The doors to the surgical floor opened for Dr. Carroll as she tossed her disposable scrubs in the waste bin.

"How is she?"

"Have you been out at all?" She levelled a piercing gaze at him.

"Yes. How is she?"

"She's strong, Kevin. The surgery was textbook-easy. We saw no reason to do a radical, the lymph nodes weren't involved at all."

"So you're saying-"

"I feel sure we got it all."

Kevin's knees buckled, and were it not for the quick reflexes of Dr. Carroll, he would have hit the floor instead of the nearest chair.

"We won't know for sure for several months. We need to monitor her closely, and she will have to undergo maintenance chemotherapy."

"I know. My dad..." His voice broke and the doctor put her arm around him, pulling him close.

"She's going to beat this, Kevin. She has everything in her favor. You worked a miracle by convincing her to come back. Without you..." Emotion clouded her voice and they remained still, both loath to continue.

"When can I see her?" he asked at last.

"Later tonight. Go home. I know, don't argue with me." She stood, once more in control. "She needs you to be strong now. Go home, take a shower, eat something and get some rest. If you're a good boy I'll arrange it so that you can stay with her tonight."

"It's a deal," he grinned. "I have some calls I need to make, too. Thank you. For everything."