A/N: Here I am again! I'm so sorry for making you wait, but I have SATs to prepare for and I'm, also just a really, really, REALLY busy person. I'm soooooooo sorry though, but I can't promise when I'll have the next chapter out, I can only say that I'll be working on it every chance I get. This chapter was supposed to be posted yesterday, but i went to watch a sort of concert last night so I didn't get home until late, and then i wanted to do some lat minute editing...so yeah, SORRY!...again...lol haha I really like writing this story btw– it has such a darker side to it than my others stories had/have and that's really fun for me to fool around with. Thank you everyone for sticking with me all this time; I hope you enjoy this chapter! :-D
Disclaimer: I do not own Home and Away. Darn it…
CHAPTER 7
Romeo's POV:
I just stood there, staring at the hospital doors long after Indi had disappeared behind them. So it was true then…at least to some extent. Indi was definitely keeping something from me about the baby, but she hadn't actually SAID what it was. I think I knew from the way she looked at me, but I needed to actually hear it from someone before I could be absolutely sure. I shook my head and turned to go sit down again, trying to think of a way to get her to tell me, or at least get her to actually SAY it when I was in earshot. I sat there for another few minutes before I saw a familiar car pull up in front of the hospital. I recognized Mr. Stewart behind the wheel, and I began to get up as he brought the car to a stop and rolled the window down.
"You need any help mate?" He called, nodding towards my sling.
I shook my head, "no, I think I'm good," I replied, walking around the car and opening the passenger door with my good arm. I climbed into the seat and fastened my seat belt with only a bit of difficulty as Mr. Stewart drove out of the hospital gates and onto the street.
"So you were in a fight now, weren't ya?" He said bluntly. Cutting right to the chase, I should have expected that. Mr. Stewart would be Mr. Stewart.
I felt my jaw tighten in remembrance, "Yeah, I didn't like the cracks some riverboys were making at Indi." I shook my head angrily. "I know it was probably really stupid but I just lost it."
He peered at me out of the corner of his eye.
"Indi? I thought it was the end of the line for you two?" He turned his focus back to the road, and I squirmed a bit.
"I think it is, but that doesn't mean I'll let people trash her right in front of my face." I clenched and unclenched my good fist in the memory of what had started the fight:
"Hey Romeo how goes things?"
"Have you beaten the crap out of your wife's new bed-partner yet?"
"Of course not, he would take the easy way out and just let the bitch go."
They had no right to say what they had said about Indi, but what little they had said about me had been true. I had just let Indi go, and I hadn't even bothered to try and fight for her. I hadn't even let her finish telling me her side of the story. Maybe if I had things wouldn't be in such a mess right now. What would I have done if I had known she was pregnant? Did she even know whose it was at the time? Probably not or she would have told me right away. Did I really seem so harsh that day that she felt like she couldn't tell me? I cringed at the thought. Then I realized that I had to do something. I needed to try harder to find out what was going on, but whom was I going to go to? Not Sid, Indi always resented me bringing her father into our arguments. Not Dex either, he was currently infatuated with April now that they were back together and I didn't want to further involve him in me and Indi's problems; he was already living with her and most likely hearing about everything that was going on. That was involvement enough.
I could ask Bianca or Heath, but I didn't know what Indi had made Bianca promise in exchange for talking to her so freely, and I didn't want to ruin their relationship. They had their newborn to worry about.
That didn't leave many people, people who would know for sure anyway.
I was resigning myself to the fact that I would just have to try and talk to Indi again – an action I knew would most likely end in failure – when I happened to glance out my window as we rolled into our familiar coastline town of Summer Bay. Walking along the boardwalk towards the diner was none other then Sasha. Of course – why hadn't I thought of her before? I could ask Sasha. I'd always felt like a big brother to her, and I technically was since I was still married to Indi. Now was her chance to act like a little sister to me and spill the beans. I was about to ask Mr. Stewart to drop me of at the diner when I found that we were heading in that direction anyway.
"Mate, I know you've had a rough afternoon but I need to meet Harvey for a moment at the diner. You can wait in the car if you like; I'll only be a few minutes."
Jackpot.
"It's fine, I think I'll come out with you. I could use some air anyways; that hospital smell really lingers," I joked, crinkling my nose for effect.
