Author's Note: Thank you for the reviews.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
By the time the ambulance arrives, Evelyn has stopped crying. Somehow, she doesn't even react to the cramps wracking her body. Just moments earlier she was writhing in pain, but now she is completely numb. She hears the paramedics ask Adrian a plethora of questions, all of which he answers calmly and accurately. If her world wasn't falling apart, she would be impressed by his grace under pressure. She is aware of the paramedics placing her on a stretcher and wheeling her to the ambulance, her eyes focusing on the name badge of one of the paramedics, Todd. As she is placed in the ambulance she hears Adrian arguing with the other paramedic. He insists on being in the back with her, but the paramedic won't have it. Adrian can either ride up front or find his own way to the hospital.
As the ambulance races down the highway to the hospital, Todd removes an odd looking little machine from a drawer. He unbuttons Evelyn's pajama top and begins moving the wand around. She realizes the cramps are still present, but the pain is nothing compared to the heartache she is feeling. When the rapid fetal heartbeat fills the ambulance, Evelyn lets out a body wracking sob. She hasn't lost the baby yet, but she is too resigned to the thought of a miscarriage to hope for any other outcome.
A cacophony of noises, smells, and blindingly bright lights assault Evelyn as the paramedics wheel her into the ER. Two nurses flank the stretcher, exchanging information with the paramedics. She catches snippets of the conversation, the words 'fetal heartbeat' and 'possible miscarriage' causing her heart to sink even deeper into the despair she is experiencing. Her hand tightens around Adrian's at the words, but before either can argue, they are forced apart. Adrian is directed to the waiting area while she is placed in a curtained triage unit. Once inside the space, the paramedics fall away, replaced by a tall brunette in a white lab coat. She is young, her tone soothing as she explains to Evelyn what they are doing.
An IV line is started in the back of Evelyn's hand. Heartrate, blood pressure, and oxygen monitors are attached, followed by blood being drawn. The doctor instructs Evelyn to lie back, explaining she will perform a pelvic exam. Evelyn only nods, unable to muster any other form of a response. The doctor begins the exam, tears pooling in Evelyn's eyes. The doctor says something to the nurse, the older woman nodding as she makes her exit. The doctor tells Evelyn she can relax, snaps off her gloves, then goes to wash her hands at a nearby sink. She explains to Evelyn the pelvic exam reveals no sign of a miscarriage, but can't rule it out entirely until an ultrasound is performed. The fact there is a fetal heartbeat is very promising.
"I want my husband," Evelyn finally speaks, her voice low and quivering. The doctor nods.
"I am going to step out to check on the ETA of the ultrasound machine, and I'll have a nurse get him." The doctor offers her a caring smile then exits the room.
Once alone in the room, Evelyn covers eyes with a hand, tears streaming down her cheeks. This is what she has been afraid of. The pain of having another child ripped away from her is too much to handle. She doesn't know how she will survive this, but Adrian will be absolutely destroyed. They haven't been on the best of terms, but he has been there, been so excited about every step forward in this pregnancy. This might be the loss that finally ruins him. All those years she looked for a way to bring her husband down, and all she had to do was allow another child to be ripped from him. The thought sickens her.
Without thinking, Evelyn rests her hand on her stomach. She doesn't want to lose this child but she doesn't have a choice. She exhales shakily, her fingers brushing against something hard. She moves her hand lower on her stomach, surprised there is a monitor attached. She didn't realize that while they were attaching wires and tubes to her chest and arms, they were also attaching one to her stomach. Her breath catches in her throat. She turns slowly to the screen that displays her vitals, fresh tears springing to her eyes when she sees another screen tracking the rapid fetal heartbeat.
"Evelyn," Adrian startles her from her thoughts as he enters the triage unit, quickly closing the distance between them. He takes her hand in his, brings it to his lips, then gently strokes her cheek. They stare into each other's eyes, the fear and pain mirrored.
