He was in complete shock. His brain refused to actually accept what had happened. There was no way this could be true. His delusional mind argued. There is some kind of mistake. Everything is just fine. This is just some horrible dream, one that I'm going to wake up from and find everything okay. She's not dead. She's not.


SHE'S NOT!!!


Andrew's exhausted and borderline delirious mind would not accept the truth that his little daughter was actually dead.


He sat on the floor beside Colleen's bed, his little precious bundle pressed tightly against his chest, his knees bent up in front of his arms, as if trying to provide an extra barrier against the reality of what happened. He was rocking his body back and forth, singing softly to the little baby he and Colleen had wanted so badly.


"Hush little baby, don't say a word. Papa's going to buy you a mockingbird. And if that mockingbird won't sing, Papa's going to buy you a diamond ring..." Andrew sang softly, his voice breaking with his grief and tears flowing down his face.


Matthew opened the door to Colleen's room, but stood frozen in the doorway as his gaze fell on Andrew, sitting on the floor, his knees up and head bent down, gently rocking back and forth and mumbling to himself.


Surprise and alarm flooded over the young man as he tried to figure out why Andrew was sitting like that. Straining to understand what Andrew was saying, his eyes widened when he made out the words.


"...if that looking glass gets broke, Papa's gonna buy you a Billy goat. And if that Billy goat won't pull, Papa's going to buy you a cart and bull. And if that cart and bull turn over, Papa's going to buy you a dog named Rover. And if that dog named ......"


"Andrew?" Matthew finally interrupted. Andrew didn't respond, he just kept on singing. So Matthew tried again. Still no reply. Finally the young man strode to his brother-in-law and grabbed him by the shoulders. "Andrew!" He cried again.


This time Andrew lifted his red eyes and tear stained face to Matthew. Fear gripped Matthew's heart. What had happened. "Andrew!" He exclaimed, this time in great alarm. "What's wrong? Is it Colleen?"


Andrew, so caught up in his own grief, barely acknowledged the other man. He let his gaze drop back to the bundle in his arms. Matthew grabbed Andrew by the shoulders again and shook him slightly. "Andrew!" He tried again.


Andrew again looked at his brother-in-law with red, sorrow filled eyes. "What's happened?"


Andrew opened his mouth to reply, but no words came out. "Is it Colleen?" Matthew pressed, his eyes wide in fear. Andrew shook his head. He swallowed hard, then, in a shaky, emotion filled voice, replied, "It’s the baby."


"The baby?" Matthew asked, his eyes widening even more. Andrew nodded again. "Colleen lost the baby." He finally managed to explain before sobs overtook him again.


Matthew, tears forming in his own eyes, reached out and hugged his distraught brother to him. He didn't know what to say, so he remained silent. After Andrew's sobs lessened, Matthew pushed the young doctor back and asked. "When did it happen?"


Andrew sniffed then managed to reply, "About an hour ago. She went into labor and our little girl was born - stillborn." The young doctor gently unwrapped the towel he was still clutching, revealing his tiny daughter. Matthew's eyes opened wide at the sight of his niece.


"Oh, my...!" He couldn't get any further. He reached out a finger and gently touched the little child. He noticed how perfectly formed it was, even though it was only six months along. The same types of thoughts that had gone through Andrew's mind earlier, now flooded through Matthew's. The sadness and grief suddenly hit the young man, and his own eyes filled with tears.


"Matthew? Andrew?" a voice exclaimed from behind. Matthew turned to find Brian standing in the bedroom doorway. "What's wrong." Alarm was showing in every feature of his young face.


Matthew brushed a rough hand over his face, trying to wipe away all traces of tears. "Ah, Brian." his voice was husky with emotion. "Come here."


Brian obeyed, but his body moved very stiffly. Matthew reached up a hand and pulled Brian down beside him. Gently the young man coaxed Andrew to show Brian his little bundle. Brian's eyes opened wide at the sight of the little bit of humanity.


"T-The b-baby?" Brian stammered in alarm. Matthew nodded and affirmed. "The baby."


About an hour later Matthew went across the hallway to where Michaela and Sully were sitting and talking. After Brian had arrived, the two brothers had left Andrew with the baby and gone to make the necessary arrangements for a funeral. They had asked Loren for a small packing crate to use as a coffin, for nothing that Jake would have would be small enough for their little one. Loren had looked at them rather strangely.


"A packing crate. For a coffin."


"Yeah, nothing too big. Something about this size." Matthew had demonstrated the size with his hands. Loren's eyebrows had raised. "I don't know if I have something that small. What's it for?"


Then he looked at Brian. "Did that squirrel of yours die? Why don't you just stick him in the ground like any other animal. Why the special burial?"


"It’s not for my squirrel." Brian cried in grief and frustration. "I only wish it was!"


Loren looked at the young boy, who now had tears flowing down his cheeks. Matthew put his arm around his younger brother's shoulders and pulled him against him. He buried his face in Brian's hair for a moment, his own emotions getting the better of him. When he finally felt composed enough, he looked at the older man and explained. "It’s for Andrew and Colleen's baby. It was just born - stillborn. We're going to need a small box for a coffin."


Loren’s eyes softened. "I'm so sorry." He then searched harder behind the counter for a box, then glanced around the store. "Wait a minute." he admonished, then walked to one of the shelves and pulled down a box of cigars.


