Chapter 12 – Five YearsThus far it had been a quiet morning in the emergency room at Sacred Spleen Memorial Hospital. Almost too quiet, if Morgana really thought about it. In the three hours since her shift began they had seen a total of two cases. The first had been a simple concussion...
...which reminded Morgana yet again why she and Leighton had
not opted for the Murphy bed when they remodeled their bedroom.
The second case, an ankle injury, was currently being treated by their newest intern. Under normal circumstances it was against hospital policy for anyone to actively treat a family member, but given that the injury was relatively minor both Morgana and Jamie decided it was all right to bend the rules. Morgana glanced over at her young protégé as he studied the readout panel on his scanner.
“Ethan, your diagnosis?”
The blonde intern smiled. “We might have to amputate.”
“Oh ha ha…
hilarious,” came his sister’s sarcastic reply, and Morgana struggled to keep from smiling.
“It’s a
sprain,” Ethan finally answered. “It’s nothing too serious, but you are going to need to stay off of it for a while.”
“Are you kidding me?”
“I’m afraid not. You are going to need to keep weight off of that ankle for at least two weeks, possibly longer depending on the extent of the ligament damage. I’m prescribing rest, ice, and elevation…and you’ll probably want to excavate the crutches out of Mom and Dad’s garage.” Ethan wrote a few things down on his notepad, then looked back at his sister. “On a personal note, how the heck did you manage to do this? Is Darlene starting to rub off on you or something?”
“Like I’m going to tell
you,” Lisa griped. “Just get me splinted up so I can get out of here, okay?”
Ethan shrugged. “Fair enough.”
“It looks like you’ve got this under control,” Morgana finally spoke up. “I’ll let you take it from here. Just remember to fill out the—“
“Correct paperwork,” Ethan finished her sentence, smiling. “I’ve got it.”
Morgana strode out of the examination room, grinning inwardly. At twenty-three years of age their newest intern was by far the youngest member of the staff, but he was already turning heads among the higher-ups—particularly Doctor Landgraab. This young man was going to go far, she was sure of it.
“Hey Doctor Sekemoto, you’ve got a delivery,” one of the nurses called out, breaking her train of thought. “Your office is locked, so it’s at the nurse’s station.”
“Thanks!”
Morgana had a sneaking suspicion that she knew what awaited her. Surely enough, sitting on the counter near the coffee pot was a beautiful bouquet of roses.
There was a small card attached to the side, and she very nearly started crying when she read it:
Dearest Morgana,
Five years ago I married a beautiful, amazing woman. I never thought that I could possibly love you more than I did at that moment, but time has proven me wrong. My love for you has only grown with each passing year. Every time I look into your eyes I thank whatever higher power is out there that we crossed paths. You have changed my life in more ways than I ever could have imagined, and I look forward to spending many, many more years in your arms.
See you this afternoon.
All my love,
Leighton“Wow, that bouquet is
gorgeous,” came Jamie's voice from behind her. “Five years, huh?”
“Yeah,” Morgana wistfully replied. She showed Jamie the card.
“You two doing anything special? Anything fit for public knowledge, I mean?” Jamie asked with a wink.
At this Morgana laughed. “To be honest, I really don’t know. As soon as I get off of shift we’re having a little party for Lexie’s birthday, but beyond that Leighton won’t tell me. All I know is that both Sam and Lexie will be spending the night with the Keatons and Yumi will be looking after the twins.”
“Oooh, overnight babysitting arrangements. It
must be good.”
“Yeah, though I feel sort of bad that Lexie has to be with a babysitter on her birthday.”
“Oh, she’ll be fine,” Jamie assured her. “Besides, you’re still having that party for her on Sunday. That will more than make up for it.”
“True. Speaking of which, will we actually get to see Chris this time?”
Jamie laughed. “Gosh I hope so. He's been working some crazy overtime at the station. Just getting that time off for the wedding is going to be challenging enough.”
“You could just elope,” Morgana suggested with a grin.
