Chapter 144

Ryan sat in the room Alex just left his mind wandering over a bunch of situations and things that can go wrong in the course of his wife's operation. After sitting felt like an eternity, he stood up and walked around the room. Taking out his phone to check the time seeing it's 01:15AM. He wanted to call his mom, or someone who will tell him that everything is going to be all right and that he should stop worrying. That Alex and the baby will make it, but at the back of his mind he was faced with the dreadful what if the baby don't question.

Not thinking twice he dialed Theresa's number, yes he has to admit that he may be a mama's boy but his mom always had the best advice to give in times like these. He was about to end the call when the phone were ringing too long for his liking, when she answered.

"Ryan? Is everything okay?" She asked her voice thick with sleep.

He sighed deeply before answering, "I don't know, Mom."

"Ryan what are you talking about? You're not making sense right now." Theresa answered more clearly and in some form of distress because her son wasn't usually one to call at this hour.

"Alex is in surgery at the moment, her appendix is inflamed." He explained the first part.

"But that's no reason to get worried about, it's not major surgery Amorey had hers out and she's a spring chicken." Theresa reasoned not knowing why Ryan was sounding so upset about the whole thing. "Yes in any kind of surgery there is risks involved but Alex will surely get over this the way I know her."

"Alex is pregnant mom!" Ryan lost his cool when it seemed like his mother didn't understand where he was coming from with all of this, even though he never got to that part of telling her. Hearing his mother draw in a sharp breath from the other end of the line. Taking a deep breath before he continued, "The doctor said there's a chance that she might lose the baby." He said softly sitting back down on the lounger in the hospital room.

Words failing Theresa at this moment since she had no idea what to say to encourage her eldest hearing his deep breathing from the other end of the line, the only indication that he was still there. "Ryan I…I wish there was something I could say that would make you feel better right now. Would you want me to come over to you guys?" She asked when encouraging words failed her, they were her children, both of them and in times like these she is sure they'll appreciate maternal support. "I'd really appreciate it f you can, mom." He said softly.

"Alright, does Sita know?"

"No, I didn't have time to call her yet, things happened so fa…"

"I'll let her know, and we'll drive down. Keep me updated on how things are going." Theresa said before ending the call, leaving Ryan to his whirlwind of thoughts once again.

Caleb unlocked the door to his friend's house seeing Shelby asleep on the couch, waling over he checks on CJ and then throws a blanket over her, but him stepping on one of Phoebe's ducks made a screeching noise in the still of the night causing her to wake with a start. "Sorry I didn't mean to wake you." He apologized, sleepily Shelby sat up on the couch, stretching and glancing over at her sleeping son.

"What time is it? Is Ryan at the hospital yet?" She yawned moving up so Caleb can take a seat next to her.

"It 01:30. Yeah he's there. I didn't speak to him but…I saw Alex when them in the hallway when they got Alex ready for theatre and… we really need to keep them in our thoughts." Caleb sighed taking Shelby's hand in his.

"Alex is a strong woman. She's made it through an operation of removing a bullet when she was pregnant with Phoebe, I'm sure both her and the baby will make it through this time around again." Shelby answered trying to reassure herself at this time, crying from the bedroom making her get up from the couch so she can check on Phoebe.

"Hey honey, it's okay you can go back to sleep." Shelby said entering the room and Phoebe looked at her weirdly. "We're having a sleepover, uncle Caleb and CJ's downstairs and later today we're gonna go visit Mama." Shelby smiled seeing Phoebe look around the room for her mother who was here when she fell asleep but is now nowhere in sight. "Come on, let's get you back to bed." Shelby said tucking her in and handing her her pacifier, lying next to her until she saw the little girl's eyes fluttered close.

"Is she okay?" Caleb asked when Shelby returned to the lounge, making her way to the kitchen and switching on the kettle. "Yeah, a bit distorted when she woke up alone but she's asleep now." Shelby took out two cups making her and Caleb some tea, sleep evading both of them as they're worried about how their best friends are holding up.

Ryan sat down in the room, feeling like he counted all the tiles that covered the roof, and he knows how many squares there are on the carpeted floor, when the doors to the room open and the nurses bringing a drowsy Alex back into the room. Ryan stood up and walked over to the bed touching her cheeks softly, her eyes too heavy to keep them open as she fell back into a deep slumber.

.

