The next morning, Rukia paced the front of the room, news had already spread that the patient in OR 5 had flatlined, been pronounced dead, then almost as if by some strange form of magic came back to life. The Doctor and Nurse were inside his hospital room running yet another test. Yuzu and Karin walked up to Rukia holding out a warm cup of coffee, "How are things going in there?" Karin asked breaking the silence.

Rukia didn't know what to say because no one knew what was going on yet. It was a mystery… a mind-boggling mystery! She'd seen it herself Ichigo had been laying there dead, he'd even felt a little cold to the touch, but the moment her tears hit his skin it was almost like he was trying to stop her tears… "I-I don't know." She answered Karin honestly her grip around the coffee tightening. They stood in silence for a moment she was about to thank the girls for the coffee when she heard shuffling behind the door.

The room's door opened, and Ichigo's Doctor stepped out scratching at the back of his head, his eyes shifted landing on Rukia, "Rukia, follow me please." The man asked. Rukia nodded stepping away with him, when the Doctor heard the two young girls following, he stopped, "I'm sorry girls but I'm going to have to ask you to return to your brothers' room." He informed them.

Before Yuzu could cry or Karin could snap off at him the man continued, "Your brother wants me to tell only Rukia. What Rukia does with that information afterward… is completely up to her." He told them.

Rukia turned towards the twins and flashed them a smile, "Go on, I want you to keep your brother company for me?" she asked. The twins pouted but did as Rukia asked of them.

"That's a pretty brave face your putting on there." The Doctor told her stuffing his hands into his pockets as he continued to walk down the hallway with Rukia in toe. Rukia decided to cut to the chase and ask how Ichigo was. The Doctor didn't answer instead he led her to the Cafeteria, "Get whatever you like," he started as he grabbed one of the pre-made containers of food and two green apples, "It's on the house." He continued. Rukia shook her head, "Please…" the Doctor pleaded.

Rukia frowned wordlessly grabbing a small sandwich and a mini salad after the Doctor paid for the meals the Doctor led her to his office. Dropping his food off onto his desk before grabbing the back of the chair in front of his desk, tugging it out ever so slightly so she'd be able to sit. They both sat down across from each other, the air in the room felt awkward and heavy.

After swallowing the first bit of his meal the man spoke, "I'm not sure there is an easy way to put this Rukia." He started waiting for her to finish drinking her coffee before saying any more. He hoped with that one sentence she managed to prepare herself for the rest because it was going to be a heavy hitter… The Doctor took in a deep breath, "He is in a Vegetative State." He continued watching as Rukia had to catch her drink when it nearly fell out of her hands.

The Doctor needing another minute to get his emotions in check began eating again, "Is-Is it possible for him to come out of such a state?" she questioned looking down at her food but was unable to eat. She had too many emotions coursing through her to even think about food despite how hungry she was.

The Doctor nodded and for a moment she felt a surge of relief course through her, "It's said that its possible to come out of it after a month, but it's only a possibility." He replied with a frown he felt the need to add that it was a slim one but didn't. The girl was already hurting as it was… he didn't feel the need to make her feel worse.

Rukia nodded at this, remaining silent for a time as she processed what he'd just told her. Rukia set her hand over the plastic top of the coffee Karin and Yuzu brought her, picking it up carefully by the top she took a long sip, a sense of guilt coursed through her as she pulled the cup from her lips placing it back onto the desk, she stared down at the design on the coffee cup, "A-And if he comes back to us will-will he be the same?" she asked.

The Doctor finished off his premade meal tossing it into the garbage beside his desk, "I wish I could give you a definitive answer on that, but sadly I don't know; however, here is what I do know." He began as he twisted the apple's stem causing the apple to dance around his desk. A simple but effective distraction to keep his mind off how upset he was about this outcome. The Doctor stopped, looking up at Rukia as he continued, "If he makes it out of this his full recovery will take time and it is possible for him to suffer from ongoing cognitive, physical impairments, and quite possibly even disabilities."

oooOOOooo

Rukia frowned walking back towards Ichigo's room, the Doctor's words still fresh within her mind. She stopped at the window looking inside to find Yuzu laying on one side of Ichigo and Karin on another, both fast asleep. Isshin, Ichigo's father was sitting not too far from them on a nearby couch. Rukia sighed entering the room as quietly as possible so she didn't wake the girls. Isshin's indicate he'd even noticed her presence but, "I won't ask what his Doctor had to talk to you about. My son has his reasons for setting this up the way he did, but I need to know…" he paused long enough to look up at her with a worried stare, "what'er my son's chances?" he asked.

Rukia walked over to him sitting beside him, his eyes following her, "He's not sure… The Doctor told me he was in a Vegetative State and that there was a chance he could come out of it within a month's time. If he doesn't, he told me that we have one of two options… the first was to continue life support, but he doubts that Ichigo will wake up after that month is over and the second is to remove him from life support and let him go." she told him with a frown looking at Ichigo's resting form which was currently hooked up to a Ventilator. It was so frightening seeing him like this.

Isshin's arm came around her shoulders and he pulled her towards him slightly and he leaned his cheek against her forehead, "I know you've gone through a lot and with all this going on you have a lot on your mind, but I want you to remember… your family." He started. Rukia's eyes started watering as he reminded her that despite not being related to them or being married into the family that she already was their family.

