It was already late when he got out of the OR. He was barely able to walk alone. His knees felt like they were giving in and his head ached from the pain, caused by the past hours of anxiety and horror.

He didn't know how but he managed to enter the quiet room, a special area for patients who lost a relative or had a loved one in a critical condition.

As soon as he sat down he felt the tears coming. The adrenaline came out, mixed with all the feelings he buried deep inside for the past hours.

Connor sobbed heavily, covered his face with his hands.

Normally he locked himself out if he had to cry. But on this day, the old rules didnt apply to him anymore.

It took him some minutes to get back to normal. But when he wanted to get out, he felt a hand on his shoulder.

He looked up in surprise and recognized Zanetti, sitting right next to him. For a few minutes both remained in quiet, until Sam raised her voice.

"How is Amy?"

Connor shook his head.

"Her penumonia caused a sepsis. We don't know if she's gonna make it. We changed the antibiotics, had to intubate her, get her on a ventilator and put her to sleep. She wouldn't be able to take the pain. We still search for the source, that causes her sepsis. It's touch and go. "

"What about her vitals?"

"Surprisingly her kidneys and liver are stable. I can't tell where the infection is coming from. She belongs to the 20 percent where it's hard to define the reason."

"How long was she out?"

"Her principal started CPR as fast as possible, so it means her brain wasn't without oxygen for too long."

"Thats's good."

"We treated her pneumonia early. We already hit the golden hour. If it would be the typical kind of sepsis, she would be dead. Seems like the antibiotics gave us some kind of a protrusion. But despite that we don't find the reason. where in hell is the source of it? We checked the lungs, checked the liver. We know that her pneumonia caused the sepsis. But that doesn't mean we can exclude another invasion. The pneumonia put her system down, which explains she had a high risk for any bacteria. The problem is, that we can't locate the source where the bacteria comes from."

"Okay, let's do some research. What happened the days before? You have to remember."

Connor nervously played with the phone in his hands.

"Think, Rhodes. Was she at a dentist? Or did she cut herself on something? Remember the days before she got sick."

Different situations ran through Connors mind. Suddenly a sharp pain filled his stomage, when the memories came back.

"Her shoulder. That's it. That's where the bacteria comes from."

He jumped up from his chair.

Sam looked at him, completely confused. She didn't know what he meant.

"Around a week ago, she told me that she hurt heself on a bottle when she felt to the ground, while playing soccer."

His eyes lightened up.

"So what are you waiting for. Let's get it clean."

"Thank you, Sam. You're incredible", he whispered, running tot he ER…

CMDCMDCMD

"Seems like, you're right. The marker is around 95 now. The infection is in regress. Her vitals look better. Nevertheless she's still got a long road ahead of her. Her immune system is down and it will take her a few weeks to heal but it seems like you caught the source oft he problem." Will Halstead explained to his colleague,whose eyes met with his.

"So you're ready to reduce the medication to wake her up?" Dr. Charles asked. Choi, Halstead and Rhodes nodded in agreement. Shortly Mrs. Goodman had set up a meeting, so the doctors were able to discuss Amys state together.

"If it's under 70 we can risk it. She's getting a high dosage of morphine."

Natalie and Sams view met with Connors, who looked at them in relief.

"Rhodes, if this is over and she is ready to go home, do yourself a favor and take two weeks off." Sam suggested.

"At least." Choi added and got a confirmating nod from Manning.

"We all know what an artifical coma means for a patient. Especially when it comes to the aftermath effects. Halucination, fear, anxiety, panic attacks and after all that she needs your more than ever. She nearly died and I don't have to tell you how a recovery like this works. Not to speak about how the last days messed you up. No doubt, we need you here. But in a healthy state. Look in the mirror and you know what I mean."

Rhodes view wandered around. To his surprise he noticed that everyone seemed to agree with her.

"Okay, you're right. I'm gonna take some days off." He got up, pointed to the floor.

"I'm right next door with Amy. In case you need me."

"I'm gonna replace you later, so you can get some sleep, right?", Charles suggested, getting the confirmation from Rhodes.

"Thanks to all of you", he whispered in a raspy voice, before he walked to the ICU...