Authors: Radclyffe
"He's the best on the East Coast." Sax led the way into her trauma unit and supervised Quinn's transfer to the examining table. A blond man in scrubs appeared at her side. "Aaron, draw the routine bloods on her and let's get a chest x-ray stat. I had her old films brought down for comparison. Put those up on the view box for me as soon as you get a chance, will you?"
"Sure, Doc."
"I have her records from Philadelphia with me," Honor said, handing the oversized envelope to the trauma surgeon.
"Thanks." Sax favored her with a grin. "What's your assessment?"
"Anybody interested in my opinion?" Quinn asked, leaning up on her elbows on the stretcher.
Honor and Sax turned and spoke as one. "No. Just lie still."
The two women looked at each other and laughed.
"Perfect," Quinn grumbled. But, relieved to see that the woman she loved and the woman she respected unconditionally appeared to be getting along, she relaxed and settled back down.
"Let me show you the traces we have from this afternoon and a few weeks ago," Honor said, walking to the counter against the far wall that served as a desk.
While Honor and Sax talked, Dr. Caroli, Quinn's cardiologist, arrived. The three doctors reviewed the serial EKGs as well as the chest x-rays, and eventually, Honor returned to Quinn's side.
"Your cardiologist thinks that the leads are out of position," Honor said quietly. She took Quinn's hand and held it gently. "So do I. Probably from that fall you took the day you injured your shoulder. He wants to reposition the leads and change the battery unit, too, just to be safe."
Quinn closed her eyes for a second, then took a deep breath. When she met Honor's gaze, her expression was resolute. "Okay. Sounds like a plan. When?"
At that moment, Sax walked up to the bed. "Now. I thought I'd give Wisnicki a hand. Keep him honest."
"Probably not a bad idea," Quinn said, a rush of gratitude causing her to choke slightly on the words. She cleared her throat. "He's probably in a rush to get back to the golf course. With you watching, he's not as likely to forget to attach something important."
"Not to worry." Sax grinned and squeezed Quinn's shoulder. "Besides, if he's too slow, I'll do it myself so you won't miss dinner tonight."
Honor watched the trauma surgeon saunter out, then looked at Quinn with some concern. "She won't really take over the case, will she?"
Quinn hesitated.
"Oh, for God's sake," Honor muttered. "I don't know how you turned out so sane being trained by that maniac." Nevertheless, she felt strangely comforted by Saxon Sinclair's presence. She could feel the woman's love for Quinn, and that was all she needed to know. Quinn would be taken care of when Honor couldn't be there to do it herself.
"You ready to go, Quinn?" Aaron, the trauma nurse, asked.
Honor helped gather up Quinn's records and walked beside the stretcher with her hand on Quinn's shoulder as Aaron directed the moving bed unerringly through hallways resembling obstacle courses toward the elevator.
"Hey!" a lithe, strikingly attractive redhead called as she hurried down the hall toward them. Breathless, she skidded to a stop beside the stretcher, leaned down, and kissed Quinn soundly on the mouth. "God, I thought I'd missed you. How're you doing, sweetheart?"
"I'm fine." Quinn grinned. "It's not that serious. The medical people are just fussing."
Honor made a sound resembling a growl.
Quinn reached for Honor's hand and smiled. "Honor, this is Jude Castle, Sax's partner. Jude, Honor Blake."
Honor extended her hand as they all crowded into the elevator. "Pleased to meet you."
Jude took Honor's hand and tilted her head pensively. "You came up with Quinn from Philadelphia?"
"Yes." Honor smiled down at Quinn. "She seems to have stolen
my
heart."
"Wonderful," Jude exclaimed as the elevator doors opened. She turned at the sound of someone calling her name, and her eyes took on a warm, tender glow. "Hello, Dr. Sinclair."
Honor wouldn't have believed it if she hadn't witnessed it: a fleeting stillness came over the hyperdynamic Saxon Sinclair as she looked at Jude Castle, and an expression of deep peace eclipsed her features. Then Sinclair grinned, and the spell dissolved.
"I'm glad you made it," Sax said to Jude, brushing her fingers over Jude's shoulder and down her back. Then she turned her attention to her former trauma fellow. "We're all set, Quinn. Time to saddle up."
"Just a second," Quinn replied. She tugged Honor's hand and drew her close. "This isn't a big deal. I'll be fine. I love you."
