Chapter 10- Monsters
When next she awoke she was alone. The room was darkened, as if someone had turned the lights down out of consideration for the room's occupant. She lay there, staring at the tiled ceiling, listening to the soft beeps of the monitors. Her head felt tremendously better, that was a blessing.
She placed her hands on her stomach, above the fetal monitor in wonder.
Dear God, a child?
She had never even suspected she might be pregnant. Yes it had been a while since she had a period, but that was nothing new. She had always been irregular on her menses. And she was taking birth control, well up until she left Cobra.
She laid there in silent amazement. Tears had gathered in her eyes, and now trailed silently down her cheeks.
She had never thought she would have children. Her lifestyle certainly was not one in which to nurture a child. And after her horrible upbringing by a woman who couldn't stand the sight of her, well she had certainly never had a mother figure to go by. But here she lay, knocked up. And for the first time in her life, she was truly terrified of the unknown. She had no doubts who the father was. Destro was the only man she had been intimate with. Well not counting her and Tomax little fling right before Zartan captured them.
She wondered what Destro had to say on the matter. No doubt he was horrified at the prospect of another woman he despised whelping him another Bastard. Ana felt the animosity rise up in her at the thought of Alexander. Destro had been overjoyed and had reveled in his son. He had done so much for the young man, and for repayment had been stabbed in the back again and again. Alexander's death had scarred Destro. The day he had carried his son's lifeless body away, a piece of his own heart had shriveled up and died.
Ana had never trusted Alexander.
Never believed Alexander when he had pledged his loyalty to his father.
But that was the past, and the past was just that. There were times though, when Ana would catch Destro brooding, staring off into space, that faraway look in his eyes. That she would instinctively know that he was thinking of his son. In the good times, when they were close, she would walk up and sit in his lap. Taking his face and cradling it in her arms, and simply hold him. Those were some of the realest moments they had. When everything was laid bare, and it was just the two of them.
Back in the beginning, when all they had was each other. Before all the lies, all the hate.
Before Sergi.
She shuddered. Where had that thought come from?
It never ended. No matter where she went, or how much she drank, no matter what she tried to do. Sergi was always there. Like a demon shadow, waiting to devour her.
Her hands protectively tightened on her midsection.
Her baby, the sound of it sounded so foreign, so unreal.
She felt a tide of emotions swamping her, a warmth entering her and filling Places in her soul she didn't even know existed.
Protectiveness rose up in her. If she was a target, then her unborn child was as well. She knew this, and it sealed her fate. Now more than ever in her life she needed the protection Destro had to offer. Only he and his army of Grenadiers could keep her safe from Cobra. Could keep them safe form a raving madman who would stop at nothing to get what he wanted. The hate she had stored for the Commander rose tenfold as she lay there in that hospital room.
Alone, staring at the ceiling she plotted her next move.
Meanwhile, in the wing below the ICU. Destro and Ian sat in his small office. The decor left a lot to be imagined when you first entered the small cubicle.
Mismatched furniture. Plaques and certificates donning every wall. And the desk, good lord, you could get lost for days in the cluttered mess.
But Ian Ogilvy knew what each piece of paper on was. He was proud of his furniture and plaques. This was his space. His home away from home so to speak. He sat now peering across the cluttered mess of a desk at his Laird.
He noted how tired the Laird looked. Although for most, it would be hard to notice anything through the mask the man wore. It wasn't so for Ian. He had known the man since he was a wee lad, trailing in his father's footsteps. Ochs that seemed so long ago.
Ian felt tired to. He was no spring chicken any longer. His old joints had aches and pains. He had thought more than once of retiring. But each time he did, he dispelled the notion. Medicine was his life. Without it, he would be lost.
"Well Lad, I sent the blood work off by currier, we should have the results in five days or so." Ian stated.
He watched Destro's shoulders slump slightly.
"I have every right to believe the child is mine, but I still need to be sure."
Destro said as he rubbed his hands on his knees. A nervous habit he had acquired as a youth.
Ian smiled. "Ye have every right to know the truth, Laird. I am proud you chose this method of testing, I am. The others are invasive, and could cause harm to the unborn child."
Ian had performed a blood test on the Baroness's blood. A test known as a Non-Invasive Prenatal Paternity (NIPP). The child's DNA would be present in her bloodstream. He had taken a sample from the Laird, and sent them off Post-haste to one of the reputable testing centers. A friend in the lab owed him several favors, so he hoped to have the results immediately. There were other methods of course, like an Amniocentesis. But the risk was there for miscarriage. When the Laid had learned of that, he had flatly refused to put the unborn child's safety at risk.