Mr. Stewart chuckled. "I sympathize with you mate," he laughed, "and agree with you!"
I laughed for real this time, encouraged by the fact that my predicament might possibly be partially solved within the next few minutes. At least I would be doing something besides sitting around like an invalid.
Mr. Stewart parked the car. I took my time getting out; I could just see Sasha in the distance, because we had obviously gotten here faster in the car.
"You coming in?" Mr. Stewart asked, slamming his door shut. "Or do you just want to wait out here,"
I turned away from Sasha and back to Mr. Stewart, "I think I'll stay outside," I said, my eyes on a small table that Sasha would have to pass if she continued on down the boardwalk. "Like I said, I sort of just want to get some fresh air.'
"Okay then, I'll only be a minute," he said, walking in the opposite direction as I made my way carefully over to the table and gratefully eased myself into a chair. Sid hadn't been kidding when he had said I'd be sore. I had just hoped that by now the painkillers would be wearing off, but I was still pretty dizzy. I managed to get it somewhat under control however, I just couldn't make any sudden movements, and to make matters worse my wrist, which had previously been only slightly achy, was now throbbing with pain at the slightest jolt. I did my best to ignore everything though as I waited, trying to look casual and uninterested. Sasha came strolling down the boardwalk after just a few minutes, her eyes on her phone as she typed a message to someone.
Sasha's POV:
I was texting Casey as I walked down the boardwalk. We had been getting on better and better terms with each other and I could sense that this conversation was going somewhere.
"U busy this afternoon?"
Bingo. Any plans I had were officially canceled.
"No y?"
"Just wondering if u wana grab some gelato at the surf club w/ me,"
"Id luv 2 :) wut time?"
"How about 3? So in like 30min…"
"Sounds good, cu then! :)
"Cu!"
I was currently on top of the world. I grinned as I flicked through our texts, reading over the conversation one more time.
"Hey Sash!" I heard a voice call. I looked up and saw Romeo sitting at one of the tables that lined the side of the boardwalk. He gave me a slight wave. I began to wave back.
"Oh hey Rome – Oh my god what happened to your arm?!" I gasped when I saw the chalky white cast that was enclosing most of his right arm. I was off the boardwalk and over at his table in seconds. "What happened?" I cried again.
"Oh nothing much, I just got into a little tussle with some riverboys, that's all," he said offhandedly. He lowered his hurt arm into his lap and tried not to wince, but he didn't fool me for a second.
"A little tussle?" I repeated, scanning him over skeptically. He looked like he was in a fair amount off pain and his face looked slightly pale. "Romeo you look like you were attacked by a Tyrannosaurus Rex."
"Thanks a lot," he said dryly, looking a little offended.
"I mean, look at you, bruises from head to toe, arm in a cast…" I defended myself, placing my hands on my hips. "Can you even stand?"
"Of course I can stand!" He protested indignantly, "See?" he attempted to stand up, but in his haste to prove himself he forgot about all those bruises I had just pointed out.
"Ow!" He yelped in pain, probably about ten times louder than he had intended.
"Whoa, okay, just…sit…down," I said slowly, placing my hands lightly on his shoulders and helping him back into his chair.
"I was standing before," he grunted stubbornly, "I walked all the way from that car over there," he gestured over to Mr. Stewart's car, several yards away.
"Impressive," I said sarcastically, rolling my eyes slightly as I dropped into a chair next to his. "So are you going to tell me how this happened?"
He looked at me strangely, "that all depends," he said slowly after a few seconds.
"Depends on what?" I asked, slightly confused. My eyebrows scrunched together in my classic "you-sound-totally-nutso" look. What can I say? It's a talent.
"Depends on whether or not you'll tell me something," he elaborated, averting his gaze, but then glancing at me out of the corner of his eye. He seemed to be trying to gauge my reaction. Well there was nothing for him to see because I was absolutely clueless as to what he wanted. Romeo had been – or was (I still wasn't sure exactly what he was to me now) – a great brother-in-law, but that didn't mean that I understood him 100% of the time. I don't think even Indi could claim that.
"What do you want to know?" I asked, my attitude back as I flicked the tips of my side bangs away from my face.
