Chapter 179

The ambulance doors swung open before the vehicle had fully settled.

“Let’s move—one, two—”

The stretcher rolled out fast, wheels hitting the pavement and locking into motion as paramedics guided Emma inside the hospital.

Abigail was right there beside them, not letting go of her hand for a second.

“I’m right here,” she kept saying, her voice low, steady—but barely holding together. “I’m right here, Emma…”

Emma didn’t respond.

Didn’t move.

The automatic doors slid open and they rushed inside.

Bright lights.

Sharp smells.

Controlled chaos.

“Female, mid-30s, loss of consciousness—twice,” one of the paramedics called out quickly as they moved. “Pregnant, unknown gestation, vitals unstable during transport.”

That word hit Abigail instantly.

Unstable.

A team was already waiting.

“On my count—transfer.”

They moved Emma from the stretcher to the hospital bed smoothly, quickly, hands working in sync as machines were brought in, monitors attached, blood pressure cuff tightening around her arm.

“Emma—can you hear me?” a nurse asked, checking her responsiveness.

Still nothing.

Abigail hovered close, her hand still wrapped around Emma’s, her eyes scanning every movement, every machine, every reaction.

“What’s wrong with her?” she asked, her voice tight, trying to stay calm but failing.

“Ma’am, we’re going to take care of her,” a nurse said, gentle but firm. “I need you to step back just a little so we can work.”

Abigail hesitated.

Just for a second.

Then slowly took a step back.

But not far.

Never far.

Ashley stood just behind her, quieter now, her earlier energy gone, replaced with concern as she watched everything unfold.

“She’s going to be alright,” Ashley said, trying to reassure her—but even she didn’t fully sound convinced.

Abigail didn’t respond.

Her eyes never left Emma.

Machines beeped softly now, steady but serious.

A doctor stepped in, quickly reviewing information before looking up at Abigail.

“Did anything happen before she passed out?” the doctor asked.

Abigail froze for half a second.

Her mind flashing back.

The room.

The fight.

Everything.

“…Yeah,” she said, her voice tight.

The doctor’s attention sharpened. “What happened?”

Abigail swallowed hard, her eyes flicking briefly to Ashley before landing back on Emma.

“She got into a fight.”

The doctor paused.

Actually paused.

“…She what?” they said, looking at her again, this time more directly.

Abigail’s chest tightened slightly under the weight of that reaction, but she didn’t backtrack.

“She got into a fight,” she repeated, quieter now but just as firm. “Right before this.”

The doctor’s expression shifted—more serious now, more focused—as they turned back toward Emma, already adjusting their approach.

“Alright,” they said quickly. “Let’s check for any trauma. Keep monitoring her closely.”

The energy in the room changed again.

Faster.

Sharper.

A nurse moved to Emma’s side, gently checking along her head and neck. Another adjusted the monitor, watching the numbers closely.

“BP is a little low,” one of them said.

The doctor leaned in, scanning, then paused briefly.

“Hold on.”

That word—

That pause—

Made Abigail’s stomach drop.

“What?” she asked quickly, stepping forward without thinking. “What is it?”

The doctor didn’t answer right away, focused as they pressed lightly along Emma’s side, then checked her again.

“It’s minor,” they said finally, calm but serious. “Looks like a slight drop in blood pressure and some physical stress from the altercation.”

Abigail’s chest tightened.

“Is she okay?” she asked again, her voice softer now.

“She likely fainted from a combination of stress, overexertion, and that drop,” the doctor explained. “We’re also going to check on the pregnancy to be safe.”

That word again.

Abigail nodded faintly, her hands curling slightly at her sides.

“Is it… serious?” she asked.

The doctor shook their head slightly. “Right now, it looks small. Nothing immediately alarming,” they said. “But we’re not taking any chances.”

Not alarming.

But not nothing.

Abigail let out a breath she didn’t realize she was holding—but it didn’t fully settle her.

Not yet.

She stepped closer again, her hand finding Emma’s, holding it gently.

“Come on…” she whispered softly. “You’re okay… just wake up…”

That was the moment everything inside Abigail locked.

A machine was rolled closer.

Gel.

A small movement.

“Alright,” the doctor said calmly. “Let’s take a look.”

The room went quieter.

Not silent—

But focused.

Abigail didn’t realize she had stopped breathing until Ashley’s hand lightly touched her arm.

“You good?” Ashley asked quietly.

Abigail didn’t answer.

