Sister Julienne looked up from Beatrix's cot when the door creaked open.
"Doctor Turner." She exclaimed as he stumbled wearily into his home.
"Sister- I'm sorry, I wasn't expecting company..." he said sighing in exasperation. Sister Julienne stood up and shook her head gently.
"Not at all Doctor, Timothy let me in, I believe he was great full for the help and company." She told him, pulling out a chair and gesturing for Patrick to sit, he obliged quickly.
"How is she?" Sister asked, trying to keep her voice from breaking.
"Well. She isn't infectious so they want her to come home." Patrick said, rubbing his temples.
"Oh thank the Lord! This is such wonderful news!" Sister exclaimed. Noticing his expression she added -
"Is it not?" Patrick shook his head sadly. He couldn't bare to be the one to miss something again. Not again.
"I don't know sister... I can't handle the responsibility." He muttered. Sister Julienne was at a loss for words, all she wanted was for her dear friend to be in a place she felt safe...
"Doctor Turner if I may say this, surely it is her choice." She pleaded. Patrick nodded wearily.
"I suppose you're right. Will you visit in the morning and ask?" He ventured. Sister Julienne nodded, smiling widely.
"I'll leave first thing tomorrow." She said, a lilt of excitement in her voice. Patrick forced a smile and stood up, turning away. The nun sighed and prayed a silent prayer, and bid Patrick farewell.
The next morning Sister Julienne left in a hurry, jumping on her bike and cycling to the hospital. The nurse led her to Shelagh's room and wished her well. Sister walked into the room and smiled at her friend who to the sister's suprise stood and hugged her.
"Shelagh-! You're standing?" Sister Julienne asked, taken aback by the sudden wealth of her friend.
"Yes! Isn't it wonderful! I feel completely well." She exclaimed, she was clearly overjoyed by her health. Sister Julienne nodder and smiled in the way she often did when in the company of Shelagh, the sort of smile only a mother can show to her child.
"So why are you visiting today? I thought you were scheduled to be here tomorrow?" Shelagh asked, siting down and gesturing for Sister Julienne to do the same.
"I'm actually here to ask something on behalf of your husband. If you'd like, the doctors feel happy to let you come home." She said, Shelagh smiled, tears brimming in her eyes.
"Home?" She whispered, she hadn't seen her children in so long the thought of seeing them again made her heart weep. Then she thought - if she fainted with the baby in her arms it could end in Patrick losing a wife and a daughter.
"He... is concerned that he wouldn't get you to a hospital fast enough... in the event of your health declining." Sister Julienne told her gently, Shelagh nodded and sighed feeling her heart plummet.
"I miss them all so much, but not enough to put them in danger." Shelagh said quietly.
"Would it help to have a nurse posted in your home for a while?" Sister Julienne asked kindly, Shelagh looked up and hope filled her eyes.
"Would you not be too short staffed?" She asked, a lilt of excitement in her voice.
"Not at all, we'll be able to manage perfectly." Sister told her friend kindly. Shelagh smiled in relief and Sister Julienne rubbed her hand reassuringly.
YOU ARE READING
Suddenly x-Turnadette-x
RomanceA few things to note; I started writing this during Shelagh's pregnancy in the real show, it was originally a one shot but I made it into a longer story. The baby is the wrong gender but aside from that basically everything is the same. Mae is just...
