WARNING: This chapter contains drug use and character death and deals with a child death. If such subject matter offends you or makes you uncomfortable, please feel free to skip to the bottom of this chapter where you'll find a short summary of the chapter.

Maureen came to that evening in the hospital. The doctor gave a faint smile to see her.

"You're quite lucky, Mrs. Davis. Broken wrist, dozen stitches, mild concussion. Other than that, you're fine."

She tried to remember what had happened. Leaving Roger. Aaron. Crashing and shattering. Screaming. "Where's Aaron?"

"Pardon?"

"Aaron. My son. He was in the car with me."

"Mrs. Davis, we've done everything we can for your son."

"What the hell does that mean? Where is he? I want to see him."

She started to stand up. The doctor put a hand on her shoulder. "Mrs. Davis, please. I will take you to see your son momentarily. First, however, I must inform you that his condition is critical. The drunk driver who hit you slammed into the side of the car that his car seat was in."

"How…how is he?"

"Bruises and lacerations to his face and the right side of his body, thirty stitches to his head. He broke an arm, four vertebrae, and cracked several ribs. We had to give him a blood transfusion, but I'm afraid it doesn't look good."

"Is he awake?"

"He's comatose."

Maureen's hand went to her mouth. She blinked back tears. The doctor held out a robe and she slipped it on over the hospital gown.

"Mrs. Davis, I understand that you want to see your son. I'd like if you could wait for just another minute while I get a wheelchair. Your concussion wasn't severe, but I'd prefer that you stay off your feet for the next day or so."

"Fine. Just hurry."

An instant later, he helped her into a wheelchair and brought her down the hallway. Maureen gasped when she saw him. He was lying perfectly still, almost serene, on the pristine white hospital bed. His little body was hooked up to various machines and monitors. Tears filled her eyes.

"I'll have the nurse wait outside," the doctor said.

Maureen nodded and lifted her good hand to hold his. "Aaron? Baby? It's Mommy. Mommy's right here…"

Maureen's tears spilled out, stopping her from speaking. A soft knock on the door startled her. A nurse stood in the doorway.

"Mrs. Davis, I'm sorry. There's a Mr. and Mrs. Johnson—"

"My parents. Let them back."

Her parents came in, their faces full of worry and concern. Her mother held her while they both cried. Her father blinked away tears as he lightly patted his grandson's hand. He looked down to Maureen.

"Where's Roger?"

She shook her head. "I don't know."

Two days later, Aaron was still comatose and his condition seemed to be worsening. They'd rushed him into emergency surgery already and still planning more surgeries as soon as he was more stable. The doctor came in and checked Aaron's monitors.

"Mrs. Davis, could I please speak with you in the hallway?"

Her mother patted her hand. "Go ahead, honey. I'll stay right here."

In the hallway, Maureen sighed. "What is it?"

"Mrs. Davis, your son's condition isn't improving."

"I know."

"I'm afraid there's really nothing else we can do."

"You've said that for the last two days."

"Mrs. Davis, we received the CAT scan results. Aaron has suffered extensive brain damage. Combined with the trauma of his other injuries, the—"

"Are you trying to tell me that he's going to die?"

The doctor looked at the ground before lifting his eyes to hers. "I'm sorry. Everything the test results are showing suggest that your son is holding on, but barely."

She searched his eyes. "So what am I supposed to do? Tell him to die?"

"Sometimes terminal patients will cling to life until they are certain their loved ones have been able to say goodbye and that their loved ones will be okay."

Maureen nodded and returned to the room. She pulled her parents to the corner and relayed the information. Her mother nodded and pulled her into her arms.

"I can't do it, Mom. I can't do it until Roger…until he says goodbye."

"He hasn't answered the phone, honey. Did something happen between you two?" her father asked.

Maureen nodded but felt oddly protective of her absent husband. "We, um, we just got into this really big fight before the accident…I'm sure he's at the house, Dad. Do you think—"

"I'll go look for him."

Eddie Johnson sped the whole way to his daughter's house. He parked in the driveway and left the engine on as he ran to the door. It was unlocked.

"Roger? Roger!"

His son-in-law was on the sofa, half asleep. Eddie didn't notice the syringe half-hidden under the sofa or the empty baggie on the table. He shook Roger's shoulder.

"Roger!"

Roger woke with a start. "Wha—"

"Get up. There's been an accident."

"What? Accident? What—where's Maureen and Aaron? Are they okay?"

"We've been trying to call you for two days. I'll explain on the way, we need to hurry."

Maureen held Aaron's hand lightly, ignoring the cast on her wrist. She stroked his hair with her good hand.

"Hi, baby. It's Mommy. I'm right here. Grandma's here too. And Grandpa went to pick up Daddy, okay? I love you."

She bit her lip as quiet tears slid down her cheeks. A hand touched her shoulder. Maureen turned and saw Roger staring down at them. She stood up and hugged him.

"Maureen, I—"

"We have to tell him it's okay to…to go."

Roger nodded. "I know."

Eddie and Nancy stood back, allowing them their own space. Roger stared at his son and reached out to hold his hand.

"Hey, Aaron. It-it's Daddy. I'm here, little man. So's Mommy. I love you so much, we both love you…"

Roger broke off, crying.

Maureen took a shaky breath. "Honey, we love you so much. And if-if you have to let go…if you want to let go, it's okay. We'll be okay. I love you so much."

Maureen sank down beside him on the bed, curling his little body into hers. She rocked him gently, kissing his hair and his forehead.

"It's okay, baby. Daddy and me love you so much. So much. It's okay," she whispered.

A few minutes later, the heart monitor's steady beating became a long monotonous wail. Roger stumbled backwards as though physically struck by the noise. The doctor came in and switched off the monitors, silencing the room. Maureen's parents said tearful goodbyes and told Maureen and Roger that they would wait in the hall.

Maureen sat frozen on the bed. Roger reached a hand out to her and pulled her to her feet. She fell against his chest, sobbing. Roger clung to her as his own tears cascaded into her hair.

SUMMARY FOR THOSE WHO SKIPPED THIS CHAPTER: After Maureen and Aaron left Roger, they were hit by a drunk driver. Aaron was critically injured and in a coma for two days before he passed away. Roger didn't answer phone calls and so didn't learn of the accident until Maureen's father went to get him and took him to the hospital in time to say goodbye. Maureen's father didn't notice, but there was an empty bag on the table and a syringe half-hidden under the couch when he went to get Roger.