Chapter
24
By the end of
that week, the Carters had made their decision. "We're going to take him
off of the machines," Jane had tearfully told Kevin and Howie. They were
both upset, but they knew it was for the best. They knew that Nick would
probably never wake up from his coma, and if he did, he would probably have
severe brain damage. Taking him off the machines was the best thing to do. It
would ease his suffering and let him die peacefully. Still, they prayed for a
miracle.
***
Dr. Mitchell
had planned to unplug the machines in two days. That would give everyone plenty
of time to say their final good-byes.
Brian had not
taken the news well at all at first. But eventually, he had realized that
although it was not going to be easy to let his best friend go, it was the best
thing for Nick. Now, he was pressuring Dr. Jackson to let him get out of bed
and go visit Nick before he died. Dr. Jackson wasn't thrilled, but she let him
go, knowing how important Nick was to him. She was worried about him though.
His broken ribs were still healing, and his right lung was still very weak and
could collapse. But, the day before Nick would be taken off of the machines,
she helped him into a wheelchair and had a nurse take him to visit Nick.
Brian was very
uncomfortable in the wheelchair. His chest hurt terribly, but he didn't
complain. The only thing that mattered to him now was Nick.
When Brian
arrived in the ICU room, it looked just as it had before, when he was there.
Nick still lay there, still and lifeless in the bed. He was still deathly pale,
and although his bruises had begun to fade, he still looked awful.
The nurse
wheeled Brian over to Nick's bedside and left him alone.
"Just hit
the call button if you need anything," she said as she left. Brian nodded
and watched as she left the room, closing the door behind her. Then he turned
his attention back to Nick.
"Hey,
Nicky," he said, his voice filled with emotion. "It's me, Brian.
Listen, Frack, I know the doctors said that you'll never wake up, but I still
believe in you. I know you can pull through. Come on, Nick, please wake up. I
need you. You're my best friend and my little brother, and I…I love you."
With that, Brian began to sob. He just sat there, holding Nick's pale hand and
crying for what seemed like an eternity. Finally, the nurse came and took him
back to his room.
***
