#eviehenry

Henry wrings her hands together, her heart in her throat. Sweat is beading along her forehead, and she's staring blankly at the clock on the wall behind the reception desk. Her mouth is dry, and she can't swallow even though she's trying. Jacob is next to her, his hand on her knee. He's holding Ned's hand tightly with his other hand and his leg is bouncing nervously. Normally, it would annoy Henry but now... She doesn't care. If she focuses on it, she'll take her stress out on him and yell at him, and Jacob doesn't deserve that.

No, she can't. So instead, she stares at the clock, vaguely aware of the hands moving. Her brain won't register the time, because if she does, she'll start panicking. Jacob squeezes her knee and she stops wringing her hands to cover Jacob's with her own. Her palms are sweaty, but he doesn't seem to care. He flips his hand and laces their fingers together, squeezing tightly. She squeezes back and drops her chin to her chest with tears in her eyes.

"She'll be okay," Jacob whispers, but his voice cracks and Henry sobs. "She'll be okay." Henry wonders who he's trying to convince -her, or himself.

"She's a fighter," Ned offers. "Nothing can take Evie Frye down."

"Except Henry Green," Jacob attempts to joke, and Henry sobs again, her heart aching.

Jacob squeezes her hand again and their little group falls quiet once more. Jacob's leg is bouncing again, and silent tears are rolling down Henry's face. It was the first time she had cried since the phone call. Before they got to the hospital, Henry had been in shock. When they got there, it had only been a matter of time until she cracked.

Henry is acutely aware of the clock ticking, and the passage of time, until her leg is bouncing in time with Jacob's and the gentle tick and the light chatter around them.

"I can't," she suddenly says, shooting to her feet. She jerks her hand away from Jacob's and rushes away, down the hospital halls toward where she remembers the cafeteria. She stumbles into the cafeteria, teary eyed and breathless. No one glances twice at her because it's a hospital, and she hurriedly makes herself a cup of tea. She checks out and slowly makes her way back to the waiting room, not ready to sit there and listen to the clock ticking but not comfortable being away in case the doctor has news.

When she gets back, Jacob and Ned rush to their feet and surround her. Ned pats her down to make sure she's alright, and Jacob just takes her free hand in one of his.

"Anything?" Henry asks weakly, looking between the concerned men. Jacob shakes his head, and Henry sighs, nodding. "Okay."

They sit down again, Jacob steering Henry to the middle chair this time. Ned is quick to hold her free hand, and Jacob settles his hand on Henry's knee.

With her tea, it's easier to sit there and wait. She has something to keep her mind occupied, even if it's just on the surface.

"Ms. Green?"

Henry shoots to her feet, jerking her hand away from Ned's and knocking Jacob's hand away immediately.

"Yes?" she asks, setting her gaze on the doctor standing in front of her. Jacob and Ned are quick to stand and crowd in on Henry, Ned wrapping his arm around her waist protectively.

"You're Ms. Frye's-"

"Partner, yes," Henry says. "How is she?" She's dreading the worst, her eyes focused on the doctor's mouth. In her mind, she can hear him saying the words she doesn't want to hear ("I'm sorry, Ms. Green... She didn't make it.") and she can feel the tears welling up.

The doctor checks his clipboard and sighs, and Henry's stomach drops.

"She's out of surgery," he says. "So far, her vitals are stable. She's asleep right now, but you're all clear to go in." The doctor looks between the three of them. "All three of you will be fine."

Henry lets out a sob and nods, switching her tea so she can hold Jacob's hand. They follow the doctor to Evie's room, and Henry tears up when she sets eyes on her partner. It hurts her heart to see Evie laying there, the steady beeping of the heart monitor the only sign that she's alive. Henry can't even see her chest moving as she breathes with oxygen helping her.

"She..." Henry starts, and then stammers uselessly for a few seconds. "When... When do you think she'll wake up?"

The doctor clicks his tongue. "I'm not sure. Everyone reacts differently to the anesthetic. Since she's still unconscious, we'll have a nurse in here every hour to check her vitals. Of course you're welcome to stay as long as you want."

Henry nods and pulls away from Jacob and Ned, taking quiet, slow steps into the room. She doesn't hesitate to drag a chair close to Evie's bed and she sits down, seting her tea on the floor so she can take Evie's hand in both of hers. The doctor quietly says he'll check on them soon before he bows out to give the four some peace.

Absently, Henry traces patterns on the back of Evie's hand, watching her sleeping face intently. Someone, one of the nurses Henry assumes, had tucked Evie in and she's thankful. Henry doesn't know if she can handle seeing Evie's stomach. Logically she knows it would be covered by the paper hospital gown, but she's not ready to see or think about seeing what happened to her love.

Evie was constantly in awe of Henry Green. The woman was stunning. She was completely sure she would never, ever get tired of looking at Henry. There was so much Evie loved about her partner, and she was sure there would never be enough time in the world to detail Henry Green.

If Evie had to pick, the sunlight was her favorite way to see Henry. Being inside, illuminated by lamps was comforting, but nothing could compare to Henry being lit up by sunlight.

The way her skin lit up, glowing warmly made Evie feel like she'd been drinking. The way the light reflected in Henry's dark brown eyes made Evie feel dizzy with love. When they held hands, walking through the park, the warmth of Henry's skin made Evie feel intoxicated. Henry seemed to come alive when she was outside on a bright, warm day.

Without thinking, Evie squeezed Henry's hand and leaned in, pressing a kiss to the corner of Henry's mouth

"I love you," she murmured, smiling when Henry turned to kiss her properly.