The next morning Claude, Dawn, and Lydia enter Rachel's room.
Lydia gasps at the sight of Rae.
"My little girl." cries Dawn.
Claude wakes Nick up. "Hi Nick."
"Hi. I'm glad you're here. Did Jake tell you *everything*?"
"Yes." replies Dawn hugging him.
"How are you holding up?" asks Lydia.
"I'm just numb."
BJ comes in. "Hi everybody."
"Hi." reply Claude, Dawn, and Lydia.
"Nick let's give them some time alone with Rachel. You could
use a shower and some food."
"Okay."
They go to the family home. "Mom and Dad brought your things here, they're in my room." says Aaron.
Nick takes a shower and puts on some fresh clothes. He enters
the kitchen.
Leslie whispers to Angel, "There's no need to ask him if
he's feeling better, you can tell by looking at him the answer
is no."
Everyone is quiet during breakfast. Suddenly Nick starts sobbing.
Bob and Jane put their arms around him. "I can't lose her.
It's not fair."
After his breakdown he sleeps for the rest of the morning.
Early afternoon he returns to the hospital. "Nick we've been talking." states Claude. "Rachel..."
"Wouldn't want to be left on the ventilator." says Nick.
"I know. I don't think I could bear to wait months for the
inevitable to happen."
"You have to sign the papers." proclaims Dawn. "Can
you do that?"
"I have to."
Lydia chuckles. "Even though she's the youngest I sometimes
thought she was the oldest. Always so logical and down-to-earth."
Nick laughs too. "Yeah. I'm a big kid and she's an old woman.
We compliment each other in that way."
"In a lot of ways. Nick you have made her so happy. She loves
you more than anything." says Dawn.
"I love her more than anything." He chokes back tears.
"I'll go find Dr. Smith. Would you mind saying your goodbyes
first? I just want to be alone with her."
They all nod fighting their own tears.
"Are you sure about this?" asks Dr. Smith.
"Yes." answers Nick. He signs the papers. "How
long will it take after you
turn off the machine?"
"About a half hour."
"I want to be able to hold her."
"I can remove everything except for the heart monitor. We
need it to know when..."
"Yeah, okay."
Rae's parents and sister come out of her room. No one is able
to speak. The Carters and Jake have arrived. They say their goodbyes
then Dr. Smith and Nick go in. Dr. Smith removes the machine and
Nick lays down beside of Rachel. Dr. Smith leaves the room, a
few tears fall down her own face.
Nick wraps his arms around Rachel and places his head on her chest.
There is only one thing he can think of to do; through tears he
sings to his wife all the while having flashes of their life together.
Lady, I'm your knight in shining armor and I love you
You have made me what I am and I am yours
My love, there's so many ways to say I love you
Let me hold you in my arms forever more
You have gone and made
me such a fool
I'm so lost in your love
And oh, we belong together
Won't you believe in my song?
Lady, for so many years
I thought I'd never find you
You have come into my life and made me whole
Forever let me wake to see you each and every morning
Let me hear you whisper softly in my ear
In my eyes I see no
one else but you
There's no other love like our love
And yes, oh yes, I'll always want you near me
I've waited for you for so long
Lady, your love's the
only love I need
And beside me is where I want you to be
cause, my love, there's somethin' I want you to know
You're the love of my life, you're
my lady"
After the song he breaks down. "Rae why do you have to go? I can't let you go." He listens to her heartbeat get slower and slower and finally stop.
Dr. Smith sees the flatline. She turns to the two families and
nods.
Jane heads for the room to get Nick. Bob grabs her arm. "Just
give him some time."
Nick continues to hold his wife and weep. Finally he lets go of
her. He looks at her and says, "I love you Rachel, and I'll
never stop loving you."
He kisses her lips. He walks out into the hall to where their
families are. He walks to them. His knees give away sending him
to the floor, his parents catch him.