Yeah, the Crazy Chick is takin' over this fic now...this time alone. The other author (Kori) is extremely busy so it's just me here, tryin' to get this sequel going successfully. So, enjoy this one, because it certainly is full of surprises.
"Hey Veronica? Sorry to bother you again this late, but Haidee's crying and I have no idea about what to do about it…Please Vi, answer me…" Seth pleaded into the phone, staring at the digital clock which read 12:00AM.
"I'm here, Colby.." her tired voice echoed through the earpiece. "I'll be there in a bit, okay? Don't even worry about me."
She cut him off before he could answer. "If only you knew how hard it is to.." He muttered to himself.
He heard Haidee crying hysterically from her little cot in his room. Seth slowly walked in, locking the door, barely able to look at his daughter. He couldn't even take care of himself, much less a baby. He felt so bad for bothering Vi so much, she had both him and Haidee to mother after, and her own needs with Dean.
But who else could he turn to? Colby hated doing that to her, but she insisted on continuing to help out. She was too stubborn for her own good sometimes.
He sighed, blocking out everything, the cries from his baby, the debris all over the house, his thoughts….
Veronica unlocked the door quietly, slipping inside the apartment and closing it back, making her way through the mess of a house to Seth's bedroom. As she was about to knock, she noticed the door slightly open.
Not even hesitating Vi pushed it open, only to see Haidee in her cot, screaming and crying her eyes out. The poor child looked pale, almost starving. She ran her hand across the crying baby's cheek, relaxing a bit when Haidee slightly ceased her crying.
Veronica's head snapped up when she heard a slight noise, spotting the bathroom door was locked. Quickly walking up to the closed door, she knocked quietly and said softly, "Colby, it's me Veronica, can you come out for a second?"
The door swung open immediately as a bedraggled and equally pale Seth made his way out, slamming the door as Vi slightly jumped at the noise.
"Again, I'm sorry for having you up this late…I just don't know what to do.." he pleaded with her, his brown eyes boring into hers.
The dark haired Diva shrugged it off. "Like I said, don't even think about apologizing…" She made her way back the Haidee's cot, picking up the small baby in her arms.
"What's wrong with her?" he asked fearfully, unable to look at either of them as he stared at the floor.
Vi pursed her lips slightly, inspecting the now calmed child in her arms. She was extremely thin, that's for sure.
"Colby…she's malnutritioned…I know from when I used to be an assistant nurse…we need to take her to the hospital. Now."
Colby nodded once, grabbing her forearm gently as he pulled her out of his room, making his way throughout his mess of an apartment before locking the door shut. They quickly made their way to his car, starting up and heading to the nearest hospital.
Seth kept his eyes trained to the road where he was driving rather recklessly, unable to look at Haidee. He was already a failure as a father, letting his child get like this.
"Shh…shh…honey.." Vi cooed to his crying daughter, kissing her on the head softly. "Vero's here…."
Seth somehow found himself waiting outside the room his daughter was being checked out in, with Veronica fast asleep, her head resting on his shoulder. His hand clasped with his. He refused to wake her though, after all she needed it.
Finally, a doctor walked out the door, nodding to Seth. "Can you wake her up please?"
Seth softly prodded her shoulder with his hand, "Vi, wake up…"
Slowly, her eyes reopened as she got off his shoulder, unclasping their hands quickly as she focused on the doctor.
"Is Haidee okay? What's wrong with her? Is there anything I can do?" She worried her lip, gripping at Seth's forearm as he slowly wrapped his arm around her waist, squeezing her in support.
The doctor gave her a polite smile. "Mrs. Lopez, Haidee hasn't been receiving breastmilk, and it's causing her to go in a state of malnutrition. Do you have any conditions or can't you breastfeed…?"
Colby and Veronica both shared a look of puzzlement before Vi decided to confirm. "I-I'm not her mother. Her mother died in childbirth. I'm Colby's best friend….not his wife."
The doctor fixed his glasses awkwardly, breaking the tension that filled the air suddenly. "Well, anyways, that explains why little Haidee isn't being breastfed. Sorry for the mixup though, I just felt a motherly vibe from you and you two are so close…"
He trailed off as they jumped apart, which he smiles slightly at. "Down worry, we all have best friends, I get it. But I'll need Miss…what's your name again? Didn't catch it."
"Veronica Skyes." She nodded curtly in conformation, looking at him with curiosity and worry.
"Okay Miss Skyes, I'll need you to come with me to discuss some issues….. alone," He nodded sternly to Seth, who was already making a move to get up with her.
As Veronica got up to follow the doctor into the examination room, Seth sighed and plunked back into his seat. Now he had no clue of what was going on. And not to mention he was left alone.
Sometimes (like now) he felt like giving up. This already proved that he was a terrible father, and a terrible person too, having his best friend clean up his messes. He wanted to be better for her, for Haidee, for Veronica, but the haunting feeling whenever he thought of Kori always stopped him in his tracks, making him take a step back from everything he's achieved.