Out of the Darkness - A KathNiel Story

Chapter 29

The nurse soon arrived and helped Kath to take her arm out of the hospital gown so that she had a better view of her shoulder, starting to dab it clean. It didn't need anything more than that, it wasn't deep enough to be a real problem but it still broke the nurse's heart to know the injury happened due to the patient's own mother.

"I'm sorry, sweetie." The nurse breathed as Kath whimpered at the pain. "Doctor Brookes told me what happened, I'm so sorry... would you like me to contact the police?" She asked, getting a fresh piece of gauze, dipping it in the solution before starting to dab at her wound again.

"No... I don't wanna be around them again." Kath mumbled and DJ kissed the top of her head.

"And you won't be." He vowed. "And you can bet your ass our little one is always gonna be safe, I won't let anybody touch our son or daughter." Kath cracked a small smile, knowing that he meant every word. She was nervous to be going somewhere brand new, she didn't know DJ's family or if they'd even be okay with her living with them but she had nowhere else to go.

"I'll get you in touch with the Maternity Department so you can call up tomorrow to make your first appointment." The nurse said softly, rubbing Kath's arm gently. "I'm all done."

"Can I bring her home now?" DJ asked, rubbing Kath's back still and the nurse nodded her head.

"Yeah, I've cleaned up the shoulder and I'm sorry sweetie, but I think that punch is gonna leave a bad bruise, but I can't do much about that." She said apologetically.

"It's okay, I just wanna leave," Kath mumbled and the nurse gave her a sad smile, rubbing her arm.

"I'll sort out your discharge papers since as we can't do the surgery now - feel free to get dressed again, I'll be back in a few minutes." The nurse said, leaving the cubicle and she closed the curtain to give them both some privacy so Kath could get dressed.

"Can you help me?" Kath breathed and DJ pecked her lips.

"You don't even have to ask," DJ said, picking up her clothes from the chair behind him and he helped her to untie the back of the hospital gown, pulling it gently off of her. He could see that she was still shaky after everything that happened, so he didn't tease her or say anything about helping her to get herself dressed again before the nurse returned again with Kath's discharge papers.

"Are you sure your parents will take me? Y-You said they have stressful jobs." Kath said quietly, holding onto DJ's hand and she had her white cane in the other, the two of them taking the walk slowly out of the hospital.

"They do, but that doesn't mean they won't welcome you with open arms... they practically raised Pamu and Marlann, I'm sure they'll do the same for you... you're carrying their grandchild." DJ said, giving her hand a gentle squeeze.

"You're not mad?"

"Mad at what? The fact that you're pregnant? Of course not, it'd be dumb of me if I was, since as I had a part in this too." DJ reminded her, kissing the back of her hand. "I'm actually excited... and I'm relieved you can have the surgery whilst you're still pregnant - one of the first things you see could be our child," DJ said with a smile and his smile widened when she did.

"I hope so." She breathed, feeling DJ place her hand on the car so she knew where it was and it wasn't long until they were both in the car, DJ driving them towards his parents' place. "I don't have clothes at your parents' house..."

"I'll ask Pamu and Marlann to stop by your house and grab your things. I don't think it's the best idea right now for me to go over there and I'm definitely not letting you go." DJ said and Kath sighed, feeling the urge to cry but she had no tears left.

"What if your family doesn't like me?"

"Why wouldn't they like you?" DJ chuckled, kissing the back of her hand. "I love you."

"I love you too."

DJ pulled up in the driveway of his parents' house, relieved to see both of their cars already there and he helped Kath out of the passenger seat so she wouldn't bang her head and he led her up to the front door and he knocked on it. He squeezed Kath's hand, feeling her tense up with nerves and she just got impossibly tenser as she heard the door open.

"DJ!"

"Hey, Jordan!" DJ greeted.

"MOM, DAD! DJ IS HERE! AND HE BROUGHT HOME HIS GIRLFRIEND!" Jordan yelled, running back into the house and DJ chuckled, helping Kath to step inside the house and he shut the front door just as Karla came out of the living room with Rommel.

"Hi, what-? Oh my goodness..." Karla breathed, noticing the state Kath was in when she was supposed to be having her surgery.

"Can Kath live here with you?" DJ asked quietly.

"My parents did this to me." Kath breathed and Karla's and Rommel's eyes widened in shock.

"Oh, sweetie, of course," Karla answered without a moment's hesitation.