Honor kissed Quinn firmly, then brought her mouth close to Quinn's ear. "You have to be fine, Quinn. Arly and I love you. And we need you." She straightened and brushed her fingers through Quinn's hair tenderly. "I'll see you in a little while, baby."
"Yeah," Quinn said through a throat tight with longing. "See you soon."
Then Saxon Sinclair took hold of the side of the stretcher and pulled it toward the automatic doors that opened into the operating room on the other side. Honor watched until the doors slowly swung closed and Quinn was gone.
"Can I get you anything? Something to eat or a cup of coffee?" Jude Castle offered.
Honor smiled wearily and shook her head. "No, thanks." She glanced at her watch and saw with amazement that it was after six p.m. She hadn't had anything to eat since breakfast, but she wasn't hungry. Quinn had been gone just over an hour.
"Wisnicki is apparently a fabulous surgeon, and Sax is with him. Believe me, she won't let anything happen to Quinn," Jude said softly.
"Dr. Sinclair does seem to inspire confidence," Honor remarked wryly.
When she isn 't being completely aggravating.
Jude smiled this time, a fond, indulgent smile. "She's actually as good as she thinks she is."
"Right now, that's very encouraging to hear, although you
might he
just a little bit prejudiced."
"I might be, if I hadn't spent a year watching her work. I'm crazy in love with her, but I'm not exaggerating about her skill."
"I saw some of the documentary that you filmed here. It was very good work." Honor found that the distraction of casual conversation helped her
almost
ignore the undercurrent of fear that rippled and swelled with each breath. She hated that Quinn was somewhere she couldn't see her. Couldn't take care of her. She knew it was irrational, but she couldn't bear to think that Quinn might slip away, and she might not be there to stop it. She shivered. I
couldn 't bear to lose you. I just couldn 't.
"Thanks." Jude wanted to do something to comfort the other woman, because it was impossible not to see her pain and fear. "You're Quinn's boss, aren't you?"
"Technically, yes, but I'd say that we're more colleagues than anything else." Honor glanced toward the operating room doors as if Quinn might walk through them at any moment. Her voice was distant. "Other than lovers. God, I hate this."
"Is there anything I can do?"
Honor gave the redhead an appreciative glance. "It helps that you're here to keep me company. I could tell that Quinn was glad to see you, too."
"We're both very fond of her. Sax always has terrific fellows, but Quinn is special. I was very sorry that she couldn't stay..." Jude laughed softly. "But it seems that it's worked out for the best. I'm so happy that the two of you are together."
"Yes. So am I."
"I'm sure she's—" Jude looked up as the doors whooshed open and Sax strode out.
Honor got immediately to her feet and took two steps forward, her eyes riveted to Sax's face. There was nothing else in the world except Saxon Sinclair's eyes, steady and strong and sure.
"Is she—"
"Fine. She's fine." Sax's voice was as certain as her expression. She took Honor's arm, cupping her hand beneath Honor's elbow. "Come over here so I can fill you in."
Unexpectedly, Honor was light-headed. Her knees were weak, and she leaned slightly against the surgeon, grateful for the firm hand to support her. "She's awake? Her heart?"
"Sit down," Sax repeated gently, guiding Honor to one of the well-worn chairs in the waiting area. Once Honor was settled, Sax pulled over another chair so that they were eye to eye. "Wisnicki replaced the leads and the battery pack. No problems. But I've got even better news."
In that moment, Honor was no longer a doctor, merely a terrified loved one who needed reassurance and the belief that this doctor would somehow answer her prayers. She couldn't take her eyes from Sax's.
"Since Quinn was being monitored and we could handle any arrhythmias that might come up, the cardiologist did an electrical mapping. Her heart's much better than it was six months ago. The focus of irritability is very small."
Honor closed her eyes and lowered her head. "Oh, thank God."
Sax looked across the room toward Jude and motioned for something to drink. Jude signaled her understanding and rose quickly. Then Sax leaned forward and rested her fingertips lightly against Honor's knee. "She might not even need the defibrillator, but Caroli wanted to be careful, so we replaced it for now."
"All the problems she's been having..." Honor raised her head, her voice incredulous. "It's been a technical problem with the device, hasn't it?"
"Probably a lot of it. It happens."
