Lucky Chapter 7? Afraid not so for John as his downward spiral continues. This chapter is short but not sweet and speaks to the immediate happenings after Vera's fall. Thank you so much for the reviews and comments. They definitely keep me going... and a special shoutout to Adamsforthought and a-lady-to-me for their encouragement and advice.

"Vera! Oh my God...No! Vera!" John called out to his wife with a strangled cry. "NO…no…no…this isn't happening!" John got up off his knees, his father's prostrate form lying on the kitchen floor no longer of importance.

He knelt down beside Vera…her ghostly pallor making Bates think the worse. He'd done this to her. Had he killed her or was she just unconscious? A doctor! He had to get the doctor.

John raced out the front door barefooted and clothed in nothing but a bloodied nightshirt. He remembered there was a Doc Whelan that lived not too far down the road. Bates never had run so fast in his life. He knew he looked a sight… and that when the doctor saw the carnage in his house there will be a lot of explaining to do, maybe even accusations… but he didn't care. He just needed to have Vera saved…and the baby also...so he too would be saved.

Bates reached the doctor's residence and began beating and shouting at the front door. It was still pretty early and he feared that the good doctor and his wife would not be up yet.

"Dr. Whelan…," he yelled. "Dr. Whelan…It's an emergency…open up please!" Bates fists continued to pound. If Whelan didn't answer soon, John was contemplating ripping the door off its hinges. "Doc… Doctor Whelan.. please…"

John felt a quick spot of relief as he heard Whelan cough and shuffle forward on the other side of the door.

'Yes… who is it…?" The doctor cleared his throat and before John could answer, opened the door. He squinted at the man in the bloody nightshirt and exclaimed, "Good god, sir… What happened to you? Come in… come in… How did this happen?"

"No..No… Doctor you don't understand… It's not me… It's my wife… There has been an accident… please hurry… follow me.." John yanked on the doctor's arm trying to pull him outside.

"But young man, you're bleeding!" The doctor protested. He grabbed at his medicine bag sitting on a small table near the entrance. It was impossible for him to counter the man's insistent pull.

"It's not the problem. My wife…she's the one who needs your assistance now… Come with me please, doctor…Now! At this point John was gasping for air… he was hyperventilating in frustration with his inability to get the physician moving towards the house where Vera lay unconscious.

Dr. Whelan, bag in hand, finally followed John outside and did his best to keep up with him as the younger man raced on ahead. John was frustrated at the relatively slow pace the doctor was taking, and had to remind himself that the doctor was twice his age and doing the best he could.

When John arrived at his house he was surprised to see the front door closed… He knew he hadn't bothered closing the door when he left… Once inside John was both relieved and concerned over what had apparently occurred in his absence. Vera was still on the floor, but at least she was moaning softly. She wasn't dead. But his father was gone. Apparently he'd managed to make it out of the cottage. John thought he knew where he would head, but that thought was pushed aside as his attention focused on his wife.

The doctor raced over to the sink and washed his hands quickly then returned to Vera still moaning on the floor. He inhaled quickly at the sight of the young woman. She was alive, but barely. She'd lost a lot of blood and he had to find out where it was coming from and stop the bleeding as soon as possible or she would die. He examined her carefully and then turned to John?

"Was she pregnant?" He asked, barely detecting a slight swell of her abdomen.

"Yes, doctor, she IS pregnant." John ran his hands through his hair. Why did the doctor say was? There must be something he can do… "She will be fine… Doctor Whelan? I mean both of them…Vera and the baby?" The doctor shook his head and looked up at the clearly distraught young man.

"I'm sorry son, there's nothing can be done about the baby. At this point, the mother's…that is, your wife's survival is what I must focus on. She's lost a lot of blood, more than typically accompanies a miscarriage this early in the pregnancy. My concern is that there has been some permanent damage to her reproductive system. You must prepare yourself to the possibility that she may never be able to conceive a child again."

Dr. Whelan's words nearly leveled John. Not able to have a child… He realized that was all Vera had wanted for sure in her life, especially with him leaving for the front soon. She had planned to keep the baby as someone to physically hold on to and cherish and love and be loved by. Regrettably, now that need in her would never be fulfilled, and he was responsible. It was a bitter, bitter fact for him to accept, but she had wanted, needed and loved that babe more than she did him.