He turned and looked me in the eyes and said firmly, "I want to know who's the father of Indi's baby – me or Logan?"
I just stared back at him for several seconds in stunned silence. I SO didn't see that coming. How the heck did he find out? I hadn't said a word to anybody and – wait a sec, how did he know she was pregnant, much less have suspicions about the baby; he hadn't seen her lately as far a I knew. None of it made sense, but no way could I let him see how startled I was by his question, so I simply raised my eyebrows and leaned back in my chair, crossing my green Dr. Martin's casually under the table.
"I think that's already all over town Romeo. Where have you been?" I began sarcastically. "The baby's Logan's." I was just going to stick to the story for public circulation. No need to get into the nitty gritty details that he wasn't supposed to know existed in the first place.
He frowned. "Are you sure about that?" He said. "Because I overheard Indi saying something quite different."
Crap - what had he heard? "What makes you think that I would know even if there was something?" I scoffed, crossing my arms and tying not to panic. How much did he know? "Why don't you ask Indi? And now that we're on the subject, how did you even find out she was pregnant?" I paused, "well, besides the obvious I mean. You overheard something? What did you do, plant a microphone bug?" I don't know if you've ever noticed this before, but I'm a pretty good liar when I need to be, and I know dozens of tricks to avert the conversation from the original topic, but unfortunately none of them were working on Romeo; he knew me far too well.
He winced as I called him out for eavesdropping, but my distracting method failed completely. "Never mind that," he said quietly, "I already tried to ask Indi, and she didn't give me a straight answer. All she gave me were enough signs to show that there is more to this than I've been led to believe."
So he had seen Indi. It must have been really recently because I know she would have said something otherwise. "Well you're wrong," I said crisply. "There's nothing 'secret' –" I made the semicolon gestures with my fingers, "– going on and even if there was it wouldn't be my place to tell you." At least that part was true. This was between him and Indi and I wasn't too keen in getting caught in the middle. Unfortunately, Romeo had me like a fish in a net.
He sighed heavily, "Sash I understand that, but look at it from my point for a second. There's a slight possibility out there that I could be the father of that baby. Don't you think I have a right to try every way possible to find out the truth? I already know Indi slept with Logan, so I'm not going to freak out if the baby is his." He swallowed hard, "I'd be upset, but I'd learn to accept it in time. But if that baby's mine, I do nothing, and years from now I find out the truth –" he paused, "I would never be able to accept that."
I was silent for a long time. He didn't rush me, but just sat there waiting anxiously. Our simple conversation had suddenly turned into the complex question as to whether he was worthy of the honor of knowing his own child if the case proved to be. Under normal circumstances such a question would seem absurd, but viewing the current situation, it didn't seem so crazy and it almost seemed necessary and completely understandable. If I had known this was going to happen I wouldnt have stopped to fuss over him; I would have just kept on walking to meet Casey. The way things were going, I was going to be late for our sort-of-not-really-hopefully-leading-up-to-a-real-one date.
I wasn't sure exactly what I should do. Indi had sworn me to secrecy, and apparently she had kept her part of the bargain; she had seen Romeo and hadn't said a word - but she had made him suspicious enough to start making inquiries. I was about to tell Romeo to go away and just leave me alone when I happened to glance up at his face. His expression was tense and you could almost see the emotional pain he was experiencing. I had known all along that Indi should have come to him; it was so obvious that he cared for her.
I couldn't just leave him like this. I couldn't just let this mess go on and on. Maybe if I told him they would come to some kind of an agreement. The sooner that happened the better for their little son or daughter.
"The sooner the better," I mumbled under my breath, shaking my head. Romeo leaned forward a bit. "What?" He asked calmly, but I could tell that he was inwardly freaking out. "I didn't hear you."
I sighed and reached for my phone. "Just a sec," I said. I unlocked it and typed out a new message to Casey.
"Sorry, I'm gona hav 2 pass up that gelato, somethins come up."
I sadly hit send and then looked back up at Romeo. His expression was of confusion mixed with pure sorrow, and I knew that I had to tell him now. No matter what Indi said or thought, it wasn't fair putting him through this kind of pain.
