"Joseph?" came the hesitant voice of Jen from the doorway.
"Go away," Joe said. He sounded tired, miserable.
"Joe, is there anything I can do for you?" Jen asked, edging into the room. Joe was defiantly calmer than he was before.
"Not unless you can wake him up. Not unless you can undo what has been done," Joe said, not bothering to look up. He felt rather than saw her shake her head.
Joe drew in a shuddering breath, "I guess it doesn't really matter. I guess in my heart of hearts, I knew it could never last. Alec was the best brother anyone could have asked for. And he is slipping away. Nothing I can do could bring him back, so why bother. I am sure you have other patients to see to, other people you can help. It makes no sense for you to waste your time on us," Joe finished quietly. He leaned back in his chair, rubbing his eyes.
He felt Jen still hovering in the door. Watching him. "You know, I have counted four hundred and sixty thousand breaths that that machine has pumped into his body. Nothing helps. I have seen those fluid bags changed fifty times. Nothing helps," Joe said.
"Nothing."
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