When the nurse, Kate returns from breakfast she finds a man pacing in front of the N.I.C.U.
"Can I help you?" she questions.
"I'm here to see my son."
"Who is your son?"
"His name is Chance."
"Come with me."
She makes sure he washes his hands, and puts the proper clothing on. She sits him in the rocking chair, and carefully removes the baby from the isolet.
"Ready?"
"I guess," he answers hesitantly.
She holds the baby to her chest, "This is how he likes to be held," she instructs.
"Ok," he nods.
She gives him the baby. He studies the baby carefully. Kate starts to walk away.
"Wait..."
"You'll be fine. I'll be close by if you need me."
"Ok," he agrees.
She checks in on the other babies, but keeps a watchful eye on Daniel.
"Hi little guy. How are you doing today champ? It's nice to finally meet you, Chance. I'm your dad by the way, in case you were wondering."
Kate steps into the hallway.
Wilhelmina is sitting in her office when her phone rings.
"Wilhelmina Slater," she answers without checking the caller i.d.
"Wilhelmina, this is Kate."
"Is something wrong?"
"No nothing is wrong."
"Then why are you calling?"
"I just have a question."
"Ok?"
"And don't take this the wrong way."
"What's your question?"
"Who is Chance's father?"
"Why? Is something wrong?"
"No nothing is wrong."
"So why are you asking?"
"Daniel Meade is here, he came to see Chance, he said that Chance is his son."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm looking at him right now."
"Where is he?"
"He's with Chance."
"What do you mean with him?"
"He's holding him."
"I'll be right there."
"They're fine, there is no reason to rush down here. Chance is fine."
"I'll be there in ten," she hangs up the phone.
She makes it to the hospital in ten minutes, even though it's a fifteen minute drive for any normal person. The elevator doesn't reach the bottom floor quick enough, so she opts to take the stairs. She climbs to the sixth floor. When she reaches the top she doesn't stop to catch her breath. She heads to the N.I.C.U. as quickly as she can. When she arrives she finds Kate standing in the doorway.
"Wait."
"What?" she snarls.
"Before you go in there I have something to tell you."
"What?"
"If things continue to progress the way they have been the doctor thinks Chance should be able to go home earlier than expected."
"How early?"
"Within the next week or two."
"Great."
"Wilhelmina don't go in there yet."
"Why not?"
"You're upset."
"What's your point?"
"You're only going to upset Chance."
"No I won't. I am going to be calm, and collected."
"If you're not I'll have to kick you out."
"I'm fully aware of the cost of disturbing even one sleeping baby in your N.I.C.U."
Kate steps out of the doorway. Wilhelmina stops when she reaches the back of the rocking chair.
"What are you doing here?" she questions.
"I'm here to see my son," he answers.
"This isn't how this is going to happen."
"How what is going to happen?"
"I've been here every single day since he was born, and even before that. You don't get to waltz in now, and be the hero."
"I don't want to be the hero. I just want to see my son."
"You should wait."
"You're not going to keep him from me."
Chance starts to cry.
"Now you've upset him."
"I didn't do anything," he argues.
"You raised your voice, he is very sensitive," like a mama bear she snatches her cub away from the perceived threat. She holds him closely, and rubs circles on his back. "Shh! Chance you're alright. Mommy's right here," she coos. The crying stops, and the baby places his hand on her heart, and closes his eyes. "There we go, that's better," she smiles.
"I'm sorry. I should have talked to you before I came here."
"Yes, you should have."
"But I wanted to see him."
"Why? Why now?"
"I just found out about him."
"Maybe if you hadn't gone off the deep end you would know about him."
"Maybe if you had told me before you left I would have known."
"I didn't know before I left."
"A simple phone call would have been nice."
"Daniel things aren't always as simple as you think they are."
"Fine, I'll accept that, but I'm not going anywhere. I want to be here for my son. You're not going to stop me."
"I never said that I wanted to."
"So what was that fit all about?"
"You don't get it do you?"
"Obviously not."
"If anything happened to him I'd have to kill whoever was responsible."
"I'm not going to do anything to him."
"You don't have to do anything to him. You could bring in bacteria, and kill him."
"But I didn't."
"I'm sorry, but you haven't been here the past six weeks. You don't know how hard this has been. You missed all of the hard stuff."
"Like what?"
"Him being hooked up to oxygen, I.V.'s, and a feeding tube, with a heart monitor on twenty four seven. If you think that he's small now you should have seen him the day that he was born."