Nikolas ran full tilt into Lucky's room, Emily right behind him. Doctors were already crowding the room, one placing paddles on Lucky's still chest. "Excuse me sir, you'll need to wait outside," a nurse said, trying to move Nikolas out of the room.
"That's my brother!" Nikolas yelled, shoving past her until he was at the side of Lucky's bed. "Lucky, c'mon Lucky, you have to be ok, you're going to be ok." Emily was suddenly behind him, her arms encircling his waist, and he leaned back into her gratefully, his knees sagging.
"We've got a pulse!" the doctor yelled, and Nikolas let out a sob of relief as Lucky's chest began to rise and fall again. "Excuse me, sir, can I talk to you outside?" the same doctor asked, striding over to Nikolas. Nikolas nodded weakly and, grabbing Emily's hand, followed the doctor into the hall.
"Your brother is getting weaker by the minute," the doctor said bluntly, flipping through his charts. "I've never seen a condition this degenerative before ever. If we don't find a cure soon, I'm afraid we'll lose him."
Nikolas stared at the doctor, praying it would all be a mistake and the words would be taken back. When the doctor walked away, Nikolas turned into Emily's arms, burying his face in her comforting shoulder. "Emily, I can't lose him," Nikolas said, his voice trembling, tears staining Emily's blouse.
"I know," Emily answered, wrapping her arms tighter around Nikolas' body. "I can't either."
Nikolas suddenly pulled away, his features steely, his look determined. "I know what I have to do." He pulled Emily into him, kissing her passionately, clinging on to her. When his lips left hers, he whispered in her ear, "I love you. I will always love you. When Lucky wakes up, tell him I love him and…if something happens…" Nikolas kissed Emily again, then ran his hands along her face as though he was memorizing her features. "I love you so much."
Nikolas took off running down the hallway, leaving Emily staring after him, still able to taste him on her lips.