Into the Ether - Complete

Spring, When New Things Grow: Part 1

"Try not to panic, Rose. How far along are you?"

"Somewhere between eleven weeks three days and twelve weeks today," I whimpered. I'd finally stopped crying now the Dr. was here. "I've been going with the middle date of eleven weeks five days."

"Are you sure? You haven't had any imaging done have you?"

"No, but I know when it happened... There was only that five-day window... I've never been with anyone else," I confessed.

I was looking at Dr. Olendzki, but I could see Alberta doing the math. She looked at me in confusion. Celeste was still beside me holding my hand and trying to soothe me while Dr. Olendzki rolled me onto my back and gently pressed different points on my stomach.

"I think it's too late. My pants are wet," I whispered, hugely relieved Alberta had sent Eddie and Mason off to the infirmary to collect a stretcher. I didn't want them hearing this.

"I'll check in a moment, but that might be urine," Dr. Olendzki reassured me. "It can happen after a blow. I won't lie this is very concerning, but baby is only three inches long at this stage and still relatively low in the abdomen. But there are several risks we need to consider here. Is the father on campus? It would be helpful if we knew his medical history, particularly his blood group."

I shook my head, pulling out Dimitri's pendant I always wore on a long silver chain and clasping it in my hand.

"But I can find out." The last thing I wanted to do was ring the Belikov's – especially with the news I was pregnant but probably in the middle of losing Dimitri's baby. But I'd do it if it gave Junior a chance.

"I have all student medical histories on file," Dr. Olendzki suggested gently. "I can look it up if that helps, and anything you say is confidential. The father doesn't have to know you've told me."

I shook my head.

"What about staff?" I whispered faintly.

Dr. Olendzki's shock was obvious, but she quickly hid it. Alberta closed her eyes and shook her head. I could tell she didn't want to believe what she was hearing.

"Yes. I have staff records, too," Dr. Olendzki confirmed.

"And he won't get in trouble? What I tell you is confidential? He didn't force me..."

I could see she was struggling with it, but the Dr. nodded.

"No one will believe me, but I won't risk my baby, so I really am telling the truth. The only man I've ever been with was Guardian Belikov."

Alberta winced. Celeste soothed me, and Dr. Olendzki looked confused.

"Rose, you must be mistaken? Two Dhampir..."

"Can't have children together... Yes. I know. But I've never been with anyone else, and the timing is right. I don't know how, but this is Dimitri's baby," I said quietly.

Further discussion was interrupted when Mason and Eddie returned with a stretcher. Eddie looked at me with such compassion, but Mason wouldn't meet my eyes at all. Even one of my oldest friends hated me. And that started me crying again.

"Rose? We just don't have the facilities here to take care of you. We're going to need to take you to Missoula to the hospital there. If the baby hasn't survived, you'll still need medical attention, and if it has, you need to have imaging and blood tests. I'm going to go to the clinic and make some calls and get the medical histories together, but until I return, I need you to stay still and not get up. I'm going to give you a shot of something when I return."