Another lil Benley collection

The ICU

With a heavy heart, Richard left the operating room to inform Ben of Miranda's condition. As he entered the waiting room, he saw Ben sitting with their sons, Tuck and Joey, who had fallen asleep beside him. In Ben's arms, Pru slept soundly, unaware of the turmoil surrounding her mother.

Richard approached them quietly, not wanting to disturb the peaceful scene before him. He gently touched Ben's shoulder, his expression filled with empathy and sorrow."Ben," Richard said softly, his voice tinged with sadness as he braced himself for the difficult conversation ahead.

Ben stirred awake, his eyes bleary with exhaustion as he looked up at Richard. The weight of the moment settled heavily on his shoulders as he awaited news of Miranda's condition.

"Richard," Ben said, his voice barely above a whisper as he held Pru close to him, his protective instinct kicking in despite the uncertainty of their situation.

Richard took a deep breath, steeling himself for the task at hand. "Ben," he began, his voice heavy with regret. "The surgery didn't go as we'd hoped. Miranda's condition is still critical."

Ben's heart sank at Richard's words. He felt a wave of despair wash over him as he struggled to comprehend the gravity of the situation.

"Is she..." Ben's voice caught in his throat, unable to finish the question.

Richard shook his head, his own grief mirroring Ben's. "We've stabilized her the best we could... but it's too soon to tell what the outcome will be," he replied, his voice filled with compassion.

Ben's heart sank at the news, his grip tightening on Pru as he absorbed the devastating reality of the situation. Tears welled up in his eyes, but he remained composed for the sake of his children.

"What now?" Ben asked, his voice barely above a whisper as he fought to keep his emotions in check.

Richard hesitated, knowing the difficult road that lay ahead. "She's being transferred to the intensive care unit, and... it's going to be a long night. We are going to try to go back in tomorrow."

"Can I see her, Richard" Ben sighed

"Ben, I know you want to see her, but she's not in a good state," Richard explained, his voice tinged with concern. "It might be too much for you to handle right now."

But Ben was resolute, his determination unwavering. "I'm a doctor and I'm a firefighter," he insisted, his voice firm. "I understand what's happening, Richard. I need to see her."

Richard hesitated, knowing that Ben was right – he was a trained physician, capable of understanding the complexities of Miranda's condition. But this was different. This was family. Even he was unable to push personal feelings aside at this moment. So he couldn't imagine how Ben could.

"I know you do, Ben. But it's different when it's family," he said softly, his voice tinged with empathy.

Ben shook his head, his resolve unwavering. "I need to see her, Richard. I can't just sit here and do nothing," he replied, his voice filled with urgency.

Richard sighed, knowing that he couldn't dissuade Ben from seeing Miranda, no matter how risky it might be. "Alright," he conceded, his tone resigned. "But Pru should stay with the boys."

Ben nodded, gratitude flickering in his eyes as he thanked Richard for understanding. Turning to his sons, he made a decision.

"Pru, you need to stay with your brothers," he said gently, his voice filled with reassurance.

Joey reached out to her, Pru looked at him with wide eyes, sensing the gravity of the situation but not quite understanding what was happening. Ben squeezed her hand, offering her a reassuring smile before turning to Richard.