"I'll start the truck if you let Lou know," Jack said, reaching to squeeze Lisa's hand in a reassuring manner. She, in what looked like her business mode now, nodded, and the two went their separate ways in the house.

She knocked with a purpose on the door of Lou's room, "Lou," she called out, hating she had to do this. Lou opened the door just a few seconds later, clearly awakened from a deep sleep.

"Lisa," Lou said, pushing hair out of her face and crossing her arms from the chill in the air. "Is everything alright? It's what-"

"3:30 in the morning," Lisa nodded. "So sorry to wake you. John is running a really high fever, and we can't get it to budge. He sounds terrible, congested and all, and we are going to have to take him to the ER."

"Oh gosh," Lou said, glancing down the hallway. Lisa gestured.

"Just wanted to let you know. Jack is warming up the truck, and we'll keep you posted. Please go back to bed, but hopefully, the hospital can get him feeling better."

"Yeah, okay," Lou nodded, giving Lisa a sad smile. "I'm sorry to hear he's so sick. Please keep me posted, no matter the time."

"Will do," she said, and with that, she was off to grab John, already strapped in his car seat.

The ride to the hospital was quiet, except for the unhappy sounds and cries coming from John. Lisa continually tried to reassure him. They'd tried everything-infant fever medications, a bath, and his temperature was still really high just over 103. The congestion worried her too, and she was going to slug someone if they tried to say she was just a worried first-time mom. She'd dealt with fevers before in Katie when Lou was away, but this was different; it felt different, and she just hated seeing their little boy feeling so badly.

"Glad the snow from yesterday is off the road," Jack added as he drove. It was the first week of December, and the weather was certainly cold. Snow covered the landscape, and they'd gotten a fresh five inches the day before. The family had put up the Christmas tree but hadn't decorated it yet. That was actually set to happen tonight, which was a Friday, but with John now, there was no telling. Lisa had even grabbed the extra phone charger before they darted out the door, unsure of when they'd return.

"This is all my fault," Lisa sighed, shaking her head. Jack gave her a side glance as he drove, and even in the darkened truck, he could make out her features.

"How in the world would this be your fault? He's sick. You didn't do that," Jack told her.

"He's so little. He was born earlier than he should have been," she sighed.

"Oh, right," Jack nodded, "that is totally your fault. Lise, come on," he sighed. "He's been perfectly healthy, even being born a little early. He's doing great. Babies get sick. Sure, I'm worried because he definitely is sick, but the hospital will take care of him." He reached over and clasped her hand in his, Lisa holding onto it for dear life. She continued to try and soothe a very unhappy baby who sounded congested and like he was coughing. As the lights of Calgary came into view, Jack pulled Lisa's hand up and kissed it in reassurance. "He'll be okay, Lise. We'll make sure of it."

Finally, several hours later, by mid-morning, they had answers, after John had been poked and prodded by various nurses and doctors, the pediatrician on call came into the exam area to speak to Lisa and Jack.

"John has RSV," the doctor told them, and Lisa sighed as she nodded, pretty sure that was what they were going to tell them. "We're going to go ahead and put him in the Peds ICU because of his age, that he was born a little early, and because he is struggling more than I like. Some babies can go home and basically wait it out. I'd like to keep him here."

"Oh, gosh," Lisa said aloud, reaching for Jack's hand. She glanced over to him, and Jack had a very stoic face as he nodded.

"Okay," Jack acknowledged. "How long do you think he'll be here?"

"I know you want more of a concrete answer, but I just don't know. It depends on how he does with everything. He isn't eating well, so I want to put him on IV fluids so he's not dehydrated. His cough is worrysome, and that can turn into pneumonia. His airways are inflamed, and we need to get him feeling a lot better. I expect he'll be here for a few days." Lisa glanced up at Jack, and he nodded, listening to the doctor. He finally looked over at her, and she was biting her lip, terrified of what they'd just said about John.

