Disclaimer: I still don't own 7th heaven or it's charachters. If I did, it would still be on tv.
A/N: sorry about any mistakes. I don't have a beta, so any mistakes are mine. I'll try not to make you wait too long between chapters, but I'm working two jobs now, so we'll see. I promise I will finish this story, because I absolutely hate it when I read a story that hasn't been updated ina year and isn't finished. Okay, I'm done rambling now. Pleae R&R. Enjoy!
"Ruthie? Where are you?" Ruthie heard Simon call.
"I'm in the here," she responded.
Simon followed the sound of Ruthie's voice to the kitchen. As soon as she saw him, she jumped up and ran into his arms. She had never been so happy to see him in her life. "Simon, I'm so scared."
"I know Ruthie, I am too. But you know how Dad is. He never gives up easily."
Ruthie stayed in Simon's arms for a few more seconds, and then Simon spoke up. "Are you, Sam, and David ready to go?"
"Yeah, we need to drop Savannah off next door at Mrs. Simmons. She said she'd gladly watch her for as long as needed."
"Okay. Sam, David, time to go," Martin yelled up the stairs. Sam and David ran down the stairs and out to Simon's car. Ruthie went upstairs and got Savannah, then took her next door. Simon turned off the light and locked the door, then got in the car. Ruthie cam back and got in the car, and they left.
When they arrived at the hospital, Ruthie and Simon each took one of the twins' hands and walked inside and up to ICU. Right before they went through the doors that would take them to the waiting room, Ruthie grabbed Simon's arm. "Sam, David, go on in. Tell everyone we'll be in there shortly," said Ruthie.
"What's the matter, Ruthie?" asked Simon.
"Matt called earlier. Dad's dying, Simon. The doctor's don't think he's going to wake up. They said that his heart's just too weak."
"What? Why didn't you tell me earlier?" Simon yelled.
"I haven't told the twins, and I didn't want them to overhear while I was telling you."
"I'm sorry, Ruthie. I didn't mean to yell at you. It was just a shock to me. I mean, this morning I talked to Dad on the phone and he said he was fine, and then I get a call from you this afternoon saying he was in the hospital."
"I know you didn't mean it Simon. We should probably get in there before they start to worry." Ruthie said, heading towards the doors.
Almost immediately after they had walked into the waiting room, a doctor came out. "Mrs. Camden," he asked.
Annie stood up. "I'm Mrs. Camden," she said.
"You're husband is awake."
Annie stared at him in shock. "You said he wouldn't wake up."
"I know what we said. There's no medical explanation for this. Unfortunately, I'm afraid we can't change our diagnosis. You're husband is still dying."
"How much longer does he have to live?"
"Mrs. Camden, despite what you may see on TV or read in books, we don't tell people how long they have to live. We don't know ourselves most of the time. All I can tell you is he is going to die. I do thick that it would be wise to get your whole family here so you can say your goodbyes. I'm sorry I don't have better new for you." With that he turned around and walked out of the room.
Annie turned to Matt and Mary. "Are Carlos and Sarah on their way?" They both nodded their heads. She then turned to Ruthie. "Did you call the Colonel and Grandma Ruth? After Ruthie had responded affirmatively, Annie asked, "What about Grandpa and Ginger?"
"Mom, I called the Colonel and Grandma Ruth, T-Bone, Margaret, and Jane, and others that I knew Dad would want to be here." Ruthie said, exasperated with all of her mother's questions.
"Who are the others?" Annie asked curiously.
"Umm, let's see here, Chandler, Robbie, and Rabbi and Mrs. Glass." Ruthie answered, ticking each one off on her fingers as she said their name. "Oh yeah, Grandma Ruth said that George is home on leave, so he was coming, too."
"Thank you so much Ruthie. I never would have even thought to call those people. This will mean so much to your dad."
"Mom," Kevin said. Annie turned towards him. "I hope you don't mind, but I took the liberty of calling some people too. I called Martin and Rose. I hope you don't mind, but I knew they would want to say goodbye to him as well."
"When do they get in?" inquired Annie.
Matt looked at his watch. "Carlos and Sarah should be getting in…right now. Oh, man I've got to go get them. I completely forgot about picking them up." He looked at Ruthie and Kevin. "When do the others get in?"