The doctor moved swiftly over Vera, doing his best to stop the bleeding while taking note of her respirations and color. "I believe I've managed to stop it for now…. Help me get her up onto the bed." He addressed John. "She's going to need a transfusion. I've saline and the equipment needed in the infirmary at my home. You'll be quicker, so I need you to go tell my wife what I need and she'll be able to give you the necessary equipment. Now please hurry, time is of the essence. "

John bolted out the door at breakneck speed. As he ran he became acutely aware of the pain in his side from where he had been cut. Ignoring the pain he continued on towards the infirmary. The image of his pale wife lying in a crimson pool spurred him onward. She couldn't die. He wouldn't let her die.

Bates returned from the infirmary, equipment in hand a few minutes later. He watched in dismay as he saw the doctor fumble setting up the IV. John had seen battlefield transfusions done while in South Africa, but watching it being performed on his wife was far more upsetting. After what seemed like an eternity, Dr. Whelan stepped aside.

"There… its set up and working well now. I'll send up another bottle of saline with the nurse that will be coming to assist with her care. Two units should be enough. She's needs to stay in bed…keep her movements to a minimum. She will probably do better here at home than moving her to the hospital, less chance of infection. The nurse should be here no later than noon. Vera is young and relatively healthy. Her vital signs appear strong. She needs rest and quiet. And make sure she keeps hydrated…Soups and broths…lots of liquids… but NO alcohol! I'll also leave you an analgesic to help manage her pain when she awakens."

The doctor left Vera's side and returned to the kitchen to wash his hands again. He then turned to John next and said, "Now, let's take care of that side of yours, Mr…?

"Bates, John Bates"

"Ah, yes…Mr. Bates…Let's have a look"

John gingerly removed his nightshirt as the doctor prepared to minister to his injury. Bates winced as part of the garment stuck to the wound and tore open the scab that had started to form. He was also acutely aware of the morning chill as he stood in front of Dr. Whelan in just his undershorts.

"It isn't very deep, John. I don't believe you'll need stitches. I'm going to clean and bandage it now, and you'll need to change the dressing three times a day. Be sure to keep it clean and try not to break the scab as it heals. And keep it dry. Remember as with your wife, the greatest danger in any wound is infection. Do you want me to leave you some painkillers also for relief as it heals?"

"No, that is not necessary, I can manage." John excused himself from the doctor briefly and went to the front room to gather some clean clothes from his valise. He swiftly pulled on some trousers and a shirt and returned to Dr. Whelan. He extended his hand to the doctor. "Thank you for coming. And what do I owe you?"

"You're welcome Mr. Bates… A pound should cover it. You'll receive my bill in tomorrow's post. The cost for the visiting nurse will be separate. I'll have one sent to you by noon today and you can make arrangements directly with her."

John shook the physicians hand and then grabbed his arm as he walked him to the front door. "Vera, my wife, she's going to be fine? Do I understand you properly?

The doctor heard that concern and fright in Bates voice and tried to calm him down. "Yes, John. She should be fine. Just follow my instructions, but if she should suddenly run a high fever or start hemorrhaging please send for me."

"I will, sir." John shook the physicians hand once more and watched him as he walked slowly down the lane towards his own home.

He went back inside and sat down at the settee. Head in hands, John thought about what he should do until the nurse arrived. First on the list was to scrub the floor when Vera had collapsed. The sooner he got to that, the less chance of a stain being set into the flagstone flooring. Next he'd pick up the glass shards in the kitchen. And once the nurse arrived, John would leave his home…track down his father and finish the job. There was simply no way that man deserved to live. Not after all the pain and sorrow he had inflicted onto Vera and how he'd altered their existence as husband and wife. He was ready to die to see justice done. John's life held no meaning at this point. His wife would be barren and John had reconciled himself to the simple fact that he had played a part in her losing the one thing she cherished above everything…the baby. She would hate him for this once she found out. Of that, John was certain.