The waiting room was crowed with Taylor's second family. Everyone was on edge, and got nervous every time a doctor or nurse walked out through the waiting room to go on their break.

It was just after midnight when one of the doctors walked out into the waiting room. He sighed slightly as he looked around the room. Some of the firefighters were asleep, a couple reading magazines for the tenth time in a row, or some chatting amongst themselves.

"Mrs. Taylor." The doctor said quietly

It was Dr. Wagner again.

Lt. Johnson slowly stirred beside Beth. Adam sat on the edge of his seat.

Doctor Wagner looked around as he bent down in front of Beth.

"Is there any change?" She asked

"I'm afraid that we've been watching her EEG scans and there's some bad news." He said

"What is it?" Beth asked

"They show that there is very little electrical activity in your daughter's brain." He paused, "I'm afraid that she'll never wake from this coma, and even if she did, there is no way that she could speak or move."

"So she's a vegetable?" Beth asked

"That's how it appears." Dr. Wagner replied

Beth tried to hold back the tears.

"So now what?" Beth asked

"You have a very difficult choice to make Mrs. Taylor." Dr. Wagner replied

Beth tried not to think about it, and neither did Lt. Johnson.

"Mrs. Taylor, I ask you to consider your daughter's quality of life." Dr. Wagner said

"You just want me to give up on my daughter and pull the plug so to speak." Beth asked

"Mrs. Taylor, your daughter will be fed through a tube, her breathing will be done by a machine. Do you really want her to live the rest of her life, 30, 40, or 50 years like that?" The Dr. asked

Beth couldn't hold in the tears any longer. Lt. Johnson put his arms around her.

"Beth, I am here for you no matter what decision you make." He said

"I know Francis." She replied, "But is it fair that I should have to make this decision?"

"No it's not fair. This whole situation is not fair." Lt. Johnson replied

"I don't want to let her go." Beth said

"I know you don't Beth, none of us do." Lt. Johnson replied, "But is it fair to keep her holding on like that?"

By now everyone in the room was waiting anxiously for the decision. No one wanted to see Taylor suffer the rest of her life in a hospital bed, never waking up. But none of them was ready to give Taylor up either.

"Can I see her?" Beth asked

Dr. Wagner nodded.

Everyone watched as Beth left the room with Adam. They were sure that it was so that they could say their goodbyes.

Lt. Johnson stood up and looked at everyone in the room.

"I guess you already know the situation." He said grimly. "Please, pray for them. This is not an easy thing for any parent to have to go through. And I, as much as any one of you would give anything to trade places with Taylor so that this didn't have to go through this. But she won't be suffering any more."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

"Some St. Patrick's Day this is starting out as." DK said trying to hold in his emotions.

"Taylor always loved the parade." Walsh said choking back his voice

Lombardo patted him on the back. "I don't think I can march in it now." He said

"Guys, Taylor would want us to march in it." Jimmy noted

Lt. Johnson nodded in agreement.

"It's something that we can do for Taylor." Kim cried as she said it

Beth slowly approached her daughter's motionless figure. She looked like nothing more than a doll lying in the bed.

She started to cry as she sat down.

"Alex honey." She said softly. "I love you. I am so proud of you dear. I wish you weren't in this position though. It was my biggest fear that you would end up like your father. I prayed that prayer your Dad always prayed with you when you were a child.

'When I am called to duty, God, wherever flames may rage;

Give me the strength to save some life, whatever be its age.

Help me embrace a little child before it is too late;

Or save an older person from the horrors of that fate.

Enable me to be alert, and hear the weakest shout,

And quickly and efficiently put the fire out.

I want to fill my calling and to give the best in me;

To guard my every neighbor and protect his property.

And if according to Your will I am to give my life,

Please bless with Your protecting hand,

My children and my wife.'

"I always thought that things would turn out differently. But you were never the one to take the easy way out of anything. You had to be just like your Daddy." Beth smiled slightly as she wiped away a tear from her cheek.

"But now you're going to be with your Daddy. It's going to be okay. I'm sorry honey, but you're going to be okay again." She cried, "I love you honey. I don't want to say good bye. I love you."

Behind her Adam cried. He couldn't believe that he had to say goodbye to his baby sister. Then he knelt next to her bed.

"I couldn't protect you from this." He said, "I'm sorry Alex. I couldn't make you do anything else, but I wish I could have protected you from this."

He paused for a moment, "I don't want you to leave Alex. Please, don't leave." He paused again. "But it's selfish of me to ask you to stay in that condition. It's not fair to you. You were always so full of energy and life, but now… I love you Alex."

He stood up and backed away, tears streaming down his face.

Out in the waiting room the Squad was just waiting for Beth and Adam to return.

Lt. Johnson pulled his Rosary out and made the sign of the Cross. Quietly he prayed. Then he could hear Walsh behind him.

"Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven."

By now everyone had joined in.

"Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen."

Beth and Adam watched as Dr. Wagner unhooked the breathing tube. A few seconds later an alarm sounded as a solid beep. Beth buried her head in Adam's chest. Dr. Wagner then turned off the alarm. He looked over to Beth and Adam and then he looked to the nurse.

"Time of death, 1:03." He said

Beth let out a wail as she watched the nurse carefully pull a sheet over her daughter's lifeless body.

Lt. Johnson looked up with tears in his eyes and nodded in approval. Then he continued on.

"Hail Mary…"

Midway through the prayer Beth walked back into the waiting room. Everyone stood up and Lt. Johnson approached her.

"I'm sorry." He said as he put his arms around her

It seemed like his voice was so far away but Beth could hear Lt. Johnson.

"Beth." He said softly.

She barely moved.

"Beth wake up, the doctor is coming out." He said

Beth sat up.

"It was just a dream." She said as she watched the doctor approach.

He had a clipboard in his hand.

"Mrs. Taylor?" He asked…