Jesslyn took a leave from work to stay home with Rick off and on to help take care of him even with a home care nurse there because the thought that she was gonna miss time and then something was gonna happen terrified her.

“ Hey sleeping beauty…. You finally decided to wake up… How are you feelin'.?”  Jesslyn asked while she sat down beside him on the bed.

“ I'm fine. Shouldn't you be going to work today? What are you doing home?” 

“ I took a leave…. Somebody needs to be home with you. Gene can't do it and Riley can't drop out of school so here I am and I'm not leaving until you get better and back on your feet.” Jesslyn gave Rick a stern look.

“ Jesslyn I don't think that I need someone to babysit for me… I'm okay.”  Rick insisted but Jesslyn interrupted him quick. “ Forget it Daddy, I'm not changing my mind and you can't tell me otherwise. You are the only person that I can rely on other than Genesis and Riley… Momma is gone Aunt Jessie and Gail are gone.. I need you to get better so I am staying home until then.” 

“ Jesslyn sit down with me for a minute… you and I need to talk a minute.”  Rick waited for a second before he continued. 

“ Jesslyn we have all been through the ringer throughout the years…. First your mother and I lost your sister Laura.. then you and Genesis came into the world and that your mother and I have always cherished until your mother started to get sick and then later struggled. You kids have made tremendous progress in what you have accomplished since everything’s happened and I'm very proud of you… Jesslyn you have alot ahead for your life and the things you can do and you've met someone that I hope is treating you the way you deserve and now you have a baby of your own on the way. Don’t for any second think or second guess yourself that you can’t do something because you can if you just believe in yourself and the goals you set for yourself..” Rick stated and gave Jesslyn a hug.

“ Jesslyn you have become a bright young woman you and your sister both did and either one of you guys need to think that you’ll end up as a failure because you won’t I have every reason to believe that you will succeed. Raising you kids were the best years of my life and your mother’s too. She was very proud of the young women you and Genesis had become.”

“ You need to get some sleep, daddy and I mean it you need to rest.. I’ll come and check on you in alittle while when the nurse aid comes.” Jesslyn pulled the comforter up alittle more and made sure Rick was settled right. “ I love you Daddy.” Jesslyn stepped out to let Rick rest and she later tried to rest herself while the nursing aid was there.

After a few hours and the nursing aid had arrived, Genesis decided to call the house to check in while she had gotten a break after she did her rounds and had started a few of her patients on their treatments. “ How is he otherwise Jess, is everything okay?” Genesis asked with alittle concern.

“ He seems to be okay, the nurse said his blood pressure and his heart rate was okay. And he had eaten alittle of something around an hour ago. Me and Riley are just waiting for the nurse to finish up. Did you want to talk to her before she leaves?” Jesslyn asked

“ Yeah that will be nice while I have some time.” Genesis said while looking over a Patient’s chart.

“ Anything else I can get for you Mr. Webber?” Nurse Jace asked

“ No, l’m alright but thank you for your help… I think l’m just gonna get some rest while l’m able to.” 

After about 20minutes Genesis took a concerning call that had her on her heels where Rick was of concern. “ How low is his respiration and how long has it been that low?” Genesis asked trying not to sound concerned

“ His blood pressure is 86/40 and his respiration is stable so far but….” the nurse dropped the phone when Rick started to seize again… as she was talking to Genesis.

“ Genesis alert for an ambulance, he’s had another seizure. His airway may be compromised.” Genesis dropped everything when she was told that Rick had another Seizure and had checked out so she could get home. “ Marie, I'm gonna be home in 20 minutes and an ambulance will meet me there.”

Genesis rushed home as soon as she got off the phone so she assessed herself the full extent to Rick’s condition and rather or not he would have to go back into the hospital after he had a third seizure where he was unresponsive and his pressure had dropped again going from 86/40 to 54/30. Seeing what his vitals were Genesis and the nurse decided that he needed to be taken back to the hospital where Genesis hoped his condition would improve for the better.

“ Jack give it to us straight me especially, doctor to doctor. What are we dealing with?” Genesis asked to get to the point

“ Your father has cranial bleeding… judging by his CT scans, I’m gonna have to operate to alleviate the pressure and to hopefully stop the cerebral bleed.” Dr. Daniels answered right away.