When he got back to the counter where the young Cooper men stood, he dumped the cigars on the counter and handed Matthew the box. Matthew reached into his pocket to pay for the box and the cigars, though he had no intention of taking them. But Loren waved the money away.


"I said I'd help in any way I could." He reminded them.


"Thank you." Matthew nodded and turned to leave. Their next stop had been Miss Grace's. Matthew knew that she was quick with a needle.


"Would you mind sewing up a tiny little covering?" Matthew asked the woman after he had explained the reason for the request. Grace's eyes filled with tears and her gaze fell on her own little girl who sat contentedly playing on a blanket close by. She nodded, her voice too choked to speak.


"Could you have it ready by tomorrow?" She nodded again.


"Thank you." Matthew reached out and squeezed the woman's hand in appreciation.


Next the two Cooper men had found the Reverend. He was sitting at the café enjoying a cup of coffee with Jake and Teresa Slicker.


"Morning Reverend, Jake, Miss Teresa." Matthew greeted.


"Morning Matthew." the Reverend acknowledged.


"Would you care to join us?" "Thank you, but I'm afraid we can't. We were just wondering if we could get you to speak a few words at a funeral tomorrow." Matthew asked, his voice still choked.


"Oh, my God, Matthew!" Jake exclaimed, his eyes wide in fear. "Don't tell me..."


"No, Jake." Matthew interrupted. "It's not Colleen. She's still okay." Jake's eyes widened even more. "Not Dr. Mike."


"Not Dr. Mike either." the young man assured them.


"Then who?" The Reverend asked. "Andrew and Colleen's baby." Matthew informed them. "It was just born this morning - It was stillborn."


"Oh, my God." Jake mumbled, hanging his head in sadness. His wife began weeping beside him.


Clearing his throat Jake asked. "Is there anything I- we- can do?"


"Would you mind lining this?" Matthew handed Jake the little box that they had gotten from Loren. Jake took the small box from Matthew, his eyes wide at how tiny it was. Clearing his throat again he agreed.


"How's Andrew and Colleen taking it?" the Reverend asked. "Colleen's still unconscious, Andrew doesn't know if she fully understands yet what happened." Matthew replied.


"Andrew, on the other hand, is a complete wreck. Brian and I left him sitting on the floor, rocking his little girl and singing to her."


"Do you think his mind has snapped?" Jake asked.


"I think that he is so tired and overcome with grief that he is going temporarily insane. I think if we can get him to sleep for a while, he'll become rational again. I think this was just too much for him to deal with all at once. He's hardly slept or ate in almost a week."


"Let us know if there's anything else we can do." Jake told him.


"We will." Matthew assured him. As the two brothers walked back towards the clinic, Brian declared. "I'm going to go to the Gazette and tell Miss Dorothy about what's happened. Maybe I'll even jot down a small article for the obituaries.


"Okay." Matthew nodded. "I'm going to head up and see how things are going." The two brothers split and headed their separate ways.


When he reached the clinic, Matthew poked his head into Colleen's room, to find Andrew very much like he had left him before. So he went across the hall to Michaela's room, trying to figure out how to break the news to them.


"So, what do you think, Grandma?" Sully was asking as Matthew entered the room.


"I think it'll be nice to have a little grandchild around that we can spoil." Michaela smiled happily. "I just wish that they had waited until Colleen had finished medical school. She only has one year left." Sully smiled slyly.


"Some things you just can't prevent." "I suppose." Michaela smiled back.


"It's just that she'll find it hard for the last few months of school, what with a new baby and all."


"They'll manage." Sully replied confidently. "They're both so happy."


"That's true." Dr. Mike agreed. "And I can't wait until they move back here. I'm so glad that I kept the Chateau clinic open to Andrew and Colleen. I wasn't sure they'd be interested, but I think they'd both rather live here in Colorado Springs, then in Philadelphia."


"All their family is here, so it’s natural to want to live close to home." Sully said. "And it'll be nice to be able to see our grandchild grow up. You know, its funny how things change. Years ago, I never pictured being a father, let along a grandfather. And you know, I'm loving the thought of it. I've been thinking of making them a cradle for the little youngster. Do you think they'd like that?"


"Actually," Matthew broke in before Michaela could answer. Both looked at him in surprise, not having noticed him standing in the doorway until he spoke. After quickly observing his red eyes and tear stained face, Sully rose from the side of Michaela's bed in alarm. "What is it Matthew?" He demanded. "Is it Colleen?"


Matthew shook his head then took a deep breath. "No, Colleen's still holding okay."


"Then what is it?" He pressed anxiously. Matthew took an deep breath and after a few moments, composed himself enough to reply calmly, though with a distinct tremor in his voice, "Colleen lost the baby."


Michaela and Sully looked at each other in horror. After the initial shock wore off, Sully managed to ask, though his voice was strained. "How's Colleen taking it?"


Matthew shook his head sorrowfully. "Andrew's not sure if she's aware of it yet. She's still unconscious. But Andrew's taking it pretty hard. We all know how much they were looking forward to having that baby."


Suddenly Michaela threw back the covers. "I'm going to her."


"Are you sure you’re well enough to be out of bed?" Sully protested, knowing it was pointless.


"I am now. I need to see my daughter."


The distraught woman insisted. Sully mutely gave in and helped her on with her housecoat. The three of them went across the hall to Colleen's room. Andrew was still sitting on the floor of the bedroom, rocking his precious little girl and singing to her. Michaela, Sully and Matthew all exchanged worried glances..