As soon as Adrian landed his phone began to ring. He saw he'd missed several calls from Leland.

Hey Monk, I need you to call me back as soon as you land. It's important.

"Guys," he said, "Why don't you go get the bags. I missed 19 calls from Leland, and he says it's important."

"Of course," Trudy said, "Call him back. We'll grab a bite of lunch after you get back."

Adrian immediately returned Leland's call. He picked up after the first ring.

"Monk," Leland said– his voice shaking, "It's Karen. She has Ovarian cancer."

Monk felt his stomach turn to ice.

"Oh my GOD," he said, "I'm so sorry."

"Thank you, Monk," Leland said.

"How bad is it," Adrian asked.

"She's getting a hysterectomy at 4," Leland said, "They'll be doing a round of treatment. She'll be in the hospital for a week and then in recovery for several months. They said they caught it early."

"Well, it had to be early," Adrian pointed out, "Caroline was only born two weeks ago."

"I can't lose her," Leland said, "I love her so much. She's the best thing that ever happened to me. How am I going to take care of the boys and Jennifer and Caroline and Karen-"

"You're not alone in this," Adrian told him firmly, "You got me through the tough times I had. I'm going to get you through this. I know what you're going through. Karen will get better. She's a strong person. She overcame cancer before and this time it was caught very early."

Jennifer sat on her mother's hospital bed. Karen opened her eyes and smiled at her daughter.

"Honey I'm so sorry I got sick," she said.

"Don't apologize," Jennifer replied, "You didn't do anything wrong. You know you're going to beat this thing. You have to. We all need you."

"I'm not going anywhere sweetie," Karen promised, "But I am going to get some treatment. It may make me irritable."

"Listen," Jennifer said, "If you have to get mad… you can get mad at me, not the boys and definitely not Caroline."

"I only got mad one time," Karen said, "and it was at your father because he scared the **** out of me when he didn't bring the boys home until 4 in the morning. He never did that again. Just please know how much I love you. You, your father, your brothers and your sister are my world."

Jennifer looked thoughtful.

"You know," she said, "When I was kidnapped, I was told that you guys would never find me because he made it look like I was dead. I still had my stuffed bear that I had since babyhood. It got me through the hardest times."

She reached into her bookbag and handed Karen a pink bear.

"I want you to keep this as long as you need it."

"Honey, Cotton-Candy is your bear," Karen protested weakly.

"She's the bear of whoever needs her," Jennifer said, "You need her now. When you're better you can give her back to me."

Karen hugged Jennifer.

"I love you sweetheart," she said.

"I love you too mom," Jennifer replied.

She looked at the clock. The surgery would start in an hour.

"The doctor said that because of Caroline's birth the cancer was caught before it was too late," Leland added.

"If it would help," Adrian told him, "Trudy and I would be happy to take Caroline for the week. I know you have your hands full with Jennifer and the boys are at an age where they need a lot of attention too."

"You're going to want to check with Trudy first," Leland reminded Adrian, "But if it's alright with her that would be great. We would come see her every day of course."

"I'll call you right back," Adrian told Leland.

He jogged to meet up with Trudy, Marsha and Dwight.

"Sweetheart what's going on," Trudy asked at the serious look on Adrian's face.

Adrian filled them in on what happened.

"Of course, we can take Caroline for the week," Trudy said, "It'll be good practice for Hope."

"Thanks sweetie," Adrian said.

He called Leland back.

"Trudy said of course we can take Caroline for the week," he said.

"Thank you, Monk," Leland said, "I really appreciate this."

"Should we pick her up or-"

"No. I'll drop her off with her stuff. Karen's surgery is in 45 minutes, so I'll drop her off now and get back to the hospital."

Adrian and Trudy went back to their house. It was ½ an hour later that Leland came to drop off Caroline.

"Okay sweetie," he said to her, "I'll see you every day. Daddy loves you. We have to take care of mommy and get her better."

He kissed her forehead and handed her over to Trudy. Caroline looked up and yawned docilely. Leland kissed her one more time and left. He drove back to the hospital. Karen was already in surgery.

Leland paced the floor of the waiting room several times.

"Dad," Jennifer said, "She's going to be okay. I gave her Cotton–Candy. She'll look out for mom just like she looked out for me."
Leland smiled at his daughter's innocence. She was twelve years old and had the innocence of her four-year-old brother. He hoped she would never outgrow that.

Jarod looked doubtful.

"I'm scared," he admitted.

"I'm scared too buddy," Leland said, "But mom is strong. She's been through this before and this time it was caught really early."

Leland wiped away Jarod's tears with his thumb.

"It's going to be okay," he said firmly.

"Daddy," Max asked, "When mommy is back in her woom came we see her?"

Leland nodded and said, "of course"

The operation took two hours. Dr. Richard came into the room smiling.

"It was a complete success," he told Leland, "She sailed through the surgery with no complications."

"Can we see her?" Max begged.

Dr. Richard smiled.

"I'm not supposed to let you into the recovery room," he said, "You're too young– but for you I'll make an exception."

Max ran ahead.

"Slow down Max," Leland called.

Max slowed down. Dr. Richard led the way to the recovery room.

"Mommy!"
Karen's eyes lit up when her family came into the room. She appeared to be in no pain.

"Mom, how do you feel," Jennifer asked, hugging her.

Karen smiled.

"I feel fine honey," she said, "They gave me some medicine that got rid of the pain."

Max hugged his mother, elated that she was going to be alright.

"Where's the baby," Karen asked Leland after hugging her whole family.

"Monk and Trudy took her for the week," Leland explained.

"You're gonna go visit her though right," Karen asked, "I don't want her to feel abandoned."

Leland kissed his wife.

"Every day," he promised.

"So mom," Jared asked, "How long is the treatment going to take."

"It's a week," Karen said, "They'll give it to me when I'm at the hospital."

"Could I take your treatment for you? Like daddy did for me when I broked the lamp?" Max asked.

Karen had to blink away tears.

"That was different Maxie," Jennifer said, "Mom needs this to get better."