HI Folks! I am not sure if I am going to make this a one shot because of how dark it is. I first wrote this has a kneejerk reaction to the news about our Duke not returning to MSATD. Please let me know by your comments what you think. I am still working on my other fic which is definitely a happier story. Thank you for your time and comments. Love, Carebearmaxi

Frightened

"William?"

"Yes, Eliza."

"I'm frightened. This has never happened to me before."

"I'm here. I've got ya," he cried softly with his thick Scottish brogue more pronounced when he was troubled.

"I am never letting you go, my love." William soothed as best he could as he was scared as well.

William just held her closer. He had never seen that look of horror in her large blue eyes. He had seen her wear, at times, a blank expression when standing strong against an enemy holding her at gunpoint or threatening to beat her to a pulp. It belied that constant activity of her mind finding just the right move to manipulate her enemy and get herself out of the situation.

However, he knew this was different-very different. The enemy if you want to put it that way was her own body. She was in pain and she could not manipulate it to get her own way.

"I'm so frightened," Eliza whispered with difficulty. "I'm so cold." She gasped for air.

"I know you are. You will be fine. I'm here". He soothed her though she was shaking and shivering in his arms. He had thrown a blanket over her which had lain on the couch used for those nights when they were so exhausted and only had enough energy to snuggle on the couch together.

He reached over to the end table and took a glass of water he had poured earlier for her when they had come home. He held it to her lips and was glad she was able to take a sip. She coughed back a little and William gathered her in his arms with her head laying against his chest. She was so small that one of William's arms could encompass her completely.

Eliza edged closer to her husband. She lay cradled in his arms. She opened her eyes and and raised her head to take a moment to look into his sweet, handsome, rugged, worried face.

"Thank you, William, for everything."

She wedged out one weak hand from his tight embrace and touched his cheek and looked into his eyes. William could see that Eliza's eyes had a glazed look about them. but she would know him anywhere.

"William, can you do something for me?" She asked weakly.

"Anything."

"Kiss me?"

William Wellington, her fiercely protective husband, had been her rock. She stroked his cheek again. Her other hand was clutched to his encompassing arm. Eliza was afraid to let go. She also knew he seeing her this way was not easy for him either. She grasped his hand as another pain gripped her.

He was afraid to kiss her because he felt this was for the last time.

"You know I can't refuse you anything but I won't kiss you until you're better. You know I can't stop once I start kissing you." He teased trying to alleviate both their fears.

Eliza briefly chuckled and William heard her gurgle. He saw Eliza close her eyes as she winced as another pain hit her.

"The doctor will be here soon and then we'll see if we can move you upstairs or to the hospital," William sniffed.

She bantered back between sharp pains. "You…sniffed. You're lying William…" she whispered weakly. "I'm going to die"

She leaned into him as they sat there. His lips trailed kisses all over her forehead and on top of her head. He held her like a small child who needed to feel secure. His lips lingered on the part in her hair for a bit. He heard her sigh. He then laid his head on top of hers holding her to him to keep her with him. He began to rock her when he felt her slipping away from him.

"Eliza, hold on, my love. I've got ya," he cried softly with a low halted voice. He choked back the tears. He felt that if he started crying all hope would be lost and he would be holding his dead wife's body in his arms. He could feel the wound in her side bleed. He looked down and his hand came away red. The blood had soaked through her layers of clothing through to his shirt. At the sight of his wife's blood in his hands he held her even tighter as his tears burned and fled down his cheeks.

They were positioned on the couch in their New York City home in the dark. Only moonlight filtered in through the slit of the drapes which hung on the windows. This home they created after his venture in America only two years before. They had compromised, married shortly thereafter and traveled to New York and made a life together. Marrying because both had been willing to do whatever it took to be together.

William had joined Eliza not only in marriage but as business partner as well because he had to admit that they worked so well together and she wanted to be with him. The position as Chief Inspector with the NYPD had not quite worked out as William had envisioned. Returning to England was not in the cards, so the old idea of a joint business venture was the best route for them. Eliza had always possessed a quick mind and adept skill at reading criminals. He had missed her so much when she was not with him. William had had the same idea of working together when he had returned from New York because he knew that no matter how much she loved him she would not just suddenly give up her career and become a wife. It was Eliza who had sacrificed her little office in London replete with her name above the door now to open their join private investigative office.

William had fallen deeper in love with Eliza after she had suggested or insisted that they move for his new opportunities in New York. They had argued back and forth and finally came to the compromise - New York and the private detective agency. He loved her determination and her skill and her heart.

Earlier today, Eliza had told him she was with child. However, their joy was suddenly slashed away when this current simple robbery case they were working had suddenly turned violent and murderous.

Feeling her let go and panicking, William cried, "Eliza, Eliza….! William cried as his wife did not respond to his calls or his shaking her.