“We've thought about that. It would solve a lot of problems, but Lacey would never forgive me for cheating her out of the opportunity to wear a cute frilly dress.” Jamie breathed a contented sigh. “I’m just glad that she and Chris get along so well. She’s already calling him ‘Daddy’.”
Much better than her real daddy, Morgana thought, but chose not to say it out loud.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of violent coughing from just down the hall and she braced herself for what she thought would be their next patient. Much to her surprise...and dismay...it was her boss.
Geoffrey looked, in a word, terrible. His complexion was flushed—clearly feverish—and his unsteady gait suggested that he was probably a bit light-headed.
“Good <cough> morning.”
Jamie and Morgana looked at each other.
“What in the
world are you doing at work in your condition?” Jamie asked.
“It’s just a cold. Certainly not worth missing work over, at any rate.”
Morgana wasn’t about to let this one go. “I seem to recall a conversation from, oh, about seven years ago when you lectured me about this very subject. You placed me on mandatory sick leave for three days.”
“
That was different,” Geoffrey defended himself. “You were brewing a case of bronchitis and could have developed pneumonia without prompt medication and bed rest.” He pulled out a handkerchief and wiped his nose. “This is just a simple cold. My eldest was ill last week and ever-so-kindly gave it to me.”
She heard more footsteps, these ones belonging to their young intern. “Doctor Sekemoto, I went ahead and discharged the patient...” His voice trailed off. “Is everything all right?”
“For the most part,” Jamie chimed in. “We’re just trying to convince Doctor Landgraab that he needs to go home.”
“It’s
just a cold,” Geoffrey croaked out, then promptly broke into another coughing fit.
“If it’s the same cold my baby sister had then you’re in for a not-so-pleasant week,” Ethan quickly replied. “I surely wouldn't want to work a ten-hour day with a hundred-plus degree fever.”
“I don't have a--”
“Actually, you
do. According to my scanner you're at 100.4°, which means that you're probably also highly contagious.” Ethan glanced down at the readout panel, then back up at Geoffrey. “Wouldn’t it be potentially dangerous to expose an already ill patient to whatever germ you may be carrying?”
Jamie suppressed a laugh.
“Leave it to an intern to put things back into perspective,” Geoffrey sighed. “You are right. I’m calling off the rest of the day.”
“I’ll make sure your appointments are covered,” came Jamie’s reply.
“Thanks. And Mister Bunch?”
“Yes sir?”
Geoffrey cracked a smile. “Keep up the good work.”
---
Five o' clock rolled around and Morgana was out the door and headed home. When she arrived Yumi was putting the finishing touches on Alexia's birthday cake and the twins were playing quietly at their block table.
There was music coming from Sam's bedroom, which meant he was probably working on homework, and knowing Lexie she was probably with her older brother. Leighton, however, was nowhere to be found.
“He's off enjoying your gift,” Yumi spoke up before she had the chance to ask. “He should be back any time now.”
Morgana grinned. She knew that her favorite baseball player would enjoy a good deep-tissue massage at the day spa. After a long, challenging season Leighton's sore shoulder muscles definitely needed the pampering. “So you’re still not going to tell me what Leighton has up his sleeve, are you?”
“For once my lips are sealed,” Yumi answered with a smirk.
“Not even a tiny hint?”
“No, I don’t think so,” came her husband's voice, startling her slightly. At that moment Morgana felt a pair of strong arms embracing her from behind and a light kiss on her left ear. “Two more hours, love…and all will be revealed.”
A girlish giggle escaped her throat as he turned her around and kissed her full on the lips. The anticipation was killing her, but darned if she wasn’t just
loving it. “Thank you for the flowers, by the way,” she replied. “Everyone at the hospital was cooing over them. I think you made Jamie jealous and I’m pretty sure that you gave our intern a few ideas.”
“And thank
you for that fantastic massage. I haven't felt this relaxed in months.”
“
Mommy!” Alexia cheered as she emerged from Sam's room. The birthday girl ran and leaped into her mother's arms, giggling wildly.
