Disclaimer: I don't own Evita. I never have and I never will.
Juan couldn't help but notice how tired Eva looked. She had been tired for awhile now. He was really worried about her. He couldn't help it. He really loved her.
She was awfully quiet lately. This wasn't the girl he had known.
"Eva," he said gently, "You have to get this checked out. I'm really worried about you."
Eva closed her eyes.
"I'll be fine," she said, "I'm just overwhelmed right now, I'm sure."
He shook his head.
"I've seen you overwhelmed," he said, "This is different. You seem like you're falling apart."
Eva went to stand, and a sharp pain shot through her. That had been happening for three weeks now… ever since reality set in. At first, she thought it was stress. After all, she knew that she wasn't immune to struggles. She wasn't a fool.
Just as she started to fall, Juan caught her in his arms. He held her tightly.
"I'll get it checked out," she promised him.
"Now," he said, "Come on."
She could do nothing but listen.
…
Dr. Chante frowned as he examined Eva. He motioned to Juan.
"Mr. President," he said, "If I may speak with you in private?"
Juan nodded.
"Of course," he said.
He kissed Eva's forehead.
Doctor Chante led Juan into his private office.
"She's sick," he told Juan
I could have told you that, Juan thought to himself.
"Yes, I know," Juan said, "That's why we came here. What's wrong with her?"
"To sum it up she caught an infection. Normally it would be treated with antibiotics. The problem is the infection went to her heart. Her heart is very weak right now. She needs a new heart."
Juan looked stunned. The way he felt was a hundred times more stunned than he looked.
"Well, I want her to be at the top of the list," he commanded.
"She needs to be treated here first," the doctor said, "Of course, she's at the top of the list and she will get the first heart that is available which is a match to hers. I need to prepare you for the fact that this is going to be an uphill battle."
Juan restrained himself from rolling his eyes. He wanted to say, "No kidding" but he knew that the doctor wasn't trying to be difficult. He was trying to save Eva.
"For now," the doctor said, "No stress.
"I understand what you're thinking but-"
"Right now," Juan interrupted, "All I'm thinking is that my wife can't die. I can't live without her."
He listened carefully to the doctor's instructions. Some of it was common knowledge.
"I'm staying with her," Juan told the doctor.
The doctor nodded.
"That's fine," he said, "I'll arrange a cot in the room so that you might stay with her."
"Thank you," Juan said softly.
The doctor started talking about some other stuff. Juan paid close attention to everything he had said.
Juan came back into Eva's room.
"What's wrong with me," Eva asked.
Juan gently explained.
"So… I'm going to die?"
"NO!" Juan exclaimed, "I'm not going to let that happen."
Three months later a heart came in for Eva. The infection was cleared up.
"We're going to put you to sleep now," the doctor said, "When you wake up you'll have a new heart."
Eva smiled weakly.
"Thank you," she said.
Juan was pacing the waiting room hallway when Eva's doctor came out.
"She came through the operation with flying colors," he said, "It was touch and go for awhile but she's going to be fine."
Juan cried in relief and thanked him greatly.
"Remember," the doctor said, "She cannot have any stress."