Beneath The Surface

Chapter 46: Unspoken Bonds

--- Marco's POV ---

An hour later, Dr. Elizabeth Kane arrives. I open the door, letting her in, feeling a mix of relief and anxiety. Dr. Kane has been our family doctor for years, and she knows who we are and what we do. She’s paid well to keep our secrets.

“Evening, Liz,” I greet her with a nod.

“Evening, Marco,” she replies, her tone professional but warm. “Ace,” she adds with a nod to him.

“Thanks for coming on such short notice,” Ace says, his voice tight with concern.

“No problem,” Liz replies. “Tell me what’s going on.”

I quickly explain how Raven threw up and how she hasn’t eaten in days. Liz listens intently, her expression turning serious.

“Alright, let’s go see her,” she says.

We head upstairs, and I open Raven’s door slowly. “Raven, this is Dr. Kane. She’s here to check on you,” I say softly.

Raven lies in bed, awake but barely acknowledging us. My heart aches at the sight of her so withdrawn. I turn to Liz, my eyes pleading for answers.

Liz steps into the room, turning back to us. “Marco, Ace, I need some privacy with Raven. I’ll come talk to you when I’m done.”

Reluctantly, we nod and leave the room, heading back downstairs. The silence between Ace and me is heavy with worry and helplessness. We settle in the kitchen, waiting for Liz to finish her examination.

“What do you think is wrong?” Ace finally asks, breaking the silence.

“I don’t know,” I admit, my mind racing with possibilities. “But it can’t be good.”

After what feels like an eternity, Liz appears at the top of the stairs. We both look up, our hearts pounding. Liz makes her way down, her expression serious.

“How is she?” I ask, my voice tense.

Liz looks at us both, her eyes filled with concern. “Raven is very weak and dehydrated. I’ve given her something to help with that. But I need to run some tests to be sure about what’s causing this.”

“What do you suspect?” Ace asks, his voice edged with urgency.

Liz hesitates for a moment before speaking. “I think she might be pregnant.”

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. I exchange a stunned look with Ace. Pregnant? My mind races, trying to process the implications.

“Pregnant?” I echo, my voice barely a whisper.

Liz nods. “I’ll need to confirm it with tests, but the symptoms align. I’ve drawn some blood and will get the results soon.”

I swallow hard, my mind reeling. If Raven is pregnant, it changes everything. But if it’s true, it raises even more questions.

“We need to take better care of her,” Liz continues. “Especially if she’s pregnant. She needs proper nourishment and rest.”

“Thank you, Liz,” I say, my voice heavy with gratitude and worry.

Ace nods. “Yeah, thanks. Do whatever you need to.”

Liz gives us a reassuring smile. “I will. She’s in good hands. And remember, she needs your support now more than ever.”

After showing Liz out and thanking her again for coming on such short notice, I head back to the kitchen, where Ace is already sitting, his face a mix of shock and confusion. The weight of Liz’s words hangs heavy in the air.

I sit down across from him, trying to process everything. “Now all we can do is wait,” I say, my voice sounding hollow.

Ace nods, staring down at the table. “Yeah. It doesn’t seem likely it’s either of ours, does it?”

I shake my head. “She’s been gone for almost five weeks. If she is pregnant, it would put her at around six weeks. It’s a slim chance it’s ours.”

Ace’s eyes meet mine, and I can see he’s doing the same math I am. We both care deeply for Raven, but the timeline just doesn’t fit. It’s been too long since either of us were with her for the baby to be ours.

“We need to be sure,” he says, echoing my thoughts.

I nod. “Yeah, we do. But if it’s not ours…” I trail off, unable to finish the thought.

The silence in the kitchen is heavy, each of us lost in our thoughts. My mind keeps replaying Liz’s words,  “pregnant.” It’s a possibility we hadn’t considered, and now it’s all I can think about.

Ace finally breaks the silence. “What happened to her out there, Marco?”

“I don’t know,” I reply, running a hand through my hair. “But we need to find out. We need to help her.”

Ace looks at me, determination in his eyes. “We will”

“Yeah,” I agree, my voice firm.

We sit in silence for a while longer, each of us lost in our thoughts. The waiting is going to be torture, but there’s nothing else we can do. We have to be strong for Raven, no matter what the tests reveal.

Ace and I decide to check on Raven. We don't know the whole truth yet, but we can't let her go through this alone. As we make our way upstairs, the silence between us is heavy with unspoken concerns.

When we reach her door, I slowly push it open, revealing Raven still lying in bed. She looks so small and fragile, lost in a world of her own pain.

We move towards the bed, each of us taking a side. I sit down gently beside her, and Ace mirrors my actions on the other side. Raven looks up at me, her eyes distant, not fully registering our presence. It's like she's here but not really here.

I pull her in closer, wrapping my arm around her shoulders and placing a gentle kiss on the top of her head. She doesn't resist our touch, but she doesn't respond to it either. It's as if she's numb to everything around her.

"We're here, Raven," I whisper softly, hoping my words can reach through the fog of her mind. "We're not going anywhere."

Ace reaches out, placing a hand on her back in a comforting gesture. "We'll get through this together," he adds, his voice filled with quiet determination.

Raven doesn't say anything, but I can feel the faintest shift in her breathing, like she's trying to process our presence. We sit there in silence, just being there for her, hoping that our presence can offer some comfort, some connection.

As the minutes pass, I can't help but feel a deep sense of helplessness. We want to protect her, to take away her pain, but we don't even know the full extent of what she's been through. All we can do is be here, right now, for her. And I hope that somehow, in some small way, it's enough.

I glance over at Ace, and he looks just as worried as I feel. There's a bond between the three of us, something that goes beyond words, and it's that bond we're relying on to pull Raven through this. We sit there, a silent promise of support and love, hoping that she'll feel it and come back to us.

"Raven," Ace says gently, breaking the silence. "We need you to know that you're not alone."

She still doesn't respond, but I think I see a flicker of something in her eyes. Hope, maybe. Or at least a recognition that we're here for her.

Minutes turn into what feels like hours as we stay by her side, not saying much, just being there. Eventually, Ace suggests softly, "Do you want us to stay here with you tonight, Raven?"

She doesn't answer, but when I make a move to get up, her hand weakly reaches out and grasps mine. It's a small gesture, but it's enough to make me stay.

I lie down next to her, keeping her close, while Ace settles in on the other side, his hand still resting gently on her back. Together, we form a protective barrier around her, a silent vow that we're not going to leave her alone in this.

As the night deepens, I feel her relax just a bit, her body leaning into mine. It's a small step, but it's a step nonetheless. And for now, that's enough.