Things Getting Harder

"Set him down over here!" Taylor shouted. Their had been another accident. The monster was the main cause of all of the 'accidents' lately but sometimes people could just be careless. That's what had happened this time.

A man had been climbing a tree and had fallen headfirst out of it. Taylor was not franticly trying to determine if the man's skull was fractured or not, without hurting him further. If it was fractured or cracked or something then he would be bleeding into his brain, which Taylor and Christy could do nothing about.

"I can't tell." Christy said in an emotion that didn't have a name. Taylor knew it well it was a mix of panic, profession, guilt and worry. And now that Christy had begun helping out around the caves she was becoming familiar with it too.

Taylor made her way over to her friend who was sitting with the man's head in her lap trying to diagnose anything. His neck and back weren't broken and those were good signs but if they couldn't tell whether or not something was seriously wrong with him then they had a problem.

Taylor wiped the blood from the man's face and cradled his head while running her fingers through his matted hair, carefully searching for any lumps or splits that should be there. She couldn't find any and deducted that nothing was wrong except he split his forehead open, which Christy took care of.

"We'll have to watch him carefully." Taylor said supporting her back with two hands. She watched Christy smiled at her as she ran the yellow thread back and forth between the man's cut. "What's so funny?" She inquired.

"Nothing. It's just you look very pregnant standing like that." She didn't even have to look at her to know what Taylor did. She looked down at her round stomach and then took her hands off her back and put them down to her sides. She found a place to sit down that did the same thing for her back as putting her hands there.

Now that the commotion had died down Taylor found the time to throw her hair up into a ponytail. When she did this she ran her hands down her face to massage her forehead and eyes sockets for relief from her growing headache. She closed her eyes and that created some relief and let her mind wander.

Things were getting harder and harder around here and she wasn't sure if it was all in her head or not. It seemed like more and more people were getting hurt and she just kept getting more and more pregnant. She wasn't as big as she thought she'd be and was still able to walk normally even though she was seven months.

"You okay?" A male voice called to her. It was Aaron's voice she could hear it. She didn't open her eyes or sit up straight for him just answered him.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just tired." She confessed to her spouse.

"You should get some sleep then. Christy and I will hold down the fort while you take a nap." Aaron told her.

"Thank you but I'd feel better if I just stayed awake for now." She opened her eyes to look at her husband and the pain came rushing back to her head. She smiled at him even though smiling was the last thing she wanted to do. "I don't know if I could sleep even if I wanted too."

Aaron nodded and motioned for her to come to him. She leaned into his grasp and he held her while the face the entry of the caves. They watched people move about their everyday lives for the longest time. Aaron laid a hand on her growing abdomen and once again could feel the baby…their baby move underneath his hand. He loved that feeling and all excitement was immediately brought back.

He felt bad especially lately because Taylor had been so busy taking care of everybody else she was forgetting to take care of herself. It wasn't that she didn't eat or anything like that. She just didn't rest as often as she should and Aaron had offered many times to help her but she wouldn't let him.

The man looked down at his wife and noticed she had fallen asleep. He smiled at her and moved out from underneath her. He draped one of the few blankest they had over her and left to let her sleep.

000

Aaron walked the path down to the beach like he did everyday. But the sound of someone chopping wood caught his attention. He veered in the direction of the sound and came upon Walt.

"Hey." He greeted. He didn't know Walt that well. In fact no one knew Walt that well. He had performed his and Taylor's wedding ceremony but that was the last time he talked to him.

The dark man looked up at his visitor and nodded his presence. He went back to cutting the firewood in front of him.

'Okay…not the conversation I was hoping for but…oh, well!' Aaron thought. From what he knew Walt was a good guy. He'd never done anything to hurt any of them and he always pulled his weight. In fact, he did most of the hunting. 'Alright. More than his weight.' Aaron corrected himself.

"Did you need something?" Walt said looking up from his job. He sound almost annoyed with Aaron.

"No, just heard you and thought I see if you needed any help." Aaron covered quickly.

"I think I've got it but thanks for the thought." He said sincerely.

"Okay then…" Aaron said slowly. He was about to turn around when Walt stepped back into the conversation.

"How's your wife doing?" Walt wiped his forehead with his shirt. "How far along is she again?"

"Oh, she's doing okay I guess. And she's about seven months to answer you other question." Walt nodded in understanding.

"How's she taking the whole 'parent thing'?"

"Umm…to tell you the truth, I don't know. She really doesn't talk about it and she's practically drowning in work. She won't let me help either." Aaron confided.

"That bad huh?" Aaron nodded without realizing it.

"Well, if there's anything I can do to help…let me know. Sound good?" Walt bent over to grab some of the wood.

"Sure. Thanks man for the offer." They said their good-byes and they went their separate ways.

A/N: I realize that wasn't the most exciting chapter in the world but it was necessary. Something happens later on and Walt holds up his end of the deal. But that's for a different chapter! Review!