A/N – Well, this is definitely longer than I thought it would be… We'll see where it goes (I actually have NO plan what-so-ever, so I'm just writing off the top of my head…)

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A few more hours had passed in a haze. Dimitrius had decided to go home, and come and see Sue in the morning, seeing as though visiting hours would be soon over and he wanted to be with his family. He put his hand on Jack's shoulder, encouragingly before leaving, and Jack nodded in appreciation, as he quietly whispered,

"There's still hope Jack. Don't give up yet." Jack took the seat across from Bobby and Tara, who watched him concernedly, both of them with exhausted, mourning faces. The nurse came out and nodded to them that they could now come in, but only one at a time. Jack looked at his two friends, who both gave him the same look, Bobby finally speaking,

"I'm going to take Tara home, then I'll come and get you. You're in no condition to drive." Tara nodded, and added,

"It's getting late, and I'll come first thing in the morning with Lucy. You spend some time with her Jack."

"Thanks." Jack answered, hoping that he could reflect his overwhelming appreciation. "But I'm not going anywhere. Not until she wakes up." Tara and Bobby looked at each other, and Tara put her hand on Jack's arm.

"We all are holding out hope Jack, but there is still a large chance…" Jack looked at her, his eyes determined.

"She's going to wake up." Tara nodded, and Bobby put his arm around her.

"Call us?" He asked, and Jack nodded, watching them walk away. He felt a pang of jealousy and anger for a second, which was quickly replaced by guilt. He wished it could have been his arm around Sue, walking away, but then it would have been someone else, dying in that hospital room.

Jack didn't know how to prepare himself, before walking into the room. He expected the machines and the beeps, the sterile smell and the constant monitoring by nurses and doctors. What he didn't expect, as he walked into the small, private room, was her fragile state: her pallid face, her motionless body under a certain of rough cotton, covered with tubes and machinery. He moved over to her side without the IV and grabbed her hand, the only piece of her skin that seemed to be free from the technology that was keeping her alive.

He could feel the tears burning in his eyes. She didn't deserve this. She didn't deserve to be trapped within her body, to be artificially alive. How he had grown to love that life inside of her! Now it was extinguished, that light that had brightened all their lives, barely present.

Jack prayed that he would have some sign – a fluttering of her eyelids, a weak squeeze of his hand - some sign that she was still with him, and still fighting. He knew that if there was any way of him reaching her, he had to try. He had to pray that through her deafness, or even through her coma, that someway she would be able to know that he was there, begging her to hang on. He tried to find words, but his throat was dry, and they only came out in whispers, almost inaudible.

"Sue – you have to stay with us. You have to keep fighting – you can't let go. We can't live without you… I can't live without you. I'll stay with you every step of the way. Don't leave me Sue."

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Jack stared out the window, leaning back in the uncomfortable plastic chair. The sun had long past set, and though both doctors and nurses had tried to convince him to go home and rest, he refused. Now, as hours had past, he could feel the exhaustion setting in. Jack didn't want to sleep, afraid that something might happen to her, as if she would disappear the moment he closed his eyes. Disappear into the darkness that was so close to claiming her. Random thoughts flitted through his mind. Thoughts about cases he needed to finish up at work, thoughts about needing to make sure Levi was fed; thoughts about having to tell Sue's parents that they might lose their daughter.

His eyelids started to get heavier, his body weaker, though the grip on Sue's hand never wavered. Jack could feel himself being sucked into his unconscious. His mind replayed the day's events. Hearing the footsteps, hearing the shots. Seeing her body, surrounded by her blood. Suddenly, he saw her. He smiled, and tears rolled, seeing her radiant face, her beautiful smile, and her perfect, healthy body walking towards him.

"Don't be sad." She said, though her voice was distant. Jack wanted to touch her, but couldn't reach her.

"Don't leave me." He whispered. She smiled at him sadly.

"If it's God's time for me, it's His time. You'll have to let me go Jack and move on with your life. You still have so much to live for." Jack shook his head.

"No – you still have so much to live for. I'm so sorry Sue. This is my fault – I should be the one lying there…" She reached her hand out, and he stopped. She looked at him seriously.

"It's not your fault. And you have to forgive him too." He could see her fading in his mind. Rationally, he knew that this couldn't be real, but he also knew that he couldn't just let her go. Her could hear her distant voice in his head. "I love you Jack. And tell my family and friends that I love them too." Jack could hear himself begging her to stay, as her image faded farther and farther away. His eyes opened suddenly, accommodating to the hospital room and he turned to look at Sue, who hadn't moved at all, in the same position as before he had fallen asleep. He bent over and rested his head in his hands, realizing that it had all been a dream. Just a stupid dream.

Jack turned suddenly, as there was a large beep that kept getting faster and faster from one of the machines. He stood up from his chair, wanting to scream for help, knowing that something wasn't right. Within seconds, people were rushing in, and he was being forced out of the room, tears streaming down his face as he heard the flat line of her heart monitor.