AN: The title of this chapter comes from the song "Forever and Ever Amen" by Randy Travis

"If you wonder how long I'll be faithful; I'll be happy to tell you again. I'm gonna love you forever and ever, forever and ever, Amen."

Chapter 6: Forever and Ever Amen

She was alive. Carlton kept reminding himself of that over and over again as he sat at her bedside, watching her shiver as they pumped warmed IVs into her. Her body was covered in so many warm blankets that it was hard to tell where she actually laid, only her face and one hand peeking out from beneath the standard white.

Why was everything so white in a hospital? Okay, so it's easier to bleach everything when its white- kill the germs, get out blood and whatnot, but still. It was depressing. White meant coldness and death and emptiness. And the smell: disinfectant and sickness, plastic and blood and vomit.

It didn't matter what hospital you were in, they all smelled the same. He had to burn the last suit he'd worn to the hospital. He'd have to burn this one too. And the jacket. Not that it wasn't ruined already; covered in mud and stained, ripped on the left sleeve.

At least she was just sleeping now. Her eyes had fluttered open when her temperature topped 90 degrees (and how terrifying it was to think how low it was BEFORE that) and she'd whispered his name with a smile before they closed again.

Iris had kept her alive. Her core temperature was as high as it was because of the tiny, warm body pressed against hers. Karen had stopped by earlier, Iris asleep on her shoulder. The baby was fine; a little thirsty and a lot tired, but warm and safe and dry.

They'd gone home, as had Shawn (reluctantly bandaged) and Henry. Gus stuck around a while longer to translate doctor-speak for him, but had finally gone home also. O'Hara had offered to stay through the night and keep him company, but the bags under her eyes and the slight limp had him pushing her out the door before she could finish her sentence.

Once again, he was alone. He could go forever before he ever sat by Angeline's bedside again.

Carlton took her slowly thawing hand in his, careful of the IV. Her other arm was safely under the blanket, bandaged and in a sling. She'd managed to dislocate her shoulder when she'd shoved herself into that impossibly small crack and almost dislocated her hip as well. Already he'd seen glimpses of huge bruises forming there.

It hadn't been quite cold enough to cause frostbite, so all her extremities were fine. She'd be fine.

Carlton slept.

-000-

"Here," Iris said, handing Angeline one of her prized ponies, "She's gots wings just wike you."

"I have wings?" Angeline asked with a small smile, taking the tiny pink toy from the precariously balanced little girl.

Iris nodded seriously and gestured for Carlton to pick her up from her stance on the chair. He'd been hovering protectively since she'd clambered up there to see Angeline better.

"My mommy says all angels gots wings," Iris insisted.

Angeline looked over at the Chief in surprise. Karen nodded and smiled meaningfully.

"Thank you," Angeline whispered, her voice breaking.

Juliet sniffed quietly from the corner.

The sudden stillness was broken by Shawn's entrance.

"And how's our patient? Impatient? Inpatient? Patent?" Shawn asked loudly, his arms wide as he stood in the doorway.

"That doesn't even make any sense, Shawn," Gus griped as he pushed past his boisterous friend.

Henry entered silently behind them, nodded at Angeline, and leaned against the wall with his arms crossed.

"Well, well, the gang's all here!" Shawn said, shutting the door and clapping his hands together, "Now what?"

Carlton opened his mouth to suggest several options, most of them painful, when Iris piped up.

"Angelic finish the stowy!" she said happily, wiggling in Carlton's arms.

"Story?" Karen asked, raising an eyebrow.

Iris nodded and Shawn pulled up a chair, considering Angeline expectantly.

"Oh, I love stories! What's it about?" he asked, looking all of five years old.

"Winnie da Pooh! And we's all in it!" Iris said.

Angeline winced and Shawn's grin grew.

"We are?" Shawn asked, bouncing his feet, "Who am I?"

Iris frowned in thought and then smiled.

"Oh, I 'member! You's Tigger!" she said, looking around in confusion when the whole room broke out laughing.

When they'd calmed themselves slightly, and Shawn had stopped bouncing off the walls, Gus was the next to encourage Iris.

"Who am I?" he asked.

"Owl," Iris said.

They all looked at each other in confusion for a moment, and then Shawn spoke up.

"She's got your number, Bud! Stuffy and a know-it-all who's always wrong!"

"Excuse me?" Gus huffed, pushing out his chest, "I'll have you know…" he stopped when Shawn wouldn't stop pointing and laughing.

"See?"

Gus gave in with a sigh.

"Fine. Then who's your dad?" he asked Shawn, glancing over at Iris.

"That's easy," Shawn said, throwing his arm over his dad's shoulder, "He's Pooh! He's got the gut for it!"

