They were finishing a shower when Colt heard his cell ring.

"I've got to get that," he said urgently. Colt rinsed off quickly, kissed Dana's cheek, climbed out of the shower, and threw a towel around his waist. He went back into the living room, where his clothes had been discarded, and found his phone in his pants.

"Colt James."

A familiar voice spoke up, "Colt, it's Dr. Wong."

Colt sat down. "Yeah?"

"What are your plans for this evening?"

Colt felt the blood leave his face. It was bad. "Uh, why?"

"I want to get you into surgery right away."

Colt let out a string of curses. After which, lead to him coughing a bunch for getting so worked up. "Sorry," he told the doctor. "Is it really that bad?"

"I think that coughing fit should be the answer to your own question. Colt, we've got to get in there and clean things up a bit, you have a lot of scar tissue built up. This surgery should be able to take care of the problem. But I do have to tell you there are risks for the surgery, just like last time. We can go over all that at the hospital, but the need for surgery outweighs all the risks. You have to do this surgery, Colt."

He leaned back on the couch and closed his eyes. Just what he needed on Dana's birthday. He couldn't not be there. He couldn't do that to her. Especially not after what just happened between them. "Can it wait?"

"I'd rather not."

Colt bit back another curse. "Can we do it tomorrow? I have something really important I've got to do tonight."

"If you absolutely insist on it," Dr. Wong said with a sigh.

He blew out a breath in relief. "I do."

"How's eight in the morning? You can check in the hospital at six to prep."

Colt ran a hand through his hair. He didn't want to have to go through another surgery. And especially not now when he'd finally gotten together with Dana, but the doctor sounded like it was serious. With the amount of coughing and trouble breathing he'd had lately, Colt knew that it wasn't something that he could ignore anymore. "Yeah, okay, fine, I'll do it."

"Good decision. We'll see you tomorrow morning then. Take it easy tonight."

"So, uh, sex is out?" Colt stammered.

"Very much out. You shouldn't be straining yourself in any way," Dr. Wong told him firmly.

"Too late," Colt muttered.

"Ah, to be young again," the doctor said with a wistful sigh. Colt laughed. "No more, I mean it, Colt. It could, in all seriousness, kill you."

"You really know how to kill the mood, doc," Colt complained.

"See you tomorrow," the doctor answered with a laugh. "And don't forget you can't have anything to eat at least twelve hours before surgery."

"I remember." Colt disconnected the phone and sighed.

"Don't tell me you have to go back to work," Dana said, coming into the room seeing his long face.

He looked up at her. She had dressed in a short black tennis looking skirt and a green halter top. She was so beautiful it hurt. Colt got up and wrapped her up in his arms. "I love you, Dana, God, I love you," he told her, putting his head on top of hers as he hugged her tightly.

"Colt, what's wrong?" she asked, pulling back to study his face.

He didn't want her to see the anxiety in his face. Colt kissed her cheek and started collecting his clothes. "I do have to go, I'm sorry."

Dana groaned. "You're still coming to my party though, right?!"

He stepped into his underwear, his pants then zipped and buttoned. "I wouldn't miss it for anything," he promised as he pulled her to him and kissed her gently.

"Are you sure you're okay?" she asked, touching his face, looking in his eyes. He looked so down whereas minutes before she hadn't ever seen him smile so much.

He pulled his shirt on and started buttoning it. Dana swatted his hands away and took over. "Yeah. I...I have some things to take care of before the party. I'll meet you there, okay?" Colt watched her face, hoping she wasn't too disappointed that he couldn't spend the rest of the day with her.

"I love you, Colt," she said, meeting his eyes. "Always remember that. When the demons are haunting you, you have to remember that."

He nodded and slipped his arms back around her waist. "Dana, after the party I need to talk to you about some...things."

"I knew something was bothering you. Can't we talk now?"

"I can't right now. After the party, I swear, we'll sit down and talk. It's okay, everything's fine, I promise," he said, touching her face, and praying he wasn't lying to her.

"Alright," she answered. She kissed the hand that had been skimming her cheek when it met her lips.

Colt smiled lightly before turning to get his jacket from the chair and slipped it on. She picked up his tie and handed it to him. Colt shoved it in a pocket. "Okay, I'll see you later," he said, quickly kissing her cheek.

"Bye," she said quietly, watching him leave.