[COMPLETED]
[WATTYS 2022 WINNER]
James Quinn can't die. Actually... that's not true. He's died many times - somewhere in the neighborhood of 250 - only to be reborn as himself to live his life over again.
For millennia, he's had to endure this c...
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Serafina stirred. James, himself exhausted, rubbed her back to soothe her as she slept on his chest. An orderly pushed a squeaking, empty gurney past the waiting room.
Steven came hurrying in. "James! How is she?" he said, sitting next to them in a huff, then flinching apologetically at the chance he'd awoken his granddaughter. James had called him from the ambulance and Steven had made the six hour drive in four.
"Critical last I heard. We should be finding out soon- Oh, there's her doctor," James said, nodding to the man in scrubs approaching them.
"Mr. Quinn?"
"Yes?" James and Steven stood in anticipation.
A smile broke across the doctor's face. "Your wife is stable."
James' knees buckled. He was overjoyed, yet felt debilitated from the experience nevertheless.
"Oh thank god," Steven said, putting a hand on James' shoulder.
"This is Martha's father. Steven, this is Dr Suarez."
"Thank you so much," Steven said, voice breaking, as he hugged the doctor. "Thank you so, so much."
"Your welcome, sir. I'm happy I could do my part but..." They released and Dr Suarez regarded James with a peculiar look in his eye. "When I heard that you operated on her internal injuries on site... I assumed she didn't have a chance. Or... at the very least I'd have to significantly intervene, but... The stitches are holding and there is no sign of infection... How in the world did you manage to cauterize the..." He blinked and shook his head. "I am sorry. I shouldn't interrogate you at a time like this."
"Thank you, Doctor."
"But perhaps at a later date, I could interview you?"
"That would be fine." James didn't blame the man. Even with his expertise from previous lifetimes, it had been a long shot. Add on that he'd only earned a bachelor's degree in a non-related field in this life and the tale grew taller still.
"Because I am a man of science... But this was... I am sorry. Again, I am sorry. This is not the time."
"That's okay," James said. But seriously... "Do you think we could see her?"
"She's resting, and I'd like her to continue to do so, but if you like, you can sit with her one at a time. I worry about the child making a disturbance..."
"Of course," James said. "Steven, why don't you go first?"
"Are you sure? You deserve to see her-" Steven protested.
"It's fine. I've got this one," James said, motioning softly to Serafina. "Let sleeping princesses lie, I always say."
Steven smiled and swallowed hard. Then, to Dr Suarez, "Okay. Lead the way, Doc." The two walked off and onto a second hallway.