Walking back to the bed Ryan sat down next to Alex running a hand through her hair. The door opened after a small knock, Theresa's head peeking around the doorway followed by Sita, both of them looking at Alex sleeping in bed before making their way to hug Ryan.

"How are you holding up?" Theresa asked looking at her son, who shrugged and shook his head. "The uncertainty is killing me." He said softly, Sita rubbing his arm in understanding since none of them know what to expect because the doctor hasn't seen them yet and the nurses refused to say anything. Alex stirred opening her eyes slowly, blinking rapidly as she notices the two familiar faces amongst her husband.

"Hey trouble maker." Sita smiled kissing her daughter's forehead, Theresa repeating the action. Alex smiled at the two of them, her eyes big and full of question as she's looking at her husband, who shook his head. "The doctor hasn't been here yet sweetheart, so we don't know what to expect." He said softly leaning down hugging her while she clung to him tears rolling down her face. Theresa and Sita squeezing each other's hands. Two mothers in one room seeing their children scared and there's nothing they can do about it.

A soft knock on the door, caused them to look up and the doctor appeared. Ryan's heart beating frantically as he's hoping for the best but expecting the worst at the same time. "We've monitored the baby's heartbeat throughout surgery, there were one moment when it seemed to be in distress but, miraculously it recovered to normal. So we'll have to keep you here for a few days just to make sure the baby's health won't be endangered any further. You guys are really l." The doctor concluded and gratefully and wordlessly Ryan shook his hand, thanking him for what he did. "As for you Mrs. Booth you're going to be fine, your appendix is out and we have to monitor your antibiotics which is also why we can't send you home just yet."

Full of mixed emotions Alex shook the doctor's hand before he left the room, grateful tears running down her face. As the nurses hooked her up to a machine, putting cords on her belly and a monitor where a long printed sheet came out as they were monitoring the baby's heartbeat. Doing another ultrasound, and hearing the fast, strong, even beating of their baby's heartbeat through the monitor. Alex's hand covered her mouth as she tried to suppress her sobs crying because she's grateful that their little fighter made it through. "I'm sure you can hear that your little one is telling you to stop worrying." The nurse said wiping the gel from Alex's belly and leaving the room giving the family and the grandmother's some time alone.

Ryan kissing the top of her head, before leaving them alone calling Shelby and Caleb letting them know that everything is fine. Texting Maranda to inform her that they'd have to hand the case over since Alex was going to be in hospital for a few days and Ryan would be by her side until she's strong enough to come back to work.

Once the ladies in the room composed themselves, Theresa and Sita made themselves comfortable at the end of the small hospital bed, looking at the brunette. "So Mrs. Booth." Theresa started and Alex smiled shyly knowing where this conversation will lead. "Hhhmm why did we not know about the bun in the oven?" Sita continued as she and Theresa looked at her with a smile, just as Ryan entered the room again.

"Ryan Booth, you made a baby again?" Theresa asked and he looked at them bewildered. "Mooooom, come on can we not have this discussion." Ryan moaned trying to make his way back out of the room he just entered. "Coffee? Anyone else wants coffee?" He asked opening the door his face a shade of red. "This discussion is not over." Theresa laughed as e closed the door behind him.

"How far along are you? Do you know what it is yet? Do you have a name?"

"Slow down, Ma!" Alex laughed. "I'm about eight weeks along now, we're hoping for a boy and with that said, we're hoping Phoebe will come around when the baby arrives."

"What do you mean?" Theresa asked.

Alex sighed loudly, looking at the monitor next to the bed printing the steady heartbeat of their baby. "Phoebe's edgy and throws tantrums whenever we mention that there is another baby on the way. And on one hand I feel like maybe we should've waited until she's older, but I want them to grow up together."

Theresa smiled a knowing smile nodding her head at everything Alex said. "Ryan couldn't stand Simone when she was born, but eventually they grew close in a such a way where they started covering up for one another, when the other one did something they weren't supposed to." Theresa laughed.

"And I was the same with my sisters. I hated them, but today I am grateful that they're with me. I'm sorry that you're an only child, Alex." Sita said knowing how her daughter always pestered her for siblings when she was younger.

When Ryan returned with three coffees and a water for Alex, as she ate the food they brought her after the operation. They allowed her to rest, informing them that they'd be back later in the day and bring Phoebe with them, as the mother's left her and Ryan alone to see what their granddaughter were up to, hopeful to get some sleep as well after the rough night they had.