INT. NICU — AFTERNOON

The NICU hums softly.
Monitors. IV pumps. Vent oscillation.
Controlled quiet.

Baby A lies under CPAP — small chest rising steadily, nasal prongs secured carefully.
Baby B remains on high-frequency oscillation. The rapid oscillation visible in tiny, constant chest vibrations.

Link stands beside the incubators as Dr. Kasliwal joins him, tablet in hand.

She speaks calmly. Precisely.

KASLIWAL
Baby A’s breathing looks better today.
She’s tolerating the CPAP well.

Link nods.
Careful hope.

KASLIWAL (CONT’D)
We were able to increase her feeds slightly.
No setbacks.

Measured. 

KASLIWAL (CONT’D)
She’s tolerating her feeds so far — no residuals.

Link exhales quietly.

KASLIWAL (CONT’D)
Her weight loss is within expected range for day two.

Not victory. Just movement.

LINK
Yeah…
But I wish the curve was going up.

KASLIWAL (CONT’D)
At this stage, we expect some loss before things start to level off.

Link nods. 

She shifts slightly toward the other incubator.

LINK
(worried)
What about Baby B?

KASLIWAL
We’re keeping her on high-frequency oscillation for now.
But we reduced her settings slightly this morning.
Her oxygen requirements are coming down a bit.

A beat.

KASLIWAL (CONT’D)
It’s a small step.
She still needs full respiratory support.

Clear. Grounded.

KASLIWAL (CONT’D)
And she’s still sedated to keep her comfortable.

Link drops his gaze to the incubator.

KASLIWAL (CONT’D)
She’s put out urine twice since last night.

Link nods. He was there for one of them.

LINK
That’s… good, right?

KASLIWAL
It is encouraging, yes.
It means the medication is starting to have an effect on the PDA.

Link absorbs that.

KASLIWAL (CONT’D)
There’s also a small atrial septal defect on her echo.
We see that fairly often in preemies. For now, we’re just monitoring it.

Link takes it in. 

KASLIWAL (CONT’D)
It’s something that can close on its own over time.
(a beat)
But nothing I’m concerned about right now.

Then—

KASLIWAL (CONT’D)
Her weight dropped a little more than her sister’s overnight.

Link’s jaw tightens.

KASLIWAL (CONT’D)
Still within expected range for a baby this premature.
But she’s working harder.

Honest. Not alarming.

Link absorbs it.

Two daughters.
Two different curves.

They both look at Baby B's incubator for a beat. Silent.

Kasliwal turns toward Baby A's. Link follows.

KASLIWAL (CONT’D)
If Baby A remains stable today, we can consider skin-to-skin tomorrow.

Link looks at the CPAP.

LINK
Even with the CPAP?

KASLIWAL
Yes.
We secure everything.
She stays supported.

Conditional.
A small beat.

KASLIWAL (CONT’D)
As long as her oxygen levels stay stable with handling.

Link frowns.

LINK
I’m a doctor…
and I feel like I don’t know anything right now.

Kasliwal softens, just slightly.

KASLIWAL
You’re not a neonatologist.
(a beat) 
NICU is a whole different world.
 
The words land.

LINK
And Baby B?

Kasliwal shakes her head gently.

KASLIWAL
Not while she’s on high-frequency.

Clear. Immediate.
Link nods, eyes still on the incubator.
He already knew the answer.
Still had to ask. 

KASLIWAL (CONT’D)
HFOV babies need minimal stimulation.
We don’t move them unless we have to.

No softening.

KASLIWAL (CONT’D)
She needs to step down to conventional support before we even talk about that.
(a beat)
Any agitation can work against the ventilation —
that’s part of why she’s still sedated.

Link nods.
He looks at his babies. 
Smaller than they should be.
Fighting anyway.

LINK
What about Jo?

Kasliwal considers her words.

KASLIWAL
Once she’s extubated and hemodynamically stable,
we’ll start with short, supervised visits.

No promises.

KASLIWAL (CONT’D)
Holding them will require energy she may not have immediately.

That lands.

KASLIWAL (CONT’D)
As soon as she’s ready, we’ll make it work. 

A beat.
Link's hand comes to rest on Baby A's incubator.

KASLIWAL (CONT’D)
Your daughters are moving in the right direction.
(a beat)
But in the NICU, we measure progress shift by shift.

The truth.

She closes the tablet and gives him a final nod and moves on.

Link stays.
Between the incubators.
Trying to picture tomorrow.
Trying to picture holding something that fragile.

Link glances at his watch.
Time pressing in again.

LINK
(soft)
I’ll be back later.

He rests his hand on Baby A's incubator a little longer.
Then on Baby B's.

Careful. Reverent.

LINK (CONT’D)
I love you both.

No promises.
Just presence.

He steps away.

Not relieved.
Just steadier.

FADE OUT.