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.

James sat back down carefully and let out a slow breath. Barring a change, Martha was going to survive. But the ordeal had left him shaken. Mortality's given us a big ol' slap in the face.

They'd lived recklessly these last twenty lives – quite a few more than twenty for me. Death had been a minor concern; an inconvenience; a bump in the road. But Serafina had changed all of that.

Normally – so to speak – if Martha died before him, James would bide his time, perhaps learn a new skill. But now...

He'd have been left to raise Serafina on his own. The workload as a single father was undaunting. He'd planned on devoting his life to her either way. Still, it would have been torture. Every day, he'd be reminded of Serafina's loss in this life and Martha's in every life thereafter.

It was inevitable, he knew. It was why he'd sworn off parenthood so many lives before. Under the best of circumstances, they were destined to someday lose Serafina. And then, for dozens, hundreds, thousands of lives onward, they would mourn her with all their heart. But not like this...

Martha had known Serafina just long enough to fall madly in love with her. To have her taken in such a way, at such a time... James couldn't imagine anything more cruel.

And then there was Serafina herself. Would she have even remembered Martha? Or would it simply be old photos and faded stories? James shook away his concern for other Serafinas. Would his Serafina remember watching her mommy impale herself? God I hope not.

Steven rounded the hallway corner, wiping beneath his eyes. He smiled as he approached, then said, "Your turn."

James stood.. "Was she awake at all?"

"Nope. Sound asleep, just like this little one," Steven said, opening his arms to take his granddaughter. James obliged and they made the delicate transition.

Serafina awoke for a moment and said dreamily, "Hi, PeePaw." Then she went back to sleep on his shoulder.

"How'd she look?" James asked.

"She looked..." He took a moment to collect himself. "She looked much better than if you hadn't..." Again, he stopped himself, swallowing and clearing his throat. "After you explain it to Dr Suarez, you'll have to tell me how you saved my..."

James put his hand on Steven's shoulder. He didn't have to put his fear, joy, and gratitude into words. James understood, himself brimming with kaleidoscopic emotion. He steadied himself enough to ask, "Would you mind doing me a favor?"

Steven, happy to help and happier to change the subject, cleared his throat and replied, "Yes. Of course."

"I made a reservation at the Best Western on Main. It's under 'Quinn.' They'll have a crib in the room. She's been here long enough."

"No problem," Steven said then smiled an awkward smile of silent gratitude before walking away with Serafina.

A whiteboard on the wall told James which room was Martha's. He took the same hallway Steven had come from and found it easily on his own.

Martha lay asleep in the dimly lit room. A proper IV ran from her arm and various other cords connected her to machines measuring her vitals. James glanced at the current readings as well as her chart. Dr Suarez wasn't sugarcoating. She was recovering well.

He sat in the chair next to her bed. For a moment, he thought to take her hand, but worried it would wake her. She was stable, but not out of the woods and her body needed rest. So he simply sat with her, elated she was safe.

Still, a ball of panic swelled in his stomach. They'd come so close to losing so much. Had they made a mistake?

How can I even ask that question?

The dose of shame made the panic balloon. He felt powerless and terrified. And then he was overcome. It took all his strength to keep silent, in fear of waking her, but he couldn't stop his body from convulsing as he buried his face in his hands.

Then suddenly, "My blood in your hair looks kinda punk rock."

James looked up and let out an unintentionally loud gasp. He covered his mouth, then laughed at himself, then straightened his face. Hold yourself together!

At a loss, he asked, "How are you?"

"Not as good as I was before I fell," she croaked weakly. The corners of her mouth curled to a tiny smile. "I'm wonderful... Lucky to have a husband who can improvise surgery on..."

"A kidney, your spleen, and your splenic artery."

"Jesus Christ."

"Dr Suarez seems to think so. By the way, your dad was here. He sat with you for a while, but you were sleeping. Then he took Sera to a hotel."

Martha's heart rate surged for a moment but she closed her eyes and brought it back down. Okay, we'll stay off that subject for the time being.

She opened her eyes and whispered, "I'm sorry."

"Don't be. There but for the grace of god fall I. We just need to... remember that the rules have changed." These are no longer our lives alone to risk...

Martha nodded. "Thanks. And on that point... I know we've put a lot of thought and time and care into that property but-"

"We need to move back to civilization. One hundred percent."

"But you had so many plans..."

"If it's the three of us, happy and healthy, we could live in a landfill for all I care."

Martha smiled and said, "Okay, but not a landfill."

James chuckled. "No landfill. Got it." Joy replaced panic and outgrew his stomach, filling every inch of his being. Apparently, the feeling was mutual and the heart monitor began to race. "Slow, slooooow," he whispered.

Martha closed her eyes and stabilized herself. After a moment, she said, "So that's how it's going to be now? My heart is at your beck and call?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "Mine's been at yours for ten thousand years."

She closed her eyes proactively then smiled. He lay his head at her side and held her hand until the pair drifted off together.

Author's note:

Only one more chapter to go!!  Thank you for reading!