“ How soon could you do that.?” Jesslyn asked. “ I’m afraid it won’t be that simple.” Dr. Daniels spoke up.

“ Jack, what are you saying?” Genesis replied right then 

“ I'm saying that even with surgical means there are no guarantees that he will pull through the higher his ICP goes the increase in his chances that he won't survive surgery.” 

“ And if we don't operate… then he dies..” 

“ Either way we look at it Genesis, that's the current situation with your father's condition… without surgery means he will die but going into surgery there is the risk that he could stroke during surgery and the chances of his recovery will reduce more.”  Dr. Daniels explained as honest as he could

“ I will have him prepped and ready for surgery…. Risk or no we need you to try Jack.. My brother, Jesslyn and I, we can't lose him too.” 

Genesis had Rick prepped and ready for surgery while Jesslyn and Riley waited for as long as they could before going home to rest and Riley decided to study for his exams the following day as Rick would always expect him to try his best. Knowing Rick was in good hands was one thing but waiting for him to come out from surgery without complications was another and it wasn't any easier for Genesis who stayed late working until he was out of surgery and in recovery.

“ Jaxie thanks for staying… but I'm not sure that I can be off good company at the moment.”  

“ Genesis your father is gonna pull through…. Don't give up hope.”  

“ It's hard not too…. My siblings and I we kept up our faith and hopes that our Mom was gonna fight and get better and she fought hard no doubt but it didn't matter because she passed away 3 days before her birthday…. And then just last year our Aunt Gail was killed in a 4 car pileup before we could do anything for the summer just 3 weeks after our Aunt Jessie passed away in her sleep and now here we are again, this time having to sit by just to question if our Dad is gonna survive… me and Jesslyn got to have our Dad at our graduation and if we lose him before our brother gets to graduate… I don't know what it would do to him.”  

~~~

“ clamp.”  Dr. Daniels requested. “ We have to try to create another way for blood flow.” 

“ His ICP is extremely high… and his pressure has dropped. Did you think he's gonna be stable enough?” 

“ He's gonna have to be… We have to do everything we can for his family's sake.” 

After another 3 hours, Rick was finally taken to recovery where Dr Daniels and the other surgeon could take a few minutes to talk with Genesis, Jesslyn and Riley about Rick's condition following the surgery.

“ Jack, give it to us straight…. What's his prognosis following surgery.?”  Genesis asked when she stood up.

“ Your father is critical… He survived surgery. However, whether or not he's ever going to wake up, I can't determine that as the damage is extensive.” 

“ But he's alive… you just said he pulled through the surgery.”  Riley spoke up

“ At this present time the ventilator is breathing for him, it's likely that even if he does wake up, he's gonna be dependent on the ventilator for the rest of his life..” 

“ Thank you Jack…. We know you have worked hard to help him… Can I take them up to ICU and recovery?” 

“ I have no objections to that… go on and see your father….” 

“ Jack… I appreciate that you tried your hardest for our father..” Genesis said as Dr. Daniels was walking back into the hall.

Genesis took Riley and Jesslyn up to the ICU and recovery wing while she had nothing scheduled so they could spend a few minutes at a time after having to wait for a few weeks.

“ We're right here Daddy…. Me and Riley and Genesis we're gonna be right here for when you wake up.”  Jesslyn sat at Rick's side trying not to be upset.

“ Jess he's gonna be okay… Dad isn't gonna leave us...”  Riley stood by Jesslyn's side.

~~~

Thinking about his kids was easy but deciding to fight was another story as he believed that at that time he was ready just to let go of fighting for his own life which by that time he felt ready to finally join and reunite with Lesley.

“ I could excuse my upset with you about this Rick but I don't think I have to...”  Lesley started to say.

“ Even more beautiful than I thought you were gonna be...” Rick interrupted to reach out for Lesley.

“ You know that I am gonna ask you to go back and wake up Rick… Riley still needs his Dad...” 

“ I don't think I can do that Lesley… I've waited for 11 years to finally be with you again… to be able to touch you and to kiss you again.. I don't think I can give that up now.” Rick admitted while Lesley sat down beside him.

