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Possible trigger warnings for this chapter.
Ch. 15 If I'm Wrong I'm Right
(CLARE)
Drew's alarm wakes us up to get ready for school, he groans but gets out of bed and heads straight for the washroom like every morning. I sit up and feel weird; there are no words to describe it other than weird. I'm not in pain and I don't feel dizzy but it's like I'm hypersensitive, even the feeling of Drew's shirt that I slept in feels wrong. I take it off and drop it to the ground just as Drew comes back from the washroom.
"Ooh naked girlfriend!" He exclaims and comes over barely putting his hands on my arms and I jump shrugging him off. "You can't be mad at me yet I haven't done anything," he complains at my reactions to his touch.
"I'm not mad at you Drew I just don't feel like being touched," I reply.
"Are you okay? Should we stay home?" He questions instantly getting worried.
"I'm fine it's probably just a hormone imbalance or indigestion or something, and I'm not missing school," I reply getting out the softest cotton dress I own along with panties and a bra to wear with it.
"I can skip the field trip," Drew offers.
"Drew you have to go on the field trip," I reply.
His business leadership class was going on a field trip to Kronos to meet with the CEO and get a tour. They were going to be gone all period and most of lunch too, it was also an extremely important field trip for his class.
"But I'll be gone for most of lunch," he points out.
"Drew you have to go on the field trip, really I'm okay I'm not in pain and it's not that I don't feel well I just don't feel…right," I assure him after searching for an appropriate word but not finding one and settle on right. "Anyway I can eat with Adam and Eli or Owen and Dallas," I point out. Bianca would be with Drew on the field trip since they have the class together.
"You sure you're not in pain? Have you checked for blood?" Drew questions rapidly and I put my hand on his arm.
"I'm not bleeding and I'm not in pain, I'm fine it's some new pregnant sensation I'm sure that's all. If I feel pain or notice bleeding I promise I will get someone to take me to the hospital don't worry," I assuage the very worried father of our child.
"Worry is all I've done since I found out you were pregnant but okay if you say it's nothing I'll believe you. If it becomes something you better say something though," he asserts.
"I promise Drew," I tell him kissing his cheek, my lips feel the stubble because he hasn't shaven yet and it feels like tiny little blades cutting into my lips. I take my lips from his stubbled cheek and walk to the washroom to dress and get ready for school. I do check for blood in my underwear but see none and I'm positive it's just hormones or something. When I get out Drew is already dressed and upstairs eating breakfast. I'm not hungry so I start gathering books to put in my backpack but after a few minutes Drew comes back downstairs.
"Clare you need to eat," he says with a slightly admonishing tone.
"I'm not hungry," I shake my head.
"Shining Jewel of my life what's the matter?" He asks reaching out to caress my cheek but I flinch away. "Clare something is wrong you won't even let me touch you," he comments and sounds agonized by concern and whatever thoughts are going on in his head.
"I'm just hypersensitive, that's not something the doctor said to look for and worry about so don't worry. I'm okay Drew I'm telling you it's just an imbalanced emotional cocktail happening inside me right now. It will pass and I'll want to be in your arms again," I assert.
"Okay," he sighs, "I have to finish getting ready for school please try and eat something."
I tell him I will and he watches me go upstairs before he goes into the washroom. When I get upstairs Adam and Dallas are eating, both have huge bowls of cereal. I look through the cupboards and the refrigerator before taking out a strawberry, washing it and taking a bite.
"Clare that is not breakfast," Adam scolds.
"I'm not hungry, Drew said to eat something and I did," I retort.
"Drew said you weren't feeling well are you sure you want to go to school?" Adam asks as I toss the strawberry stem.
"I feel fine just…off, but not dizzy or anything and yes I'm going to school. I already promised Drew that I would go to the hospital if it turned into anything," I inform them and they both shrug.
Both Adam and Dallas are ready for school so we're just waiting for Drew; he comes upstairs a few minutes later with both our backpacks, he makes me take my medications as soon as he's in the kitchen. Adam and Dallas are rinsing their dishes and when they put them in the dishwasher we call goodbye to Audra and leave. Drew drives us to school and keeps glancing at me so I finally take his hand to keep him from being a nervous wreck all day.
