Chapter 40
"What's going on?" Alex asks as the doctor squeezes the gel out on her stomach while moving the transducer around on her stomach while looking at the monitor. "Alexandra, you're 6 weeks pregnant." Dr Leary announced. "Wait. What? Are you sure?" Alex asks in shock since this was the last thing she expected to hear. "Yes I'm 100% sure that you're expecting a baby." The doctor confirmed. Alex looks over at Ryan who still didn't utter a word he sat there watching the monitor with his mouth open. He looked over at his wife lying on the bed and saw she had the same surprised look on her face.
"I have to tell you though, that having any kind of surgery during pregnancy is a risk, but during the first trimester the risk is not as big as it would be if you were further along. So I suggest that we get that bullet out of your arm as soon as possible. I'll get a nurse in here to prep you for surgery." Dr Leary said as he left the room. Alex just nodded her head not trusting her voice to say anything at the moment. She turned her head to look at her husband as tears rolled down her eyes. She felt a whole bunch of emotions going through her at the same time. They came here to get the bullet removed from her right bicep and now they just found out that she's pregnant. "Hey, it's going to be okay." Ryan said moving the chair closer towards the bed. "I need you to be strong right now. Both of you." He said his voice barely audible as he placed a hand on her abdomen, looking up towards the white ceiling trying to blink the tears away. "I feel like a bad mother already, Ryan. What if the shot wasn't in my arm, what if I wasn't wearing a body vest, what if the baby got hurt in the process?" She asked crying. "Please don't think like that right now sweetheart. You guys are gonna be fine." He said holding her tightly. He really hope they're going to be.
A nurse entered a few minutes later to get Alex ready for surgery. She explained the process briefly. Ryan gave his wife a kiss on the forehead while placing his hand on her stomach once again. "See you in a little while, okay?" He said as the medical staff pushed the bed towards the OR. She gave him a small smile and nodded her head.
Ryan stood in the empty hospital room slowly walking towards the window. Looking 5 floors down towards the busy high way beneath him. Placing his hands on the windowsill and resting his head against the window, he couldn't control his emotions anymore, and he started crying. This day has been really overwhelming. His wife getting shot by some doped up kid and then finding out that they're expecting their first baby. His phone buzzed, a text from Caleb asking how Alex is doing and if they need anything. Ryan replied briefly saying she'll be okay asking him if he'll be able to bring Ryan's car over to the hospital so they can have a ride home in the morning. After he composed himself he took a seat on the couch and called Maranda, who answered almost immediately. "Ryan, is Alex okay?" She asked not bothering to greet him. "Uuhhmm, yeah she, she's in surgery right now. Doctor said it was a flesh wound and that it didn't hit any major arteries, so she'll make a full recovery." He said hoping that information would be enough and that she wouldn't ask any more questions. "All right, that's good to hear. I am really sorry that something like that happened, Ryan." Maranda said apologetically. "It's part of the job I guess. Uhm, Maranda can I get a few days off. I don't want Alex to be at home alone once she's discharged." Ryan said hoping his superior would understand. "Yes of course. You got it." Maranda replied. They spoke a little while before saying their goodbyes.
He sat there wondering if he should let their mothers know about the events of the day, but decided he'll wait until he sees that Alex is okay. Theresa and Sita would get into their cars the moment he drops the phone rushing over there, so he'll save them some gas for now. Caleb sent him a text saying his downstairs asking what room Ryan is in to give him the keys to his SUV. Ryan said it's fine he'll meet him downstairs. They talked briefly and Ryan said he'll let him know what's going on as soon as Alex is out of surgery. Shelby hugged him tightly with puffy red eyes of her own, before they drove off and Ryan went back inside.
After what felt like hours Alex was wheeled back into the room, still looking drowsy. Her right arm was bandaged and propped up on an extra pillow. They let her sleep for a few hours before checking up on her again. Ryan was drained too, but he refused to go to sleep. He sat there looking at her, his head resting on the left side of the bed, listening to the monitors beeping softly in the background, as tiredness came over him and he couldn't keep his eyes open anymore.
She stirred and he lifted his head from the bed to see her looking around the room in confusion. "Hey it's okay." He said rubbing her hand. She was just about to ask him if everything went well when doctor Leary entered the room. "How're you feeling Alexandra?" He asked checking that her vitals and blood pressure is stable. "I'm fine, is my baby okay?" She asked not worried about herself at the moment. "The baby is fine, we monitored the heartbeat during the surgery, you don't have to worry. A gynecologist will be with you in the morning to explain the way forward. I want to keep you overnight for observation just to be safe." He concluded after checking that everything was stable. "Congratulations." He said turning around in the doorway heading towards the nurses' station, telling them to get Alex something to eat.
They laid on the bed in silence holding hands. "I was so scared when it all went down. I promised you that I'd protect you and I didn't. Alex, the thought of losing you scares me and I don't ever want to feel like that again. " Ryan said in a whisper as his voice started to tremble. "Hey, I'm okay, we're okay." Alex said turning in the bed so she could face him as he laid next to her. "And I know we've only found out a few hours ago, but I want to protect this baby with every ounce of me." She confessed. "I know. Me too." He said resting his head on hers.
His phone buzzed a few minutes later. Caleb again video calling him and Ryan answered. " We hope you two don't mind but all of us went ahead and unpacked your things. Figured this would be the last thing you'd want to do when you come home in the morning. You can always move it if it's not in the right place." The blonde said friendly turning the phone around so Ryan and Alex could see what they're up to. Alex couldn't help but smile at the gesture of her friends, man they were lucky to have friends like them, because she honestly forgot about the house. In the background she could see Quade and Natalie, and heard Clive's voice in the background when Nimah's face appeared on the screen. "Girl, don't you ever scare us like that again! " She said smiling. "You need to get better soon and come home!" Natalie yelled from across the room. "Guys thank you so much, you have no idea how much we appreciate this." Ryan said sincerely. "Anytime bro. You two would've done the same if it was any of us. Get some sleep now we have a house to furnish." Caleb said dropping the call.
Alex smiled turning into Ryan's side. He held her as close as he possibly could trying to find a comfortable position on the small bed trying to accommodate both of them. "I love you, Ryan." She said into his shirt. "I love you too, sweetheart. Both of you." He answered rubbing soothing circles on her back, waiting for her breathing to even out, so he knew she was asleep before closing his own eyes.
Yaaayyyy bun in the oven! Hope you guys liked it and the fact that Alex is pregnant. Enjoy the read and let me know what you think. Lovies-S