I.

"Stats are up, heart rate's in the normal range, body temp is almost where it should be," the nurse told them, as she read off the charts of Jordan's latest examination. "Miss Jordan here is looking better every minute."

Slumped exhaustedly in K.C.'s arms, Jenna could barely bring herself to nod.

"That's great," she said weakly.

K.C. squeezed her more tightly to him.

"So does this mean," he asked hesitantly, "she's gonna be okay?"

The nurse glanced down at Jordan. "Well, we'll have to run a few more tests, but so far, brain scan's normal, heart's still good, and she's making urine. All good signs. We'll have to make sure she doesn't have another seizure, but if things still keep improving like they have been, then we might be able to extubate her soon."

Jenna could feel K.C. heave a sigh of relief. He leaned into her, his arms hooking around her stomach and his chin balancing on the shelf of her shoulder. He let out a sigh into Jenna's tangled hair and buried his face into her neck, breathing deeply. He collapsed into her, as if he were trying to melt into her body.

Jenna put her hands over his, and absentmindedly began rocking on her heels from side to side. She absorbed his profound relief and exhaustion into her own bones, running through her like marrow. Her hands stroked his, intertwining their fingers, and she continued to sway and hold, comforting him as if he were Jordan, waking up from a bad dream- knowing she was safe, that nothing more could hurt her, as long as Jenna kept holding her.

II.

"I'm sorry."

Lisa opened her eyes and saw Kyle, shuffling awkwardly in place, his skin flushing so red it made his freckles expand.

"What I said…"

Lisa closed her eyes again.

"Kyle," she muttered. "Let's not do this now. Please."

"I just..." he stammered, "I- I want you to know, I didn't mean it."

"It's okay," she replied tiredly. "Really. Just…let's forget about it, okay? You didn't mean it, I didn't mean it, it's over, the end."

Kyle nodded stiffly.

"You were right," he said. "The drama between us stops now."

III.

"I have to tell you guys," the doctor warned. "Extubations are hit or miss with kids this little. "

A visible tremor ran through Lisa's body. "What do you mean?"

"It means that they have a harder time coming off the vent than older children," he explained. "But if we don't think she's responding, then we'll put her right back on."

"You sound like you're using her as a guinea pig," Kyle asked accusatorily.

Jenna ran her fingers through Jordan's hair.

"What happens if she doesn't?" she murmured. "Respond."

The doctor shrugged. "We won't know how she'll respond until we try," he said.

"But what if she doesn't?" K.C. parroted.

"We re-intubate and monitor her lungs until we think they're strong enough to work on their own," he said.

The doctor listened to the whoosh of Jordan's heartbeat in his ears, then glanced around at everyone surrounding the bed.

"So…" he said, "Are we ready?"

Lisa put her hands on her hips, biting her lip; Kyle crossed his arms over his chest.

K.C. squeezed Jenna's shoulder. Jenna looked back down at Jordan, running her fingers through her hair once more.

"Okay," she said finally. "Alright."

The doctor nodded.

She bent down to Jordan's head, whispering in her ear.

" It's alright," she whispered, trying to keep her voice from shaking. "Shhh, shhh, 's alright, good girl, Jordy. Good, good girl baby."

K.C. gripped her shoulder harder. His other hand snaked around Jenna and rested on the top of Jordan's head, his thumb brushing her forehead gently.

From across the bed, Jenna saw Lisa's arm link into Kyle's.

"And here we go," the doctor said.

"1, 2, 3."

"Tube," he called to one of the nurses standing by. "Suction."

"Alright," he murmured to the baby. "Come on Jordan. Come on, baby. Big cough. Big cough."

K.C. squeezed her in a vice-like grip.

"Come on" she could hear him muttering into her hear. "Come on, come on, come on."

"She's not breathing," Lisa cried out. Her voice was skirting the knife edge of hysteria. "Why isn't she breathing?"

"Just hold on," the doctor replied, not taking his eyes off Jordan.

"What's happening?" Kyle demanded. "What's happening to her?"

The doctor didn't answer. He made a motion at the nurse, who bent close as he whispered something into her ear.

Lisa struggled in Kyle's hold.

"What's happening?" she shouted.

Jenna's hands shook. She glanced up at K.C., whose face was chalk-white.

And suddenly, there was a cry.

Jordan squirmed; her eyes opened, and her legs began to thrash, fighting the hands of the nurse that were roaming over her body. Her back arched, and she let out another cry, more assured and clear this time, a bell-like sound of confusion and fear.

The doctor glanced around the bed, taking in the relief on their ashen faces.

"That's a happy sound," he murmured.