Lars all but leaped out of the car as Vidalia slowed to let him out near the emergency room entrance. The automatic doors were barely fast enough to save him from smacking into it as he rushed into the building, coming to a skidding halt in front of the intake desk.
"An ambulance was supposed to be bringing a girl in to this hospital." He told the very flustered looking nurse. "Her name is Sadie, Sadie Miller?"
"Sir, are you a family member?" She asked, beginning to type away at a computer.
"I'm her boyfriend."
"I'm sorry sir, only family members are allowed into the triage area. Once she's moved to a room I can…"
"No! I need to see her!" He fisted a hand in his hair.
"Sir, hospital policy only allows…"
"Please!" He begged. "We're having a baby. Doesn't that count for something?"
"I can talk to the doctor, what is your name?"
"Lars, Lars Barriga." He stammered.
"Alright, if you can just take a seat I'll get right back to you." The nurse gestured towards an empty waiting area. Reluctantly, he walked over and took a seat.
"Hey!" He looked up to see Vidalia hurrying towards him. "How is she?"
"I don't know, they wouldn't let me back because I'm not family."
"Damn, let me text Barb." Vidalia pulled out her phone and began texting away as Lars fidgeted nervously in his seat.
"Oh my God, what if there's something wrong with the baby?" He rubbed the back of his hand across his eyes, trying to stop tears from forming.
"I know it's hard, but try not to worry. You'll just come up with nightmare scenarios." Vidalia took the seat next to him and put an arm around her shoulders.
"But what if…."
"Stop! We're not going to what if it." She insisted.
"If anything happens to them…" Lars trailed off, getting up to pace the length of the row of chairs.
"You really care about her?" Vidalia looked just a little surprised by his reaction to the situation.
"I love her…and the baby." Lars told her, looking down at his hands, which were fumbling with nothing.
"You're going to be such a great father." Vidalia smiled at him warmly. He blushed a little, hand flying to the back of his neck.
"You think so?" He grinned back at her.
"Yeah, I really do." She assured him. "You're a really sweet guy Lars. Don't worry though, I won't tell anybody." She winked at him.
"Mr. Barriga?" The triage nurse called out to him from the desk. Lars's head whipped around to face her. "They've got her in a room now. 206, right down here." She pointed to a hallway at her left.
"Oh, thank you! Thanks so much!" He waved to her, taking off down the hallway with Vidalia trailing close behind. He spotted Barb sitting next to the door of a room and rushed over.
"How is she? Is she okay? Is the baby okay?" He reached out for the door handle only to have Barb grab his arm.
"You can't go in yet. The doctors are looking her over." Barb pulled him away from the door.
"What happened?" Vidalia asked, coming up behind the pair.
"She passed out in the shower." Barb explained. "They said her blood sugar is low and they think she's dehydrated. They've got an IV in and she's getting fluids."
"How's the baby?" Lars wrapped his arms around himself and himself anxiously.
"I don't know. They found a good heartbeat but she's having contractions." Barb shook her head.
"How bad?" Vidalia winced.
"They aren't regular but she's been having them every ten or fifteen minutes." Barb admitted.
"So, what does that mean?" Lars put a hand to his forehead. "They have to have some kind of medicine for that, right?"
"The doctors are pretty sure they'll stop once she gets some fluids back in her system. They've got an OB coming to check her out." Barb promised, putting a hand on his shoulder. "But, Lars" She sighed, "If she goes in to labor this early there's nothing they can do for the baby."
Lars sank to the floor, knees to his chest, and buried his face in his hands.
"I should have made her call the doctor. I knew…I knew something was wrong." He shook his head. "And I didn't do anything! I should've insisted that she…."
"You should've, I should've, She should've. None of that helps her now." Barb interjected. "We've got to stay positive for her, alright? The baby is going to be just fine." She pulled him to his feet. "I know you're scared, I'm scared too. That's fine, but we have to hold it together for her."
"I know." Lars nodded. He turned to Vidalia. "Can you bring me my toothbrush and my phone charger? I want to stay with her."
"Of course. Barb, do you need anything, I've got your spare key."
"Probably just the same, and some clothes for Sadie, for when they let her out." Barb gave her friend a quick hug. "Thanks."
"No problem, I'll be back in like forty minutes, tops." Vidalia promised, taking off towards the main lobby.
"Are you really sure she's going to be okay?" Lars cocked an eyebrow at Barb.
"No, hon, I'm really not."