Chapter Four

Disclaimer - This is for entertainment purposes only

Rachel sat in a hospital room, the machines she was attached to beeping away at her. She didn't understand why she needed them, it wouldn't change anything. After all, what she was feeling was emotional, not physical. Nothing could heal her or fix her.

She kept replaying Adam's last moments over and over again in her mind. She couldn't control it. He'd been here one minute and gone the next. It was like she'd been in a brightly lit room and someone had suddenly turned the light off, leaving her in darkness.

She felt everything, but at the same time, she felt absolutely nothing. She was empty.

This wasn't happening. It couldn't be happening.

And yet, the disturbing images of Adam's lifeless body told her otherwise.

She couldn't wrap her head around it. They had been happy, so blissfully happy. The future had been bright, filled with the potential for joy and happiness. She had been the happiest she had been in years, maybe even in her whole life. She thought things were settling down and finally going in the right direction for her. She had everything she could want.

A loving husband, a great job, a baby on the way.

And then, life had kicked her in the teeth again. Harder than any other time in her life.

She wished she'd never followed Rose. Wherever she went, Adam followed. She'd put him in danger without even thinking. She thought she could help Ruby. She'd been so wrong.

The second Adam had been pronounced dead by the paramedics, a piece of her soul died with him. She'd never felt pain like it before in her life. It was as though someone had sucked the breath out of her lungs, before cutting her open, and ripping her heart from her chest.

It wasn't fair. How could this be the end of their story? When he'd proposed to her all those months ago, he'd jokingly promised her 40 years at least. Forty years to build a life, to be happy. She hadn't even been given a year with him.

It wasn't fair. That's all she kept saying to herself.

It's not fair.

It's not fair

IT'S NOT FAIR!!!!

So much had been stolen from Rachel today. Her happiness, as well as her future.

All she could think about was the tiny life growing inside of her. Upon her request and her pleading, the doctors had done a scan. Despite the explosion, the baby was, somehow perfectly fine and healthy, untouched and oblivious by the events of the morning. Rachel envied them. She wished she could be oblivious too.

Rachel had stared at the screen, staring at the tiny baby, her heart screaming with pain. She had been so excited to tell Adam that evening. They were going to be a family.

And now, he was never going to know he was going to be a Father. He was never going to meet their son or daughter, their baby.

He'd never experienced the joys of becoming a Father. Going to the scans, the Lamaze classes, coping with Rachel's swollen ankles, outrageous cravings, aching back, and raging mood swings. He'd never feel their baby kick or move for the first time, or hear their heartbeat on the monitor at the ultrasounds. They'd never get to sit down together and pick through names, she'd never be able to roll her eyes at the ridiculous and cheesy ones he'd come up with. He'd never get to decorate the nursery. He wouldn't be by her side when she went into labor and gave birth. He'd never hold them in his arms for the first time whilst pretending not to cry. He'd never get to bring their baby home, change their nappies, read them a story, bath them, cuddle them, feed them. The baby would never hear his voice or see his face staring down at them lovingly.

So many first times, gone in an instant. The thought of it was enough to kill Rachel.

Adam didn't deserve this. He hadn't deserved any of it. He was a gentleman, one of the good ones. He was caring, and honest. He'd do anything for anyone. And ironically, that's what had killed him. He'd tried to help and be there for Ruby, and it had blown up in his face. Literally. What had he ever done to deserve that?

Like her, his job had played a huge part in his life, and he loved it. He was dedicated and passionate about the work he did, about the kids he'd helped and inspired. He'd loved every minute of it.

Why? Why did it have to be Adam?

…

Meanwhile, back at Waterloo Road, Tom sat in his classroom, trying to make sense of it all. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't.

Lorna watched helplessly from the doorway. The heartbroken expression on his face caused her physical pain. She walked into the room, crouching down beside him carefully.

"Tom, honey. Are you ok?" She asked, pulling him from his thoughts

Tom instantly wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into a bone-crushing hug as he stroked her hair.

"I love you, god I love you so much," he whispered, his voice trembling with emotion

She knew why he was saying it. Seeing how quickly Rachel had lost Adam today had scared him. Things could change so quickly. If she'd lost Tom now, she'd never forgive herself for the way they'd left things.

"I love you too" she whispered back

"God, why him?" Lorna sighed painfully, wiping a stray tear from her face

Tom didn't know how to answer that. He probably never would.

"The police want our statements. " Lorna explained

"The poor bloke is still lying out there! " Tom replied, angrily pacing up and down

"They said they can't remove him until the coroner gets here" Lorna sighed sadly

"God, who's with Rachel?" he asked

"Kim, I'm going with her. She shouldn't be on her own. " Lorna explained

"No, no of course not. I'll manage everything here. You get to the hospital" Tom decided

Lorna nodded, kissing him on the cheek gently before leaving to find Kim.

How would everyone come to terms with today's events?

How would Rachel cope?

What will happen with Ruby?

A/N This is a collaboration with the Amazing RachelMasonForever. If you haven't checked out her wonderful stories. Please do. Reviews are appropriate. Thanks for reading.