Let Me Go (Tyler Carter)

Chapter Twenty-Three: Change Consumes Us.

I turn over, a high buzzing sound coming from a machine. A nurse and doctor run in, as I sit there, still in a sleepy daze. "Her heart-rate's dropping!"

"Pump it back up," The doctor says as they move around. They finally get it back to normal, as the doctor calls me outbinto the hall.

"What is it Doc?"

"Addison, her heart, it's failing. We put a pacemaker in, but we don't know how long it'll hold out. She's been moved up on the transplant lost, but at the rate she's going, there's very little chance she'll get the the transplant in time."

"So, you're telling me Addison's on the verge of dying?" I say, swallowing tears. He nods somberly as I stand there, barely breathing. He touches my shoulder slightly as I was back in the room.

I see Addison laying there, startled when she talks, "I heard what he said. I'm dying. I know I am. Tyler, promise me you'll take care of Sarah. You have the band and the girls and our parents. Take care of her." She says, as tears threaten my eyes. A few escape as I wipe them away quickly.

"Addison, you're not dying. Not on my watch." I say, my voice slightly shaky.

"Tyler, we'll make the best of the time I have left. We'll do as much as we can. I want to give her the experiences I know I won't be there to be a part of." She says as I bite my lip. I don't even look at her as I turn around, walking through the hall. I walk into the nursery, as a nurse hands me Sarah. I hold her against me, tears running down my face.

"Sarah, I love you. Your Mommy, she's the greatest woman I know. She's been through so much. She's very sick. I know you won't remember this, but you're the second best thing to ever happen in my life, your Mama being the first one." I say as I sit there quietly. A voice comes over the loudspeaker, filling the air. "Cardiac arrest, room Four-Oh-Seven. All nurses assigned, report to room Four-Oh-Seven. I repeat, Four-Oh-Seven. Clear halls."

Four-oh-seven. That's Addison. I move quickly, handing Addison back to the nurse, as I run down the hall. I see nurses and doctors surrounding her, as a nurse gets my attention, shoving me out of the room. I stand there helplessly as monitors buzz around me. What I wouldn't do for this to be a dream.

"Are you okay?" She asks, though it should seem obvious.

"No, I'm not. My girlfriend, she's, well, she's dying. She needs a heart transplant." I say, taking a shaky breath as she moves Sarah from my chest, looking at me.

"I wish the best for you, I do." She says and I nod, fixing my clothes and walking back towards the room. I open the door, seeing Addison sitting up, writing quickly.

"Hey," I say but I'm greeted with silence, something that makes me cringe slightly. Very few times have we ever fought to the point I'd walk out. "Listen, I'm sorry. I should've known better than to just..."

"Tyler, stop. Please. Listen to me. If I'm only going to be here for a while, let me enjoy the time I have left." She says, her voice shaky. I bite my lip as she sits there, standing there silently until someone knocks on the door, a nurse coming in.

"We're going to let you go home, but you need to be back tomorrow morning for some tests. You can take the baby as well, just be careful. We're going to give you a monitor to hook yourself up to at night to keep your heart rate steady." She says as Addison looks at her. She disappears, coming in with a monstrous machine, as she explains everything to Addison. I stop slightly when I see another nurse wheeling Sarah in, wrapping carefully in clothes. I look through Addison's overnight bag and find a light outfit. I dress her carefully as they finally finish with Addison.

The nurse leaves us as I sit with Sarah, Addison taking a shower. I watch as Sarah's eyes flutter softly, a smile dancing on my lips as I smooth her hair down. Thank God she got Addison's dark brown hair, it look so much better than my natural color. "You're beautiful," I say, as she grabs on to my finger.

"I know I am," Addison says, which makes me laugh. I roll my eyes as she fixes her hair, it hanging down loosely. She slides her shoes on, signing some papers. I place Sarah back in the basinet, as I pack up our belongings. I pack up, as Addison finishes signing a huge stack of papers.

"Let's get goin'!" A nurse happily says as I smile. She places Addison on a wheelchair, and hands Sarah to her. I walk quietly behind them, carrying our bags. I thank God I have the rest of the boys to get the nursery ready and all the last minute details. I carefully place Sarah in the car seat, as she lays there, peacefully asleep. Addison slides in next to her, buckling up as I thank the nurse, getting in, driving away. The drive home is undeniably silent until my phone rings. I answer through the Bluetooth, hearing Michael's voice on the other end.

"Hey!" He says and I smile.

"Guess who's comin' home!" I say, excited.

"Addison! Is the baby coming home too?" Michael says as Sarah joins in. I smile, as Addison sits there, playing with Sarah's hair.

"Yes, she is!" Addison says, smiling widely. I smile and we talk to Michael, telling him to bring "the family" by after a bit. We arrive home as I have Addison sit down, carrying the car seat in. I sit it down, walking back out to grab the bags and the new machine that belongs to Addison. We sit there, as she unbuckles Sarah from her car seat. Addison carefully hoists her up, sitting her against her chest. "What time do we need to feed her?" Addison asks, looking at me as I move around, putting the bags upstairs.

"She ate about an hour ago, so probably in an hour or so." I say as Addison nods, kicking her shoes off. I carry the basinet down as Addison carefully places her in there. I watch as Addison gets up, walking upstairs and back down with a breast-pump.

"This is so gross!" She says and I laugh, looking around for something for lunch. She walks in, carrying the newly sterilized bottles, placing them in the fridge.

"Babe, I love you, but that's pretty nasty," I say, as she nods, laughing. "Pizza for dinner?"

"Oh yes! Please!" She says and I nod, placing an order on the phone. I sit down on the couch, turning the television on. I jump when I see the band standing there, girlfriends in tow. They all pile onto the chairs and other couch, as Michael brings in the pizzas. Sarah follows me into the kitchen, as well as KiKi. They make everyone's plates, as I grab sodas. Everyone sits around, feeling like a complete family. Chatter and laughter fills the air, as someone runs into the studio, bringing some instruments out, signing off-key with whatever we think of. The hours pass slowly, as everyone slowly leaves. Soon, it's just Addison and I, sitting there, as Sarah stirs, crying loudly. I change her diaper and make her a bottle, as Addison's dozes off to sleep.

"Shhh," I say, as she cries, while I warm up her bottle. I move carefully as I sit down, feeding her. She lays there, eating quietly as I sing to her. She falls asleep quickly and I carry her upstairs, turning the monitor on, deciding to get some rest. I walk back downstairs and lay beside Addison, as I doze off.

A/N: Another update! This story is going to end soon, though there'll be another one!