ThatDisclaimer: I do not own these characters

Chapter Nineteen: Ultimatum

"Miranda, how could you do that? And without even talking to me first." Bryan's voice was loud, angry.

Since being released from the hospital a few days earlier, Randee had spent almost every waking moment in the NICU sitting beside her daughter's isolate.

But today, she had decided to spend time at home with Bryan and 10 year old Taylor.

After her conversation with Lana, Randee had made a decision, a decision, a decision that she knew would make her husband angry. And she was right. The anger in his voice was evident.

"How could you do that?" Bryan asked again. "I know we could have won the case."

"Bryan, just listen to me for a minute." Randee pleaded. "I can't sue Lu. I just can't."

"Because of her, our baby is fighting for her life and probably won't even make it. I couldn't believe when I got a call from our lawyer saying that you had called him and told him that we are dropping the case." Bryan said angrily.

"Bryan, because of Lu, our baby is alive. She had no choice but to deliver her. Why can't you understand that?"

"Randee, no matter what way we look at it, we could have a case against this so called doctor."

"What are you talking about?" Randee questioned.

"Don't you get it? Think about it, Randee. The baby was delivered early so she has a lot of serious medical issues. According to the doctor, if she hadn't been born now, she would have died...wrongful death." Randee stared at her husband in disbelief, suddenly realizing the meaning of his words.

"Bryan, you can't be serious. You were planning to sue Lu no matter what, weren't you? If our baby had died, you would have accused her of not trying to save her life."

"Honey, if we win this, it will mean money for McKenzie's medical expenses.. Doesn't that mean anything to you? It's the only way we will be able to give her all the special care she will need for the rest of her life. Don't you want to be able to give her the best?" Bryan questioned.

"Of course I do. But not at someone else's expense. And certainly not by lying. I'm sorry, Bryan. But I couldn't keep this up. I had to cancel the malpractice against Lu. She saved our daughter's life. Why can't you see that?" Bryan shook his head.

"Miranda, I can't believe you are doing this. I wanted to win this because I thought it would be easier for you."

"What? I don't understand, Bryan. What do you mean?"

"Honey, I love you very much. And I love Taylor very much too. What I have to say breaks my heart." Bryan paused, trying to choose his words carefully.

"Randee, I've been thinking about it, and I don't think I can handle having...having a retarded daughter. She will always require special care. She will always have medical problems. Expensive problems.. She will never be like a normal child. Are you prepared for that?" Randee stared at him in disbelief.

"W...what are you saying. Bryan? Are you suggesting that we not keep her?"

"Well, I..." Bryan started, but Randee interrupted.

"Bryan, we are not going to give her up. She is our baby, our flesh and blood. We've been waiting for months for this baby."

"No, Randee. We were waiting for a normal, healthy child. She will never be able to do anything like Taylor did."

"But she is still our baby. She deserves our love and the best we can give her. We can't just throw her away like she was never born."

"Miranda, I love you and Taylor more than anything. But I...I can't do this.. I'm sorry."

"Bryan, what is it you're not telling me? Randee asked.

"Randee, you need to choose. Me or the baby." Bryan finally said.

"What? I don't understand. What are you saying?"

"You need to choose. I can't stay here and care for that baby. If you choose to keep her, then it's the end of us. I'm sorry. This tears me apart inside. If you want me to stay, then you will need to give McKenzie to someone who is better able to care for her, like those people that that lady told us about, the lady from the Downs Syndrome place. She told us about someone who adopts kids like her."

"Bryan, you can't mean that." Randee said, her voice barely above a whisper. "You're leaving us if I choose to care for our daughter?

"I've given this a lot of thought, Randee. I knew that if we won our case, you would be able to provide for her. I was only thinking of you and the girls." Randee shook her head.

"I can't believe you are doing this.."

"Maybe you will think again about dropping the case."

"No, Bryan. I won't. Besides, I already told our lawyer exactly what happened in the ER that day. Lu did what she had to do to save the baby. We owe her our child's life. Bryan, please don't make me choose. I love you very much. And I love our daughter. She needs us. Both of us. And what about Taylor? How can you just walk out on her? Please think about what you are doing."

"Randee, I have thought about it. And I always come back to the same thing. I am not ready to be saddled down with a sick baby. She will always be sick. I can't stay here and watch her die a slow painful death. And we both know she is going to die."

"No, we don't know that. She is getting good medical care. She could pull through. I know she can."

"Honey, you are in denial. She can't even breath on her own yet. And what about her heart murmur?"

"We can't give up on her, Bryan." Miranda argued. "She needs us. We are her parents. She is part of us, just like Taylor is.."

"I'm sorry Randee, but I can't. I'll give you some time to think about it. Then you can let me know what you've decided." With that, Bryan turned and hurried outside, leaving his wife staring after him.