"Briefly. She's resting right now." Laura paused and looked up at Crystal. "I see why Bobby was so worried. She looks fifty pounds bigger than she usually is. The doctor said it was the fluid building up in her system."

"But they can take care of it, right?"

"They think so. He said it depends on how she responds to the IV they're giving her." Laura tried to sound hopeful but there was something in her voice that made Crystal believe her roommate was putting on a front.

"Did you call Jenny yet?"

Laura shook her head. "I called the relatives but told them to stay home until we know more. I figured if things got worse then I'd call Jen. You are going to stay here with me for a while, aren't you?"

Crystal nodded, secretly pleased that Laura wanted her there. "I'll stay as long as you want me to." She was surprised to feel the writer's hand touch her knee.

"Thanks," Laura said. "I'm glad you're here." She looked back at the papers and exhaled loudly. "I'd better get back to this. Fortunately Mom has everything organized. These first papers are about her insurance. The stuff in the back is things from her lawyer and about the house." Several papers were removed from the folder and set aside.

"Hey, why don't you sit back and relax for a few minutes?" Crystal offered.

Laura shook her head. "I can't. I have to take care of everything." She looked over at her brother. "I can't ask him to do this." "He's not a baby, you know," the younger woman reminded. "He's going to college in a few weeks."

"That's right, he is," Laura said. "What am I going to do with her? Someone has to stay with her now." She began shuffling through the papers. "Does her insurance cover home care?"

Crystal felt woefully out of place. Hospitals were places she visited rarely and dealing with the possible loss of a parent was not something she ever worried about. She briefly let her mind wander, wondering if her parents were still alive. The thought naturally led to wondering about her older sister and Crystal was lost in another time when Laura tried to get her attention. "I'm sorry, what?"

"I asked if you minded getting us something from the machine? I think I could really use something with zip right about now." "Hot chocolate or coffee?"

"Hmm, caffeine and sugar or chocolate, caffeine and sugar. I'll take the hot chocolate."

"You got it," Crystal said, standing up. "Bobby, do you want something?"

"Coffee with cream and sugar would be nice," he said.

"I'll be right back," she said softly to Laura, taking the offered handful of change. I'd better get a coffee for myself too. Looks like it's gonna be a long night.

Crystal had been correct about it being a long night. It was after two and Laura showed no sign of wanting to leave the hospital. Several times the Taylor siblings went in to check on their mother while she quietly kept watch of their belongings in the waiting room. Bobby was now sound asleep across several chairs while Laura continued to look through the family papers. "Maybe you should go home and get some sleep," Crystal said after noticing yet another yawn from her roommate.

"No. I want to be here in case Mom wakes up."

"They told you she probably wouldn't wake up until tomorrow."

"They've been wrong before. I don't want her to wake up and be alone," Laura said firmly.

"At least give yourself a break from doing all that stuff with the papers." She pushed a steaming cup of hot chocolate toward Laura. "You let your last cup get ice cold before you drank it. Sit back for a minute and have some before this one gets cold too." Deciding that subtle wasn't working, Crystal picked up the cup and held it in front of her roommate. "Drink."

"I don't"

"Drink," Crystal repeated firmly. Her persistence worked as Laura finally took the cup and drained half of it before setting it on the table. "Happy?"

"Yes." And it was true, Crystal was happy Laura was listening to her. It was an odd role reversal for the blonde and she hoped she was capable of being the supportive friend Laura needed. Looking over at the sleeping teenager, Crystal remembered the talk they had in the car. "Laura, you know Bobby can take care of whatever needs to be done with your mother's house while she's here."

"I can handle it," the dark haired woman said without looking up from her stack of papers. "He needs to worry about getting ready for college." "What does he need to do? He already graduated from high school. He's been accepted wherever it is he wanted to go." "Union. He got accepted at Union."

"Union. So what else is there for him to do? Pack up the things he needs for his dorm room? No reason why he can't pick up the morning paper and the mail. He probably does that for your mom already. He's not a little boy anymore."

"It's not for him to take care of things." Laura picked up her pen and scribbled a note in her planner. "I have it all under control." "Whatever." With a sigh, Crystal gave up and leaned back in her chair. You're too stubborn.

"Where is" Laura flipped through the papers. "I can't find it."

"Find what?"

"Mom's other policy. She's supposed to have supplemental insurance to cover what the Army benefits don't. I can't find it but it has to be here somewhere."

"Are you sure she has it?"

"Of course she does. When Dad retired he bought the policies himself. Maybe it's in the folder with his papers." Laura opened the briefcase and pulled out the other large manila folder. "This is why Bobby can't do it. He wouldn't have thought about the supplemental policies."

"I wouldn't have thought of it either," Crystal admitted.

"Well I should have thought of it earlier but oh, there it is. Right in Dad's folder." Laura shook her head. "I can't believe Mom didn't think to put this in her folder."

I can't believe anyone would even have a 'folder', Crystal thought. She was surprised when Laura put the pen down and sat back, fully expecting her roommate to spend all night looking through the mountain of papers.

"Well that's done. I just have to give the billing office the policy numbers and Mom will be all set as far as that goes."

"Do you want to go check on her again? I'll stay here with him and keep an eye on your stuff."

Laura couldn't suppress a yawn. "Oh, sorry about that. What time is it?"

"Almost two thirty."

"Good thing tomorrow's the weekend. I'd hate to think of you trying to get up early and go work a full day for Michael."

