Blainsville

34) The Switch

Jimmy

I could remember being thrown on a bed and carried away but after I was given a shot of whatever the hell they give people with seizures I sort of passed out. Next thing I know I'm staring at the white ceiling and trying to get up but that wasn't going to happen, because as soon as I woke up I was face to face with the same men and the cute nurse. "What the hell happened?" I asked rubbing my eyes. The blonde tosses her ponytail back, "You had a seizure and we had to put you on a gurney and try to calm you down. As for these two they insisted that they speak with you and your wife." She glances toward them, "But I told them that you both needed to rest and to come back tomorrow." She snapped seeming irritated. "And we told you that this was urgent and we had every right to be here to ask questions. We're with the FBI so our orders trump yours, miss." The taller man says while the other holds open the door, "Can you please leave us?" He demanded. She's really irritated now and looks like she's about to go off on them but by law they're right, they're orders overrun hers easily so she looks me over, "Press the call button if you need any help." She concludes stepping out. As I'm laying there they close in on me, "So James is it? James Bloom? We know about your situation... We know about the twins and by the tell tale signs of it you've already delivered haven't you?" The one with black hair asks I shrug. "Gee, what does it look like?" I notion toward my middle. "Stop playing games, Bloom. We want the child and we want one now. We are owed that child by Dr. John Cromwell, he promised us a baby by your womb and we are here to collect so if you cooperate we won't have to take out by force." I chuckle and glance at the ceiling. "You see what's funny about your cooperation deal is that I don't have the babies..." They look at each other than at me, "Were not playing this game with you. Where are the babies? All we were promised was one... Now tell me where the fuck are they?!" One is grabbing me by my shirt and just in time I click the call button which sounds an alarm instantly the blonde ponytail nurse and two others are ushered in around me. The men are forced out until I was alright, this stunt would buy me at least till tonight...if I was fortunate enough.

