Chapter 16

"Hurry Kevin! Please hurry!" Nick yelled as they ran down the hospital halls. Kevin panted as he tried to keep up with Nick, his mind racing. Would he really be able to do this?

"Here!" Nick shouted, opening the door to find AJ and Howie close at Dr. Turtle's side. Kevin paled, his emotions showing through.

"Annie!" He ran over to her bedside and laid his hand on her forehead. "God, you're burning up. Where does it hurt?"

The red head opened her pain filled eyes. "My side." She moaned. Kevin grabbed a hold of the gurney and began to wheel it out quickly.

"Howie, please close us to trauma and transfer Annie's last patient. AJ and Nick, you guys handle the minor cases and hand off your charts to Dr. Littrell...where is Brian anyway?" Kevin asked. AJ stepped up.

"He went with Katie, to clam her down, she was really upset." Kevin nodded.

"Okay, when he returns, he can help you. I need to get her upstairs to surgery." He indicated to the groggy patient. Nick bit his lip.

"Will she be okay Kevin?" Kevin looked at Nick worriedly but made himself say otherwise for his patient.

"Yes, she'll be fine. I'll be back down later." With that he wheeled Annie to the elevator, impatiently pushing the button. Annie sighed.

"It's not gonna come any faster that way." Dr. Richardson looked down at his patient.

"Try not to talk Annie, I'm sure that causes more pain." She turned her head so he wouldn't see her tears.

"So what? I'll probably die anyway." Kevin gaped at her as the elevator doors slid open. He pushed her inside and shut the door before anyone else delayed him. Bending over, he gently took Annie's face in his hands.

"Annie, listen to me. You are not going to die. I promise." She looked at him.

"Kevin, you can call another surgeon if you're not comfortable with doing this to me. I know you don't want to." He sighed.

"Annie, if you need this operation, I want to be the only one doing it. I...I have to make sure you're going to be all right." She frowned.

"You have to?" He blushed.

"Yes, Annie. I want to apologize for being mean to you. I want us to be friends...or more than that." The red head's eyes widened.

"You care for me?" He looked in her eyes and took her hand.

"Yes, very much. I'm not very good at expressing my feelings though...I tend to give people the wrong impression." She snorted.

"That's putting it mildly." She grimaced in pain suddenly. "Ouch!" Kevin looked concerned at her appearance.

"Stop talking, we need to get you prepped." He told her as the doors finally opened on the surgical ward. He grumbled. "Stupid slow elevator." Wheeling her out, he spotted Didi in the hall.

"Didi! Get OR one ready for me stat!" The older nurse looked shocked.

"Annie! Oh my God, are you all right!" Annie nodded overtaken by the pain. Kevin pushed faster.

"Please Didi, now!" The nurse nodded and hurried down to the OR rooms.

Kevin wheeled Annie into pre-op and felt her forehead again. "Okay, first things first, we need to lower your temp. I don't want to risk infection because you have a high fever." He told her, starting an IV. She nodded weakly.

"It hurts."

"I know honey, but don't worry."

"Easy for you to say." He rolled his eyes.

"You're still a smart ass even when you're sick huh?" Annie gave him a tight smile.

"Yes,." Kevin took a deep breath and placed his hands on Annie's belly.

"I need to examine you so I know for sure it's your gallbladder. This is gonna hurt but it needs to be done." She closed her eyes.

"Just get it over with." He placed his hands on her abdomen and gently prodded her side."

"Shit!" She hissed. He removed his hands.

"Okay, okay all done." He frowned at her increasingly pale complexion. "I'm gonna put you on a heart monitor just for precaution." She nodded, becoming weaker by the moment.

"Please keep talking, it helps."

Kevin nodded, attaching the monitor to her chest and turning on the machine.

"What should I talk about?"

"Anything....um...maybe about how long you've liked me?" Kevin smiled despite himself.

"Since the first day I met you of course. What's not to like?" Annie laughed weakly. She took a raspy breath.

"I like you too, you know." Dr. Richardson took down the oxygen mask and put it over her nose and mouth.

"Okay, no more talking from you, I'm gonna call the anestiologist in a few minutes to put you under, I'd like to start soon. But, first I wanna give your fever a chance to lower. "We'll wait about 10 more minutes." Annie nodded understandingly. He sat at her side and took her hand again.

"Annie, I just want you to know that I'm gonna make you well again. But.." He paused. "I'm a little scared." Again she nodded. He laughed nervously. "I guess that's the last thing I should be telling you, but I bet you expected it. I want to be honest with you from now on. I'm scared because I'm afraid to lose you, I'm so afraid to lose anyone I love. But I have a feeling I need to conquer this fear. And I'm going to make this promise to you. Once I finish and you're all better, which you will be for sure. I'm going to start doing my job again. And I can't wait till you're well enough to work at my side." He smiled down at her. "You're the perfect match for me professionally and personally." She lifted off her oxygen and took a breath.

"Thank you Kevin. I'm scared but I know I'm in the best hands I can be in. And I promise to be more honest myself." She trailed off, putting her mask back on. Dr. Richardson stood and grabbed the thermometer, sticking it in Annie's ear.

"You're down to 102.8. That's still high but I'm going to have to risk it, you're getting weaker and the infection is taking over." He took a breath.

"You ready sweetie?" She gripped his hand.

"Yes." As Kevin went to the phone and paged the anestiologist, Annie closed her eyes in silent prayer. "God please get me through this." She whispered. Kevin came back once again and grabbed the bed, slowly wheeling her into the cold OR. Dr. Turtle let herself take in all the sights and sounds she was so used to as a doctor. But now they seemed completely different from a patients point of view. She watched Kevin put on his mask and scrub in as Didi held her hand. She watched as he met with the anestiologist and she was started on a mask. And finally, she watched as Kevin lifted her onto the table with his strong hands. The hands that would save her life.

She drifted off.