Welcome Back

"Hey, it's good to see you back." Sean walked into Theo's office.

"Good to be back." Theo nodded, holding up the stack of paperwork that had been left on his desk, "I appreciate the gifts."

"It's nothing too heavy." Sean assured him, "How you been? You know if you need more time off you can take it."

"I'd much rather come back." Theo said, "I've had enough time off. Kinda just want to get back to normal. Whatever normal is in this place." He nodded.

"Well… if you change your mind, there's no issues. Just know that." Sean nodded.

"Thank you." Theo said, "How you been? I know things haven't been too great for you and Jude." He said, separating his paper-work into piles on his desk.

"Moving forward with the divorce." Sean nodded, "Working on a schedule for when we get the girls. It's pretty awful stuff but… it's happening and I just want her to be happy."

"Yeah, it's gotta be rough." Theo nodded, "I guess you just wanna make it as amicable as possible, especially for the girls. They'll probably sense that something is off."

"Yeah, I think they do." Sean agreed, "It's been tough. I've probably been a little cold to Jude… I just miss her. But I do wanna make it easy on her. Still make sure she knows that I'm here for her." Sean said.

"Sounds like the right thing to do." Theo agreed, "What about this place? What's been going on? Does that prick still work here?" He mumbled.

"You'll be glad to know that he doesn't. He took a dispatcher job in the offices downtown. No idea why. Didn't ask. Didn't care." Sean said, "Just glad he's gone."

"Good fucking riddance. Finally, some good news." Theo nodded.

"It's been pretty quiet here. Not much that I gotta catch you up to speed with, actually." Sean said.

"How's things looking on the homicide front?" Theo asked.

"Slow." Sean said, "But… there's plenty of other things you can busy yourself with." He nodded with authority.

"Yes, sir." Theo said sarcastically.

"Theo." Daryl, one of the patrol officers came running into the office.

"What's up?" Theo asked as he and Sean looked at Daryl.

"It's Cassie." Daryl said as Theo sat some papers down that he was holding, "She's in a lot of pain. In her office." He explained as Theo took off from his office, rushing down the corridor and into Cassie's office where she was sitting behind her desk, leaning back on her chair, groaning quietly in pain.

"Hey… hey, what's wrong?" Theo asked worriedly, rushing over to her.

"I told you to stay here!" Cassie snapped at Daryl.

"You can't stand up." Daryl defended whilst Sean stood at the door.

"We need an ambulance?" Sean wondered.

"No!" Cassie snapped again, "Do not make a scene." She pleaded.

"What's wrong? What's sore?" Theo tried to understand.

"My stomach." Cassie whimpered, "It hurts so bad. It's getting worse."

"Is this the same pain you've had since my dad died?" Theo asked her as she nodded.

"I thought it'd go away." Cassie cried with frustration.

"Sounds like appendicitis." Daryl nodded, "My wife had it. She was screaming with the pain." He turned to Sean who just nodded along.

"Well we gotta take you to the hospital. Now." Theo nodded, watching as Cassie parted her legs a little, looking at him as he noticed what she was showing him. She was bleeding.

"I don't want to stand up." Cassie shook her head, tears running down her cheeks as Theo gulped.

"You need to go to the hospital. I'll be right with you." Theo said, "C'mon, we gotta get you up." He said, trying to stay calm for her, "Daryl, we're good here, thanks." He nodded.

Daryl got the hint and left the office whilst Sean watched Theo help Cassie to stand, wrapping his arm around her waist.

"Can I help?" Sean asked, "I can call Jude, or your mom?" He asked.

"No, not just now." Theo shook his head, helping Cassie walk as she cried with the pain. He knew she had to be in a considerable amount of pain. She was tough and stubborn and pain rarely bothered her. It made him increasingly worried by the minute.

"You guys wanna go out the back door?" Sean asked.

"Yeah." Theo nodded, lifting Cassie up bridal style to get them out the door quicker and to the car.

"Mr Sanchez?" A doctor walked into the waiting room where Theo was pacing around in.

