"I can't believe this is your last show," Ana sadly stated to her best friend. "Why did you have to go and get knocked up?" She pouted. Karen and Daisy laughed at the actresses antics.
"What can I say; I enjoy having spontaneous and unprotected sex with my husband." Karen retorted. "Besides, you and Daisy will be incredible. And it isn't like I won't see you guys; my husband still directs remember."
"It won't be the same," Daisy added. "Plus now I have to be in the damn air hanging by a thread of fabric." She proclaimed.
"Don't be a baby," Ana joked. "If I could do it so can you. So Cartwright, are we going to celebrate after the show?"
"Of course, but it'll have to be non-alcoholic beverages for me." Karen was now at the start of her fifth month and the doctor had strongly recommended she stop performing. While the baby was completely healthy, the excersion from performing was preventing Karen from gaining the weight her doctor considered ideal. So, the last four months the doctor wanted to monitor the two more closely in order to ensure that both mother and baby put on a few more pounds.
Hearing the stage manager call everyone to their mark, the three women left the brunette's dressing room to take the stage together one last time. Two hours later and the audience applause equaled that of opening night. Faithful fans showered the actress on stage with flowers during her final bows; and after the show, admirers waited patiently for pictures with their idol. It was the last time she would don the costume of Amanda in Hit List. When the last autograph was signed Karen walked into the warm embrace of her husband. "This is it." She said with a touch of sadness in her voice.
"It is," Derek replied. "Do you have regrets darling?" He asked concern in his eyes as he looked down at her for a response.
A bright smile appeared on her face "I'll miss everyone but I'll never regret choosing to be a mother. I can't wait to hold our child in my arms."
Derek beamed at the thought "I really do hope they look like you and have your heart." He stated kissing her forehead. "Shall we get you changed so we can meet everyone at the bar?" Karen nodded her head as she leaned into her husband's side walking back into the theater.
"There they are!" Sam announced upon seeing the couple enter Radios. It was a small bar they had found during workshop that was off the normal Broadway radar. It had good music, karaoke and plenty of space for the group to congregate.
"Sorry guys, it took longer than expected getting to everyone." Karen explained.
"Toast," Kyle said as Derek was handed a drink by the bartender and a glass of water for Karen. "To the end of one chapter in Hit List's History, but the start of a new chapter in the life of our leading lady life; we all know you'll make an amazing mother." Everyone cheered as the glasses clinked in response.
"Awe thank you, I'm really going to miss being around you guys at the theater but don't think you're going to get rid of me that easily from your lives." She informed.
"You mean we still have to see you." Jimmy teased, earning a slap on the arm from Ana. "Ow! Woman; Karen is the one whose hormones should be raging."
"I'm afraid you do, I'm not letting any of you go as my friends. You've become our family." She smiled. "Our baby will have lots of aunts and uncles."
"But I am the godmother," Ana announced. "I was officially asked tonight, woo woo!" Karen laughed.
"Hey don't forget you'll be sharing that honor with me," Julia interjected.
"Of course." The actress replied. "You can buy them the really expensive gifts at holidays and birthdays and I'll buy the less expensive." Everyone laughed at the delegation of duties.
The group enjoyed the rest of the night and soon it was closing time. Ana, Jimmy, Karen and Derek decided to walk to a nearby diner for a bite to eat. Lost in conversation they failed to see how the individual in front of them started to slow until suddenly he turned to face them. His low male voice demanded their attention along with the gun they could see pointing at them. Instinctively Derek moved Karen behind him.
"Look anything you want you can have," Derek told him. He could see Jimmy itching to take action and it worried him.
"Give me your jewelry and wallets, now." He was now closer to the four so that to a passing stranger it appeared they were all talking. Keeping Karen behind him he took her wallet and rings and handed them over to man and in turn the director did the same. Ana followed but when it came to Jimmy's turn Derek knew something was going to happen. The way Jimmy was slowly leaning forward as he handed the man his items gave him a bad feeling. He pushed Karen even further behind him and his hand remained tight around her wrist.
"Just give him your things, Jimmy." Ana instructed. Derek imagined she could sense something just like he had.
"Listen to your girl. Give me your things and nothing will happen." The man warned. Jimmy extended his hand but when the man reached out to take the things the actor grabbed him. Derek immediately pushed Karen away to safety and turned back to the two men. They were struggling for control of the gun and as he rushed to help two shots rang out. The hooded man pulled away dropping the gun and the other items he had taken. He looked down at his shirt and noticed blood as he sank to the ground. Ana ran to Jimmy and in a panic looked him up and down. To her relief he was unharmed. Then she heard the shrill of a woman's scream. When she turned, she saw Karen bent down next to Derek as blood began to puddle next to his head.
"Derek, please stay with me," she cried as she pressed her hands over his neck. "Don't you dare leave us." Ana and Jimmy rushed to where he laid; the sound of sirens rang in the background.
"Oh god," Jimmy said. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean for this to happen." Derek's fought to keep his eyes open but the pressure and heat he felt coursing through him made it difficult to focus. He could see his wife and he tried to reach out to touch her but his limbs were heavy. He was having such hard time breathing.
"I love you," he said hoping the words could actually be heard. Everything was muffled and his vision was turning black. He needed to fight he knew that but right now all he wanted to do was to succumb to the darkness that would make the burning sensation stop.
Ana moved Karen out of the way so that the paramedics could work. The second bullet had hit Derek in the neck and they needed to help him before he choked on his own blood. She couldn't believe this was happening. While she was relieved Jimmy was safe; she was also angry that his need to play a tough guy now had their friend fighting for his life. Karen wasn't saying a word and her eyes were glazed over. Ana knew she was going into shock. She found another paramedic and explained her friend was five months pregnant. Immediately upon seeing the young woman's state, the EMT led her over to one of the ambulances. She put a monitor on and a look of concern flashed across her face. She called out to a colleague and together they began to move Karen on a stretcher. We need to get her to the hospital she's going into the shock and the baby's heart beat is all over the place.
Karen startled "I need to be with my husband, please."
"Karen, you need to focus on the baby," Ana told her. "Jimmy is with Derek and I've called Julia. She is meeting us at the hospital."
Tears began to fall from her eyes and the brunette nodded. "I can't lose him." She said as Ana got into the ambulance and the door closed behind her.
"The fact he is still alive," one of the EMTs informed "shows he's a fighter. He's got one of the best crews working on him right now. You though need to help me keep your baby safe. We can't have you going into labor." She instructed giving the signal for her partner to take off.