Through Pain We Survive

Chapter 34

***TRIGGER WARNING- drugging mentions***

Sara calls Damien as soon as she gets into the car. "She's vomiting! Vomiting blood! You said she'd be fine! What did you make me do?!"

"Calm down, it's just a bit of zinc poisoning. She'll go to the hospital and they'll sort her out there. She'll be fine."

"You—you poisoned her?"

"No Darling, YOU poisoned her. I just supplied it."

What have I done? "Damien! This is not a game! This is hurting someone's life! What are you trying to do?"

"She'll be fine, Sara. Stop freaking out on me. You trust me, don't you?"

Sara sat silent for a moment.

"Don't you?!" Damien said a little more forcefully.

"Uh, yeah. Look, I gotta go. I don't even know if they realized I left." Sara hung up the phone and started crying.

She wasn't supposed to be hurt! What did I do? What even happened? Why am I even doing this in the first place? I just was going along with what Damien wanted... Damien. He is the one who is behind all this. He is hurting her. He gave me the ibuprofen from the first time, and he gave me the zinc... What does he want to happen? If he keeps poisoning her, she will die!

Sara took a deep breath. AJ won't let it get that far. She wiped the tears away. Okay, just stay calm. I need to get out of here. She started the car and took off.

"You're doing okay, Honey. I'm right here. Gwen, stay awake, stay with me. I'm not going anywhere, Love. I'm right here. Stay awake, okay?" AJ kept repeating to Gwen. Gwen was curled up on the floor with AJ holding her.

Nate stayed on the phone with dispatch until the ambulance arrived.

"Honey, the ambulance is here. Let's have them check you over and we can get you better, okay?" AJ helped Gwen sit up.

The EMTs came in and assessed Gwen. They saw the aftermath of her getting sick, and asked if she had anything to eat or drink that day.

"She had a hot cocoa." Nate walked to her desk. "Here, the cup is in her trash bin." He handed them her cup. They put it in a baggie to take it with them.

Loading her on the stretcher, they rushed out of the house. AJ followed close behind. "I want to go with her! That's my wife!"

"I'm sorry sir, you will have to follow us. We can not allow you in the ambulance."

AJ's heart broke. "But— that's my wife..." he said again softer, but it fell to deaf ears.

Nate came up behind him. He put his hand on AJ's shoulder. "Come on, get your stuff. Let's go."

AJ ran in and got his wallet and keys. Nate took them from him and drove them to the hospital.

Nate's mind wandered to Sara. He realized Sara was gone.

Where did she go? She was right beside me when we went in to check on Gwen. Nate's brow furrowed. I'll have to call her after we get to the hospital to see what happened.

Nate glanced to AJ and knew he was frazzled. The love of his life keeps getting sick and they don't know what is going on. That would make anyone upset.

Pulling into the parking lot, they parked and rushed inside.

Looking down at her phone, Becca saw Nate's name popping up on the caller ID.

"Hey Natemare. Long time no talk to."

"Becca, can you please come help? It's Gwen. She's vomiting blood. AJ is panicking, and I don't know what to do." Nate spoke rapidly.