Chapter 7
If there was a world outside the hospital during the days that followed, Jack hardly noticed, even as he came and went, and all time seemed compressed into those moments he spent at Sara's bedside. She had already been moved to isolation as a precaution when her fever began climbing again unexpectedly a few hours after she was admitted. A stronger antibiotic was ordered which promptly made her sick, as if she wasn't already. It took two more tries before they hit on one she could tolerate.
The ordeal left her weak, but she kept her sense of humor for which Jack was grateful because it let him know she was still herself. Back on the ward, she seemed to get a kick out of watching Steve with the nurses -- the Greg Chase fan club, she called them -- especially when he agreed to autograph a medical chart for one of them.
"He's not a real doctor, you know," she commented dryly. "He just played one on TV."
The nurse, a bubbly redhead named Jenni, dimpled. "I know. It's just that my mom loved McKenzie and Chase, and she'll be so thrilled with this. It will be the best birthday present I've ever given her. And don't worry, these are old forms we don't use anymore. I grabbed a few when they were on their way to the trash."
"You people should be recycling," said Sara.
Steve smiled. "What's your mother's name?"
"Hazel."
He scrawled a couple of lines and handed it back to her.
Jenni read it and smiled. "Aw, that's so sweet. Thank you!" She turned to Jack. "Would you mind?"
"Of course not." He added his best wishes along with his signature.
"This is great! Mom is gonna freak out. You were her favorite."
"Hey," said Steve, "I thought I was her favorite."
"Uh, sorry. My bad." Jenni shrugged and looked sheepish as she paused at the door. "To tell you the truth, I never really watched the show. I thought you were Dr. McKenzie. Bye now!"
Sara burst out laughing.
"What's so funny?"
"Let's see...Ralph Lauren shirt, $85. Tag Heuer watch, $1100. The look on your face when you realized you'd been upstaged -- priceless."
"It happens to the best of us," said Jack. "Even after over forty years, some people still mistake me for Pernell Roberts. It's just life's way of keeping a man humble."
"I don't think I'll ever have to worry about that around here," said Steve, raising an eyebrow at Sara, who was still laughing. "Maybe I should just leave."
"If that's the way you feel, maybe you should."
They stared at each other for a moment, unsmiling, until Sara cracked a grin. "Will you just go?"
"All right, all right, I'm on my way," he said with an exaggerated sigh. "Hold the fort, Jack. I should be back in about an hour."
"You have the list, right?"
"In my pocket, dear. Don't go anywhere while I'm gone."
Jack observed their exchange with a smile. Laughter was good medicine. "Where is he off to?"
"He's getting some things from home for me."
"It's good to see you feeling better."
She returned his smile. "It's good to feel better," she said. "You really don't have to stay, Dad. You've spent too much time here already."
He patted her hand. "Where else could I have been? Where would you have been if Mark were here?"
"I understand, and I hate to bring this up, but you are seventy-five years old. You need to take care of yourself. I need you to do that."
"I'm fine, sweetheart. You don't need to worry about me. I'm in good shape, better every day you get better."
A cloud seem to come over her, just for a moment before she pushed it away. "I know how hard it's been for you, my being sick, and I'm sorry. I need to tell you something. It's nothing to get upset over, but I wanted you to know I've made a living will; in case something happens to me everyone will know my wishes. That way there'll be no arguments because there won't be any questions."
He felt a chill in the room that came from his gut. "Is there something you're not telling me, Sara?"
"No, there isn't, I promise. I expect to recover and be around a long time, but if the unexpected does happen, I don't want the people I love to be burdened with the kinds of decisions no one wants to have to make, especially if they can't agree. It would only add to grief." She paused. "I just wanted you to know, that's all. Just think of it as an insurance policy. You might never have to redeem it, but it's there if you need it. Okay?"
Her smile was tender and wise, and at that moment she reminded him so much of Liz it was hard for him to answer. He cleared his throat. "Of course okay."
tbc
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