THE BAD NEWS

Every dark cloud has its silver lining, sweetheart.

***

CHAPTER LXIX

*****

THE DOCTOR KEPT on a passive face all throughout the check up. It scared me because she usually smiled a lot, but there wasn't a smile in sight this time.

A part of me hoped that it had something to do with a bad mood and not me or my baby.

I was about to find out that that was all wrong when she opened my file and told me to sit down in the chair opposite hers.

“Now, I need you to help me take care of you. We need to keep close eye on your condition and that means you contacting and letting us know if something goes wrong or if you have any worries. We'll need to have bí-weekly appointments to make sure that you and the baby are healthy because your pregnancy is high-risk.”

My heart stopped beating in my chest and I stared at her, hoping that she would continue without me having to speak.

What does that mean? Was my baby okay?

“What... What does that mean?” I asked, staring at her to try and guage her reaction. She didn't seem particularly worried - or as worried as I seemed.

“It means that there's a higher chance of you or the baby developing life threatening complications during labour. Many high-risk pregnancy end up fine especially with regular check-ups and plenty of rest, so really the only thing you have to focus on is keeping yourself safe and healthy.”

“Wait, so what's wrong? How is my pregnancy high-risk? Did u do something wrong or...?”

“You did absolutely nothing wrong. Its just, after a more thorough check up, we've come to learn that your underweight,” she said, making my heart break. So it was my fault after all. “And after the diagnosis from your psychological assessment, we've come to learn that the stress from the trauma you're facing may impact the baby without proper medical care.”

“...Trauma?”

“Your psychologist will speak to you about it more later,” she said, dismissing my question. “Most of these concerns can be simply solved by keeping a balanced and healthy diet, getting plenty of rest and water, gaining a healthy amount of weight and not participating over-strenuous activities.”

“Oh.”

“You don't have to worry about it,” she said, placing her hand over mine. “Like I said, you can have a completely normal and healthy pregnancy and it's nothing to worry about. We just want to keep a close eye on you to make sure that everything goes smoothly during labour.”

I nodded, but I wasn't really hearing anything she was saying. A part of me felt like I was letting my baby down. I was it's only lifeline and it was probably in me, wishing for another.

“You're still allowed to work, but if you standing for over four hours at your job, we recommend switching to a desk job instead.”

Great, I huffed in my head. No I can't even work. What's the point?

The doctor continued talking before ending our session by giving me a sticky note with the name of some prenatal vitamins I should take once I was discharged.

Like the last time, the same male nurse had come in to take me to my room. He smiled once he set eyes on me and I returned it, finding his happy mood infectious. He propped out his elbow, letting me link arms with him before he gently guided me out of the room, not seeming to be affected by my dragging steps.

“You seem better today,” he commented, patting my arm gently as I let him guide me down the less busy hallway. “How are you doing?”

“Fine,” I replied absent-mindedly before suddenly snap up to look at him. “What's your name?”

He chuckled and picked up his badge to show me his ID with his picture, name and age on it. In bold, black writing MILO DESMOND.

“Milo,” I read lowly out loud before looking at him to see him smiling down at me. We were waiting for the lift to come down and take us up.

“At your service, milady,” he said. He bowed, but unfortunately because of how weak I was, I ended up going down with him.

He quickly shot back up and helped steady me, before chuckling and walking me onto the lift once the door pinged up.

“Don't tell my supervisor about that,” he said, making me let out a laugh.

“I wouldn't dream of it.”

Soon, the doors pinged up and we stepped out into the hall for the third floor that I was starting to get used to. He led me to my room, but upok entering, confusion set over me when Derek didn't seem to be there.

Milo led me over to the chair, figuring that I would appreciate it rather than lying down all day, but I spent the whole time looking around the room as of expecting to find him hiding behind the nightstand or standing beside fh curtains.

I was starting to get used to his company.

“Are you looking for someone?” Milo asked as I watched him pick up a clipboard and start to read something off.

“No... I mean yeah, kind of,” I sighed an rolled my eyes. “It's just my friend. He was here with me, but he isn't anymore.”

“I'm sure he'll be back,” he said reassuringly before looking up at me with a smile. “I'm just going to do a quick check on you. Do you any pains, symptoms of fever, coughing or anything like that?”

I frowned and took that minute to examine my body thoroughly before looking up to him. “A mild headache, but nothing else.”

“That's good. It means the infection is clearing. Now I'm just going check your lungs quickly,” he said before gesturing for me to get up onto the bed.

I got up and shuffled towards him, hating how my body grew tired and weak after the first step. How long until I could get back to one hundred per cent health again.

He picked up a stethoscope and walked around to behind me. “I'm going to raise your top up and put this under you sport's bra. Is that okay?” he asked, making me nod my head quickly.

I appreciated the way the asked if something was okay before they did it. As a patient, I never felt like I was left in the dark in regards to my health.

His hands were cold against my warm skin, making me shiver at his touch as he raised the back of my sport's bra. The stethoscope was colder and I ended up almost jumping once I felt it on my back.

“Sorry,” he said, addressing it briefly before going back to work. “The right lung sounds good. I'll just check—”

“What are you doing?”

Both of our heads snapped up to look at Derek who was standing at the door, glaring daggers at Milo. He had a brown bakery bag in his right hand and had a coffee cup in his left.

“Where's the female nurse?”

Milo pulled away from me and I spun around to gauge his reaction, finally understanding Derek's intense glare on him. Milo didn't really seem affected by it and more rather looked like he understood too.

