A/N: No, I haven't given up on this story! Sometimes the muse doesn't like me on this one, though, and I'm deeply sorry for that. I want to thank you guys that keep poking me with little polite questions and reminders to please update. Without those it probably would've taken me longer to get back to it. I need the guilt trips, apparently, lol. So, yeah, keep it up!

Hank and Divya sit by Evan's bedside, both of them using their grips on each other's hands to help fight back the tears. There are tubes and wires running seemingly everywhere into the sick man's body and Hank looks at them with a clenched fist. As a doctor, it's a sight he's seen many times before, but seeing his brother as the one hooked up to all those machines…

"Do I…look like a...cyborg?" Evan whispers so quietly they almost miss the question. It tears at Hank that much more to watch Evan struggle to keep up the good humor, but he plays along because he knows that's what his kid brother wants.

"Yeah, you kind of do," he smiles, but it looks like the fake, plastered on smile that it is.

Evan accepts the attempt, anyway, and grins back as he shuts his eyes. "You should…take…a picture. 'S only gonna last…a few…days."

Hank's hand reflexively squeezes tighter around Divya's but she doesn't complain, just wraps her fingers equally tighter around his. She leans forward and gently places her other hand on Evan's arm, careful not to disturb the IV line. "Trust me, you don't want a picture of this. Once you saw it you'd realize it would have a dangerous potential for blackmail, and you know I'd use that against you at some point."

He chuckles slightly and winces at the motion, but talks through it anyway. "You have…a devious…mind. Always kinda….liked that."

"I know," she smirks sadly as she pats his arm.

He's asleep again seconds later causing Hank to slump back in his chair. "He can barely stay awake, anymore."

Jill steps into the room and speaks softly, slightly startling both Hank and Divya who hadn't known she was there. "At least he's still in and out. It's a good sign, according to Charlie. He said if they slip into a coma…"

"They…" Hank looks up at her. "How's the girl?"

Jill shakes her head and glances over at Evan. "Doing about as well as he did. I'm concerned about Connie - her mother - too."

"Of course," Divya responds matter-of-factly. "She could be losing her daughter. What's not to be concerned about?"

Jill furls her eyebrows in thought. "I don't know, there's something off about her bedside manner; it's not the same as I'm used to."

Divya frowns. "Everyone grieves differently."

"I know, I just…" She shakes it off. "It's probably nothing. Do you two need a break?"

"Ugh, I could use one," Divya affirms, stretching up in her chair. She smiles thankfully as she trades places with Jill, and leans over to give Evan a kiss on the forehead. "I'll be back soon," she promises and makes her way out.

Hank continues to stare at his brother, too tired to try to hide the fact that he's not making eye contact with Jill. When she tries to take his hand he awkwardly pulls away.

"Okay, Hank, now is probably the worst possible time to have this discussion, but I need to know what's going on with you," Jill starts in.

He turns to her, exasperated. "My brother is dying. That's what's going on with me."

"First of all, he's not dying. Everyone here is refusing to believe that except for you, even him, so quit saying it," she snaps back.

"Doctor's number one rule: never give false hope," he mumbles.

Her look softens. "Fifty/fifty odds, Hank, remember? Doctor's other rule? Never give up on a patient that still has a chance. You hold onto that rule tighter than any doctor I've ever seen and I admire you for that; don't stop doing it now, not with him." She reaches out and forcefully takes his hand, speaking even more softly. "And I'm not the one that did this to him, so why are you taking it out on me?"

He sighs and opens his mouth to say something, but closes it again as his eyes trail over to Evan. "I can't, Jill," he whispers, "not now." She gives him a look like she's about to push further, but he cuts her off. "Can you sit with him for a few? I need… I just…."

She nods. "Take as long as you need."

He thanks her quietly and backs out the door, turning just in time to avoid running into Connie in the hall. They lock eyes for a brief second, sharing a haunted look, before she simply gives him an understanding sharp nod of the head. He ducks his face and continues on his way, too emotional with his own feelings of helplessness to say anything to the distraught mother. She begins to move back down the hall to her daughter's room, pausing in the doorway to peer in at Evan for just a second. She gasps slightly at the sight of him and claps a hand over her mouth before backing away, the words she had overheard ringing through her head: fifty/fifty odds.

Her mind retreats into a darker corner as she sorts through the logic. Many people had gotten ill from the rare disease, but only two lay dying – one a grown man and one a young girl. Fifty/fifty odds. If one dies, the other lives…

She walks slowly back to her daughter's room and sinks down into the chair by the bed. The girl looks up at the strange way her mother is smiling.

"Is there good news, Mom?" she asks hesitantly.

Connie grips the girl's hand. "Yes, baby, you're going to be just fine. I'll take care of everything."

~RP~RP~RP~RP~RP~RP~

Jill absently runs her fingers through the curls of Evan's hair as she lets her mind wander. His breath catches suddenly, snapping her back into reality as his eyelids flutter back open. He looks at her for a second and she can see the confusion on his face.

"Evan?" she prompts.

"Mom?" he whispers, squinting at her.

Her face drops and she freezes for a second, not certain how to respond. Making an unsure decision, she shakes her head and leans in a little closer. "It's Jill, Evan, do you remember me?"

He looks at her a little longer and for a second she's sure he has no idea who she is, but then his eyes clear and he gives her a smile. "That's a…stupid question… I'm sick…not…brain damaged."

She relaxes back a little, deciding he doesn't need to know what type of effects a long-term fever could have on the brain; but his behavior concerns her, nonetheless. Charlie had mentioned that confusion and disorientation were some of the last symptoms exhibited just before…

"Charlie," Evan randomly blurts out.

"Excuse me?" Jill asks and looks around, expecting to see her ex hovering somewhere nearby. The room is empty except for the two of them.

"Hank… He thinks…you're back…with Charlie," he explains. "I've…been in and…out. Sorry… I shouldn't… 's rude…" He trails off, losing the energy to keep up with the long sentences.

She grips his hand. "Huh-uh, not your fault. It's not like you can just get up and leave when we're talking in front of you. We're the ones being rude." He nods at her quasi-apology so she moves past it. "Why does Hank think I'm back with Charlie?"

He shrugs slightly. "Won't…say… Should ask…Charlie."

She bites her lip for a second. "Ya know what? I think I will…"