One of a Kind - A KathNiel Story

Chapter 27

DJ stood up the second that the door opened and the porter came through with Kath in her wheelchair, a doctor following close behind. It broke his heart to see her eyes red and swollen, giving away that she'd been crying. "How did it go?" He asked, watching helplessly as the porter and the doctor supported Kath up from the wheelchair and back into her hospital bed.

"The wound is still infection-free, which is very good and everything is looking fine. It's just going to take a while for things to go back to normal, but they will go back to normal." The doctor said, watching with a small smile as DJ covered Kath's legs over with the blanket so she wouldn't get cold and she cracked a smile, reaching for his hand and he instantly laced their fingers together.

"And I'm still pregnant." She breathed, DJ not even realizing he was holding in a breath until that moment but he shared a kiss with Kath. She could kiss him back for a moment before they slowly pulled away from each other.

"I'll come back soon with something for you to eat, Kath, now our scans are over." The doctor promised, before leaving the room with the porter, shutting the door.

"I didn't look... I couldn't look without you." She said and DJ leaned in, connecting their lips for a moment. DJ was desperate to have gone with her for her scans, but because he wouldn't be allowed in the room for the MRI she had, he was told to wait for her to come back. It felt like a lifetime that he had to wait, even though it was just over an hour.

"We have plenty of time to look at the sonograms... plenty of moments to share with this pregnancy." DJ reminded her. "Remember, no talking. We're working with scales today." He said, making her crack a smile and he played with her fingers as she allowed herself to relax against the bed. She closed her eyes for a moment, but they snapped open again when she felt DJ's hand on her stomach and her eyes burned with tears, how gentle he was with her.

"I love you." She mouthed to him and he smiled.

"I love you too... you and our kids." He added, squeezing her hand as she let a few tears fall and it wasn't long after Kath ate lunch that she fell asleep again, DJ joining her - holding her hand as they slept together.

Kath grinned as Noah came into the room later on that night after dinner, DJ right behind him. "Noah!" Her voice was better, but still slightly hoarse and she felt stronger in herself. She still had painkillers going into the back of her hand through her cannula, but she felt better after resting for a majority of the day. DJ had told her everything when they woke up - about how the shooter was related to the man who broke into her bus, and they'd both given statements to the police. Both brothers were pleading guilty, so there was no reason for them to have to testify in court.

"Mommy!" Noah exclaimed, climbing up onto the bed and he held out Leo towards her. "He protects you." He said simply and Kath gave him a soft smile, shaking her head a little bit - she couldn't move her head too much without it causing her pain, but she could sit up without the support of the bed.

"Thank you, honey... are you sure you want me to have him? He's yours now, remember?" She said, her voice tired and a little strained, but they could still understand her.

"I want you to have him." Noah said, holding Leo out more and Kath took her old toy with her one available hand since as the other was in the sling to keep it still.

"Thank you, honey." Kath breathed, kissing Noah and he climbed over onto her left side so he could cuddle her and she kissed the top of his head, wincing slightly because she had to bend down to do it, but she wanted to be with her son - whether he was biologically hers or not, he was her boy.

"And you have a special present." DJ said, holding out the plate he had taken from Rommel and he set it on Kath's legs, uncovering the foil from the plate and Kath grinned when she saw the cookies piled high on it.

"Did you make these for me, Noah?" She asked and he nodded his head proudly. He was wearing one of Kath's hoodies, but nobody was making a big deal out of it, especially not after what had happened.

"I helped Nanna! Do you like chocolate chip, Mommy?" Noah asked and Kath nodded her head a little bit.

"They're my favorite." She whispered into his ear, smiling at the pride that was bursting out of Noah and he picked up a cookie and handed it to her.

"Have one!" He encouraged, his smile growing impossibly wider as she ate the cookie, praising him about how amazing it was and DJ sat in the armchair by the bed in tears as he watched them together.

He could have lost the woman he loved, he could have lost everything - he knew how blessed they were to still be together. They all knew how blessed they were.

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