Chapter Eleven Four Years Later:

Since the kids were at his in-law's and Amy was at work Ephram was alone for the night, that was until Harold called him and told him to meet him and Rose at the hospital. Ephram's mind automatically jumped to his three kids.

When Ephram got to the hospital he found his in-laws sitting with the twins in the waiting room. "What happened?"

"He collapsed." Ephram didn't have time to think about this before the doctor came up to them.

Four Years Later:

"Mr. Brown your son has Timely disease. He's in critical condition right now. I know you don't want to think about this, but Timely disease is heredity, you should get tested." as the doctor finished his name was paged over the intercom. "I have to go, but you'll be able to see him in a little while."

As the doctor left Ephram turned to the Abbotts. "I can't believe I made Adam sick. He can't handle this."

"Ephram he's your son. He's as strong as you are. He's going to be alright."

Four Years Later:

"There's no point in all of us staying. I don't want to keep you guys here all night, so you guys should go home and get some rest. I'll call you if anything changes."

"Do you want us to take the twins?"

"If you don't mind."

"Of course not, are you going to be okay by yourself?" Harold asked putting his arm around Ephram's shoulder.

"My dad's on his way, so I won't be alone for long, but I'll be fine."

"Okay we'll talk to you tomorrow." Rose said as she and Harold got up to leave.

Four Years Later:

After the Abbotts left Adam's doctor came over to talk to Ephram more. "Mr. Brown we need to test you to see if you have Timely disease. If you would follow nurse Carissa she'll get you ready for the test."

"I don't need a test. I was diagnosed with the disease five years ago."

"Oh, well then you're free to go in to see Adam. He's in room 306, but first I have to ask you a question." the doctor said as the two walked down the hall.

Four Years Later:

"Your son has a seventeen percent chance of coming out of this. Odds are he's not going to be able to leave the hospital for the rest of his life or at best he'll be in and out."

"You want me to pull the plug?"

"At this point I think it would be for the best. I don't think he'll be able to live without the machines." the doctor finished as they stopped in front of Adam's room.

Four Years Later:

"Okay, I'll think about it."

"Take your time." the doctor said before leaving.

Once alone Ephram went in to be with Adam. It broke his heart to see his little boy lying motionless and hooked up to a bunch of wires, tubes, and machines. After seeing this Ephram broke down crying. "Ephram?" a voice called two hours later waking him up.

Four Years Later:

"Dad? What time is it?" Ephram asked glancing at his watch. "I can't believe I fell asleep." Ephram said wiping the sweat and tears off his face.

"Well you haven't been feeling well lately and add this stress, it's no wonder you fell asleep. What's wrong with him?"

"He has Timely disease. He's so sweet, he doesn't deserve this." Ephram said as his dad came over and sat down next to him.

"Neither do you."

"He's dying. I found out after the Abbotts left. I have to decide rather to pull the plug or not."

Four Years Later:

"Are you going to?" his dad asked as he leaned against him.

"I don't know, what should I do?"

"I don't know." his dad answered wiping a the hair out of his face. "Did they give you a percentage because that could tell you if he's going to suffer or not."

"The doctor said seventeen percent and that he would spend the rest of his life here because he wouldn't be able to survive without the machines. Which means I should say goodbye now right?"

"Are you sure?"

Four Years Later:

"Yeah, I'm sure."

"Do you want me to leave?"

"Could you go get his doctor?"

"Sure." his dad said getting up. "I'll be right back. Are you going to be okay?'

"Yeah, I'll be fine." Ephram answered as his dad placed a kiss on his forehead.

A couple minutes later his dad came back in with the doctor. "Have you decided on what you want to do Mr. Brown?"

"Pull the plug."

"Alright in that case I have a form that I need you to sign and I'll get started." Ephram signed the form and then watched as Adam's wires and tubes were detached.

Four Years Later:

Andy held Ephram close ready to comfort him when it was over. The doctor took the tube out of Adam's mouth and Adam took his last breath.

For the following weeks Ephram was rarely seen. He barely ate, he barely slept, and he was sick almost twenty four-seven. His dad and Nina only knew one way to help him a family meeting. When Ephram came over to his dad's one night after work he was surprised to see both Nina and his dad waiting for him.

Four Years Later:

"What's going on?" Ephram asked stepping into the room.

"We're worried about you."

"You don't need to be worried about me Dad."

"Ephram we know that you haven't been eating or sleeping lately."

"So?"

"We know that your upset about Adam, but starving yourself is not the answer his dad said gently.

"Then what is?"

"What? Ephram let's go into the other room and talk, okay?" his dad asked standing up.

Four Years Later:

"What did that mean Ephram?" Andy asked once they were alone.

"I should be dead right now, I killed my son!"

"You didn't kill him."

"I told them to pull the plug, I might as well be responsible, no I was responsible for him. You know what I'm just going to go."

"Are you going to be okay?"

"Yeah I'll be fine." Ephram said leaving.

Four Years Later:

On the way home Ephram's cell phone rang for the fourth time and instead of ignoring it again, Ephram decided to answer it. "Hello?""Hey I've been trying to get a hold of you." Amy said as she pulled into the driveway.

"Sorry, I was at my dad's."

"It's okay, so guess what, I went to my dad's office today and I'm pregnant."

"Your pregnant? But that's impossible we were careful."

Four Years Later:

"Yeah we were and we were careful with the twins too." Amy said as she started carrying in the groceries.

"Yeah we were. Well, this is great. We're going to have another baby." Ephram said as he pulled into the nursery school parking lot.

"Maybe we'll have another girl, that way we'll have two of each."

"Yeah maybe. I can't wait to tell my dad."

"Isn't he going to be at the dinner?"

Four Years Later:

"Yeah I thought we could tell our families tonight."

"Alright, then I'll just meet you at the diner."

About half an hour later the whole family was eating dinner together at Sam's. "We've got great news. I'm pregnant." Amy said as the family ate their dessert. Amy and Ephram decided that waiting until dessert would be better then telling their news right off the bat.

"Wow, I didn't know you guys wanted another baby."

Four Years Later:

"We didn't, it was sort of a surprise. Hey Dad can I talk to you outside for a minute?"

"Sure." his dad answered standing up and following Ephram outside. "Are you happy about this?"

"I don't know, I thought I was. Don't get me wrong I'm glad we're having another baby, but it hurts."

"Why?"

"I kind of feel like we're replacing Adam."

"You don't have to replace him if you don't want to."

"I know, it's just too soon."

Four Years Later:

"Maybe you should talk to Amy about this. I think she would want to know that you're having doubts."

"I'll talk to her later."

Ephram was excited and nervous about the new baby, but his dad was right the new baby didn't mean that he had to get over Adam. He doubted that he'd ever get over Adam, but he knew one thing for sure the new baby wasn't going to replace him.