Rukia nodded leaning her head against his shoulder, "If you ever need anything just ask, despite it not being written down on a piece of paper you'll always be my third daughter, I want you to remember that." Isshin finished lightly running his thumb over her shoulder. Isshin frowned when she said nothing but smiled slightly that she accepted his fatherly comfort. Though he didn't want to pry, he had to ask… "Does my son know anything about Kaien?" Isshin asked her he felt her body stiffen at the question. Maybe he shouldn't have asked…

A minute passed, and he thought she wasn't going to answer him, but he was soon proven wrong. "He knows something bad happened and that Kaien was at the core of it, but that's all he knows." Isshin nodded, "However, I'm sure he's come to his own conclusions…" Rukia confessed her suspicions.

Isshin smiled slightly, "I really wish you could have met my wife Masaki… She was always better at this." He chuckled to himself.

Rukia cracked a watery smile, "I think you're doing just fine." She told him unable to suppress a giggle as she watched Yuzu roll and sprawl herself across both Karin and Ichigo. She always liked the closeness of this family it was always so warm and inviting. She just hoped the fact that Ichigo leaving decisions about his care in her hands wouldn't leave a sour taste in their mouths about her. At the thought of that happening she frowned… Isshin stared at her for a long while, "What?" Rukia asked finally catching his stare.

Isshin broke out into a big grin, "Yep, my Masaki would have adored you!" he laughed watching the smile once again resurface on Rukia's face. How he wished his wife could have met Rukia before she passed away! He was sure Masaki would have fallen in love with her instantly!

Rukia had seen her in pictures, the woman in a word was beautiful. A beautiful woman who held such kindness in her eyes that she could probably put angels to shame. She remembered when they were younger, she would often sneak next door to play, but on this one certain day, things were different. Everyone in the usually bright household that she loved to visit seemed so gloomy. The day she'd found out was a day of remembrance to a very special person that they'd lost.

It'd pained her to see the look in Ichigo's eyes. The guilt, the shame, and the blame… So, each year from the moment she'd found out about this day she made it her mission to make them all smile despite the bad memories that the day carried. "Rukia," Isshin spoke up startling her out of her memories, "thank you for bringing happiness back to our family."

oooOOOooo

Later that night, Rukia groaned as she woke after hearing some movement. At first, she jumped up in fear not expecting anyone, resting a hand over her chest in relief when she found it was just Ichigo's Nurse checking over his vitals and doing her daily assessments of his condition. Rukia felt a small sense of nervousness boiling inside of her, but at the thought that Ichigo was there after a moment it slowly died away. Rukia pulled the blanket that one of the Nurse's had gotten her off, "How's he doing?" she asked her.

The Nurse ignored her for a moment as she checked his pulses when she finished, she pulled his blankets back over him, "He's lookin pretty good everything's in the normal ranges so far." She replied. The woman looked concerned noting his clamminess and place the back of her hand to his forehead, "Hum, seems he's got a bit of a fever." She spoke her thoughts out loud.

The Nurse stepped over to the door asking a Patient Care Technician to step inside and get Ichigo's vitals for her. While the PCT was doing this the Nurse excused herself and asked the young man to call her with his results as well as to remove the heavy blanket if he was indeed running a fever. When the young man finished, he called the Nurse on her phone and pulled the heavy blanket down to the end of the bed only leaving the sheet to cover Ichigo's body. The young man left, and the Nurse returned with several forms.

The young woman sat down beside her and explained what she'd brought the forms for. Rukia stared at her when she mentioned a Catheter, "No, I don't want to do that to him if it can be avoided. Use a Condom Catheter. If it doesn't work for him then we'll travel down Catheter avenue." Rukia replied shooting down the idea. Flicking to the next document, she didn't even have to have this one explained, Rukia took the pen and signed her name, "A definite yes to the feed tube." She mumbled to herself.

The last one was strange though… 'Intravenous central line? What in the world is that?!' she wondered looking to the Nurse. Rukia held the paper towards her pointing at the confusing words, "I'm sorry, but could you explain what this is to me?" she asked. The woman nodded and began explaining how it was merely another type of IV that was usually placed in the neck of the patient. Rukia looked even more confused, "But he already has an IV." She replied pointing towards Ichigo's wrist.

"Yes, but this IV is different. It's for individuals who will be here for quite some time and it will limit the number of times we will have to poke him. So okay, you guys have been here for at least whole day how many times has he been poked with a needle?" The Nurse asked already knowing the estimate would be quite a bit.

Rukia sweatdropped, "That I was aware of about ten maybe eleven." She said recalling how many times it'd taken them to get the IV in Ichigo's arm in the first place.

"Well if he has this IV, we can do pretty much anything with it. Give him medicine, fluids, blood, vitamins, and even draw blood for specimens instead of constantly poking him to get them. Honestly, the only reason I really brought this one is for Ichigo's own comfort. I know if I was here in the hospital, I'd hate to be a pin cushion all day." She explained hoping Rukia would consent to it because not only would it make it easier on everyone else it would also make it easier for him.

Rukia nodded, "I see thank you for the suggestion." She said looking away from the woman long enough to sign it. Giving back the two she signed and holding the one she didn't. "I'll keep this one just in case the Condom Catheter doesn't work on him." She told the woman. She nodded and went on her merry way to file the consent forms and notify the Doctor.