The kitchen was a mess. Broken glass and other debris laid on the floor along with blood. My hands were still covered in dry blood. My mind was still filled with memories of the dead body. Two hours ago backup arrived to help us. I had watched them carrying out the dead man, and then the one that was injured. They said they doubt that he would make it. Stephen was giving them the details about what happened while I sat on the couch. I was past being exhausted. My body had shut down but my mind wouldn’t. I tugged the blanket tighter around my body. It was cold. I felt cold. It could’ve been me that died. Or Stephen. I would’ve lost him even before we started our life together. Our child would grow up without a father.

“Hey.”

My eyes snapped up. Stephen was crouched in front of me. He hesitated slightly before placing his hand on my knee. “I’m going to call Patrick to come pick you up.”

I shook my head. He wanted me gone; away from him. I couldn’t do that. I couldn’t leave him after what just happened. What if they came back? What if they manage to kill him?

“Alia I need you somewhere safe.”

“No,” I croaked. “I don’t want to put anyone else in danger. Especially Tyler. She’s pregnant Stephen and she already has her own stuff to worry about.”

He squeezed my knee as he opened his mouth to speak.

“She’s right.” I looked up at the man standing next to us. He gave me a small smile before looking back at Stephen. “We don’t know if it was an attempt of her life or yours. Putting anyone else in danger is a big risk. Besides it’ll best if you stay here, just in case something happens. A few of us will be staying here so you will have backup.”

“Fine,” Stephen said. He got up and walked away without looking at me.

“Is he really in danger?” I questioned before the man could walk away. I could see the hesitation in his eyes as he glanced down at me.

His eyes moved to Stephen. “Your man is a bad ass cop. He has gotten a bunch of guys arrested for drug dealing and human trafficking. With the new case about the missing girls, I wouldn’t be surprised if someone wanted to silence him. Don’t worry about. Stephen is a big motherfucker, he’s good at what he does.”

The fear in me rose as I watched him. He stood to the side talking with an officer before moving into the kitchen. I’ve seen the photos of those girls. I pressed a hand against my mouth as I felt the bile rise. The blanket slipped from my shoulders as I struggled to my feet. I barely took a few steps before throwing up. Someone appeared at my side and started rubbing my back. Another hand moved the hair from my face. My body was shaking so badly I could barely stand on my own. The temperature had also risen which made me feel even worse.

“S-Stephen.”

“I’m here,” he said softly against my ear. “Are you done?”

I nodded. An arm wrapped around my waist. I was swung up into his arms. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I buried my face against his chest. Stephen carried me into his bedroom. After washing the blood from my hands, he placed me in the shower. He made sure to wash every inch of my body. Stephen dressed me in one of his shirts and then carried me to the bed.

“I’m sorry baby,” he whispered as he stroked my cheek. “I should have made sure you were okay.”

“I’m just tired.” I placed my hand over his to keep him touching me.

He glanced at the clock before looking down at me again. “It’s late. Get some sleep baby. I’m going to see if I can get a doctor to check you over.”

“I’m really fine Stephen. Puking is one of the things that happen during pregnancy.”

“You get morning sickness,” he paused. “It’s not normal for you to feel this way. We can talk about this later. Get some sleep.” 

“Stay.”

“I’ll be right back baby.” He leaned down to brush his lips against my forehead.

I allowed the sleep to pull me under the moment Stephen got into bed with me. With his arm wrapped tightly around me, and the familiar scent filling me I drifted off to sleep.  It was filled with gun shots and dead bodies. Stephen was one of them. He bled out on the floor because nobody wanted to help me.

I was bent over his body, screaming for help when the man suddenly arrived. It was the same man who had once tried to kidnap me. He laughed as he pointed the gun at me. Agonizing pain shot through my abdomen making me scream. Darkness threatened to pull me under. It was when my eyes shot open that I realized that the pain was real. I felt dizzy and extremely hot.

Throwing back the sheets, I pushed myself up on shaky arms. The moment I moved my legs I could feel the dampness between them. Panic was the only emotion I felt as I stared down at the blood.

“S-Stephen!” I screamed. “Stephen!”

I moved to the edge of the bed and slowly stood up. The room span. Seconds later I found myself on the floor. I clutched my stomach as I cried out again.  The last thing I saw was men running into the room before fading into darkness.

***

“Alia? They said you could hear me. I need you to wake up for me baby. Please.”

***

“Hey baby. Everyone is here waiting for you to wake up. Your mother is really worried. She needs you to wake up. I need you to wake up so I know you’re okay. The doctors said that you’re fine. Wake up for me baby.”

***

I felt empty. It was the first thing that registered the moment I opened my eyes. I stared up at the ceiling as I waiting for the fog to clear. It was easy to figure out where I was. The constant peeping was just as irritating as the needle in my arm. A chair creaked to my left and a second later I felt a hand placed over mine. My eyes fell on Patrick as he leaned forward.

“Welcome back to the world of the living,” he said.

I appreciated the fact that he was trying to use humour to lighten the mood. There was no humour in this situation. There was nothing to smile or laugh about at all.

“Do you remember what happened?”

I stared at him silently. Of course I remembered. The pain won’t be easily forgotten nor will the blood. I had lost my baby. Our baby. My eyes moved around the room but it was empty. Stephen wasn’t here. I knew he was here at some point since I heard him speaking to me.

“You’ve been out for almost forty-eight hours,” he paused. “The doctors had to give you a blood transfusion.”

I turned to stare up at the ceiling again as he continued to speak. I wanted to scream at him to get out so I could let the tears fall.

“I’m sorry Alia,” he muttered.

Giving my hand a squeeze, he got up and walked out of the room. Not even a second later the door opened and closed again. I opened my mouth ready to scream at the person to get out. My eyes fell on Stephen hesitating at the end of the bed. He opened his mouth but then closed it again. Tears welled up in my eyes as he stepped closer. He swallowed loudly.

“Alia-“

“It’s gone,” I whispered. “Our baby is gone.”

“I know.”

Stephen hesitated and then leaned down. I moved onto my side so he could climb onto the bed with me. The moment his arms wrapped around me, I stared to sob. I pressed my face against his neck as I clutched his shirt. He had no reason to be with me anymore. We weren’t tied together.

Stephen could leave me now.