"The Colonel, Grandma Ruth and George should be arriving any moment, too. Chandler, Robbie, and Rabbi and Mrs. Glass arrive about ten minutes after them" said Ruthie. T-Bone, Margaret, and Jane are going to get here as soon as they all get off of work.
"Martin was going to drive here, so he should be here in about forty-five minutes or so. Rose was going to drive here as well, so she should arrive any minute.
"Okay, Ruthie and I will go to the airport and pick everyone up. We'll get Carlos, Sarah, the Colonel and Grandma Ruth, then I'll bring them back here and drop them off, then I'll go pick up Chandler, Rabbi and Mrs. Glass, Robbie, and Ruthie. Does that take care of everyone?" asked Matt, looking around the room. Everyone nodded. "Okay then, Ruthie, let's go."
After they got to the airport, Matt and Ruthie split up. Matt went to wait for Carlos and Sarah, and Ruthie went to wait for the Colonel, Grandma Ruth, and George. Once they had met back up, and greetings were exchanged, Matt gave everyone an update. "Dad is awake now, but the doctors don't hold much hope for him living much longer. In fact, they told us to get all of our family here so they could say their goodbyes." Everyone looked shocked. They had thought that Eric would pull through, like he always had before. Matt gave time for that information to sink in before saying, "Ruthie is going to stay here and wait for others that are flying in while I drop you off at the hospital."
After Matt left, Ruthie went to wait for Chandler, who would be the next one arriving. When she saw him, she just stood there staring. Roxanne was with him. "Roxanne? What are you doing here? When did you get back from Iraq?"
"Hi Ruthie," responded Roxanne laughingly, "nice to see you again, too."
"Sorry, it's just that when I called Chandler he didn't say anything about you coming along too."
Chandler entered the conversation then. "That's because I didn't know. Roxanne surprised me with a visit right as I was leaving, and when I told her about your dad, she insisted on coming along."
"In answer to your questions, Ruthie, I just got back from Iraq a month ago. I was planning on coming here to visit after I visited Chandler, so when I heard the news I decided to come along."
Ruthie looked at her watch and groaned. "Oh man, Robbie's flight landed two minutes ago. I've got to go meat him. Do you want to come get me or go get your luggage?
"I think we'll go get our luggage." said Chandler. "I know how close you and Robbie were, so I want to give you two a little time alone."
Ruthie flashed him a smile. "Okay. After I meet Robbie, I have to meet Rabbi and Mrs. Glass, so I'll meet you down by the luggage after that." Almost as soon as the words were out of her mouth, Ruthie took off running towards Robbie's gate. When she got there, the passengers were just starting to exit into the concourse. After a few minutes, Ruthie saw Robbie. She smiled and waved at him, but he walked right on by. "Hmm, that's strange," she thought. "Maybe he didn't see me." Ruthie called out his name. Robbie looked around. When he saw her he gave her a funny look, then, after a few seconds, broke into a grin.
"Ruthie Camden, is that you?" he asked. When she nodded, he pulled her into a hug. "My goodness, Snookie, you've grown up. I didn't recognize you at first."
Ruthie laughed. "I guess it has been a while since you've seen me, hasn't it? I just kind of took for granted that you'd recognize me."
"It's my own fault, Ruthie. I haven't stayed in contact like I should. I was still picturing you as a little twelve year old girl, like you were before I left for Florida. How old are you now, anyway?"
"I'm 17. I'll be 18 in a few months."
"Wow. I didn't realize that I'd been out of touch with all of you for five years."
"Everyone is going to be so happy to see you again. I just wish it could be under better circumstances."
"Yeah, so do I."
Just then Ruthie saw Rabbi and Mrs. Glass. "Rabbi, over here!" she called.
"Ruthie, hello. How are you holding up?" asked Rabbi Glass.
"Well, I'm doing better than I was when I first heard the news. It's still hard, but I don't think it's fully sunk in yet. I feel like this is all one big nightmare, and when I wake up Dad will be fine."
Rosina Glass gave her a sympathetic smile. "Has there been any change in you dad's condition," she asked.
Ruthie hesitated. "Let's wait until we meet up with Matt, Carlos, and Sarah. That way we don't have to tell it over and over again. It's a little easier that way."
"I understand," said Rosina. "Where are they?"
"They're waiting for us down by the luggage. We'd better start heading there. Matt probably thinks I've gotten lost."
