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Everyone leaves Patrick's side including the Doctor. She walks towards Teresa who's been impatiently waiting.
"I'll give you and Patrick a few minutes alone before coming to talk."
Teresa nods gratefully. She rushes to Patrick's bed. He's sitting propped up against the pillows. He's wearing a nasal cannula, he looks tired but he gives her a heart melting smile as she catches his eye. She moves to his side, takes his hands and gives him a kiss. They part and Patrick whispers:
"Just what the doctor ordered. Again."
He reaches up and cups her face in his hand and draws her near, they kiss again.
As Teresa pulls away she studies him more closely.
"Are you all right?"
"I feel fine. I had some pain but it's gone now. I was also a little out of breath but this oxygen thing's helping.
Teresa can see that Patrick's trying to be upbeat.
"Did the doctor say anything to you?"
"Just checked I was okay and said she would let you see me and will be back in a few minutes."
He smiles deliciously at her and squeezes her hand.
"It sounded like a good plan to me."
Teresa remembers the things she's brought and holds up the bag.
"I got your things."
"It seems I'm going to need them."
Teresa strokes his arm.
"Doctor Polly said it wasn't a heart attack…"
She see Patrick relax a little in his features.
"That's good to hear, I was a little scared."
"I shouldn't have gone home, I should have been with you."
"I was the one who told you to go. I had no idea this was going to happen."
"I know."
She smiles at him reassuringly Doctor Polly comes in the room. Patrick smiles at her wickedly.
"I would advise you, in the future, to knock Doctor, who knows what you may be interrupting."
"Since a few kisses are all you can manage at the moment, and as a grown women, I'll take my chances."
She looks to Teresa and then back to Patrick letting them know that she's including them both in the conversation.
"I've been on the phone with Doctor Bennion, catching him up with the latest developments. We need to do one more test, which we can perform here, to confirm Doctor Benion's suspicions. We strongly suspect that it's a heart valve problem. We suspect you will need a replacement. It has a significant risk margin but it's better than not having it done. The surgeon will put in a plastic valve, there's no waiting for a human donor. Although it's not good news, it's a lot better than a heart transplant.
Teresa quickly looks at Patrick to see how he's taking the news. He looks dazed, which is about how she feels. Life can change so quickly and although she should be used to that by now, Patrick too, it still takes a while for the human mind to catch up. She squeezes his hand, he looks at her and with a grateful smile, returns the squeeze.
"I know it's a lot to take in and so I'll come back after the final test with confirmation of the diagnosis and I'm sure by then you'll have lots of question.
Patrick speaks up:
"Confirm the diagnosis, so you're not in any doubt?"
"We're eighty percent sure Patrick."
Teresa's the next with a question.
"You said there was a significant risk. How significant?"
Doctor Polly looks between the two of them before answering which fill them with foreboding.
"About one in fifty die either from the surgery or complications following."
That news send a jolt through them. Patrick's hold of Teresa tightens. He finds his voice:
"That seems high."
"It's a serious operation, anything around the heart is tricky, but your chances of survival without the operation are nil."
"Does my history increase those risks?"
"It could. But from my examination, you're recovery's gone well and the mind plays a big part and I know how strong yours is and now you have something special to live for. I'm going to leave you now, you need time together and I'll be back after the results of the final test."
"Thanks doc."
"I really wish the news was better, but chances are you'll be up and out of the bed in a month and able to get on with your life."
Patrick gives her a small smile.
"I certainly hope so."
"Doctor Bennion is a world-class surgeon. The surgery's preliminary scheduled for ten tomorrow morning."
With that the doctor leaves. Patrick and Teresa look at each other. Jane arches his eyebrows and smiles at her.
"Wow"
"Yes wow.
Patrick scoots a little to the side and pats the bed.
"Come up, I want to hold you."
Teresa climbs on to the bed, turning on to her side facing him. He wraps his arms around her, as she reciprocates he pulls her closer. He plants a kiss on the top of her head and strokes her hair.
"You smell wonderful."
Teresa responds by squeezing him.
"It's going to be fine. I'm not going to die. Angela wouldn't come back to warn you, just for me to die."
Teresa lifts her head and talks in to his neck.
"You don't believe in such things."
"Well, I just might this one, and you do, don't you."
"Maybe I subconsciously knew there was something wrong and it was my way of making the conscious part of me aware."
"You're beginning to sound like me."
The tears, that Teresa's been battling, spring to her eyes.
"I don't want to lose you."
Patrick tightens his hold and speaks fiercely.
"You're not going to lose me, I'm not planning on going anywhere but to the operating theatre and then to our wedding. I haven't won so many battles just to lose the war."
He pulls away a little and lifts up her face with a finger under her chin. He kisses her tears.
"I need you in my corner believing it too, so you can push me through the hard times. We're going to stand across from each other one day and declare our love and make solemn vows to bind us together. Tell me you believe that Teresa."
She blinks away the tears and smiles at him.
"I do."