Jude just sat there looking through the glass. A bright light cast a glow down over each incubator but other than that the room was dimmed. The nurse did not say anything to them as they sat there for an hour…two hours…three hours.
"Jude" Tommy whispered.
"Yeah" she mumbled not taking her eyes off the miniature human laying motionless and asleep just beyond her reach.
"It's 2 AM, you need some sleep" he said and started to pull the wheelchair away.
"Ten more minutes" whispered Jude and Tommy paused. He walked around the wheelchair and squatted down to eye level with her.
"Jude" he whispered.
Jude peeled her eyes away from the incubator, her eyes filled with tears.
"I know" he whispered as she threw her arms around his neck "Shh, I know". He ran his hand up and down her spine "Shh".
"I can't leave" she mumbled into his ear.
"I know" whispered Tommy "but for now we do".
Jude pulled away and whipped her eyes on her sleeve. Then she stood up and unhooked the bag of liver fluid, now empty, and headed for the sliding doors. Tommy followed and they both paused outside the doors looking in. Then Tommy wrapped his arm around her shoulder and they walked back down the hall.