Chapter 13

Summary: A steady heartbeat

A/N: Moving forward!

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Patrick drifted in and out of consciousness for the next couple of days while doctors and nurses fussed about and asked him endless questions while Shelagh simultaneously chided them for over working him and gently shook him awake to answer if he drifted off. She had no idea what to do with herself. When he was awake, she talked incessantly, terrified of tiring him out or putting him in anymore pain if he spoke too much. When he was asleep, she drove herself insane waiting for him to wake up again. Numerous doctors had suggested she move back to the ward now that the largest scares were past, but she wouldn't hear of it. Fortunately for Shelagh, if unfortunately for the hospital staff, Sister Julienne remained on her side and she was allowed to stay.

It was for the best, overall. Tim and Angela were far happier seeing their parents together, though they desperately wanted them out of the hospital and safe at home. Nonnatus treated them more than well, but it wasn't the same. Angela missed her parents reading her to sleep at night and Timothy missed the comforts of knowing they were there to help with homework or smirk at him giving lip. He even missed their mushy stuff - at least it would show they were happy - but he would never admit that to anyone.

He hoped, at least, that Shelagh would be home soon. He overheard Sister Julienne speaking to Nurse Franklin when he woke up in the night for water. He knew they would tell him off for listening in, but he also knew he and Angela were definitely being spared details and he felt he deserved to know.

Now, a part of him wished he didn't.

He hadn't understood that they didn't know if the smallest Turner-to-be was alive or not. As far as he knew, Shelagh just needed to rest and would come home once the threat of a miscarriage was gone. He had no idea she might come home with no baby at all. It wasn't until this stark realization that Tim even realized how attached he'd grown to the idea of a new sibling. Unspeakable mushy stuff aside, he knew how much his parents wanted this and once everything fell apart, the hope of a new life gave him something to look forward to. Things were improving: his dad was awake and healing, his mum was far less panicked, but he still might never meet this little soul and that didn't sit well with him.

"Something on your mind, Timothy dearest?" Shelagh asked. Angela looked up at her mum from her lap and turned her head towards her brother as well. He must've been pondering longer than he thought.

"Not really," he lied, "just a bit tired."

"Are you not sleeping well at Nonnatus?" she asked. He could see the follow up questions churning in her head. Great, she was in mum detective mode.

"It's fine." he insisted. "Just lots to think about lately." That wasn't a lie. He was thrilled beyond belief that his father was awake - or at least just sleeping - like now, not unconscious, but he still feared for both him and Shelagh and it kept him awake more often that he would like. That, and sharing a room with Angela without their parents to comfort her meant he was on nightmare duty and that alone came with its own bouts of insomnia.

"Timmy stay awake so no monsters." Angela explained. Shelagh sighed, no wonder the poor boy looked exhausted.

"I'm sorry, Timothy. I should be the one comforting her. You need your rest." Shelagh apologized.

"So do you, mum." he insisted. "It's okay. And you'll be home soon, so…" he paused and glanced at Angela. He needed to phrase this correctly. "Mum...do you think...could Sister Julienne listen for a heart-"

"Timothy, please." Shelagh stopped him gently.

"But mum-"

"We'll find out by the end of today." she informed him. "Sister Julienne and I discussed and she agreed to let me wait a few more days so that your father could possibly be present. Today was last day, though."

"Oh." Timothy realized. "I'm sorry, mum."

"Why mummy sad?" Angela asked. "Daddy better!" Shelagh smiled.

"Yes, angel, daddy is better." Shelagh agreed fondly. "Do you remember why mummy is in hospital?" Tim and Shelagh watched Angela carefully think.

"To make baby safe?" Angela suggested.

"Yes, darling, that's right." Shelagh affirmed with a soft caress to the head. "Well, today, we are going to find out if baby is safe and if baby is safe, then mummy will come home."

"MUMMY HOME!" Angela squealed and started to bounce, but Shelagh quickly grounded her before she could fall. "MUMMY HOME! MUMMY HOME!"

"Ange, sit!" Tim scolded. Shelagh raised her eyebrow and he smiled sheepishly. He'd had to be much more of a parent than a brother lately and they both knew it.

"Sorry Timmy." Angela apologized. Shelagh was thoroughly impressed. She surely hadn't given Tim the credit he deserved. "Mummy?" Angela's little voice drew her attention once more. "What if baby not safe?"

Shelagh's smile faltered, but she hoped Angela didn't catch it. Tim certainly did if his concerned glance was anything to go by. "If baby is not safe…" Shelagh spoke slowly, "then we will do whatever the doctors and nurses say, sweetheart."

"Mummy not come home?" she asked sadly.

"I don't know, Angela." Shelagh admitted. "We'll have to see."

She expected Angela to fight back or throw a tantrum. It almost hurt more to see her acceptance. Had things really been wrong for so long?

A gentle knock sounded at the door and Shelagh's stomach dropped. Sister Julienne said she would come to check on baby at the end of visiting hours. It couldn't possibly be time already. Without fail, though, Sister Julienne quietly made her way through the door, an apologetic, but determined look upon her face.

