Chapter 27

The Ultimate Sacrifice

Eve came running into Ethan's room at the sound of his heart monitor. "Teresa, can you step out please?"

"He's gone Eve. Ethan's gone." She cried.

Eve kept working on Ethan. She knew she needed to keep his blood pumping so that his kidney's would stay healthy. She knew this would be the only thing that would keep Fox alive. Another doctor came running in. "Call the transplant team, NOW! He's the match we need to save Fox." Eve yelled frantically.

Teresa looked on confused. What were they talking about. What did this have to do with saving Fox. Eve looked up once again at Teresa. "Teresa, I need you to get Sam and Ivy for me. Can you do that?"

"Yes, Eve." Teresa went running for them. She made her way to the lobby where she found them sitting together.

Sam stood to his feet, "Teresa, what's wrong, is Ethan okay?" Somehow he already knew.

"Eve, needs you now!" She said nervously. Sam went running and was followed by Ivy speeding down the hall in her wheelchair. Before they were able to enter, Eve stepped out.

"Eve what's going on. Is Ethan okay?" Ivy asked impatiently. Preparing herself for the worst.

"Ivy, Sam. I'm sorry, we did everything we could to save him, but his injuries were too severe. He's gone." She said sadly.

"NOOO!" Ivy screamed. "Get back in there, Eve. You can save him I know you can! Hurry, please!" She broke down. Sam bent down to confort her. Dying on the inside he was trying his best to be strong on the inside.

"I hate to bring this up at such a time, but there is a matter of organ donation." Eve said.

Sam spoke up, "I know Ethan would want that, Eve. Whatever you need to do."

"Actually, Sam, I already have a recipient for his kidneys if possible."

"What, my son has no more than died and you are already auctioning off his organs!" Ivy yelled through tears.

"Ivy, it's not how it sounds." Eve replied.

"Oh, course it is. No, No, I won't allow it!" She shot back.

Eve was growing impatient. "Ivy, he's Fox's match! If we don't do this transplant immediately you WILL loose both of your sons in one day." She said sternly.

"No, Eve, I can't let you cut apart my son like that. I won't allow it." Ivy said coldly.

"Ivy, I knew you were low, but I never dreamt this low. You would allow your only living son to die, because you don't want your son that's gone to be cut apart as you say. Don't you realize that Ethan's sacrifice will be Fox's ultimate gift?"

Ivy broke down, "I just can't stand the thought of Ethan being cut open and his body dissected."

Eve bent down to come eye to eye with Ivy, she knew Ivy was battling so many emotions, "Look, I know this is hard for you, but Fox is a good man Ivy. Did you know that he and Ethan had reconciled?" Ivy looked up surprised. "Ivy, they both loved Teresa and Little Ethan very much. Think of her now also. She's lost her first love today, the father of her child, but she can still be happy and her son can have a man in his life if you allow us to use Ethan's kidney to save Fox. Please Ivy. I wouldn't do this if it weren't necessary. Who knows, maybe this is what you need to bring Fox back into your life. He loves you, Ivy. I know he doesn't show it, but he does. Do the right think Ivy. Allow us to save your son."

She shook her head yes, "Okay, do you what you have to do to save Fox." She grabbed Eve's arm as she turned to walk back in Ethan's cubicle. "Please, Ivy, save him, I can't loose both of them.

"I'll do everything I can, Ivy." And she disappeared behind Ethan's curtain.

Teresa slowly walked up to Sam and Ivy as they stood outside of their son's room in shock.

"Ivy, Sam, I'm so sorry." She forced out between tears.

"Thank you, Teresa. Thank you for always being their for Ethan. I know he loved you dearly." Sam placed a hand upon her upper arm.

Ivy wheeled over to them. "Sam, will you allow me to speak with Teresa in private please. I have a few things to say to her." Sam nodded and walked to the lobby to fill everyone in on the events that had just occured.

"Ivy, this is not the time or the place to belittle me." Teresa said somewhat angrily.

"Teresa, would you just be quite for one minute please? Look, I wanted to tell you thank you. I know that our relationship has been on the rocks for a couple of years now, but the last few months I have never seen Ethan so happy. He loved Little Ethan with all his heart and I know that you sacrified your true happiness to allow him to be a family with you two. I appreciate that and I will never forget that, Teresa. I want us to be close again, Teresa, like we once use to be. Little Ethan is my grandson and I want to be apart of his life. I've made so many mistakes over the years and I have been so hard on you. I just wish for him, that you're able to move on and forgive me." Eve said with so much sincerity.

Teresa was somewhat shocked. Geez, she thought to herself, first Julian now Ivy? "Ivy, you know I'll do anything for my son. Even if that means allowing him to be apart of your life. For him I want us to be a family. It's going to take time, Ivy. I won't lie about that. Hopefully with time though, we can become as close as we use to."

"Thank you, Teresa, that's all I ask. I chance to prove myself to you and Little Ethan. If you don't mind, I want to see Fox before they take him to surgery. Would you like to join me?" Teresa nodded and they made their way to Fox's room. Julian was already there. He looked up as they entered. Worry was written all over his face.

"Julian, are you okay?" Asked Teresa sincerely.

"I will be as soon as Fox wakes up. Ivy have you made you decision?"

"Yes, Julian, I have. I know Ethan would do anything to save Fox, so I am allowing them to use his kidneys."

"Thank you, Ivy. Thank you!" Julian said with tears in his eyes.

"No need to thank me, Julian. Ethan made the ultimate sacrifice." As she said that the hospital surgeon and transplant team walked into the room.

"We're here to take Fox to surgery. Would you like to say goodbye before we take him?" He surgeon asked. They all nodded.

Julian went first, "Son, this is your father, I know that our relationship hasn't always been the best, but I am proud of the man that you've become. You fight, do you hear me? You're a Crane. Strong, proud. You'll pull through, I know you will." Julian left the room, he wouldn't allow anyone to see him cry.

Ivy made her way to Fox's bed. "Fox, it's Ivy. I know I'm the last person you want to hear, but I love you, Fox. With all my heart. I'm sorry it took this for me to realize, but hopefully when you pull through we an work through this. I would love to be the mother I never was." She wheeled past Teresa and gently took her hand and patted it. Then made her way out of the room.

Teresa slowly made her way across the room to Fox's bed. She was so scared this would be the last time she saw him alive. She sat down in the chair beside his bed and took his hand, "Fox, it's me, Teresa. Fox, I don't know how much you know or what you can hear. But I chose you Fox. I chose you. I love you with all my heart and all my soul. Forever Fox, remember, I promised I would be with you forever. I never break a promise Fox. You have to pull through, you just have to. We have to spend the rest of our lives together. We have to grow old together. Sit on the front porch in rocking chairs and watch our grandchildren play. Die old and gray. Please, Fox, pull through, for me, for us, for our love." She stood up and gently kissed him on the lips and exited his room as the OR team wheeled him away. Julian, Ivy and Teresa all afraid that it would be the last time they saw him alive.