What Should Have Been

Part 87

Connie took very little in as everyone busied about the room. All she knew was that Elle was setting about doing whatever was needed to keep her child safe, which was all she wanted right now.

Sam and Charlie were both fully aware of the risks surrounding inducing Connie in these circumstances, yet it seems nothing would get through to her until she knew her baby was safe.

As the minutes slowly ticked by she thought of how scared she truly was. "Sam..." She gripped tightly to his hand snapping his full attention. "Hey, what's wrong with you? I thought you were ready to meet this one-" "What if she's not okay, if we're too late and I've ruined everything."

He shook his head placing a hand to her cheek. "Stop, you won't have ruined anything. We'll deal with this whatever happens, I'm going to get through every step of this with you. I love you so much."

With the relevant paediatricians and doctors in the room, and with Connie given the correct medication it became a waiting game. They knew they had to act fast and with each passing second Connie panicked more and more. "You need to try and stay calm Connie, it isn't good for either of you."

Elle tried to reason with her but nothing went in until Charlie stepped up to the opposite side of the bed. "Connie? Listen to me... Hey, remember when you told me about Grace's father? How much you missed what wasn't there, that you wished you had one more chance to do it all again?"

The monitors began to calm again as she listened to Charlie. "And all the times we spent together talking about the differences you both had, how you were dreaming a life that could never exist... You're living that, you've got it Connie."

She looked to him as he held her hand loosely, his thumb caressing the back of her hand. "And now you have someone else to think of too, someone else to love and protect... You need to focus on them now, focus on everything you have coming, all that you've overcome to get here."

Sam watched speechless as Charlie talked her round from all the thoughts in her mind previously. Seconds ticked by before Connie clutched the metal railings at the side of her bed. Pain soaring through her as she dropped her head back to the bed.

"Is this normal? Shouldn't she be in less pain?" Sam looked to the end of the bed but it was Elle who responded. "She's just been in a major RTC and has injuries more severe than we may know right now. We just need to do what we can." He nodded taking hold of her hand again leaning closer to the bed. "I love you." He pressed a kiss to her temple before keeping her hand firmly in his, praying for some kind of miracle.

Grace walked along the path out of school with Elliot before sitting beside him in the car. "Where's Mummy and Daddy? I thought they were coming to get me today." Elliot was unsure what to tell the youngster as they sat there. "Mummy's at the hospital with Daddy, they're a little busy so I thought you could come and help me for a while. Until they're ready for you."

Grace grinned widely with a nod as they headed towards the hospital, oblivious to everything happening at the time.

Cries echoed around the room as she continued to push when told. Sam's hand crippled with pain as she held onto him, bringing the slightest of smiles to her lips momentarily before her focus returned to her baby.

Connie continued to push as monitors beeped around her. Elle's eyes moved up seeing her heart rate increase drastically. "Woah, woah, woah we need to be careful. She could be doing herself more damage-" "We need to do this now or else this baby stands no chance."

Sam's eyes flickered between the pair, thoughts whirling through his mind but none of them making sense. He couldn't lose Connie, she had to be his priority. "Do whatever keeps Con safe-" "No." He looked over at her shaking his head as he moved a hand to her hair. "Con-" "No, you make sure she's okay. I'm not losing her."

He watched her as she turned to him a little. "Connie you need-" "This isn't your decision! I can't lose her Sam." "And I can't lose you!" She clenched her jaw beginning to block him out as she focused on what was being said to her once again.

Sam stepped back from the bed moving his hands up to his head looking on lost. Charlie stood behind with a hand placed to his shoulder. "Just support her, we'll take care of her as soon as we can." He glanced sideways a little before nodding.

Taking her hand again Connie looked to Sam and he saw the fear in her eyes. "You've got this, I know you have." He nodded as she rest her head back once more, pushing again until there was movement at the end of the bed.

The doctor supported the little girls head as Connie breathed a sigh of relief before the real world sunk back in quickly. The room deathly silent other than the murmurings of the doctors to each other as they moved about the room. "Why isn't she crying?"

Connie sat forwards looking to where they had moved but her view was blocked. Sam moved away from the bed, stepping closer as he got a look at his daughter for the first time. A smile crossing his face before he noticed the pale blue colouring to her skin and the lack of movement.

His heart dropped as he watched on, the world around them freezing in time.