Chapter 23: Making a Deal
Author: zeusfluff.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Blue Blood's characters. They belong to CBS. Date Started: 5/30/24. Date Finished: 6/1/24. Enjoy!
"This is my baby! You can't take him away from me!"
Jamie put his hands up to try and calm her.
"Layla, listen to me. No one is going to hurt you. I promise. Please just give me the baby. I promise I'll find your son."
The maid shook her head and was seemingly backed into a corner.
"No. This is my son. You can't take him away from me."
Jamie shook his head and kept his hands up.
"Layla look at me. I promise I will do everything in my power to get your son back. What Rolanil did to you was terrible. You should've never had to go through that."
Layla seemed to relent slightly but never moved from her spot in the corner.
"You promise?"
Jamie nodded and gestured towards her.
"I promise."
Layla stared at Jamie and Patrick's whimpering turned to fussing, then into discontent cries.
"I should feed him. He's hungry."
Jamie kept his hands up and shook his head. He understood that she was just following her instincts as a mother. But Patrick wasn't her child. He could see Layla was in pain. It had been several days since she'd given birth, and she still couldn't stand up straight. Keeping his hands in front of him, he looked Layla in the eye again and changed the subject.
"Give me the baby Layla. Let's get you checked out and into bed. I can tell your still in a lot of pain. Come on."
Taking his lab coat off, Jamie draped it over Layla's shoulders and tucked it around her. Layla admitted what she was feeling as a look of pain crossed her face.
"My body feels like it's on fire."
Nodding, Jamie wrapped his lab coat around Layla a little tighter and she gave Patrick to him.
"You have a fever, Layla. It's probably an infection. Rolanil made you go back to work too soon. You didn't get a chance to feed your baby. With all the stress of everything over the last few days, you haven't had much time to adjust. It's probably been very overwhelming for you."
Jamie was trying to bargain with Layla. He knew she was in a very fragile state right now, and her nerves were raw. Patrick calmed and was getting blinky in Jamie's arms. He cooed and seemed to snuggle closer to Jamie. It was as if he were trying to curl into Jamie to feel safe. Staying behind her, Jamie felt this was the only way to keep Layla from trying to grab for Patrick again. She walked slowly but it was better if she did. Jamie could tell each step for her was agony.
"Take your time Layla. There's no rush. One step at a time."
Layla took another step forward and found she couldn't go anymore. Her legs gave way and she collapsed onto the carpeting below her. Jamie tried to keep her upright, but with Patrick in his arms it was awkward.
"Hey! I need some help here!"
A small group of nurses gave running down the stairs and saw Layla's fallen form. One of the nurses spoke up.
"What happened Doctor Stevenson?"
Jamie shifted Patrick in his arms and explained.
"She collapsed. She has a fever, and it may be from an infection. She hasn't had time to rest since she gave birth."
The nurses nodded and tended to Layla. Jamie ascended the stairs and went back to him and Eddie's room. Eddie was back in her bed, and asleep. Doctor Matthews spoke up from behind Jamie.
"I gave her something for the pain and a mild sedative to help her sleep. The bruises on her face will heal. It'll just take time. There are more bruises."
Jamie narrowed his eyes as he got Patrick settled into his plastic bassinet. He was fast asleep.
"Which one of the guards did this to her?"
Red flags began to pop up as Doctor Matthews avoided eye contact with him.
"I don't want to talk about it."
Narrowing his gaze further, Jamie shook his head.
"You say that when you want to avoid talking about a subject that's bothering you. Who did this to my wife?"
Even though the door to their room was closed, Doctor Matthews looked around nervously and then back at Jamie with wide, frightened eyes. He saw her pull down her turtleneck slightly to show him her neck.
"This is what happened yesterday when I tried to kick a guard out of my room."
Jamie frowned and looked at her seriously.
"Which one is it? What's his name? Why was he in your room?"
Doctor Matthews took a breath and then shook her head.
"His name is Larson. He has jet black hair, and he walks with a slight limp. He's about 180 pounds 6 foot 2 inches tall."
Jamie gave Doctor Matthews a hard to read expression. He knew what he was about to ask was personal, but it would help him understand the situation a little better.
"I'm sorry to have to ask you this Erica, but are you and Larson involved?"
Doctor Matthews gave Jamie a disgusted look.
"If I could, I would slap my cuffs on him right now. So no, I am not involved with that disgusting man."
Jamie still had his guard up, but some of his walls were coming down slightly. He wasn't so sure though. He still felt like she was hiding something.
"There's something else you're not telling me."
Jamie saw Doctor Matthews shoulders slump.
"I'm sure he did this to Jessica."
Wanting to ball his fists but thinking the better of it, Jamie shook his head, now was not the time for revenge. He needed to get Eddie and the baby out of here. Instead, Jamie opted for placing a soft kiss to Eddie's forehead.
"Where are the other bruises?"
Doctor Matthews frowned and then looked Jamie in the eye.
"She wasn't violated. I checked. The other bruises are on her ankles, feet and her knees. We have to catch him before he does it again."
Jamie hadn't heard anything Doctor Matthews said. He only had eyes for Eddie. He had to get her and the baby out of this place. He didn't want anything to happen to Patrick.
To Be Continued…
A/N: So, what'd you guys think? Let me know!