Annie had been sitting with Josh in the ICU watching Ian get progressively worse for four days when the doctors asked them to step into the hallway.

"Dr. Riggs, Dr. Altman," Edwards led, "we need to discuss end of life care for Mr. Riggs."

"Are we there," Josh asked.

"I'm afraid we are," Edwards replied, "he's septic, his brain activity hasn't imporved, we can't keep his stats stable. He coded twice overnight."

"Can we wait for my uncle," Josh asked.

"Of course," Edwards replied.

Josh robotically went and sat beside his father. He put his head down on the bed holding Ian's stiff hand in his own. Annie sat beside him with her hand on his knee. They had left Ellie with Evelyn who would bring her to them later.

"I can't do this," Josh sobbed, "I can't say goodbye to him Annie I can't do this."

Annie soothed, "this is hard. You don't have to make this decision alone. I'm right here with you. What do you need?"

"I don't know," Josh choked, "I can't think. Annie my brain won't work."

"When Meg and Nathan get here let's go for a walk," Annie said, "we've hardly left this room lets go for a walk."

"Annie I just need to sit here with dad," Josh said, "you don't have to sit here all day with me. Ellie needs one of us around. You've been here all day with me only seeing Ellie to feed her."

"You need me more," Annie said.

"Go spend a couple hours with Ellie while she's awake," Josh said, "go see her. She needs you."

"But so do you," Annie said.

"Uncle Nathan and I can sit here and you and Meghan spend a couple hours with the babies," Josh encouraged.

"I don't like leaving you," Annie said. She knew how vulnerable Josh was.

"I have a few things to say to dad I'm okay," Josh said, "go spend some time with Ellie."

"I do miss her," Annie said.

"Who do you miss," Meghan asked as they walked in.

"Ellie," Annie said, "I've only seen her to feed her the last few days."

"Go spend a couple hours with her Annie," Josh said, "she needs to know mommy is still there."

"She misses her daddy two," Annie said.

"Spend a couple hours with her then bring her back up," Josh said, "give nana a break."

"Mama and dad are coming down," Annie said, "David is with them to help Nana with the littles."

"Josh, when was the last time you left this room," Nathan asked.

"I went to the hotel last night," Josh said.

"When was the last time you left during daylight hours," Nathan asked.

"Annie, Josh you are going to leave this hospital room and spend a few hours out of here with Ellie," Meghan commanded, "both of you now."

"Were going," Josh sighed standing up and grabbing Annie's hand.

Meghan and Nathan sat in the chairs beside Ian's bed.

"We need to talk to Josh about withdrawing care," Nathan said, "I don't want to anymore than he does but Ian is septic, his stats are getting worse. This isn't fair to Ian. Dragging this out like this. I think they go for a walk and then we all need to talk."

"Wait for Teddy and Owen," Meghan said, "Josh will fall apart so will Annie."

"We all will," Nathan said, "Meg that's my little brother. He was finally building a real life for himself. He was free of the drugs and alcohol away from Gloria. He was visiting Josh and Annie. He loves Ellie."

"I know Nate," Meghan said, "you've had too much loss already. We have time to say goodbye. We can give Ian comfort."

"I thought we would lose him on Teddy's table a few years ago," Nathan said, "but she pulled him through her and Owen. But there's no one who can pull Ian through this. How do we tell Josh."

"The truth," Meghan said, "give them their couple of hours with Ellie let them catch their breath then we have to tell them it's time."

"It's time," Nathan agreed, "he's not there."

"He hasn't had meaningful brain activity since he came in," Meghan agreed, "this is going to crush Josh."

"Let's just sit with him," Nathan said.

Several hours later Annie and Josh arrived back in Ian's room with Ellie. They were looking calmer having had some time away from the ICU and with their daughter. Ellie was content in Josh's arms having hardly seen her daddy since they left Seattle.

"Have a seat," Meghan said.

Josh sat on the edge of the bed keeping Ellie held close.

"We need to make a decision," Nathan sad, "Ian is getting worse."

"I know," Josh choked.

"Can we wait for mama and dad to come down," Annie asked, "so they can take Ellie, Catrina and Faroke?"

"We can," Meghan agreed.

"That makes sense," Josh agreed, "I need Annie here."

"We're going to withdraw the ventilator," Nathan said, "and provide comfort measures."

"Yes," Josh agreed, "and we can sit with dad until the end."

