Chapter 11

Two weeks later

Once again, her abdomen cramped up and Mel made a mental note to check in with a doctor after the wedding. These cramps weren't bad, but they were happening more frequently now. Since she was having her period normally, she assumed it was a cyst, but she should still get it checked out. Maybe it was just the stress of the last few weeks. After all, she had almost lost Steve and then there was her shot at the former agent, which still haunted her at night and hardly let her sleep. Mel closed her eyes, probably she should finally get some help there too. She took a breath and tried to focus on today.

Right now she was standing in the bedroom in front of the big mirror. Catherine had put her hair up and braided just a few individual small flowers in with it. A few of her curls framed her face.

Andrea had provided her with something old, something borrowed, and something blue. Mel turned in front of the mirror. Her dress was creamy white silk and fell gently to the floor. Since her skin was naturally always quite pale, Mel had taken a dress that had a nice neckline, but still didn't reveal too much skin. Now Catherine looked over her shoulder.

"Ready?"

Mel nodded. Catherine beamed at her. Along with Danny, she was maid of honor today. Mel had still asked her on the Big Island if she would do it for her and Catherine had fallen around her neck with joy.

Mel got along great with Cath and she would have liked her to stay there. But Cath and Ian would be leaving soon after the wedding. But that was the way it was. After all, Cath had promised to show up more often and Ian had promised Mel to make sure Catherine kept her promise. Mel had no idea what that meant for the future, but just hoped for the best.

Steve and she had decided on an unspectacular wedding down on the beach, so they could continue celebrating in comfort in the garden afterwards. Kamekona had promised to take care of the catering.

Slowly she went down the stairs with Catherine.

Kono, Chin, Abby and Sarah had arrived two days ago, as had their family and Mary and Joan. Mel thought it was great to finally meet the extended Ohana as well.

Now, as she walked slowly through the friends and family toward Steve, her heart was pounding up to her throat. Someone had turned on soft music, but Mel barely noticed it. Her gaze was fixed on the man waiting for her there by the sea and the gleam in his eyes that expressed so much love.

The moment came and went and soon, in addition to her engagement ring, she had her wedding ring on her finger.

Closely entwined, they danced their first dance.

"I love you, Mel McGarrett," he whispered against her ear.

"And I you, Steve McGarrett," she whispered back.

Danny was the next to dance with Mel, and so she was passed around and around. Even Ian didn't miss the chance to have a dance with her. Exhausted, Mel dropped down on one of the chairs afterward.

"I need a break."

Steve came up to her laughing.

"Nothing there my beauty."

Another slow song came on and Steve hugged her and pulled her close. After the song, she broke away from him.

"I have to go somewhere right now though, I'll be right back."

Steve pressed another kiss to her mouth, then Mel hurried inside.

She had just finished in the bathroom washing her hands when a sharp pain went through her abdomen. Groaning, she held her stomach and slumped to her knees. She felt for her cell phone, but of course she didn't have it with her, where could she have put it in the wedding dress? She had to get back to the others.

Tears came to her eyes and in pain she straightened up again and, holding her stomach, felt her way along the wall back to the front of the hallway. She tried to call out, but no sound came from her lips. Cold sweat broke out and her breathing and pulse quickened. She could go no further and went to her knees again. She felt her blood pressure drop and she drifted away more and more.

"Say, where's my sister, I thought I was going to take her dancing, too?"

Steve looked around. He hadn't seen his wife now since she had gone to the bathroom.

"I'll go check it out."

"Wait Steve, I'll go with you. I guess I'll have to move the first longboards already." Cillian joined him. Laughing, the two men went inside.

"Mel?"

Cillian made his way toward the bathroom.

"Oh my godness, Mel! STEVE! Call an ambulance quick!"

Steve did as he was told, meanwhile, taking two stairs at a time, he ran upstairs to Cillian, who was kneeling on the floor next to Mel, trying to keep her awake.

"Melia, stay awake, you hear?"

But again her eyes closed.

"Mel! Mel, please. Please stay awake."

Steve knelt down beside her and took her cold hand. She was pale and cold sweat stood on her forehead, her skin had a bluish tint.

Soon they heard the ambulance pull up and startled by the siren, their friends came in from the backyard.

An IV was quickly started for Mel and she was given an IV, then the paramedics got her into the ambulance as quickly as possible. Steve stood indecisively in the doorway, he had a house full of guests.

"Steve go with her, I'll take care of everything here."

"Thanks Cillian."

Just before the paramedic closed the door, Steve jumped in. Then the ambulance sped away. Confused and shocked, the friends were left behind.

"What happened?"

"I don't know, when we came in, Mel was already at the top of the stairs."

Cillian ran his hands through his hair. What on earth had happened to his sister?

"I'm going to Steve. He shouldn't be alone right now."

"Thanks Danny. Will you keep us posted?"

Danny nodded and hurried out the door.

At the hospital Mel was immediately wheeled into the emergency room, in the ambulance her circulation had stopped and the paramedics had had to resuscitate her. Steve was distraught; he couldn't explain it all. Wringing his hands, he stopped in front of the door. Then he heard his partner's quick footsteps.

"Danny."

"I'm here. What happened, anyway?"

"Danny, I don't know. She just went to the bathroom for a minute, and when she didn't come back, we went to look and there she was at the top of the stairs, half unconscious, holding her stomach." Tears came to his eyes and he dropped down on one of the chairs and ran both hands through his face. He didn't understand, everything had been fine just a moment ago.

After a few hours, a doctor in scrubs stepped up to them.

"Commander McGarrett?"

Steve jumped to his feet.

"How's Mel doing?"

"As well as can be expected. She lost a lot of blood and was lucky they found her so quickly. Just a little later and there would have been nothing we could have done for her."

Steve turned pale.

"What happened, anyway?"

"Your wife had an ectopic pregnancy. She was about 14 weeks along. In most cases, a pregnancy like that ends itself fairly quickly. Sometimes, however, as in the case of your wife, the fetus develops normally at first, but then eventually the construct bursts. As a result, the affected woman suddenly feels severe pain in the abdomen, and depending on the injury and the progress of the pregnancy, there is significant internal bleeding. This has unfortunately been the case with your wife, and due to the rapid and great loss of blood, she then collapsed."

"Mel was pregnant?"

"Yes, but she probably didn't even realize it, since the typical signs are often absent with that type of pregnancy."

"And the baby?"

Sadly, the doctor shook his head.

"And can she ...? I mean, can she again ..."

"Yes, there is nothing in the way of a future pregnancy. However, they should wait until the scar heals."

"Can I see her?"

"Of course. She's still asleep but should come around soon then too."

"Thanks Doc."

Quietly, Steve entered the room. His emotions were on a roller coaster. Once again, he had almost lost Mel, and on top of that, she had been pregnant without realizing it. Honestly, since he had known Mel, he had never given children another thought; to him, his world was already complete with Mel in it.

He stepped up to her bedside, pulled a chair closer, took her hand in his and contemplated his wife. It would have been nice just to have a little Mel at home. Or maybe a little Steve?

Tears came to his eyes. Quickly, he wiped them away. Then he felt Mel move and slowly open her eyes. Confused, she looked around.

"What happened?"

Quietly, Steve told her what had happened and her eyes filled with tears as she learned of the pregnancy. She knew exactly what it meant and that the fetus would probably never have been viable, yet she had lost a second child. Steve lay down next to her in bed and took her in his arms. Tears ran down his cheeks again, too, and this time he let them. He grieved with her over the loss of their shared child, whom they would never know.