Starting Over 💙

Chapter 17

"Hey Lisa, I have to leave early today. I have a doctors appointment." Ellie was enjoying helping down at the youth theater over the past few months where Chris grew up. And she loved getting to know her future mother in law.

"Of course sweetie, is everything okay?"

"Just a check up." Ellie was sure she was pregnant. Her period was late, and she had been hiding from Chris that she felt nauseous in the mornings. She just wanted to make sure before she told anybody.

Lisa stands just watching her for a moment, making Ellie nervous as her mouth turned up into a grin. "You're pregnant aren't you?"

Ellie shakes her head, "um, I don't.."

Lisa just laughs, "oh, sweetie. You think I haven't noticed you showing up late, looking pale in the mornings." She softly touches her cheek, knowing that she wasn't fully comfortable with anyone touching her face but Chris, "you've gained some baby weight as well."

"Well, thanks for that." Ellie laughs, "but I'm not sure. That's why I'm going to the doctor. Though I've been pregnant before, so I'm pretty sure I am. I'd appreciate it if you don't say anything to Chris until I know for sure."

"I won't. Good luck Ellie." Lisa wraps her in a quick hug before letting her go.

~~~

"Chris? Are you here?" She shuts the front door after leaving the doctor's office. She sets her stuff on the entry table as she hears Chris call to her.

"I'm in the kitchen, darling." She stops in her tracks, her heart sinking to her stomach. Since what happened with James, they had decided to make a code word for if one of them was in trouble, darling was Chris's.

She knew she had to react quickly. "Okay! I'm gonna put my stuff in the bedroom." She pulls her phone out of her pocket and dials 911, closing the door to the bedroom. "There's someone in my house, send someone now." She gives the address and sets the phone on the dresser. When she opens the door, she comes face to face with a girl with a gun. Ellie puts up her hands up defensively as the girl shoves her towards the kitchen.

"You're Katie right?"

"Just shut up and go to the kitchen. Where's your phone?"

Ellie pretends to check her pockets, "I must have left it in the car." She makes it to the kitchen to find Chris at the kitchen counter, bleeding. "Chris!"

She runs to him but Katie yells behind her, "don't touch him!"

"I'm fine." Chris moves, slightly rotating his body so that she could it was just in the shoulder.

Katie points the gun at her, "sit, hands on the table."

Ellie sits as requested, "what do you want Katie?" She places her hands on the counter, looking at Chris. His eyes were pained but she knew it wasn't from the gunshot, it was from him being scared for her.

Katies points the gun at her hand, "your ring for starters." She stands next to Chris, feeling up his arms and chest, "as well as Chris."

Ellie starts to stand up, "don't fucking touch him!" She sits back down when Katie points the gun at his head, putting her hands up again. "Okay. Chill out."

"The ring."

Ellie scoffs, shaking her head, "no fucking way, I'm not giving you my ring."

Chris reaches over and grabs her hand, locking eyes with her. His eyes were pleading for her to do as Katie requested, "just give it to her. I can get you another ring."

"I want this ring Chris." She sees in his eyes he was scared but she didn't want to give in to this girl.

Katie comes around the counter and tries to take the ring from her, but Ellie hits her, knocking the gun out of her hand. She didn't see Katie's hand until it landed in her face, making her fall backwards. Chris lunged for her, catching her before she hit the ground. This gave Katie enough time to to pick up the gun again and point it at Chris. He and Ellie stand up slowly with their hands up. Ellie takes a half a step forward, slightly in front of Chris. "I called the police, they should be here any minute. Can you please stop pointing the gun at Chris? Can you just talk to us."

The fact that she had already called the police seemed to anger Katie. She moved the gun towards Ellie. "I want what you have. The ring, the house." She waves the gun at Chris again, "him."

Ellie felt her heart race as she heard the knocks on the front door. She felt her face become hot with anger and fear as tears started to fall. "Please, point it at me, not him."

"Ellie, no." She felt Chris take a step towards her as they heard the police come through the front door. They were into the kitchen quickly with their guns pointed at Katie.

"Well, if I can't have him.." She points the gun at Chris but Ellie reacts quickly, pushing him out of the way just as Katie pulls the trigger. All she hears is Chris calling her name as she falls to the ground before everything went black.

~~~

Chris paces up and down the waiting room of the hospital when he sees his mom and brother enter. He collapses in a chair from the weight of the day. He was worried about Ellie who was in surgery now. He feels his brother and mother sit on either side of them, not being able to bring themselves to say anything. After another 45 minutes of no one coming out with any updates, he gets up to pace again. He notices a few people watching him, having figured out who he was, but he didn't care.

"Chris?" He hears Emily's terrified voice behind him.

"Emily, I'm so sorry." He isn't able to control his tears seeing how scared Ellie's sister was. He wraps her in a hug, trying to comfort her, and himself. He couldn't help but feel guilty that he couldn't protect her like he promised he would.

Emily pulls back, looking at him, "what happened Chris?"

He sits back down in his chair. "She was shot. The girl from the fundraiser found where I live. I'm so sorry Emily." Before Emily can respond, the doctor comes out to talk to them and Chris leaps back to his feet.

"Ellie made it through surgery. We had to remove her spleen. She is sleeping now, and probably will be for a while." He puts his hand on Chris' shoulder, "and don't worry, the baby will be fine."

"Baby?" Chris and Emily speak in shocked unison as Chris looks at his mom.

Lisa stands up to comfort her son, "she went to the doctor today to find out for sure."

Baby. The doctor said he was having a baby. Chris couldn't feel the joy he wanted to in that moment, he was too scared for Ellie. He looks back at the doctor, "can I see her?"

"Sure, just one of you."

Chris looks back at Emily, but she just shakes her head, "go Chris. I'll see her when she wakes up."