AN: Such angry reviews! But I shouldn't have panicked everyone. But I love you all anyway. Here's a little tidbit to tide you guys over until next week...

"Where is he?" Sandy burst into the waiting room of the emergency department. Kirsten followed him closely, paling visibly at the sight of Seth and Caleb's bloodstained clothes.

"He…they won't let us see him…" Seth murmured. Hailey had her arm around him but neither looked comforted.

"What happened? You said…you said he was shot?" Sandy asked, looking to Caleb for an adult perspective.

"We don't know what happened. The kids heard gunshots before I got there…I pulled in right after it happened. The paramedics say he was shot at least three times…"

"Oh my god…" Kirsten sat down beside her sister, stunned.

"I have to see him…" Sandy said, turning to leave the waiting room.

"They won't let anyone see him…there are all these doctors and they're waiting for a surgeon…" Seth murmured.

"A surgeon?" Sandy asked.

"They say he's still losing blood, faster than they can replace it and that he needs surgery but he has to be stable first…" Seth said flatly.

"He's not stable? Oh god…he's not stable…"

Seth didn't react. Kirsten and Hailey were crying but the men were too stunned to do anything. All they could do is wait.

"Are you Mr. Atwood's family?" A doctor finally walked in. Kirsten and Sandy tried not to react to the blood on his clothes.

"Yes. Is he all right?" Kirsten asked immediately.

"He's a strong kid and he's hanging on for right now but his prognosis…it's not good. He lost a tremendous amount of blood before we could stop the bleeding and he's too weak for us to perform the surgery he needs to repair the damage done by the bullets…"

"What exactly are you saying?" Sandy demanded.

"We're trying to stabilize him for the surgery. If we go now, he only has a 25 percent chance of surviving the surgery…"

"And if you wait?" Caleb interrupted.

"There's still a large chance that he won't make it," The doctor said.

"I'm the single largest contributor to this hospital," Caleb said suddenly. "And I can promise you that I'll never this place another dime if you let this boy die."

"Excuse me?" The doctor was surprised but not as much as the others gathered.

"You heard me. I'm Caleb Nichols and you better get the best doctors in this damn place to come down here and fix my grandson," He added.

"Dad…" Kirsten started.

"You're Caleb Nichols. This kid…he's your grandson?" The doctor was red.

"Yes. He is. So you go back and find someone that can save him." Caleb ordered.

The doctor nodded and disappeared.

"I'm going to be sick," Seth said suddenly. He rushed from the room.

"Sandy…"

"I'll go…" Sandy nodded, following his son out of the waiting room. He saw a bathroom door swinging and he followed his instincts, going into the restroom. He could hear his son vomiting.

"Seth…"

"I'm okay…" Seth walked out, pale and trembling. Sandy embraced him.

"He's going to be okay…"

"He didn't say anything, Dad…someone called today and it upset him…but I didn't push it…I figured if he was upset or if he needed help that he'd say something…" Seth murmured.

"Who was it?"

"I don't know…I never got a chance to ask him…he's going to die…"

"He's not going to die…"

"You didn't see him, you didn't hear how he was talking, he just kept apologizing and he…he told me to go because he didn't want me to watch him die…he knew, Dad…he knew he wasn't going to make it…" Seth continued.

"He's going to be okay…we're too stubborn to let him get off that easily…he's a strong kid, he's going to be fine…"

Seth pulled away and steadied himself silently. Finally he turned to face his father again. "I wish I could believe you."

The doctors finally returned and said that Ryan had been taken into surgery. The Cohens, Caleb and Hailey watched the sun come up through the waiting room's window. There had been no news. No one had slept.

"If he was dead, someone would have told us, right?" Seth finally broke the silence.

"He's not dead," Hailey whispered.

"I'm going to find out something," Caleb said, standing up. Several doctors came in before he made it to the door.

"How is he?" Kirsten asked.

"He's still in critical condition but he made it through the surgery…"

"Is he going to be okay?" She interrupted again. Sandy hushed her with a hand on her arm.

"The next few days are critical. We've stopped all the bleeding and managed to repair the damage done internally. He's still not out of the woods, but it's up to him now…"

"Can we see him?"

"He's in ICU. We discourage visitors. But I can take you guys to the waiting room where you can wait. As soon as his EEG changes and shows signs of him regaining consciousness, I'll make sure someone comes to get you. He's a kid and we don't want him waking up all alone. Follow me."