INT. GREY SLOAN MEMORIAL – ICU ROOM – MORNING

Jo rests her forehead against the edge of Link’s bed, her hand still wrapped loosely around his. Exhaustion pulls at her like gravity. She isn’t sleeping; she’s simply letting her body go still.

She knows she still has to speak to Link’s parents who haven’t called her back yet.

The thought alone tightens her chest.
Her phone vibrates.

Sharp. Sudden. Too loud for her nerves.
Maureen.

Jo’s breath stutters. She pushes herself upright, legs unsteady, and slips into the hallway. 

She cannot outrun this moment.

MAUREEN
(worried, breath tight)
Hi Jo. I got your text.
Is everything alright?

JO
(swallows hard, tries to speak)
Maureen, it’s—

Her voice breaks cleanly in half. She presses her hand over her mouth.

JO (CONT’D)
It’s Link… something happened—

But the rest won’t come out.

MAUREEN
Jo? Honey, what happened?

Jo’s throat closes. She shakes her head even though Maureen can’t see it. Tears sting her eyes. Her breath is thin, uneven. She can’t do this.

Ben Warren turns the corner, heading toward the ICU. He sees her instantly — frozen posture, wet eyes — and slows.

JO
(whispering, pleading)
It’s Link’s mom. I… I can’t—

BEN
(soft, already stepping closer)
Okay. I’ve got it.

He holds out his hand.
 
BEN
Let me take it.

Jo nods gratefully and gives him the phone. Her hand trembles as it lets go.

BEN
(doctor voice, calm and controlled)
Hi Mrs. Lincoln, this is Dr. Ben Warren. I was part of the team that operated on your son.

MAUREEN
(breath hitching)
Oh my God…
(to her husband, off-phone)
Eric—Eric, something happened to Link.

ERIC
(faint, panicked)
What? What happened?

BEN
There was an explosion at the hospital. Link was injured, severely, but we were able to stabilize him. He’s in intensive care now. He’s holding his own.

MAUREEN
(in shock)
Oh my god, is he gonna be okay?

BEN
He’s stable now, ma’am.
We’re watching him closely. 

MAUREEN
We just left the hotel. 
We’re turning back. 
We’re coming right to the hospital.

BEN
I’m sorry, ma’am. The building is still locked down because of the explosion.
No one can enter for now.

MAUREEN
What about Jo?
Is she okay?

Ben turns, offering the phone back.

Jo wipes her face with the back of her hand and reaches for the phone.

JO
(voice soft, raw)
Maureen… I’m fine. 
I’m with him. I’m not leaving.

She swallows.

JO (CONT’D)
The babysitter’s staying with Luna and Scout today, but—
(Her voice wavers)
Could you go to the apartment? Take care of them until I can get home?
You can use the spare room.

MAUREEN
Of course we will.
(beat)
Jo… is Link going to be okay?
Is he awake?

Jo closes her eyes.

JO
Not yet.
They’re keeping him in a medically induced coma, for now.
His body needs time to recover.
And… he has a long road ahead of him.

A quiet gasp on the line.

MAUREEN
Oh god…

JO
Please… don’t say anything to the kids yet.
Not until we know more.

MAUREEN
Okay.
You call us the second he wakes up.

JO
I will.
Thank you, Maureen.

Jo’s arm drops to her side. The adrenaline drains out of her all at once. Her knees soften.
Ben is still there.

BEN
(quiet, grounding)
Hey.
Look at me.

She lifts her eyes, barely holding herself upright.

BEN
He made it through surgery.
He’s stable.
And he’s got the entire hospital watching over him.

A beat.

BEN (CONT’D)
You hear me?

Jo lets out a shaky breath — the kind that hurts on its way out.

Ben places a steady hand on her shoulder.

She leans into him without thinking, and he pulls her into a brief, solid hug — the kind meant to keep someone standing.

BEN
You’re not alone in this.
We’ve got him.
And we’ve got you.

Jo nods, eyes closed.

JO
Thank you…
Then she straightens, wipes her cheeks, and goes back to Link’s room.

FADE OUT.