Before anything can be said, the doctor and nurse return with the ultrasound machine. The doctor is hopeful since there are no outward signs of miscarriage, but until the ultrasound is performed, they won't know for sure. She tells the Powells this, then begins preparing for the scan. While they wait, Evelyn looks up at Adrian, marveling at his strength. She is aware of the fact he shed tears as they waited for the ambulance, but since he has been a pillar of strength. Silently he is breaking inside, but by all outward appearances he is completely in control. She closes her eyes at the thought of how devastated he will be by a miscarriage.
"It'll be all right," he says soothingly, pressing a kiss to her forehead. It won't be, both know that, but the words and his presence, offers some comfort.
The doctor removes the fetal monitor, applies the gel to Evelyn's stomach then begins moving the ultrasound wand. The room fills with the steady, rapid beat, Adrian exhaling shakily as he closes his eyes and mouths a 'thank you'. Evelyn isn't so easily reassured. She has been watching the fetal heartbeat on the monitor, that doesn't prove anything to her. She needs verbal confirmation before she will allow herself to hope again.
"There's your baby; looking very active and very healthy!" The doctor smiles brightly at the two, pointing to the screen.
A strangled sob slips from Adrian's throat, tears spilling from his eyes as he pulls Evelyn's face to his. He presses a kiss to her lips, then wraps her in a hug. She clings to him as his body shakes, tears streaming down her face as well. Relief washes over them, a heavy weight lifted from their shoulders.
"Our baby's ok," he whispers in her ear, pressing a kiss to her temple. All she can do is nod, speechless. She really thought they had lost their child.
The doctor is pleased the fetus is all right, that Evelyn isn't suffering a miscarriage, but she wants to figure out what is wrong with her patient. She has a few ideas considering the presenting symptoms, but until a few more tests are conducted she isn't comfortable delivering a diagnosis. She discusses this with the two, all in agreement the best course of action is to admit Evelyn to the hospital while the tests are being run. Evelyn isn't fond of the idea of being in the hospital, but she is willing to do whatever it takes to ensure she delivers a healthy child.
The past five hours are a blur. Emotions have run the gamut; fear, relief, and gratitude the contenders. The diagnosis of food poisoning came as a shock considering every meal Evelyn has eaten in the past few days, she has been accompanied by either James or Adrian. Neither of them are sick, but as Doctor Greely explained when she stopped in earlier, pregnancy can make a person more susceptible to the illness. Luckily, the doctor does not foresee any issues arising from the food poisoning if Evelyn follows instructions. So far, she has, promising to do whatever it takes to ensure her child is healthy.
Evelyn slowly opens her eyes, wincing at the cramp that has just woken her. Knowing the cause of the cramp is due to improperly prepared food and not a miscarriage, is a huge relief, but it hurts nonetheless. She shifts slightly, Adrian ripping his attention away from the fetal monitor screen. He abandons the chair he has pulled closer to the bed, coming to perch on the edge of the hospital bed. He wraps her right hand, the one without the IV, in both his.
"How are you?" he asks, studying her carefully. She is paler than he has ever seen her, large dark circles beneath her eyes, even her hair looks limp, but when she smiles, he knows everything will be all right.
"Relieved," she sighs, her entire body relaxing. She feels miserable but the knowledge their child is fine outweighs it all, including the breath stealing cramps Doctor Greely said are made worse by Evelyn's extreme dehydration. "How are you?" Her eyes search his face.
"Grateful," he answers honestly, a large, goofy grin adorning his face. He leans forward and presses a quick kiss to her lips taking her by surprise. It isn't a passionate kiss, but one of gratitude. At the moment, they both crave the reassurance small moments of intimacy like this offer. Still, she can't allow it to become commonplace.
"Has Doctor Greely been back by?" She asks, deciding hers and their child's health is a safe topic of conversation.
