Page 96 of Fighting for Family

“They said you died?” She hiccupped into his neck.

“I did. It’s a long story. I will tell you later. I only want to hold you now,” he said, struggling to get his voice to work.

Kassie and Doc slipped out of the room, giving them time alone.

“I gave you a funeral,” she said. “Once I get over the shock of you standing here, remind me to get mad at you,” she cried.

“I’ll do my best,” he promised, stroking her back.

“Leo,” Catherine said, suddenly feeling dizzy. A sharp pain caused her to bend as she clutched her stomach.

“What’s the matter, Kit Kat?” he asked, concerned. “Doc, Kassie,” he called out.

She couldn’t speak as pain ripped through her body. She stared at the man she longed for all these months, not understanding what was happening to her.

“What’s wrong?” Kassie asked.

“I think she went into shock,” Leo said, panicking.

Catherine coughed, and blood sprayed over his shirt. “Move, Leo,” Doc ordered as he picked Catherine up, heading to the SUV. Shadow ran ahead of him, opening the door. Saint scooped Leo in his arms and carried him out, placing him in the front seat. Kassie slid into the back as Shadow peeled out of the driveway and headed toward the hospital.

He heard Kassie calling ahead. “It’s Kassie. Have Dr. Greene meet us at the ER stat and prep an OR,” she commanded as she wiped the blood from Catherine’s mouth. “Meet us with a gurney and a wheelchair outside now.”

By the time they arrived, a full staff of medical personnel waited. They lifted his pregnant wife on the gurney and raced inside. Saint sat him in a wheelchair and wheeled him inside as Dr. Greene gave orders. Kassie hung IVs while Addyson ran down to the pharmacy. Annabelle searched for a vein and prepped the arm.

“What’s happening?” he demanded.

“She has a blood clot,” Doc explained. “We need to deliver this baby now.”

“I’m going with you,” Leo demanded.

Annabelle came back and handed him a scrub gown, a beard cover, and a cap. “Put this on, and we’ll wash your hands.”

Saint pushed him down the hall as they rushed by him with Kit Kat on a gurney. Her skin appeared pale, and her lips took on a slight bluish tint.

Annabelle helped him scrub his hands, then wheeled him into the OR. Staff moved rapidly around him as he sat and stroked her head. “Stay with me, Kit Kat,” he said as Dr. Greene made the C-section incision, working to get the baby out. Kassie took it as Doc and Dr. Greene worked together.

Michael appeared and worked on the baby as Kassie called out numbers and directed staff. His heart beat in his chest. He thought coming home was his second chance. What if he lost her now?”

Dr. Greene worked frantically. An alarm sounded on the machine, and Kassie’s face blanched as Doc started chest compressions. Dr. Greene shouted orders for medications.

“Don’t leave me, Kit Kat,” he pleaded as he watched them perform CPR on his wife. Kassie’s tears flowed down her face as she watched the clock and inserted the medication.

“Come on, Catherine,” Doc urged.

“Kit Kat, come back to me,” he begged. “I need you.”

The machine bleeped. Then another and another. Doc sighed in relief as Dr. Greene took over.

“Will she make it?” he asked desperately, struggling with the words.

“We got here in time,” Doc said carefully. “It’s up to Catherine. We gave her medications to break up the clot.”

“I know Kit Kat. She’s strong,” he whispered as he kissed her cheek. Her skin felt cold to the touch. Dr. Greene finished sewing her up. Then, Annabelle and Addyson moved her to ICU.

“Let me take you down the hall,” Doc said gently, removing his scrub gown and gloves. Leo stared at his wife’s blood, praying they got to her in time.

Doc pushed him to a nearby room, where they wheeled her bed.