One of a Kind - A KathNiel Story

Chapter 80

Liza stood up quickly from the chair as Kath started to stir. "Kath? K, can you hear me?" Liza spoke softly, taking her best friend's hand and she numbed with relief as Kath very slowly opened her eyes, wincing at the harsh light but Enrique was quick to dim the lights slightly so it wouldn't be so bright in her face. "Kath?" Liza repeated, squeezing her hand gently. Kath let out a breath as if she'd been holding it in for a while, looking over at Liza and tears were lining her eyes.

"Where... where am I?"

"You're in a hospital, K... you collapsed at the movie theater and we couldn't get you to wake up, so Enrique carried you to his car and we drove to the ER and they admitted you right away," Liza said, running her fingers through Kath's hair to try and keep her relaxed, even though she knew how much Kath hated hospitals after everything that had happened. Her heart monitor was spiking, giving away how scared she really was. "Your blood pressure and your blood sugar were low, so they're running a blood test on you and we're waiting to hear back about all the results," Liza said and Kath let tears roll down her face, Liza fighting back her own tears. "When was the last time you ate and looked after yourself properly, Kath?" Liza asked quietly and Kath's tears fell faster down her face.

"I... I can't remember." She answered honestly, making herself sob and Liza couldn't help but start to cry silently. It pained her that her best friend had been suffering since her break up with DJ, suffering in complete silence.

"Well, that's about to change. I'm gonna go grab you something to eat and drink from the cafeteria - what are you in the mood for?" Enrique asked and Kath squeezed Liza's hand, and that one squeeze told Liza everything - it brought back memories from when Kath had just left rehab and was terrified to eat in front of people and that made Liza's tears fall faster.

"Something light... a sandwich will do," Liza answered for her and Enrique nodded his head, giving Kath's other hand a gentle squeeze before he walked out of the hospital room and he headed towards the elevators to go to the cafeteria.

"I'm sorry for worrying you..."

"Oh, shut up," Liza said dismissively and she sighed, sitting on the edge of the bed, keeping her hand in Kath's.

"I should be the one saying sorry to you... all of us should be saying we're sorry to you, for not being there more..." Liza trailed off, not knowing what else to say without breaking down.

"I should have reached out."

"Yeah, you fucking should have... but we should have noticed - I should have noticed. Can you promise me that you'll look after yourself now? I can tell you've lost weight and it's only been two weeks since you and DJ broke up." Liza pleaded and Kath nodded her head.

"And I'll reach out more," Kath added, Liza nodding her head and she played with Kath's fingers. "Does DJ know I'm here?" She breathed and Liza shook her head.

"No... not yet, but I'll call him and Karla if you want me to." She assured her, but they both turned to the door as it opened, Liza instantly recognizing the doctor who examined Kath and took blood from her to run tests.

"I ran into your friend and he said you'd come around. How are you feeling, Kathryn?" The doctor asked and Kath nodded but regretted it as a wave of dizziness came over her.

"Dizzy and tired," Kath admitted and the doctor gave her a sympathetic look.

"We want to keep you in overnight and possibly tomorrow too, depending on how things go... your blood sugar and blood pressure were low when you arrived, which tells us that you haven't been looking after yourself - is that accurate?" He asked and Kath hesitated before subtly nodding, not wanting to move too much.

"Yes." She breathed.

"Okay, and we took a vile of blood from you to run a few tests... there's nothing alarming, but something did come up." The doctor admitted and Kath's heart started to hammer against her chest.

"What?" She breathed, gripping onto Liza's hand tighter and she did squeeze her hand right back.

"You're pregnant, Kathryn... and judging by your expression, you're early on in the pregnancy." The doctor said and Kath was stunned, Liza just as shocked as Kath.

"But I... I'm breastfeeding... m-my daughter is six weeks old..." Kath choked out, trying to breathe.

"It's rare that it happens, but there's no denying the blood test - I'm going to pass you over to a doctor in the maternity department, okay? They'll come down here and talk to you... congratulations, Miss Bernardo, you have a little miracle baby." The doctor said with a soft smile before he walked out of the room and Kath broke down in tears.

"Do you want me to call DJ?" Liza asked and Kath choked out a sob, nodding her head and she watched Liza walk out of the room to make the phone call, her heart tearing out of her chest - she could hear Kath sobbing from the hallway.

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