"Sister."

"I'm truly sorry, Shelagh, but we cannot put it off any longer. It isn't safe for you or for baby." Sister Julienne insisted.

"I know." Shelagh sighed.

"Mum, do you want us to stay?" Timothy asked, though he knew she would refuse in the event that the news wasn't what they'd hoped.

"No, Timothy. Thank you." she replied. "Why don't you take Angela home."

Timothy nodded and the two children said their goodbyes and moved to leave.

"Timothy," Shelagh stopped him. "Sister Julienne will let you know the results when she arrives back at Nonnatus." she looked to Sister Julienne for approval and confirmation and was relieved to find both. Timothy smiled and Shelagh loved the way his height puffed up just a bit at the newfound trust. Too soon, though, he and Angela were gone and Shelagh and Sister Julienne were left in silence.

"Would you like me to wake him?" Sister Julienne asked. "He's usually merely asleep now, and I'm positive he would not mind."

"He shouldn't have to take care of me." Shelagh shook her head sadly. "Neither should Tim. I feel so foolish."

"You are not foolish, Shelagh." Sister Julienne promised. "And it is not a matter of Dr. Turner taking care of you. You know as well as I do that he would want to be a part of this moment, for better or for worse."

"She's right, darling." Patrick's sleepy voice muttered from next to her. Shelagh rolled gently towards him and brushed the hair back from his eyes. He couldn't coat it with Brylcreem everyday in the hospital and while it drove him slightly crazy to constantly have his hair flop over his eyes, Shelagh found it utterly adorable.

"I thought you were asleep." she whispered. "We didn't mean to wake you."

"You didn't, my love." he promised. "I've been awake for some time. Tim sounded serious, though, and I didn't want to interrupt." In the times he had managed to be awake over the past couple of days, Patrick noticed Tim's reluctance to talk about his feelings on his parents' medical struggles while he could hear and he didn't want to take away Tim's time with Shelagh.

"You could never interrupt, Patrick." she said. "We're so grateful for anytime with you."

"Better enjoy that while I can, then." Patrick quipped. Shelagh wasn't amused, but her fear eclipsed any impending argument. "Is it time?" he asked, though both women in the room noticed his gaze flitted to Sister Julienne rather than his wife for the answer.

"Yes, I'm afraid so." Sister Julienne replied. Patrick tried to sit up and Shelagh and Sister Julienne immediately shouted.

"Dr. Turner, thats not-"

"Patrick stop!"

He winced and his hand shot to his side.

"What on earth were you thinking?" Shelagh asked horrified. "You are in no state to roll over by yourself let alone get out of bed, Patrick Turner!"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I know." he insisted as deep breaths passed his lips in an effort to alleviate the pain of his stubbornness. Eventually the pain subsided and he turned his eyes back to Sister Julienne. "Sister, could you possibly help me onto my better side?"

Shelagh went to protest, but Sister Julienne waved away her words with a smile. Agonizingly slow minutes passed as Shelagh watched them with baited breath. She couldn't stand the grimace on Patrick's face, but deep down, she knew Sister Julienne wouldn't have given in to him without good reason.

"Shelagh, my dear, I'm going to roll your bed back just a little." the nun offered before moving Shelagh's bed just far enough away from her husband's that she could fit her legs in between. Shelagh understood and the notion brought tears to her eyes.

"You're going to let him?" she asked in disbelief.

"You're not the only one who can plot while the other sleeps." Patrick grinned. Shelagh looked back to a beaming Sister Julienne. Her ridiculous, crafty family.

"Though the plan did not include him trying to move on his own." Sister Julienne remarked unimpressed. Patrick had the decency to look slightly sheepish, but most of his attention was now on the eye-level pregnant belly of his wife. God, he'd been asleep for so long. The last time he'd truly looked at Shelagh's form, she was barely showing. Now, her pregnancy was obvious to anyone who knew to look.

"May I?" Sister Julienne asked and Patrick nodded as she moved forward to place the stethoscope in his ears. Shelagh reached forward to guide his hand safely across the small divide to rest on her stomach.

"Are you ready?" he asked, his eyes pouring love at the fear in her own. She nodded nervously and Sister Julienne moved to Shelagh's side to hold her hand. Patrick gently moved the instrument around, frown increasing as silence greeted him again and again. Shelagh was close to giving up, when suddenly, he lit up with more color than he'd show in weeks.

"Patrick?" she asked, not quite daring to accept the hope in her own voice.

"Listen." he insisted. He held the stethoscope steady as Sister Julienne passed the ear piece to Shelagh. The thump-thump-thump was the most beautiful sound she'd ever heard and her smile spread so highly into her eyes that it pushed tears of joy onto her skin.

"Oh, Sister you were right." Shelagh cried. "My eyes ache, but I am ever so glad for the pain."

In that moment, Shelagh felt for the first time that everything was going to be okay. How could it not be with her husband and her mother beside her, and her child's beating heart in her ears?

Thank you guys so much for reading! :D