One of a Kind - A KathNiel Story

Chapter 49

Karla hung up the phone with the operator, putting Kath's phone to one side as the paramedics knelt on the floor but Karla stepped back to let DJ have her place. Kath instantly grabbed DJ's hand, terrified but she was relieved that Noah had stopped yelling for her - it meant she could focus on her daughter completely.

"Hi, Kath, how's it going?" One of the paramedics asked whilst the other opened up the medical bag.

"I've been better," Kath mumbled and he gave her a sympathetic look.

"I bet. But my partner here is going to check your vitals, okay? Have you been keeping track of contractions at all?" He asked as his partner strapped a band around Kath's arm to check her blood pressure, clamping a heart monitor onto her finger at the same time.

"They're around eight to nine minutes apart so far." Karla recited.

"We'll get you to hospital as soon as we have these results back, I promise, then they can give you the real drugs." He teased and Kath cracked a small smile, wanting to laugh but she was too scared. She and DJ had planned her labor and Dylan's birth so much lately, how they'd get Noah to Karla and Rommel's house as soon as Kath felt her first contraction and how it would just be the two of them at home until she was dilated enough to make their way to the hospital. Their birth plan was destroyed and there was no way of knowing that Dylan was okay until they made it to the hospital - her worst fear was something happening to her baby girl, who'd already defied all odds after the shooting. She deserved better.

"I-Is my baby okay?" Kath choked out, tears running faster down her face.

"We have a Doppler we're going to use in the ambulance once we have you comfortable, but they'll most likely run an ultrasound once you're with the midwives. Try not to worry, we're here now and you're in the best hands... are you in pain anywhere else? We were told you lost consciousness."

"I'm fine, I just want to know if my baby is safe." Kath pleaded, closing her eyes as she leaned against DJ and he locked his arms around her, kissing her head in an attempt to comfort her.

"Your vitals are a little high, but that's understandable under these kinds of circumstances! I know my blood pressure and heart rate would be through the roof too." The paramedic assured her, sighing in sympathy as Kath let out a sob, burying her head into DJ's chest and he just held her tighter and kissed her head again. It broke Karla's heart to see Kath so vulnerable and fragile - they hadn't known her long, but she was always so content and she was definitely one of the strongest people they'd ever met. They were all fearful for Dylan, everybody was silently praying that she was safe. "Let's see how the little one is doing - you said you know it's a girl already?" The paramedic asked, trying to change the subject as his partner handed him the Doppler and they lifted Kath's shirt. She opened her eyes, DJ and Kath holding back tears at the sight of the forming bruise on the side of her stomach from the fall and Karla tried to keep her own emotions under control.

"Y-Yeah, our baby girl." DJ breathed.

"Does she have a name yet? Or are you waiting to meet her first?" The other paramedic asked with a smile on her face.

"Dylan," Kath said softly and the paramedics both smiled.

"That's a beautiful name." The middle-aged female paramedic said, the man nodding his head in agreement.

"Let's see how she's doing, huh?" He added, Kath, tensing in fear as she felt the probe touch her skin and DJ held onto her impossibly tighter but never enough to hurt her. Karla clasped her hands together, every fiber of her being praying for the safety and health of her granddaughter and there was a collective sob from DJ, Karla, and Kath as the hallway filled with the familiar galloping sound of Dylan's heartbeat. "Her heartbeat is a little high, okay, but that should come down over time as you calm down too and when we get you comfortable - before we get you in the ambulance, we were told there's a little boy here? He's the one that made the call?"

"My husband is with him, he'll look after our grandson for as long as this takes," Karla said, assuring the paramedics but also DJ and Kath too.

"Okay, let's get you in the ambulance!" The male paramedic announced, starting to pack their equipment away and DJ lifted his new fiancée up bridal style, carrying her out to the ambulance to save them from having to struggle to get a gurney into the house. DJ walked up to the ramp and laid Kath back on the bed.

"The bed is hard as fuck... it feels good." Kath practically whispered to DJ, making him laugh and she cracked a smile. He leaned down, kissing her lips softly before he strapped himself into the nearby seat but he could still reach Kath to hold her hand.

"I'll follow you there!" Karla called right as the doors closed, but she breathed a sigh of relief as the ambulance drove away - finally taking Kath to the hospital.