Josh and Andy were still sitting with Alyssa. They talked about many things. One of them things being if they should have the doctors disconnect the tubes from Alyssa.
"Josh, if we let the doctors disconnect these tubes from Alyssa, I want everyone in here with us," Andy said, wiping a sudden tear away.
"Are you sure, Andy?" Josh asked. "Are you sure you want the tubes to be disconnected from Alyssa?"
"Yes Josh," Andy said. "Alyssa has the right to live away from tubes."
"Okay, I'll go get everyone," Josh said, getting up. He was scared as hell, but didn't let it show. He had to be strong for Andy. "I'll be back as soon as I can," Josh said, kissing Andy on her forehead.
"I'll stay here with Alyssa," Andy said, looking at her daughter.
Josh went out the door and to the waiting room.
"Hey baby girl," Andy said, to Alyssa, once she was finally alone. "I'm your mom. And that nervous man is your dad. But he means well." Andy tried to search for more words to tell Alyssa. "Alyssa, you can't leave this earth. You just can't. You have a whole life ahead of you. Alyssa you can be strong, I'm your mom and I know you can make it," Andy said, crying. "You have to live. Please. I couldn't live without you."
Andy sat there staring at Alyssa until Josh and everyone else came back, including her doctor.
"Andy, baby," Alicia gasped, hugging Andy.
"Mom, I'm scared," Andy cried, hugging her mom and crying.
"We all are," Nicole offered.
"She's so precious," Lydia commented, crying slightly, seeing Alyssa hooked up to two, small, plastic tubes.
"Doctor, can we hold her?" Lori asked.
"Yes, you may," Dr. Richardson said.
"Andy, you hold her," Lori said.
"Okay," Andy agreed, receiving Alyssa in her arms.
"What's her name?" Lydia asked, smiling at Alyssa.
"Alyssa. Alyssa Maria-Jade Trager," Andy answered, looking at her daughter.
"Like my mother?" Lydia asked.
"Yeah, like grandma."
"Andy, you didn't have to name your baby Alyssa."
"I know. I wanted to," Andy replied. "Josh, you want to hold her?" Andy smiled.
"Yeah," Josh smiled.
"There you go, go to daddy." Andy put Alyssa in Josh's hands.
"She's so small. I don't want to hurt her," Josh said.
"You won't Josh," Amanda said.
Alyssa started crying and Josh gave her back to Andy and ran out the door.
"Come on you guys," Stephen said, signaling Declan and Kyle to follow.
"Josh!" Stephen called.
"I don't know what to do. I want Alyssa to live," Josh cried. He rested his head against the wall, sobbing.
"We're going to do everything we can to help save your daughter, Josh. But you have to be strong for you and Andy," Stephen said hugging his son.
"I'm trying. It's so hard, it's like I could lose her at any second."
"Don't think that way," Kyle cut in.
"Why is it so hard for Josh?" Andy asked. "I know I shouldn't be asking that, but Josh doesn't even want to hold her!" Tears were streaming down her face as she held her daughter in her arms.
"Andy, honey, he's scared. And when Josh is scared he runs. You know that," Nicole said.
"But Josh was scared when I had cancer! He was there for me! What makes this any different!?" Andy yelled.
"Andy, you're right Josh was scared, but he knew you'd make it. Because you're Andy, but now it's different, Alyssa is a baby. You were a strong teen," Lori explained, tears in her eyes.
"I know. I know," she tried to repeat to herself. She just didn't understand it.
"I'm going to get Josh," Andy said, giving Alyssa to Hillary.
"Andy, I think you should wait for Josh," Hillary suggested.
"Yes, Andy, Hillary is right, you should wait for Josh to come back in on his own," Alicia agreed.
"No. I'm going to get him," Andy insisted.
Andy walked down the hall to where all the men were.
"Josh, can I talk to you?" Andy asked.
"Come on you guys, let's leave these two here to talk," Stephen said, walking back to the small room.
They waited until they were down the hallway to begin talking.
"Andy, I'm sorry I ran off like that," Josh apologized.
"No, it's okay. I understand you're scared. I'm scared too," She reassured.
"I know and I should be strong for you," Josh replied.
"No. We should both be strong for each other and Alyssa."
"You're right," Josh said, kissing Andy.
"Okay, let's go back to see Alyssa."
They walked back to the hospital room Alyssa was in.
"Josh, Andy, would you like me to disconnect the tubes from Alyssa?" Dr. Richardson asked.
Josh looked down at Andy and she nodded.
"Yes, we would like the tubes to be disconnected now," Andy answered taking the biggest risk of her life.