“Hey Lexie-girl,” Morgana cooed. “You're not bugging your brother too much, are you?”
“Nope, I good! I color in my coloring book.” She looked over at the birthday cake and clapped her hands. “Is it cake time, Mommy? I can have my birthday now?”
Morgana snuggled her daughter close, realizing that this would be the last time she would have her baby girl in her arms like this. “Yes, sweetheart...it's time for you to be a big girl now.”
Time almost seemed to stop as she brought Alexia to her cake amid the cheers of the rest of the family. Wasn't it just yesterday that they were teaching her how to walk? How to play the xylophone and how to roll a ball?
But alas, gone were the days of peek-a-boo, of baby swings and rocking chairs.
Their baby girl...
...was growing up.
Not quite an hour later Leighton and Morgana said their goodbyes to Yumi and the twins, packed their two eldest into the car, and headed toward the Keaton place. Morgana still felt rather guilty that they were leaving their daughter behind on her birthday, though the five-year-old did seem genuinely excited to be attending her first slumber party. Of course Marty and Justine reassured them that everything would be fine. “Lexie's going to have plenty of fun. You two just go and enjoy your time together. We will see you tomorrow.”
“Bye Mommy and Daddy!” Alexia cheered. “I'll be good, promise!”
“See ya later,” Sam added.
As the children went inside the house Leighton looked over at Morgana, smiling. “So…are you ready?”
“Most definitely.”
“Good. Close your eyes,” Leighton stated as he started the car again. “And keep them closed until I tell you.”
Morgana did as she was told, closing her eyes and leaning back in her seat as Leighton drove away from the Keaton house. Twenty minutes later the car finally came to a stop, and right away she realized exactly where they had gone. The sound of rushing water, the crisp mountain air, the feel of the cool mist on her skin...there was only one place that they could possibly be.
“The Falls.”
She heard Leighton chuckle beside her. “There is no fooling you for long. Go ahead and open your eyes.”
A sigh escaped her lips as they walked along the shoreline. Morgana had always loved Stony Falls. There were many times when she and Leighton were still dating that they would meet here for an afternoon picnic or a quiet hike around the lake. Neither of them had really spent any time up here since the cabins were built about a year ago. Morgana had always wanted to rent one for a weekend, but could never really find the time to escape.
“I know you've been wanting to get away for a while,” Leighton spoke up, echoing her thoughts. “It just so happened that one of the cabins was open for the weekend, so I rented it out.”
”We have it tonight and all day tomorrow if we so desire.” He put his arm around Morgana's shoulders. “Just you and me...”
Morgana sighed deeply; it wasn't very often when they could just be a couple.
Taking her gently by the hand, Leighton led her up the stairs and into the cabin. From the elegantly carved fruit on the counter to the bottle of sparkling nectar sitting on the nightstand, it was obvious that he had spent a bit of time preparing the place before their arrival.
Morgana smiled when she noticed the chocolate fountain on the table. That was one thing that they wished they had been able to afford for their wedding. Now, five years later, money wasn’t nearly so much of an issue, even with four children. Morgana’s salary as chief resident was by no means paltry, and with Leighton now playing in the major leagues they were actually fairly well-off.
It was amazing, now that Morgana thought about it, just how much their lives had changed in such a short span. She pulled him into an embrace and kissed him deeply.
“Happy anniversary.”
“The same to you, my love...”
And the rest of the evening went by in a blur of molten chocolate and bubbly nectar.
They fell into a deep, restful sleep that night, content as ever in one another's arms. Five years had come and gone—the first five of many more to come. Leighton and Morgana had already come so far, and yet...
...they had only just begun.
---
(Author's Note: Yes--story progression stuck Ethan back in the medical profession. It seems to be a common theme with him, either that or politics...I don't think I've ever seen him do anything else in my games. I absolutely could not resist adding him into the story. 
I do apologize for once again taking forever to update. Thank you so much for your patience, and I hope that you enjoy.
All the best,
Raia)
