A Different Time and Place - A Collection of WoSo one shots.

Christmas Miracle (O'Hara/Sonnett)

It's a few days before Christmas and while everyone else is shopping, wrapping and celebrating the season, Karen, Dan and Kelley O'Hara take turns sitting bedside as Erin O'Hara is kept alive by machines that are beeping 24/7.

12 months ago the family's world was turned upside down when a seemingly perfectly healthy Erin dropped to the floor while out celebrating a friend's engagement one evening. A stream of tests concluded that Erin's heart was malfunctioning and she underwent immediate corrective surgery.

After being released from the hospital, it seemed as though the surgery was a success as Erin and the family began to get back to normal.

6 month later came a conversation that changed everything. The patch the surgeons had placed in Erin's heart was slowly being rejected and at any time if it were to give way she could undergo a massive coronary event with the likelihood of survival being extremely slim. Her name was added into the nationwide database for an immediate heart transplant, but as was explained by the doctors it would take a miracle for one to become available in time to save her.

A few months after being given the news and Erin's health slowly began to decline to the extent that she finally had to agree to enter the hospital for what conceivably would be her last Christmas with her family. Now she laid in a bed with machines doing everything for her.

Not far away, Emily Sonnett and her twin sister Emma are on the way home for Christmas, driving along singing along to the tunes and enjoying their time together after having been separated for the last six months as Emily was away playing soccer professionally.

The weather starts to worsen the closer they get to the city and soon they are hit by whiteout conditions. Emily slows the car down and tries to get her bearings, as Emma turns the music off and the car becomes silent aside from the sound of the heater.

They look at each other just before Emily loses control after sliding across some unseen black ice which sends the car into a spin and into another vehicle. The last thing Emily remembers is hearing her sister screaming.

As the O'Hara's sit in the hospital, the mood and energy level changes as staff members begin moving around at a higher speed.

Kelley having just returned from getting something to eat, stops a nurse as she walks by, "What's going on?"

"20 car pileup on the highway." The nurse keeps moving as Kelley returns to Erin's room and hands her parents each a fresh cup of coffee.

Karen and Dan noticing what's going on in the hallways ask Kelley what's going on and she informs them about the accident. Placing their cups down, they join hands and offer a prayer for those individuals and families affected by the accident.

Kelley takes her seat beside her sister, who is currently sleeping. "How is she doing?"

"Doctors figure it's only a matter of time now. Erin just wants to make it to Christmas."

"She will, when have you ever known her to turn down the opportunity for presents."

"I'm quite sure, there is only one present on her list the year, Kelley. It's the same one on all of ours." Kelley nods with tears in her eyes and takes ahold of her sister's hand.

Jane Sonnett sits bedside waiting for Emily to open her eyes while her husband Bill stands as speaks with the doctor.

"I'm sorry, but there is nothing more we can do for your daughter, except make her comfortable. Her most recent scans have confirmed our initial diagnosis that she suffered severe brain trauma in the accident. Emma is by our standards brain dead and will not recover. Mr and Mrs Sonnett, I would like to discuss the option of organ donation with you."