Chapter Seven
976 Words
I lay there looking at the scene before me, in the darkness and not knowing what the hell I was looking at. The pain was immense and Mikkel had made it clear I was in trouble. My body was fighting against itself and it was ripping up inside. The fever was still blaring and between that and the pain, I must have been hallucinating. Why else would I have seen Brodie tousling with Mikkel on the floor? I wondered if it was wishful thinking. If my subconscious was crying out for him and had conjured him up in my mind.
"Seriously, mate, I'm just trying to help her. Will you stop and listen?" The ball of fists and feet seemed to come to a stop. Leaving the two of them lying on the floor. Brodie on top of Mikkel. I let out a scream as another bolt of pain shot through me. There were so many pains it was impossible to tell what were contractions and what wasn't. The only reason I even had a clue what was happening to me was because Mikkel had told me.
"Then why is she bleeding all over the floor?"
"Because she's having complications and unless you want her to die, I need to tend to her."
"Why would I trust you to do that?"
"I was a doctor in a previous life." When Brodie climbed off Mikkel, he came right to my side. I swore I could actually feel him stroking my cheek.
"Esme, look at me." I did as he said. Feeling even more confused.
"Brodie, how are you here? Where did you come from?"
"It's a long story, but the important thing is that I am here with you now." I didn't even know if I actually wanted to see him, but in the absence of anyone else, I was glad to have someone. I watched as Brodie opened a rucksack and pulled out some packages and passed one to Mikkel.
"It's a herbal remedy to help with blood loss. Can you tell if there is more than one baby?"
"Not definitely, and I have nothing with me to really be able to check at all. Is that likely?"
"There's a family history."
"Well, now you're here, can you go and scout around for any bedding or towels? Any baby stuff if they have any; alcohol and boiled water. What else do you have in that bag of yours?"
"More of the same, all herbal. Pain killers, one to prevent clots, they all have the details written on the packets. I didn't expect a doctor to be interested in herbal remedies."
"I wasn't exactly a traditional doctor. It's hard to explain, and now isn't the time for explanations." I heard every word, but was struggling to take any of it in. I couldn't work out why Brodie had medicines in his bag in the first place. Nothing seemed to make sense anymore. I watched as Mikkel poured a packet of power into a glass of water. As soon as Brodie came back with his arms full of material, he dropped it and came back to me. Forcing me up until I was nearly sitting. It hurt like hell and I tried desperately to push against him. Brodie didn't give in, and Mikkel held the glass to my lips.
I swallowed the liquid, and it tasted of lavender, but not much of anything else. I just hoped I kept whatever it was down long enough for it to do its job. They lowered me back down, and I hoped they wouldn't make me do it again. "I'm told it will kick in within twenty minutes and should make you more comfortable. Anything else I can do?"
"I'm worried about Jackson." I was sure he should have been back, but I had very little concept of time anymore. Everything just seemed so distant. I wanted to ask Brodie about Mikkel being there and if it was safe, but he didn't seem remotely concerned about his presence.
"I will send you a search party as soon as they get here. You need to rest. Everything will happen much faster than your body is prepared for. I know you hate me right now, but we need to put that aside while you get through this." Out of nowhere, the door banged open, and I jumped in response. "Shh baby, it's fine." Brodie left me and I wanted to reach out for him, but I just didn't have it in me.
The lightning outside had moved on elsewhere. With not even that lighting up the world, all I could see were two shadowed figures in the doorway. The fog swamping my brain was starting to fade, and it made me more aware of my surroundings. Brodie had been right, and the pain was nearly completely gone. I could still feel it, but it just didn't hurt like it did before. I tried to sit up, but I just didn't have enough energy to manage it. "Hey, let me give you a hand."
"Thank you. I'm sorry about Brodie. He's really overprotective."
"Yeah, I know."
"How?"
"Jackson told me all about him." If he had told him about Brodie, he must have told him the whole truth. Well, the non-supernatural truth, anyway. It surprised me. Jackson must have known he could trust Mikkel for him to share so much. It at least gave me more faith that I was in safe hands. It was a little hard to believe that I had seen him as a threat to start with. It wasn't like I didn't know what real threats looked like. I sighed in relief when the lights came back on. Giving me hope that if the power returned, then Jackson might soon. I looked over at Brodie and nearly frozen in terror.
- Writer
