One of a Kind - A KathNiel Story

Chapter 47

DJ stayed close to Kath, his forehead pressed against hers even as he pulled out his phone. The operator was still on the line on Kath's phone, wanting to know when she felt contractions and assuring them every now and then that they were both coping well and that the ambulance would be with them soon. It felt like a lifetime away, time ticking on reluctantly as all DJ and Kath could do was wait. DJ knew she was getting increasingly uncomfortable on the floor, but no matter how many times he told the operator, she insisted that Kath not be moved in case she'd broken, fractured or dislocated anything when she fell. It tore him apart, being forced to sit and watch her as she sobbed - she wasn't in pain with her labor yet, she was just purely terrified beyond belief. He kissed kept her close to him as he made a call.

"Hello?"

"Mom, you need to come to the house... b-bring Dad with you, he can watch Noah, but something's happened and we need you here," DJ admitted, fighting back a sob as Kath let out the most heart-wrenching cry of desperation and hopelessness. She wanted her son to stop blaming himself, she wanted her daughter safe. Karla was instantly sitting up straight, her eyes wide and her grip on her phone tightened.

"What do you mean? What's happening?" Karla ordered and Rommel looked over from his armchair, his eyebrows creased together but he was getting increasingly concern by the expression on his wife's face.

"Kath slipped down the stairs and it's triggered her waters to break and Noah's blaming himself. I've made him stay in the living room. I was at work when it happened, I wasn't here and the ambulance is at least another ten minutes away." DJ rushed to get out all of his words, but Karla understood him entirely.

"We're on our way." She said simply, before hanging up the phone and DJ crashed his lips against Kath's as he set his phone down. She kissed him back instantly, their tears mixing together.

"Have you felt another contraction yet, Kath?" The operator asked.

"O-One is starting now." She breathed, DJ holding onto her hand tighter. He knew that Kath wasn't in pain with the contractions, they just made her impossibly more uncomfortable since as she'd been stuck in one position on the floor for nearly an hour.

"I love you, Kathryn... I love you so fucking much." He whispered, kissing her hand and Kath cracked a small smile.

"I love you too... and I found the ring." She choked out and DJ's eyes widened, but he coughed to try and hide his surprise.

"What ring?" Kath couldn't help but laugh at his attempt at playing dumb.

"Th-The ring you hid in Dylan's room. I saw it when I went up there earlier with Noah... we bought some more diapers and I saw the box on the shelf underneath the changing table." She said, tears running down her face faster at the realization that everything she'd bought for her daughter would be too big for her. All the clothes would be too big, diapers...

"Well, you ruined the surprise for yourself," DJ mumbled, making Kath laugh through her fear of the situation they were in.

"M-My answer is yes, though... of course I'll marry you." She said softly and their tears as they kissed were a mixture of fear and of happiness at their unplanned engagement. Kath didn't want to ruin whatever plans he had for proposing, but she had to try and distract them both.

"I got it made just for you - the ring... the day we bring Dylan home is the day that ring goes on your finger. Deal?" DJ breathed, holding up his pinkie and Kath didn't hesitate to nod her head, hooking her pinkie with his.

Their heads snapped to the door as it opened a moment later, hopeful that it would be the ambulance team but they were just as relieved to see DJ's parents.

"Oh my goodness! Sweetheart!" Karla dropped to the floor with Kath whilst Rommel gave them both a quick kiss and ran into the living room to stay with Noah, having to catch him and shut the door with his foot to stop him from running out into the hallway. It broke Kath, DJ and Karla's hearts to hear Noah scream for his Mom - it reminded them of the night she was shot. "How many stairs did you fall down, sweetheart? All of them?" Karla asked and Kath slowly shook her head.

"Th-The bottom half... I knocked myself out, Noah was trying to wake me..."

"You can wiggle your fingers and toes, right?" Karla asked, a small smile on her face when she saw Kath prove that she could. "Good girl... let's get you sat up then, okay? We'll take it nice and slow." Karla encouraged.

"Ma'am, please don't move her until the ambulance team arrives." The operator urged through the phone.

"I'm a Senior Nurse at St John's Hospital, this isn't the first time I've dealt with a case like this," Karla said sternly, before turning all of her attention back to Kath. No matter what anybody said, Kath was a daughter to her and Rommel - she was family, and they would do anything for family.