The summer break keepsake

(32) A mothers bond

Stella's POV

The plane journey was a blur, my mind only focused on summer, wondering what was happening to her, was she in surgery? Was she now out of it? Did they find anything?

Kelly's hand squeezed firmly around mine, bringing me out of my thoughts as we made our way to the hospital with Iris the New York representative Angela assigned us.

I met Kelly's gaze, the desperation in his eyes mirrored my own. It had been a whirlwind of shared emotions since we'd found out that our baby girl was in New York, in a hospital, after my parents had taken her without so much as a warning.

"We'll be at the hospital shortly. I went to see her during your flight, and before I came to collect you's she had just come out of surgery, and was in recovery" she assured us, her voice steady as she looked at us through the rear view mirror.

I fought against the torrent of worry rushing through my mind. Summer was my everything, and I couldn't shake off the image of her tiny form lying on a hospital bed, bandaged and fragile. A lump rose in my throat as I imagined reaching her, holding her close once again after what felt like an eternity apart.

The car turned a corner, and the hospital loomed ahead, barely waiting for the car to stop before I launched myself out the car hearing Iris, shouting for me to wait for her as I just ignored her running inside through the sliding doors.

Nurses rushed past me, doctors whispered in tense tones, and the smell of antiseptic hung heavily in the air. I could hardly focus on anything except the overwhelming need to find my baby. I made my way to the first help desk I saw and got the attention of one of the nurses "Summer Severide? Where can I find her, I'm Stella, her mom" I ask breathless with adrenaline, The nurse glanced up, startled by my urgency as she turns back to her computer, my own fingers tapping against the desk trying to remain calm

Kelly's presence found its way beside me along with Iris as he placed his hand on my lower back Iris presenting her Id card as the nurse nodded then turned back to me "room 216, paediatric care on the 2nd floor, take a left here and follow the pink arrows" she says as I waste no time heading left grabbing Kelly's hand pulling him with me.

My heart raced, each step fueled by a desperate urgency to get to her side and make sure she was okay. I press the button for the elevator seeing it was on the 4th floor as I turned to see a stair well next to it not wanting to wait for any elevator as I headed towards the stairs.

We made it onto the 2nd floor as I followed the pink arrows towards the paediatric care ward, the corridors like a labyrinth but soon finding the locked double doors labeled paediatric care as I pressed the intercom, my eyes falling on Kelly as we eagerly awaited for someone to answer.

I hear Iris's heavy breathing as she tried her best to keep up with us, getting even more impatient I press the buzzer multiple times "come on...pick up!" I mutter frustratedly as I feel Kelly's hand grab mine to stop me "there probably busy looking after patients, someone will get it when they can" he tells me as he pulls me into him kissing my forehead.

"Paediatric care, how can I help" I hear over the intercom immediately turning back to it "Summer Severides parents" I just say as I hear it buzz and the door automatically open as I barely wait for it to open fully before I slip my way through it.

"216...216....Where's room 206?" I blurted out, my voice trembling slightly as I searched the walls for any sign, any direction that would guide us. The urgency in my tone was unmistakable. "Rooms 200-220 this way" I hear Kelly say pointing to a sign on the wall as we both head in the same direction

His hand gripped mine tighter, both our eyes darting from side to side, each door we passed fueling my anxiety. Turning another corner the number 216 staring straight at us as we both looked at each other one last time before running towards the closed door.