Her eyes stayed glued to the monitor.

Seconds passed.

Then—

A sound.

Soft.

Rhythmic.

A heartbeat.

Abigail’s entire body stilled.

“There it is,” the doctor said.

Her chest hitched slightly, her hand tightening around Emma’s.

The doctor looked at the screen, then back at them. “The baby is fine.”

That was it.

That was all it took.

The breath Abigail had been holding finally broke free, shaky, uneven as relief hit her all at once.

She nodded quickly, more than once, her voice barely coming out. “Okay… okay…”

Ashley let out a breath too, shaking her head slightly. “Yeah… okay… we good…”

But Abigail wasn’t even fully hearing her.

Her focus dropped back to Emma immediately.

Her hand still in hers.

Her thumb brushing gently against her skin.

“You hear that?” she whispered softly, leaning in a little closer. “Everything’s okay… you’re okay…”

Emma still hadn’t woken up.

But now—

The fear had shifted.

Not gone.

Not completely.

But lighter.

Because the one thing she was terrified of—

Was okay.

And now—

All she needed—

Was Emma to open her eyes.

The room had quieted, but the tension hadn’t fully left.

Machines still hummed softly, monitors blinking steadily as everything held in a fragile kind of calm.

Abigail hadn’t moved.

Not really.

Her hand was still wrapped around Emma’s, her thumb brushing lightly against it like she needed the contact to stay grounded.

“You’re okay…” she whispered again, softer this time. “You’re okay…”

A small shift.

It was subtle.

So subtle it almost felt imagined.

But Abigail felt it.

Her head lifted immediately. “Emma?”

Emma’s fingers moved slightly in her hand.

Weak.

But there.

Abigail leaned in closer, her voice quick, hopeful. “Emma—hey, come on—open your eyes.”

Emma’s brows pulled together faintly, her breathing shifting as she slowly came back.

A quiet sound left her lips.

Then—

Her eyes fluttered open.

They were unfocused at first, adjusting slowly to the bright lights above her.

“…Abigail…” she murmured.

“I’m here,” Abigail said instantly, relief crashing into her voice as she leaned closer. “I’m right here.”

Emma blinked slowly, her gaze finally finding her.

For a second—

She just looked at her.

Like she was making sure she was real.

Then her hand tightened weakly around Abigail’s.

“You scared me,” Abigail said, her voice breaking slightly despite how hard she tried to hold it together. “You can’t do that… not like that…”

Emma swallowed, her throat dry, her voice barely above a whisper. “I didn’t mean to…”

“I know,” Abigail said quickly, shaking her head. “I know. Just—don’t do that again.”

Emma let out a small breath, her eyes shifting slightly as she became more aware of her surroundings.

The machines.

The room.

Ashley standing nearby.

“…What happened?” she asked faintly.

“You passed out,” Abigail answered gently. “Twice.”

Emma’s hand instinctively moved toward her stomach again.

The second she did—

Abigail noticed.

“Hey—hey,” Abigail said softly, immediately placing her hand over Emma’s. “Everything’s okay.”

Emma looked at her, searching.

“The baby’s fine,” Abigail added quickly, her voice more certain now. “They checked. Everything’s okay.”

That was the moment Emma’s expression changed.

Her eyes softened.

Then filled.

A quiet breath left her, shaky, emotional. “…Okay…”

She closed her eyes for a second, relief washing over her in a way her body couldn’t fully hide.

Ashley stepped a little closer, folding her arms but clearly relieved too. “You really out here scaring everybody,” she said, her tone lighter—but still serious underneath.

Emma looked over at her.

Really looked this time.

“…Thank you,” she said softly. “For having my back.”

Ashley blinked, caught off guard for half a second, then nodded once. “Always,” she said simply.

Emma gave the smallest smile.

Abigail didn’t smile yet.

She was still watching her.

Still making sure she was really okay.

“You pushed yourself,” Abigail said quietly, her voice lower now, more controlled but still emotional. “You shouldn’t have done that.”

Emma’s eyes met hers again.

And for a second—

There was guilt there.

“I heard what she was saying to you,” Emma admitted softly. “I wasn’t just going to stand there.”

That hit.

Abigail’s expression shifted, something deeper moving through it now.

“You don’t get to risk yourself like that,” she said, her voice still soft—but firm. “Not anymore.”

Emma didn’t respond right away.

Her fingers tightened slightly in Abigail’s again.

