Do you know that over a hundred people pulled up the story and read the first chapter but only three people took the time to review. We are trying to entertain you and we can't do it properly unless we get feedback. And it doesn't even take two minutes. So what's your excuse?
Okay I am off my soapbox now. I don't mean to insult anyone but its a little irritating when the counter shows what's going on but no one's responding. However I did get three very special reviews from three very special people who have taken the time to review every chapter of all four of my stories. I thank them form the bottom of my heart.
Latisha—Thank you. I can't believe you even reviewed the disclaimer. And don't get impatient. Jayden has a lot of secrets and its going to take a while to find them all out.
Phenoix—I'm glad you like the beginning. It's just going to get more intense from here on out.
Myth—Thank you so much for your support. Once again your comments inspire me to keep writing.
For this story I am going to try to give myself deadlines. So each time I update I will try and let you know when the next chapter is going up. And when I say a day look for it that night. I work nightshift and sleep during the day even on my days off.
Speaking of which, due to the number of hurricane victims we have received and the fact that a bunch of our nurses are going to baton rouge to set up a hospital and the rest of us are covering for them—I don't have a day off the next two weeks. However because I already have it almost done I plan on posting chap 3—uneasy silence Wednesday. I hope.
Anyway on to the story. Happy reading.
Laney flipped off the football game she had been watching, unable to concentrate on the action. Looking over she stared at the pictures lining the wall. Paul and Steph at the beach, their wedding picture, a picture of them when they first found out she was pregnant.
"They are so happy together. What happened?" She asked the empty room. Receiving no answer she flopped back on the couch, going over the mornings events in her head. Deciding that Steph had cried over her husband far too often lately the young girl grabbed the phone and punched in a series of numbers.
"Hello." A deep voice answered.
"Paul are you okay?" She asked hugging a pillow to her chest.
"Laney, I know Steph is really upset and if I could be there with her I would be. It's just not possible at this time." He told her, his voice tired. He slumped into the first available chair.
Hearing something in his voice she got up to pace. "But what are you doing that's so important?" She asked frowning.
"I don't have time for this. Why don't you go out and have some fun." He suggested hopefully.
"Paul, you're really disappointing me. I never figured you for someone who would abandon his wife and child." Stopping in front of the wedding picture she glared at his image.
"Damn it Laney I am not abandoning them. I am trying to keep them safe." Paul roared, pounding his fist into a table.
"Safe? Safe from what?" The young girl asked bewildered.
Paul's expression hardened. "Laney, for once in your short life keep your nose out of other people's business." He bit out.
Shocked silence hung over the line.
"You didn't mean that." She finally whispered.
"I just need you to leave this alone for a little while." Paul said his voice once again that of a tired old man.
"Sure what ever. Let me talk to my father." She responded in a flat voice. Reaching up she wiped away a tear.
"If you want to go home I would understand." He said softly.
"I'm sure that's what you want but unlike you I actually care about your wife. Let me talk to my father." She demanded her voice shaky.
"I don't want you to go home. No matter what is going on right now I love you. Steph probably would not have made it this far if it wasn't for you." He told her, feeling miserable.
"LET ME TALK TO MY FATHER." She shouted.
"I'm sorry, but I can't." Paul said before hanging up.
Laney stared at the phone in disbelief.. "Well I guess Steph's not the only one with hormone problems." She muttered as she sniffed back tears. Angry and hurt she flopped back on the couch and began channel surfing, her mind replaying the conversation that had just taken place.
Her thoughts where interrupted by a commercial of horses running across a wide open plain. 'Reminds me of home.' She smiled thinking of her horse. Reaching over she picked up the phone from where she had dropped it and punched in her father's number.
"Hello." His deep voice answered.
"Hi daddy." She greeted him softly.
"Hey darling. What's wrong with my favorite girl?"
"How do you know something's wrong?"
"I can hear it in your voice. So spill." He demanded.
Grumbling she told him the story of what had happened that morning. ""And then, when I asked him to let me talk to you he wouldn't." She ended.
"Well he couldn't have darling. He's not here." Mark told her.
"Are you sure?" She asked in disbelief.
"Since I just came from talking to Vince, yeah I am." He answered confused.
Laney stared off into space. "But then he lied to Steph. How could he do that to her?" She cried.
"Did he actually say he was going to be here?" Her father asked gently.
"Well no, but where else would he be. What else would be so important that he would leave Steph at a time like this?" The young girl asked hotly.
Mark signed at his daughter's theatrics. "He could be doing anything. We just have to trust him." He admonished her.
Laney glanced around the room before asking him. "Do you think he could be having an affair?" She whispered.
"That's not very trusting. Is that what Steph thinks?" Mark asked sternly.
"No that's what I think. Steph thinks he just married her for the company and now that she's fat and ugly he doesn't want her anymore." She informed him.
