Dr. Russell saw Ethan's shocked face and a figure approaching him from behind and decided to lead the rest of the group along. Ethan stood there, staring at a little girl in an incubator. She was so tiny and sickly. "No one told me that Sheridan was pregnant," he said out loud without even realizing it.
"She wasn't." A voice behind him said.
Ethan jumped. He turned around a saw Sam Bennett standing there, flowers in his hand.
"What do you mean? What are you doing here?" Ethan asked, although in his heart he already knew.
"I came to see…my…granddaughter." Sam sighed and looked at the tiny baby.
Ethan couldn't move. He felt like he was going to die. Theresa had taken him at his word when he said he never wanted to see her again, even though she was carrying his child. And now that child lay here in the hospital, fighting for life, and Ethan felt helpless.
Sam laid a hand on Ethan's shoulder and Ethan began to cry.
"I didn't know. I didn't know Theresa was pregnant. Oh God, what have I done? My daughter is in there sick, and it's all my fault." Ethan said through sobs.
"This is not your fault, son. You didn't even know she existed, so how could you have helped her?"
"I love her so much, Sam. I don't even know her and I love her. Just seeing her there, and knowing that she is my flesh and blood…"
Sam looked down and said, " I know how you feel. Having a child that you don't know about."
Ethan looked at his father and suddenly knew how painful it must have been for him, finding out that he had a child he never knew about.
Sam continued, "The first time I saw you after I found out that you were my son, I felt the same way you do now. I saw a fine young man and it hit me that a part of me was in you. That you were my flesh and blood, and at that moment, I loved you."
When Sam's eyes met Ethan's the father pulled his son into his arms.
"I love you, son"
"I love you, dad"
They held each other as they both cried.