A/N Want to thank you all again for the reviews, they are always very much appreciated. Sorry for the delay...I am using a beta reader and can only post chapters as when they are finalised. Hope you continue to enjoy! :)
Callum dropped his spoon, his chair scrapping back and falling on the floor, as he stood up quickly. His bowl shattered on the floor sending milk and cereal splashing everywhere.
Dot jumping at the sound of Callum's chair scrapping and then falling, turned from her cooking, and screamed in fright.
Callum, his face ashen, was kneeling by a prone, and unconscious Emma.
"Emma, open your eyes, Darlin'," Callum, said urgently, as he quickly examined her, checking to see if she had hurt herself; as far he could tell she hadn't, much to his relief.
Frank came running to the kitchen at Dot's scream, and stopped abruptly, on seeing Callum, crouched on the floor attending to Emma, looking shaken and worried.
As Frank watched, he could clearly tell that Callum was trying hard not to panic or allow it to show. "C'mon sweetheart," Callum muttered, his voice catching.
Emma slowly opened her eyes with a small groan.
"Easy!" Callum ordered, his voice hitching slightly, as he helped her sit up. "Sit with your head between your knees," he said, gently, helping her. "Do you hurt anywhere?" he asked solicitously.
"I think I bit my tongue," Emma said, as she tasted blood in her mouth, her voice muffled.
"Should we phone for an ambulance?" Dot asked, sounding worried.
Callum swallowed, before shaking his head. "I don't think that'll be necessary. She wasn't unconscious for long." However short a time it had been in reality, it had seemed to last for eternity.
Emma looked up, her face still white. "I don't need an ambulance; I'm alright now. I was just light headed for a minute."
She tried to get up, but Callum stilled her. "Don't move just yet," he warned, and Emma looked at him, recognising the panic from his dreams.
It had been some time since he'd had any dreams, and she hoped that this wouldn't herald their return. She touched his cheek affectionately, and he kissed her palm.
"I'm okay," she whispered, looking deeply into his eyes, hoping that she could make him understand. "But I'd really like to get off this cold floor."
He rose to his feet, slowly guiding her to a chair which Dot, moved closer for him. Callum continued to kneel in front of Emma, his hand held to her wrist, checking her pulse. Seeming satisfied, he took the glass of water from Dot, with a hand that shook slightly, as he handed it to Emma.
Frank had watched everything in silence; noting in particular the quiet panic that Callum, had endeavoured to hide, as he had attended to Emma. He could only imagine what Callum had been feeling in that moment. In retrospect he imagined that his reaction now had been similar to finding Emma after the explosion.
With suddenly clarity, he realised he had misjudged Callum Stone; his attentiveness to Emma had been borne out of love not guilt. He'd been such a fool.
"Maybe getting checked over wouldn't be such a bad idea," Frank stated, approaching the table.
"The only thing I feel like doing is lying down," said Emma rising to her feet. She swayed slight, and Callum caught her arm, as she sat back down heavily a hand flying to her mouth, as a feeling of nausea swept over her.
Once her stomach settled, she took a small sip of water, her face paler than before. Managing to keep it down, she slowly rose to her feet, with Callum's help and returned to their room.
"Well if you won't see a doctor here, at least let me phone Dr Sinclair," Callum tried again, once they were back in their room.
Emma lay curled up on the bed, her stomach still churning. She closed her eyes briefly, overwhelmed with exhaustion. "You'd have to clear it with Inspector Gold first. No one is supposed to know we're even here," she opened her eyes, and sighed. "I know you're worried, but I'm too tired to argue about this now. Maybe when I've had a rest, we can go to a chemist…" she said drifting off to sleep.
An hour later, Dot knocked quietly on the door, before letting herself in. Callum was sat on a chair, pinching the bridge of his nose. He didn't look up when Dot entered.
She glanced over at the sleeping form of Emma, before returning her attention to Callum. "Rest is probably the best thing for her," she said, handing him a cup of tea.
He still looked quite shaken, as he dragged his hands down his face, his gaze returning to Emma. Dot patted his shoulder, as he hung his head, and snorted through his nose.
