The Clinch

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Seventeen

Not surprisingly, Reagan is back in the gym as usual not six weeks after his surgery. At first he'd been sluggish and slow and he'd been getting frustrated with all the physio, but now, as he trains with Gabriel and they make light jabs at one another, it's clear to see that he's made a marked improvement.

Secretly I think his motivation for improvement has come from a certain red headed nurse who he's been exchanging surreptitious text messages and long gazes with.

"Hit me harder man!" He jeers at Gabriel as they bounce around one another in circles.

Gabriel harrumphs. "I hit you any harder and those screws will go right through your head and you'll be back where you started" he lectures Reagan, giving him a stern shove to the shoulder when Reagan tries to vamp up the ferocity of their spar "take it easy man."

But Reagan never takes criticism greatly, and not two seconds later he's whipping off his gloves and ducking under the ropes. "I'm sick of every one pussy footing around me all the time!" He growls as I go to intersect him by placing a hand to his chest and stilling his rant.

"Reagan, please. It's only because we care about you. You only just got out of life saving surgery a month ago, of course everyone's fucking worried, you shouldn't be pushing yourself." I speak slowly and calmly whilst handing him his bottle of water and watching as he snatches it from me and dashes it half way across the room.

"I'm not a cripple, so stop Fucking treating me like one!" He growls, before shoving past me and sending me stumbling back over the bench.

My arms cartwheel as I'm sent off balance, and I try to right myself even though I know I'm falling by turning sideways so that I can catch myself on my hands. Unfortunately my stomach clips the spectators bench on the way down and I give a grunt of pain as I make contact with the floor before my hands go to my belly and I hold it in agony.

I gasp a shuddery breath of pain, too startled at first to move. My stomach roils and I stare down at at in shock. Please god no... Not my baby, I can take much anything but if he or she is hurt I don't know what I'll do. It may be early stages and all, but I think I've developed some semblance of an attachment to my little tike.

"Darryl!" Gabriel calls, swiftly coming to my aid and kneeling at my side. "You alright?" I nod with a grim smile in response whilst letting Gabriel's hands roam over my midsection. "And the baby, is the baby alright?"

"I- I think so." Raising my top up, I expose my bare midriff and let Gabriel poke gently at it.

I wince when he reaches the edge of my stomach and he inspects that area for a few seconds before pointing to some slight discoloration to my stomach. "It should be alright, but we should go to the hospital just to be safe. You'll definitely have a bruise there by evening."

Reagan joins me at my side, his eyes as wide as a deer's caught in headlights. "Darryl I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to... I swear I didn't think..."

But we don't get to hear the rest of what Reagan's apology has to offer because Gabriel swiftly decks him straight in the jaw, rendering him silent as his head snaps to the side from the brunt and the unexpectedness of the blow. "You could have caused her to miscarry the baby, you prick! Your temper could have lost us the baby, you happy now?"

Guilt is clear in Reagan's stricken face as he glances sadly down at my stomach. "I promise you I didn't intend to harm my baby niece or nephew. I'm sorry I just, I feel helpless again being this dependant on everyone, I didn't mean to hurt you Darryl."

I reach out a hand and gently stroke Reagan's stubbled face. "I know. I'm with you on that helpless feeling brother." Just because I'm pregnant everybody thinks it's okay to treat me like I might break if they even brush past me in the door frame. It gets on my nerves to no avail. "Go chill down for a bit."

He shakes his head vehemently whilst Gabriel takes my hand possessively and sends a warning growl in Reagan's direction. Reagan defiantly glares back at Gabriel before turning back to me with a grimace. "No, I'm coming to the hospital with you. Just to be sure that I didn't..."

Rolling my eyes, I allow Gabriel to help me to my feet before I curl myself under his arm. "I know how to use a phone Reagan. I'll call you if anything happens."

To be honest I don't think I can handle Reagan and Gabriel being in the same room with one another just yet. Gabriel looks about ready to murder Reagan for that little accident back there. I'm afraid he might find a way for Reagan to 'accidentally' fall over a banister to his death. It looks like I'm going to have to do some damage control.

"C'mon Hercules" I pat Gabriel's chest reassuringly and turn to gather our stuff "let's get to A&E and see if you're baby's alright."

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"Well" our doctor gives a small sigh as he removes his stethoscope and snaps his surgical gloves off "you're very lucky the baby's alright. But a fall like that could have either seriously hurt or killed the baby. I thought I advised you not to box Miss Kallahan."

At the news that my baby is alright, I heave a deep exhale and fall back into Gabriel's arms, a smile breaking my face. Like the doctor said, we're lucky that baby face is healthy and that the sonogram didn't reveal anything it shouldn't have.

"I wasn't boxing. I was just at the gym watching them spar and I got knocked down. It was an accident."

The doctor gives me a grim smile. "As long as it's a one time occurrence. Just be careful in future and more spatially aware; we don't want anymore accidents happening, hmm?"

I vehemently shake my head and hold my stomach protectively. Baby face is no bigger than a peach right about now and is just as delicate and as easily bruised as one too. Damn right I'm going to be walking like I'm made of ceramic from now on; I want absolutely nothing to jeopardize this pregnancy. "Don't worry. I'll keep my baby safe."

Gabriel chuckles and reaches around to thread his fingers with mine and rest them atop our baby bump. "And I'll keep the both of you safe."

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When we get home, my mother is in the middle of scolding a dejected looking Reagan. But the minute I step through the door she pulls me into a hesitant hug. "My Darryl, is it... Is it okay?"

Gabriel cuts through the tension in the atmosphere by giving a tremulous smile. "The baby's fine and hasn't been damaged in any way shape or form. It was just an accident." He explains and walks up to Reagan to give him a friendly pat on the back of absolution. I don't think he'd have been that friendly had something happened to baby face. I'm pretty sure Gabriel would have beat Reagan black and blue.

Just like he is with me, Gabriel is fiercely protective of baby face. The man loves our baby and isn't afraid to show it.

As one, the entire room breathe a collective sigh and I roll my eyes at how dramatic they all are. Especially my dad, he looks thoroughly relieved that the baby's fine. Last I checked he wasn't to happy with me and the thought of his first grandchild, but now...

He swipes me into his arms and offers me a strong hug. "I thought you were upset with me?" I mumble, dumbly accepting his hug as he bands his arms softly around me and soothes me with gentle rocking motions. Oh hell, I'm crying. Stupid hormones; they have been going haywire ever since baby face got lodged somewhere in my uterus.

My father takes my shoulders and forces me to look at him. "I was never upset with you, Darryl, maybe just a little underwhelmed that you'd throw your boxing career away like this. You were so close to breaking the scene baby girl, and now... But I understand, I really do. There will be nothing you love more in the world but your children, Darryl, I think you'll make a great mother, baby, I really do."

I bawl into my father's shoulder. "Thank you daddy. I love Gabriel, and I already love this baby. I don't know what I'd do if I ever lost it. You mean a lot to me and I can't imagine you never being in baby face's life. You're gonna make an awesome granddad."

"Here, here." Gabriel seconds as I pull out of my father's grip and take Gabriel's hand. Whatever happens now, I know I've got the support of my family behind me. And that's more than I could ever ask for.