The Reluctant Fall

Thirteen.

Anthony could only watch as she collapsed forward into his arms. Instinctually he grabbed on to her and fell back on to the floor to cushion her fall. He reached behind her and felt warm liquid soak into his skin, once he pulled his hand back, he noticed the red blood covering his hands. His heart quickened and his brain went into overdrive – this couldn't be happening. People were crowding him as he shouted, 'Someone call a fucking ambulance'... he couldn't lose her – it wasn't an option. Anger and worry were overwhelming every single sense he had.

Anthony hadn't even noticed that his sister's had ran out the bar. He was surrounded - but Anthony was oblivious to everything but her. People always say in moments like this time just stops, his heart was in his mouth, he couldn't fathom losing her, not when he just discovered how he felt about her.

Daphne was watching the scene unfold nervously while she held tightly on to an inconsolable Fran who was screaming Penelope's name repeatedly. Sophie on the other hand stood watching on absolutely shell shocked - she looked frozen. Simon had crouched down beside them as he was on the phone to the paramedics; he quickly ripped his scarf from his throat to try to stop the bleeding.

Nothing was working – she wasn't opening her eyes.

"Don't leave me" he whispered. Simon checked for a pulse – it was weak.

"Penelope please baby, wake up," Anthony gripped her as Simon shook his head.

Simon mumbled 'hurry' on the phone and Anthony's heart sank.

She couldn't die. She couldn't. He couldn't handle this.

Not again.

Anthony brushed her face; he was pleading with her to open her eyes, but she was lifeless under his grasp. His heart was physically pounding from his chest, he tried to close his eyes to remember the moments before, why didn't he see who done this? Who would hurt his Penelope? He couldn't bare thinking that she could somehow die right here in his arms.

He was right there... why couldn't he protect her?

It felt like an hour waiting for an ambulance... but it was only under five minutes. He jumped in the ambulance with her, ignoring the fact they called him 'her husband'. He just had to hold her hand, he had to be there with her. He was never going to allow her out of his sight again.

Everything else soon flashed by in a haze.

The next thing he knew he was in a private waiting room in the private hospital he requested they go to. Not only was it closer, but he wanted her to be taken care of by the best. He needed to be the one to take care of her. He'd pay for it all, he didn't care about anything else but her and seeing her open those beautiful blue eyes once more.

He needed to see her eyes.

The police arrived shortly after them, and they had attempted to question him, but the doctors pushed them out as Anthony was covered in blood... they had to check he wasn't hurt too.

He had gone into shock hearing she was stabbed.

Stabbed? Penelope?

'It's a severe wound'

'She's lost a lot of blood'

'We are doing everything we can'

He looked down at his stained hands, then to his blood-stained shirt and instantly threw up in the bin near to his right. Everything had happened so fast he hadn't had a minute to process. After he wiped his mouth, he darted up from the bed, "I need to see her."

A nurse tried to lay him back, but he resisted. "Let me go!" he screamed. Soon enough a doctor came into the room and tried to calm him, "please let us help you Mr Bridgerton, we are taking the very best care of Miss Featherington." Anthony pushed their hands away from him, "It's not my fucking blood," he said in annoyance. "Get out my way and let me see her," he demanded.