Part 8 of 11.
I'm not a fan of giving answers it would seem; but, yeah, they'll arrive in the last two parts I think. Everyone just needs to get through the necessary activities first.
Once, again, thanks to everyone who has reviewed the previous chapter - I'm aware that I've not responded to any of these yet but I will do, probably later today.
As he pushed open the curtain and found himself staring at the clinical white of the painted walls, as he made his swift exit, he found himself wondering whether it was the sudden change in circumstance, which meant within his preferred environment that he was no longer impartial, that forced him away from the cubicle. As he accepted, momentarily, that it was distinctly possibly that his emotions could be in fact getting the better of him, after seeing Sam lying there looking so frail, ill and above all frightened - he also realised that he knew Sam well enough to understand that the fear which was radiating from her was everything to do with how out of her own control the situation she was currently in was and less to do with the severity of the possible outcome.
He had witnessed a future of him struggling and failing to raise Millie - as he had watched Sam's complexion pale throughout the morning, purely down to her complete alarm as the time neared her theatre slot. Though he knew it wasn't just seeing Sam looking so ill - it was also largely based on the awful time he and Millie had the evening previously. The girl had spent half the night sobbing for her mum and a different book than the one he had packed, then she had offended Dervla by not remembering her and his faithful companion had spent the remainder of the night and the best part of that morning in the corner of the kitchen, in what he could only describe as a sulk.
He stomped down to CDU, having decided to fully immerse himself in work to hide from the activities which would be occurring upstairs. He had even briefly considered heading to that pub everyone else seems to go to after work and spending the day there - but having already walked away from Sam when she had probably needed him most, he pushed the thought away the moment it entered his head, feeling unwilling to both abandon her and betray her trust in the space of half an hour. He'd been there for the best part of ten minutes, when he seen the Clinical Lead stick his head around the door, though neither man said a word to the other, before Mr. Jordan disappeared as suddenly and quietly as he had appeared.
The slightly muffled sobs where is first indication as to which cubicle Sam occupied, and as he noted her tears with distress, he wondered briefly what had occurred between husband and wife that had influenced Dylan's decision to leave her bedside so soon to an operation which would determine not only his wife's future but that of their only child. As quickly as the thought had entered his mind, he forced it away realising that knowing that would probably not help the situation he had now found himself in. He walked around the cramped cubicle to reach Sam's side, taking her hand, and he almost felt guilty when the woman raised her head from the pillow she'd been crying into and realised that he was not her husband. Yet something inside him felt instantly protective the moment the look of complete devastation had crossed her face and he sat himself on the seat at the side of her bed moving her long blonde locks out of her face, as she rolled onto her side to face him, he moved his hand from her hair to her face to wipe at the salty tears which were still falling rapidly, albeit now silently, from her eyes.
"Shh.." He moved closer to the bed, resuming brushing his fingers through her hair, as her distressed sobs began to strengthen again, hoping to pacify her somehow with his actions. "It'll all be over soon…" He trailed off when he felt her hand take his preventing him from continuing his actions, and she suddenly sat upright - yet her hand still clutched his desperately. He wasn't certain why he had felt the need to provide her with so much comfort, but he reflected as he pulled the girl against his chest and effectively into his arms, that perhaps it was everything to do with the fact that he knew exactly what she was going through. "I know, I know how scary it is - but I promise it'll be over before you know it Sam…" She never vocally responded to his words, but despite her seemingly trembling in complete fear, he had managed to notice that she had nodded her head. He let his arms wrap around her further, holding her steadily as he returned his fingers to her hair - through the previous days he had noted it had seemed to be the preferred method of consolation to anyone who had been placed in charge of calming the young doctor down.
He glanced at his watch realising that he had agreed to a meeting five minutes previously, he look down towards Sam, thinking of how he was going to break the news that he was going to have to leave her when he noted her eyes fluttering shut sleepily before she forced them open. He moved her away from him, gently, and as he looked at her he notice her seemingly internal struggle to keep her eyes open - he suspected the tears and stress of the situation had worn her out, "Just you have a little rest. I need to go, I'll be back in ten, fifteen minutes though." He watched her nod slowly and slip herself beneath the blankets again, before she closed her eyes and gave into exhaustion. He couldn't shake the thoughts of her looking so lost and child-like even as she slept when he scrubbed a hand over his face and headed towards the door.