"Yeah, that's me." Theo nodded, walking over to the doctor, "How is she? What's going on?" He asked, "Sorry, what's your name?" He asked.

"I'm Doctor Earl." The doctor nodded, "We've done an ultrasound and it looks like Cassie has a pretty large cyst on her right ovary." He explained, "When cysts become so large, it's unlikely they'll shrink or go away on their own without surgery. And with the amount of pain Cassie is in, I think the quicker we operate the better."

"So she… she needs surgery?" Theo asked.

"Yes. She looks as keen on the idea as you do right now, but it's the best option for her right now. I promise." Doctor Earl nodded, "It's a surgery I've performed countless times. I could probably do it with my eyes closed." He smiled as Theo looked at him with concern, "I never do, of course." The doctor added quickly.

"Can I see my wife?" Theo asked.

"Yes, of course. She's been asking for you." Doctor Earl nodded, walking off down the corridor as Theo followed, "I've deemed her surgery an emergency, so she's scheduled in for 3pm."

"That's in a few hours." Theo checked his phone. Everything was happening so fast. One minute Cassie was fine, and now she was heading in for surgery soon.

"The sooner we operate, the quicker she can be pain free." He said.

"Yeah… yeah, of course." Theo agreed.

"She's this room here." Doctor Earl stopped outside the door, "We've given her some fluids and something for the pain she's in. It should start kicking in soon." He said.

"Thank you." Theo nodded to him sincerely, walking on into the room where Cassie was laid up in bed.

"Hi." Cassie looked over at him.

"Hey. How you doing?" Theo asked, cupping her cheeks and kissing her softly.

"I have to get surgery." Cassie said, "I didn't want surgery."

"Doc thinks it's the best option, baby." Theo nodded, pulling a chair over and sitting by her bed, "The cyst is too big to disappear on its own."

"I thought I was having a miscarriage again." She admitted, rolling her head back and looking up at the ceiling, "I mean… I know I'm not pregnant, but I still thought that's what was happening." She said as Theo nodded. He could tell when she was back at the police station, that some awful memories were being triggered for her.

"I don't blame you." Theo nodded, taking her hand, "You're going to be ok. I'll be right here when you come back from surgery."

"You can't come in with me?" She turned to him, sighing.

"Don't think so." Theo smiled a little, "You're going to be fine. I promise." He nodded, leaning over and kissing her head.

"Hi. My mom called me." Thea appeared in the waiting room later on where Theo was sat, his leg bouncing nervously, various empty coffee cups sitting around him, "Is she out yet?"

"No. She should be soon." Theo sat up, "I told your mom not to bother coming in. It's only one visitor when she comes out of surgery anyway." He said.

"Yeah, I figured." Thea said, sitting down beside him. She was on shift and received a call from her mom to let her know what had happened to Cassie. She had to come find Theo to check in.

"She was in a lot of pain." Theo sighed, running his hand over his face tiredly.

"I've saw women come into the ER with ovarian cysts, screaming at the top of their lungs." Thea nodded, "It's a terrible thing."

"She didn't even look like she was in that much pain when she was having Chase." Theo shook his head.

"Does she still go to the gyno?" Thea asked him as Theo looked at her blankly, "Doctor for the lady parts?" She asked.

"Oh." Theo said, "Yeah… well, as far as I know. She did come off her birth control a few months ago. She can't win either way. If she goes on the pill, she gets headaches and dizziness. If she comes off it, she's doubled up the entire week of her period. Can barely move." Theo shook his head, "I'm no period expert, ok, but I know they're not supposed to be as difficult as that."

"Damn right they're not." Thea said, "In fact, periods should be painless for the most part."

"She just puts up with it." Theo said, "She says if she goes to her doctor they just put her back on birth control. She tried this implant thing just after Chase was born, too. Made her sick." He shook his head.

"It's like talking to a brick wall when it comes to women's health." Thea said, "She should be a lot more pain free once the cyst is removed. A little bit sore from surgery but… she'll make a good recovery." Thea assured him.