"It's yours," I said finally, still quiet, but this time loud enough for him to hear.
He swallowed hard. "You're sure?" He asked, shaking his head a bit. His eyes looked a bit strange, but I figured that was because he was shocked.
I nodded, "Indi told me herself; she's too far along for it to be Logan's."
Romeo's POV:
I couldn't move; I couldn't even breathe for a moment. It was mine. The baby was mine. Then I breathed a sigh of relief. This would make things a bit easier; there was nothing left to remind me of the jerk who had tried to steal my wife like there would have been if the baby was Logan's. But there was still the ever present problem of me and Indi. We weren't together and from the little amount of conversation I had had with her, I didn't think we'd be making any happily-ever-afters any time soon. It hurt, knowing that you're wife was pregnant with your baby but didn't want you to know. I felt awful. Did I really make her think in those few words I said as I was moving out that I had stopped loving her? That it would be far better for the baby to have no father than to have me for one? Was I that much of a monster?
"Are you okay?" Sasha asked, leaning forward a bit and placing a hand on my shoulder, breaking me out of my horrifying thoughts.
I shook myself. "Yeah, I'm fine," I mumbled, pressing my hand to my stomach, trying to still the sick feeling that was now threatening to bring up my breakfast. My throat was tight as well, and I didn't like the fact that I had to keep blinking so often.
"You don't look fine," she countered, giving me a once over. "You look really pale."
I didn't answer. Truth be told I was anything but fine. I was aching all over and my stomach was churning suspiciously. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Mr. Stewart just leaving the diner. I turned to Sasha, "I need to go," I said, standing up dizzily. I swayed for a second before I steadied myself with my good arm.
"Whoa, Romeo, what's wrong?" She gasped, standing up, reaching out and taking my arm,
"Nothing, I'm just a bit dizzy, that's all," I mumbled, rubbing my head with one hand. Come on! I screamed mentally at my body, stop loosing it, this isn't the right time or place, just stop!
"Oh god, Romeo, I'm so sorry; I shouldn't have told you," she apologized, "I didn't realize it would upset you so much."
"No, it's not just that, I got a conk on the head in that fight and some painkillers at the hospital that are still wearing off a bit so I don't feel too well in general." I said, swallowing hard and trying to shake it off as nothing, but I should know by now that trying to fool Sasha is like running on a treadmill – you don't get anywhere and in the end you're really tired.
"Sash, really, I'm fine," I tried again, willing the earth beneath me to stop shifting.
"You don't look fine – at all!" she exclaimed, hovering around me like a worried mother, "now sit down before you fall over!"
I realized that that was probably a good idea, and I turned to do like she said, but her face swam before my eyes, as did everything else, including the table and chairs. Wow I really was dizzy. I placed my hand on my head and moaned slightly. This was more than just shock; I felt awful.
"Romeo? Romeo, just take it easy, you're going to be alright…"
"I can't…" I began, "Sash I…I…"
My knees buckled and I fell heavily. My stomach lurched as the world around me began flashing in weird grainy colors. This didn't feel right – what was happening?
"Romeo?! Come on now, stay with me - Romeo!"
I could feel Sasha's hands on my shoulders and I could hear her voice, but it sounded so far away…so…far away…so…far…away….I suddenly felt so tired. If I could just sleep I'd be all right. I just wanted to sleep….then I'd be okay…
"Romeo? Romeo!"
I opened my eyes to be met with bright lights and white blankets and white walls. White, white, white, it was so bright that it hurt my eyes, so I took the easy way out and closed my them again.
There, that was better. The darkness was quite welcoming and I honestly felt like I could sleep for months like a bear. Hibernation, yeah that sounded great. Maybe I should just stop thinking about it and just let it happen, I obviously wasn't having issues with insomnia. Actually, I was beginning to wonder if this feeling was even sleepiness, it felt more like I was drugged. Whatever, right now, the only thing that mattered was that my mind was trying to go into shutdown mode and I was doing way too much thinking. I was slowly beginning to succumb to the wonderfully calming blackness when a sharp voice jolted me out of my ignorant bliss.
"Romeo? Romeo, can you hear me? Dr. Walker I think he's coming too!"
