Page 87 of Together

He reluctantly tears his eyes away from me. “Be careful. She’s pregnant and she’s…” his voice breaks, “she’simportantto me.”

“We will,” he promises.

“They’re going to take care of you, Ash. I’ll be right here the entire time, okay? I’m not going anywhere.”

“I know, babe. Let them do their job.”

Reluctantly, he steps aside. From the right side, a fireman appears just as another does on my left. I didn’t even notice the large truck my car was pinned against had been removed. Maybe that’s why Carter was keeping my attention? So that I wouldn’t see what was happening around me.

Once the fireman is finished clearing the way, a woman steps up next to me.

“Ma’am, my name is Sarah. We’re here to take good care of you. But first, I need you to hold still so we can assess your injuries before moving you.”

“Okay. Just… my baby.”

“We’ll be extra cautious.”

Before long, I have a fabric brace secured around my neck and my vitals are being taken. My oxygen level and blood pressure are normal, thankfully. I feel like I’ve answered a million questions about my health history, what hurts, and what I remember from the accident. I’ve been asked what time of day it is, what day of the week, my name and where I work. She cleans up the side of my head and lets me know that the bleeding has stopped and I am very lucky.

“Before I can move you from here, we need to make sure there is nothing extensive we haven’t identified, like a spinal cord injury. Now that your legs are free, how do they feel?”

“They hurt a little.”

“That’s understandable.” She places a hand down by my feet. “Can you tip your foot up and touch my hand?” I do as instructed and she nods in encouragement. “Good. Now can you push my hand down?” Again, I follow the instructions and do as she asks. “All right. That’s great, Ashley. One more time. Can you do both feet together? Both up and down.”

After passing those tests, she sits back on her heels. “Have you noticed any change with the baby? Have you noticed if you’re bleeding between your legs?”

I place a hand on my stomach and shake my head. “No. Nothing different. Right at first I had a bit of cramping but it’s gone away.”

“This is all excellent news, Ashley. We’re going to move you from the car, okay? If at any point, the pain increases and we need to stop, you tell us.”

“Okay.”

Together, two paramedics, Carter from earlier, and Sarah, move me out of the car and onto a bed that’s on the ground next to me. With extreme care, they lay me down flat and strap me onto the bed before raising it up.

“How are you doing, Ashley? Any new pain or discomfort?”

“I’m good.”

As they’re moving me to, I assume, the ambulance, Nik appears at my side, his face looming over top of me, looking beyond terrified. He doesn’t hide his emotions well at all.

“I’m here,” he says urgently.

I lick my lips and do my best to reassure him. “Everything is going to be okay.”

“Yeah. Yeah, I know.” Nik nods rapidly but he doesn’t seem convinced of his words.

“Babe? I promise, I’m fine. The paramedics checked me out. Bumps and bruises.”

He leans his forehead against mine, kisses me once, then pulls back. “Sorry. It’s just that I have never been more scared in my life. I really thought I’d lost you both,” he admits, his eyes wet with tears.

“Sir, we need to take her to the hospital to have them check her over. You’re welcome to follow us,” Carter tells Nik.

“I can’t ride with her?”

“I’m sorry, but no.”

He doesn’t look happy about it but he agrees. “I’ll be right behind you,” he assures me, as if I expected any differently.

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