"You guys will watch her at lunch won't you?" Drew requests to his brother and billet brother in the backseat.
"Duh," is Adam's response.
"Dude of course, she can eat with the two of us and Owen," Dallas says.
"Drew I'm okay but if you worry about me all day then you'll end up in the hospital," I tell him.
"I'm sorry I know it drives you crazy when I worry like this but I can't help it," he replies but refrains from squeezing my hand even though I can feel his fingers twitching like they want to. I lean over and kiss his cheek, the seat belt scratches against my chest and I almost scream but manage not to. At least Drew shaved so his skin is nice and soft again. Drew parks at school and the four of us walk in with Drew carrying my backpack of course.
"I'm going to class," I announce when we're inside.
"I'll take her since we have the same homeroom," Adam comments.
"I'll find you as soon as I'm back from the field trip," Drew says. He reaches out to bring me to him for a kiss but I flinch again and he puts his hands up. I give him a quick kiss and walk off with Adam.
"He means well," Adam says as we walk to class.
"I know he does," I smile.
We get to class early and I cannot get comfortable, Adam talks to me to try and get my mind off it but it doesn't really work. I'm uncomfortable all through class and when it's over I'm so happy to be out of my chair. I wonder if the teacher will let me stand for all of parenting class? Adam grabs my backpack and we start walking for parenting class which we also have together. As we're walking my phone alerts me to a text and Adam stops walking so I can get it from my backpack.
Drew: Getting on bus for fieldtrip I love you.
Clare: I love you too and don't worry I'm fine.
Adam puts down our backpacks when we get to class and I put my phone in the pocket but don't sit down. Adam wrinkles his forehead at me for my odd behavior so I smile to assure him I'm okay.
"Dallas said you weren't feeling well," Owen says as he comes into class with Luke and Becky.
"No I feel fine just hypersensitive right now," I respond.
"Really because you look kind of pale, you didn't faint again did you?" Owen asks.
"No," I tell him.
"She took her iron pill," Adam tells him as Owen reaches out to feel my forehead and as soon as his skin touches mine I flinch away. Owen recoils and pinches his eyebrows together at me.
"I just don't want to be touched, I'm not even comfortable in the clothes I'm wearing and sitting last period was excruciating," I explain.
"Is that why Drew couldn't touch you this morning?" Adam questions and I nod then gasp and recoil like I was shocked when Owen gently touches my arm. He was gentle but the touch was painful in an odd way and sent a sort of wave of discomfort through my abdomen.
"That's it I'm taking you to the hospital," Owen proclaims.
"Owen I'm fine I…"
"No you're not," he cuts me off, "get in the damn car we're going. Adam you come with us, Becky tell Simpson we're taking Clare to the hospital to be cautious," he emphasizes the word cautious while looking at me so that I won't protest or argue. "Luke call Drew and let him know, make sure he knows that we don't know anything is wrong but I would rather go and have them send us home because she's fine than take the chance. If you can't get a hold of Drew call Dallas and have him call B. We'll call or text once we know anything," Owen says.
"Yeah," Luke nods getting out his phone while Becky runs for the office.
Owen waves his arm for me to leave the classroom so I walk out with him and Adam behind me. I'm certain that we'll get to the ER; I'll waste an hour getting checked in and everything to be told I'm fine and sent home. Still Owen is right it's better to be sure than to risk that something might be wrong. The three of us walk out to Owen's car, I get in the passenger seat and he speeds to the hospital running two red lights. I yell at him after the first one but he says he's rushing a pregnant woman to the hospital and therefor has a perfectly valid excuse to speed. We park at the hospital and get out then Owen's phone rings and he puts it on speaker as the three of us are walking in.
"Hey Luke," Owen says.
"It's me and Dallas, Becks too, we can't get a hold of Drew or Bianca their phones are off. We both left messages though," Luke tells us.