Romeo? Oh right that was me. Coming too…that's what they said about people who were knocked unconscious….that would explain the weird not quite asleep/not quite awake feeling I was experiencing. Now that my mind was getting a bit more active I became aware of a sickening feeling in the pit of my stomach and an ache in my temples. Ugh, I liked it better when I was almost out. I tried to let the darkness envelope me again but I wasn't that lucky, and I remembered that usually it was better to be conscious then unconscious. I was sort of wavering in between.
"Romeo? Romeo? Come on mate, it's alright, you're okay, just try and open your eyes alright?"
Now I heard a different voice. Open my eyes? Well I guess I might as well, maybe things wouldn't be so bright this time. I tried to lift my eyelids but found that my body wasn't cooperating. Then I started to panic. Up until now I had assumed that I could have woken up anytime I wanted to. Now that I couldn't open my eyes, I suddenly had a suffocating desire too. I felt like I was having one of those dreams that wouldn't let you wake up or even scream. I tried the screaming part frantically but all that came out was a strangled moan. Frustrated, I tried to move my arms but they felt like they were chained down.
"Take it easy mate, it's going to be okay. You're alright now come on, open your eyes,"
This time my eyes obeyed me when I told them to open; actually they flew open. My heart was pounding and my breath came in gasps as adrenaline coursed through my body. Voices whirred around the room and I suddenly felt very confused and disoriented. I raised my head quickly, but immediately the room started swimming – just like it had outside with Sasha. I panicked again, remembering how awful that had felt. Was it going to happen again? I felt something prick my arm and I instinctively yanked it away. Where was I and what were they doing to me?
"Romeo, you need to calm down." I heard a voice tell me, calmly but firmly. "Just take deep breaths, that's right, just like that."
I followed what the voice told me to do, and in a few seconds my vision began to clear. My eyes focused on the face in front of me and I instantly recognized it as belonging to Sid.
"Well hello sleepyhead," he said, slightly teasingly, smiling at me as he scribbled something on his clipboard. "Long time no see."
I grimaced. "Yeah no kidding." Now that I could see clearly I realized right away that I was in the hospital. Yay. "What's going on?" I asked hoarsely, willing my parched throat to form words. "Why am I here? I just got a little dizzy..."
"It was a bit more than a little dizzy Romeo." Sid said matter-of-factly. "You passed out on the boardwalk. You've been out for, oh – " He glanced at his watch, " – about a half an hour."
Half an hour? Thirty minutes? "That's all?" I asked incredulously. It felt like I had been sleeping for a year. "But it takes just that long to get to the hospital," I reasoned, sure that there must be some mistake.
"Not the way you came." Sid said amused. "When Alf realized that your breathing and heartbeat were irregular besides the fact that you were out cold he didn't waste any time – he called an ambulance right away and they had you here in half that time."
Ambulance. Dang it, this sounded serious. "Why did I pass out anyway?" I asked weakly. "And why do I feel so awful right now?" My stomach had switched from a sickening nausea to an aching cramp, and I couldn't decide which was more uncomfortable. I placed my good arm on top of my abdomen. Although it did nothing to ease the pain, it still felt comforting in some way.
"I think what's bothering you has something to do with the painkillers we gave you." Sid said flipping through a folder labeled with my initials.
"Is it bad?" I choked, wishing desperately for some water, but wondering how my stomach would react to anything at the moment.
"No, I think all we're looking at right now is an extreme allergic reaction." Sid said. "Once the medication is out of your system, you'll start feeling a bit better, but until then we'll have to keep you under observation just as a precaution."
"And how long will that be?" I questioned, dreading the answer. All I wanted to do was get out of here - again.
"Oh just overnight probably. You can go home tomorrow if you promise to take it easy for a few days."
"My plan initially," I said dryly, gesturing towards my cast-incased arm. "In here twice in one day," I moaned. "I don't think I can stand it."
"I'm sure you'll manage somehow," Sid said, amused, glancing briefly at the heart monitor by the side of my bed. "Now are you experiencing any pain or discomfort?"
I glared at him. No, I just have my arm wrapped around my stomach because I like it there. "A bit," I finally managed to say calmly. "I have a headache and my stomach aches."
