Faint beeping was the first thing I heard when I started to regain consciousness. I had to force my eyelids to open with mental commands. It took me a few seconds of looking around to realize I was in a hospital room. I tilted my heat to the right and saw Harper sitting in a chair reading a book. 

"Harp?" I croaked. Holy hell. What was wrong with my voice? I cleared my throat multiple times. 

She looked up at me and I saw the relief that washed over her. She sat her book down and came to my bedside. "Lanie? Are you feeling okay?" 

"I-- I don't know. What happened?" 

Harper frowned at me. "You don't remember?" 

I closed my eyes and tried to sift through my memories of what brought me here. I remembered Harper bringing me food and I was a bitch. I remember her sending texts to someone on her phone. Then...my eyes snapped open. The Rangers. "Those men," I said with a gasp and tried to sit up in my hospital bed. "They came to the apartment. Oh, God, Harper. Nate is hurt and their both missing!" 

It all came rushing back to me like a tidal wave. I recalled the Rangers not giving me much information. I got upset and started to feel faint. The memories of how I got here were more foggy. 

"Did you call an ambulance?" 

"No," she answered with a shake of her head. "Jackson and I brought you." 

I nodded before dread filled me. "The baby? Is the baby okay?" 

Before Harper could answer, the door to my room swung open and in came Dr. Wilson. Well, at least I got to see a friendly face. 

"Good afternoon, Lanie. You had quite a day. How are you feeling?" 

I laid back in the bed and tried to get myself together. "I'm scared, groggy, and confused." 

Dr. Wilson made a little laugh sound  before she came over and checked something with my arm. I knew it was the blood pressure cuff when I felt that that familiar squeeze. 

"What happened to me, Dr. Wilson?" 

She turned from the monitor to me and gave me a stern expression. "Well, it's a few things." She glanced at Harper before looking back to me. "I understand you are under a lot of stress. Harper filled me in on what happened and I completely understand that can be a lot to take in." She paused briefly. "You passed out because your blood pressure was so high. That accompanied with anxiety and stress can be harmful for you and the baby. For now, we are going to consider you a high risk pregnancy." 

My eyes widened and I started to get that panicky feeling. "High risk? That doesn't sound good at all." 

She got some brochures and documents and held them in her hands. "You and the baby are okay right now. We need to try to monitor your stress level. See, when a woman has high stress during pregnancy, it can release a hormone called cortisole. That can me harmful for the baby. High blood pressure also puts you at risk for preeclampsia which can be very dangerous." She handed me the papers. "Everything is explained in here. I also wrote down my direct number if there are any emergencies." 

I took the papers at the same time Harper asked, "Is there anything we can give her to help her sleep? Or for her blood pressure?" 

"Yes," the doctor answered. "I wrote her a script for a blood pressure medication that will help." The doc looked to me. "It's also very important that you eat healthy and regularly and cut down your sodium intake. Try to rest as much as you can, but I do want you to stay active. Perhaps going for walks, swimming, or yoga. I want to see you in a week just to keep track of your blood pressure." 

"Thank you, Dr. Wilson." 

"You're welcome," she said before shaking Harper's hand. "It was nice to meet you, Harper. Great call on bringing her in." 

"You, too. Thank you." Harper stepped closer to me and pushed my hair out of my face. "You okay?" 

I covered my face as I felt the tears starting to come. "I did this. I let myself get worked up."

"Lanie, stop that. This isn't your fault. You are dealing with so much." Harper pulled my hands down and had on her mean face. "Now, get up from this bed. We are going home and Jackson is going to cook us something delicious and healthy. Then tomorrow, you and I will start doing yoga. Together." She pointed her finger at me like a stern parent. "Do you hear me?" 

I nodded and laughed a little at that. "Yes. Thank you, Harper." 

"You're welcome. Here are your clothes," she set them at the foot of my bed. "I'll be in the waiting room with Jackson. He's probably paced a whole in the floor by now." 

