I love suspense. And I know you'll want to know what happens to Steph and Paul and their baby but I got a big surprise for you first. Happy reading.

Hospital

Dave waited until Jayden had been checked out by the ER doc before approaching her. "Are you feeling better?" He asked gently as he surveyed her injuries. He lifted a hand and gently traced the bruise that covered the entire right side of her face.

She bit her lip. "Good as can be expected I guess. They gave me pretty good drugs." She looked down at her shoulder. "The doctor said he would be back to relocate my shoulder in a couple minutes."

Grim faced he watched her cradle her arm to her chest. "He messed you up pretty good." He folded his arms over his chest. "I expected better of you."

She blinked up at him. "What?" She asked confused.

"What you did was incredibly stupid, reckless, and just crazy." He growled.

"Now I know what Randy feels when you yell at him." She murmured not meeting his eyes.

"Randy has never done something this dangerous." He argued furious. "You invited him to meet you, to do this with you."

"He was going to rape me." She said softly looking up at Dave with tear filled eyes. "He would have if Paul hadn't stopped him."

Dave nodded, as he tried to reign in his temper. "Paul's a good man. As much as he dislikes you he still tried to save your life."

"Is he okay? They won't tell me anything." She asked worriedly. Making sure her arm was secure she wiped at her wet cheeks.

Dave shoved his hands into his pockets as he began to pace. "He's still in surgery. The knife might have hit the kidney." He swung back around to face her. "You should have gone to the police with what you know." He demanded angrily.

"And tell them what? That I think this guy's been harassing my friend. It's Halloween. They're a little too busy to go chasing after a hunch." She defended herself.

"You didn't have to go after him, especially alone. You even sent the bastard a note asking to meet you." Dave said exasperated. He leaned over her. "How stupid can you get?"

"He was supposed to be harmless." She argued, her anger overcoming her pain.

"Looks real harmless from where I'm sitting." He eyed her coldly. "He was going to rape you and kill you."

"And instead Paul's the one in surgery." She said softly, hanging her head.

Dave sighed as he dropped down beside her. "It's not your fault. Neither one of you could have anticipated what happened. It's just that you have this thing about having to do everything your own way." He glanced over at her. "It can get annoying."

Jayden looked up at his tone. "Something tells me you aren't just talking about what happened tonight."

Dave shrugged as he looked off into the distance. "I'm still pretty steamed about the other day."

"I made a decision." She answered calmly as she lifted the ice pack to her cheek.

"A decision that affects both of us and," he turned to face her. "One you made without all the facts."

"You couldn't possibly understand. You've never lost a child, you don't know how it feels." She cried, her teeth gritted with pain as she attempted to lever herself off the bed.

He gently pulled her back. "Just sit still before you manage to hurt something." Gripping her chin lightly he turned her face towards him. "And for your information I have lost a child."

Jayden stared into his pain filled eyes, her mouth hanging open in shock. "Why didn't you tell me before?" She asked softly.

"When did you give me a chance?" He inquired, exasperated.

She grimaced at the look he sent her. "Will you tell me now?' She asked after a few minutes of silence.

Dave moved his shoulders restlessly. "It all happened a long time ago. I was sixteen and I got my best friend pregnant. I loved her and I thought she loved me." His lips lifted in a half grin. "Her parents definitely did not."

Jayden remained silent as he stared off into the distance.

"We had a little girl. They wouldn't let me marry her but I did everything I could to be a part of their life. For ten years I battled those old crones every time I wanted to see my daughter." He smiled at the memory. "But it was worth it. The way she would smile when I showed up for one of her games, or surprised her at school."

"What happened?" Jayden asked when he lapsed into silence.

Dave shook his head as if coming out of a trance. "When Cammie was ten her mother died. Car accident. Her grand parents fought me for custody. When the judge awarded me sole custody they disappeared, taking her away." He looked up. "I've searched. I've hired investigators. There's been no sign of them."

"I don't think we ever stop searching." Jayden said as she leaned into him.

Dave shook his head. "I stopped the investigators this year. She turned eighteen. I figured she's of legal age and she knows who I am. If she wants to get in touch she will. But I still find myself looking in crowds, hoping I'll catch a glimpse of her."

They fell into silence. "I'm sorry." She said after a while. "I'm sorry for thinking you didn't understand. But it doesn't change anything. You deserve to have kids. I can't give them to you."

"Did you ever ask me what I wanted?" He asked raising his eyebrows.

"I don't want you to give up kids for me. I don't want that responsibility." She protested.

"Jayden, I'm not. I can't have children and if you would have stayed and listened to me the other day I would have told you."

