Thanatophobia - fear of death or the dying process
He'd never been afraid of dying. It was so much a part of what he did that he couldn't afford to be afraid of the potential threat.
He'd blasted off the face of Earth sitting on top of rockets full of fuel. Hell, he'd been to Mars and back and death had been his constant companion.
He'd lived through death.
His Pa.
His wife.
His brothers.
And still he didn't fear death. He respected it, sure. But he didn't fear it.
Until now.
His son lay battered and bruised and dying.
And for once Jeff was afraid.
Afraid that death was going to take one of his precious babies.
Afraid that with all the money in the world, all the power at his disposal he couldn't stop the process, couldn't save his boy.
The doctors had told him to prepare for the worst.
He prayed. Not to a god he no longer believed in, but to his wife. To Lucy.
'Don't take him away from me, Luce, please. Not yet, not while he's so young and has so much potential. Please.'
He clung to that prayer.
And then there was a miracle.
'Gordon has survived the first 24-hour hurdle, and although there are still some serious issues to come, it looks like he may pull through.'
'Thanks, Lucy. Love you forever,' Jeff whispered.