INT. GREY SLOAN MEMORIAL – ICU ROOM – DAY

The room is dark, hushed.

Link is asleep in the chair, his head resting against the mattress near Jo’s arm.

One hand still wrapped around hers.

He hasn’t let go.

Ben Warren slips in quietly.

He pauses at the doorway — takes in the sight.

Then steps closer.

Ben places a gentle hand on Link’s shoulder.
Not shaking.
Not urgent.
Just enough.

Link wakes instantly.
Too fast.

He’s upright in a second — breath sharp, eyes already searching Jo.

BEN
(soft, steady)
Hey. She’s okay.

Link exhales — shaky. A fraction of relief.

He rubs his face with his hand, trying to orient himself.

BEN (CONT’D)
The NICU’s been trying to reach you.

That lands.

LINK
(already standing)
Is everything okay?

BEN
Yeah.
They just want to update you.

Relief. Brief. 

Link’s gaze drops to his phone on the chair.

He picks it up.

Missed calls.
NICU.
NICU again.

And texts.

ON SCREEN:
MOM: Link, please call us.
MOM: We’re worried.
MOM: Link?

The weight piles on.
Link locks the phone without responding.

LINK
(low, raw)
I can’t leave her.

Ben doesn’t rush him.

LINK (CONT’D)
When they took her in…
(A beat)
I’ve never seen her that scared.
Not ever.

His voice tightens.

LINK (CONT’D)
I can’t get that image out of my head.

A beat.

LINK (CONT’D)
And I wasn’t there.

The guilt is sharp. Specific. Unforgiving.

LINK (CONT’D)
And then her heart stopped.

BEN
You didn’t abandon her.

Link shakes his head.

LINK
It feels like I did.

He looks at Jo — unconscious, fragile.

LINK (CONT’D)
(raw)
I am afraid to leave.

Ben steps closer. Firm now, but gentle.

BEN
Your babies need you too.

Not pressure.
Reality.

Link swallows hard.

BEN (CONT’D)
She’s stable.
And I’ll stay with her.

Link looks at him — searching.

BEN (CONT’D)
I could use the break anyway.
And I’ve got a lot to tell her.

That almost breaks him.

BEN (CONT’D)
I won’t leave her alone.
And if I have to step out, I’ll make sure someone’s here.

A promise that matters.

Link hesitates — torn — then nods once.

Not ready.
But willing.

LINK
…Okay.

He leans down and kisses her forehead — gentle, lingering just a second longer than he should.

LINK (CONT’D)
I’ll be right back.
I promise.

He lets go.

That costs him everything.

Ben moves into his place, taking Jo’s hand gently.

As Link reaches the door, Ben speaks — quiet, almost fond.

BEN
Come on, Wilson.

A beat.

BEN (CONT’D)
I promise I won’t hold any gossip from you.

Just enough humor to keep the room human.

Link almost smiles.
Almost.

He leaves.

Ben squeezes Jo’s hand.

BEN (CONT’D)
You hear that?
You’ve got a lot to catch up on.

He settles in.

Stays.

FADE OUT.