Every Breath She Takes [CURRENTLY ON HOLD]

Chapter 10: Safety in Numbers

I woke panicked. I had no idea where I was. I almost sat up, but my head was throbbing, so I lay still. With nothing else to do, I studied the room I was in. It was clearly a men’s room, for there were no feminine touches, only a rough and ready feel to it. To my surprise, I liked it. It was a nice room, despite the clothes tossed around the place. I couldn’t help but notice that the door was closed, and I began to fear that it was locked. Despite the large windows and airy feel, I felt closed in – the door had to be unlocked. Luckily, it was, for it was pushed open, almost hesitantly, and the gentle man poked his head around it. His dark blue eyes widened slightly.

“You’re awake.”

He sounded a little surprised, but there was no harshness to his words, no cruelty, and I relaxed a little.

“Are you hungry?”

I just closed my eyes. I wasn’t. I wanted only to sleep. I heard him retreat, closing the door softly, and felt a huge relief not to hear the lock click. I was safe. He’d been right. I curled around my baby protectively, but the movement caused me to start coughing, and I couldn’t stop. Each time I coughed, it felt like I was rubbing my throat raw. The sound brought him back again, and he came in this time. His eyes were concerned as he smoothed back my hair from my flushed face.

“I’m going to get someone,” he said. “You need help, sweetheart. You’re going to die, otherwise, I think.”

I stared at him, still coughing. It was hurting so much, and my headache wasn’t helping. He moved away before I could do anything, pulling out a phone. I didn’t hear what he said, but whatever it was, it was quick. He slipped that phone back in a pocket and turned back to me.

“There’s a doctor coming,” he said. “What do you want me to tell him?”

I looked down for a moment, trying to think. After a few minutes, I managed to croak out a few words. “Found…front door…”

He stared at me. “You were found on my front doorstep?” he asked.

I nodded.

“You’re sure about that?”

I nodded again, and then clutched at my head. It was banging like a drum. “Water?” I asked, my voice a reedy whisper. “Please?”

He nodded and vanished out the door, quickly reappearing with a glass of water. He helped me to sit up, and I drank eagerly. My mouth and throat were so dry.

“Thank you,” I whispered, just as the doorbell rang. He paused, looking at me in concern.

“You’ll be alright?”

I nodded, waving him off. “Go.” When he did, I lay back down again, gathering my strength. I knew I would need it for the doctor.

The doctor came with a bag and a hat, and I nearly smiled, the old nursery rhyme ringing in my head. I almost expected him to rat-a-tat-tat on the door, but he didn’t. The man was behind him, concern colouring his eyes blue-black.

The doctor came forward, and placed a hand on my forehead, only to snatch it away immediately. He turned to the man.

“How long has she been like this?” he asked. I felt anger flare, anger that he was treating me as if I couldn’t speak. I knew that the man had seen it, for he nodded towards me.

“Ask her,” he replied. “I don’t know for sure.”

Surprised, the doctor looked back at me, and only just stopped himself from flinching.

“Sorry, miss,” he said, a little stiffly. “What is your name?”

I hesitated, then gave him Duchess’ name. “Sarah,” I whispered, and bent over, coughing.

“Hmm. How long have you felt like this?”

I glared at him. “Like shit, you mean?”

Colour rose in his face, but he managed to answer me. “Yes. Precisely that.”

I thought for a moment. “Two days, I think. There…there was no warning.”

“Hmm,” he repeated, looking thoughtful. He made to pull the blankets off me, and paused. “Do you mind?”

I hesitated again, and then shook my head. “Not…not really.” To my relief, he only pulled them down to my waist. When he saw that I was pregnant, his hands began to shake.
“You’re pregnant?” He spun to glare at the man. “You failed to mention this! If she has pneumonia – and the symptoms are all there! – She could die! She needs to go to hos –”

I interrupted him before he could finish the word, lunging forward and gripping his sleeve. I surprised both of them, I think, with my strength.

“No,” I said firmly, doubling over as a fit of coughing racked my body. “I won’t go there!”

“But, miss!” he protested. “You must! You are extremely ill. You need –”

Again, I interrupted him. “No. I can’t.” I knew that if I went, they would find out everything, and I couldn’t go through that. Not now, preferably not ever. “Please.” I made my eyes go soft, almost pleading. “Don’t make me go there.”

The doctor was weakening, I could tell. “But, miss…” he trailed off with a sigh. “If you insist,” he said. “But you must stay in bed. Take these morning and night, with water. I’ll return tomorrow morning to see how you’re going.”

Grateful, so thankful that I was nearly dizzy, I released him and lay back. He went to his bag and pulled out a bottle, which he set on the nightstand beside the bed. Then, he turned to the man.

“Get her to drink as much water as she can,” he instructed softly. “Soup is good, but nothing too solid for the moment. She won’t keep it down. Above all, she needs to stay warm. That fever has to break before anything else can really happen.”

“Thank you,” I murmured, and pulled the blankets up to my chin, suddenly cold. He noticed, and frowned at me.

“A hot water bottle wouldn’t go amiss, either,” he muttered, but left that up to me. He followed the man outside, where I assumed they spoke about where I had come from, and the bill. I couldn’t care less, though. My eyes were closing, and I couldn’t stay awake any longer.

He settled the bill, and returned to his bedroom. He watched her for a few minutes as she slept, then crossed the room. He picked up the bottle, reading the directions, and placed it down again. He wasn’t going to wake her – it was clear that she needed the sleep. He filled the glass again, and placed it, with a small jug of water, on the nightstand as well, so that if she woke, she could drink. When he was done, he found that he was still watching her sleep. Very lightly, he brushed her damp hair off her flushed face, his fingers itching to trace her cheekbones. He couldn’t help but wonder if she’d ever trust him.