"You're going to be okay, Marni." The man promised, clasping the sick woman's hand in his own like it was a lifeline. She was going to get better because she had to. She just had to. "I'm working on a cure right now."
"I know," She smiled weakly, her free hand drifted over her swollen belly. "I just worry about the baby…I don't…I can't…" She broke off, gritting her teeth against the tears the sprang to her eyes at the thought. She couldn't lose this baby.
"Listen," Her husband said softly, leaning forward slightly. "If it comes to either you or the baby…We can always make another one--"
"Nathan Wallace, don't you dare." Marni interrupted, her tone deadly. "Don't you dare say that. Not about this, not about our child."
"Marni, please!" He begged, eyes searching hers as he tried to get her to see the sense in it. "You can't be replaced!"
"Neither can Shilo!" She insisted, taking back her hand to rest protectively against her stomach. "How can I live with myself if I live because she dies? How can I live without her?"
Nathan frowned slightly, "Shilo? Marni, we don't even know if it's a girl yet. Isn't it a little soon for naming?"
"I know," She whispered, laying her head back. Her little outburst had tired her already weakened body. "I…It just feels right. I needed to give her a name, a sex. Just to make it more real."
"You're tired. I shouldn't have upset you, I'm sorry." He stood, "You need your rest…"
"Wait," She grabbed his hand gently, stopping him. "Promise me. Promise that if one of has to die…That it'll be me."
"Marni…" Why couldn't she understand?! She was sick, tired, surely she wasn't thinking clearly.
"Promise."
"I promise." He sighed, defeated.
She smiled up at him, trusting. Of course, why wouldn't she trust him? He was her husband, her friend, her doctor. She had no ideas the traitorous thoughts he harbored. "I love you, Nate." She whispered, squeezing his hand weakly even as her eyelids drifted downwards.
"I love you too, Marni." He replied, leaning down to kiss her gently on the forehead before leaving the dim little room. He paused at the doorway, watching her sleep for a moment. She was so peaceful, all the traces of her previous anxiety wiped clear by blissful unconsciousness. Oh, how he envied her in that respect…
He shook his head. No time for dawdling. He was on the verge of completing her cure and with the baby coming so soon she needed to get better. If she recovered then neither mother nor child needed to die. But if it came to a choice between the two…
"I'm sorry," He whispered to himself, a painful lump in his throat as he shook his head ever so slightly. "But I can't do that, Marni. I can't lose you." Closing the door firmly he retreated to his lab. A nagging voice in the back of his mind followed him.
Murderer. Betrayer. Monster.