"Oh, I know." Honor brushed at her cheeks, stunned to find tears. She hadn't felt them escape. She looked up gratefully as Jude handed her a cold soda. "Thank you."
Sax reached up for the other soda Jude held out and gave her a blazing smile. "Thanks, babe."
"Everything okay?" Jude rested one hand on Sax's shoulder and caressed her softly with the unmindful intimacy of longtime lovers.
"Yep. Quinn is going to be good as new." Sax took a long pull of her soda. "Before the year is out, she ought to be back operating, back where she belongs."
Back where she belongs?
Honor's stomach rolled again, this time with a new kind of alarm.
Back here, in New York?
Chapter Thirty-Two
H i," Honor said softly as she leaned down to kiss Quinn gently on the mouth. "How do you feel?"
"I'm fine." Quinn, the only patient in the recovery room, was propped up on the stretcher with several pillows behind her back. She smiled and reached for Honor's hand. "I more or less slept through the procedure, although I remember watching the fluoroscope when Wisnicki was placing the new leads."
"Are you having any pain?"
"No. He went through the old incision to change the battery pack, so there's very little discomfort. I should be out of here in fifteen minutes or so."
"Has anyone talked to you yet?"
"You mean about the current state of my heart?" Quinn squeezed Honor's fingers. She was still reeling from the impact of the news. "Yeah. Caroli was here just now and gave me a rundown. He said there's a good chance I won't need the defibrillator in another six months."
"I'm so happy for you, baby." Honor brushed her fingers through Quinn's hair. "That's the best news."
"I'm happy for
us,"
Quinn said quietly, her eyes fixed on Honor's face. "I don't want you to worry about me all the time, and I don't want you to be cheated out of anything you deserve."
Honor frowned, her eyes darkening. "I didn't expect you to come along, Quinn. I didn't expect to love anyone the way I love you. And I certainly never dreamed of anyone making me feel the way you do."
"Honor—"
"No, let me finish," Honor chided gently. " I
love you.
You make me terribly happy. I could never feel cheated because of having you in my life. When I think of the future now, I see
you.
And it's wonderful."
"I love you so much." Quinn's voice was husky.
"Ditto, Dr. Maguire." Honor blinked away tears and smiled. "Sinclair says you'll be operating again soon, too. Did she tell you that?"
Quinn shrugged. "Yes, but for the time being, I have a job." Then she grinned, blue eyes sparkling. "And since I have a thing for my boss, I'm not in a big hurry to switch."
"Well," Honor murmured, "since your boss has a thing for you, too, that's good to hear." She took a breath to be sure her voice was steady. "When the time comes, maybe you'll consider a position at PMC in the surgery department."
"If not there, someplace in Philadelphia will need a trauma surgeon." Quinn regarded Honor intently. "Because I have no plans to leave."
Honor kissed her again. "Even better."
"Would you mind calling Arly on your cell phone so I can talk to her?" Quinn glanced toward the other side of the room where the recovery room nurse sat writing notes in her chart. "I'm the only patient in here, so I don't think we'll disrupt anything critical with it."
"Oh, no," Honor laughed. "Except if we happen to interfere with the telemetry to that monitor you're wearing, Saxon Sinclair will be in here pounding on your chest before I have a chance to explain."
Quinn grinned. "I trust you to handle her."
"Thank you," Honor said dryly. "Even so, I'll use the phone in the waiting area in a few minutes and tell Arly that you'll call her as soon as you can. Okay?"
"Okay." Quinn leaned her head back against the pillows. "Then how about checking the Amtrak schedule to see if we can get a train back to Philadelphia tonight."
"Jude invited us to stay here in Manhattan tonight with them," Honor replied. "I think we should. That way you can get a good night's sleep before we travel."
"I don't want to miss one of Phyllis's breakfasts." Quinn lifted Honor's hand and kissed her fingers gently. "And I want to see Arly."
"Most people would jump at the chance to spend a night in New York City without their children, you know," Honor pointed out with another laugh. It wasn't until she had said the words that she realized how easily she had begun to think of them as a family. She searched Quinn's face and found the calm certainty there that she loved so much.
"Give me a year or so, and maybe I'll feel that way, too.
Maybe.
" Quinn locked eyes with Honor. "I was kind of hoping I could count on having the next fifty or sixty with you."