Shayne watched as Dinah slowly walked back over to the bed, sitting down . He thought for a long moment. He wished he could go over to her, take her in his arms, and promise her that everything would be ok….even more than that, he wished he really thought that. He couldn't lie to her. She'd see right through it. He slowly crossed the length of the room and sat down beside her.
"I," he began, putting his arm around her and pulling her closer to him, "I'm gonna do everything I can to keep you safe," he said, his voice raspy.
Dinah looked at him. She had no doubt about that. Reaching for his hand, she whispered, "I know. I believe that. I've always believed that, but," she paused for a moment, considering whether or not to continue. Shayne could tell she was hesitating.
"Tell me," he whispered, "You can tell me anything."
She looked into his eyes. The last thing in the world she wanted to do was to hurt him. "What if there' s nothing you can do," she said, feeling tears building behind her eyes, "what if there's nothing anyone can do. Edmund has done terrible things and if he is really determined to take this baby, he'll," she stopped then, unable to even allow herself to say the words.
Shayne nodded. He understood. "I know," he whispered, "And I wish I could tell you that I was sure that nothing bad would happen, but I can't say that, but I promise you he'll have to come through me first," he said, planting a gentle kiss on her forehead. Dinah leaned into Shayne's chest and tried to relax a little. She knew he meant for those words to bring comfort to her, but in reality they brought even more concern.
Shayne slowly stroked Dinah's face as she slept. Satisfied that she was sleeping peacefully, he carefully stood and walked towards the other side of the room. Rubbing his face with his hands, he let out of heavy sigh. What was he going to do now?, he thought. Glancing back at Dinah, he knew she was worried. She had every right to bed. Edmund was as crazy as ever and Dinah knew better than anyone what that could mean. It drove him crazy that there was nothing that he could do to get them out of this. Knowing that Edmund truly had the upper hand scared him to death. He paced the floor, rubbing the back of his neck nervously, trying desperately to think of something…anything that would get them both out of there safely.
The sound of the door startled Shayne. Edmund walked in and glanced at Shayne then over at Dinah.
"She's asleep?," Edmund asked, looking towards Shayne.
Shayne thought for a moment. On one hand he didn't even want to grant Edmund the courtesy of a response, on the other, Edmund was in complete control of this situation. Angering him could cause him to do something crazy and he just couldn't take that chance.
"Yeah," Shayne said, doing his best impression of civility, "she's been asleep for a while now. She's exhausted."
Edmund nodded, "For what it's worth Shayne," Edmund began, "I really don't want to hurt her."
Shayne stated at Edmund. "What does that mean?," Shayne said, "If you don't want to hurt her then why are we here. Why do you have her locked up in here like some animal and why are you putting her through this?," he said, careful to control his tone.
Edmund pulled a chair over by the wall, "If I didn't, she'd leave and that baby….that baby is the last chance I have at a child of my own," Edmund said, his voice low and almost genuine. Shayne felt his stomach churn. He didn't know what to say.
"This isn't your child," Shayne said curtly, "That is my baby."
Edmund snapped to attention, "You have a baby back in Springfield that you're not even claming," he said, his voice raised and angered, "you don't deserve this child. You don't deserve another opportunity. I do. I need this baby."
Shayne paused a moment before speaking again. Arguing with Edmund wasn't going to work, but if he could reason with him…on any level. "Edmund," Shayne started with hesitation, "I remember Lara telling me about how much she had wished she'd known her father, how she looked at her friends with their parents and how she wanted that….Do you want that for this baby?"
Edmund glared at Shayne, "This baby will have a mother and a father. Dinah would never abandon her baby," he said coldly.
"You're right," Shayne said sadly, shaking his head, "but she'll never be happy. No matter what you do. No matter how hard you try. Dinah will never be happy."
Edmund sneered at Shayne, "That's not true. There was a time when the only thing Dinah ever wanted was to be with me and once she sees that I am committed to raising this baby with her, she'll be happy again. We can give this child a wonderful life," Edmund said, his eyes gleaming with the possibility of his plan coming into fruition. Shayne was about to speak with he heard a gasp from the other side of the room.
He turned towards Dinah who was doubled over. Rushing towards her, he placed his hand gently on the small of her back, "Dinah, baby, what's wrong?," he said, his eyes full of concern,
"it's the baby, Shayne," Dinah said, her voice shaking, "something's wrong. Something is really, really wrong."
Shayne looked back towards Edmund and over at Dinah again. "Just try to stay calm. It's going to be ok. It was ok last time, remember."
Shayne knew he was trying to reassure her every bit as much as he was trying to reassure himself. "Is it pain?," Shayne said, trying not to sound as worried as he was.
"Yeah," Dinah said weakly, her voice shaking along with the rest of her, "I don't know what's wrong, but something….something's wrong. Something bad," she said, her voice full of worry.
Shayne rubbed her back slowly, "Don't say that. Don't even think it. You're gonna be fine. The baby is gonna be fine."
Shayne looked up from her face to see Edmund was inside the room at this point. He glared at him as he made his way closer to her. "Is there anything I can do?," he asked looking at Dinah.
Shayne stood from the bed and pushed Edmund backwards, "You've done enough haven't you?," he screamed. "If anything happens to Dinah. If anything happens to this baby, this is on your hands," he said with a voice full of hatred. "You knew the stress this was causing her. You knew what this was doing to her and you did it anyway. You put yourself and your needs and your stupid, sick agendas before everyone else….the same way you always do….and now look, look what's happening."
Shayne turned his back on Edmund and joined Dinah on the bed. Edmund watched the tears stream down Dinah's face. "Come on," he said slowly.
Shayne looked up at him, "She's not going anywhere with you," he snapped.
"Both of you," Edmund conceded, "She needs a hospital, and she'll be more calm if you're there. Let's go," Edmund said again, motioning towards the door.
Shayne nodded and, placing his arm around Dinah for support, followed Edmund out of the room.
Shayne helped Dinah into the back of the car and looked back at Edmund.
"Get in," Edmund said, looking at Shayne.
Shayne climbed into the back with Dinah and was surprised with Edmund didn't argue. Looking at him as he quickly piled into the drivers seat, he realized that Edmund was scared. A sharp intake of breath from Dinah quickly turned his attention back towards her.
"This is going to be ok," Shayne whispered as he gently stroked her hair, "We're gonna get you to the hospital and everything is gonna be just fine. Just like before," he said quietly.
Dinah nodded.
Edmund looked back at Shayne and Dinah through the rearview mirror, "I'm taking you to the best hospital here," he said, his own voice strained with worry, "We should be there soon," he said, his voice trailing off. Dinah looked over at Shayne. She could tell he too was surprised by just how much this seemed to be effecting Edmund.
As the car pulled into the driveway, Shayne hesitated getting out of the car. Edmund helped Dinah stand and put his arm around her, "Let's go," he said.
Dinah glanced back at Shayne, "But..," she said, her voice shaking, her eyes filling with tears.
Edmund opened his mouth to protest and suddenly couldn't. Stepping back, he motioned towards Shayne, "Take her inside," he said softly.
"Thank you," Dinah said, her voice quiet, the tears still falling slowly. As they neared the entrance, Dinah looked back to see Edmund entering the ER from the other side. "Go up to the front desk and tell them you need to use the phone," she said through clenched teeth.
"What?," Shayne said, genuinely confused, "Forget the phone right now. We've got to get you in to see the…". Shayne stopped, catching the expression on Dinah's face. "You didn't," he said, not able to stop the smile forming on his face.
"You can thank me later," she said, smiling back at him, "Right now, go up to that counter, flirt with that nurse, and get that phone."