“…I was scared,” she admitted quietly.

Abigail’s expression softened instantly.

“I know,” she said.

And this time—

She leaned in.

Resting her forehead gently against Emma’s for just a second.

“You’re safe now,” she whispered.

Emma’s hand was still in hers, her grip weak but present, her thumb barely brushing against Abigail’s like she didn’t want to let go either.

Abigail hadn’t moved.

Didn’t want to.

Ashley watched them for a second, her expression softer now, the intensity from earlier completely gone.

She let out a small breath, then nodded to herself.

“Aight,” she said quietly. “I’m gonna go get the nurse and let them know you’re awake.”

She took a step back toward the door, then paused, glancing between them.

“And I’ll give y’all some space.”

Abigail looked up briefly, giving her a small nod. “Thank you.”

Ashley gave a quick, understanding look, then turned and slipped out of the room, the door closing softly behind her.

Silence settled again.

But this time—

It felt different.

Quieter.

More personal.

Abigail’s attention shifted right back to Emma, her hand still holding hers, her thumb brushing gently across her skin.

“You feeling any better?” she asked softly.

Emma nodded faintly. “A little…”

Abigail studied her for a second.

“You scared me,” she admitted again, quieter this time.

Emma’s eyes softened. “I know…”

Abigail exhaled slowly, then after a beat, her tone shifted just slightly.

“I’m glad you texted Ashley,” she said. “She got there fast.”

Emma let out a small breath, the corner of her lips lifting just a little. “Yeah, I know… but I’m sure she wishes she got there before I did anything.”

Abigail shook her head, a faint hint of disbelief mixing into her expression. “I didn’t know you could throw a punch like that.”

Emma let out a soft laugh, still weak but real. “Don’t get on my bad side.”

That pulled the smallest smile from Abigail.

“I would never,” she said quietly.

Outside the room, footsteps grew closer.

Then—

A soft knock.

The door opened, and a nurse stepped inside, offering a small, relieved smile as her eyes landed on Emma.

“Well,” she said gently, stepping further in, “you gave everyone a scare there.”

Emma shifted slightly in the bed, her head turning just enough to look at her. “Yeah… I can tell,” she murmured, her voice still a little weak.

The nurse moved closer, checking the monitor quickly before looking back at her. “How are you feeling?”

Emma let out a small breath. “I’m feeling okay… just tired.”

“That makes sense,” the nurse said with a nod. “You’ve been through a lot in a short amount of time.”

Abigail stayed close, her hand still wrapped around Emma’s, her thumb brushing lightly across it as she listened.

The nurse adjusted a few things on the monitor, her tone calm and reassuring. “Your vitals are stabilizing, which is good. The drop in blood pressure and stress likely caused you to faint.”

Abigail’s eyes flicked to the nurse. “So she’s going to be okay?”

“Yes,” the nurse said, giving a small, confident nod. “But she needs rest. No stress, no sudden movements, and definitely no fighting,” she added, glancing between them knowingly.

Emma let out a faint breath that almost sounded like a tired laugh.

Abigail didn’t.

Her expression stayed serious, her grip tightening just slightly around Emma’s hand.

“She won’t be doing any of that,” Abigail said quietly.

The nurse gave a small smile. “Good. We’re going to keep her for observation for a little while longer just to be safe—especially because of the pregnancy.”

That word still hit.

Even now.

Emma’s hand shifted slightly again, instinctively moving toward her stomach.

The nurse noticed, her expression softening. “The baby is doing just fine,” she reassured. “Strong heartbeat. No signs of distress.”

Emma closed her eyes for a second, relief washing over her again.

“Okay…” she whispered.

Abigail’s shoulders relaxed just a little at that, her thumb brushing gently over Emma’s hand again.

“If you need anything, just press the button,” the nurse added, gesturing toward the side of the bed. “I’ll check back in shortly.”

“Thank you,” Abigail said quietly.

The nurse gave one last look, then stepped out, the door closing softly behind her.

Silence returned again.

But this time—

It felt calmer.

Safer.

Abigail looked back at Emma, her expression softer now, but still carrying everything she had just felt.

“You hear that?” she said gently. “No stress. That means you gotta listen to me now.”

Emma let out a small, tired smile, her eyes barely open. “You’ve been waiting to say that, huh?”

Abigail shook her head slightly, a faint smile pulling at her lips. “Maybe a little.”

Emma’s hand tightened weakly in hers.