Jesse had just been prepped for his procedure. And was waiting to be taken back to the Cath lab. His oxygen mask had been replaced with his nasal cannula since his vitals had stabalized. He seemed to be a hell of a lot more calm about this than Abbey was, but she was still a typical Dr.
"So everything is going to be fine. Dr Tenney does dozens of these a day. It's no big deal" She told him
"You seem like you're trying to convince yourself Abs"
"Why are you always the calm one, always trying to comfort me?"
"Well someone's got to be"
She looked down at him lovingly.
"Hey come here" He pulled her down against him and she cuddled against his chest. He kissed the top of her head. "We're going to be ok"
"You're always so sure" she looked up at him.
"Yeah because this is not how I'm going out"
"No?"
"No way. Hey if covid didn't take me out, a little heart murmur isn't going to finish me off"
"Always such a trooper"
" Hey it wasn't even that bad"
Abbey rolled her eyes and looked at him. "Jesse you were in bed for 3 weeks. You slept through your 36th birthday"
"Yeah but it could have been so much worse. I wasn't here on a ventilator was I?"
"You're right"
" of course I'm right. Hey and you know what else? You know why it wasn't that bad for me?"
She smiled brightly knowing he was about to deliver one of his smooth lines. "Why?"
"Because I had this amazing doctor taking care of me just like I do now"
Her eyes welled up with tears. He gently wiped them away.
"Hey no no none of these. "
" Jesse I'm so sorry for - "
"Hey are you going to leave me again?"
" What?! No!"
"Ok. Then we're past that. We're over it. So let's just move forward ok?"
She tearfully nodded. "Yeah it's just- "
"Abbey it's ok. I forgive you. You need to forgive yourself baby"
She nodded at him. "I just don't think you realize how much I love you"
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"Hey, I love you too more than anything. You're it for me Abbey. You have been since we first met"
"Yeah me too."
"Hey Abs look at me."
Abbey sat up in Jesse's hospital bed facing him, looking down at him. He grabbed her hand holding it tightly. He took a deep breath.
"Jess? Are you ok? Are you having an episode?" She felt for the pulse in his wrist. "You're heartrate is up again"
"Yeah I know but it's not why you think. I'm fine Abbey"
"Jesse, "
"Abbey let me get this out please"
"Ok what is it?"
" So this is not how I wanted to do this. I had all these ideas of how I would do it but now I can't think of any of them and I don't want to wait another minute"
" Honey what are you trying to say?"
"Abbey, Baby marry me"
"What?! Honey you're going to be fine"
He laughed. "That's not why I'm proposing. I already have a ring. It's at home. And this isnt how I wanted to do this but I'll make it up to you. But I don't want to wait - "
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She cut him off by leaning forward and passionately kissing him.
"Is that a yes?"
"Yes that's a yes. Of course it's a yes"
"When we get home, I've got the ring-"
"I don't care about a damn ring Jesse. All I care about is you. And to be honest, I couldn't think of a better way for you to ask me. I'll never forget it."
"I love you"
"I love you more"
He smiled at her. "Not possible."
"If you say so, Jess"
He looked down and took the diamond party ring that was her grandmother's that she always wore on her right hand and placed it on her left hand. She gave him a look.
"Just till we get home" he told her. "I don't want someone thinking you're available. You're off the market now"
She laughed and shook her head. "Like I could even give any one else the time of day, not when I have you"
" good answer baby"
She leaned down and kissed him again. Just then a surgical nurse showed up in the room "sorry to interrupt but it's time for your procedure Mr Soffer, Dr Tenney is scrubbing in"
Abbey stood up. She leaned down and softly kissed him. "Everything will be alright. I love you"
"Love you too."
" I'll be right here when you wake up"
" You better."
She softly kissed him one last time and backed away as the nurse began to roll his bed out of the room. "We'll take good care of him Dr Cooper"
Abbey tearfully nodded "Thank you" She stood in the doorway and watched his hospital bed roll through the surgical unit doors.
