"Mr. Strand, you can't visit your son. It's too dangerous. All the tests turned out positive and I have to follow our hospital orders", the doctor informed Owen, who looked through the window of the neighborhood room where TK was lying in the ICU.

With tears in his eyes, he glanced at the machines and his boy, who was fighting for his life. He was unconscious. The machines tried to supply his blood with oxygen.

"I'm a firefighter. I know the risks. Please, let me see my boy. Please", Owen begged the doctor, who looked at him critically. The physician sighed, then looked back at TK.

"I'm in quarantine anyway. If Tyler has the virus, then I'm already infected. "

"Okay, all right. But not too long and only under one condition. You will comply with security regulations and remain in quarantine. "

Owen nodded understandingly. The doctor already wanted to leave, but he held him back.

"Doc, what's his prognosis? He's gonna live, right?"

The doctor raised and lowered his shoulders.

"His oxygen saturation is critical. We put him on a ventilator and enrich the blood with oxygen externally. We have to rely on the heart-lung machine. I won't be able to give you an exact prognosis for at least two days. "

Doctor Warren patted Owen on the back before he left to treat the next patient. The fireman looked at TK with tears in his eyes. Never did he thought that the virus would put his boy in this life-threatening condition. TK was very sporty and fit. At 26 he didn't had the age to die.

Owen himself felt no signs of corona. Although he should be much more susceptible due to his cancer. The captain didn't had much time to think, because a nurse led him into the next room to equip him with breathing protection and safety clothing.

911-Lone-Star-911-Lone-Star

Just minutes later, Owen was sitting at TK's bedside holding his hand. The doctors had to intubate Tyler, leaving him in a coma and on artificial respiration. Owen stroked his arm before tenderly touching TK's forehead.

"You have to fight, big boy. For me, for Carlos and for our team. You're so young, TK. You have so much ahead of you. Please, hold on. Don't give up on me,"; Owen cried softly and squeezed TK's hand. Quietly, he talked to him, tried to show him that he was there for him and wet Tylers lips with water. TK had been through a lot in the last few years, but even the overdose in New York or the gunshot wound he sustained in Austin were not comparable to this condition.

Owen sat with his son for a long time and told him about the past. From the time when TK was small, when he lived with him in New York, or what missions the team completed in his absence. The firefighter knew that even coma patients were aware of more than science had previously assumed. After half an hour the nurse stuck her head in the room and made clear to Owen that visiting hours were over. With a depressed expression on his face, Owen squeezed TK's hand one last time before leaving the room.

He was thinking about his ex-wife and Carlos. Neither of them knew that TK's condition had deteriorated to such an extent. Owen went straight to his SUV and dialed the crucial numbers. Only shortly before dialing the number he broke down and began to cry and sob. This was a never-ending nightmare and he didn't know how things would work out.

911-lone-star-911-lone-star

The next days turned out to be a continuous up and down. On the fifth day, Owen received the all-decisive call.

"Captain Strand, we've extubated your son. He's awake and already asked for you. " Immediately, Owen left everything and went to the hospital. After several attempts he managed to convince the doctor once again that he could see TK. Still visibly weak, Tyler lay in his hospital bed receiving fresh oxygen through the mask.

In the meantime, TK was able to breathe on his own for the most part. With tears of joy, Owen entered the room and gave his son a kiss on the forehead. TK, who still seemed disoriented, was looking for his hand. Owen lovingly stroked his forehead.

"Hello, big boy. There you are again. " TK struggled for breath, even though his condition seemed to be much more stable.

"Bad weeds grow tall",he murmured softly, which Owen commented with a sad smile and pulled his son through his hair in a friendly manner.

"You can't imagine how much you've scared me." Guiltily, Tyler looked at his father.

"I'm sorry, Dad,"; he whispered faintly. Owen struggled with tears. He couldn't speak because his voice was blocked. Instead, he cried silently while TK. squeezed his hand.

"It's gonna be okay", he heard TK's weak voice, knowing they both had a long way to go..