One of a Kind - A KathNiel Story

Chapter 25

Max left an hour after Kath fell asleep so that he could speak to the police, but DJ stayed by Kath's side all night, his eyes never once leaving her monitors but he'd texted his family quickly to ensure them that he was safe, that he'd call them when he had the chance. He just kept watching Kath's monitors, watching for her pulse and her blood pressure, making sure it stayed the same. Even when the surgeon, doctors, and nurses came to check on how everything was going, she didn't stir and he didn't look away from her. Noah was passed out asleep against her too, finally able to rest properly since he'd been reunited with her and the comfort of her calling him her son. There was still no sign of a miscarriage, and that was the miracle everybody was clinging onto. If the baby survived, their child would most definitely be their miracle baby. He held onto her hand, involuntarily falling asleep soothed by the steady beeping of her heart monitor.

DJ was startled awake by a knock on the door and he groaned, seeing light pouring into the room through the small window across from him but his eyes widened when he saw Kath and Noah already awake. "How long have you been awake?" He asked, rubbing his face and he winced at how sore his back was due to the position he'd slept in.

"Not... long." DJ could tell it was taking a lot of effort for her to speak, so he just gave her a reassuring smile and leaned down, kissing her forehead.

"How about we talk using a scale for today? One to five, so you can use one hand." DJ suggested and Kath cracked a small smile, silently saying she agreed. She still felt delirious from the painkillers and the exhaustion that came from the surgery, so the scale sounded like a good idea for her until she felt well enough to speak. "Your pain level if one is nothing and five is agony," DJ demanded to know, lifting Noah down from the bed, giving her a chance to be honest without Noah seeing and he nodded when she held up three fingers the best she could and he turned his head to the door again as there was a knock. Noah instantly held onto Kath's hand again, his expression protective. She wished more than anything that she had the energy to talk to him, to cuddle him and comfort him but she simply couldn't. Everything ached and she was exhausted, feeling on the brink of unconsciousness but she was keeping herself awake. She wanted DJ, she needed him.

"Hi, I come with breakfast!" A porter said loudly, but that was just the natural volume of his voice and he came into the room, setting two trays down on the table by the bed with breakfast on it each. "Sorry, Kathryn, but you can't eat yet because they want to run a couple of scans on you this morning to make sure the surgery went okay and something to do with the baby." The porter said apologetically, before leaving and shutting the door behind him, but when DJ looked back at Kath, he could see that she was panicked.

"Baby?" She mouthed, her grip on Noah's hand tightening without her realizing.

"He or she survived the surgery... there haven't been any signs of a miscarriage - we have a little miracle on our hands." DJ said, leaning down and pecking her lips. He wanted to kiss her properly, but he knew she was struggling to breathe properly and stay awake, he didn't want to push her. He could see the relief in her expression, though, as her eyes lined with tears. DJ leaned down, pecking her lips again and she desperately wanted to kiss him back, she just couldn't.

"Daddy, the breakfast looks weird," Noah said, poking at the oatmeal with a spoon and his eyes widened when he could stand his spoon up in it and DJ couldn't help but laugh, Kath laughing too but she winced with pain. "No! Mommy, I'm sorry! I'm sorry I hurt you!" Noah urged, his eyes burning with tears as he gripped onto her hand but she squeezed his the best she could, silently reassuring him that it was okay - that it wasn't his fault.

"Don't hold onto her too tight, bud, you gotta have a couple of bites. Papi is coming to pick you up soon, so you can go out to breakfast with him." DJ said, looking back to Kath but she'd already involuntarily fallen back to sleep.

"Daddy... is Mommy okay?" Noah asked, worry clear in his expression and in his voice.

"She'll be okay, buddy," DJ assured him, sitting in the armchair and he pulled Noah into his lap. "You know when you get a cut on your knee and it gets better when you wake up in the morning after bedtime?" DJ asked and Noah slowly nodded his head. "Well, Mommy is going through that right now... she needs lots and lots of sleep so she can feel better, and we have to take extra special care of her when she comes home." DJ said and Noah nodded his head quickly.

"I take very good care of Mommy, I be Mommy's special helper." Noah volunteered and DJ smiled, pecking his cheek.

"I know you will."