Once hey met up with Matt, Carlos, and Sarah, greeting were exchanged and an update given. They then got into the van and headed towards the hospital.
Back at the hospital, a nurse came into the waiting room. "Mrs. Camden, you and your family and friends may now go see Eric, but we would prefer that you limit it to no more than three people in there at a time. Just go back whenever you feel ready. He's in room 212."
"Thank you," said Annie. After the nurse left she turned to the others gathered there, which now included the Colonel and Grandma Ruth, Jane, Margaret, T-Bone, Martin, and Rose. Matt, Ruthie, and the others hadn't gotten there yet. "I'd like to wait until Matt and Ruthie get back, but I don't want to take the chance of someone not getting to speak with him because we waited too long. I've decided that all of the kids and I will wait until they get here. The rest of you, however, can go on in if you'd like."
The Colonel and Grandma Ruth stood up. "We'll go first," said the Colonel. "That is, if nobody minds." Everyone shook their heads negatively. Grandma Ruth turned to Annie, "Annie dear, I really think that you should go in first. He's going to want to see you more than anyone else.
Annie, who had kept her composure all day, broke down then. Lucy and Mary rushed to comfort their mother. "I don't think I can see him, knowing that he's going to die. I just don't think I can," cried Annie.
"Mom, if you don't go see him, I know you'll regret it. Knowing, Dad, he probably has some idea of what's going on, but he's going to get worried if you don't go and see him." said Mary.
Annie wiped away her tears, got up, and headed down the hall to Eric's room. When she got there, she took a deep breath and then went in.
Eric was sleeping. "Eric," she called softly, "Eric, it's Annie. Wake up."
Eric opened his eyes. "Annie," he said smiling. "I love you."
After Eric said those words, Annie's eyes filled with tears. She did her best to hide them, but Eric still saw them.
"Annie, it's going to be okay."
"No, it isn't, Eric. I don't think I can go on without you." Annie covered her mouth after she said that. "Now I've done it," she thought. "I've let him know he's dying."
"Annie," Eric said gently, "I already knew that I'm dying."
"You do?" she said in surprise.
"Yes, I do. No one's told me, I just knew. You have to go on without me. You have to take care of Sam, David, and Ruthie. You have to be there when Ruthie gets married. You have to be there when the twins graduate from high school. You have to be there to watch our grandchildren grow up. You have to be there to do all the things I won't be able to do, Annie. Please, promise you'll go on."
"I promise," Annie said.
"Even though I won't be there in person, I'll be there with you in spirit. Never forget that."
"I won't, Eric Camden. I love you and I will always love you."
"I love you too, Annie. From the moment I first saw you, I knew we were meant to be together." Eric gave Annie a kiss. "Can I see the others?"
When Annie went back out to the waiting room, Matt and the others had arrived. "How's Dad?" asked Matt.
"He knows that he's dying." replied Annie. "He's in good spirits. He wants to see all of you. Matt and Sarah, why don't you go first, then Mary and Carlos, Lucy and Kevin, Simon, Ruthie, then the twins. After them, you and Ruth should go, Colonel. The rest of you can decide among yourselves who goes next."
Matt and Sarah headed down the hallway and entered Eric's room.
"Matt and Sarah," said Eric looking very pleased, "I'm glad you both came."
"How could we stay away? We missed you too much." Matt said jokingly.
"Did you bring your twins?"
"No, "replied Sarah. "We left them with a neighbor. It would have been too stressful too bring them along, with them being so young. We did, however, bring a video of them." She pulled a DVD out of her purse and popped it into the TV that was in the room. Eric watched it for a little while, and then said, "I can watch this later. Right now I'd rather just talk with the two of you. How are your jobs going?"
"Oh, they're going great, Dad. At least mine is. You'll have to ask Sarah about hers. I absolutely love being an obstetrician. I just wish we lived closer, rather than in New York.
"Mine is going great, too, Dad. At times it's hard being a pediatrician in a hospital, like when you see a child that's been in an accident, or has been abused, but the feeling that you get from helping them is absolutely wonderful."
