Epilogue

Ace Up My Sleeve

Patty opened her eyes groggily and wasn't too sure where she was at first.

"You finally up?"

She looked over to see a familiar face sitting in a chair next to her bed. He looked tired, but as warm as that cocky face could look.

"Dante..." she rasped. "Where...?"

"You're at the hospital. You've been out for a week. Two transfusions and a surgery to repair your heart and you've pulled through. I told you you were a trooper, Posh."

Patty smiled and cleared her throat. "You're amazing."

"Yeah, I'm told I'm a good lay..."

"If I could smack you..."

Dante laughed. "No, Patty. You made the call. You're amazing – you sacrificed your high ideals of morals in order to save the world. Something tells me this won't be the first time, so rest up so you can heal."

He rose to leave.

"Where are you going?"

"I have a few jobs lined up. I gotta pay bills you know..."

"I can pay you..."

"That wouldn't make me a manwhore, would it?" Patty lifted her hand to take a swipe at him but she was too weak. Dante only took her hand in his and kissed it. "You did the right thing, Patty. You're a good kid. Keep your money, alright?"

"Dante..."

"See ya."

Dante squeezed passed another person on his way out, and Lady walked in to take his place. "Well, I must say. That was not how I thought it would go down, at the last second and all..."

"Lady... what really happened?"

"I didn't get there until after Trish called the ambulance. All I know is that the lazy bastard has been blowing off jobs all week in order to sit around by your bedside."

"He … didn't leave?"

"Not once. Strange one, isn't he?"

Patty was quiet for a few moments. "Where is he going?"

"I heard Morrison lined up a job for him in Europe. His flight leaves in an hour or so. Lucky you woke up, huh?"

"Lucky..." Patty repeated softly, looking down at the scar on her chest sadly.

"Cheer up, Posh. He'll be back."

"Don't you start."

Lady laughed. "Take care." She waved and left, and was replaced by a nurse wielding a blood pressure cuff and a vitals cart.

Patty supposed the Devil-Hunters were busy, as that was the last she saw of them while she was at the hospital. She was sort of glad, because she didn't think she could take the teasing as she stared at the product she'd bought for the third time two weeks later in shock.

Well, at least she knew she'd see Dante again sometime soon.

With a smile, she threw the positive pregnancy test in the trash.

She was looking forward to it, actually.

***END***