Early the next morning…

Michaela was able to repair Katie's leg and stop the bleeding. She had to stitch it up and put a splint on it. She can't put a regular cast on it until the stitches heal. Katie still hasn't woken up. Michaela fell asleep next to Katie; she never left her daughter's side. This is how Sully finds them. Michaela is sitting next to Katie's bed with her head lying next to Katie's, fast asleep. She is holding Katie's hand.

Sully has a smile on his face as he watches his wife and daughter sleep. He knows Michaela was exhausted, being pregnant and not getting much sleep the night before. First she had to deal with Sarah, and then Katie. Katie definitely has her mother's stubborn streak. That is what got her into the mess in the first place, going off on her own in the middle of the night when she has been told numerous times not to go out alone at night. On top of that she didn't pay attention to where she was going and got severely hurt. It could end up costing Katie her life.

Sully hears footsteps behind him and turns around. It's Hope coming to check on Katie.

"Hey, Hope."

"Hi, Sully. Katie still hasn't woken up?"

"No, I'm afraid not."

Hope walks the rest of the way in the room and approaches the opposite side of Katie's bed.

She grabs Katie's free hand.

"Katie? It's Hope. You need to wake up, okay? You're my best friend and I don't want to lose you. You are my sister and I love you."

Katie still doesn't wake up, but Michaela does. She looks up still a bit groggy and sees Hope sitting on the other side of the bed.

"Hope?" Michaela asks; still a bit dazed.

"Hi, Dr. Mike. I just came to check on Katie. Sully told me she still hasn't woken up."

Michaela looks at her daughter.

"No she hasn't."

Michaela gets up and grabs her bag and gets her stethoscope out of it. She goes back over to Katie and places the stethoscope on her chest. Katie's heartbeat is very weak. She is slowly fading. Katie's breath is also very ragged and shallow and she is running a fever. The sweat is pouring off of her. She has developed an infection in the wound.

Hope just watches Michaela examine Katie, waiting for her to say something. Sully is still standing by watching by the door.

As if reading Hope's mind, Michaela looks up at her.

"Katie is slowly dying. She has developed an infection in the wound on her leg. Her heartbeat is very weak and her breathing is shallow. Her only hope is a blood transfusion but even that is risky in her weakened condition."

"She still has a chance if she gets the transfusion, right?" Hope asks.

"Yes, but it's very risky. I don't know who can give her blood. I can't because I'm pregnant."

Before Michaela can say anymore Hope stands up.

"I'll do it, Dr. Mike. I will give her some of my blood."

"You are very young, Hope. You are 10 ½, I don't know if your body can handle losing so much blood."
"I don't care, I'm doing it. Nothing is going to change my mind. I will do whatever it takes to save Katie. She's my best friend and my sister. I don't want her to die."

"Okay then, I will get everything set up for the transfusion."

Sully leaves to grab a cot for Hope to lie on while Michaela grabs the necessary equipment needed to perform the operation.

Brian and Maggie fell asleep at Matthew's waiting word on Katie. They are all still asleep. The twins are still at Grace and Robert E's. They still are clueless as to what is going on, them being so young. They don't understand that Aunt Katie is very sick and very hurt.

Most of the town is still clueless as to what is going on except for a chosen few. So it's still very quiet this early in the morning in Colorado Springs.

Once everyone is clued into what is going on, the silence will be no more.

Sully finally brings in an extra cot and sets it up as Hope lies down on it. Michaela sets the vein in Hope's arm so she can put the needle in.

"You are going to need to lie as still as you can and stay calm so the blood will flow freely. After it's over you are going to feel very weak and tired so I am going to suggest you rest. I will give you some juice and bread to eat afterwards so you can get your strength back."

Hope nods at Michaela, agreeing with everything she was just told. She hopes she does everything right and Katie pulls through. She would give anything to see Katie's beautiful blue eyes and sweet smile again.

Hope and Katie are both set up and the blood is going straight into Katie. If everything goes well, Katie should wake up. She will have new blood and feel as good as new. The only thing that Michaela can do now is wait, so she and Sully go downstairs and leave the girls alone.

Once Sully and Michaela are downstairs, Grace has breakfast waiting for them and keeps them company. They all hope and pray for Katie's speedy recovery.

Will Katie pull through? Stay tuned and find out!