"Yeah, doc said it should be a speedy recovery. She might even be able to be discharged later tonight." Theo nodded.

"Where are the kids?" Thea wondered, "You need any help with them?"

"My mom has them. Thanks." Theo nodded.

"Will you be alright here?" Thea asked him.

"Yeah. Yeah, you go back. She should be out soon. I'll text or call." Theo said.

"Ok." Thea nodded, rubbing his shoulder before heading off back to her department to get back to work.

"I can just carry you, you know." Theo said, walking slowly to their front door later on that night with Cassie holding onto him for support.

"No, what if a neighbour is watching?" Cassie scoffed.

"Oh, the drama." Theo said sarcastically.

"I can walk just fine." Cassie nodded, inching slowly to the door to their house.

Her surgery had been successful with the cyst being removed. Her pain wasn't as severe, although she was pretty sore and tender from the surgery itself, and was ordered to rest in bed for at least the weak before working on a recovery.

"Straight to bed." Theo told her, getting into the house.

"Alright, dad." Cassie scoffed, "Are you going to get the kids once you tuck me in?" She teased as Theo shook his head.

"No. They're staying with my mom tonight." Theo said, helping her up the stairs slowly, taking one step at a time.

"Feels like we've barely seen them these past few months." Cassie sighed, "What if they think we don't love them?"

"I think that anaesthetic is still in your system." Theo nodded.

"I feel a bit out of it." Cassie agreed.

"Doc said that'd be normal for tonight. You're on some pretty strong meds." He said.

"Surprised they discharged me so soon." Cassie said.

"Well, it's a minor surgery compared to others. I figured you'd rather be in your own bed." Theo said.

"Oh, I would." Cassie agreed.

"Couple more to go." Theo said as Cassie paused.

"Ok, you can just lift me." Cassie nodded.

"Finally." Theo said, having been wondering when she would ask since he could see she was getting tired and struggling.

He lifted her up gently, taking the remainder of the stairs and heading straight into their bedroom, sitting her down on their bed.

"You should have said something sooner about the pain, Cass. You'd been complaining about that since my dad's funeral." He sighed, kissing her head.

"I thought it'd go away." Cassie shrugged, "It's not like I'm not used to that kind of pain."

"Here are some shorts and a t-shirt." He said, sitting them on the bed beside her, "I'll help you."

"You just want to see me naked." She nodded.

"Always." Theo agreed as she smiled, slowly putting her arms up as he helped her strip and put on some comfier clothes, "Ok, let's get you into bed." He said, pulling the covers back and helping her in, propping her pillows up around her.

"Don't fuss over me, it's ok." Cassie said, "You've got enough on your mind. Thinking about your dad. I'll be fine."

"I will fuss over you. I'm here to take care of you." Theo insisted, "What do you need? You want some tea? Or just some water?"

"I need you to go get me my purse, please. The one with my work folders in it." Cassie nodded.

"I can do that." He said.

"Tea would also be nice." Cassie smiled, resting her head back on the pillows.

"Coming right up." He said, leaving the room to go make her some tea and collect the purse she wanted.

It didn't take him long to reappear with a mug of tea, sitting it on her bedside table, and her purse she'd requested.

"Thank you." Cassie smiled.

"You need anything else?" Theo asked her.

"No." Cassie shook her head tiredly.

"I'll pick the kids up in the morning. Hopefully you can get a good sleep." He said.

"You told my family, right?" She asked.

"All were informed, yes." Theo nodded, "And all want to know when they can come see you."

"Oh, shit. Chase has his soccer game in the morning." Cassie sighed.

"That's ok. I can take him." Theo nodded.

"I wanted to go." Cassie said.

"Well you can't." Theo told her, "I can cheer him on for you. And I'll take Lena. She can stand in for you. She loves being nosey so it'll be perfect for her."

"This is such an inconvenience." Cassie rolled her eyes.

"You'll be rested and recovered in no time." He said, leaning over and kissing her head.

A/N: Got a little writing inspo back again after a long time, and it always irks me that I've not finished this series. Hopefully I can, if anyone out there is even still reading LOL.