There was a soft ding as the wide elevator doors broke open and crept apart. After hours of rushing to get here, Sam seemed hesitant to move.

Someone had arranged for the Harrington helicopter to take them directly to the hospital as soon as their jet landed. Sam had been a bundle of nerves, anxious to get to his parents. Throughout the journey, they were in constant contact with Charlie, but there was no change in Christopher. Ali tried to assure Sam it could be a good thing.

Evelyn had called her when she could not get hold of her son. Upset herself at the news of Christopher's heart attack, it was pure anguish telling Sam.

Ali had never seen Sam like this. All signs of her vibrant, happy-go-lucky boyfriend vanished with the news of his father's illness. He was like a muted version of himself. All the colour seemed to have drained from his face, his shoulders were slightly hunched and he barely spoke. When he did, he only muttered his words.

Sam had been holding Ali's hand the entire way. In the elevator at the hospital, his grip tightened. Ali thought he might be afraid. She pulled herself closer, putting her other hand on Sam's arm, offering what comfort she could give.

Squeezing his arm now, Ali stepped out of the elevator first. With a little tug, Sam followed.

A spacious hallway flooded with bright light greeted them. The white floor gleaned from a thick coat of polish, a contrast to the flat subdued grey walls. Down the corridor, a dulled ringing noise could be heard, repeating its dulcet tone over and over.

Looking around, Ali searched for a sign or something to point her in the right direction. Through her charity work, she was familiar with hospitals, knowing first hand how easy it was to get confused in their network of wings and corridors. Signs were your friends in places like these. But it was one thing to find the children's cancer ward, quite another to try to decipher exactly where one patient might be located.

"This way," Sam mumbled.

Ali trailed after his lead, wondering exactly how he knew where to go. Sam stopped at a door, taking a deep breath and letting it out before turning the knob to open it.

His mother swung around at the motion. Her eyes widened for a moment before her beautiful face crumpled. Letting go of Ali, Sam stepped into the room, wrapping his arms around Evelyn as she matched the embrace. They exchanged some words, nothing Ali could understand.

Ali felt uncomfortable like she was spying on a private moment. She moved out of the corridor into the small sitting area they had found Evelyn in, the door closing behind her. It looked like someone's living room, complete with leather couches and armchairs, a large screen TV surrounded by shelves piled with books and magazines. One wall acted like a little kitchenette complete with sink, fridge and even a microwave nestled into the top row of cupboards.

"How is he?"

Ali turned at the sound of Sam's voice. He was sitting beside his mother on one of the couches, holding her hands in his. Thinking it was a trick of the light, Ali thought Evelyn seem smaller, frailer. Ali was used to this woman commanding a room, being the center of attention. Or at least sharing it with her husband.

"Still in a coma." Her voice was clear and strong.

"C...Can I see him?" Ali's heart clutched. Sam was like a little boy asking his mother's permission to act, take candy from a stranger.

Evelyn nodded towards another door on the opposite wall. "Charles is with him now."

Sam glanced at Ali. As she sat down on the other side of Evelyn, Ali smiled at him, encouraging Sam to go. "I'll stay with your mother," she offered.

Nodding, Sam stood up, walking across the room. He looked back, glassy eyes swivelling between the two women. Ali resisted her desperate desire to run to him. She took Evelyn's hand in hers instead. The best thing she could do now was to take care of his mother.

With that, Sam opened the door and slipped inside the other room.

Evelyn leaned her head back and closed her eyes. Ali searched for something to do or say to be useful. "Have you had anything to eat lately?"

Long eyelashes fluttered, revealing green eyes so similar to her son's. "Thank you," she patted Ali's hand, "for trying to take care of me." A weak smile graced her lips.

"I ... I just think you need to keep up your strength," Ali looked down at their joined hands, "Mr. Harrington is going to need you..." Ali's voice trailed off. She hoped Sam's father was going to need all of them.

Evelyn shifted in her seat. "The nurses here have been very kind. They keep trying to get me to eat as well. Some even succeeded. I promise." She sighed. "I can't believe Kathy is still here after all these years. She was so...nice last time."

"Last time?"

"Yes, when..." Evelyn swallowed hard, "with Thomas." Ali didn't understand. Sam never talked about the events surrounding his brother's death. All she knew was he had been killed by a drunk driver. Ali had assumed Thomas had died instantly. Evelyn must have read Ali's mind.

"Sam didn't tell you, did he? Thomas survived the initial crash. His injuries where," Sam's mother swallowed again, "life-threatening is what I think they called it. Christopher flew in experts from across the country to try to save him, but Thomas never regained consciousness. After weeks, his...his body began to shut down and someone had to make the decision to take him off of life support. Christopher and Sam were both against it, but I knew." A single tear slid down her face. "I knew my sweet boy was gone."

"Oh, Evelyn, I'm so sorry. I can't imagine how hard that must have been."

Evelyn nodded. "It was worse, sitting here, day after day, watching that machine force air into my child's lungs." She wiped away the tear with her free hand. "Sam refused to leave his side. He slept here, watching over Thomas. Hoping for a miracle, I guess. We...We had to pull him away when they turned off the machines." Evelyn briefly closed her eyes, perhaps reliving the memory. "I don't think Sam has stepped foot in a hospital since."

Ali tried to hold back her own tears. Her heart broke for the loss this family had endured, for the pain her sweet Sam had and still felt. She looked up towards the door to Christopher's room. Sam was just emerging, looking paler than before if it was even possible.

Ali popped up and ran to him, wrapping her arms around his waist and resting her head against his chest. She waited for Sam to hold her, but he stood there, arms limp at his sides. Ali squeezed Sam tighter and leaned into her. "Everything is going to be ok."

Sam's voice was gravelly like he needed a drink of water. "I hope so."