Chapter 101 Medical Care
CAITLYN'S POV
The hospital was bright and clean and quiet. So different from the chaos at the compound. I was lying in a hospital bed hooked up to monitors. One monitor for me and one for the baby. The steady beep beep beep of the baby's heartbeat filled the room.
"Everything looks good," the doctor said. She was an older woman with gray hair and a kind face. "Your blood pressure is a little elevated but that is to be expected given what you have been through. The baby's heart rate is perfect. No signs of distress at all."
"Are you sure?" I asked. "I was so scared. What if the stress hurt the baby?"
"Babies are remarkably resilient," the doctor said. "Your body protected your baby even during all that fear and stress. As long as you were not physically harmed the baby should be fine."
"But I was grabbed," I said. "Guards grabbed my arms and dragged me. What if that hurt something?"
"Did they hit you in the stomach?" the doctor asked.
"No," I said.
"Did you fall or get thrown down?"
"No," I said.
"Then the baby is fine," the doctor said. "The amniotic fluid protects the baby from minor bumps and jostles. Unless there was direct trauma to your abdomen the baby should not be affected."
I felt tears forming in my eyes again. I had been crying on and off for the past hour. Could not seem to stop.
"I was so scared," I said. "I thought Collin was going to kill us. Kill the baby and me both."
"But he did not," the doctor said gently. "You are both safe now. And that is what matters."
"I know," I said. "I just keep thinking about what could have happened. What almost happened."
"That is normal," the doctor said. "You have been through a traumatic experience. It is going to take time to process everything. I am going to have a counselor come talk to you before you leave. Someone who specializes in trauma."
"Okay," I said.
"In the meantime, we are going to keep you overnight for observation," the doctor said. "Just to make sure there are no complications. But I expect you will be able to go home tomorrow."
"Thank you," I said.
The doctor smiled and patted my hand. Then she left the room. I was alone with just the sound of the monitors beeping.
I put my hand on my stomach. Felt the baby move. A little flutter. Like the baby was saying hello. Saying I am still here Mom. We made it.
"We made it little one," I whispered. "We are safe now. Your daddy saved us."
The door opened and Jason came in. He was wearing a hospital gown and his shoulder was properly bandaged now. He looked tired but he was smiling.
"Hey," he said. "How are you feeling?"
"Okay, I think," I said. "The doctor said the baby is fine. No problems at all."
"That is amazing," Jason said. He came over and sat on the edge of my bed. "I was so worried."
"What about you?" I asked. "What did your doctor say?"
"That I am an idiot for running around with an infected gunshot wound," Jason said. "But that I will live. They cleaned out the infection and gave me antibiotics. I have to stay here for a couple of days while they make sure the infection clears up."
"Good," I said. "You need the rest."
"So do you," Jason said.
He reached out and took my hand. His hand was warm and rough and strong. I held onto it tight.
"I cannot believe it is over," I said. "I cannot believe Collin is really dead."
"He is dead," Jason said. "I saw his body. He cannot hurt you anymore."
"I keep thinking about him," I said. "About the look on his face right before Rourke shot him. He looked so angry. So full of hate."
"Do not think about him," Jason said. "He does not deserve any more of your thoughts."
"I know," I said. "But I cannot help it. He was such a big part of my life for so long. And now he is just gone."
"And you are free," Jason said. "Free to live your life however you want. Free to raise our baby in peace."
"Our baby," I said. I liked the sound of that. "We are really going to be parents."
"We are," Jason said. "In a few months, we are going to have a son or daughter. We are going to be a family."
"Are you scared?" I asked.
"Terrified," Jason said. "But in a good way. I have never wanted anything more than I want this. Want us."
"Me too," I said.
There was a soft knock on the door and a nurse came in. She was carrying a tray with medication.
"Sorry to interrupt," she said. "But I need to give Caitlyn her prenatal vitamins and some medicine to help her relax."
"What kind of medicine?" Jason asked. He sounded suspicious.
"Just something mild to help with anxiety," the nurse said. "The doctor prescribed it. Completely safe for pregnancy."
"Is that okay?" Jason asked me.
"I think so," I said. "I could use something to help me calm down."
The nurse gave me the pills and a cup of water. I swallowed them and handed the cup back.
"Try to get some rest," the nurse said. "Both of you. You have been through a lot today."
"We will," I said.
The nurse left and Jason stretched out on the bed next to me. He was careful not to bump my stomach or jostle any of the monitors.
"What are you doing?" I asked.
"Lying down with you," Jason said. "The nurse said we should rest."
"But what about your shoulder?" I asked.
"My shoulder is fine," Jason said. "I just want to be close to you."
I shifted over to make room for him. He wrapped his good arm around me and I rested my head on his chest. I could hear his heartbeat. Strong and steady. The same rhythm as the baby's heartbeat on the monitor.
"I love you," Jason said. "I love you so much Caitlyn. When I thought I might lose you I realized that nothing else matters. Not revenge. Not the club. Not anything. Just you and the baby."
"I love you too," I said. "I have loved you for so long. Even when I was with Collin I was thinking about you. Wishing things had been different."
"Things are different now," Jason said. "We have a second chance. A chance to do things right this time."
"What if I mess it up?" I asked. "What if I am not a good mother? What if I cannot handle it?"
"You are going to be an amazing mother," Jason said. "I know you are. You are strong and brave and loving. Our baby is lucky to have you."
"Our baby is lucky to have you too," I said. "You saved us today. You were willing to die for us."
"I would do it again in a heartbeat," Jason said. "You and this baby are my whole world now."
We lay there together listening to the monitors beep. Listening to each other breathe. And slowly I felt myself starting to relax. The medicine was kicking in. Making everything feel soft and distant.
"Jason?" I said.
"Yeah?"
"Thank you for not giving up on me. Thank you for coming to save me."
"Always," Jason said. "I will always come for you. No matter what. No matter where you are or what danger you are in. I will always find you."