Chapter 5

At approximately 1:26 AM, Karen bolted upright in bed, pain shooting through her whole body, something wet between her legs. She removed the sheet to reveal what looked like a dark substance in the moonlight. Karen, not knowing what to do or what was happening, removed herself from the bed, tears welling in her eyes. What was happening?

She knew what the substance was, she wasn't dumb. She could feel the blood drip down her thighs, ankles. She made her way to the bathroom where she turned on the light, not having allowed herself to believe what was happening until she saw the red of the blood. She screamed and fell to the floor, feeling suddenly very faint. Too much blood. This wasn't happening. She rocked back and fourth, her tears falling freely now.

A figure appeared in the door frame. She didn't look up, she knew who it was and she didn't want to see him, not in this state.

"Oh my God." Nathan gasped. "I'm-I'm going to go-go call 911." He backed out of the room, grabbing a cordless phone and then returning to Karen, kneeling down next to her. With the number dialed, he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her to him. She buried her face in his chest. Listening as he explained to the operator what was happening. She could see his lips moving, but it was like the sound had been turned off. She couldn't hear him, everything was silent. She could hear her heart beating, her heavy, shaky breathing, but nothing else.

"No…" She exclaimed silently, her head falling back, her mind going blank. She had fainted.

When Karen awoke she found herself in a hospital. At first, when she opened her eyes she found that everything was white. But soon her vision cleared and she found Nathan beside her. He was clasping her hand for dear life, and he appeared to be in a state of prayer. She turned to him, frowning. "What happened, why am I here?" She demanded.

Nathan looked up, tears welling in his eyes as he looked in to her beautiful eyes. "You lost it, Karen, you lost the baby."

"What?" Her voice was a whisper. It hit her; the baby whom had been growing inside of her was gone. She refused to believe it, insisting it was a bad dream. Laying her head back she was once again fast asleep.

"Karen?" She heard voices around her. An absent felling rested inside her stomach. She prayed that this time when she opened her eyes she would be in her own bed, at her own penthouse. It was all a bad dream. Everything had been a dream. Yes, she was dreaming. At home. In her own bed. It was a dream. Dreaming. That was all. When she opened her eyes she would see the ever familiar ceiling, she would roll over in her $5,000 blankets and sheets.

Why was she so cold? Her eyes came slowly open. "No." She muttered.

"Karen, are you awake?" Nathan was standing over her.

Everything was white again.

"I lost it?" She could hardly say the words without getting choked up.

Nathan slowly nodded.

"Oh God." She rolled over and threw up.

The days and nights went by and Karen slunk in and out of sleep. The doctor's came and treated her, made sure she was okay. Nathan stayed by her side the entire time. Several times, however when she had been asleep, Jack, or Grace, or Will would come and visit.

Jack, when he had visited, had seemed so somber, so resigned. He treated Karen as if she were a fragile porcelain doll. He gently touched her cheek, kissed her forehead and then left, unable to handle the seriousness of the situation.

Will didn't know exactly how to conduct himself. He came in, looked at Karen, kissed her cheek, ran his hand through her frazzled hair. She looked so vulnerable, so not Karen. It frightened him.

Grace came, a mess, tears stains, running mascara. When she saw Karen the tears filled her eyes once again. She went to her, almost afraid to touch her. Nathan looked up, from his spot beside Karen. He slowly reached out and took Grace's hand in his own, guiding it to Karen's cheek where he dropped Grace's hand. She focused on where her hand was now touching Karen's face. She looked at her peaceful, sleeping, appearance. She was so innocent, so beautiful. Grace leaned down, pressing her lips to Karen's forehead, her cheek, then finally her lips. Slowly she pulled herself away, her tears returning. Instead of leaving, she ran her hand down Karen's side, taking her other hand in her own. She made that side of the hospital bed her own and stayed until Karen awoke.

Karen registered Grace's face and gave her a weak smile. Grace just looked at her with big, sad eyes. "How are you?"

"I'm hanging in there, honey, hanging in there." Karen squeezed her hand, a hint of her normal sparkle returning to her eye, but only momentarily. The hopeful look disappeared once the weight of the situation reregistered in her mind. She looked from Nathan to Grace, noticing how broken up Grace was. Freeing her hand from Nathan, she gently reached up and stroked Grace's cheek, wiping away the tears. "Don't cry, Gracie, you'll make me cry." Karen bit her lip, afraid the tears would come, afraid to show her weakness.

Grace just nodded, biting her own lip, closing her eyes, hiccupping back her tears. Karen gave her a smile and patted her cheek.

"I love you, Kare."

"I love you too, Gracie." She took her hand which held Grace's in it and kissed Grace's palm.

"It'll be okay." Grace tried to reassure her.

Karen nodded.

Nathan leaned over and brushed Karen's hair out of her face. She returned her hand back to him and then closed her eyes, feeling very sleepy. The medicine they were giving her seemed to have that effect on her.

When she woke up once again she found Nathan gone and in his place stood someone whom she was not quiet sure she wanted to see. Strangely, her presence in the room made her feel comforted. "Mommy." Karen held out her arms to her mother, who went to her and embraced her.

"I came as soon as I heard." Lois wrapped her arms around her daughter and hugged her to her.

Karen nodded and held on to her mother, needing her just at that moment. Despite their past together, Karen realized she needed her mother. One could never get away from their mother, as hard as they tried. And she had tried. But now all barriers she put up were gone and she was almost instantly comforted by her mother's arms wrapped around her. They laid there, together, just holding on to one another. In the silence, Karen felt herself once again drifting off to sleep.

TBC...I expect reviews. Lol. And I will try and get more out as fast as I can, it's just I have NO time to write. So, stick with me. Please. I already have it pretty much planned out, so know that there is more, even if I go missing for a day or two. K? Okay. Review! Lol.