Page 9 of Knuckle's Dispute

COUGHING WAKES ME upto find my bedroom filled with smoke and heat.I can barely see a foot in front of my face as I try to throw the blankets off of me.They’re all twisted around my body from the nightmares that plague me daily.It’s not easy for me to get out of bed on a good day.Marie has been here every morning over the last week in order to help me go to the bathroom and then sit up in bed.No one here lets me do a damn thing other than sit in bed, watch TV, and read books.The only good thing is the books I’ve been able to read that I’ve had to put off because I chose my career over everything else.My life is routine and I don’t walk away from work for any reason.I’ve got two friends who have stuck by my side and they’re more than used to the way I am.Always trying to prove myself and help as many people as possible.Especially Seth who has a court case coming up next week.One of my lawyer friends has taken it over and knows Seth is innocent.The court appearance is merely to get the case dismissed at this point.

“Help!”I try to scream out for anyone who’s in my home, a coughing fit taking over to the point I lose my breath.

Seth is here inside with me while Kurt was kept outside to ensure no one got close to my house.While I’ve seen the Prospects around the club, I never realized how much Seth truly cares about the people around him.He’s gone above and beyond for me over the last week and has only left my side for a few hours a day to stop by the clubhouse to check in with Rooster and do what he has to there.Kurt and Eric were the ones who switch out with one another.I’ve also had members here to ensure I’m always taken care of and the Prospects can go out whenever a craving hits me.The poor guys have raced out all hours of the day and night to get me whatever I want to eat and drink.

“Somebody help me!”I scream out again, my voice barely coming out as my vision starts to fade to nothing.

Before I can do anything more, the door of my bedroom crashes open.Between the thick smoke and my blurry vision, I can’t see who’s here to save me.At the same time, a sharp pain fills my stomach causing me to scream out in pain.

“Ma’am, we’ve got you,” a man’s voice says as I look up to see a fireman standing next to my bed.“I’m gonna pick you up to get you outta here.Don’t move as I walk us through the house.The entire place is on fire.”

“Okay,” I whisper, allowing the man to pick me up and adjust me in his arms while a second man walks up and places an oxygen mask over my mouth and nose.

My body is drenched in sweat from the heat of the flames as we quickly get out of my home and into the chilly night air.Flashing lights from the fire trucks and police cars light up my yard and we’re quickly surrounded by all the first responders as I’m loaded on a gurney and rushed to an ambulance while trying to answer questions.I’m losing my voice and can hardly answer anything.As an IV is started, I let myself lose consciousness so I can try to forget the horrendous way I just woke up in my own home.Something else Roger and his parents have now taken from me.There isn’t a doubt in my mind they’re behind this.

***

Waking up again, Ifind myself in the hospital.The beeping monitor kills my pounding head as pain fills my stomach.Panic fills me as I try to figure out what the hell is going on.I remember the fire and know I’ve been having pain in my stomach, but I have no clue what’s really going on.And I’m alone in the room so I don’t have anyone to ask.That’s the first thing I notice as I look around.

“Miss, you’re awake,” a nurse says, walking in my room with a gentle smile on her face.“How are you feeling?”

“I hurt.My head is pounding and I keep getting pain through my stomach,” I answer her honestly.“Um, is there anyone here with me?”

“I’m sorry, ma’am.You were brought in by ambulance along with two other men from the same fire.We’ve given you something for the pain that won’t harm the baby through your IV already and can’t give you anymore right now.As far as the pain in your stomach, those are contractions.You’re in labor and we’ve been monitoring the baby since you were brought in.There have been a few moments of distress for the baby.Dr.Matthews is talking about an emergency cesarean section if the baby’s heartbeat drops one more time,” the nurse informs me just as alarms go off again.

If I thought I was panicking before, it’s nothing compared to what’s going on right now.

“What’s happening?Is my baby okay?”I ask the nurse, ripping the oxygen mask off my face and trying to sit up in bed.

The nurse rushes over to my side and gently presses a hand against my shoulder so I can’t sit up in bed.

“Please, ma’am, don’t try to get up.This is an alarm because the baby’s heartbeat is dropping once again.I’m going to get the doctor and find out what she wants to do.Try to relax and calm down as much as you can.We’re gonna do everything in our power to ensure your baby is delivered safe and healthy.Is there anyone I can call to come with you?”the nurse says, trying to reassure me before I ask her to call Marie and Rooster and she rushes out of the room just as several others enter.

“Janessa, I’m afraid we need to get you in the operating room immediately.I don’t like the way the baby’s heartbeat keeps dropping and we can’t move you around the bed or let you up to walk around,” Dr.Matthews says, her voice gentle and kind as the other staff members rush around the room doing their jobs.“No one came here with you?”

“I was brought in because my house was on fire.Please save my baby,” I plead with the doctor as she orders the staff to do several things while another person comes in and explains I’ll be given an epidural after I’m checked.

Closing my eyes, tears slide silently down my face with the thought that I might lose my baby.That I’m here in the hospital alone with no one to help me through this.I’ve gone through most of my life alone when my brothers haven’t been around and this is one more time I’ll struggle on my own.

“Call my brothers,” I finally manage to say in my weakened state with my voice nothing more than a whispered sob.“They need to get here immediately.”

“We’ll get them here, Janessa.You’re able to get the epidural now so I’m going to step out for just a moment to call your brothers while they finish prepping you to deliver the baby,” Dr.Matthews says, resting a hand over top of mine for a second before she leaves me alone with everyone else in the room.

I close my eyes once again and listen to the movement around me while missing Knuckles.I’m not sure what’s happened in his past to make him not believe me when I tell him the baby’s his.Never once did I believe he’d ever treat me this way for no good reason.Everyone else has been there for me over the last few months and Knuckles has avoided me at all costs.That’s on him and I’m more than okay with it.I willneverforce him to do something he doesn’t want to do.Especially when it involves my child.I won’t have my son or daughter hurt because of their dad.Because a man chooses not to be a father on a regular basis.One who comes and goes if and when they choose to.It’s not gonna happen and I won’t let Knuckles do that to my child.

***

Slowly waking up, Irealize I’m still in the hospital and I feel very different.My stomach isn’t as round as it once was as fear fills me.My hands immediately go to my abdomen and tears silently fall down my face in the empty hospital room.I’m completely alone once more and I know this is how the rest of my life is gonna go.I’ll always be alone and no one will ever be there for me.Even when it truly matters, Rooster and everyone from the club has chosen to leave me alone.Maybe I should move back home like my parents want and be the obedient girl they’ve always tried to make me.The one who listens to every demand and order and follows their word without question.

A knocking on the door sounds before it opens.A nurse walks in and gives me a soft smile.She’s an older woman with gray hair up in a bun at the back of her head.Her face has wrinkles at her eyes letting me know she’s laughed a lot in her life and has a gentle soul.One where she doesn’t care about a person’s background and does everything in her power to help those around her to the best of her ability.

“Where’s my baby?”I question her, my voice raspy as I start coughing uncontrollably once more.

“Your baby is fine, Honey.He’s in the nursery right now getting washed up and going through the testing required for all newborns.You’ve got a healthy son waiting to meet his mama.Where is his daddy?”the nurse asks me, checking my vitals and making notes in my chart.“How are you feeling?”

“I’ve felt better.My throat feels raw and every time I cough, my stomach hurts,” I answer her honestly as she moves toward the small closet in the room.

“Use this pillow, Honey.Hold it over your stomach whenever you cough and it should help,” she informs me.

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