"I told Simpson he said to keep him informed," Becky pipes up.
"Okay thanks we just got here, you three go back to class but keep your phones handy I'll text Luke and Dallas when we know anything," Owen responds.
They say okay and hang up and we walk in the emergency entrance, Owen tells them I'm pregnant and not feeling well.
"Not feeling well how?" The nurse asks while typing something on the computer.
"Just off, I don't want to be touched and my skin is super sensitive," I tell her.
To my surprise I'm not checked in but an orderly appears with a wheelchair and I'm told that I'll be taken up to maternity. I sit in the wheelchair and the orderly starts pushing me to the elevator, Owen and Adam following of course.
"Is one of you the Dad?" Asks the orderly and both Owen and Adam shake their head.
"I'm a very close friend to Clare and the expectant father, Adam is the expectant uncle," Owen explains.
"Okay well we'll get her into a room and she'll start getting checked out as we check her in. You can both be in the room so long as it's okay with Clare. If everything's okay with the baby then we'll send her back downstairs to the ER if necessary," the orderly explains.
"Yes I'd like them both in the room with me," I reply starting to get just a little bit worried.
The elevator door dings and the orderly wheels me out, down the hall and into an exam room. I get out of the wheelchair and he hands me a hospital gown telling me to change into it and that a doctor will be in shortly. Owen and Adam both turn their backs while I change; both are on their phones most likely texting Dallas and Luke what's going on. After I'm changed I tell the boys they can turn around again as I get on the exam table. They turn around and sit down in the two chairs against the wall. I expect it to take a while but a doctor comes in almost immediately. A short woman with short dark blonde hair enters after knocking.
"Hi Clare, I see Dr. Davis is your doctor, I'm Doctor Cooper," she introduces herself.
"Hi this is my best friend Adam, also the soon to be uncle and our very good friend Owen," I tell her.
"It's nice to meet you all, okay why don't you lie back Clare and I'm going to take a look and make sure everything is okay with your baby," Dr. Cooper says and I lie back as she turns on a couple of machines. "I see you're having a girl have you picked out a name yet?" She asks as she lifts my gown to expose my belly.
"No we haven't even talked about it much," I tell her as she puts a large belt over my belly and looks at a monitor.
"That's alright; many parents don't name their children until after their born. Have you felt any pain this morning Clare?" She inquires.
"No, no pain at all just felt off," I respond.
"I'm going to leave this on but I'm going to get an ultrasound so we can see the baby and see how your placenta previa is doing. Boys why don't you come over here and stand by Clare's head so you can see the monitor," Dr. Cooper suggests as she stands up. The guys get up walking to the other side of the exam table and she puts on the ultrasound machine and grabs the cold gel. She also gets a blanket out of closet and sets it on the exam table. "Okay Clare can you bend up your legs I'm going to drape the blanket over your legs so I can get your underwear off and do an internal in a minute," Dr. Cooper says and I bend my knees then she lays the blankets over my knees. Dr. cooper squirts some of the gel on my belly and I hiss at the cold sensation. The doctor starts moving the wand over the gel and looking at the monitor, "There she is," the doctor tells us looking at Adam and Owen so they can see the baby on the monitor.
"Dude it's a baby," Owen exclaims and it makes me smile.
"Aww niece," Adam grins.
"Your placenta has moved up a little but you still have partial previa," the doc says turning off the ultrasound machine again and setting the wand down. She then moves on her little rolling stool to the end of the exam table again. "Alright Clare if you extend your feet a little you can get them in the stirrups, don't worry we'll keep the blanket over your legs and I'll go under it," Dr. Cooper assures me.
"We could just leave the room," Owen suggests.
"No please stay," I insist grabbing his wrist as I don't want them to go and I get an odd feeling in my stomach.
The doctor looks under the blanket and then gets up and presses a button on the wall, she moved rather rapidly and now we're all looking at her.
"What's wrong?" Adam questions.
"You're in labor Clare," Dr. Cooper says and my heart gets tight as tears crowd my eyes and a nurse comes in.
