A/N: hey everyone, hope youre still enjoying this story. we've almost come to the end of this part! enjoy!

James sat on his mother's hospital bed playing with his marvel Avengers figurines and acting out all sorts of action scenes. He was tossing some in the air and playing out fight scenes when his winter solider figurine flew from his hands and hit Olivia in the face.

"James!" Jay scolded.

"Whoops, sorry mommy."

Jay went to take james off the bed when he noticed the smallest of small flinch that happened on her face. If he hadnt been looking at her, he would've never noticed it. Hope bloomed in his chest and he hit the call button. A nurse came in to see what he needed.

"She…she moved, she crinkled her nose!"

"Mr Halstead, with your wife's condition its highly unlikely-"

"I saw it too!' James exclaimed, 'She smooshed her nose!"

The nurse gave them both a sympathetic smile.

"I'll page dr Crockett."

Jay turned to James.

"Did you see it buddy! Maybe we'll get some good news."

"I didn't sees it, but I beliebe you daddy."

Crockett arrived some time later with Will in toe. Jay explained what happened and Dr. Crockett said it was most likely an involuntary reaction. Jay plead for him to run any test he could. Crockett patted Jay's shoulder and said sure, to please the begging husband.

"This is great Will, maybe we're closer to her waking up."

"Jay,' Will said softly, pulling his aside, 'Her condition is really bad. She was without any oxygen to her brain for at least ten minutes here with no pulse. We don't know how long she was out there in that state either."

Jay could see in his brothers features that Will was trying to let him down easy.

"You don't think she'll wake up?" He said, solemnly.

"No,' will sighed, 'I don't think she will, and if she does, she could be so severely brain damaged."

Jay looked back at James, who had crawled back onto the bed and was telling Olivia stories and playing with his toys.

"So my only options are she stays a damaged vegetable in a coma or she wakes up brain damaged and we have no way to tell how bad it is."

"Is this the life you want for James, growing up in a hospital visiting his comatose mother?"

"It's better than not having her at all."

"But he doesn't have her Jay, not really. And that's not fair to him."

"What about me! What about what's fair to me? She's all I got left, and you what? Want me to pull the plug?"

"Jay-"

"You should go."

Jay turned his back on his brother. James glanced at the two adults fighting in the corner and then turned his attention back to his mother.

"Jay, I love you, and James and Olivia. I just don't want to see you all suffer."

Will left and closed he door behind him. Jay took a deep breath and walked over to sit next to the bed.

"…I'll even give you my Bucky Barnes action figure. He'll keep you safe. I know he's your favorite Avenger. He's my new favorite now too Because you likes him. But he's yours now."

James tucked the action figure under one of Olivia's limp arms.

"Whatcha doin little man?"

"Giving Mommy my Winter Solider. Now she'll be safe forever."

Jay kissed the top of his head.

"Why don't we go home, have some dinner and go to bed. You can sleep in my room tonight."

James looked up at his dad with doe eyes.

"Can we's sleep here tonight?"

"I don't think that's a good idea buddy."

"Pwease, before we don't gets to anymore?"

How could Jay deny him.

"Okay James, we'll spend the night here."

The night was sleepless for Jay as he watched James sleep soundly against his mother. And by the time dawn rolled around, Jay knew there was no coming back for her. Crockett had even confirmed she had less than 25% survival after being taken off the vent, and a 10% of full survival with no way of knowing what survival would really be.

It was eating Jay alive. He had gone through every precaution and every detail that if anything happened to him, Olivia and James wouldn't have to worry about anything. Money would be covered forever, they'd always have a home. But he never planned for this, why would he. He was he one with the dangerous job. Yet here he was, facing the end of his happiness.

When James woke, Jay explained how he'd spend a couple more hours with Olivia and then uncle Mousy was gonna take him home, and Jay would be home eventually. James looked at his father with sad eyes and told him he didn't want to leave him alone. Deep down Jay knew that James knew what was about to happen.

"You'll make sure Bucky stays with Mommy?"

"Absolutely."

"You'll be heres the whole time?"

"I will."

"Why not mes too?"

"Mommy wouldn't want that, it's all gonna be okay."

Jay held James tightly before handing him off to Mouse. James, screamed and cried as Mouse carried him from the room and once out of eyesight, Jay broke down. He held Olivia's hand and broken heartedly sobbed.

"It should be me, not you, me! I was supposed to always keep you safe, love you for the rest of our lives, have a bunch of little minions running around and grow old together. Instead I'm letting you go…how am I supposed to let you go. How am I supposed to raise our boy alone. I don't wanna do this alone baby. I'm sorry I failed you, that we ran out of time. God, I wish we hadnt been so oblivious.'

Will stood off to the side and Crockett ready to turn off the machines.

"But it's okay, it's all gonna be okay. James and I will be alright. Ill tell him of you everyday, I'll keep Sunday mornings filled with all the weird music you like, and I'll go above and beyond decorating for every holiday, I'll make sure James loves the Giants and the Islander just as much as the Bears and the Blackhawks. We'll be okay, it's all gonna be okay. You can be at peace now."

Jay nodded at Crockett. He took out the breathing tube, and then stepped back to turn off the switch for all the machines and monitors. At the touch of the first switch, jay pressed his lips to Olivia's forehead and stayed there as his own tears dripped onto her cheeks.

"Take all the time you need, we'll be back to check on you in a bit." Crockett said.

Will was trying to hold his composure for his brothers sake, patted his shoulder and left him to be alone. Out in the waiting room, Will notified the team and the salon girls. They all sat together, crying and trying to console one another.

Jay was laying there, head on her chest trying to take it all in. But then he saw it, the twitch of her hand. Jay brushed it off until it happened again. Jay jumped up and stared at her and he could see the faintest rise and fall of her chest. He was running out of her room before he could even process what was happening. Running up and down the halls screaming for Will and Dr Crockett. Will came rushing to his aid and then to the side of his sister in laws. Will pressed his stethoscope against her chest.

"It's there, do you hear it Will?"

"Would you shut up so I can try."

Will continued to listen for anything. It felt like forever and then Will's eyebrows pinched together.

"I…I think there's a faint heartbeat."

Shock settled in and will took off to page Crockett. Jay cried happy tears and held her hand.

"That's my girl, keep fighting. Keep fighting."