Chapter 7

Brendon was now about 5 months old and Skye was getting ready to turn 1. No one could believe how fast the kids were growing. Matt had to go out of town to Florida with Jeff as a special guest on TNA and they were due to be back just before Skye's birthday party.

"I can't believe how much needs to get done before Saturday." Beth stated as she looked at her notes for Skye's party.

"Yeah. I will be doing the same thing in a few months myself." Stephanie responded. "Is there anything you need from the store?"

"Yeah." Beth stated as she handed a piece of paper to Stephanie.

Stephanie bundled up Brendon and headed out to her car. After securing the baby in his car seat, Stephanie got in the car and headed towards town. Stephanie was minding her own business watching the road and making sure that she had enough space in between herself and the other cars.

As Stephanie was nearing downtown, a car came speeding up next to her and tried a few times to get in her lane. Stephanie let off the gas peddle as to let the car go in front of her, but that's not what they wanted. Stephanie regained her composure and continued driving. It wasn't until she was about to change lanes that the car who had tried to get over before merged into her lane and hit her car. Stephanie tried to get away from the other car but they managed to force her off the road and into a ditch.

Stephanie blacked out as soon as the airbag hit her. She didn't regain consciousness until she heard Brendon screaming. Stephanie blinked her eyes several times and reached for her cell phone. She dialed 911 and waited for an answer.

"911 Dispatch. What is your emergency?" the dispatcher stated.

"I…I was run off the road. Please help me and my baby.." Stephanie stated.

"Ok Maam. Do you know where you are at?" the dispatcher asked.

"Off the main highway near downtown Cameron." Stephanie answered. "I'm in the ditch."

"Ok. Maam. Just stay on the line with me. I am sending help your way now. Are you pregnant?" the dispatcher asked.

"No. My son, he's…he's 5 months old. Please hurry." Stephanie cried.

"Ok. They should be there very soon. Can you hear sirens yet?" the dispatcher asked.

"Yes! Yes, I can hear them." Stephanie answered.

As soon as the emergency crew found her car, one set of paramedics got her out of the car and another got Brendon out of the car. The EMT's checked on Brendon first and he was perfectly fine. Stephanie on the other hand had passed back out from the stress.

"Bobby I need you over here." one EMT stated.

"What's wrong, Eric?" Bobby asked.

"She passed out and she's hemorrhaging." Eric answered.

"Ok. I need to have the baby stay with the mother though. I'll ride back with you and the mother. Check her phone for anyone we can call." Bobby responded.

While the EMT's rushed Stephanie and Brendon to the nearest emergency room, Eric flipped through Stephanie's phone and called the last person she had called.

"Hey Steph." Beth answered her phone.

"This isn't Steph. Is this Beth Britt?" Eric asked.

"Uh, that depends. Who are you?" Beth answered.

"My name is Eric. I am an EMT and Stephanie was involved in a bad car accident. Is there anyway you can come down to the hospital?" Eric responded.

"I'm on my way." Beth stated as she hung up.

Beth got Skye into the car and took off towards the hospital. Once she arrived and got inside with her daughter, Beth walked up to the nurses station. She was shaking and worried about Stephanie and Brendon.

"I'm looking for Stephanie Martin and Brendon Hardy." Beth told the nurse.

"And who are you?" the nurse asked.

"I am her sister-in-law and aunt to Brendon." Beth answered. "My name is Beth Britt."

"Ok. Ms. Britt, please have a seat and I will get someone for you." the nurse stated.

While Beth waited she called Gilbert and then Matt and Jeff. Gilbert told her he would be there as soon as he could. But neither Matt or Jeff answered their phones and Beth assumed that they were already on the plane home so she left them a message. Gilbert arrive just before a doctor walked into the waiting room.

"I am looking for the family of Stephanie Martin and Brendon Hardy." The doctor stated.

"I am her sister-in-law, Beth and this is our father-in-law, Gilbert. How are they?" Beth responded.

"Brendon is just fine. No injuries or anything. I want to keep him overnight just to make sure though. Stephanie on the other hand is in surgery. Her left leg is broken and she was hemorrhaging pretty badly. Where is her husband?" the doctor told them.

"She's not married. Matt is on his way back from Florida with his brother Jeff. They are my sons." Gilbert answered.

"Ok. As soon as Matt can come in the better." the doctor stated.

"Is there something else wrong with Stephanie?" Beth asked.

"She was pregnant and due to the trauma, she lost the baby. She was very early into the pregnancy and I'm guessing that no one knew about it even Stephanie." the doctor answered.

Beth and Gilbert remained at the hospital until they finally heard from Matt and Jeff. Beth told Matt what had happened and that they needed to get there as soon as possible. Once Matt and Jeff arrived, Jeff stayed with their dad and Beth in the waiting room while Matt went back to see Stephanie and Brendon.

Later that night, Stephanie woke up and noticed that she wasn't in her house. She looked around and saw Matt sleeping in a chair, then saw her left leg elevated and in a cast. She wasn't sure what was going on except for the fact that her leg was apparently broken. Stephanie soon drifted back to sleep thanks to the morphine she was on.