"What?!" I exclaim more frightened than I have ever been. "No I can't be I'm only 22 weeks," I argue as I start shaking slightly and Owen puts his arm around my shoulders.
"You're in preterm labor, you're having contractions and had they continued they would have become painful. Because of your placenta previa you're also bleeding a…"
"BLEEDING!" Owen and Adam yell before she can continue.
"It's actually fairly minor, she's not hemorrhaging so don't freak out. We do have to stop the contractions though so we're going to admit you and get you hooked up to an IV with medicine to stop the contractions. We'll also give you fluids and may need to give you blood," the doctor tells us and then turns to talk to the nurse who is already getting things out for an IV. Dr. Cooper looks at the nurse and they start talking quietly and quickly, I can't help it and I start crying as the fear and emotions take over.
"Find Drew I need Drew," I sniffle.
"Don't worry we'll get him here," Owen assure me, "stay with her I'm going to make some calls," Owen instructs Adam.
"I know it's scary Clare but as I said you aren't hemorrhaging and your daughter is not in distress. Not that the contractions are good but sometimes preterm labor is a sign of major fetal distress but your daughter is fine. Nurse Elena is going to get you hooked up to an IV so we can stop the contractions, the medicine might make you feel like you've had several cups of coffee, a bit of a jittery feeling but that's normal. While Elena gets you hooked up I'm going to get you admitted and we'll keep you overnight for observation. I'm also going to call Dr. Davis and let her know what's going on."
Dr. Cooper leaves the room the nurse takes my arm and I grip Adam tightly in lieu of his brother since Drew isn't here. Adam soothes my hair and squeezes my hand, the nurse tells me I'm fine but all I can think is that I could've lost my baby girl.
(DREW)
"I can totally see you running a business someday," Bianca whispers to me as we sit in the conference room for a presentation.
"That'll make Clare happy," I grin.
"Yeah not like this though, it'll be a toy company or a sports company or something like that," Bianca says.
"Drew I need to speak with you," the teacher says tapping my arm and I follow him out of the room.
"I'm sorry for talking Mr. T…"
"No it isn't that Drew," he says cutting me off. "Don't panic but Clare's in the hospital," he says.
"What?!" I gasp as I instantly start to panic. "I…I have to go, I have to get to her," I tell him in a voice thin with fear as a million thoughts start to flood through my head.
"Officer Turner is on his way in his patrol car right now and he'll take you. He should be here any minute go ahead and wait for him out front I'll make sure Bianca gets your stuff back to school."
He's not even done talking before I'm running for the front doors, dodging people and desks as I race out. I knew she wasn't okay, I knew something was wrong and we should have gone to the hospital this morning. "Please God let her be okay, let our baby be okay I cannot lose either of them." I pray silently as I run out of the building, bursting through the doors and see Officer Turner's patrol car pull up with the lights on and siren going. Flying down he steps I jump into the passenger seat. My leg nervously bouncing and I wring my hands together on my lap as soon as my seatbelt is on.
"We'll be at the hospital in a few minutes Drew take it easy," Officer Turner advises.
"What happened? Is she okay? Our baby?" I inquire rapidly on a terrified breath.
"I'm not sure son Principal Simpson just said to get over here and get you to the hospital as fast as I could. He did tell me that Clare and the baby are okay though," Officer Turner says and I let out a breath.
I'm relieved that they're ok but I still want to know why Clare went to the hospital in the first place and we can't get there fast enough for me. When we pull up to the emergency entrance I see Owen waiting and I hop out before Officer Turner has stopped the car.
"Where is she? What happened?" I question Owen.
"She's upstairs in maternity, they're admitting her for the night. She was in preterm labor and because of her partial placenta previa she was bleeding too," Owen informs me and I feel my heart sink to my stomach, a giant lump forming in my throat as tears crowd in the corners of my eyes but I swallow them back.
"Bleeding?" I say weakly as a terrible picture of Clare in a pool of blood enters my mind. "Labor! No she can't be in labor; she's only 22 weeks our daughter is not ready to be born. She can't have the baby now," I say in a much quicker much more panicked voice.
