Chapter 35

David had finished talking to Dr. Ross and was headed back to Erica, Bianca and Kendall. He had managed to convince Dr. Ross to take some time between transfusion rounds so that Erica could have some time with their son. After all the tests indicated that the transfusions were working and a few minutes between rounds wouldn't hurt. They agreed on fifteen minutes because more testing needed to be done but only after the transfusions were finished.

"What did he say David?" Erica asked hoping against hope he had good news.

"He said we can have fifteen minutes with him before they continue the next round of the treatment."

"Only fifteen minutes? Well lets go because I want to use all those fifteen on him." She said already trying to wheel herself into the room.

"I hate to ask this but, can you two wait until later to see him? We can't all go in yet and I think I need to be there for her right now." David said trying to be as unintentionally rude as possible.

"No we understand. Please, go be with your son. Right now he needs you two." Kendall said understanding the situation.

"I promise as soon as they are done treatment and testing you two can go in and see him." He said turning around and helping Erica into the room. He pushed Erica to the side of the incubator their barely four pound baby boy lay with IV's, monitors and machines surrounding him and his eyes taped shut. For Erica this site brings up memories from prior weeks when Ian was just down the hall in a bed of his own. For David, he sees this type of thing all the time. Sick children and adults are his business but it's just different when it's your own. He knew this site would terrify Erica and it scared the shit out of him but he needed to be strong for Erica and for DJ.

"He's so pale now and so small. But he is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen David." She said looking up at him as he stood behind her.

"After he gets all of the blood he will regain his color. And yes he is just as beautiful as his mother." He said smiling and bending down to place a kiss on her lips. "You can touch him if you like."

"Are you sure? I, I don't want to hurt him."

"It's fine. I think it might even help him to know that you are close, near him and with him." He said moving to hold her hand in his.

She looked away from David and put her eyes on her son as she reached into the incubator and put a few fingers on his arm, feeling his soft skin. It had been only a few moments that she held her son when he was born and the images were fuzzy. She felt this is the first time she really got to 'see' her son and the fact that he was here and alive made her fill with happy tears but it was the condition he was in that brought the sad tears. He could hear the soft tears that were falling from her eyes, so he bent down and placed his head against hers and whispered in her ear.

"It's going to be ok. He is going to recover from this and we are going to take him home and he is going to grow up happy and healthy and we are going to put this all behind us. I promise, but for now we need to give him support and let the treatments do their job and in a little while we'll come back and stay longer." He said trying to hold back his own tears as one fell anyway. She nodded, unable to find words as she withdrew her hand and David wheeled her back out through the doors the ones that seemed to be the gates of hell that was waiting.

Bianca and Kendall stood outside the NICU still viewing their baby brother through a window for the almost two hours they had known him. Although they were both grown and had children of their own, they both felt as though they were waiting for mommy and daddy to come home with their little brother like they were ten years old again.

"I can't believe we have to spend more time on this floor." Kendall said, this again bringing memories of Ian's illness to their minds

"I know. Why couldn't mom just have a healthy baby boy at forty weeks instead of a sick premature baby at thirty-two weeks. I just don't understand why these things happen." Bianca said

"Mom spent almost all two weeks with us and Ian and now she is stuck here with her own son for who knows how long. You are right Binks, there is no justice in the world!

"Oh my god David has to be shattered! After losing his first baby, he is again facing the same nightmare. His child is fighting for his life and he is stuck helplessly watching." Bianca said sobbing her own tears falling for her mother and David as she watched them through the glass.

"I know. Leora slipped my mind. It has to be hard for him to sit there and watch his infant son struggle and trying to be strong for mom. I am just glad that they love each other and love that baby."

"We need to be strong too. We need to be able to help them through this if they need it." Bianca added with her sister's agreement.

"I am going to go call Zach and tell him what's going on. Let mom and David know I will be right back if they come back out here." Kendall asked of Bianca before leaving the hall they were in

"Sure, and check on Miranda for me." Bianca threw in since it had been hours since they last saw their children. Kendall gave her a nod as she turned back and walked down the hall disappearing around the corner. It was only a few moments later that David brought Erica back outside the NICU.

"Where is you sister?" Were the first words from Erica's mouth when she saw Bianca standing there waiting alone.

"She just went to check in with Zach and the kids. She said she'd be back in a couple minutes. How is he doing?"

"He's so pale but he is so beautiful. I can't wait for you two to meet him."

"He's doing better. The treatment should be done soon and then he should be well on his way to healthy. As long as the HDN didn't cause any permanent damage he should be okay. He might have anemia for quite a while but that is manageable."

"That's good to hear."

"Ok I am going to take you mom back to her room for a little before we can see him again."

"David I don't think so! I am staying right here." Erica said in a stern tone

"Erica you just had surgery and are on an IV which needs to be changed. You can't even see him right now and you need to rest."

"Mom listen to David. He's right you can't be here for DJ if you don't take care of yourself."

"Fine I will go rest for a little, but promise me you will come get me as soon as we can see him again."

"I will. David, take care of mom she can be a handful." She said to him as she took a few steps toward him and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

"I will." He said as he rolled her down the hall and in the same way as Kendall they disappeared.