"We will sit here as long as you want," Meghan promised.

"None of us will go until you're ready," Annie promised.

"Josh, Nate are you okay if my mom and David sit with us," Meghan asked.

Josh nodded, he was at a loss for words, he didn't know how to respond. He just held Ellie closer with his head bent tears falling on the top of the baby's head. Annie stood behind them with her hands on his shoulder. She kissed the top of his head.

They sat in silence for hours rarely speaking, taking comfort in each other's presence.

Late that afternoon Evelyn and David slipped into the room.

"Do you want me to pray," David asked.

"Please," Nathan answered.

David prayed for comfort, guidance and wisdom, that the family would stand strong and have faith.

"Dr Edwards," Josh said, "it's time. We're ready to say goodbye."

"Dr. Riggs," Edwards began, "I don't know how long your father will breathe once we remove the tube. We will give him medications to keep him comfortable."

"Of course," Josh said.

As they prepared to remove the tube Josh sat on the bed beside his dad and whispered in his ear, "it's okay dad. You can let go now. We'll be fine. Don't worry about me. Annie, Ellie and I will be just fine. I love you dad. You can let go. Go be with Granny and Grandad."

"Ian it's okay," Nathan whispered, "you can go to mom and dad. We're okay. I'll look out for Josh. I always will. I love you little brother. You can let go now. We're fine here. Meg and I will look out for Josh."

"Ian it's okay," Annie whispered, "Josh and I will be okay. We love you. It's okay to let go. We're all fine here. We love you."

Meghan added, "I'll look out for them all don't worry. You can let go Ian. We love you."

The nurse removed the tube and they waited in silence all knowing what was coming. But the monitors kept their steady rhythm, the heart rate remained stable. They waited for what felt like hours looking between Ian and the monitors. Josh and Nathan both had their heads resting on the bed looking defeated. How long could the monitors hold out before they heard the dreaded beep of them flatlining.

"Look," Meghan gasped, "Nate look."

Ian's eyes were open for the first time in nearly a week.

"Dad," Josh gasped, "dad you woke up."

"Get Dr. Edwards," Annie said.

Evelyn went to the nurses station. In his corner David continued his silent prayer.

Dr Edwards came in, "I'll run tests. This is unexplainable."

"Run everything," Josh said, "dad if you can hear me squeeze my hand."

Ian gave Josh's hand a weak squeeze.

He can follow commands Edwards said. This is a good sign.

"It's a miracle," Annie whispered.

"It is," David agreed.

"He's breathing and following commands," Josh said, "he's in there somewhere."

"He is," Annie agreed, "we'll help him come back."

"Dad you have to fight," Josh said, "you have to get better."

Meghan and Nathan walked out of the hospital that evening looking elated.

"I'm so sorry," Owen said as they came out.

"He's awake," Nathan said, "he can follow commands and breathe on his own. They'll do more tests in the morning."

"What," Teddy said, "when?"

"Two hours ago," Meghan replied, "they took the vent out and he just kept going and then he opened his eyes. He's breathing and follows commands."

"Wow," Owen said, "after almost a week. Do you know what the deficits are?"

"They'll run more tests tomorrow," Nathan said, "but he makes it through tonight theres hope."

"Hope," Teddy echoed, "how's Josh."

"Crying," Meghan said, "he's relieved."

"We'll take Ellie up to them and to see her papa," Teddy replied, "she needs her mommy."

Teddy and Owen appeared at the door.

"Ian it's good to see you awake," Teddy greeted.

"Mama," Ellie babbled.

"Come here baby," Annie said reaching for her baby.

"Mama," Ellie babbled again, pulling on Annie's sweater.

"Let's see how papa is doing then we can have a snack," Annie agreed, "has she eaten much today mama?"

"Not much," Teddy said, "her bottles. Some avocado, oatmeal, banana she just wants you."

"I know," Annie said, "we haven't spent much time with her."

"Mama," Ellie continued to babble, "dada."

"Hi baby bug," Josh said, grabbing Ellie's little hand, "can you say hi to papa?"

"Dada," Ellie continued.

"That's my dad," Josh said, "see papa is awake he's getting better."

"Josh," Ian groaned.

"Dad I'm here," Josh said, "so are Annie and Ellie."

Ian's eyes closed again but the monitors held steady. Something had made him turn the corner that afternoon. They could see it in his eyes there was still some fight left.