Chapter 8

They arrived in the hospital within thirty minutes. Eliot helped Sophie out of the van and then followed her in along with Parker and Hardison.

"We are here to enquire about David Jenkins." Sophie told the woman at the reception desk. She used the name that Kristoff had because that would probably be the name he was registered as when he was brought here.

"Just a minute…" The woman said checking her system. "If you would please take a seat over there I will get somebody to come and speak with you." She said looking up from her computer and indicating the chairs in the waiting area.

Sophie looked at her and then turned and walked over to the chairs followed by the other three. They took their seats. None of them spoke, they just sat and waited. Five minutes later when a tall brunette nurse approached them.

"You are here for David Jenkins?" She asked approaching them. "I am Sister Natalie Brent, I was the nurse who treated Mr. Jenkins. May I ask your connection to him."

"Yes…he was…he was my husband." Sophie said softly.

"I see. I am sorry but Mr. Jenkins died yesterday of complications from his injuries." She said watching their reactions closely.

"I need to see him…I…please." Sophie said her voice hitching with emotion.

"You say you were his wife?" Natalie asked taking in her condition then looked at the three others surrounding her. "And you people are…?"

"His family…" Eliot stated. "I am Eliot Spencer, this is Parker and Alec Hardison, this…this is Sophie Ford Nathan Fords wife. The man you know…knew as David Jenkins is…was Nathan Ford." Eliot said. "We are here to claim his body. To take him home…"

"I see…" Natalie said. "I am very sorry for your loss. However Mr. Jenkins…or Ford as you say his name was, is no longer here. We are a small clinic with no long term morgue facilities; we sent his body the main morgue for this region."

"Where is that?" Eliot said his voice hard as he fought his emotions. He had hopped upon hope that Kristoff had been lying, that they were going to find Nate here, alive.

"I'll have the receptionist give you the details. Again I am very sorry for your loss." Natalie said then turned and left.

"I hoped…I thought maybe…" Sophie stuttered as she watched the nurse walked away. "I…ahhh…"

"Sophie…Sophie…" Parker called as she moved to the woman's side. Sophie was doubled over holding her stomach and groaning in pain. "Help…we need a doctor please." Sophie called as Eliot helped her move Sophie to one of the chairs.

A doctor was at her side in minutes. "Ok let's get her into an exam room shall we?" He said helping Sophie into the wheelchair a nurse had brought. She was taken into one of the examination rooms and the curtains were drawn closing out the rest of the team. "How far along are you?"

"Seven months…almost eight." Sophie said breathing hard and fighting the pain.

"Ok let's get the fetal monitor on…that's it." He said as he attached the monitors and immediately got the heartbeat of the child inside Sophie. "Good and strong." He said approvingly. Then he continued with the examination. Finally he used the sonar and Sophie could see the image of her son on the monitor. "He has turned. Your time is near…sorry I didn't get your name." He said apologetically.

"Sophie, Sophie Ford." Sophie gritted out as another contraction hit her.

"Well Mrs. Ford you are to take is easy from now on. Your child is getting ready to come into this world. You are in false labor now, but next time it could be the real thing." He said. "I would like to keep you here for a day or so just to make sure everything is alright, and that you don't really go into labor."

"I can't stay." Sophie said shaking her head and trying to sit up. "I have to go."

"Mrs. Ford, you need to rest and take it easy. If you do not you could be jeopardizing your child." He said seriously.

"I…"

"She'll stay here doctor for as long as you need her too." Eliot said opening the curtain and entering followed by Parker and Hardison. They had been listening to the conversation outside and felt now was the time to intervene.

"Eliot…"

"Sophie you are going to stay here. You need to think of that child, Nate's child."

"But…"

"No buts Sophie. You are staying here and Parker is staying with you. Hardison and I will go back to Sterling and finish this. Then we will come back for you."

"What about Nate."

"We'll take him home with us when we are done here." Parker said taking Sophie's hand in hers. "Sophie, he would not want you to risk his son's life, you know that."

"Ok…ok…Go." She said looking at the three of them. They were right. The most important thing now was the health and wellbeing of Nate's unborn son.

"Good." Eliot smiled at her. "We'll be back." He said leaning in and kissing her on the cheek. "Take care of her Parker."

"I will…you take care of Markison." Parker said.

"We will girl, we will." Hardison said pulling her in for a kiss.

"And take care of yourself Hardison…don't you make me come after you." She whispered as she held him close to her.

"I won't…I promise." He smiled kissing her again.

Sophie watched them leave as she lay on her bed and held Parker's hand in hers.

"They'll be alright and they'll get Markison. And you…"

"I'll be fine Parker, and so will my son." Sophie smiled and closed her eyes.

Natalie Brent entered the isolation rooms and approached Nate's bed. She leaned over the man and ran her hand through his hair gently.

"Don't worry, I have taken care of them, you are safe. Nobody is going to get to you I promise." She said softly. "I will protect you."

Nate looked up at her his eyes dull from the drugs and the pain. He smiled at her and nodded closing his eyes. "Who are they?" He asked hoarsely.

"The same people as before, they were checking to make sure you really were dead." She lied to him.

"What did I do to make them so angry…I wish I could remember." Nate said softly.

"Don't worry David. You will remember in time, for now just sleep." Natalie said as she watched him drift into sleep again. "I love you David…or Nathan, or whatever your name is, and I will keep you safe, from all of them." She whispered to the sleeping man as she placed her lips against his.

OK so what did you think of the twist in the tale? Please review and let me know.