Forever Love (Stauren) {Book 2: Completed}

Chapter 29

I continuously ran my fingers through Caiden's soft hair as he layed with his head in my lap. "Can you go any faster?" I asked Steven who gripped the steering wheel of the car tightly.

"I'm goin as fast as the speed limit will let me, Laur," he replied, glancing back at Caiden through the rear view mirror. "How's he doing?"

A sigh slipped out between my lips, eyes looking down at my little boy. He wasn't in his car seat and was lying on the backseat. In those moments, it didn't matter to me that we were breaking the law by doing those things, all that mattered was helping Caiden. "The same, but he's awake," I answered. Caiden had his eyes open slightly, exhaustion and pain showing from them.

The car ride seemed to of lasted forever, making relief filling throughout me as the hospital came into view. Steven parked and got out of the car to come around to the back seat where I was. "I'll carry him," he said, myself carefully transferring Caiden into his arms.

We all weaved our way through all the parked cars that crowded the parking lot before reaching the automatic doors that immediately opened for us.

My mouth dropped open at the sight. Hundreds of people crowded the lobby and waiting area, lined up at the desks. Multiple people from the middle and backs of the lines were yelling out of anger towards the nurses that sat behind the front desk. My eyes moved from the front desk to the large, crowded waiting room where no chair was empty.

Steven was dumbfounded as well, both of us trying to figure out what to do and where to go. Then, I felt Emmie's hand slip into mine, reminding me that she had always hated large crowds.

"I guess we find a way to squeeze into this line," Steven concluded, still looking around.

"But this'll take hours," Emmie pointed out.

Steven thought for a moment before handing Caiden to me. "Hold him for a second. I'm gonna see if there's another hospital nearby."

A man in front of us in like turned around, looking at Steven with a small chuckle. "We've already tried that. Every hospital around is like this for some reason, and nobody knows why. It's this or nothing."

And so we waited.

It became frustrating to me that Caiden was in so much pain and had to wait so long just to see a doctor. As time went by, more and more people began to become angry, so they yelled out at the nurses behind the desks more.

I glanced down at Caiden who was crying on my shoulder as I held him, making me finally step up to say something. "Hey, my son is really sick! He needs to see a doctor!"

"Yeah and so is every other person in this place," a muscular man growled at me, stepping closer to Caiden and I. "Now get back in your spot in line."

Steven angrily came forward, gently pushing me behind him. "Don't talk to my wife like that."

"Then tell her to keep her mouth shut," the man replied. I could tell that Steven wanted to do something to confront the man by the fact that his hands were clenched into tight fists, so I slowly pulled him back to our spot in line.

•°•°•°•°•

After a long time of waiting, we had finally gotten our name on a long list of people waiting to see a doctor. If we were lucky, we would get a room to stay in whereas other people had to talk to the doctors out in the hallway.

Eventually, after it had become dark outside, we managed to get two chairs to sit in, myself holding Caiden and Steven holding Emmie.

"Mom, when will we be able to see the doctor?" Caiden croaked out, his voice scratchy.

"Soon baby boy, soon," I replied, before softly whispering, "I hope."

But soon never came.

Many more hours passed until it was past midnight. It was torturous to sit in that waiting room, unable to sleep, unable to block out the cries of screaming babies and children that echoed throughout the large, packed waiting room.

I made sure that both Caiden and Emmie were asleep before whispering to Steven, "What the hell is going on? Why is every hospital like this?"

"I have no clue," he answered, looking around. "It is flu season, but a flu wouldn't cause all of this."

"Maybe..." I began, trying to think of a positive situation to make myself feel better. "...maybe it's just some freak coincidence."

Steven didn't respond, quietly thinking to himself while staring down at the carpeted floor.

My eyes drifted to Emmie who was asleep on Steven's lap, her arms around his neck and head on his shoulder. She was so small and innocent with her lips slightly curled into a smile, signaling that she must've been dreaming about something nice. I was slightly comforted by the thought of at least one of us was getting some good rest.

"Hey," I said softly, putting an arm around Steven's shoulder before running my fingers through the hair at the back of his neck. "Everything works out the way it's supposed to."

A smile creeped across his face. "Now you're just quoting lines from season four," he chuckled, nudging my shoulder with his, making me laugh quietly as well. "Here," he began, unwrapping one of his arms from Emmie and taking my hand in his. "Get some rest. I'll wake you if they call us."

I gave him a grateful smile before kissing his hand and resting my head on the shoulder Emmie did not have her own head on. "Thank you," I whispered, closing my eyes.

•°•°•°•°•

I didn't know how long I had actually been asleep before a loud voice yelled out another name of a patient. I would've gone back to sleep if it weren't for the fact that the patient called was behind Steven and I in the line hours before.

Carefully, I placed Caiden in the chair we were both sitting in while trying not to wake him before going up to the nurse that called the patient's name. "Excuse me?" I said.

"Yes?"

"The person that you just called was behind my family in the check in line, and they are getting to see the doctor before we do," I explained, expecting the nurse to realize her mistake.

"Yes that's right ma'am," she clarified.

"But we were on the list before them," I said again, putting a hand on my hip.

The nurse looked down at her clipboard before looking back up at me. "Yes but we are required to take care of the patients with more severe conditions first."

"My son is really sick, and he needs to see a doctor soon," I stated, a slightly demanding tone present in my voice. "What if it is something serious, but we don't know it yet? What if it's life threatening?" My voice got louder and louder with each word I spoke, making people look at me.

"I'm sorry ma'am, but we can't-"

I cut off, practically yelling at this point. "If you're so sorry, then let my son see a doctor!"

Then, I felt a hand grab onto my arm, and I turned to see that it was Steven. He gave me a look that said 'stop' before gently pulling me back to our seats. "I just want him to be okay," I said, tears forming in my eyes.

"I know, me too, Laur." He leaned forward and kissed my forehead before moving down to my lips for a quick, yet loving kiss. "And he will be okay."  Feeling slightly better, we finished walking to our chairs hand in hand.

A/N
Chapter question: Why do you guys think all the hospitals are so crowded???

Hey guys, I hope you had/are having a great day. Remember how beautiful each of you are, and that you are special because there is only one you on this earth. And don't let others tell you differently. Just a little something to brighten your day/night :)

I would love some feedback on this chapter if you have some :)

Chapter shoutout next chapter!!