Open Arms

Chapter Nineteen

A harsh chill slapped his face and he awoke with a sore throat. Angus rubbed his eyes, a flash of colors dancing across his field of vision as he pulled his hand away. Hannah's hair stuck to his cheek and the pillow she rested on, a small damp spot on the fabric. 

Surely it had been two hours.

Angus took a look at her. She looked so...relaxed. More than he had ever seen her in a long time. Her breathing was slow and even. He placed his hand against her chest feeling for her heart. A soft beat pounded across his hand, her skin so cold against his own. Sliding his fingers down he rested them over her stomach, covered up by her fluffy mint bathrobe. Up and down it went, slow and soft like a dandelion seed. Her lashes overlapped a few tear stains on her face. Gently taking her arms from around his waist, Angus stepped out of bed, closed the window just a touch, and made for the kitchen.

Nothing like a good cup of tea to calm the nerves, he told himself. Any minute now Hannah would wake up and join him. And after a good drink they could check the test results together. Any minute he'd find out whether or not he was going to be a father. It felt like any minute now his heart would stop.

Perhaps a good breakfast would--no, it'd only make him sick. A hot shower would...no, it'd drive him crazy with the test right there. What was taking the kettle so damn long? Oh, he hadn't even turned the stove on yet. Figures. 

A cigarette would do him a fair bit of good, but if the result should come back positive, he could no longer smoke in the apartment. Well, anything to keep Hannah healthy. Anything to keep the baby healthy. The baby who might not even exist. 

Okay, now the kettle is taking too long. 

A faint mist came shooting out through the spout, Angus taking the kettle off the heat before it could scream. His cup overflowed, the hot water pouring all over his hand. He hardly noticed.

Until it began to burn.

With a few choice words he grabbed a milk jar from the refrigerator and poured some in, a little too much perhaps. With all the somersaults his brain was doing it was no wonder the tea didn't taste quite right. He sent his cup clattering on the counter, putting his blistered hand to his mouth. The cuts from yesterday's session stung. Feeling something foreign on his tongue he spit it out, grimacing to see a torn packing peanut. 

Somersaults and packing peanuts. It was enough to make anybody vomit. 

An hour went by without Hannah waking up. A few times she stirred, but it was just Hermione rummaging around in her bed for the best position to sleep in. She even sneezed once or twice. Pouring himself a second cup of tea he set the kettle back on the stove and made sure not to pour in too much milk this time. It tasted much better. 

But did nothing to put him at ease. 

He made for the stand to play his guitar, seeing it on the floor in its case. The strings still broken. His fingers still hurt. Putting the idea out of his mind, he sat down on the couch and sipped. 

It would be so simple; to walk into the bathroom and check that test tube. Easy to walk by the door and happen to catch a glance. What if Hannah didn't wake up for another two hours, letting the color fade? Angus wouldn't be able to tell anything by then. And he couldn't wake her up, not with her sleeping so peacefully for once.

It wouldn't hurt to take a quick glance. Setting down his teacup on the new coffee table, he made for the bathroom. 

The sudden light made him blink rapidly. The image of himself in the mirror was easily enough to put him off his dinner, if it even was still the same day. He checked his watch. Seven o' clock exactly. The two hours were up. The test tube was right where they left it, the box standing askew behind it. Angus picked up the tube and looked at it; the pale yellow had remained the same. Or perhaps it looked lighter...he couldn't tell. Grabbing the box he scanned it over for any kind of instructions. There on the back was a small drawing. If the color had changed to a sort of blue, it meant positive. If however it stayed the same...