Sour Candy | T. Drake ✔

[15] Through Good Times Or Bad

Dora had passed out in Tim's arms and he looked down at her, fear taking over his features. The doctor immediately approached them to check on her, calling a nurse to take her to the Emergency Room.

Luke, Camille, and Tim waited outside as Dora was taken in, though the doctor had assured them that she would be okay and they were just going to stabilize her condition right then. An IV was injected into her arm to keep her nutrient level from dropping and a heart rate and oxygen saturation monitor was attached to her bed so that they could keep her in close check.

Finally, the doctor stepped out from the E.R and told them that they would be keeping Dora at the hospital overnight so one of them could stay with her. Camille wanted to stay but seeing how anxious Tim was, she agreed to let him stay instead.

Half an hour later as Dora was stabilized considerably, she was shifted into a private room with Tim's name registered as the attendant. She was out of danger for now so eventually Luke took Camille home while Tim had promised to keep both of them updated about Dora's condition.

His blue eyes swept over her weak form as he interlaced his fingers through hers, sitting down on the chair beside her bed. It hurt to see her so pale and weak, and it hurt to know full well that she was in pain but he couldn't do anything to make it stop.

He did not know how long had passed with him succumbing to his depressing thoughts until he felt a light squeeze at his hand and sat up alert, blue eyes connecting with soft brown.

A sigh of relief escaped him to see her awake and he placed a soft kiss on her knuckles, her hand still entwined through his own.

Neither of them knew what to say to the other because they had just been given such huge news and though it would have been good news in any other case, right then the tables had turned drastically.

Dora could still not stop picturing that beautiful child with Tim's blue eyes and it hurt to know deep down that she could never see that dream reach fulfillment.

Her eyes welled up as she pulled him closer, hands cupping his face, taking in the clear blue of his wide concerned eyes; the same blue she had pictured her own child to have.

A child that could become a fatal threat to her own life if she decided to give him or her the chance to live.

"I'm so sorry, Dora," Tim spoke up at last, feeling the pain she was going through, "I should have been more careful. I... I put you through this... I'm so, so sor..."

But her hand that was lingering on his cheek brushed over his lips, in a gesture for him to stop blaming himself. She said nothing but beckoned him closer, her hand fastening onto his neck as she pulled him down and kissed him.

It was tainted with sadness and pain such that Tim could feel his heart break as she let go of him, her delicate fingers trailing against his skin as her hand retreated to her side.

But she had said nothing and her silence was worrying Tim. He wanted her to talk to him because otherwise, he couldn't be sure of how she was taking the whole scenario. He wanted her to say something, anything, just so he could assess whether she needed comfort or reassurance.

Probably both, he decided, taking her hand in his again.

"Dora, talk to me. Please," he pleaded, getting anxious about her unnerving silence.

"I... I want to go home," she breathed at last, voice shaking as she spoke, "I want to see... Al and... Steph..."

He nodded, "I promise I'll take you back soon as the doctor tells us that it's safe for you to travel."

She asked for her mother and Luke upon which he told her that they had gone back a while ago as only one attendant was allowed to stay with her. She nodded though her mind was still drifting toward the tough decision she had yet to take.

Dora loved children and even though she had never considered the possibility of having her own son or daughter before, right then it felt like a blessing was being snatched away from her before it could even be bestowed on her.

She had heard the severity in the words of the doctor and the last word was tormenting. To be fairly honest, your body doesn't allow you to take such a huge risk. Ever.

It obviously meant she might never be able to, or rather she must never get pregnant because she had been unlucky enough to be a victim of Scarecrow's mysterious toxin as well as Shadow Walker's bloodsucking torture.

It was unfair that she couldn't fight against it though right then it kindled another fear in her heart.

But before she could think about it further, Tim had somehow sensed it and he took both her hands in his own, turning her gently so that she was looking straight at him. But as she saw him right in front of her, the claws of that fear deepened, the fear of losing Tim digging deep into her heart.

What if that revelation could end up tearing them apart? Her heart raced and the pulse rate on the monitor spiked up alarmingly. What if Tim would let go of her at some point because she could never give him a family of their own?

All the what ifs were tormenting.

But he seemed to have realized what she was thinking as he spoke up, "Dora, how could you even think I would ever do that?"

She retrieved her gaze realizing that he had read the unspoken questions in her eyes, a stray tear rolling down her cheek.

"I am never going to leave you, never. No matter what happens, no matter what you decide... I am always going to be right beside you," his voice was soft as he assured her, placing gentle kisses on her forehead then her cheek, and then brushing his lips upon hers, watching her lean closer to him.

"Tim, I don't want to lose you..."

"You're my everything, Dora. I will always be with you. Through good times or bad."

Her wrists crossed at the back of his neck as she pulled him closer, head resting on his chest, subconsciously counting the steady beat of his heartbeat to calm herself, "promise?"

"Promise," he whispered back, letting her nestle head in his neck as she wrapped her arms around him tightly. "Even if the whole world stands against us, I would still never let you go."

She felt part of the burden from her heart lift up as she whispered, "neither would I, you have my word on that."

But there was still a difficult decision she had to take and even though she was pushing it for later, thinking about confiding in Alex and Steph before that, she knew she would eventually have to make her choice.

And even though she didn't want to let go of the tiny soul that was residing within her for now, she could see that none of them would let her sacrifice herself for it.

She would eventually have to do as the doctor had advised her to.

Tim had called Camille to tell her that Dora had gained consciousness and was much better than before but when her mother had wanted to talk to her, Dora barely talked for a few minutes, telling her that she was tired and couldn't speak further.

Her mind was in a whirlwind of chaos, drifting from thoughts of the unborn child that was fated to die, to how she would tell Alex the extent of the situation.

"Dora," she turned to look at Tim whose blue eyes were focused upon her in concern. "Please don't overthink everything right now. You need to rest."

Her hand closed onto his wrist as she asked, "Tim... What if I chose to save our baby? What if I want to have a mini Tim with me, a child that would have eyes like yours..."

Hurt crossed his features, "Dora, please... Don't think in that direction or else it would hurt more to let go of it."

"What if I don't want to let go?" Her wide brown eyes were full of a yearning to hold that unborn child, to love and cherish it.

But how would she be able to do that if she didn't make it through in attempts of giving her child a chance to live?

Silence swept over him as the words sank deep into him, the bitter realization churning his heart.

"Tim..."

He spoke up at last, voice unsteady from the hurt he felt at the moment, "you said you didn't want to lose me. Similarly, I don't want to lose you. If anything happens to you I'll... I'll never be able to forgive myself."

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