~*~ Chapter 9 ~*~

"What have we got?" Eve yells noticing the paramedics bringing a young woman into the ER on a gurney.

"Automobile versus a tree. Blunt trauma to the head. BP 132 over 85. Appears to be about 6 months pregnant. Laceration on the right hand."

Eve follows the paramedics into trauma room too. "On three. Oh my god...Karen...One. Two. Three. Get Dr. Jones in here now. Who's the OB on duty? Fihtrauma panel and check a hemocube. Get an ultrasound. We need to set up for a chest tube right away. Get her on 10 liters blood mass."

"We got the ultrasound. Hemocube's 13.4 and nine inch abdominal bleed on mom." Bobbie said in response to Eve's orders.

"How about the baby?" Eve asked.

"25 weeks size. Good Cardiac activity....hold on..."

"What?" Eve demanded.

"There...a clot." Bobbie said pointing to the ultrasound.

"Oh my god...where the hell is Dr. Meadows?" Eve demanded.

"Abruption?" Bobbie asked.

"Could be. Twelve milligrams of betametasone now. Two large bore I.V.s, squeeze in a saline."

"Got it."

"Is she stabilized?" Dr. Meadows asked entering the trauma room.

"She's stabilized. But the baby's heart rate is dropping. We're going to have to take the baby."

"Who's next of kin?" Dr. Meadows asked.

"Chris Ramsey is her husband. He's in Surgery. Went in about an hour ago." Eve replied.

"He's too far in. We can't bother him now. Who's next?" she asked.

"Her father, Scott Baldwin."

"Find him. We need a release signed." Dr. Meadows demanded.

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Scott and Janelle sat in the courtroom watching as the Jury entered one by one. As the jury took their seats, the judge banged the gavel and things began.

"Has the jury reached a decision?" Judge Belgan asked.

Juror #1 rose out of his chair "we have your honor." He said handing a slip of paper to the bailiff. Scott's attention then turned to another bailiff that entered the courtroom and handed a slip of paper to the judge.

Judge Belgan read the jury's decision and returned that slip of paper to the jury. Then read the other paper that was brought in. "Juror #1, please read your decision."

"We the jury find the defendant guilty on two counts of murder."

The sounds of the courtroom got loud as everyone gasped at the verdict. "Order. Order in the court." Judge Belgan announced banging the gavel. As the courtroom quieted down, Judge Belgan began to make his judgment.

"Due to circumstances beyond the control of the court, I am granting a continuance until tomorrow at noon. Upon that time, I will post sentencing. Counselors, would you please approach the bench."

Both Scott and the defense attorney approached Judge Belgan confused and wanting to question the continuance.

"Your honor..." the defense attorney began but was interrupted by Judge Belgan.

"Counselor, relax...Mr. Baldwin...I hate to be the barer of such news, but it has been brought to my attention that you are needed in the emergency room of General Hospital. Your daughter has been in an automobile accident."

"What? Oh my god...Which one?" he began to panic.

"I have not been given that information. Can you have someone from your office available to appear in court tomorrow at noon?" the judge asked.

"Uh Yes. Yes I can. I'll make those arrangements."

"Good, there is a police escort waiting to get you to the hospital quickly and safely. Court is adjourned." The judge announce as Scott ran out of the courtroom with Janelle quickly following.

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Scott burst through the emergency room doors, running up to the desk with Janelle desperately trying to keep up to him.

"I'm Scott Baldwin, my daughter was in an accident, where is she?" he demanded. The nurse at the desk began to answer when he heard a small scared voice behind him.

"Daddy?" Serena said. Scott turned around to see Serena standing before him with some cuts and bruises with one tear running down her cheek.

"Oh my god, Serena are you okay. What happened?" he asked pulling her into a hug.

"Daddy, it's Karen..." she managed to squeak out between sobs.

"Karen? What is wrong with Karen?" He asked as Dr. Meadows and Eve approached him with a clipboard in hand.

"Mr. Baldwin, I'm Dr. Meadows..." she began.

"Where's Karen, what's going on? Eve?"

"Mr. Baldwin, you daughter is in serious condition. And requires surgery."

"Surgery? What kind of surgery? Why aren't you giving me any answers?" he shouted.

"Scott..."Eve began "The accident has cause damage to the placenta of the baby causing it to bleed. Which could cut off oxygen to the baby. We have to do a c-section to remove the baby, before we lose it."

"Lose the baby? She is only six months pregnant...it's too early." He said in a panic.

"Scott, the baby's heart rate is dropping, if we don't take the baby we will definitely lose it and maybe Karen. We are giving her steroids to help the baby's lungs. Once we remove the baby, we will incubate it and hope for the best." Eve explained. "Time is of the essence Scott. We need you to sign the release now so that we can try to save them both."

"Where's Chris? He's her husband and the father, he should be making this decision." He said.

"Chris is in surgery, he went in awhile ago, he is the head surgeon on the case, we could not pull him. You're her father, you have to sign." Dr. Meadows explained.

Scott took the clipboard from Dr. Meadows and signed the form. He put his head down in his hands and began to cry. Janelle put her arms around him and tried her best to comfort him. "This baby is all she wanted. How could I sign a paper to let them take it?" he sobbed.

"Scott, if they don't take the baby, they could lose them both. At least this way there is a chance to save Karen and the baby."

"Dad?" Serena said approaching Scott, afraid to ask about Karen. "Is she okay?"

Scott jumped up and pulled Serena close to him. "No honey, not yet. They took her into surgery, they have to take the baby." He explained holding Serena tight to him.

"Dad, what does that mean? It's not time for the baby yet."

"Serena, the accident caused a rupture that will cut off oxygen to the baby. If they don't remove the baby, they both could die." He explained.

Serena just turned her head away from her father and tried not to cry. "Serena, what happened? Where were you going? You were supposed to be at home the whole night." Scott question.

"Jessie and I were upstairs, when Karen called over the intercom. She cut her hand looking for your address book. She said it needed stitches and that she needed Jessie to take her to the hospital. The next thing I remember was a car coming toward us and Jessie swerving." Serena explained crying harder and harder. "Dad, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry...she can't die!"

"It's okay, Serena, it's okay." He said hoping that he wasn't lying.