The World (Sequel to International)

Save His Life

January 2031

Mapi's POV:

Mariana, Gabriel and I got to Portugal. We got to her parent's house and went inside. "What's wrong?" She looked at her mom.

"He doesn't want to go to the hospital. He said he doesn't want to die there."

"He's not going to die." Mariana covered her face. She ran upstairs. "Dad!" 

I looked at her mom. "What can I do?" She shook her head. I hugged her. "Whatever I can do, I'm here."

Mariana's POV:

I opened the door and saw my dad. "Mari." He smiled. "What are you doing here?"

"Mom told me to come home. So I did." I sat next to him. "What's wrong?"

"I'm not as young as I used to be." He laughed.

"Dad." I sighed.

"It's my heart, Mari." He shook his head.

"Let's go to the hospital."

"I'm not dying in a hospital."

"You're not dying at all!" I stood up. "Dad! You aren't going to die!"

"I went to the doctor. I had chest pain at work so I went. I'm dying, Mariana. I want to be at home, with my family. Not hooked up to machines. I want to have my grandchildren with me, not nurses poking me with needles."

I felt my eyes fill with tears. "I can't lose anyone else." 

He lifted his hand. "Sit with me." I sat next to him. "My sweet girl." He whispered. 

"I can't handle losing anyone else." I looked at him. "You want your grandchildren with you, don't you want to see them grow? Felicia just turned 3, Luca will be 2 this summer. Gabriel," I smiled. "He's 8 now. Don't you want to see them all grow? Possibly meet another grandchild?" 

"Another?"

"Mapi and I are going to have another baby." I smiled. "I need you there, dad. I need you and mom. Together. Please, dad. You can't leave her. You've always been together, you can't leave her right now."

"What do you want me to do, Mari?"

"Go see the doctor! There will be a way to fix this. To make you better so you can watch Felicia, Luca, and Gabriel grow up. So you can meet your new grandchild whenever he or she comes. Don't give up, dad. You raised Gabriel and I to fight. Always fight. Never give up. Don't do the one thing you taught us not to."

Mapi's POV:

Mariana came downstairs. "Well?" I looked at her. 

"Start the car." She said. "We're going to the hospital."

"It isn't what he wants Mari." Her mom sighed. Her father walked downstairs. 

"I taught my kids to fight. And I plan on teaching my grandchildren to fight." He kissed the side of Mariana's head. "We're going to the hospital."

We got there and they got him in right away. We sat and waited. "What's on your mind?" I whispered.

"I know that at some point, I won't have my parents. No one lives forever." She looked at me. "But I'm just not ready to lose another person right now. I can't handle any more loss." She covered her face. I wrapped my arms around her. 

"He'll be ok." I whispered. The doctor came out. 

"There is a procedure we can do. The success rate is very high."

"That's great." Mariana's mom smiled. "Will you be doing it?"

"The surgeon who performs this procedure won't be here till tomorrow afternoon."

"Then we wait." Mariana said.

"Normally, but I fear your father's heart can't wait. He's pushed this aside too long. He needs the procedure now."

Mariana shook her head. "There has to be another surgeon. Or just call that one in! Save my father's live!"

"Ms. Mendes, it's not that simple."

"It is that simple. I couldn't save the other people I lost, but I got my father to come here so he can live. Now go find a phone, call that surgeon and get him or her here and save my father. Do you understand me?"

"Yes. I'll see what I can do." He ran away.

Her mom smirked and looked. "That's my daughter." 

I shook my head. "Angry Mariana is scary." Gabriel said. 

"Makes you want to behave for the rest of your life doesn't it?" I looked at him.

"I will never misbehave," He looked at me and smirked. "For Mariana."

I leaned down. "You've never seen angry Mapi."

"Angry Mapi can't even step on an ant, babe. Sit down." Mariana said. "I'm calling Virginia to check on the kids."

Mariana's POV:

"Hello?" Nahikari answered.

"Hey newlywed. How are my children?"

"Luca is asleep, Felicia is attempting to braid Vir's hair."

"How's that going?"

"I want to be positive, but I think we might have to shave her head. Luckily, I'll still love her no matter what." She said. "How's everything there?"

"We're at the hospital. I just made a doctor fear for his life." I told her everything. "Hopefully, they'll get the surgeon here to help my dad." 

"I'm a phone call away if you need me."

"Right." I nodded. "Thank you Dr. Garcia." I smiled.

"That's Dr. Garcia-Torrecilla to you."

"I like Garcia better." 

"I HEARD THAT!" Virginia yelled. "You're on speaker!"

I laughed. "How's that braid?"

"Your daughter is definitely something." She said. 

"Mama! Aunty Vir looks pretty!" Felicia said.

"Really? You must be doing a good job then, baby. Aunty Vir never looks pretty."

"Oh, you little sh-"

"There are CHILDREN!" Nahikari yelled. 

I looked at saw the doctor. "I'll check in later. Call me if anything."

"Same here." She said and hung up. 

I walked back to them. "Well?" I crossed my arms. 

"He said it's his father's birthday. He'll be in tomorrow."

"If he doesn't come here now, I will lose my father. You understand that correct? He can miss this ONE birthday so I won't have to miss all of them." He looked down. "I'm not trying to be a bitch here, I just don't plan on losing my father today."

He nodded. "Nurse! Call him back. Get him here now. We're saving this man's life." He walked away. 

"I'm not losing anyone else."