Will quickly pulled into his spot next to Emma's car and took the stairs two at a time, not even caring that he left his car door slightly ajar. He burst through the door and went straight to the coat closet, hoping with every fiber of his being that his wife and child were okay. His shaky hand reached for the door knob and he pulled it open as his heart ripped in two at what he saw. There, slumped on the floor, was his precious wife with her head resting against the wall, cellphone dropped to the floor. He swiftly and gently shook her shoulder as he said her name, "Emma?"
He was cautious, waiting for a response. "Emma honey, I'm here. Wake up." He said once more, moving the hair that had fallen into her face behind her ear. Still no response.
He could hear the sound of sirens getting closer and silently thanked whoever was up there for sending them. He knew well enough that if she had a concussion it was best to leave her still so it did not further any damage but it killed him not to wrap her into his arms. He just wanted to kiss her and tell her everything would be okay, but instead all he could do was stare at her motionless form and hold her hand, taking note of all of the injuries that were becoming more evident by the minute. He heard a knock on the front door that he had forgotten to close in his rush and a deep voice saying, "It's the paramedics. We got a call about an emergency at this address."
Will reluctantly let go of his wife's hand to usher in the paramedics and their equipment and show them to his wife.
"She's here." He said as he bit on his bottom lip for a moment as he looked to her frail for once more. "She called me and said she was attacked but I don't know what happened." Will felt useless as the paramedics were quickly at Emma's side, immediately scanning her for injury.
They expertly checked her pulse and wrapped a collar around her neck to stabilize her, and three of the men were able to quickly move her from the closet floor to a gurney he hadn't even noticed the fourth paramedic bring in. They efficiently went to work checking her vitals and starting an IV line, all the while attaching cords and monitors to her chest hands and abdomen. He was glancing between her heart rate monitor that faithfully beat a rhythmic pattern and her chest rising and falling. He was happy she was alive and breathing but he couldn't help wishing he was watching her breathing while she slept soundly in bed next to him. What he wouldn't give for that to be his reality instead of this nightmare of worry and heartache for the one he loves. Will was too entranced in his gazing that he didn't notice the two police officers until he heard someone speaking.
"Mr. Schuster?" One of the men in uniform asked.
"Hmm?" Will asked, snapping out of his gaze, not really wanting to tear his eyes off of his wife but knowing that the cops would want to talk to him.
"I'm Aaron Michaels with the Lima Police Department and this is my partner Eric Becker. I'm sure you are dealing with a lot right now but we need to ask you a few questions. Did your wife say anything to you about what happened?" The officer pulled out a note pad and pen and looked to Will expectedly. Wills focus was now being split between his wife, the monitors that he didn't really even understand, and the police officer standing in front of him trying to find answers that Will didn't have. One of the paramedics came around to the other side of the gurney, blocking Wills eyesight from Emma as he adjusted a wire on her chest.
Will reluctantly turned his full attention to the man who he finally observed was tall with dark buzzed hair. He looked like a commanding officer from some sort of military branch. His uniform was perfectly pressed and lint free and he aired a distinct element of professionalism, but Will could tell he was a kind man by the softness in his eyes. The same softness he saw whenever he looked into his wife's big brown ones. His heart ached once more.
"She called and said that she had been attacked. She said her wrist was broken and she wasn't sure if he had stolen anything." Will paused for a moment, replaying the call that had been playing on repeat in his head since he received it, this time scanning for anything that might stand out as important to the police.
"She didn't say much beyond that except that she was scared." Will hadn't noticed the tears that were spilling down his cheeks until he saw the sympathetic look officer Becker was giving him. Officer Michaels placed a hand on Wills shoulder in an effort to comfort him. Will smiled weakly at him as a thank you for the gesture, though it didn't seem to help any. Will wiped away the rogue tears as he took in a deep breath, trying to calm his emotions.
"Did she say anything about who was in the apartment? A physical description perhaps? Anything at all would help at this point Mr. Schuster." The officer stated, once again looking at Will hopeful.
Will shook his head, the feeling of uselessness beginning to become familiar at this point, "She didn't say. I'm sorry." The disappointment in his face was surely evident as he once again received sympathetic looks, this time from both officers.
"Okay, that's good for now. We will stop by the hospital later after she wakes up to make a formal statement. Thank you for your time." Officer Michaels extended his large hand and Will shook it reluctantly as the men left the apartment.
Will turned back to his wife who was still unconscious on the gurney. She looked so frail and helpless lying there and Will wanted nothing more than to wake her up and see the vibrancy in her face once more.
One of the paramedics turned to him, "We've got her stable. We are going to take her to Mercy East and get her fully checked out. Would you like to ride with us or follow?"
"I'll ride." Will stated, thankful that the paramedic offered.
"It will take a minute to get her downstairs and loaded into the ambulance. Is there anyone you would like to call?" The paramedic suggested. It obviously wasn't his first experience dealing with this kind of situation.
"Yeah, thanks." Will said, picking up his cell phone from where he had dropped it by the closet door. He fumbled with the buttons for a moment and then held it up to his ear. "Shannon, its Will." He said shakily after a moment.
