AN: I know the last chapter kinda sucked other than the fact that Nellie turned out to be alive after all, and this one probably will, too. But don't give up hope, chapter 26 makes things interesting again. If I'm wrong about this chapter or last chapter being sucky, please tell me in a review. Even if I'm right, tell me in a review. Okay, I'll shut up now.
"I'm really tired," Nellie mumbled barely audible. Sweeney felt her start to slide off him. He stopped, unable to support both Nellie and Johanna while walking all the while. He just barely stopped Nellie from falling.
"Are you sure you're too tired to hold on?" Sweeney asked Nellie, in a groan. Nellie nodded sleepily, hardly hearing him. "Come on, Nellie," he begged. "Can't you at least stay awake?" Nellie shook her head, already half asleep.
They weren't very far from home, but Nellie was obviously too exhausted to go on. Sweeney was stuck. He couldn't get them all to the house, but there was no way they were going to stay out here, especially with that bastard Albert running around. No, Sweeney wouldn't have it. There was nothing he could do, it was a lose/lose situation.
A sudden thought occured to him, and it made him desperate. Had Albert killed their baby when he beat on Nellie? Sure, he'd thought the babby was dead when he thought Nellie was. Did Nellie being alive mean the same for their baby? He hoped so.
Suddenly, Nellie sprang up into a sitting position. Not only was she coughing, but she was coughing up blood.
"Nellie!" Sweeney gasped, shocked. He rested his hand against her forehead, she felt warm. "This isn't normal!" he muttered to himself, worried. Both fortunately and unfortunately it started to rain. The warmth of Nellie's forehead disappeared only to be replaced by teeth chattering and shivers running up and down her spine.
Nellie's coughing transformed into hysterical sobbing as she clung to Sweeney's cold frame, scared. The only thought that ran through her head was, Please let me baby be alright! Please let me baby be alright! She didn't know what had caused her to start coughing up blood, and the possibilities of reasons behind this soaring through her mind frightened her. Had the damned Albert murdered her baby?! Had he damaged it somehow? Made it sick? Was she herself sick? She felt naesaus and faint. Please, she thought. Don't kill me now, please don't kill me now! she begged in her head. Nellie held on to her consciousness with all her strength.
AN: That didn't suck, or did it? Review please!