"Matt, Sarah, I would love to just talk small talk with you, but the two of you know, and I know, that this will probably be the last time you see me. I want to tell you both that I love you very much. Sarah, I was a little bit skeptical when I found out that you were Jewish, but you have come to be like another daughter to me. You have been so good for Matt. I'm glad that you became a part of our family. Matt, you're the oldest. When we almost lost you at birth, I was so scared. I loved you so much and I hadn't really met you. That love has grown over the years. I am very proud to call you my son. You have been strong for the others in the past, now I need you to be strong for them again. They're all going to take it hard, but I think that Ruthie will take it the hardest. You have Sarah, Mary has Carlos, Lucy has Kevin, and I suspect that Simon has someone as well, although he hasn't told us outright. The twins are really still to young to totally comprehend it, and they have your Mom, and she has all of you. Ruthie really doesn't have anyone. She's going to need an older brother to lean on.
"I'll take care of everyone, Dad. As for Ruthie, she has T-Bone, doesn't she?"
"I really don't think that she and T-Bone are supposed to be together."
"Well, what about Martin?"
"She doesn't trust Martin anymore. Not after her wanting to date him for so long, and then only when she starts getting serious with someone else does he show any interest. She's not going to lean on him. I always felt that she'd end up with Peter, but that pretty much ended once he moved away."
"I'll take care of her Dad, don't worry."
"I know you will, son."
"Dad, I just want to say thank you for everything you've done for me. You mentored me, you encouraged me, you instructed me, but most of all, you loved me. I don't think I would have become what I am today if it hadn't been for you. I couldn't have asked for a better Dad." Matt's eyes filled with tears and he couldn't go on.
Sarah slipped her hand into Matt's and said, "Dad, I want to thank you for making me feel welcome in the family, even though I was Jewish. You've always made me feel loved and welcome in the family. I have come to love you as a father. I just wish that our children could have gotten to know you. They would have adored you. When they get older, I'm going to tell them all about their Grandpa Eric and what a good dad, grandpa, and minister he was. I love you, Dad." She bent down and gave him a kiss, and then she and Matt walked out of the room.
When they got back to the waiting room, Mary and Carlos went in. "Hi Dad," said Mary.
"Hi yourself, stranger." replied Eric, smiling.
"I'm sorry I didn't come to visit more frequently, Dad. That was wrong of me. I-"
Eric cut her off. "Don't dwell on what could have been or should have been, Mary. Dwell on what was. Think about all the happy times we had together. Think of all the basketball that we played, and of the holidays that we celebrated. It makes it that much harder if you look back with regret instead of happiness."
"I know Dad, but it's hard."
"I won't argue with you there. Let's talk about something else. How are Charlie and the girls?"
"They're doing great. They're all getting so big so fast." answered Mary
"I remember feeling that way when you were growing up. I remember the day you were born, how tiny you were. And look at you now, all grown up with a family of your own. I love you Mary, I hope you know that. I don't care about what you did in the past. What's past is past. Mary, you're my oldest Daughter. I watched you grown from a little baby to a toddler, then to a teenager. When you got into trouble, and I had to send you to live with my parents, it broke my heart. More than anything I wanted you to stay with me. But I knew that was what was best for you then. I'm glad that I did, because it helped make you what you are now, which is a wonderful wife, daughter, and mother. Carlos, when I first met you at that soup kitchen, I was skeptical. I figured you were some kind of lazy bum that didn't want to work. Then, when Mary came home and told us that she had gotten married, and it was to you, I was shocked. But I'm glad she chose you, Carlos. I was devastated when you two got divorced, then I was thrilled when I learned at Simon and Rose's almost wedding that not only were you two back together again, but you were expecting twins. You are like another son to me, Carlos. Take care of Mary.
"I will, Dad." answered Carlos.
Mary spoke up then. "Dad I'm so sorry that I failed you. First, when I was in highschool, and then again when I abandoned Carlos and Charlie. I just want to let you know that it wasn't your fault. You did everything right. I'm the one who messed up, not you. I love you so much. I just wish that my kids could get to know you better. I'm going to tell them all about you, and how you were the best Dad ever to me and my brothers and sisters, and a great husband to Grandma Annie, and a great minister to your church." Mary bent down and gave him a hug and kiss, then stepped back and slipped her hand into Carlos' hand.
"Dad," Carlos began, "you accepted me from the very beginning, when Mary first brought me home from that soup kitchen. Then after a while, you accepted me again as Mary's husband. I couldn't have asked for a better father-in-law. I promise that I will take care of Mary and your grandchildren. I'm going to miss you very much." He gave Eric a hug, and then he and Mary left the room.