To Believe In Promises (Tumbling Down trilogy - DM fanfic)

A Late-Night Chat (Ch.33)

~two months later~

"It's a girl!"

I hazily look up to see the doctor holding something in front of me, and I know it's my baby, but I'm too tired to care. Whatever they do to me after the baby is out is all a blur, and before I know it, I'm alone in my hospital room. I take the opportunity to get some shuteye before anything else today happens.

~•~

I open my eyes to two men before me.

"Hi?"

"Mackenzie Ziegler?" one of them asks.

"Yeah?"

"We were told to tell you this news, since you're Tyler Stranton's partner. Is that correct?"

Through a yawn, I tell him he's right. "What's going on?!" I then ask, irritated.

"We're very sorry to tell you this."

"Tell me what?!"

"Mr.Stranton was going through the obstacle course in training and while scaling the wall, the structure gave way and collapsed on him. He did not make it."

He didn't make it.

"Mackenzie?"

He didn't make it.

"Mackenzie!"

He didn't make it.

"Mackenzie wake up!"

My eyes pop open and I'm surrounded by darkness. But I know I'm not alone when I feel someone's hand on my shoulder. It makes me jump as I sit up.

Me: What do you want?!
Jessie: You were having a nightmare. A pretty bad one, too. Are you okay?

There's tears rolling down my face, but I don't acknowledge them as I reply.

Me: Yeah. I'm fine.
Jessie: Wanna talk about it?
Me: Not really. It's stupid.
Jessie: I doubt that.

She sits with one leg under her and one leg hanging, on the edge of the bed I've been claiming as my own.

Jessie: Talk to me.
Me: Jess, it's okay. It was stupid.
Jessie: Was it about Tyler?

I look as her and feel as if I'm a deer in the headlights.

Me: No.
Jessie: We all have those dreams, Mackenzie.

I don't know what to say. Mainly because I still feel weird about admitting my dreams.

Me: What?
Jessie: Me, my mom, Tori, we've all had at least one dream about Tyler dying. I'm almost positive you've had a few. Tyler told me, and don't get mad at him or anything, but he told me what happened to you. How you went through some stuff. You're very uncertain about a lot of things and that only amplifies your fears. It's okay. We just have to keep hoping and praying nothing happens to him. We have to believe he'll be okay.
Me: But what if he's not? What if he dies and I have to raise his baby by myself? I couldn't do it! I wouldn't be able to look at that baby face all day everyday knowing it's his and he isn't there to see it!

I'm crying still, this new round of tears more intense.

Jessie: He'll get to see his baby. We don't even know if he's going to get deployed right after he trains. They may decide he isn't fit for the Marines. I hope to god that's the case, to be honest, but still. It'll be okay. He'll be there to hold his child.
Me: What if he can't make it back until he's due back? The baby will be 6 months old by the time-
Jessie: They let trainees come back for thanksgiving and Christmas. He'll see him or her. I promise, Mackenzie. Things will be okay.
Me: You don't believe that! You just told me that you think he-