Finch considered the question for several minutes. When he finally responded, it was with the care and precision that used to drive Root crazy. This time though, her shock at what the Machine had done tempered any objections she would have raised.

"We can reboot the Machine's 'safeguards' in a relatively short period of time. I would think that the two of us working together can code the appropriate lines in within a two to three week time period. We may be able to shorten the lead time if we bring Ms. Zhirova in to assist us- she can help with some of the simpler steps which can free us up to work on the more complex protocols necessary to reinstate a 'Code of Conduct' for lack of a better term.

"After we initiate the new protocol, we will have to monitor the Machine's more complex decisions whenever moral and ethical issues arise. The troubleshooting phase would be less intense but probably more time consuming as we analyze how and why certain decisions are arrived at.

"A rough guess would be four to six weeks and then monitoring for several months until we can reach a consensus that our safeguards are working to our satisfaction. The tricky part will be allowing the Machine to continue to provide numbers while undergoing, for lack of a better term, brain surgery."

Root leaned forward. "Can we do that?"

"It will be expensive but it can be accomplished. One of the advantages to the Machine's being a 'machine' is that it has no emotions. It won't be upset that we're putting in these safeguards- it has no pride to fight us on this. When left to its own devices, it may make decisions we view as morally objectionable, but it still has core functions which will direct it to follow 'Admin' instructions.

"I view those functions as similar to autonomic nervous system functions, like breathing, heartbeat and digestion. Our body continues to do these things, unless outside factors interfere regardless of our state of mind or moral code. We can create an exact copy of the Machine even though it will be expensive, work on one copy while allowing the other to act as it has been since the war with Samaritan ended and it rebooted itself.

"Once finished and tested to our satisfaction, we can implement replacement protocols. We would in effect clone the Machine and 'transplant' a moral code. That analogy is a bit of a reach, but the result would be similar."

Dr. Tillman jumped in.

"This is all well and good, but our first priority is getting Ms….getting Root a clean bill of health. Tomorrow she will be back and there are several tests we are going to run on her. Assuming all are negative, we can discuss working on fixing your Machine's conscience after we assure ourselves that Ms. Gr…. Root is not suffering from any condition that need immediate action."

"Thank you doctor," Shaw affirmed, "Root's condition and long-term prognosis are my main priorities right now. I agree we need to fix the Machine, however first I want to ensure that we're going to have her around long enough to have second thoughts." She smiled at this last, and walked over to Root and wrapped her arm around her neck.

Root smiled up at her and made a kiss-kiss noise. "I love you too, Sameen, enough to agree to this when I'd much rather skip the tests and go to work on the machine."

"Good, let's go home and come back in the morning." Shaw grabbed the handles of the wheelchair and turned Root toward the door.

"I can walk Sam."

"Let's get the test results first, OK babe. I love you and want to keep you around for awhile yet."

"Sure, play the feelings card." Root smiled and winked.

Shaw's heart did that thing.

….

The next morning at 8:30 Shaw pushed Root through the entrance with Gen trailing behind. They headed straight for the examination room where Root changed into a gown. Five minutes later, Dr. Tillman entered the room.

"DNA tests confirm what the Machine told us yesterday Root, you have a heart that is an exact genetic match for your body. I've put any anti-rejection protocols on hold for the time being and we are going to perform other testing to see if there are any issues that could have arisen from other factors.

"We'll test the organ as it relates to the transplant procedure itself, the possible complications from the several weeks after that you were comatose, the post awakening rehab and of course your activities since leaving the hospital. Unless critical, any issues we find will be dealt with after we have appraised, isolated and prioritized them all.

"The first step will be the transplant procedure itself. To evaluate, we are going to run a series of tests including EKG, Electro-cardiogram as well as an ultrasound of the organ itself This will allow us to judge if any issues from the procedure are affecting the heart's performance.

"Once finished, we are going to take you into the OR for a heart catheterization. We'll run a probe from your groin up into your thoracic region to get a better idea of how your arteries and heart are actually functioning.

"There is a possibility that scar tissue is forming within the arteries and veins surrounding the heart. This will allow us to view the entire area and repair any blockages. The entire procedure should be less than an hour, and you'll be ready to leave sometime this afternoon.

"Once we've examined your heart and the arterial structure surrounding it, we will decide what we need to do next."

Dr. Tillman busied herself setting up the equipment for the non-invasive procedures. Shaw sat with Root in an uncomfortable silence. Finally, Shaw reached over for Root's hand.

"I'd like to stay, but if you'd rather have privacy I'll leave."

Root, visibly moved, smiled. "Stay."

Shaw stood next to her love, holding her hand until the doctor announced she was ready to begin. Sameen then leaned down, kissed Root briefly and walked to a chair brought in for her by staff.

"You know how this works Ms. Shaw, you've probably done dozens during your medical career. I will be monitoring the results while the techs run the actual procedures on Ms….Root. Sorry, I'll get used to calling you that." She smiled and nodded at the patient, then turned and moved over to the battery of monitors she would be studying.

Everything went as planned for the first 20 minutes. When the ultrasound began, Dr. Tillman made a phone call and was joined by a mid-forties man she introduced as Dr. Miles Brady, a cardiologist from Houston.

