"This is un-freaking-believable." JR said as he paced the waiting room floor. "I thought everything was going to fine. First Tad, now Mom."

"I'm sure everything's going to be OK, JR," Jamie said. "Dixie's been through this before..."

"It's not fair. This isn't fair." he paused. "I need some air."

JR rushed out of the waiting room, passed Brooke. "Where's JR going?" she asked Jamie.

"To get some air," he said, slouching back in his chair.

Brooke sat down beside him. "How are you doing, honey?" she asked. "Are you OK?"

"This is all just hard to believe," he said. "You know? Dixie was just doing so well and then this happens."

"I know," Brooke said, putting her arm around him. He rested his head on her shoulder. "We can all just be there for eachother. Everything will be OK."

"Jamie?" Jamie and Brooke looked up and saw Jake standing before them. "I know it's a little late but... how'd you like to see your sister?"

"Mom?" Jamie said.

Brooke nodded. "Go ahead. Get your mind off of all of this for a while."

Jamie left the waiting room with Jake and Brooke stayed behind. After a moment, she stood and made her way down the hall to Dixie's room. She paused momentarily outside the door, before pushing her way in. The room was dark, but Brooke could see Tad sitting beside Dixie's bed, one of his hands up to his face and the other gently fingering through her hair.

"Tad?" Brooke said, softly. Tad jumped slightly. "Sorry." she said. "You need a break? A cup of coffee or something?"

Tad shook his head. "The last time I left her..."

"I know," Brooke said. "I know. You won't be long. Ten minutes. Fifteen maybe. It's almost 2:30. You've been up all night."

Tad was silent for a moment. "How are the boys?"

Brooke shrugged. "Jamie went to go see the baby. JR... he went out to get some air."

"That does sound like a good idea," Tad said, stretching. "Could you just... could you sit with her until I get back?"

"Of course," Brooke said. "Of course I will. Take your time."

Tad leaned over, gently kissing Dixie's forehead. "I'll be right back, sweetheart," he whispered before standing. He paused a moment, looking down at Dixie and then walked out of the room.

Tad boarded the elevator and rode it down to the lobby. He made his way outside and paused, letting the crisp breeze blow back the hair on his head. He gazed up at the star filled sky in thought, taking a deep breath as he folded his arms across his chest.

After a moment, Tad turned to his right, walking a few feet before coming to a stop. He rested his back up against the building, sliding down to sit on the cool concrete.

JR sat beside him, his face tear stained and his eyes still watering. Tad silently looked over at him. "You needed to just get away from everything in there?" Tad asked.

JR nodded, clenching his fist slightly. He took a deep breath, putting his hand in Tad's and opening his fist. "You have no idea how much I wanted to." JR said as Tad opened his hand, viewing the contents. "How much I just wanted to light that up and... just get so high that I couldn't remember a thing that was going on in there." He paused, running his sleeve under his nose. "I wanted to... I was going to, but... I didn't."

"Good choice," Tad said as he put the joint in his pocket. "I've been where you are, JR. The drugs, the not thinking that you can handle a lot of what life throws at you..."

"This isn't fair," JR said. "What did she ever do to deserve this?"

"She didn't do anything," Tad said. "Nobody could ever do anything to deserve something like this."

"Mom... was so excited about the baby," JR said. "I mean... when you were in there, after your accident, she would talk to you for hours about how happy your two were going to be. You should have seen her face, Tad."

"I could imagine," Tad smiled. "Your Mom's got a lot pulling for her, JR. She loves you boys more than anything in this world and I know that she's not going to give this all up without a good fight."

"I've given her hell," JR said. "So much more than she ever deserved. I wish I could take it all back, you know."

"Your Mom knows that you love her." JR sniffled, wiping his eyes. "And she knows... and appreciates everything that you've done for her while I was cooped up in that hospital. You helped her through her pregnancy, JR. You made sure she rested. You made sure she didn't miss any of her appointments. You took care of her."

"But what is there left to do now?" JR said. "Wait for a miracle?"

Tad lifted his head, staring up at the stars. "Dixie put a lot of trust in miracles. She always has." Tad bit his bottom lip silently. "I saw my first miracle when I met your Mom. And then when she had you. And... we've had quite a few after that." Tad paused. "Miracles haven't been strangers to us Martins. I think your Mom made me realize that. I'm not going to give up on her. She's going to pull through this. I'm sure of it." There was silence for a long moment before Tad got to his feet. "Come on." he said, looking down at JR. "Let's go see the baby... before Jamie hogs her all to himself."

JR smiled slightly, pausing a moment before standing also. They made their way back into the hospital slowly, Tad putting his arm around the boy's shoulder as they entered and boarded the elevator.