INT. ICU ROOM — AFTERNOON

Jo is asleep now.
Breathing steady.
Ventilator cycling smoothly.
Sedation light.

Link watches her for a beat longer than necessary.
Then he reaches out and gently squeezes her leg through the sheet.

LINK
(low)
I’ll be back.

He steps out, sliding the glass door closed carefully.
He hands the nurse an empty food tray.

LINK
Thank you.
I’m going to check on the twins.

The nurse nods.

LINK (CONT’D)
If anything changes–

NURSE
We’ll call you, Dr. Lincoln.

Link gives one last look through the glass.
Then walks away.

INT. ICU CORRIDOR — CONTINUOUS

He rounds the corner and nearly runs into Teddy.
She reads him immediately: the tension, the exhaustion still clinging to him.

TEDDY
Hey.

LINK
Hey.
I’m heading down to the NICU.

A beat.

TEDDY
I’ll walk you.

They fall into step.

TEDDY (CONT’D)
I heard Baby B peed last night.

Link nods.

A flicker of relief. Brief, cautious.

LINK
Yeah.
She’s still on high-frequency.
But it’s something.

Teddy gives a small nod.
That matters.

A beat.

TEDDY
And Jo?

Link doesn’t answer right away.

LINK
Still vented.
They’re planning an SBT this afternoon.

A beat.

TEDDY
Good.
 
LINK
Hopefully we can get the tube out.

He exhales.
Not relief.
Not yet.

They slow near the NICU doors.

TEDDY
Let me know if you need anything...

Link nods, then—
a flicker.

LINK
(quiet, almost to himself)
Can you fast-forward us out of this?

Teddy holds his gaze.
A beat.

TEDDY
That I can't.
(a beat)
But I can help you through it.

A beat.

TEDDY (CONT'D)
If you need me to take Luna and Scout—

LINK
My parents have them.
But… thank you.

Teddy nods.
A beat.

TEDDY (CONT'D)
(soft)
Go see your girls.

She reaches out, squeezes his good arm briefly.
Grounding.

He nods.
Then turns and heads inside.

FADE OUT.