Title: Downfall
Type: 7th Heaven Fan Fiction
Rating: PG-13 (Sex, Alcohol, possible drug content)
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters of 7th Heaven. I do own all my original characters and this story, though. Don't take.
Summary: Tragedy strikes Lucy and Kevin, who then must decide what to do with their lives.

Notes: Thanks for the reviews. I'm glad you are enjoying the story. One thing I think you should know: this story isn't really about what it seems to be about at first. And I know it's slow, but that's the only way I can make it work. Hope you like.

Downfall

Chapter Two: Time Is Our Friend

Lucy ran as fast as she could back home. As soon as she reached it, she ran inside and began yelling as loud as she could.

"Somebody! Is anybody here?" Lucy yelled. Ruthie and Martin rushed downstairs, curious.

"What are you yelling about?" Martin wanted to know. Ruthie noticed her sister's bloody nose and tear streaked face.

"Lucy? Are you ok? What happened?" Ruthie demanded, with concern. Lucy fell to the floor as a crying mess. She looked at them, and tried her hardest to explain.

"I was walking home from the promenade with Gabriella. This gang was trying to escape the cops and ran into us. They kicked Gabriella to the curb and she wasn't moving," Lucy informed them, through her tears.

"What? Where's Gabriella now? Is she going to be ok?" Ruthie asked. She ran to her sister, throwing her arms around her.

"I don't know!" Lucy answered, "Kevin was in one of the police cars and he took off with Gabriella to the hospital. He seemed to have forgotten me. I guess that's understandable. Our baby's in danger."

"Was she breathing?" Martin wanted to know. He seemed to be in complete shock.

"I think she was breathing," Lucy replied, "but she was unconscious and bleeding. They kicked her so hard." Ruthie began to cry with Lucy.

"Do you need a ride to the hospital?" Martin wanted to know, "You're in no condition to drive." Lucy nodded, the blood still flowing from her nose. They all ran quickly out the door, leaving it open.

Before they knew it, Martin was speeding away to the hospital in the Camden's van. Lucy sat in the backseat, crying. Her arm was bruised and she could barely move it. Ruthie was in the passenger's seat, staring out the window. Her tears had stopped flowing, but Lucy's had just begun. Martin was able to drive, but his hands shook and his mind was unsteady.

"Where did Mom and Dad go, anyway?" Lucy asked, breaking the silence. She was barely audible, but it was so quiet in the van that you could hear a pin drop.

"Dad had a meeting," Ruthie replied, "And Mom went to the store. Dad dropped her off and is picking her up after his meeting. They're trying to cut back on gas or something."

Those were the last words spoke in that car until they reached the hospital. As soon as they pulled up, Lucy opened the car door and rushed out. Martin hadn't even found a parking spot, but Lucy was already inside the hospital. She hurried to the desk, still sobbing.

"I need to know where my daughter is," Lucy demanded to the woman behind the desk. She looked at Lucy with concerned eyes.

"Who's your daughter?" The woman needed to know.

"Gabriella Kinkirk. She's one month old and she's hurt really bad," Lucy explained.

"You're the cop's wife?" The woman asked. Lucy nodded, her tears flowing as heavy as ever. The woman pointed down a hall, where Lucy spotted Kevin. He was talking to two doctors. Lucy ran as fast as she could to Kevin.

"Kevin!" She called, and flew into his arms. Unable to say anything, and not wanting to hear anything, she buried her head in his chest and cried there.

"Lucy?" The doctor tapped her on the shoulder, "We need to talk." Lucy pulled her head away from Kevin and looked at the doctor. She sniffed and tried her hardest to stop crying.

"Is my daughter going to be ok?" Lucy demanded, her voice low and upset.

"I'm sorry Lucy," The doctor began, "Your daughter took a violent blow to the head. It was too powerful for her small body. We lost her." Lucy's heart skipped a beat and then fell. A knot formed in her throat and she couldn't speak. Tears continued to fall from her eyes, but she made no sound. The two doctors walked away, leaving Kevin and Lucy silent and alone. Kevin's hands shook fiercely, but no tears had escaped his eyes.

"They tried," Kevin stated. As soon as he spoke those two words, Ruthie and Martin found them.

"We were looking everywhere for you guys," Ruthie stated, "The lady wouldn't tell us anything." Martin and Ruthie noticed their faces and silence.

"Is she going to be ok?" Martin asked, uneasy.

"She took a violent blow to the head. It was too powerful for her small body. We lost her," Lucy answered, repeating the doctor's words.

"What?" Ruthie gasped, "I have to call Dad."

She quickly ran, in search of a pay phone. When she found one, she paid two quarters and dialed the church's number. The phone rang twice before anyone answered.

"Hello?" Eric Camden's voice came through the phone, which made Ruthie's heart fall.

"Dad," Ruthie cried into the phone, "It's Ruthie. You've got to get down to the hospital."

"Ruthie? What's wrong honey? Is everything ok?" Eric wanted to know. He heard Ruthie's sobs on the other end of the line.

"Something bad happened. Gabriella is dead," Ruthie informed him, not beating around the bush.

"What?" Eric demanded.

"I can't explain it all right now. Just get here."

"I'll be right there, honey," Eric assured her, then hung up without a goodbye.

It took twenty minutes for Eric and Annie to arrive at the hospital. Annie was in tears and Eric in shock. They all met at the hospital and cried together.