“ I know that I am asking you alot… and I am sorry Rick…. I want to be with you again and I want to be in your arms again… but our son needs you just as much.. and when he gets to graduate school soon and he has his diploma… you can finally let go of all of the pain and the baggage you have carried all these years after I passed away. I won't ask you to fight after this again I promise you I won't..”  Lesley kissed Rick hoping he'd agree to wake up and go back to the kids.

“ I love you Richard Webber…”  Lesley said in the distance while fading out as Rick later started to slowly regain consciousness with the kids at his side

“ Jaxie page Jack stat and respiratory care for a tracheotomy.”  Genesis asked when Rick started to wake up

Genesis pulled Riley and Jesslyn out of the room so she and the other doctors could assess and determine the extent of Rick's condition.

“ You saw for yourself Gene… He woke up… he came back to us. He'll be okay and he'll come home.”  Jesslyn stated in the hall.

“ Jess he's not gonna be going back home…. He'll be lucky if he makes it to next month or so.”  Genesis commented 

“ Gene, don't say that!…. He will get better, he has to..” Jesslyn cried 

“ You guys I don't want to believe it either…. But I looked at his latest scans and head CT's. He'll be lucky if he makes it another month or so.” 

“ We should let Dad go…. We should let him reunite with Mom…”  Riley spoke up to Jesslyn and Genesis's surprise

“ Riley we can't just quit on him… we have to fight for him.”  Jesslyn replied

“ Except that he's suffering and Genesis could be right that he's not going home… he wouldn't want to be kept on the machines.. we should let him go.” Riley argued back

“ Riley's right… Jess I don't want to give up either but I can't go about this blindly either. Mom would be angry with us if we kept him like this just for selfish reasons.”  Genesis pointed out.

“ You just saw for yourself Genesis, he woke up and he squeezed my hand.” 

Jesslyn walked off not caring to hear more about turning off the machines and all of that as she couldn't believe that her own sister and her brother wanted to pull life support and to just let Rick go.

“ Dad it's Riley… I want you to know that I am here by your side and it's okay if you can't get better… I understand if you wanna let go.. but I hope that you choose to fight because you're my dad and I love you. I can't graduate without having you there. But I understand if you don't want to fight.”  Riley pleaded with Rick to get better missing that he was awake and starting to respond

“ I love you too son.” Rick barked 

~~~

Coming along through physical therapy Rick was starting to make good progress where Genesis was hopeful that he would go home afterall but kept in mind that his recovery from surgery was not all successful as much as she and the surgeon were hoping and the chances of lapsing back into acoma were increasing especially if Rick were to push himself.

“ Dad, how do you feel?” Genesis asked when going over his vital signs and his chart

“ I think I'm doing okay… how's Riley and Jesslyn?” Rick's asked while alittle concerned

“ We're all okay and Riley is going to come by later, after he gets finished with his midterms. Jesslyn is having a hard time with all of this.. and I hate it when she's upset. I wish I could make it easier for her to deal with it.” Genesis answered easily 

“ She never had it easy dealing with things emotionally…. She's more like your mother in that regard… You all have the same determination of your mother. She's very proud of you. And to see you following in our footsteps as a doctor she would've been even more thrilled for you.” 

“ I'm not coping as well as you might see Dad….”  Genesis admitted. “ I don't want you to go anywhere having you still here when Mom can't be, it's why I'm able to get through everyday...” 

“ Genesis…. When I do join your mother, I'll still be here for you… that will never change. I guided you when you needed someone and I would still guide you even when I'm gone. I had a great life minus these last 11 years without having your mother with us. I wouldn't change anything I had then what I had because I had your mother and she and I, we had you and Jesslyn and Riley.”  

“ You rest… I'll come back to check on you oh and Dad… we all love you very much and that could never go away.” 

Riley had gotten home and had seen that Jesslyn was home only except of watching her usual show, she instead watched a few old videos from when everyone was together and both Rick and Lesley had always taken the kids to the park and sometimes even to the beach

“ Hi Jess… do you mind if we talk for alittle bit I think you could use a friend and your brother.” Riley suggested 

“ You wouldn't remember much, but you and Mom always looked for fun… and if you didn't want to hang with us, you used to plan on how to mess with Mom...” 

“ I remember the time you and I got mom pretty good at the beach. It was just before she started to get sick… and Dad helped us and it was funny. Did we get it on tape?” 

“ Yeah we did….”  Jesslyn stopped the tape. “ Riley are you okay?” 

“ Dad's really gonna be with mom soon isn't he?”  Riley asked 

“ I don't know pal… I really hope that he doesn't because he's the only one we have left to remember Mom. C'mon let's give Genesis a call at the hospital and see how he's feeling.”  Jesslyn answered

~~~

“ Dr. Webber there's a call for you on line 3.”  Nurse Jones said

“ This is Dr Webber…. Hi Jess I'm a tad busy but what's up..?” 