Adrian nods, her hand still wrapped in his. He explains on the doctor's second visit she was pleased to see Evelyn resting. She once again assured Adrian that everything should be all right. She checked Evelyn's chart then left, telling Adrian she would check in on them tomorrow. Evelyn is glad to hear this. What Adrian doesn't tell her, is he made a phone call after the doctor left. It was a difficult call for him to make, but it needed to be done for Evelyn's sake. Right now, he needs to make sure she is taken care of. Of all of them – the baby, herself, and him – she is the one that needs to physically recover. Extra emotional support will aide in her recovery.
It was an oversight, something that should have been expected. Of course, the moment the harlot realized she could get the Reverend's attention, she would call him and take him away from the Lord's work. She was successful, because the Reverend has already left for Los Angeles. He feels guilty, mentioning several times he shouldn't have left her knowing she was feeling ill. Obviously, he doesn't see through her act. She is only doing this for attention.
Dear Father in Heaven, our Lord God, please watch over the harlot's unborn baby. Protect it from its mother's sinful ways. Please God, deliver this child, and its father, the good Reverend, back into your glory. In Jesus' name, Amen.
James answered the phone with his usual 'hey beautiful' when he saw Evelyn's name appear on the screen. Instead of a flirty response, he was met with a tense, exhausted sounding Adrian. He was startled, his alarm growing as Adrian explained what had happened. He assured James Evelyn and the baby are fine, but he wanted James to be made aware of the happenings at home. James thanked him then informed him he would be heading back to Beverly Hills immediately. Adrian expected as much, giving him the number to the room Evelyn will be occupying for the next couple of days. James thanked him again then hung up.
After a frantic return drive, James stands in the doorway of the hospital room taking in the scene before him. Evelyn looks awful, not that he would ever say it to her, but she does. He doesn't like seeing her looking so small in that bed with all types of wires attached to her. He noticed the screen tracking the baby's heartbeat first thing, relief washing over him that her child is all right. She would be inconsolable if anything happened to the baby. His eyes move down Evelyn's body to her stomach, the small bulge barely noticeable under the sheet. He then turns his gaze to her hand, the hand untouched by an IV. It is wrapped in Adrian's as he sits beside the bed, his free hand working his phone. James doesn't mean to startle him, but does when he speaks.
"How's she doin'?"
Adrian turns toward the door, oddly relieved to see James. The man is a pain in his side. If the good Reverend would simply leave Evelyn, it would make it much easier for Adrian to win her back, but he is aware that Evelyn has become smitten with the man. He hopes, as much as he hates to admit it, that James' presence will make Evelyn feel better. It is obvious James cares about her and the baby.
"Slightly better," Adrian tells him, standing from the chair. He untwines their fingers then gently places Evelyn's hand on the bed. She isn't the least bit disturbed by the movement.
"Good," James nods.
The two men stand in quietly in the room watching Evelyn for a few minutes. It is awkward this situation they find themselves in. James never expected to become involved with a married woman, and even though she insists the marriage is over, he knows it never fully will be considering she is carrying her soon-to-be ex-husband's child. However, this isn't about either of the men. This is about making sure Evelyn and the baby are all right.
"She'll probably be out for a while longer. The nausea medicine," Adrian explains, unsure of what else to say. Again, James nods, his eyes scrutinizing Adrian.
"Let's go get you something to eat. You haven't left her side all day." It isn't a question. James wouldn't have left her either, but if Adrian doesn't take care of himself, he will be of no use to Evelyn.
"Ok," Adrian sighs, not liking the thought of leaving her, but while she rests he probably should go in search of food that doesn't look as though it promotes food poisoning.
Before they leave, James walks over to the bed. He stares down at Evelyn, slowly tracing the curve of her jaw. The touch doesn't disturb her slumber. He moves to the door, diverting his eyes as Adrian leans over the bed and presses a kiss to her forehead. He doesn't hear Adrian say 'I love you', nor does he hear Evelyn in a low, groggy, mumbled voice say it back.