INT. NICU — MIDDAY

Low light.
Muted alarms.
That careful hush that never fully becomes quiet.

Link steps in from the corridor.
He approaches the nurses’ station.

LINK
Hey.
 
NURSE
Hi, Dr. Lincoln.

LINK
How did they do while I was gone?

The nurse pulls up the chart.
Professional. Grounded.

NURSE
Overall last night was okay.
And they’ve had a lot of visitors this morning.

LINK
Really?

NURSE
They’ve got quite the fan club.

Link almost smiles.

The nurse refocuses on the chart.

Link stays still, listening.

NURSE (CONT’D)
So Baby A still does well on CPAP.
If today stays stable, we may be able to remove it tomorrow.

A small win.
Link lets out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding.

NURSE
We’ve started her on phototherapy. 
Her bilirubin levels were climbing.

Link takes it in.

LINK
That’s common, right?

NURSE
Very. Even in full-term babies.
It usually resolves in a few days.

NURSE (CONT’D)
Baby B’s been improving since we stepped her down from HFOV to the vent.
Her oxygen needs are coming down a bit.
(a beat)
She’s still sedated, but we’ve been able to ease it slightly.
 
She hesitates.

NURSE (CONT’D)
She had a brief desaturation earlier this morning.

Link stiffens slightly.

LINK
What happened?

NURSE
Her O2 sat dipped briefly.

Link’s eyes sharpen.

LINK
Why didn’t you call me right away?

The nurse remains calm.
Used to this reaction.

NURSE
She settled immediately.
Her saturation came right back up.

A beat.

NURSE (CONT’D)
Dr. Bailey was with them the whole time.
She's the one who made the call not to page you.
(a beat)
There wasn't any reason to.
It resolved right away.

Link absorbs that.

LINK
I thought the medication was working. 

NURSE
It is.
We’re still seeing some response to the PDA.

A beat. 

She softens, just slightly. 

NURSE (CONT’D)
We’re keeping a close eye on her.
(a beat)
That can happen at this stage.
What matters is how quickly they recover.

Link is still tense.
Then exhales.

LINK
Are they gaining weight?

NURSE
Baby A’s weight is starting to stabilize.
Baby B’s is still trending down a little —
but less than before.

Link nods. A bit overwhelmed by the information.
 
NURSE (CONT’D)
They’ve both been tolerating their feeds well so far.

LINK
Okay…

A beat.

She shifts.

NURSE
How is Dr. Wilson, if I may ask?

That lands.

LINK
It’s really hard on her.
Not being able to see them.

The nurse softens.

NURSE
Sometimes seeing photos helps.
It gives moms something to hold onto.

Link hesitates.

LINK
I’m worried it might do more harm than good.

She considers that.

NURSE
Or it might help her feel closer.
For some mothers, it can help with bonding
and even with milk production.
If that’s something she wants.

Link looks toward the incubators.
Thinking.

LINK
Yeah…
(a beat)
I’m worried it might overwhelm her.
Seeing them so tiny, with all the vents, the lines.

The nurse nods. No argument.

NURSE
That’s okay.
You know her best.
(a beat)
She’s been through a lot.

Link nods.
Quietly gathering himself.

LINK
I’m going to say good morning.
 
She nods and returns to her work.

Link moves toward the incubators.
Stops at the first.
Leans in slightly.

LINK
(quiet)
Hi, baby.
(a beat)
It’s Daddy.

The baby sleeps.
Monitors blinking softly.

Link watches her.
Smiling despite himself.

LINK (CONT’D)
Mommy’s working really hard to get back to you.

A beat.

He moves to the second incubator.
Same care.
Same gentleness.

LINK (CONT’D)
Hey, you.
(a beat)
You’re doing so good.

A quiet smile.

LINK (CONT’D)
Mommy will be here soon.
I promise.

He lingers.
Longer than necessary.

Then he hesitates.
The nurse’s words echo in his head.
Sometimes seeing photos helps.

Slowly, he pulls out his phone.
Careful.
Respectful.

He takes a couple of pictures.
It feels wrong.

But she needs to see them.
Just proof they are here.
Breathing.
Fighting.

Link lowers the phone.
He stays there.
Close.
Where their mother cannot be yet.

Dr. Kasliwal approaches the incubators.

KASLIWAL
Morning.

Link turns.

KASLIWAL
The nurse told me she gave you the update.

Link nods.

LINK
Yeah.
Baby B’s desaturation.

KASLIWAL
It’s easy to focus on the scary part.
But overall, both girls are on the right track.
(a beat)
Focus on that. 

Link nods.

KASLIWAL (CONT’D)
I heard Jo was extubated.

Link nods.

LINK
Yeah.
This morning.

A small approving nod from her.

KASLIWAL
That’s very good news.

She glances toward the incubators.

KASLIWAL (CONT’D)
That means we’ll probably have to stop calling them Baby A and Baby B soon.

Link blinks.
The thought lands.
He looks back at the babies.

LINK
We… haven’t talked about that yet.

A beat.

LINK (CONT’D)
She just came out of it this morning and—

He trails off.
The realization settles heavier.

KASLIWAL
Don’t worry.
You’ve had bigger issues to handle.

Link looks down, a flicker of guilt.

LINK
How do you forget your babies don’t even have names yet?

A beat.

LINK (CONT’D)
That should’ve been the first thing we talked about.

KASLIWAL
Trauma does strange things to the brain.

A gentle shrug.

KASLIWAL (CONT’D)
It narrows everything down to survival.

She looks at the girls.

KASLIWAL (CONT’D)
The rest catches up later.

A beat.

KASLIWAL (CONT’D)
Take your time.
(a beat)
They can wait a little longer.

Link exhales quietly.

Kasliwal gives the babies one last glance.
Then heads back toward the NICU station.
 
Link stays.
One hand resting lightly against one incubator.

Watching them.
Thinking.
Still here.

FADE OUT.