"She's getting medicine to stop the contractions and the doctor said she didn't have contractions because they baby was in distress. Both Clare and the baby are okay, she wasn't bleeding that badly and we got her here in time. She's really scared Drew and really upset, I know you are too but right now you're going to have to be her rock. She hasn't stopped crying since she found out she was having contractions. Clare's upstairs, maternity is the third floor she's room 316 and Adam is with her. I already called your parents and they're on their way and Dallas, Luke and Becky are telling everyone that should know at school, including Bianca when he gets a hold of her," Owen tells me.
"They made us turn off our phones for the field trip," I speak up internally kicking myself for not at least checking my phone a couple of times when I knew something was wrong.
"It's fine we took care of her I brought her in and brought Adam with me. I still have to call Stacey, Fitz and Lucas, Fitz can tell Meghan and Lucas can tell his mom and Mia if he wants but that should be everyone aside from Clare's parents although Jake will tell his dad I'm sure. Now get up there and go be with your girl," Owen instructs.
"Thanks Owen for everything," I tell him and then run into the hospital, not wanting to wait for the elevator I simply sprint up the stairs. Finding Clare's room I burst through the door and Clare looks over, her eyes are drowning in tears but she reaches for me when she knows I'm in the room.
"Drew," she cries as I sit on the left side of her bed, since my brother is on the other side. She puts her head on my chest as I put my arms around her and she clings to my shirt. "I didn't think anything was wrong, I really didn't but our baby could have died. I could have gone into labor at school or something and I could have bled so much more an…"
"I know Clare," I cut her off because I don't want to picture any of this and I am, but I also need to calm her down. "It's okay you got to the hospital and you and our daughter are okay. If you don't calm down though you're going to stress our baby girl out again," I tell her and Clare nods against my chest.
Clare takes a couple deep shuddering breaths and slowly calms down, after a few more minutes she's even able to stop crying. She still grips my shirt; I kiss her head and rub her back gently.
"I've been telling her to calm down for ten minutes, how come she does it when you tell her to," Adam gripes lightly but I can see the stress on my younger brother's face and how worried he's been.
"Because I have the magic boyfriend touch," I comment holding Clare as close and as tight as I can without disturbing any of the wires or tubes on her and it seems like there are so many.
"But I'm the best friend shouldn't I have the magic best friend touch?" Adam questions.
"You do Adam," Clare says smiling at him just a bit, "but it's different when it concerns our baby."
"What did the doctor say?" I question pushing a curl behind Clare's ear.
"Clare has to stay the night for observation and they will come check on her and look at the monitors every fifteen minutes until the medicine stops then about every half hour to forty five minutes to make sure she doesn't have any more contractions. The doctor thinks one does of the medication will stop the contractions but they may need to do a second one," Adam informs me.
"I hope not," Clare speaks up, "Dr. Cooper said that I'd probably feel like I drank a few cups of coffee but I feel like I'm in crack."
Adam and I laugh lightly and I kiss her forehead, I'm staying strong to keep her from breaking down again, of course it helps that my brother is here but I'm terrified and I can't get the thought that I might have lost them both out of my mind. I'm going to have to keep talking so I don't lose my mind but before I can say anything else my parents come in.
"We spoke to the doctor and you're going to be just fine Clare, so is the baby. Gave everyone a scare though and you'll be going on bed rest when you're released tomorrow," Mom informs us.
"What does that mean?" I question.
"I won't be able to leave the bed," Clare twists her face in displeasure at the thought.
"You'll be able to lounge on the sofa during the day so you can watch TV and you can get up to go to the washroom but that's about it. We'll have someone at home with you at all times too; the doctor said there was a risk of preterm labor again. Also the placenta previa could cause hemorrhaging with contractions. You won't be going back to school but the doctor said you might not have to stay on such strict bed rest until you deliver, however even if you're let off of it you'll have a lot of restrictions," Mom tells us just as Owen comes in the room followed by a string of people, guess it's lunch time at school.
