.

"Another one for the record books Dr. Martin." He said holding his hand out.

"Yeah, it was exhilarating and nerve racking at the same time."

"A success none the less. I was glad to have the two of you in there with me."

"I'm not going to lie, it was pretty amazing watching you at work."

"We can work on the write-up this week then? I'm going to go call Erica. I'll meet you in the CCU when he's awake?"

"Yeah that's fine. I guess I'll go talk to mom. Tell her everything went well. Thanks."

"Tell her I'll see her when I can." David said as he walked down the hallway and Jake nodded.

"Mom." Jake said softly as he walked up to Ruth and Tad who were sitting in a waiting room nearby. "Everything went well, and dad is on his way to recovery." He said putting his hands on her arms.

"He's going to be fine?"

"He should be good as new. He'll be restricted to bed rest for a week, but after that. "

"Thank you." She said hugging him. "Where are your brothers?" She asked looking around him.

"Jeff went with dad to recovery. And David went to go call Erica. He said he'd talk with you when you he can." He said looking down at her.

"Oh okay. All of these doctors in the family. We're kind of blessed." Ruth smiled.

"Yeah mom." He said hugging her back.

"Can I join in on this?" Tad said watching the scene. "Good job little brother." Tad said joining in on the hug.

"It was really a group effort. David really has a gift. And Jeff's not bad in the OR either." Jake said with a half smile.

"It sounds so weird, you praising Hayward." Tad said shaking his head.

"Tad" Ruth said dragging it out.

"Sorry, David." Tad corrected himself.

Jake's pager went off and he looked down at it, and looking back up at them. "Dad's coming out of anesthesia. I'll take you guys up with me."

The phone rang once, twice before she picked it up knowing it could be news about Joe. "Hello?" She answered.

"Hey." He said. "Did you get Dylan?" He asked.

"Yes, yes he's sleeping." She confirmed.

"He was okay with Dixie?"

"I think she's very fond of him."

"And how were the two of you? No injuries?"

"No we we're fairly civil. I handled her." She fibbed, thinking about how crazy she thought that woman was.

"Handled her? I don't think I want to know."

"No, you don't. Oh, Joe's surgery, it went well?" She half asked, half prayed.

"Yes, Joe's prognosis is very good. The surgery was a few hours long. Jake, Jeff and I tried a new procedure for the first time. Something that's medical journal material. Jake and I are going to write it up. " He said half enthused.

"You tried an experimental surgery on your father?" She asked, half scared that Joe wasn't okay.

"It was actually Jake's idea and Ruth and everyone agreed on it. Really it was a good choice. It went better than expected." He reassured her.

"I can hear in your voice that you're holding something back, David."

"He really is going to be fine."

"Tell me what's bothering you then" She persisted.

"You're right. He's going to be fine and I can say how well the surgery went, but the truth is, I was scared shitless. Everyone was depending on my skills for the surgery, one that was invasive and the fact that I hadn't done any real surgeries since I came back, I wasn't real confident. Jake he suggested this new technique, one we talked about while he has been on my service, one that I've never done before. Any other day, any other patient and I'd be all for it. Cocky as all hell. There was a moment where I was scared we were going to lose him. I thought about all the people who depended on him, loved him. I thought about Dylan, myself even. Never felt as helpless as I did at that moment. And then he stabilized and I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding."

"I know you don't like hearing this, but you thought of his as your father. You thought you were going to lose another one. But you didn't and you were the reason why. I wish I could hug you right now." She said close to tearing up at his distress.

"I'll be home in a few hours, okay. Save one for me."

"I'll save more than one, don't worry. Tell Ruth I send my love and Joe if he's up to it."

"Give Dylan a kiss for me. Tell him grandpa is going to be fine and that daddy loves him."

"And does daddy love mommy?" She half asked, half hinted.

"Yes I love mommy."

"Good, because mommy loves daddy too."

"Okay, I just got paged. Joe is awake. I'll be home as soon as everything is settled here."

"Hurry home. Love you."

"Love you too, bye."