Suddenly x-Turnadette-x

Chapter Thirty

7 months later
Shelagh was recovering perfectly, it felt like finally things were going back to normal. It was good, things were good. The nurses that came to visit were familiar and kind. They were not strangers, but friends and it was more comfortable that way. She would rely less and less upon the assistance of others and was growing more and more independent.
"Patrick, I've been thinking..." Shelagh murmured over supper, Patrick looked up at his wife in confusion.
"What do you mean?" He questioned. She reached a hand across the table to meet with his.
"I think- I think I want to go back to work. Not all in one go but slowly...?" She asked quickly, he smiled and squeezed her hand.
"Only if you think you're ready" Patrick replied apprehensively, Shelagh nodded and he smiled.
"Then I'll get those wheels turning for you, you've been doing spectacularly, I don't see any reason why you can't get back to work" He told her cheerfully, Shelagh beamed and her husband smiled to match it.
The next day
Shelagh woke first, she rubbed her eyes and sat up, reaching for her glasses and placing them over her eyes. She glanced at her husband who - despite the alarm going off was still snoring loudly. She chuckled to herself and slid out of bed, walking sleepily to the cot in the darkened room, she bundled Beatrice in her blankets and carried her to the living room, Shelagh plopped the baby on the floor where she played happily with the toys left out from the night before. Shelagh walked to Angela's room, she scooped the sleeping girl into her arms and carried her into the living room, placing her on the sofa and turning on television. She left Angela to watch her program and walked to the kitchen.
Bacon sizzled on a frying pan and Timothy walked into the room, probably baited out by the smell of breakfast. He sat beside his sister and she began chatting about the program, he listened and went along with whatever story she is telling.
Shelagh smiled as she watched her children all together. She served up food and the kids all gathered around the breakfast bar. There was a sort of excitement hanging around Shelagh, she felt completely back to normal and the prospect of going back to work was quite exciting. Patrick walked sleepily into the sitting room, Shelagh beamed at her husband who returned the same, he made his way to Shelagh and placed a hand against her waist, trailing down to her hip.
"Good morning darling" He whispered into her ear. She turned her head and kissed him.
"Sleep well?" She asked, crossing the kitchen and fetching a fresh cup of tea.
"Like a baby, is that for me?" Patrick asked hopefully, she nodded, handing the cup and saucer over to him. He took a sip and set it to the side, reaching forward to Shelagh and pulling her into a tight embrace.
"You really are spectacular, you are the strongest most beautiful woman in the world." He told her, she smiled and hugged him tighter, pressing her face into his neck.
"Dad it's seven forty-five, aren't you meant to be at work?" Tim called from the floor, Shelagh pulled away quickly and Patrick gasped. He grabbed his bag and his wife quickly retrieved a tie from the wardrobe, the pair rushed out of the house and hurried into the car.
Patrick began driving and Shelagh leant over, tying the tie around his neck carefully, she tried to contain her laughter but failed, giggling at the sheer insanity of it all, Patrick chuckled and attempted to keep his attention on the road. Shelagh finished up and kissed him on the cheek quickly before sitting back in her seat. The two chatted about the kids and work on the short drive to the GP.
"Do you know the moment I fell in love with you?" Patrick asked quietly.
"No, I don't think I do" She replied.
"Can you remember the Carter twins case we had? Back when you were with the order all those years ago" He asked, Shelagh nodded.

"It was when you helped that baby girl. When you helped her to take her very first breath. As I watched I couldn't help but fall in love with you. And it felt as if I was being tortured." He told her, she smiled and placed a hand on his leg.
"For me, it was when we shared that cigarette a little later, I can't smoke a Henleys without a big wave of nostalgia these days." She replied, He smiled widely, rubbing her hand.
The car pulled up and the couple climbed out, entering the GP. Shelagh inhaled deeply and sighed, smiling and leaning against a filing cabinet.
"I missed this smell, antiseptic, clean linen, smells like home." She said, Patrick chuckled and took his wife's hands in his own.
"I'm glad to have you back darling. " He told her, she smiled and turned to the cabinet, opening the drawer and retrieving a file on one of the patients in the nursing home. Patrick watched after his wife who went about her check-ups with one of the mothers. He thought back to the old days, the wretched guilt of being so in love with a woman so unobtainable. It was a terrible feeling but even worse was when she was ill, the memories of fighting for the x-ray van, he didn't know it but as he pleaded with the board he was pleading for his future. If the board had not agreed they would have caught Shelagh's TB all too late, and the rest was too difficult to imagine.

Hello! If you couldn't tell I have been rewatching some old episodes so I apologize for any reminiscing the characters have, I'm just a little obsessed with the yearning Sister Bernadette and Patrick were experiencing lol, thanks for watching!