Until the Very End

Chapter 16

Meryl didn't realize it, but she must have fallen asleep in her husband's arms after his conversation with his mother. She woke up and noticed how Don was holding her protectively to his body, his arms were wrapped around her like a cocoon, almost as if he was trying to shield her from the world. She carrels disentangled herself from his body, placed a tender kiss on his lips and sat up. She sat there for the longest time, just holding his hand and watching him sleep. She still wasn't quite sure how he knew about what happened with Jane, other than Jane was obviously trying to spin it in her favor. That was why Meryl didn't want Don to know. NOT because she thought he would take his mother's side, she knew that would NEVER be the case; but rather, she didn't want Don to be upset and worked up. After all, he very easily could have died that day and he did have life-saving surgery. She didn't know why she was surprised that Jane obviously did what she did, but she was furious that Jane wasn't even concerned about her son. Meryl was furious at the fact that Jane was obviously more worried about making Meryl look bad than she was about the health and well-being of her own child. THAT is what pissed off Meryl. She didn't want Don to have to deal with this crap, but it was apparent his mother didn't even care which crushed Meryl. As Meryl was trying to work all of this out in her mind she heard Mags starting to fuss. With a kiss to Don's head, she went over to Mags' crib and picked her up, kissing her head that still had a little bump on it. "Hey, Maggie girl, Mama is right here. It's okay, baby girl. Mama is right here, and she and Daddy love you so so so much. You and your brothers and sisters always come first for us, no matter what. I just wish your grandmother felt the same about your father."

***

Don woke up and his heart sank when he didn't feel Meryl in bed beside him. "Darl?" Don called out and immediately sat up, which he immediately regretted as he held his chest. "FUCK!"

"Baby?!" Meryl was just placing Mags back in the crib after she got her back to sleep; and she immediately ran over to him. "Baby, what happened? Your blood pressure is sky high."

Don nodded as he tried to breathe through the pain. "Sat up...too...fast." Don breathed. "Worried...you."

"I'm right here, sweetheart." Meryl was running her fingers through his hair and was kissing all over his face once she got him to lean back against the bed. "Mags woke up and I was trying to get her back to bed. I didn't mean to worry you, Don Man."

"Always worry...." Don said opening one eye and looking at his beautiful wife. "After my...mot..."

Meryl didn't let him finish that sentence, and she gently kissed his lips to cut off what he was saying. "I do NOT want you to worry about that. We can talk about that later if you want, Don Man, not now. I know your blood pressure is high, your oxygen level is low, because you are in pain. Just breathe, baby. Easily. I am right here, love."

"Thank...god." Don reached out for her hand and laced his fingers through hers. "Babies...kay? I haven't gotten to...see much...them."

Meryl nodded as she kissed his forehead, thinking about how different he was from his mother and the man that raised him. "They are their daddy's babies, perfect. How's the pain, baby?"

"Not..." Don breathed. "Good."

Meryl reached over him for the call button. "I'm calling for the doctor."

"No, Darl..." Don shook his head as he tried to give her a reassuring smile. "Need...minute."

Meryl shook her head as she gently kissed his lips. "Nope, I'm calling the doctor. Sorry, handsome, but after everything you have been through today I need to make sure you're okay."

***

"Well?" Meryl asked as she stood by Don's head, running her fingers through his hair, as Dr. Johnson was examining him. "How is he?"