Stuck In The Middle

Written By Stephanie and Liz (Some ideas from Taylor and Katey)

* Mick's Apartment *

Mick pours himself a drink savoring the smell of the blood he had gotten earlier that day. He slowly walked over to sit on the couch trying to enjoy his Sunday.

Out of the dead silence, Beth pushes the door open, holds onto the handle, while gripping her side, "Mick" she shakily says. Mick quickly puts down his glass and rushes to her side.

"What happened?" Mick asked, worried.

"I was coming to bring you this file" Beth winces and continues, "And this guy in the parking lot stabbed me." Mick lifts Beth up and walks over to the counter. He shoves the multiple dirty glasses aside and placed Beth gently on the counter. Beth let go of her side, revealing a deep wound about 2 inches from her belly button.

"Try to breathe." Mick knew she only had so long til she wouldn't be able to respond, he had to work fast. The wound would have been deep enough to injure her stomach, so he ran to his office to grab a large black box, a first-aid kit.

Mick ran back to Beth, "Did you see his face?"

"No" She said shaking her head. Her eyes closed and she gripped Mick's hand, through her closed teeth she pleaded, "Help. Please."

Mick opened the black box to retrieve the scalpel, gauze, and small dose of anesthetic with the accompanied needle. "I can only help so much."

"I-I can't die Mick" Beth knew she was in good hands, but the pain was getting worse as time progressed.

"I can promise you, your not gonna die." Beth nodded and sucked in a sharp breathe. Mick injected the anesthetic. He brushed the hair out of her face, "Is it ever possible for you to stay out of trouble and not not get hurt." Beth started to laugh, but stopped. A tear fell down her cheek.

"Beth it'll be okay. I promise." She nodded and Mick cut into her stomach, blotting away the oozing blood with gauze. Her stomach was cut up alright. She must have been stabbed multiple times, he was surprised she was still alive. "We have to get you to a hospital."

"I hate hospitals" She squeezed Mick's hand harder than before.

"Josef has a clinic not far from here" Beth nodded in agreement and Mick started dialing his phone for Josef.

"Josef it's Mick...NOT NOW JOSEF...sorry it's Beth. She came in here earlier, someone stabbed her and I need to take her to the clinic" Mick started to pace, "Thanks Josef we'll be there in a few minutes." Mick ran to Beth.

"Josef's opening the clinic now. I'm gonna have to carry you." Beth nodded while her face contorted with pain. Mick slid one arm under legs and the other under her back while wrapping his hands around her arm and thigh for more support.

For Mick, being a vampire had its perks. Especially at times like this. They arrived a few minutes after leaving Mick's apartment. The automatic sliding doors opened to Josef standing, waiting. "Its about time." Mick placed Beth on a nearby bed and held her hand. A nurse began hovering, working over Beth. "Deep wound in the abdomen, near the ribs. Open and O.R. In trauma 1" The nurse gave Beth and IV and ran down the hall.

Mick began, "Your in good hands."

Beth started to shake, "Call Josh please." Mick nodded while the nurse came back and pushed Beth away. Their hands slowly separated and Mick watched the doors swoosh close. Mick turned and walked over to the sliding doors of the entrance. He took out his phone and decided to call Josh. He had to admit, he hated the whole thing Beth had with Josh, but he respected it and never hated Josh. "Mick St. John?" Josh sounded like he just rolled out of bed, even though it was 5 in the afternoon. Mick had guessed it was a late night at the office for him. "Yea Josh it's Mick. Beth came by my place about a half an hour ago stabbed. She's at a clinic now." Josh breathed in, "Oh god...Thank you." Mick turned to Josef and held up a finger. "She'll call you when she's able I guess"

"Thanks again" Mick hung up and slid the phone back in his pocket

"You know, you would think by now you would be watching her 24-7." Josef said.

Mick scoffed and sat in a near by chair.

* An hour later *

The doors of the OR opened viciously, bringing Beth to a room. Mick followed, grabbed a chair, sat, and held her hand. The nurse began to look over her files. "It was tough, but she should be up soon. Are you her husband or boyfriend or something?"

Mick froze, "No...No. Just...yea."

"Oh...sorry," The nurse ran out biting her lip. Beth began to shift and wake up.

"Mick?"

"I'm right here." Mick gripped her hand.

"Did you-" Mick interrupted "Called him. He knows."

"Thank you" Beth's face strained.

"How are you feeling?" Mick started to get worried. Did the surgery work?

"Fine. Fine. Just tired...when can I leave?"

"The nurse didn't say anything yet." Mick handed her a small container of pills, "She did say to give you this. Twice a day."

Beth nodded and pushed the sheets aside and got up, "I have to go."

Mick held his arms around Beth, afraid she would fall, "Beth. They didn't say anything. You can't just get up and leave."

"Watch me." She rushed over to the entrance while Mick ran in front of her.

"Beth you just got out of surgery you can't leave."

"Josh is waiting for me. I'll be fine."

"No."

"MICK MOVE ASIDE."

"NO BETH GET BACK IN THAT ROOM."

"NO" Beth pushed Mick aside and Mick stood, watching her get in the car with Josh.

* One week later *

* Beth`s Apartment *

Beth had her feet propped up on the couch sipping a glass of water. Josh had been doing everything for her, she never lifted a finger while he was around. The only time she ever did something was when Josh was at work.

There was a knock at the door just before Josh was leaving for work.

"Josh. Door." Josh flew to the door, opening it to Mick.

"Is Beth there?" Mick said, out of breath.

"Yea I was just leaving." Josh turned, blew a kiss to Beth, and walked out.

Mick sped over to the couch where Beth was. He lifted her legs for him to sit and put them back on his lap.

They hadn`t spoken since the incident. Neither called or texted, nothing.

"What are you doing this weekend" Beth asked.

"I have business to attend to Saturday night, but besides that nothing."

"Oh. Well..." She got up to get Mick`s invitation, "The wedding is this Saturday and I would love for you to go."

Mick looked at it and replied, "Of course. Yea I`m coming."

"Oh good." Beth smiled and propped her feet onto Mick`s lap.

"How are you feeling?" Mick asked. He was anxious to see if she actually did get better. She did leave the clinic suddenly that day.

Beth looked down at her stomach and put one hand on it. "Really good actually." She put her hand on her stomach, "The baby is too" Mick`s face turned from content to utter shock. He had no clue she was pregnant.

"Yo-Your pregnant?" Mick was confused.

"Yea. You didn`t know?" Mick shook his head and listened to the baby`s heartbeat, a soft echo the Beth`s. Then he thought of the accident.

"Have you been taking those pills?"

"Yea. Twice a day just like you said."

"Beth. You need to go to the clinic. Now." Beth sat up.

"What`s wrong?" She was scared now.

"Those pills could kill the baby." Mick listened again to the soft echo, now noticing it slowing. He helped her up and they rushed to his car. Beth started to cry when Mick started the car.

"Is it okay?" She put her hand to her stomach, wanting to feel it.

"The heart beat is slowing, so no" He bit his lip, regretting the words.

"HURRY MICK" Mick stepped on the peddle as hard as he could. Beth couldn`t lose this baby. Her first and probably only child.

They finally got to the clinic within minutes. Beth shoved the door open while Mick was beside her walking in through the sliding doors.