Superstitions

Chapter 12 - Back to normal

So, first of all, I want to apologize as always for the long wait but I really don't have any more time to write (but I'm not giving up). Then, I want to thank you for all your comments, votes, ...

Enjoy !!!

CHAPTER 12 - Back to normal

Seven month had passed since the last events, everything was back to normal. It was easier for Connor to understand Ava's reactions and behavior now that he was aware of her past.

It was 10am, Connor was waiting for Ava at the cafeteria. He already took her coffee, black with no milk and a lot of sugar. When she finally arrived, she was always wearing her scrubs and seemed exhausted.

"How was your morning?" Connor asked

"The ER was full, I didn't get a moment to rest" She said while slumping in the chair.

They talked five minutes before Ava's beeper went off. She finished her coffee and got up. She suddenly felt dizzy, her head was spinning. She tried to catch up to the chair but Connor caught her up and helped her sit down.

"You okay? It's not the first time this has happened to you. Do you eat this morning?"

"I'm fine, I'm just tired"

"You sure? We should get you to the ER to check"

"I'm an adult Connor, I can take care of myself and I don't need a babysitter!" She said before leaving.

At this moment, Will arrived, he didn't see the quarrel.

"Hey, Connor, I have something to ask you, you and Ava, are you planning on making it official?"

"Maybe not anymore" He answered before leaving.

Will didn't understand, Connor seemed so angry. He saw Natalie speaking with Maggie two tables behind and asked them if they knew anything. They didn't follow the whole conversation, but they explained that Connor and Ava must have argued as usual.

Later that day, Connor and Ava still hadn't spoken to each other. They even got to the point where they were avoiding each other. In the ER, Ava walked from one patient to the next without stopping for a minute under Maggie's worried eye, who saw her fading away. As Natalie went to pick up a file from the nurses' station, she was also shocked by Ava's whiteness.

"She's been like this since this morning?" Nat asked.

"No, but it's getting worse by hour" Maggie answered.

Natalie knew Ava, she knew that if she pointed out the fact she did not seem to be doing well. In the best case Ava would tell her that she was fine, in the worst case, she'd get angry and say that she didn't need to be monitored. But Natalie took the risk, as soon as Ava came out of the box she was in, Nat walked over to talk with her. She didn't have time to say a word that Ava collapsed. Natalie quickly took her vitals before asking Maggie to page Connor.

"I'm not sure it's a good idea with the argument they had ..."

"I don't need Connor as Ava partner, I need a cardio and Latham is in surgery"

They put Ava on a stretcher and carried her to an empty box.

When Connor answered his pager, he thought Ava wanted to talk to him. Then he was surprised to see that the call came from Dr. Manning. His anger was growing, Ava was on call at the ER, and if Natalie needed a cardio she would have paged Ava. He saw only one possibility, Ava needed his help, but she was too arrogant to ask him directly, so she asked Natalie to page him. Their relationship had been on the rocks for a week. Ava was having terrible mood swings even though she wouldn't admit it, and Connor was the one who handled it all.

He went down to the E.R. and found Natalie in the nurses' station.

"You paged me?"

"Yes come with me"

As soon as they entered the box, Connor saw Ava and turned back.

"I told her to eat and get some rest but she didn't listen... like she always does. Check her glycaemia and give her some glucose"

"That's not why I called you here. I need a cardio consult"

"Her BP is a bit low and her heart rate is high"

"Please, Connor, stop being childish and check her heart"

He went back in the box and did what Natalie asked him. His expression changed and he began to listen more assiduously.

"Can you ask Maggie to bring me the echo? You run blood test?"

"Yes but I didn't receive the results yet. I'm gonna go see what's taking so long. And I'll have Maggie bring you the echo on the way"

"Thank you Nat"

Connor performed the cardiac echo, the diagnosis was clear. He was furious, how could she keep this from him?

"Connor ... What happened?"

"You passed out ... Why didn't you tell me?"

He was sharp in his replies and she could see the anger and disappointment on his face.

"Tell you what?"

"For your heart"

"Because I didn't want to worry you over nothing"

"You have moderate aortic stenosis and mild mitral stenosis. It's not nothing Ava, it's serious!"

"Wait, what? No I have a mild aortic stenosis, I can live with it without any problem"

Connor showed her the record of the echo.

"What do you see?"

"Same as you, aortic and mitral stenosis but it can't be my heart"

"I can assure you it's your heart. When was your last check up, if you made any?"

"Of course I did it, I'm not stupid. It was fives month ago and everything was fine!"

"It's not possible you can't go from simple aortic stenosis to a clinical condition like yours in five months. I want the name of your cardiologist"

"I know that I'm a doctor remember? Oh and if you really want to know my cardiologist is Dr. Latham"

Connor was lost, he couldn't have been wrong, the echo speaks for itself and he knew Dr. Latham couldn't have missed it. How could Ava's condition have deteriorated so badly in the space of five months?

At this moment, Natalie arrived with the results of the blood test.

"Connor, can you leave us please?"

"No, please, stay" Ava's voice trembled, he could see the fear on her face, and her eyes gradually filled with tears.

Natalie's tone was serious and deeply concerning. Connor sat on the bed, took Ava's hand and squeezed it.

"Your white blood cells are quite high but your hematocrit is low so they run some other test. You are pregnant Ava. According to your Beta-HCG levels you should be 4-6 weeks pregnant"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes they did the test three times, but we can do an echo if you want?"

"Um yes, let do the echo"

Natalie lifted up Ava's shirt, applied the gel, and began. No sooner had the ultrasound probe touched Ava's belly than a loud heartbeat was heard. Connor and Ava knew something was wrong, and Natalie's face changed completely. She looked shocked and worried.

"Is something wrong?" Connor asked, Ava was totally petrified.

"I think there's been a mistake about the state of the pregnancy. Your baby seems to have 6 months"