"Well Steph has a reason. She's pregnant. You however are condemning a friend without proof and that's not how I raised you." He warned her.
"I don't feel very friendly towards him right now." She said softly, ashamed of what she had been thinking.
After saying goodbye to his daughter Mark walked up the hall and into a locker room, finding his two friends along the back wall.
"I just talked to Laney. Apparently Paul missed a big doctor's appointment this morning." He announced.
"Do you think something else happened?" Shawn asked sitting forward.
"Laney said he wasn't acting like himself and that he said some really cruel things to her." Mark added, reaching into his bag for his boots.
Shawn sat forward. "She okay?" He asked.
"She's hurt but I'm betting she said some things to him too. She thinks he's having an affair." The older man said frowning.
"That's a logical explanation for the way he's been acting." Shawn pointed out.
"Anyone who knows Paul wouldn't think that." Mark growled.
"With all the stress the baby has caused it's a very logical explanation. Laney's not the only one thinking it." Dave spoke up.
The three were silent as they thought about that grim fact. After a couple minutes Mark turned to Dave.
"So what were you thinking about so hard when I walked in? I didn't even think you were paying attention to our conversation." He asked him.
"Mmmm, oh I was just thinking about the prank that occurred earlier." Dave admitted.
"The one where Shelton had the water balloon war and soaked about half the set?" Shawn asked grinning.
"Yea. It could have been really dangerous. Those balloons landed on a lot of the electrical equipment. They could have easily started a fire." The grim man pointed out.
"Shelton is the ultimate prankster. A day doesn't go by that he isn't doing something to someone. It's never bothered you much before. What changed?" Shawn asked frowning.
"Randy." Mark answered looking at Dave for confirmation.
Dave nodded. "I don't like him involved in the kind of stuff that went on today. Someone could have easily got hurt. Randy's been hanging out with Shelton a lot since John's been gone." He shook his head. "I never thought I'd be glad to see Cena." He added causing the others to laugh.
"Have you talked to him?" Mark asked glancing up from his bag.
"And say what? I forbid you to be friends with Shelton. That would go real well. No, I hoping John will be a good influence on him."
The two men stared at him in disbelief.
"You never know." Dave defended himself.
All Women's Care Exam room
"I know we diagnosed you with PIH earlier in the pregnancy. Did you understand everything we talked about?" Dr. Ross asked his patient.
"Pregnancy induced hypertension. Basically when a normal healthy person gets high blood pressure while pregnant. But we have been treating it with bed rest and hydralizine. Blood pressure medicine." She added at Jayden's confused look.
"PIH can result in a disorder known as preeclampsia. This typically develops after the twentieth week of pregnancy." The somber doctor informed them.
"I'm 29 weeks." Stephanie clarified.
"I've had patients not develop the disorder until they were in labor."
"How does this differ from what she had before?" Jayden asked, concerned for her friend.
"It is a more severe condition. Besides the blood pressure increase you have severe swelling to the extremities and face." He said indicating her swollen fingers. "Your vision will become blurry; the retinas' may detach resulting in blindness. Fluid can leak into the lungs causing shortness of breath even when you're sitting. Your liver," He pointed to the area she had indicated the pain had been earlier, "can swell. Your kidneys will shut down and your brain will swell causing seizures and coma."
"Is it treatable?" Jayden asked when Steph seemed frozen in shock.
The doctor frowned in thought. "Manageable. The only real treatment is delivery of the baby."
"What will happen if the condition is not managed?" The red head asked in horror, grabbing her friend's clammy hand.
"Blindness, liver rupture, brain damage, death." The doctor answered truthfully.
"What kind of treatment are we looking at?" Stephanie asked speaking in a hoarse voice.
"Admission to the hospital for the remainder of your pregnancy, cardiac and fetal monitoring, magnesium to prevent seizures and stronger blood pressure medications."
"You cannot expect me to stay in the hospital for the next two months." She exclaimed.
"No I don't. I honestly don't think we are going to make it that long. In order to save your life we are going to have to induce labor and deliver early." The older man admitted.
"How early?" She asked putting her hand protectively over her belly.
"I don't know. If possible we need to wait until you are 34 weeks. The baby's lungs should be fully developed by then. But with your condition escalating so fast I don't think we are going to make it."
"What happens if we don't make it?" Jayden asked as her friend dug frantically for her phone.
Dr. Ross waited until his patient had settled down before answering. "With the right neonatal care the baby should survive. That's why I would like to admit you to Hartford hospital instead of St. Chris. They have one of the best neonatal units in the country." He paused and looked his patient in the eye. "You've seen stories of preemies that are so small they fit in your hand. It's not going to be easy if he survives."
"I need my husband." Steph said faintly. "I can't get a hold of him. Where is he?"