“Dr Quartermaine! Come quick!” Monica rushes through the doors towards the operating room. Dr Hayward is there to greet her, a tired expression on his face, “Monica, we did have a little problem. The aneurysm did burst but we were able to correct it. The surgery is over and everything looks ok. Of course you know that the next 48 hours are critical.” David pauses and wipes his face, “He woke up once and said your name. Then he slipped into a light coma which is to be expected. I can allow you, and just you to see him for five minutes.”

“Oh Dr Hayward thank you so much.” Monica tried to hold the tears back as best as she could. “I can’t thank you enough.”

David smiled, “Monica, it was my pleasure to help out today. I do want to warn you that Alan doesn’t look the same. He is very swollen from all the fluids given him. You can go speak to him if you wish and I will go talk to the rest of your family. The rest of you should go home.”

Monica nodded and tried to keep her composure, “I suspect we will, but I am going to stay here in my office so that I am close by.”

“Ok, I am staying on for a few days until Alan gets out of the critical stage, then another doctor will take over.” David walked towards the doors, “Your husband is a very lucky man.”

Monica tentatively opens the door and peers down at her husband. Tears well up into her eyes as she gazes upon the man that she loves, who is now close to twice the size that he was the day before. As a doctor, she knew that this would occur, as a wife she didn’t want to accept it. Alan is hooked up to many machines and oxygen. She sits down and picks up his hand, leaning down to press her lips to his hand.

“Oh Alan, how could you do this to me! I have been worried sick about you. I need you in my life so much. I love you more than you will ever know. I swear that I will never threaten to throw you or your father out of the mansion again. Edward is just devastated. If anything, you have to come back for Edward.” Trying to be strong, she brushes back a tear, “Skye is here to see you along with AJ and his new wife who you know very well. The former Sarah Webber. For some reason, she looks shorter to me. And Jason has been here the whole time wanting to see how you are. He too has been very worried. Tracy has been going out of her mind, I have never seen her like this. So Alan, you have to wake up and join us again, ok? We want you back. You make the family. Justus is on his way back from Minneapolis and I suspect he will want to see you as well.”

Epiphany opened the door and spoke softly, “Dr Quartermaine, you have to leave now. Dr Quartermaine needs his rest now.”

Monica leaned down and kissed Alan’s swollen cheek. “I love you Alan, always and forever.”

Robert is walking towards the entrance of the hospital when he spies Tracy coming out. He is aware of the situation with Alan and he walks up to her. Catching her by surprise, he handed her a handkerchief. “Tracy, I am sorry about your brother. What can I do to help you?”

A scornful Tracy stares him down, “Can you turn back the clock and make this go away? Make my brother the man he was yesterday?”

“I wish I could Tracy.”

“What are you doing here anyway?”

“Mac called me and I wanted to let Robin know. So I figured that I would just drop on by and tell her. He has been with Bobbie and is going back to rehab.” Robert said.

“Isn’t that nice?” Tracy said sarcastically.

Robert started to walk away, “Look Tracy. I was trying to be nice here. I suspect moest people aren’t too nice to you. I know you are going through a tough time and I thought I could help. But I guess I am not high enough on the social ladder for you. So good night.” With that, Robert opened the doors to the hospital.

“No, stop.” Tracy pleaded. She was in a vulnerable state, “You are right and I am a mess. I am sorry Robert. I feel so helpless and I don’t know what to do anymore. The doctor says he is going to be ok, but I just don’t know. I just have a bad feeling.”

“It’s ok to feel upset Tracy.”

“I am Tracy Quartermaine. I don’t get upset. I eat people for lunch who are acting like me.” Tracy wiped the tears from her eyes, embarrassed. “Look Robert, thanks for listening, go see Robin. She needs you more than I do.”

“Not necessarily.” Robert embraced her as Tracy burst into tears.

Scott opens the door to MetroCourt and ushers Alexis in. They have been on a few dates now and surprisingly, Alexis was finding herself enjoying his company. There was nothing romantic between them yet, not that Scott hadn’t tried. They sat down and opened their menus. “What are you in the mood for Alexis?”

