The door opened, and a small, wrinkled man came out. "Jamison Reagan?"
"Yes." He took a step towards the doctor. He needed to be strong.
"Your wife asks for you."
A collective sigh of relief was heard. For the first time in hours, breathing felt easy.
"Is she okay?" Jamie's voice was still weaker than he liked to.
The wrinkles seemed to get deeper. Obviously, the man was doing this job for too long – Frank felt the same every once in a while.
"I'll talk to the two of you in a moment."
Beth was lying on her right side, her upper body propped up by pillows, needles and tubes going out of her arm. Jamie took a second to take the sight in, knowing he must not seem uncomfortable with the medical instruments or she would send him away.
"Hey, baby." He sat down on the bed next to his wife and kissed her, gently stroking her arm. "How are you?"
"I thought we stopped at how was your night?" Beth asked in the same moment, sounding a little tired but perfectly like herself, perfectly recognizing her husband. Involuntarily, Jamie laughed. "Bad", he admitted, "but not half as bad as seeing you breaking down."
"I'm sorry for that… but they said Thomas is alright." Her hand moved to her swollen belly, caressing the unborn life inside. "Thank God. I don't know what…"
"Don't." Jamie put his hand over Beth's. "Don't start thinking it, it's going to drive you crazy. And he's alright. It's alright."
She nodded slowly, squeezing his hand. "Thank you."
"Always." Feeling that he was strong enough made Jamie smile again. He could protect her – not from everything as he wished to, maybe, but at least this time.
"A bar of chocolate for your thoughts."
The smile died on Jamie's lips as the door behind him opened and the doctor came in.
Be strong. Jamie squeezed Beth's hand. "I thought about how much I love you."
She frowned, then nodded, accepting the challenge the appearance of the doctor meant for her world. Her head went a little higher, her shoulders moved backwards, and there it finally was again the spark of fire in her eyes.
This was how he had first seen her, how he had fallen in love with her.
"I love you too." Wherever she took her strength from, she sounded much better now. Sometimes Jamie flattered himself with the thought that he was her source of power, as she and his family used to be his, but he wasn't sure.
"Doc" Beth's voice was calm, "what's wrong with me?"