Sid shook his head. "Well we can't give you any more painkillers until we discover for sure what it is you're allergic to, but I'll have the nurse bring in some hot tea, that should help some until we get the results from the tests back. I've also giving you a mild sedative, that should help you relax a bit."
"Thanks," I mumbled. I glanced at my arm and saw a small cotton patch covered with a bandage. So that was the prick I felt. Ironically, it was to give me something to calm me down, but all it did initially was terrify me more.
"Oh and by the way," Sid continued, "Alf and Sasha both want to see you. Should I send them in?"
I nodded absentmindedly. "Yeah go ahead."
Sid nodded and left the room calling to a nurse as he left, apparently with some instructions. Sasha walked into the room a few seconds later.
"Honestly Romeo, could you have made things ANY more dramatic and complicated?!"
She was trying to be her normal sarcastic self, but I could heat the worry that laced her blunt comment. I grinned, "I tried, but this was all I could manage I'm afraid," I joked weakly. "Sorry about that by the way," I added, "I must have freaked you out back there."
"No I was perfectly calm and collected," she rolled her eyes, "Romeo you terrified me!" She cried, "Do you have any idea how horrifying it is too watch someone collapse like they're dead at your feet and not be able to do anything at all?"
"No I don't think I do," I replied amused, "but hey I said I was sorry."
"Yeah, yeah," she said, sitting gingerly on the edge of my hospital bed. "I'm just glad you're okay."
"Thanks," I replied, "It's been..." I glanced at my arms, one with a bandage, the other with a cast, and winced as my head continued to throb, "...quite a day..."
"You think?" She smiled.
We were silent for a few seconds.
"So what happens now?" She asked finally, looking at me hard.
I was confused for a second; I didn't know quite what she meant, but then it all started coming back. The reason why I had wanted to talk to Sash... I was the father of Indi's baby.
So what DID happen now? I had never thought about what I would do if I actually found out the truth.
"I…don't know," I said. "I'm just a bit overwhelmed I guess."
"I know Romeo, and I know this is probably the worst possible time for you to be hearing this, but you need to work this out fast. Indi doesn't want to admit it but she needs support in ways that dad, Dex, and I can't give her." She paused. "She just needs you."
"Then why didn't she come to me in the first place?" I asked in confusion. "I mean, I'm not mad or anything like that, but I wasn't angry with her after the first five minutes of our fight. She knows i don't stay mad long; she should have told me herself."
"She was scared Romeo."
I shook my head, "Scared of what?" I asked in despair, "scared that I wouldn't listen, that I'd scream in her face, that I'd make her do this alone? Well then she was perfectly justified because I did all those things to her in seconds during our argument," I swallowed hard, "I ruined everything with her, but I swear if I could take it back I would." My voice broke and I looked away. I didn't want Sash to see the lone tear that somehow managed to sneak out of my eye and trace a lonely path down my face.
I felt a hand on my shoulder, but I didn't turn around. This entire situation was entirely my fault; I didn't deserve to be comforted.
"Romeo, it's okay," Sasha whispered softly.
I shook my head forcefully, "What's okay? That I just possibly ruined both my life and Indi's? That because of me our baby won't have a father because Indi never wants to see me again?"
"She just didn't want you back if all you were worried about was the baby Romeo, can't you see that?" Sasha exclaimed, "she still loves you more than anything but we both know that if you don't love her AND the baby then your relationship will be broken before it even starts putting itself back together. She misses you so much, but she still feels hurt by what you did and said and the longer you take to come back and apologize the worse it's going to get."
I sighed, "I know I owe her an apology - actually I owe her many apologies, but I didn't know whether or not she wanted to hear them."
Sasha sighed, "Romeo, I'm going to be honest with you. When it comes down to it, I think all she really wants to hear is that you still love her."
I shook my head in amazement, "Of course I still love her," I murmured, "I never stopped, not even for a second."
Sasha looked deeply at me. "Then tell her that," she said solemnly, "before it's too late."
A/N: Okay, now Romeo is 100% certain…. is he going to take action? I'm going to start working on the next chapter very soon, so please review, it's really encouraging :-) Thanks so much to all who have reviewed so far and once again I'm so sorry for making you wait! Thank you for reading! :-D
Ella;-)
