A fortnight later...

Steve was sitting on the couch in the hospital waiting room. Lou and Kim were with him as the rest of the team was on call and would go to the hospital after their shift was over. Steve had asked the Governor for an indefinite leave of absence to help Catherine care for Lyla after the surgery.

"Steve..." Catherine appeared in the doorway and called out to him.

Steve looked at her and she approached. They're going to sedate her and take her to the operating room. Go talk to her."

"Cath, I can't bear to talk to her like I'm saying goodbye to her, I don't have the emotional structure for it."

Catherine sat down next to him and passed her arm around his shoulder. "But she wants to see you, Steve. Please come with me."

Steve took a deep breath, ran his hand over his face, and sighed. He stood up and walked Catherine to the room that Lyla was in.

"Daddy!" Lyla exclaimed when she saw him.

"Hi, honey. Sorry it took so long, I was talking to Uncle Lou and Aunt Kim."

"I'm hungry," Lyla complained to him.

"I know, but you can't eat now. Hasn't Mom already talked to you about it?"

"Yes, but I'm hungry."

"You'll eat later, okay?" Steve kissed her forehead. "I love you, child. You are a light in my life."

"Lyla pulled Steve's head up and kissed him on the cheek. She then looked at Catherine. "I love you too, Mom. I love you forever!"

Catherine moved closer and hugged her very lovingly. "Daddy and I will be here when you wake up. I love you forever too, my little angel."

"Tell Liz that I love her too, even though she is boring."

Catherine smiled trying not to cry. "I will, honey."

Lyla was sedated and taken to the operating room and Steve and Catherine walked beside the bed that was carrying her. They walked her to the door of the operating room and then let her go with the doctor. It would be many hours of waiting from then on. Steve and Catherine hugged and consoled each other.

"She's going to be okay, isn't she?" Steve said to Catherine.

"She's going to be fine," Catherine replied amid tears. Steve took her into the waiting room and they stood there with Lou and Kim. "It's going to be all right," Kim told them both.

"Thank you," Catherine nodded.

Five minutes later Caroline arrived with Margaret hurriedly. "Dad, can I still see her?" Caroline asked Steve.

"The doctor already took her away, Caroline. You missed the opportunity to say goodbye to your sister," Steve replied.

"It wasn't her fault, Steve. The car tire went flat," Margaret told him.

Steve didn't answer. He was still angry that Caroline had gone to her grandmother's the day before when he had asked her to stay with Liz at Lou and Renee's while he and Catherine had to stay at the hospital with Lyla.

"Was she taken to the operating room long ago?" Margaret asked Catherine. She could tell that Steve was nervous and upset.

"About ten minutes ago, but she's already sedated," Catherine replied.

"Thank you," Margaret replied with tear-filled eyes. "I won't forgive myself for being late if something happens to her."

Catherine felt sorry for Margaret and hugged her lovingly. "Lyla is strong, nothing will happen."

"Thank you. I can't thank you enough for all you have done for my granddaughters and my grandson, although they are ungrateful. And especially for Lyla, no one would do what you do. Thank you so much."

"No need to thank me," Catherine replied.

"And how is Liz? You could have left her at my place, I would have asked Rose to take care of her."

"She's fine, but she's going to miss Lyla a lot. They've never been apart this long. Thank you, but Renee likes to stay with her. Renee is Liz's godmother."

"Okay, but if you need, to know that you can count on me," Margaret said.

"I know, dear. Thank you.

Caroline was sad that she had not been able to talk to Lyla before the surgery and Catherine just watched her. She felt sorry for Caroline, but did not move to console the girl, after all she was happy to tell Catherine that Catherine was not her mother.

"Dad, I'm sorry," Caroline pleaded and Steve asked her to leave him alone. "My head feels like it's going to explode, Caroline. Please leave me alone."

Margaret passed her arm around Caroline's shoulder and led her to walk a little way down the hall. "Your father is suffering, dear. Let's give him some time."

"Does he think he's the only one suffering, Grandma? My father is being unfair to me."

More than five hours later...

Catherine was in the hospital chapel interceding for Lyla when Steve came in and sat down next to her. The two stood there for a while and then looked at each other, comforting each other without saying a single word.

"Faith moves mountains, Steve. I have faith that she's going to be okay."

Steve hugged her tightly. "What would I do with my life without you?"

"I don't know where I would be either if I didn't have you, our Liz, Lyla...I tried to be a good stepmother to Caroline and Don, but they wouldn't accept me. I was a good mother to Lyla wasn't I?"

"You were the best mother she ever had," Steve replied. He kissed her forehead affectionately and told her he loved her.

Catherine snuggled closer into his arms. "I love you too."

Junior slowly entered the chapel and sighed to get Steve and Catherine's attention and they both looked back. "The surgery is over. The doctor is looking for you."

Steve stood up quickly. "Why, Junior? What happened to Lyla?"

Catherine also looked at Junior with fear and expectation.

"I don't know, he didn't say. He's just looking for her parents, which is you. "

PS: Thank you for your review in the previous chapter.

I am writing an original novel on Fictionpress, I have left the link fixed in my profile in case anyone wants to read it. Thank you.