After Harper disappeared through the door, I swung my legs over the side of the bed and let out a ragged breath. I really needed to get this stress stuff under control. It seemed impossible to do that. How on earth was I going to reduce my stress level when I didn't even know if my brother was going to survive or if I was going to see Ayden again? 

Feeling defeated, I got to my feet and quickly dressed. There was no use staying in this room any longer. There were no answers here. No hope.

"Do you like squash?" 

My face scrunched in disgust and Jackson gave me a single nod. "Right. That's a no. Okay, then. How does roasted chicken with herbs, broccoli, and salad sound for dinner?" 

My stomach actually rumbled at the thought.  Clearly the baby was totally on board for that. "That's sounds delicious, actually." 

I sat at their kitchen table as Jackson prepared dinner. Once we got back to their apartment, Harper ordered me to rest on their couch and eat some fruit. I was under the supervision of Jackson while she left and went to fill my blood pressure medication. I tried hard to keep my inner bitch at bay. Especially since it only stressed me out even more. Besides, Jackson and harper were doing so much for me. They didn't deserve that. 

"What's on your mind?" Jackson asked as he started to season the chicken. 

I crossed my arms over my chest and leaned back in the chair. "What makes you think I have anything on my mind?" 

He didn't even look at me as he snorted. "Because, vixen, you and I are cut from the same cloth." He added some veggies to the pan with the chicken. "You and I tend to bear the weight of the world on our shoulders. We tend to keep everything inside and our minds--" he let out a heavy sigh-- "they tend to focus on the bad things. The things that stress us out. Like I said, I know you. So, I ask again. What's on your mind?" 

Well, shit. He was right. We really were cut from the same cloth. I got up from the table and walked over to the island in their kitchen. I eyed the bowl of pineapple on the counter and my mouth watered. I plucked a few pieces in my mouth and savored the sour citrus. 

"I'm trying to figure out a way to do the impossible." 

"The impossible?" 

"Yes," I breathed and ate some more of the fruit. "I need to not stress myself out, but at the same time, I can't stop wondering if I'll ever see them alive again." 

He handed me a cutting board, along with some tomato and onion. "Cut these." He moved over on the island and continued to season the chicken. "What if I were to tell you, that Harper and I may have a way of finding out some information?" 

I was in the middle of slicing the tomato and I froze. "What do you mean?" 

He pointed to my still hand. "Keep cutting." I did and he continued, "Harper remembered that-- my father was in the Army once upon a time and he has a high reach." Another few slices of the veggies. "She messaged Ryan and he is reaching out to our father to try to get some answers." Jackson's eyes met mine. "Answers that Ryan knew the Rangers couldn't tell you." 

I completely forgot about the tomato. I ran over to Jackson and threw my arms around him in a hug. "Really? Do you think your dad can find out?" I pulled away from him. "I can't believe you guys are doing this for me. Wait," I frowned. "When was this?" 

"Today," he answered. "She spoke to Ryan before the Rangers showed up. She didn't want me to tell you yet, just in case Ryan didn't have any luck. But I think it will help. At least for a few days." 

My eyes started watering as I became overwhelmed with emotion. God, I really owed them a lot for everything. I had no idea how I would ever find a way to repay them. But for now, Jackson was right. I actually felt a little relief knowing that Ryan and his dad were trying to look into it. It made me feel a little less hopeless. I hated feeling like I was just waiting and waiting. Even if the news wasn't good from Ryan's father, at least I would find out. 

"Thank you, Jackson," I breathed just as I heard the front door open and close. Jackson and I both looked to see Harper coming in with a grocery bag. 

Harper looked from me to Jackson and shook her head. "You told her didn't you?" 

Jackson shrugged and I walked in Harper's direction. "Don't get mad at him, Harp. It actually did help." 

"Well," Harper quipped, "guess this is an added bonus then?" She pulled out a tub of triple chocolate ice cream and handed it to me. 

I felt the tears stream down my face as I clutched the cold dessert to my chest. "Thank you!"

I guess pregnancy hormones are more powerful than I expected...