A/N: Yeah, I know...I'm sooooo cruel. Haha!
Chapter 4 / No More Hope
"Jason!" Connie called from across the hospital entrance.
"There you are, Connie," Jason replied, catching up with her. "There's Dr. Abigail. Doctor!"
"Hello, thanks for coming so soon, Jason," Dr. Abigail said.
"What's wrong with Sue?" Jason asked.
"Her pneumonia is worse," the doctor told them, "but we are hoping she will recover. However she will need surgery."
"Jason!" Connie gasped.
"Can we see her, doctor?" Jason managed, his voice choked with fear.
"Yes, she's been moved to the room down the hall," Dr. Abigail pointed out where it was.
"Thank you," Jason said, hastening towards the room.
"Oh, Jason!" Connie worried as they walked.
"It's all right, Connie, she'll get better. She has to!" Jason comforted, for himself as well as Connie.
"J-Jason? Connie?" Sue asked.
"We're here, Sue," Jason said.
"How are you feeling, Sue?" Connie inquired.
"A little better," she replied. "But not much."
"Does your head still hurt?" Jason asked.
"Yes," she answered, coughing.
"Are you still cold?"
"Not really," she said.
"Do you still feel sick?"
"Yes, but not as much," she replied, coughing.
"I knew you would get better soon, Sue," Jason said happily. "Now, I'm going to step outside for a minute, Sue, and Connie will stay with you."
"Okay." Sue pulled the covers up more and closed her eyes halfway.
Jason smiled at her as he left the room. "Now, where is that phone? Oh, here. Where is that sticky note with the Adams number? Um…here is it."
He held the sticky note in his hand for ten seconds. Slowly he reached for the phone and dialled Sue's foster parents' phone number. He swallowed hard as he listened to its ring…ring…ring…
"Hello?" said a man's voice on the other end.
"Hello, Mr. Adams? …I'm a friend of Sue's. …My name's Jason. …So Connie told you what happened? …Well, she's worse, but not fatal. She'll have to have surgery."
He swallowed hard again. "Yeah, well, I wanted to talk to you about something. Could you talk this over with your wife? I'll call Social Services if you both agree."
…
Jason rushed to Sue's room and found Connie in the hall; Sue had fallen asleep.
"Connie!" Jason exclaimed, breathing heavily with excitement. "Connie—I've done it—I'm her foster father! It's hardly official yet, but as soon as I get hold of papers, and some time, I can adopt her—as my daughter!"
Connie gave him a surprise and questioning look.
"Would you be willing to let me share her with you?" he spilled out.
"Jason," Connie tried to calm him. "Are you—are you asking me to—marry you?"
Jason got down on one knee and held up the ring he had been saving for such a long time. "Yes. I am."
…
Connie and Jason looked up in alarm as a bunch of doctors rush into Sue's room two hours later.
Jason stood up. "What's going on?" he wondered.
"I don't know." Connie sounded scared.
"I'm going to find out," Jason declared, going to the door.
Dr. Abigail stood between the wall and the door, holding it shut.
"What's wrong with Sue, Dr. Abigail?" Jason asked.
"Please, Jason, stay out of the room," she said.
"What's going on?" Jason persisted.
"Please just trust me and don't go into the room," the doctor repeated.
"I am finding out what this is all about," announced Jason.
"No, Jason!"
"What is it?" he asked worriedly.
"We are trying our best, Jason," she promised, a hint of sadness in her eyes and tone.
"You mean—" Jason couldn't finish his sentence.
"I'm sorry."
…
Jason slowly walked over to Connie, his hands plunged deep inside his pockets and his eyes cast down. He didn't know what he was feeling. He didn't know what he was supposed to feel. He wasn't sure how Connie would take it…he wasn't sure how he was taking it.
"Connie?" he whispered. His eyes met Connie's tear-stained green ones. Something in the look she gave him made him know that she knew what to expect.
Jason dropped onto a chair beside his fiancé. Both remained silent as Connie put her hand in his, receiving and returning a gentle squeeze.
"Sue," Connie said softly, as if asking how she was.
"Sue," he repeated. "Our Sue."
"Oh, Jason," she breathed, no longer able to keep the tears back.
Dr. Abigail slowly came out of the room and walked over to the couple. Connie and Jason looked up at her and knew what was about to be said.
"She's gone," the doctor said sadly. "I'm…so sorry."
Connie's tears increased and she fell into Jason's arms.
Suddenly the voice from another physician sounded as she opened the door a crack.
"Dr. Abigail—come quick!"
Dr. Abigail raced into the room and shut the door behind her.
Jason dared not hope. Sue was dead. There was no more hope.
~TBC~