IX. Rowan's Choice, De Novo
Choices are the hinges of destiny.
-Pythagoras
So long he had sat here that the beeping of the monitors was simple background music. Reid held Rowan's hand, rubbing the back of it with his thumb. He watched her face for consciousness. The face that was pale, slack. Finding her on the bathroom floor, or rather being led to her by the animals. Here he was, seventeen hours later. What did the doctors tell him?
Her vitals were worse, the tests they ran concluded undesirable results. They were also closely monitoring the baby that was inside her. The doctor mentioned an emergency C-section, with the high possibility that the preeclampsia did progress to eclampsia. It was the only way for Rowan to get well.
The others had popped in for a visit; yet, nobody but Caleb and Evelyn had been allowed to see Rowan and not for long at that. Caleb had finally gone home at the insistence of Reid and Evelyn, and Evelyn had gone to their house to get some of Rowan's things. Hunter was staying there to look after the animals.
Reid was brought out of his thoughts by the flicker of Rowan's eyelids. He swallowed a lump in his throat, clapping his eyes intently upon her, wanting her to see him seeing her when she woke up. Finally, she did. It took several moments for her vision to clear.
"Hey, sweetheart," he said softly.
Rowan blinked furtively, swallowed, eyes wandered the room, taking in the monitors around her and on her body, before coming back to him.
"I…"
He tucked a stray lock behind her ear. "Seventeen hours," he told her, knowing she liked to know how long she'd been out.
"What…?"
He paused. "You passed out in the bathroom."
Baby.
"They're monitoring him closely. You, too."
Rowan's eyes glistened with unshed tears. There was something she should be remembering, something that happened, but nothing came to mind. Something very important. She was tired. So tired.
Tell me.
Reid hesitated. Did he want to be the bearer of (possible) bad news? Well, better it came from him than the doctor maybe.
I got worse.
His eyes widened, went back to normal. "Yeah. But you're going to be okay." Reid squeezed her hand, then kissed it. "You and the baby." Reid licked his lips. "Let me get the doctor."
Rowan grasped his hand with as much strength as she could muster. Don't leave!
"I'm not. I'm just going to press the button."
Her grip relaxed. Less than three minutes later a nurse came in. She checked Rowan's vitals, then went to get the doctor.
Oh, Reid, I'm sorry.
His brow furrowed. "No." His forehead was a hair's breadth from her temple. His hand continued to caress her hair. "We're getting through this. We always do, right?"
A weary smile flickered on her lips. We always do.
The doctor came in then. Rowan's test results were still abnormal, more so than they'd ever been. Her mild preeclampsia had just been upgraded to severe preeclampsia.
"What are you saying?" Reid asked.
The doctor pursed her lips, then replied, "I want to perform an emergency C-section. Your health is at risk, and the chances of eclampsia are very high right now." She quickly and precisely told them of the risks if the baby was not delivered.
Rowan's abdomen began to throb, then her temples, her heart. Deliver the baby early? A C-section? They wanted to cut her baby out of her body? Rowan began to shake her head.
"No."
"Mrs. Garwin, I really-"
"No!" Rowan spoke, her voice clearer, but becoming shakier. "Reid, please don't let them do this."
The doctor's eyes flashed to the heart monitor. Her blood pressure was going up, the EKG showed up and down lines of warnings. She checked the fetal heart monitor attached just above Rowan's pubic bone. The heart rate of the baby was becoming troublesome.
"Nurse!" the doctor called.
"Wait a sec," Reid said, the interruption startling. "Row."
"No, Reid, please don't let them do this. Don't let them cut my baby out of me."
Reid could not help but wince at her choice of words. It was becoming hectic, the monitors almost seemed to be going crazy.
"I need to do an emergency C-section, Mrs. Garwin," the doctor told her, completely serious.
More professionals came in, readying Rowan against her will. Reid, however, knew this was for the best; yet, his wife was still crying out for him, begging him not to let them do this.
"The baby's heart rate is dropping," the doctor announced.
Rowan cried as they rolled her out. "Reid! Reid!"
Reid ran with the gurney as they turned Rowan on her side. "I'm right here."
"It's too soon!" she sobbed. "It's too soon!"
"It'll be okay," he assured her, trying to feel the conviction of his words.
"No…It's too soon! Reid!"
Reid!
I'm right here…
xx
5 hours earlier…
There was a white light, ethereal, intense, but it did not sting her eyes. It was beautiful. Still admiring the specter, it began to fade to a more appropriate luminosity. All around her was gray, save for the image that was made of this…radiance.
Rowan did not say anything, simply waited for the aura to speak. Then it did, but not aloud; rather, she heard it in her head, yet no question if she was going crazy shook her belief that this was real.
Rowan, it said.
Nana, Rowan thought, for that was who came to mind. She saw her Nana smile, tried to return it but was too weak.
Do you know why I am here? she questioned.
No, Rowan replied.
I am here to offer you a choice.
Now confusion set in. A choice?
You are severely ill. They will inform you of that when you see them next.
The reality of the Other Side came to her. The preeclampsia, passing out in the bathroom. Yes, I am sick.
As is your child, Nana added. He is in danger.
A lump formed in Rowan's throat. I know.
Therein lays your choice, Rowan.
You mean, my life for the life of my baby? Rowan asked.
The specter smiled again, it was rife with sympathy, compassion.
No. Your health; or the baby's. Allow me to explain. When your child is born, it can be born as healthy as a full-term newborn. Your second choice is for you to be as healthy as you have always wanted for the rest of your days. But your son will be as it will, subject to Nature's whims.
Rowan did not answer right away as she assimilated the choice given. Not because it was a difficult decision to make, but because she had not expected this.
If I choose the first, I will remain the same?
Yes, Nana replied.
She nodded. Of course I choose my son.
Nana smiled. There was no doubt.
This was just a transition chapter, hence the shortness. I didn't want to drag out the medical dangers or what not, so I opted for a condensed series of events to convey the tension of the moment. Alas, their troubles are not quite over.
Note: 'de novo' is a Latin term that means 'afresh' or 'anew' In "Binding Faith" there was a chapter entitled 'Rowan's Choice' in which she had to decide how to go about performing her first true act as a Keeper in regards to her punishment of Chase. I named this chapter the same because I felt there was a correlation between the heavy decision to be made in regards to her path in life, even though they deal with different things. (Did that make sense?) o_O
Anywho, thanks to those who are reading. I keep seeing people alerting this story...thoughts, comments? :)