Henry pushed him off and scowled.

"Nu-uh!" Iris said, shaking her head, "Daddy is Pooh. Henwy's Eeyore!"

They couldn't contain the snort of laughter, strengthened by Henry's amused scowl.

"Who am I?" Juliet asked curiously, trying to defuse the situation.

"Pigwit!" Iris answered. Another round of chuckles.

"She may be small, but she's dangerous," Carlton warned as Juliet glared at Shawn and Gus.

"Mommy's Cwistopher Wobin," Iris continued impatiently, "And I'm Roo and Angelic is Kanga 'cause she's gots a pouch!"

Lassiter and Karen shared a look as they remembered finding Iris tucked inside Angeline's sweater.

"Wait a minute," Shawn said with a widening grin, "That only leaves one left for Lassie…"

Shawn and Gus looked at each other and spoke in concert.

"Rabbit!"

Lassiter glared as even Juliet broke out laughing.

"Oh my God! That's too perfect," she snickered quietly.

"Finish stowy!" Iris demanded, leaning towards Angeline.

Angeline smiled and coughed a little.

"Okay," she said, sitting up, "So, where was I? Oh, yes. Everyone was searching high and low for Kanga and Roo. They called their names over and over again, but no one answered.

'We'll never find them!' Tigger said.

'It's hopeless!' Owl agreed, shaking the rain from his feathers.

'We have to keep looking,' Christopher Robin insisted.

'But where could they be?' Pooh asked.

'M-m-maybe they were eaten by a m-m-monster!' Piglet said.

'No!' Rabbit said, 'I know where they are!'

'You do?' asked Eeyore.

'There is a cave deep in the woods. I bet they're hiding in there!' Rabbit said, 'I'm going. Who's with me?'

No one spoke up. They were all too afraid of the deep, dark woods. All but Rabbit."

"Hey!" Shawn started to interrupt.

"Shh!" Iris shushed, frowning.

Shawn fell silent while the others laughed quietly. Iris was just as intimidating as her mother.

Angeline continued.

"'I'll go with you,' Christopher Robin said finally.

So Rabbit and Christopher Robin went into the deepest, darkest part of the Hundred Acre Woods. They walked and walked, still calling Kanga and Roo's names. They were dirty and cold and wet, but they didn't stop looking.

Finally, they reached the cave. It was a little cave, just big enough for one person.

'Kanga?' Rabbit called.

'Roo?' Christopher Robin yelled.

At first there was no answer, and then Rabbit heard it- a faint, tiny little voice."

"It was Roo!" Iris said happily.

"Yes," Angeline said with a smile, "It was Roo.

'We're here!' Roo called, 'But we're stuck and we can't get out!'

Rabbit and Christopher Robin reached into the cave and pulled and pulled. Finally, with a POP, Kanga and Roo fell out.

'Oh, thank you!' Kanga said, 'We were on a walk and it started to rain, so we went into the cave to hide.'

'But then we got stuck!,' Roo finished.

'Thank you for rescuing us,' Kanga said.

'It was Rabbit who knew where to look' Christopher Robin said, 'We wouldn't have found you without him!'

'Thank you, Rabbit!' Roo said, giving him a hug.

'Just glad you're okay,' Rabbit said grumpily as he blushed."

"Thank you Uncle Cawlton," Iris said, hugging his neck.

Carlton looked surprised but smiled slightly.

"And so the friends all went back through the dark woods. When they got home everyone was waiting. They were so happy to see Kanga and Roo safe and sound that they threw a big party," Angeline said.

"And they all wived happiwy eber after!" Iris finished.

"Yes," Karen said, taking Iris from Carlton and kissing her cheek, "They did. But it's somebody's naptime now, so we have to go home."

Karen, Iris and Rich left. Henry scooted out the door after them, promising to come back tomorrow morning to give Angeline and Carlton a ride home.

"You know, a party doesn't sound like a bad idea…" Shawn said.

"Don't even think about it!" Carlton growled, sinking tiredly into his chair.

Gus shook his head and sighed.

"Come on, Shawn, let Angeline get some rest," Gus insisted, watching as she could hardly keep her eyes open.

Shawn protested half-heartedly but let his friend tug him out of the room. Turning to shut the door, Shawn couldn't resist a parting shot.

"Hey, Rabbit! T.T.F.N., ta ta for now!" he said, grinning as Carlton glowered at him.

AN: And that's it for Thanksgiving Daze. Stay tuned for Christmas Mourning. I am SINCERELY hoping I don't go past New Year's Eve(n)… Angeline's begging me for Valen-tines' Day. :(