"But how?" She asked confused.

"When Cammie was two Marla called me in a panic. Her parents were out of town and the baby was sick. She had taken her to the hospital. I rushed to join them and slammed into a semi. I had a lot of internal injuries. When I came out of surgery they told me I would be unable to have children." He recited materfactly.

"But you're a great father." Jayden cried. "Surely you could adopt."

Dave shrugged. "That was the plan when I got married. She didn't share my enthusiasm. It's not something I want anymore."

Jayden started to say something but was interrupted by a knock on the door.

"Hey," Randy said as he poked his head in he door. "The wicked witch of the west out here finally let me in."

Jayden smiled as she waved him in. "Don't tell me you were worried."

"About you?" Randy scoffed. "You eat people for breakfast." He taunted as he quickly assessed her injuries. "Looks like they've got you feeling pretty good." He observed as he bushed a finger down her cheek. He looked over, sensing Dave's anger. "Did I interrupt something?"

"Dave and I have some issues we're working on." Jayden said tactfully.

"Did you want something in particular Randy?" Dave asked noticing the younger man's embarrassment.

"Oh um, I brought a shirt in." He looked at Jayden. "I keep a bag in the car and I remember yours was, um ripped." He trailed off as he held out the garment.

"Thank you Randy." Jayden smiled at him.

Randy looked from one person to another. "Guess I'll just leaves you two alone." He said backing out of the room.

Dave waited until the door was closed before he spoke. "You say you don't want kids but there goes one of yours." He followed the younger man out before she could say anything.

Half an hour later

Journey looked up as Jayden was escorted into the waiting room.

"You just call us if you have any problems with the medication." The nurse instructed as she helped her into a chair. "Don't try to get up too fast."

Jayden smiled her thanks before turning to the young girl next to her. "Any news?"

Journey shook her head no as she stared off into the distance.

"Where's Dave and Randy?" The older girl asked looking at the nearly empty waiting room.

"What do you care?" The petite blond muttered under her breath.

Jayden turned to stare at her in surprise. "What?"

Journey turned to glare at her. "Don't pretend you care about Dave. I know what you did to him."

The injured girl raised a hand to her aching head. "I understand that you're angry about the situation." She started as Dave came into the room. Noticing his quick frown she waved him away. "Regardless of what you think I still care for him."

"You probably do this kind of thing all the time. Make a guy fall in love with you and then break his heart." The younger girl sneered. She frowned when Jayden gave a quick laugh.

"I haven't had a date in probably four years. This thing with Dave was unexpected, wonderful, and scary."

"You're a damn bitch." Journey spat out as she jumped up. Dave moved to grab her but sat back down when John walked in.

The younger man looked from his girlfriend's tear streaked face to Jayden's bruised and battered one. "What the hell is going on?" He demanded. Pursing his lips he turned to follow as Journey rushed out of the room. Randy watched as Dave waged an internal debate about going to comfort the women who had broke his heart.

"Don't worry." He said placing a hand on the other man's shoulder. "I'll take care of her."

He waited until Jayden had caught her breath before approaching her. "Journey's pretty attached to Dave." He tried to explain.

"Really, it wasn't that obvious." She said sarcastically. She looked him over. "Where's your wrist splint? You know you're supposed to wear that thing at all times."

He made a face at her. "I don't like to wear it when I'm at home. Thing's irritating."

"That's no excuse not to be wearing it now." She admonished.

He grinned at her tone. "You scared me you know. When I drove past and saw you getting in the ambulance."

She squeezed his hand, touched by the concern that showed on his face. "It scared me too." She closed her eyes at the memory. "When I was on the ground and he was on top of me…." She trailed off.

"Hey, it's over now and you're safe." He looked at her as sternly as he could manage. "And you're going to stay that way cause if you ever do anything that stupid again I'm going to be the one kicking your ass."

She gave him a small grin. "Usually I'm the one telling you that. Besides I think you would have to wait in line." She nodded her head to Dave.

"Can't get rid of family. You're stuck with us." He teased her.

They sat in silence for a few minutes. "I need to go see Steph. What did you guys tell her about what's going on?"

Randy stared at her in surprise. "You don't know yet." He realized.

"Know what?" She asked in alarm. "Randy what's going on?"

He bit his lip as he thought how to tell her. "About the same time you were wrestling on the ground Steph got a picture."

"The picture he took." She groaned as she lifted a hand to her mouth. "He sent it to his girlfriend."

Randy nodded. "Steph started convulsing. She's in surgery." He paused. "She's been in there a long time." He added softly. "Too long to just deliver a baby."