“She's taking her break,” he answered before meeting my eyes. “Would you like me to go get her for you instead?”

“No, it's fine Milo—”

“Yes please,” Derek said, letting himself in the room fully and kicking the door shut with his leg. “I don't trust you a bit.”

“Derek,” I sighed, ready to lecture him but he swiftly cut me off.

“What if he tries something with you?”

“That's illegal, sir,” Milo spoke up, his voice light and full of humour as Derek shot his eyes to him.

“So is rape, but look what still happens.”

There was silence in the room before Milo shook his head, a smile slowly twisting its way onto his lips. He out down the stethoscope and nodded.

“I'll got get you another female nurse to complete the assessment.” And then he left, leaving only me and Derek in the room.

I turned to him and glared as he rolled his eyes and placed the bag and coffee down.

“Seriously?”

“I was just looking out for you. The last thing we need is for some douchebag hurting you again like the last idiot and then bringing us back to square one.”

My heart lurched in my chest at the memory of Daniel. I missed him. I missed him a lot. Maybe that was why I was warming up to Milo. Because I knew I'd never be able to have Daniel again so I wanted the next best thing.

It wouldn't work because as much as Milo and Daniel looked alike, their personalities were miles apart and it would only take a matter of time before I won't be seeing Daniel in Milo anymore. And when that happens, what do I do then? Tell the poor guy that I was only dating him because he looked like my ex that I was still hung up over? Tell him that I wanted to break up because he didn't reach the expectations of my ex?

What kind of a person did that?

Plus, the possible sparks that I might have been feeling could entirely just be one-sided. I knew it took a certain personality to be a nurse that people liked and Milo just so happened to have that personality. He was nice, friendly, funny and I could just have been mistaking it for affection since I seemed to lack it my whole life.

Still, what Derek did wasn't okay.

“You just indirectly called the poor guy a rapist.”

“Eat your muffins,” he said, dismissing me as he handed me the paper bag. It felt warm in my hands and the smell that wafted out from it made my mouth water in anticipation. “This is hot chocolate because I wasn't sure if pregnant people can drink coffee.”

Another thing added to the list of things I needed to ask at my next appointment.

“Thank you,” I said before stuffing my face full. The amount I was ready to do for carbs

A nurse came in a bit later and I gave whatever was left of my food to Derek while she continued the checkup. A couple minutes later she stepped away from me with a large smile.

“I've got good news for you,” she said, smiling while she read my chart. “You'll be free for release tomorrow morning!”

Derek spluttered on the coco while I beamed up at the nurse. “Really?”

“Really! We just want to keep you overnight fir observation, but by tomorrow, we'll have all your files ready for your release.”

Finally things were starting to look up.

***

I awoke the next day to Morgan and Derek arguing quietly from the side of the room. Rolling onto my side, I couldn't help but smile at the unaware couple.

They looked like the ultimate dynamic duo with Derek sitting back in the armchair and Morgan sitting on the corner with her legs splayed over his.

“You didn't have to go that hard, Derek. The poor guy probably just wanted to do his job.”

“You're only saying that because you didn't see the way he wa looking at here. I'm telling you now, he likes her. He probably would have tried something if I didn't come in at the time I did.”

“No, he wouldn't have, Derek. Stop saying that. I—”

It was at that moment that Morgan looked up, her eyes meeting mine and going wide once she realised I was awake.

“Hi.”

“Ara,” she said through gritted teeth as she kicked her leg harshly into Derek's, making him jump and yelp in pain. “We didn't realise you were awake. How long have you been up?”

“Not long really,” I answered before sitting up. Every thing seemed to blur into one, but I willed myself to keep it together so they didn't decide to keep me in the hospital for any longer than I wanted to be.

“We get to bring you home with us today,” she said, waking up to me as I looked up at her with grateful eyes.

“Morgan, I don't know what I would've done if it wasn't for you.” She rolled her eyes and sighed, but I continued. “I'm being serious. Alone with no job and a high-risk baby. I wouldn't have survived and I just want to let you know that I am so grateful for you.”

She took my hand in hers and stared me right in the eye. “It was your good nature that's rewarding you now,” she said, her eyes brimming with pride as she looked at me. “I was nothing but a stranger to you - a rude one at that - but you still risked your life, your safety and everything you have ever known to help me. I'm just returning the favour in a much easier because I know I'll never be able to pay you back for that.”

“Its like that saying,” she continued. “You reep what you sow. And you sew love and kindness so that's what you're getting.”

“Thank you.”

“And... Roll credits,” Derek said, making both Morgan and I roll out eyes and break away to glare at him. He smirked at the both of us, but said nothing.

“Come on,” Morgan sighed, helping me get out of bed. “We brought clothes for you to wear.”

*****

Okay, so there are going to be some updating changes that will take effect in the second book. Of course, I won't start writing that book most likely until next year but anyway...

Ill be updating less.

I'd rather update less than miss multiple updates. Plus, I don't have that many chapters lined up so I might writing as I go which isn't very promising.

After that, I'll focus all of my attention on getting The Gang Leader back up again (as it is the original book) before taking this book down and working on Alpha Aidan while simultaneously working on this book as well.

I'll most likely be posting this as I update so chapters may be scarce but that won't matter to yall. This is just plans for next year up until summer. I hate the fact that since 2016 I've literally just been focusing on the same three books. I just want to move on already.

Anyway, I just wanted to get that down. See yall probably tomorrow.