"Why don't you come back downstairs, while she's sleeping?" Dot suggested. "There isn't anything more you can do, until she wakes up anyway."
Callum wanted to refuse but thought better of it. He could use the time to call Inspector Gold, informing her that he needed to speak to Dr Sinclair. By the time Emma awoke, he could have an appointment already set up.
Late afternoon, Callum stood in the rear garden, deep in thought. Emma had awoke just after lunchtime, and had promptly rushed to the bathroom, as the nausea finally refused to be quelled.
Returning to the kitchen, she'd sank into a chair and then rested her head on her arms.
"I'm taking you to an A&E," Callum insisted, taking one look at her, and grabbing his jacket.
"There's no point, Callum," Emma returned. "They don't know half of my medical history. I'd rather wait and see Dr Sinclair, when we go home."
"It's almost a five hour drive back to London, and the way you're feeling, I doubt we'd get an hour's head start. You need to see someone now," Callum, argued.
"Then I'll go to a chemist and they can suggest something," said Emma rising to her feet, and grabbing the car keys.
"You're not driving," said Callum, adamantly, holding out his hand for the keys. When she refused to hand the keys back, he continued. "Emma, you're in no fit state to drive; you've fainted once today. There's a chance it might happen again."
"That was hours ago!"
"I'll take her," said Dot joining in the conversation. "Besides, you need to wait for that call from Dr. Sinclair. Your phone is on charge, and I doubt they'd talk to Frank or me if you weren't here." Callum recognised the tone in Dot's voice as one that wasn't to be argued with. Emma hesitated a moment, before coming to the same conclusion and handing the car keys to her mother. "I'll see you when I get back," Emma replied, going over to him and kissing him goodbye.
Half an hour later, Frank quietly stepped out onto the patio, as Callum stood halfway down the garden, gazing off into the distance, his hands stuffed into his jeans pockets.
Callum turned at the sound of Frank's step, and Frank could see that Callum was still worried about Emma.
As Frank approached him, Callum turned his gaze back to the horizon, his mouth set in a grim line. He refused to be drawn into another argument.
Frank, stopped a few paces behind Callum, and took a deep breath. "I owe you an apology, Callum," he said quietly, making Callum turn around. It was only the second time he had used his name.
"I thought you were rushing too fast into things, and that maybe it was more of a…reaction …to what you both went through in May." Frank stopped and glanced down at his feet, feeling humbled. "Seeing you with Emma this morning…I can imagine that it brought everything back."
Callum remained silent, wanting Frank to eat as much humble pie as he could.
"She may be all grown up, but she'll always be my little girl, and I didn't want her to make, what I thought was another mistake. I misjudged you, and I'm sorry."
"I can understand, that you want to protect Emma," said Callum, at last. "What you need to understand is, that I'm not Matt. Emma hasn't told me too much about him, or their marriage, nor do I want to know; that's their business. All I can say is that our marriage will be a fresh start for both of us."
"So, can we put the last few days behind us, and start again?" Frank asked, sticking out his hand.
Callum took a moment, before taking Frank's hand, in a firm handshake. If Frank could be man enough to admit he'd made a mistake, then he could be man enough to accept it.
When Emma and Dot returned home, Frank and Callum were enjoying a companionable drink on the patio.
Making her way over to Callum, Emma glanced curiously at her mother, as Frank and Callum chatted like long time buddies.
Callum rose to his feet, as Emma approached. "How'd do you get on?" he asked, after kissing her.
"I need to talk to you, in private," said Emma quietly, glancing at her mother and father.
Callum frowned, concerned. "What's wrong?" he wanted to know, as he followed Emma into the house.
Glancing back outside to make sure they weren't being overheard, she turned to face him. "Mum took me a drop in clinic, and they wanted to run a few tests."
Emma sighed and looked down at her clenched hands, gathering her courage she looked up at him still looking shell-shocked.
"They think the fainting spell this morning could be down to emotional stress, and the argument I had with Dad this morning. But that's not everything…Callum, I'm pregnant."