Ian stood up and rounded the desk.
"I'm off, going to check on our girl. Then head home for the evening. Yer welcome to stay here as long as ye wish. No one will bother ye here." The kindly old man offered. Destro rose and shook his hand.
As he watched the doctor leave, shutting the door silently behind him. Destro sighed and paced over to the small rectangle office window. Staring out into the night sky, the Laird pondered the day's events.
Of all the things he expected, it hadn't been this.
Ana was pregnant. God, the sound of it sent a chill throughout his body. What the hell was she thinking, hadn't she ever herd of birth control? His mind screamed out. He instantly hushed the thought.
He prided himself on being a practical man. He knew it was not all her fault.
What the hell was he going to do now?
He had everything planned out. He was going to protect her that went without saying. But he had planned a little revenge of his own. The wounds she had inflicted on his pride when she had lain with that disgusting worm still ate at him. No matter how hard he tried, he could never block it out long. The thoughts of his woman, his lover, lying with that filthy excuse of a human being made him want to retch.
He would never forget the look of evil glee on The Commander's face when he had shown him that footage.
"Ah, you sssee Dessstro. Your dear Baronesss hass been keeping herself quite amused in your absssence." He had chortled out, engulfing himself in maniacal laughter.
The image of her naked, in that bed begging Sergi to take her would be forever seared into Destro's memories.
Disgust curling his lip, he moved to leave Ian's office. He and the Baroness had to have a 'little talk' and now was a good a time as any.
Ana drifted into the fog, it surrounded her again, and she felt the fear. It always started out this way. Each and every time, while the overall dream was different. The beginning was always the same.
She heard the insane laughter, as the fog parted and she lay there. Naked and bound to the bed. Over top of her was the monster.
"I'm going to fuck every hole you have my dear, I want you to scream for me." He said as he advanced towards her, that horrible smile on his disgusting face. She felt the pain and terror ripping her apart.
"No, help me please." She screamed, but no one came to her rescue, no one ever came when she cried.
"No, NO, stop". O, god the pain, the feel of his hands. She felt her heart racing. She had to wake up!
When Destro stepped off the elevator he heard Ian shouting to a nurse, standing outside of Ana's room. Fear tinged his actions as he raced towards them his eyes widened when he heard her scream.
"What the hell is going on?" he shouted as he barreled his way through the door to see Ian trying to put restraints on Ana's hands.
"Laird, it's some kind of nightmare, me thinks. I can't get her to wake up." The older man shouted as Ana writhed and thrashed under him. Tears streaming down her face.
"She called for ye a minute ago, see if you can quiet her lad!" Ian shouted.
Destro stood there rooted in place watching her struggle.
She had called out for him? He didn't understand why.
Suddenly she started screaming again.
"No, stop." She sobbed.
Destro flew into action. Reaching her bedside he took her hand from Ian.
"Ana, listen to me. You have to wake up." He commanded
She thrashed her head from side to side.
Destro tried again. Using his most Commanding voice.
"Damn it Ana, stop moving around and wake up woman!" he all but shouted. All the while he was stroking her face, trying anything to calm her down
"No, James help me." She cried pitifully. Destro felt a catch in his heart. And promptly tried to squash it.
Suddenly she wrenched free and sat upright in the bed, ripping out an IV in the process.
She screamed out a single word as her eyes came wide open.
"NO!"
Everyone in the room stared at her as she sat there on the bed, drenched in sweat, trembling.
Ian came forward and took her hand from Destro.
"Lord alive, Milady, what was giving ye such a fright." He asked hoarsely, looking as shook up in that moment as his patient.
Destro stood up and stared at her as well. Concern evident in his posture. He too was a bit shell shocked. Never had he seen anyone have such a fit from a dream. And his mind wondered at what could have caused it.
Ana, still dazed and trembling, gripped Ian's hand. And spoke softly. So softly that the words were almost lost in the sounds of the monitors going crazy.
"The monster had me." Was all she said.
Ian looked over a Destro and shook his head. Then eased his patient back down on the bed.
Ana looked up at Destro and a tear slid down her check, to mingle with the others she had already shed.
"You are never there to save me." She said as she closed her eyes on his shocked face.
Ok, I am a little nervous. Please if you read post a review. Let me know what you think. Thanks for reading.