"Emma was attacked and we're headed to the hospital now. Are you still at the school?" He paused for a moment to allow her to talk. "We don't really know anything yet. Can you tell the Glee kids where I am and let Figgins know we won't be at school tomorrow? I can call him later with more details." Will paused again as he listened to his friend. "Thanks Shannon, I'll see you there in a little bit." Another brief pause. "Bye."
Will hung up his phone, pleased that his friend had offered to come to the hospital with him. He didn't want to call either of their parents until he had gotten word from the doctor that everything was okay but it would be nice to have someone to wait with while he worried. Besides, Shannon was Emma's friend too, and he knew she would be more worried sitting at home than at the hospital with Will. They could support each other.
He quickly grabbed a coat from the coat closet that he suddenly resented and headed out the door after the paramedics. They loaded Emma into the back of the ambulance effortlessly and they began their quick ride to the hospital. Will looked out of the back window briefly at the apartment he shared with Emma. It wouldn't be the same going back there now.
The paramedics were busy checking monitors and chords while Will held tightly to Emma's right hand. He could see the purple and blue bruises forming rapidly on her left arm and knew it would be painful, so he decided the right hand was the safest bet, in case she woke up. He stared at his wife's angelic face and just wished over and over again that he could be the one on the bed and not her.
"Em, I'm here. I love you. You've got to wake up so we can make sure you're okay." He whispered lovingly to her, "Em, I love you. Can you hear me?" The last sentence was a bit of a plea and he didn't even care that the paramedics could hear him. For that moment it was just Will and Emma, alone in the ambulance.
As he watched her he noticed a movement in her face. It was her eyes, he was sure of it. They were beginning to move. Wills heart jumped into his throat as Emma's eyes fluttered for a moment. "Her eyes," Will said, looking hopefully at his wife. "They moved. I think she was trying to open them."
"Emma?" The paramedic called, rubbing his knuckle on her breast bone for a moment to initiate a response. After a minute and nothing happening, Will began to think it was all in his head. That is, until he saw it again. "Emma?" He asked her softly, brushing the side of her uninjured cheek with the back of his hand. "Emma baby, it's me. Can you wake up?" He pleaded to her, hoping with every fiber of his being that she would hear him.
Her eyes fluttered for a moment again, when finally they opened just a little bit. Emma coughed for a moment as her eyes began to focus on her surroundings.
"Will?" She asked, hoarsely.
"I'm right here Em, I've got your hand." He squeezed hers gently to reassure her that he was there.
"What's…Where am I?" She asked, still not fully aware of her surroundings. She tried to swallow but her mouth was dry.
"Were in an ambulance, Em. We are going to the hospital and the paramedics are taking really good care of you." He said, briefly making eye contact with the paramedic that was sitting across from him before the professional returned to his monitor and cord checking.
Emma seemed satisfied with this answer as she relaxed a little bit at his touch. "Is the baby okay?" She asked, weakly. Will looked to the paramedic again, not really knowing how to respond to her question.
"Emma," The paramedic that was closest to her head spoke up, "I'm Brent, one of the paramedics. You were attacked, but we aren't sure yet how extensive your injuries are. We won't know anything until we get to the hospital and let the doctors run some tests. Just take a few breaths and relax, we will be there in just a minute." The paramedic did his best to ease his patients mind, knowing they couldn't say anything conclusive until a battery of tests were run.
Emma processed this for a moment but still looked apprehensive. "But I got slammed into the wall. Do you know if the baby is okay?" She looked at him pleadingly, just needing to hear that everything would be alright. He looked to Will, and Emma's eyes followed. "Will? What if something happened to the baby?" Tears were beginning to form as an alarm rang, alerting the medics to a rise in her blood pressure.
Brent began before Will could respond, "Emma, I know you're worried, but it's important that you stay calm. We have a fetal monitor on you right now and the heart beat seems strong, but we won't know anything for sure until we get to the hospital. Can you focus on your breathing for me? You need to take a deep breath so you can calm yourself, okay?" He asked, holding his finger to Emma's pulse as he looked at her concerned.
The tears were still forming as Emma tried not to hyperventilate. She looked at Will, his knowing face sensing a panic attack coming on. He looked calmly at his wife and moved her hand from his, placing it on her abdomen, then resting his own hands on her belly as well.
"Emma, look at me." She held eye contact as she once again tried focusing on her breathing, which was still accelerating and becoming more shallow. "What do you feel?" He asked, gesturing to her hand.
Emma waited for a moment, and then felt a flutter under her hand. Will felt it too and a small smile spread across his face. "Do you feel that Em? That's our baby. Peanut is in there moving around just fine. He's a trooper, just like his mommy. Everything will be alright, we just need to get you to the hospital to run some tests, okay?" He asked calmly. Emma felt movement once again from her baby and continued to hold eye contact with her husband as her breathing began to steady. The paramedic looked at Will, obviously impressed with his ability to calm his wife.
"Or her." Will heard his wife's soft voice, breaking his focus on Brent. Will looked at her puzzled. Emma clarified, "You said he. The baby could be a her." Will couldn't help but smile at her weak comment as he leaned down to kiss her forehead lovingly.
The paramedic smiled at the couple as the ambulance came to a stop and the doors to the large vehicle opened as light poured in.