Diana

I had tried to stay hidden but that was hard when you're having to carry to babies each in a five pound carrier. "You stay close behind me and I'll lead you to my house..." I stop him immediately, "No! I can't, I can't do that... I can't stay here in town not with you, not with anyone. I'm sorry, Howard I know you're trying to help and I appreciate it but I can't go back to Blainesville. It's not about me it's about them. They want our baby and I can't do this... I just..." Howard notices I'm getting worked up and crying so he stops me and pulls me in for a hug, "It's alright, it's ok, Diana. Listen, you lead me to your house then ok? Maybe if I can try and keep you guarded and safe till Jimmy gets there it's the least I can do. But if I just let you go home alone and something were to happen I would blame myself, so please just let me help you. As a father and soon to be mother please." He practically begged then Alaina started to whimper and cry. "We better get going then it's getting dark and it's snowing." I nod. Howard allows me to buckle in the twins and I pull out of the parking space and go ahead first Howard follows after close behind. I don't know what or why he was doing this but it was decent to have at least one person to trust in in this time of desperation. As I'm driving from the nearby hospital it's really coming down and I'm beginning to get anxious my mind is going back to Jimmy; I loved him so much if anything were to happen to him like what happened to my baby I would have to die to. I glanced in the mirror to the twins AJ is asleep and his tiny mouth is in a tiny smile my heart warms seeing his smooth baby face. I glance over to see Alaina who's getting fussy she must have been either hungry or wet but I couldn't stop... I couldn't just stop I would risk being caught or it would worry Howard. I drove a good thirty minutes and by then Alaina is fully crying and throwing a hardcore fit, "It's ok baby, just a little further and I can stop at a store ok? Please hang in there, Lainey." I say out loud more trying to calm myself down. Just as I'm about to pull into a store Howard cuts ahead of me and pulls in first that was odd and I follow him. I step out of the car and go to the back where Alaina is crying and pull out a diaper and wipes, "It's alright, little lady you're ok. I know you're tired it's alright." I mumble Howard doesn't budge he's still sitting in the car waiting for me I believe to make the first move. I finish with Alaina and check on AJ who's still sleeping soundly I cover them both up with a blanket and turn on the heat inside and pull back out to drive away. When we keep driving away I'm about twenty minutes from my house thank God and the worry was starting to subside a bit because if I made it home I would have to go pick up Jimmy but it meant that we needed to leave again... And fast and that wasn't impossible but where would we go? Who would take in a family of four this short notice? Then it dawned on me, my parents... I would have to give them the twins until this ended. I made it home in record time just before the snow got heavy and I pulled into the wooded area and I grabbed each baby out of the car and into the house once I unlocked the door. Howard parked behind me and glances around by now the yard was dark and cold... It was snowing all over the yard, "Wow so this is where you guys went to? It's really nice out here, cold as hell but peaceful. Do you need help getting the other baby?" I had carried AJ in already and set him on the carpet in the finished living room, "Sure, if you can get Alaina out of her car seat and into the house I'll make us some cocoa." I say. He carries in Alaina in his arms and she's very aware of everything looking around and directly at Howard, "She's a sweet little girl isn't she? So her name's Alaina? That's a cute name." He says setting her down beside AJ, "So who's this little guy?" He asks taking a seat on the couch pointing to AJ, "That's Alan James but we call him AJ. He's the spoiled one from mommy so far." He nods rubbing his stomach. "So I heard you were pregnant... What happened?" He asks noticing that I wasnt as round anymore, "It's a long, sad story... I don't want to talk about it right now... It was one of the reasons I was in the hospital." I conclude making me a small mug of cocoa and giving him one, I grab the marshmallows out of the cabinet and notice Howard. He's rubbing his stomach his eyes slightly closed, "Are you ok?" I ask taking a seat beside him on the couch, "Yeah I'm fine, he just moved a lot lately kind of makes me uncomfortably. Usually I'm having to pee every ten or fifteen minutes. Thanks for the cocoa, they sure are adorable I remember my oldest little boy... He used to look like that." I suddenly feel upset because the same thing happened to Rhea and I remember that horrible day... Five months ago. "Can I ask what happened to him?" I ask already knowing what the answer would be. He closes his eyes a moment, "He died, well something happened but I don't like to talk about it. My wife she was like all the other women; she killed our son. It was an accident I believe but it happened. She drowned him... In our bathtub. I still can't go in there with that incident. I wasn't aware, or awake but when I awoke he was already gone. I held him in my arms one last time as he took his last breath... He was five." I see a stray tear fall and I put my hand on top of his and give it a squeeze, "I think I can show you something." I try to hide my emotions because I know if I saw that baby again; my dead baby. I lead him to the back porch meanwhile the babies are in there playpen AJ was asleep and Alaina was chewing on her foot which was adorable. As we stood there and I glanced at the box he began to realize what it was as well, "Oh. Oh, I'm so sorry Diana. This is very... Tragic can I ask how it happened?" I shrug trying to turn away I couldn't look at the tiny box with the baby girl in it it was starting to hurt. "I gave birth and she was stillborn. I don't know why, how or what... She just didn't move, she don't breath. We tried to revive her but it didn't work." I go back inside leaving Howard to stare at the box alone. He comes back in after a few seconds and takes a seat beside me on the couch, "I'll help to my best ability. I'm so sorry for your loss and I'm sorry this is pain that doesn't just vanish overnight... It never goes away, Diana." Ignoring his words I grab Alaina and head to the bassinet in my bedroom laying her in the bed and wrap her in a small blue blanket. Next I grab AJ and out him in his crib to sleep the remainder of the night. We are both downstairs in an eerie loss of words neither wanting to speak about what happened to either child but we knew. That's when Howard brings up an idea it was so sick but it made plenty of sense, "They want the babies when give them the baby." I shrug, "What do you mean? I'm not going to give them a baby are you crazy?! We worked so hard to get this far and I'm not letting them rip apart our family, Howard!" That's when he grabs both my hands and puts them in his; they're gentle and soft but meaningful, "Well I hate to say it but give them your baby. The one in the box. Tell them one of the twins died and pass off your baby as the twin. I mean what do they really know?" As sick as it was to mention that idea I had a feeling that it may just work, "Howard, has anyone told you how smart you fucking are?" I ask.