Pinned Between Darkness and Light

Manny was almost 7 months pregnant now. She was getting bigger and bigger. She was due in late April. She couldn't wait to have her baby. Sean had been going to counseling sessions because he was still seeing images of Rick when he walked down that dreadful hallway. He started seeing him everywhere he went. Once he started going to counseling, he stop seeing Rick, but kept going until he felt comfortable. Jay was doing great, he was even passing all of his classes. He was helping Toby with Terri. Toby had only really dated Kendra Mason, so he needed some help. Especially with a girl a little older than him. Ellie was doing OK, she was helping out Sean a lot. She was getting kind of aggravated because of the full house but knew she would miss the quietness if everyone moved out. Emma was happier than she had ever been. She had good friends and a great boyfriend. Life was good for them until the laughter in the Nash/Cameron/Nelson/Hogart/Santos/Manning household seemed to come to a complete stop a few weeks after Winter Break. Everyone at school thought all 6 of them were getting along so well. They weren't wrong, but it wasn't as perfect as the couples led them to believe. Craig had started drinking a little before the holidays. When he would drink, he would yell at Manny. Sometimes he would even yell at Emma and Ellie. Craig ended up getting fired by Joey. Joey didn't want to fire him, but he had to. He would just call in all the time, saying he was sick, when he really had a hang over. When he did show up, he would hit on the female customers. One night, it got even worse.

Sean and Jay were telling Craig he had to get a job or he wouldn't be able to stay here anymore. Manny had been paying her share without a problem, but there was no way she could pay for Craig's and keep putting money away for when the baby came.

"Craig, man...You've been fucking up so bad. Just talk to Joey. Tell him you're sorry. I'm sure he'll hire you again," Sean didn't want to kick him out, but there was no other way if he couldn't pay his share of the rent.

"Sean's right Craig, just talk to him. And quit with the drinking. You're going to be a father soon. Do you really want to be a drunk dad?"

"Guys, just back off ok? I'm not like my father. Nothing like him. How can I be? I don't have a kid. At least not yet. Let's just sit down and have a few beers, I'm sure we can work something out." Craig was so drunk he almost fell on the spot.

Sean and Jay could hear Manny crying and Ellie and Emma trying to comfort her.

"Craig, listen to Manny. She's crying in there, because of you!" Jay was getting pissed, he didn't want Elizabeth to have a father like he had.

Manny walked out of her and Craig's room. She wanted to talk to him. She needed him to be their for her. She wanted to be there for him. But lately things just turned to shit. It was Craig's fault. She didn't want to leave him, but if he kept drinking, she would.

"Sean. Jay. Can I talk to Craig alone please?" It wasn't really a question, more like a demand. Jay and Sean walked out of the living and into the kitchen, Ellie and Emma followed.

"Craig, baby, please. Stop this. You're ruining your life. Why are you drinking so much?"

"No, Manny I'm not ruining my life. How can I even try, if you're the one ruining it for me?"

Manny started to cry even harder. She couldn't believe he said that. "Craig, you know you don't mean that. I know you love me. You're just trying to hurt for some sick reason." She walked over to him and tried to hug him. "Craig please, I love you."

Craig pushed her away and walked out the door.

Ellie and Emma say Manny fall. They gasped and ran to their friends, their boyfriends following behind them. They heard the frot door slam and went after Craig.

Emma sat down next to her friend. She had fallen into the coffee table. The coffee table wasn't that sturdy, so once Manny fell on the wood had cracked, and snapped in half. Her head had hit the floor when the table collapsed, she was laying there unconscious, "Manny! Oh my god. Manny are you ok? Please answer me." She put her hand to her nose to see if she was breathing. She was but it was very faint.

Ellie put her hand under Manny to see if anything was hurting her. She could feel something wet, and quickly pulled her hand out. She looked at and almost fainted. It was blood.

"Oh my god! Emma, she's bleeding."

"El, call 911. Get the guys back in here now."

Ellie ran to grab the cordless phone. She was yelling for Sean and Jay to get back in here while she dialed, 911.

"Hello, what is your emergency?"

"My friend, she...She's pregnant and she fell. She landed on the coffee table. She's not moving." Ellie started to cry.

"Is she breathing?"

"Em, is she breathing?" Emma shook her head yes, "Yes, she's breathing."

"How far along is she."

"Um...I think she's like 7 months."

"OK, listen. An ambulance is on it's way. Stay on the line with me, OK?"

"OK. I can hear the sirens!"

XXXX

Jay and Sean had been standing in the doorway not sure what to do. They had caught up with Craig when they heard Ellie yelling their names. They didn't even bother grabbing Craig. They just ran back to the apartment. They could hear the sirens coming. They didn't know what to do. They walked out of the doorway and ran over to the ambulance and told them where Manny was. The paramedics ran into the house over to Manny. The gently pushed away Emma. She didn't want to leave Manny's side.

"What happened?"

Jay answered, he didn't even know he could speak, "She was pushed. Her boyfriend, he...he was drunk..And...and she was trying to calm him down. She wen...went to hold his hand. He just pushed her. Without even...without even looking back."

The paramedic looked at his friend, "Tom, we need to get her to the ER right now. We have to save at least one life!"

Ellie and Emma looked at each other. What did they mean? Manny had to be OK, so did her baby. The baby had to be alright.

XXXX

Ellie was sitting next to Sean with her head on his shoulder. Jay was sitting across from them, waiting for Emma to get back from using the phone. When he saw her walking towards them he stood up and walked towards her.

"I called her mom and Joey. Joey's out looking for Craig. He sounded really mad. Her mom, just started crying and said she would be right over."

The doctor walked out and looked at the 4, "Well, Ms. Santos will be alright. She's woke up a little after she got her, but we gave her something to help her sleep. However, she had some bruises on her legs and arms that were not caused from what happened tonight."

Ellie and Emma looked confused. The same thought raced through their minds, 'Had Craig hit her before this?'

Sean looked confused. The doctor hadn't said anything about the baby. "What about...what about her baby?"

The doctor looked down at his charts, trying to avoid what he was going to say next, "I'm sorry, but the baby was born prematurely. Considering Ms. Santos was at the beginning of her third trimester, the baby may not make it. I'm not saying give up hope, but don't get your hope's up either."

"She has a name for the baby. It is a girl right?" Emma was shocked at everything that was going on, but if the baby did die, she knew Manny would want it to have a name.

"Yes, it is."

"Then, her name is 'Elizabeth Christina Marie'" Ellie and Emma had said it at the same time. They weren't sure what to say for a last name.

"What about the last name?"

Emma was about to answer, but she saw someone walk in.

"My daughter's last name is Manning. M-A-N-N-I-N-G."

Wow, I'm totally sucking writing this story. Sorry, if you guys hate it.I wanted to give a little twist. I don't know if I'm going to keep the baby or not.