"Will he be okay?" Lisa finally asked.

"Hopefully, so," the doctor said with a sympathetic smile. "I don't want him to get worse where we have to intubate him or anything like that. This can definitely get worse before it gets better, and we just need to monitor that. You guys did the right thing. He's under six months old, and in those cases, we are definitely more concerned and need to keep a closer eye on them."

"So, peds ICU?" Jack asked again.

"Yes, let me get the admission paperwork going, and we'll move him upstairs. You can both stay with him, but no other family. We try to just limit to parents."

"Thank you," Jack said, nodding, and with that, the doctor left, and they were left there with John in the little hospital bassinet like he'd had when he was born. He was calm and sleeping at the moment only because they had started him on some medication and fluids.

"Oh, gosh, Jack," Lisa sighed, rubbing her temple. Jack pulled her to his side.

"It's okay. We're here, and they are going to take good care of him."

"He's so little," she sighed again. Jack pulled her into a hug, and he could feel she was almost shaking. He held her there.

"Now who's the one not wanting to see him like this?" Jack chuckled slightly, trying to ease the tension. Lisa shook her head, not wanting to comment at the moment, and they stood like that. He ran his hand up and down her back to soothe her and kissed her head just as John started to squirm around. They turned their attention back to him, and he seemed to go back to sleep.

"I'll step out in the hall," he gestured, "and call Lou to let her know what's going on."

Lisa wiped at her eye, "Okay, I'm not leaving him."

"I know," he said, squeezing her shoulder. "We need to work on something to eat and drink though, for us, when they get him moved upstairs. It's going to be a long few days."

The day seemed to drag and fly at the same time, and by late afternoon, both Jack and Lisa were exhausted. The nurse stopped into John's room there in the peds ICU where they were both sitting in chairs on either side of John's bassinet.

"Sorry to bother you," she said quietly, noting they were both almost drifting off to sleep. Both sat up, concerned with the nurse there. "Someone is out in the waiting area to see you, said he's family."

Jack glanced to Lisa and stood, a frown on his face, not for the arrival of someone, but just fitting his mood. He looked to Lisa, "Sounds like Tim, or Ty leaving school for the day. I'll go on out." He clasped her hand as he walked by her, and Lisa checked on John again.

"Jack, hey, what's going on?" Tim asked the moment Jack appeared outside the peds ICU. He had his hat in hand and looked nervous as Jack approached. Tim gestured to the seats, "Sit down, Jack, you look terrible."

"Nice to see you too," Jack said, sitting and sighing as he did. Tim sat, waiting for the update. "John has RSV, which can be serious, maybe is," he grumbled quietly, "especially in babies under six months old. The doctor said he's got him on IV fluids because he's not eating well. His airways are inflamed, and he could develop pneumonia."

"Geez, Jack," Tim said, sighing and shaking his head. "Okay, what can I do? Amy is tending to the barn. I rode the fence line this morning and checked on the herd. The girls wanted to come, but I told them to stay and handle things there. They might come tomorrow-Lou said JT might be here awhile. What do you and Lisa need?"

Jack pursed his lips, "Probably need something to eat."

"Have you eaten?" Tim asked.

Jack shook his head, "No, just worried about John. She won't leave his side, but neither of us have eaten all day."

"Well, that's really smart, you old man. You've been up all night and haven't had anything to eat all day. Just what an old geezer in your condition needs. Coffee at least?"

Jack shook his head, "We talked about getting something when John was moved to his room, but it just never happened. He is between resting somewhat comfortably and just all out miserable with his cough and congestion."

"Okay, well, I'm going to go get you guys something to eat. Anything in particular?"

Jack shook his head again, "No, really doesn't matter. Probably won't taste much of it anyways. Coffee would be good."

"I remember that place we took you across the street when Lisa was in here. I'll head over there and be back with some food. I tried texting you-"

"Yeah phone died, and Lisa brought a charger, but we left it in the car."