Shaw was going to ask why he made the trip all this way, then decided against when she realized the Machine probably ordered the top doctors from the area to work with Dr. Tillman on the 'Analogue Interface'. While the ethical issues were still a concern, Shaw trusted the Machine to keep Root safe.

Before Dr. Brady approached Root, Dr. Tillman introduced him to Shaw. He smiled warmly as they shook hands.

"I don't know who your friend is, but someone very important wants her to get the best medical treatment available. I'm good at what I do and as I arrived last night, I ran into Dr. Joseph Ryan, the best Thoracic surgeon in the southwest, if not the entire country.

"It turns out he was offered an obscene amount of money to come in for a consult on Ms. Groves here just as I was. I've read many of Dr. Ryan's papers and if I, or anyone in my family, were to have any thoracic issue I'd want him to be involved in the treatment.

"Someone thinks very highly of her."

Shaw smiled at the doctor. "Many in this building think highly of her, doctor. She's the most important person in my world. Thank you for coming and thanks for the encouraging words."

Dr. Brady nodded, then approached Dr. Tillman.

"Let's get started." The two approached the examination table where Dr. Tillman introduced Root.

"Root, this is Dr. Brady. He's going to do the ultrasound of your heart. He's the best cardiologist in the United States, probably in the world."

Root nodded at Dr. Brady.

"Pleasure to meet you, Root. I'm going to begin by doing an ultrasound of your heart. We should be able to see not only how the organ itself is functioning post-op, but also check out the entire area that was affected during the surgical procedure. If any abnormalities show up, we will address them after the entire procedure is finished.

"It should take about thirty minutes for the entire exam, then we will perform the catheterization which will require sedation. You've already signed all the consent forms, however I want to briefly review what you've agreed to before we begin.

"If at any time we encounter an issue that needs any type of critical care, up to and including surgical procedures, we will initiate them immediately. Any non critical procedures or follow up treatments will be done after consult with you and your immediate family."

Root interrupted, "My immediate family is in that chair." She smiled and Sameen smiled back.

"Noted. Let's begin."

Shaw's attention wandered from the doctors to the monitors periodically, but her main focus never strayed from Root for more than thirty seconds during the fifteen minutes that everything went as she expected. As part of her residency, Shaw had done a three month rotation in cardiology so she was familiar with what Brady was doing.

At approximately the fifteen minute mark, Shaw noticed a small change in both doctors affect. Dr. Brady looked at the monitor, looked at Root then looked at Dr. Tillman.

"I'm going to go back and check that again."

Dr. Tillman nodded and Shaw came to full attention. Wanting to ask what was happening, she knew enough to keep quiet while they looked at whatever was a cause for concern. The two doctors looked at each other, their concern obvious in their body language. Dr. Brady looked at Root, then at Dr. Tillman.

"Once more."

Shaw, unable to control herself any more, cleared her throat. Dr. Tillman looked over and held up her hand with her index finger pointing up.

Just a second.

Less than two minutes (an eternity) passed before Dr. Ryan turned to Shaw and indicated she should approach the examination table. Turning the screen so both Root and Shaw could see it he indicated an area on the monitor. As they looked at the monitor, Dr. Tillman slipped from the room.

"This is the area where the aorta joins the heart. Traveling back along the aorta we have this area that causes concern." Dr. Brady indicated an area which to Shaw looked to have a slight bulge. Root was unable to discern any difference but she had no medical training.

"It appears that Ms. Groves has an aortic aneurism, probably caused by the trauma of the heart transplant she underwent. As you know, Ms. Shaw, the patient is on a heart lung machine during the actual transplant and there are moments when blood flow to the organ is interrupted. This appears to have resulted in a weakening of the aorta in this location.

"The strain is causing the wall of the aorta to bulge. Untreated, this can and will rupture sometime in the future. If that occurs, death is almost always the immediate result. I'm concerned that the aneurism is large enough that it needs to be repaired now. Dr. Ryan is coming in to… oh good, here he is."

As the door to the exam room opened, Dr. Tillman walked in followed by a very young man. At first glance, Shaw thought he looked like a grade schooler dressed up for Halloween or someone who got into his dad's closet. When Shaw looked into the doctor's eyes, she saw the intense piercing gaze of a man on a mission.

Nodding at Shaw, he approached Root.

"Ms. Groves, I'm Dr. Ryan. I want to recheck an area on your ultrasound, then we'll talk."

Five minutes later, Dr. Ryan looked up at Dr. Brady and nodded. His face relaxed into a warm smile and he addressed Root.

"Ms. Groves, somebody up there likes you. You have quite possibly the largest intact aneurism I've seen. Why it hasn't ruptured already is something we won't know until we get in and fix it. We need to repair this before it ruptures. I would advise the procedure be done today, in fact within the hour we should begin."

Root's eyes widened as the doctor's words sunk in. She looked briefly at Shaw and for a brief moment, Sameen could see fear in her eyes. Then, recovering, she masked any concern and looked at the doctors.

"Fine, I'm not going to put Sam through burying me if I can help it. Let's do this."

Shaw walked over, put her arm around Root and kissed her on the cheek.

"Well, these guys are the best, Root, you're going to be fine."

She wouldn't look Root in the eye.

"Do I need to get out of here so you can prep her?"

When Dr. Tillman nodded, Shaw kissed Root again and headed for the door. She walked across the hallway to the ladies room, locked the door behind her and promptly threw up.