He stepped into the corridor, and was increasingly grateful when he heard the sound of heels resounding moments before the woman in question came into view. "Frances…" He began in welcome, "Thanks for coming." She shook her head and waved her hand, indicating that it was no trouble.
"You said she was young?" He turned his head briefly to look back inside, trying to catch a glimpse of Sam - but she appeared to have cocooned herself in blankets yet again, now she was alone. She followed his eyeline, and turned to face him confusion apparent.
From somewhere, he managed to pluck up the courage to form words, "Twenty-six. She has a three year old." He wasn't certain why he found himself stating Millie Keogh's existence but he noted swiftly, that Frances did seem to accept the information, before she pushed open the door. "You've read her notes?" He watched as his companion nodded, and raised an eyebrow as though doubting the ability to bring the better news from the operating theatre with her. He sighed disappointedly before continuing, "Can we go get a coffee? She's just gone to sleep." Without another word she followed him swiftly from the corridor.
She stepped into the ward, as quietly as her shoes could manage - consequently she was practically tip-toeing across the room, and quickly located Sam - though she still appeared to be asleep like Nick had informed her - he had also only allowed her ten minutes worth of visiting time before he was coming back into to introduce Sam and Frances. She sat down on the seat nearest the bed, and gently reached out to touch Sam's shoulder to shake her awake.
She moved her hand as the blonde stirred slightly, and stretched before turning to see who had woken her. "Sorry," She began softly as she wondered how tactfully she could inform the already distressed woman that Dylan had seemingly handed Millie's care over to her - and how much she believed that this decision was based on his fairly negative experience the previous evening. She had known about quarter to midnight when she had received a phone call from Dylan, who was in a complete flap - though she was certain had to accuse him that he would deny it firmly - that Sam's situation was causing her younger daughter great distress. "How're you feeling?" She watched as the blonde furrowed her brow in confusion to the question, before opening her mouth and then closing it, as though it was the first time she had attempted words in a while.
The blonde woman moved herself into what she obviously found was a more comfortable position before she spoke, "A little better." Sam's voice remained small, and her look terrified as she noted that Sam was eyeing her suspiciously.
"Listen, Sam…" She trailed off waiting until she was certain that the younger woman was taking in her words, "…I'm going to take Millie today." She said quietly before pausing briefly waiting on Sam to react, when she didn't however, she chose to press the issue hoping that she wouldn't object "That is okay, isn't it?" She noticed the look of sadness descend over the girl's face, before she nodded softly and reached out to squeeze her hand.
She let Sam lie with her hand in hers for a few minutes unsure why but if it was providing the girl with any sort of comfort she wasn't willing to take that away from her. However, the ward doors swung open moments later, and Nick strode purposefully into the room - she looked up properly at the sound of heels hitting the floor and recognised Frances Lively instantly.
Nick approached her side, as she stood to leave, glancing at Sam with a look she could only view as that of a concerned father - she had reflected earlier in the day, that Nick had always seemed a little attached to Sam - well more so than, say Lenny, but she suspected that it was his own personal experience that was driving him to be at the girl's side over the previous day. "Sam?" He waited until the girl was giving him her full attention, before he gestured to Frances who still remained at the foot of the girl's bed and quickly beckoned Frances to join him in Sam's eye line, purely to make things easier for her. "This is Frances and I promise she'll take good care of you." He watched as Sam nodded, though she seemed disinterested in what she was actually being told.
He was almost relieved when Frances took over, of her own accord: "Nick told me you have a little girl?"
She chewed at her bottom lip nervously as she nodded her head before, confirming the existence of her daughter by simply repeating her name: "Millie."
"Well the moment you're awake, you can see Millie, okay?" Seemingly pacified by this agreement Sam nodded her head softly, and turned her startled looking blue eyes to meet his - he leant over to take her hand. "I'm going to go get ready, but we'll have you in theatre in ten minutes, alright?" With a quick smile Frances was gone, leaving him to perch at the edge of Sam bed and keep her company until they took her to theatre.
I'd say you get answers on Friday - but, quite basically, you don't.. you get an update though?
However, thank-you for bearing with me during this..
Anny x