"Give me your keys, and I'll get it," Tim gestured. Jack gave him a wary glance.

"You won't take off with my truck?"

"Oh, come on!" Tim exclaimed rolling his eyes. "I realize your truck now is a major step up from what you have, but if I was going to go joyriding," he rolled his eyes, "it wouldn't be in your truck. Sure," he shrugged, "toss me your key for Lisa's Porsche, even an SUV like it is, and I might drive that." Jack chuckled quietly, glad for the distraction as he dug out his keys.

"I'll expect the key back before you leave, and," he smirked, "Lisa's Porsche is at home, where you won't be alone with the keys."

Jack stepped back into John's room when he'd finished talking with Tim. He felt badly seeing that Lisa had been asleep, and his movement woke her again. He walked over and sat on the edge of her chair. She shifted in hers for him to sit down next to her, and while there really wasn't room for two of them in the chair, he squeezed in, and she shifted to almost sitting on his lap. She wrapped her arms around him looking for that comfort. He sighed into her hair.

"Tim, I presume?" Lisa asked, glancing up at him. He held her knee tightly so she didn't fall off his lap from the chair. It was uncomfortable, the chair, not Lisa, but he'd never tell her that.

"Yeah," he sighed. "He's sorry to hear about John. You know he has a soft spot for him."

"Mmm, he does," Lisa nodded. "Nice of him to stop by."

"He'll be back. He's getting us something to eat and the charger out of the truck."

"Oh, that's great to hear," Lisa sighed. "I really didn't want to leave this room. I can't stand the idea of John being alone."

"I know," he nodded, "but you are going to need to eat and get some rest."

"I'll be fine," she told him. "I can sleep here in this chair. You should go home with Tim, Jack. We're going to need a few things here-change of clothes, both of our reading glasses," she shook her head. "Can't believe I left those on the living room table. That was painful, trying to fill out the forms for him without them."

"I don't want to leave you here," he told her. "Where you are, I am."

She hummed at that, but she sat up slightly to look at him, "One of us needs to go home. Since I won't be taken from her except in handcuffs or something, please go home. You are needed there too with the ranch and all. I know Amy can handle a lot, but it is a lot. Tim is helpful when he wants to be. Plus," she nodded to him, "I'll just say it," she patted his chest, "you need to get some rest. You're the one who had that heart attack and is older. I will be fine."

"Lise," he sighed. "I don't like leaving you here. It's like I abandoned you."

"No, it's not. We have a lot to do, here and at home. Harry is fine at Fairfield. That is handled. Ride home with Tim, get some sleep, and you can bring everything back in the morning."

I don't need to ride with Tim," he grumbled, and Lisa sat up again and frowned at him.

"You've been up for over 24 hours, and it's already getting dark outside. We don't need you falling asleep or hitting another animal. Please let him take you home. You know he'll be right back here tomorrow for an update, even with us calling him to update."

Jack finally agreed, and when Tim returned with the food and the charger, he asked Tim about getting a ride home. An hour later, with Lisa fed now and Jack with food in hand to eat on the ride home, he said his good-byes.

"You call me if there is any change at all. I mean it," he met her gaze and looked her square in the eye. She nodded.

"I will. I will call you anyways to update you, but definitely if something changes, day or night," she said reaching for his hand and squeezing it. "Thank you for going home. I don't want to worry about you too."

"I'll be back first thing in the morning with coffee," he added with a nod. Lisa smiled at that. "I love you both. Try to get some rest."

Lisa was finally left with just John in the room, and as she sat down in the chair, trying to get comfortable, it felt very familiar, just the two of them in a cold, dark hospital room, but at least now, compared to her pregnancy, Jack was hers, no question about it, no distance between them, finally a united front. Lisa checked on John again even though she'd started to get comfortable and tried to get some rest. She just wanted her baby boy to get better.