A/N: So here it is. I don't own it, any of it. The song at the end is One Moment More by Mindy Smith. Check out her album, it rocks. Read and reviw, please, I'll beg if you want me to.

Chapter Five

They told us they were fixing some minor internal bleeding. They gave us hope that everything would be ok, but when the doctor finally came out to talk to us, I knew the news wasn't good. I've watched enough ER reruns to know what the look on his face meant.

"Mr. Brown?" The doctor pulled the gloves and gown off as he walked over to us. They were covered in blood, Katie's blood.

Ephram stood up.

"Would you mind coming through with me to the relative's room? It's right down the hall. We need to talk. I'm afraid the news isn't good."

Ephram was still hanging on to my hand. As the doctor spoke, his grip tightened, until my fingers were numb. I didn't say anything though. My friend needed me.

"No, it's ok. You can say whatever here... I mean..." He sat back down next to me heavily, almost with a thud.

"Ok. Mr. Brown, there really is no easy way to say this..."

"She's dead." A statement. Ephram let his head hang forward against his chest, totally defeated.

"Not yet, but there really is no hope." The doctor paused. "I'm afraid your wife was shot in the head. The bullet didn't kill her right away, but from the tests we've been able to run, we've found out that you're wife has bled out at her brainstem."

"Shot in the head?" That was a surprise to both of us. Nobody told us that.

"The only thing keeping her alive at the moment are the life support machines."

"But she's not dead. She could get better."

"Mr. Brown, there's no chance of recovery from this type of injury. Essentially all that's left is a shell. Your wife is gone."

"Katie," Ephram mumbled.

"I'm sorry sir?" The doctor turned to Ephram.

""I said her name's Katie."

"I'm sorry about this sir. This is never easy for anyone. The best thing for Mrs.... for Katie is to let her go."

"Can I have some time to think about it?"

"Of course Mr. Brown. I'm just going to head up to the ICU. You'll be able to go up there in about an hour."

The doctor left us in the waiting room. Ephram just sat there, his chin resting on his chest, looking at the floor. I've never seen anyone look so blank in my life. Like all the life had been drained from him. He wasn't crying, or angry or anything. There was just this total lack of emotion that I couldn't cope with.

"Ephram? I'm going to go get some coffee? Do you want anything?"

There was no answer. I got up and left the room. I felt horrible for just abandoning him, but I really couldn't deal. I wondered around the hospital for a while, until I found the cafeteria. The coffee was horrible, but I was hot, and caffiene filled, which was the important part.

I got recognized by a couple of nurses and ended up signing a couple of autographs. It was a welcome invasion of real life into this waking nightmare. They asked me why I was there and I just said I was visiting a friend. I couldn't deal with, much less verbalize the horror.

I headed back an hour later and Ephram had made his decision. Katie was gone and all we had to do was say goodbye and make it official.

The doctor came back and took us up to ICU. I wasn't allowed to go in because I wasn't family. But from where I was standing outside, I could see Katie, hooked up to a million different machines. It didn't even look like a real person. The only way I knew who it was was Ephram sitting next to her.

He took her hand and began to say goodbye. I looked away. It wasn't my business to watch something this private. A few minutes later, he walked out of the ICU. I looked back and the curtain had been pulled back around the bed where Katie had been. It was all over. Ephram was a widower at 26.

Now he cried. It was like something broke inside him. That was something I recognized. I'd been broken for a long time. So much death.

Hold me

Even though I know you're leaving

And show me

All the reasons you would stay

It's just enough to feel your breath on mine

To warm my soul and ease my mind

You've got to hold me and show me now

Give me

Just one part of you to cling to

And keep me

Everywhere you are

It's just enough to steal my heart and run

And fade out with the falling sun

Oh, please don't go

Let me have you just one moment more

Oh, all I need

All I want is just one moment more

You've got to hold me and keep me now

Tell me how someday you'll be returning

And maybe

Maybe I'll believe

It's just enough to see a shooting star

To know you're never really far

It's just enough to see a shooting star

To know you're never really gone

Oh, please don't go

Let me have you just one moment more

Oh, all I need

All I want is just one moment more

Oh, please don't go

Let me have you just one moment more

Oh, all I need

All I want is just one moment more

You've got to hold me and maybe I'll believe

So hold me

Even though I know you're leaving