"We'll let you visit, we're going to go make some phone calls," Dad says pulling Mom from the room.
"I told my dad, he won't tell your mom but he's going to stop by after work and said he'd bring dinner for you and Drew," Jake tells Clare and then kisses the top of her head.
"Thanks Jake," Clare smiles wiping the tears at her eyes.
"We're glad you're okay, you had us all scared when we heard you'd been rushed to the ER," Maya says touching Clare's arm since there isn't enough space to hug Clare.
"I knew you'd be okay Edwards you're too stubborn for anything else," Eli smirks and Clare smiles.
"Yeah she's so stubborn she refused to go to the hospital this morning," I remark and Clare pinches my side.
Katie, Dallas, Luke, Becky, Dave, Tris, Zig, Connor and K.C. pass on similar sentiments. They only stay a few minutes before leaving to drive back to school but I guess everyone wanted to see Clare.
"B's on her way back from the field trip, I told her you were okay but we'll come by after school," Dallas says before he leaves.
The only two that stay are Owen and Adam; I figured they wouldn't be leaving us though. I expect when the door opens again that it will be my parents but it's Lucas.
"Don't scare me like that," Lucas reprimands her but comes over to kiss Clare's cheek. "Mom sends her love but she's stuck at work. I called Mia and told her, I promised to keep her informed. I also called Jay and Spin, Jay's coming by after work and Spin and Emma said they would come for the weekend," Lucas says.
"What did you tell them?" Clare asks.
"A really quick version of everything but Jay promised not to kill Drew while you were in the hospital," Lucas responds.
"Good so I just need to fear for my life when she's out," I say sarcastically and Clare giggles just a bit.
"Oh yeah I almost forgot, Fitz will come with Meghan when he gets off work and she's out of school. I'll pick up Stacey from school and we'll come back here," Owen enlightens us.
Clare smiles and nods, Lucas asks what the doctor said so Adam starts filling him in and then the doctor comes back in with my parents. They check Clare's monitors and chart then talk to my parents a bit, it seems to be mostly about what Clare can and can't do on bed rest. Lucas leaves after about 20 minutes telling us to call him if anything changes; I look down at Clare when I feel her head nuzzling into me and she yawns.
"You can sleep if you want, I promise I won't leave your side," I assure her.
"I'm really tired but this medicine is making me shake and I'm not sure I can sleep," she whispers back.
"You should try, I'll hold you the whole time," I promise her.
She nods a little and goes very still, she does manage to fall asleep after about 15 minutes, I can tell she's out when her hot breaths against my chest become soft and regular.
"Kids we're going to go run some errands and get things set up at the house for when Clare is released tomorrow. We'll be back in a couple of hours, call us if you need anything," Mom says. Mom kisses my forehead and gives Clare a mom look, you know where it's all full of concern and love and nurturing, and then my parents leave.
"How you doing?" Owen asks me in a whisper when my parents are gone.
"I have no idea, I'm keeping it together for Clare but I'm so scared dude. I could've lost her, could've lost the baby. If you hadn't gotten them to the hospital when you did she would have been bleeding at school, had the baby. I'm trying not to but all I can picture is this tiny baby girl that isn't ready to be born, or Clare bleeding out because she goes into contractions again. I knew something was wrong this morning, I told her she should come in, next time I'm dragging her down here myself," I assert.
"Hey at least we got her here and got her in on time. You're not the only one looking out for her Drew we all are and we'll all make sure she's taken care of," Adam reminds me and I nod.
I look at Clare sleeping in my arms, look at the monitors, aside from her heartbeat I have no idea what the others mean. As long as no alarms are going off then I guess everything is okay. There was an alarm going off in my head this morning though, as soon as Clare reacted the way she did there was an alarm going off in my head. She told me everything was okay so I ignored it figuring she knew her own body but next time I'm going to listen to my instincts and heed the alarm no matter what Clare says.
Update next Tuesday starting probably with Owen, Stacey, Fitz and Meghan at the hospital and including Clare being released.