The Boot - Next Steps (Book 2)

Chapter Fifteen

A/N: Once again, thank you all for being so patient. I have been unbelievably busy and haven't had the spare time to sit down and write this until now. I tried to make this chapter a little longer than usual as a thank you for being so patient. My work schedule is hopefully going to mellow out soon, I promise I'm trying to get these chapters out to you guys. Also thank you all so much for all of the support for my story so far. I love you guys!

⚠️ TRIGGER WARNING!!!! ⚠️ Death, grief, child loss ⚠️

LUCY'S POV

After what seems like forever, the elevator finally reaches its intended destination. Despite the overwhelming pain that I was feeling, all I could think about, all I could focus on... was Annabeth.

I hardly even waited for the elevator doors to open fully before I practically sprint out, taking a sharp left before bounding down the hall.

I've been here long enough and more than enough times that I know this place like the back of my hand. Hell, you could take all of my senses away and I'd still know the exact path I need to take to reach my babies. Either it's the sheer amount of time I've spent here or it's mothers' intuition, or maybe even a little bit of both. All I knew for sure is that I needed to get to my baby as quickly as I possibly could.

The doors to the NICU open ahead of me as I practically fly through the threshold. I can hear Emiliana's hurried footsteps behind me as she rushes to keep up with me. We may not have known each other all that long, but I have found her to be a good friend and I'm glad for that friendship.

I finally reach the reception desk of the NICU, panting as I desperately tried to catch my breath.

Emiliana slows to a stop right beside me, breathing heavily. I assume she also is quite out of breath from sprinting all the way here from the elevator.

The front desk nurse-whose nametag reads Kathy-isn't someone I recognize. Which is interesting, given how well I've gotten to know this hospital, especially this wing, over the past... however long it's been at this point. But that very easily could be explained by a plethora of reasons. Maybe she is a transfer from another clinic or hospital, or even just another wing of the hospital that I'm not as familiar with. She could be new. She could have come back from vacation or a leave of absence. She could just happen to never have been on shift when I'm here. So, I decide not to think too much into it.

She looks up at me with a warm smile. She seems nice. "Hi, how can I-"

"My daughter," I blurt out. I feel bad for not greeting her or even acknowledging her. Normally, I would. But right now, I'm too blinded with concern and worry about my daughter. Kathy looks slightly taken aback. "I'm sorry. I'm just really worried."

Kathy nods in understanding. "I get it. The NICU is hardly ever a happy place nor is it the kind of place that's anywhere close to the sunshine and rainbows type of environment anyone who steps foot in here desperately wishes it to be."

I feel myself relax just a bit. "You understand. Thank you."

"What's your name? And your daughters'?"

"My name is Lucy Chen. My daughter is Annabeth Bradford."

Kathy nods and glances at her computer screen before meeting my eyes once again, only this time she is frowning, and her eyes had a look which I can only think to describe as commiseration. My heart drops as all possible scenarios-none of them good-play in my mind. I gulp, stuttering as I will myself to speak the dreaded words which needed to be said. I struggled to bring myself to ask the question I knew needed to be asked.

"What's wrong with her?"

"I'm not at liberty to say."

I feel my blood boil. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?! Something is wrong with my daughter, I rushed all the way over here, and now you can't even tell me why?!" I shout. Kathy recoils and I instantly feel bad. "I'm sorry. It's the hormones,"

She nods. "What trimester?"

"I'm in my first trimester,"

"I'm sorry but unfortunately from what I've heard, hormones only get worse as you progress, which I'm sure you experienced with your babies when you were pregnant with them," Kathy says. I nod, not entirely sure what to say.

I clear my throat. "So, um, if you can't tell me what's wrong with my daughter, then who can?"

"Oh, right, yes. Let me page her doctor for you."

It only takes about two minutes, which granted, isn't all that long but right now, it felt like two years. Time felt as though it was going extra slow. If I didn't know any better, I'd assume that time itself was purposely trying to slow things down.

Dr. Sanchez rounds the corner and I can tell immediately by her expression that whatever news that she has for me is not good. She approaches us, flashing me a warm but sympathetic smile, similar to the one Kathy gave me just moments ago.

"Miss Chen, good afternoon," she says. "I wish we were seeing you under better circumstances."

"As do I," I respond. "However I have no clue what's going on. I was literally just called and told that something was wrong with Annabeth and that I needed to come here immediately."

"Yes, I know. Why don't we go somewhere private to talk?" Dr. Sanchez suggests. I bite my lip and avoid making eye contact with, well, anyone, really. I think over her suggestion of moving somewhere else. I don't want to. Even if it only takes a few extra seconds, that's still a few more seconds until I actually get to know what's wrong. However, I have a feeling that I'm going to want some privacy when I hear the news, because all this cloak and dagger surrounding the present situation isn't an indication of anything even remotely good or positive.

"Okay," I nod. "Let's go,"

Dr. Sanchez starts to lead me towards a nearby meeting* room. Emiliana begins to follow, but Dr. Sanchez stops. "Do you want her in the room with you?"

*I have no idea what the actual 'official' name for it is, so hopefully you know what I'm talking about.

I nod immediately, grabbing Emiliana's hand for support, which I desperately need now more than ever. "Yes. Absolutely."

I have no idea where Tim is. I tried calling and texting him more times than I could count on the way here, even while we were navigating our way through the hospital. I didn't stop trying to reach him.

At one point, I was worried he had me blocked. I have no clue why he'd do it, but in the moment it seemed like the only real, reasonable explanation. Thanks to my hormones, I was able to easily convince myself that this was the case, even though Emiliana kept trying to remind me that there is very likely a far more plausible explanation. But given how he reacted when he found me at Emiliana's house right after tackling that man, how cold he was towards me, hell, he couldn't even bring himself to look me in the eye.

I know he's mad at me. And if somehow he isn't mad, he is at the very least incredibly upset. Sure, it's probably more of the situation that he's upset about, but the oh-so-wonderful pregnancy hormones once again convinced me of the worst possible thing being reality.

I tried calling him from Emiliana's phone, too. I was desperate. For that brief period where I thought the only reasonable explanation was that he blocked me, I figured since he and Emiliana don't know each other, her number would pop up on his phone as just that; a number. But he didn't answer. Then again, that could be explained by the fact that he is a police officer and so likely isn't going to be very eager to answer a call from an unknown number. Plus, there's the fact that he is very smart so can probably figure out that it was me based on the fact that I had been calling and texting him before and after I tried her phone. It doesn't take a genius to put two and two together.

Emiliana gives my hand a comforting squeeze as we are led into the room. Dr. Sanchez gestures for us to sit as she does so herself on the armchair parallel to the sofa that Emiliana and I sit on.

"There is no easy way to put this," Dr. Sanchez sighs sadly. "Your daughter is gone."

QOTC: If you could go back in time and meet any person in history, who would it be and what would the first question you'd ask them be?