The Devil Walks Among Us; Book l - Completed 4/21/22

And a Baby Makes Three

Michael's heart was racing as he looked out of the window of the car as they got closer to the hospital. He hadn't slept in close to two days - just taking quick naps here and there, but not a full night's sleep. In the last two days, he craved to hear Mia's voice. The Johns' updates from the hospital weren't good enough as he wanted to see for himself. His leg bounced up and down impatiently on the final stretch of road before arriving at the hospital, Big John parking in the closest parking lot to the main wing of the hospital that housed new mothers.

"Are you ready, Michael?" Big John asked, looking at him in the passenger seat, seeing how visually nervous he was.

"It'll be okay, Michael," Little John assured him. "She's perfectly fine. You'll know what to do once you get in there with her."

Michael nodded slightly, hearing Big John open his door to the car, Little John following, then Michael. The John's always were amazed at how Michael could blend in with any crowd. Nothing set him apart from anyone else - he definitely wouldn't pass as a killer that just butchered half of a neighborhood just two days prior. He wore casual jeans and shoes, a dark work shirt, his favorite jacket Mia had bought him, and a simple black knit hat to keep the November chill from nipping at his ears.

Nobody would recognize him, surely.

The smell of the hospital slithered into Michael's nose, instantly making him more nervous as he walked alongside Little John as they approached the receptionist's desk. "Yes, ma'am, we're here to see Mia Harris." Little John said.

The blonde-headed woman smiled at him and glanced at Michael and Little John before typing into her computer. "Here you go," She said, motioning for them to present their wrists to put the visitor band on them. Michael was hesitant at first, almost presenting his injured hand, but quickly presented his right. "They moved her from ICU to a semiprivate room as of last night and it looks like they lifted the veil on only having one visitor in the room at a time, so all three of you may go in together if you'd like." She assured them.

"Thank you."

"She's in room nineteen. A nurse will meet with you shortly."

The men walked through the hallway of the quiet wing, Michael instantly growing more nervous as he glanced at every brass plaque on the doors, counting in numerical order until seeing the number nineteen. "Do you want me to go in first?" Big John asked, sensing the nervousness on Michael's face as he knew he was immediately picturing something gruesome. Michael nodded, watching Big John trying his best to quietly open the door as he didn't want to disturb her, now knowing that the baby was in the room too. He watched him peek into the door, hoping that Mia was awake and aware of her surroundings. He whispered, "She's asleep."

Michael was the last to enter the room, using the last few seconds of isolation to pull himself together as again, he was expecting the worst. His breath hitched in his throat as his eyes fell upon her, seeing her steady breaths as she slept - God knows she needs it.

Her face was relaxed and a bandage was on her forehead, covering the sutures that kept her skin together from the lash of the belt Kevin had assaulted her with that night. Michael was tense as he continued to examine her, seeing the I.V. attached to her as well as the oxygen being forced in her nose. "Michael?" He heard Little John whisper, turning his head to see a soft smile on the older man's face. "Your baby is beautiful."

He gulped as he took slow steps towards the bassinet, closing his eyes briefly before looking at the newborn as it still was unbelievable to him. Upon gazing at the newborn, he swore his heart stopped.

A baby girl.

She was so beautiful.

Michael was too afraid to do anything. He wanted to swaddle the baby so bad, to hold her close to his chest as she slept, to protect her like he does Mia, and to cherish her as she deserved. He was too afraid to hold her eventually as he was a man of destructive nature and didn't want to risk bringing that into his baby's life. For a split second, he felt heavy in his eyes as he looked upon her. Am I crying?