"If I had to, I would," Crystal said. "Go on. If he wakes up I'll tell him where you are."

Laura gave her a grateful smile. "Thanks. I won't be long."

"Take all the time you want." Crystal watched her roommate leave the waiting room and head down the hall before putting her feet up on the small table and settling herself into as comfortable a position as she could on the hard plastic chair. Another reason I hate waiting rooms. The chairs suck. Crystal yawned and rubbed her eyes. I could go to sleep right now. I can't believe how tired I am. I'll just close my eyes for a few minutes while she's gone. She was sound asleep within minutes.

Crystal awoke to the feeling of someone shaking her shoulder. "Crystal? Crystal, wake up."

"Huh?" Sitting up and rubbing her eyes, it took the blonde woman a few seconds to remember where she was. "Oh, sorry Laura. I guess I dozed off."

"I figured you would. I was gone almost an hour."

Crystal moved her legs to let Laura get to her own seat. "How's she doing?" she asked, still trying to come to full wakefulness.

"She was awake for a little while." Laura looked over at her sleeping brother. "She looks so weak and she couldn't stop coughing. The doctor said that's a good sign."

"What? That she's coughing her brains out?"

"Actually yes. He said it meant the medicine they're giving her is working. It's getting the fluid out of her lungs and that's what's causing the coughing."

"So that's good, right?"

"That's what they tell me." Laura sighed and shook her head. "She says she feels too sick to be poked and prodded by the doctors. They're moving her up to CCU in a few minutes."

"CCU?"

"It's the cardiac care unit. They want to keep for a few days until they get the fluid out and they want a cardiologist to look at her." She looked over at her brother. "He was just a kid when Dad died."

"He's not a kid now," Crystal said. "He understands what's going on."

"I know," Laura conceded. A polite cough caused them both to turn and see a tall man dressed in a white lab coat. "I'll be right back." Laura walked out into the hall and spoke with the man, returning a few minutes later. "They said we should go home now and come back tomorrow. I'd better wake him up. He can sleep on the couch."

"You mean you're having him come back to our place?"

"He probably doesn't want to be alone right now," Laura reasoned. "At a time like this, the family should stick together." I wouldn't know about families sticking together, Crystal thought dourly. But I guess that's what a normal family does. "So we'll go home and you'll come back tomorrow?"

"As soon as I wake up. I don't want Mom to be here all alone too long." Laura sank into her seat and exhaled slowly. "I still can't believe this is happening." Her fingers quickly wiped away an errant tear that began to fall down her cheek. "S-she's only fifty four."

Crystal realized immediately that the control Laura had been showing all evening was slipping. Unsure what else to do, she held her arms out and accepted the distraught woman into an awkward embrace. "It's gonna be all right," she whispered, slowly rubbing her hand up and down Laura's back. She felt the body against her begin to shake as the tears came more freely. Oh no, she's really crying now. "Shh, come on now, Laura. It's all right. Your mom's gonna be okay. Shh." Crystal wasn't sure who initiated the rocking motion but she made no effort to stop it. She used her right hand to hold the dark head close to her chest while her left hand continued to slowly rub Laura's back. "It's gonna be okay." Crystal knew how to deal with angry people but upset people were a different matter. And when the upset person was one of her best friends, Crystal felt even more helpless. "I don't know what else to do," she whispered, pressing her cheek against the top of Laura's head. She felt the wetness of tears soaking through her shirt and the almost painful grip of Laura's hands around her back. What the hell do I say? Long minutes passed as she continued to hold Laura in her arms. Spotting movement out of the corner of her eye, Crystal looked up and noticed Bobby sitting up and rubbing his face. He looked at her sister worriedly. "She's okay," Crystal said, easing the young man's concern. "Laura?" she whispered. "Laura? Bobby's awake now." As she expected, Laura released her hold and sat up, trying hard to regain her composure.

"Sorry," Laura said, reaching into her pocket and pulling out her handkerchief. "I guess I just needed a good crying jag." She wiped her eyes and looked at her brother. "They're moving Mom to CCU and said we should go home and come back tomorrow."

Bobby yawned and stood up, raising his arms high above his head to stretch after being cramped across the hard plastic chairs for so long. "Ahh, I didn't think I would fall asleep."

"Don't worry about it," Crystal said. "I zonked out for a few minutes too." She absently wiped at the wet tear stain on the front of her shirt and looked at Laura. "You ready?"

"Yes," Laura said, putting most of the papers back into the briefcase and closing it. "I just need to stop at the desk and give them Mom's insurance information and then we'll be all set. Bobby, do you want to swing by the house and pick up some clothes or do you want to wait until tomorrow to do that?"

"Pick up some clothes? I can stay at the house while Mom's here," he said firmly, looking to Crystal for support.

"Um, Laura? Can I talk to you for a minute?" Tugging lightly on the writer's elbow, Crystal led them to the far end of the room. "He doesn't want to stay at your place," she said in a low tone. "Why not let him stay home alone?"

"He's too yo" Laura stopped herself, seeing the sparse blonde stubble that had formed on her bother's chin.

"He's not too young," Crystal reminded her.

Laura sighed and reluctantly nodded. "All right." Turning to Bobby she said "I'll see you tomorrow then. Make sure you lock all the doors and don't let anyone outside the family know you're home alone."

Bobby cocked his head and gave his sister a look. "I'm not twelve, Sis."