“ Riley and I just wanted to check in on anything about Dad?” Jesslyn asked

“ His condition is stable for the time being and in alittle bit I am sending a consult in to get another head CT.” 

“ But he's gonna be okay right? We're not gonna lose him right?” Jesslyn asked 

“ Jess he's stable for right now. Stop thinking of the worst.” 

Waiting for the specialist, Genesis was in with a patient which didn't take very long as she was later paged to meet with the specialist that was brought in for Rick's care

“ I don't understand…. I thought the medication protocol was helping him.” Genesis said

“ I'm sorry Dr Webber, it was helping. Because of where the tumor is located he could have a massive seizure. Should he have another, his chances of losing all Brain function are high.” 

“ So we operate and alleviate the pressure. It was done 16 weeks ago.” Genesis insisted 

“ Operating is not an option, I'm sorry. At best he could have up to 2 months.”  

“ No! I won't accept that there's nothing else we can do… We have to help him.” 

“ Genesis you did all you could like my father once taught me. Cherish the time you get to spend because there are those who don't get to have the time at all...” 

“ And I'm supposed to tell my sister and my brother what, that that's it? You send him home with a nurse or so and then we just let him die?” Genesis snapped 

“ Dr Webber, think of your Dad right now…. Would you really want him to be here for what's left for his life or would you rather take him home to be with the family he loves…”  Dr. Daniels started “ I know about how things went with your mother. My father and my uncle were the ones brought on to her medical case… I was alittle older than you were but I wasn't in medical school yet… when they cut treatment for your mother they were devastated just as you were…” 

“ Jack, don't okay…. you don't know the hell my mother went through what it did to her, my father and then me, my sister and our brother. This is not the same… Rick Webber is the only parent me and my siblings have left…. I can't and won't just give up on him like yours gave up on my mother… and if you ever thought of me as a friend then you won't ask me to.”  

Genesis ran off to try to gather her emotions as it started to weigh alittle more than she wanted it to because the memories from Lesley's trouble and what she had gone through started to come back and remind her that medicine could only help so far now she was faced with it again that it was only a question of how much time could she Jesslyn and Riley have left with him before he was to pass and finally reunite again with Lesley.

“ If you'd rather be alone I won't stay.”  Jaxie said easily

“ Jaxie, how could someone ask me to just give up on my father? Or to just take him home only to die.?” 

“ I probably would ask myself that same thing.” 

“ How am I supposed to do it…. How do I let my father die.?” Genesis tried not to cry

“ Genesis the important thing is your father is loved and he knows that it hurts you to make this choice. Just remember that you don't have to do it alone.” 

Genesis arranged to take Rick home and took a leave from work to stay home with him even with her good friend Jaxie there to stay because at the thought of losing him was hard enough, but losing him with her not there at all was what got to her especially when she couldn't be there for Lesley when she had passed away.

“ Jaxie thanks for being there for me and my family….” Genesis stated.

“ I'm gonna give the 4 of you some time alone… Gennie, remember what I told you.”  Jaxie stepped out to give Riley and the girls some time.

“ Is there something we should do for you… Are you comfortable enough?” Riley asked while Jesslyn and Genesis were also by Rick's side. 

“ I'm alright…. I don't want you to worry about me or stop your lives because you think you have to to take care of me. I'm really okay.” 

“ Well we don't want you to go anywhere yet… you'll miss Riley's graduation if you leave us now...” 

“ I will not miss that. I will be there with you, Son. I promise you that.” Rick responded.

“ It's in 2 weeks Dad, do you think you could stay with us for at least another 3 weeks.?” 

“ You know that I will try..” Rick replied 

“ Daddy are you okay?... Daddy!?” Jesslyn started to