“I don’t know Scott.” Alexis threw down the menu. “I just can’t believe that Ric is using Alan’s illness to try to garner votes for the Election. Did you see him on the news?”

Scott rubbed his hand over his beard and said slowly, “Yeah I saw it. He has some nerve. I can’t believe he beat me to it.”

“Scott! That’s horrible!”

“Did I say that out loud?” Scott smiled innocently. “How could you have ever married him? You are so much more intelligent than that.”

“Well Scott we all have things that we do that we regret in life. Like I regret that I was born a Cassadine and I regret that I didn’t get to know Sam.” Alexis confided. She glanced up and saw Lucy walking towards their table. “Ah, is there someone in your past that you regret Scott?”

Scott turned around and saw Lucy approach. He smiled and waved her over, “Hey Luce. I am surprised you are here and not at the hospital.” He commented.

Lucy looked at them quizzically, “Why would I be at the hospital?”

“Oh God, you don’t know. I am so sorry to have to tell you this.” Scott said. “Luce, Alan is very sick and is in surgery. It has been all over the news. I should have called you but I thought someone else would have.”

Lucy’s eyes filled with fear as her hand went to cover her mouth, “Scott Baldwin, in all the years I have known you this is by far the cruelest thing you have ever done to me. Not so soon after Felicia! And Alexis, I can’t believe you are a party to this. Again you are trying to hurt me in the worst possible way.”

Alexis spoke quietly, “Lucy, Scott is telling you the truth. Apparently he is having some heart problems. It is on the news. You may want to go to the hospital to see if you can find anything out. Or call one of the Quartermaines.”

“You don’t know what you are talking about. This is just a cruel joke that Scott is playing on me.” Lucy denied.

Scott stood up and grabbed her arms, “Luce, I am telling you the truth on Serena’s and Dominique’s lives. I would never joke about something like this.”

Knowing this to be true, Lucy wrenched her arms free and ran out.

It’s after ten that evening when the Quartermaine’s arrive home. Jason has gone home to his penthouse. In the foyer, are Skye’s suitcases.

“For God’s sake, can’t anybody do anything around here?” Tracy demanded. “Can someone please remove these suitcases and put them in a guest room? We live in a mansion, we have enough rooms, yet more people are staying here than at MetroCourt.”

“Sorry Tracy, I just left them here.” Skye sighed, “I was in such a rush. I didn’t know what to do. I want to go hold Lila. Ned, can you bring my suitcases up to my old room?”

Ned looked at Skye in dismay, “I would love to, except that is now Brenda’s room. But I got a call from her, she is checking into a hotel so that we could all be together. Feel free to take her room, I just want you to know that she has her stuff in there now.”

“Wonderful. Is she seeing Sonny again, because if she is, I want the sheets changed and that room completely disinfected?” Skye snapped.

Edward looked at his brood of children and grandchildren and shouted “Enough! No fighting tonight. I just want to go to bed and pray that Lila is looking after Alan tonight.”

“I agree Grandfather.” AJ said. “Is it all right that Sarah and I stay here? Or we can check into MetroCourt.”

Edward waved his hand. “Here is fine.”

“I had the maids clean your room AJ.” Ned said, walking into the living room and helping himself to a drink. He sat down, “What a horrible day. It feels like it has dragged on forever. Grandfather, are you going to be ok?”

“Don’t baby me Ned. I just want my son to be ok. He is the important thing. We made it through surgery and the next few days are going to be very important.” Edward said in a strong voice. “I want all the Quartermaines to stay strong and stick together. We will get through this.” Edward paused as he stood at the entrance to the living room and the foyer. “I’m going upstairs to bed. I know I haven’t always been the best parent or grandparent and I have come down really hard on all of you. But,” Edward’s voice broke, “I love you all so much and I hope you all know that.”

In memory of William J. Mahon who was taken away from us April 17, 1999. Have a Snickers Bar on me