FEAR
An hour later!
I'm here at the hospital with a bandaged pounding head and depleted self, to control the restless and uncomfortable anxious Andy. His wound on right upper arm is badly bleeding, his white t-shirt has deviated to colour red.
He has vetoed being touched by any doctor, and all he has been doing for the last hour since we arrived in this hospital is pacing back and forth outside of the where Angel is being attended to by a team of doctors.
He does not care about his well-being at all, but that of his daughter. His life is not , but his precious daughter's. He is squirming uncontrollably with and fear. He can't stand still even for a minute, and mellowing him has been one of the most impossible things I have ever experienced.
"Andy, please! Angel will be fine. Try to calm down." I mumble for the thousandth .
"Calm down, Ania? My daughter was barely breathing when I handed her to the . It's been an hour now and no one has come out to say anything to me. I to know what is happening. I need to know how exactly she is doing. I..."
Tears drop freely from his eyes, and I doubt he can even feel them.
"Andy, she will be fine. Nothing will happen Angel."
"Nothing should. I will not forgive myself if anything..." He breathes in a deep , closing his eyes.
I cup his face, shushing him, and drying his tears.
"It would have been worse if you didn't show up, Andy." I say, because I know he thinking right now - that if only he arrived earlier.
"I should have arrived a bit earlier. Better still, I shouldn't have let you leave with monsters.
They even killed Mark, Ania! In my house."
Mark?
Oh, my, God! I didn't know that. Poor guy! Why did they have to involve the poor ?
"You didn't know this was going to happen, hun. Nobody would have anticipated . Stop beating yourself over it. I'm glad you found us. We probably would be if..."
He presses a finger on my lips, his eyes opening in a flicker, preventing me from speaking. "Please don't say that. That thought alone scares me to death. I 't lose either of you. You and my daughter are my sanities."
His daughter. At this point, I think it would be better for him to never find out his daughter's real identity. I'm terrified of the state that will leave him. But is even possible, to keep it a secret from him for eternity? I know we are still not as Damian is still on the loose. I called Paul on our way here and narrated the scenario and they launched a search for Daman but we haven't received on any developments yet.
If he really cares about his daughter the way he seemed, I'm afraid if he still is around he will try to get her under whatever means. I'm also certain he 't think twice about rubbing it to Andy's face that he is the biological father Angel if they meet. He can't find it out that way. It will be a much more tearing to him. Much better, they better never meet, because only God knows who end up dead.
"Forgive my selfishness, hun. I focused on my daughter and almost forgot all about . How are you?
Does your head hurt?" His voice startles me as his hands caress the bandage on my .
He cares about us, but what about him? How can he stand this pain in his arm?
"I'm okay. But I would feel better if we can sit down and wait for the doctors to tending to our daughter. She will pull through this, Andy, for you - for us." I him.
He nods his head, and guides me to the bench right behind us. "You don't look too , baby. Are you sure you are okay? Do you need some painkillers for your ?" He implores after we settle down.
How can I be okay? Being pregnant under all this stress is draining me of all the . I know I look pale and weak, but this is still not the right moment to tell .
"I'm okay, hun. It's you who..."
I am interrupted by two female doctors standing in front of us. "I'm sorry, sir, but have to treat your wound before it gets infected." One of them says, trying to his wound but he raises his hand to stop her.
She steps back, exchanging a quick glance with her partner. "Sir, we really need to that wound if you don't..."
"I said I am fine. It's just a grease anyway. If you want to help, just let me be until I my daughter is alright. You can leave." He says, and the doctors have else to say.
He can't continue this way. The wound needs at least to be bandaged and he needs clean up a bit. He's bleeding too much.
"Aah, doc." I call before they can turn to leave.
"Yes?" They ask in unison.
"If possible, can I ask for a room where one can have a bath and change, please?" I .
"Sure. I will organise one for you." One of them says.
"Okay. Thanks. Please let me know when it's done. Also, please lend me the first kit. I will disinfect his wound for now then you can check on it later." I , and she hands me the kit.
They leave, while I crouch beside him.
"I said I am okay, Ania." He says, holding my arm.
"Think of your daughter, Andy. Do you want her to see you looking this way? Do think she would be happy to see you with an open wound and all soaked up in ?" I plead, and just like anything about his daughter melts him down, he lets of my hand, allowing me to tend to his wound.
The doctor returns with the news that the room I requested is ready, just the exact I am finishing up wrapping a bandage on his wound. I don't think I did it so , but at least it's not open and it's disinfected. I will make sure he gets checked today.
"Done. I want you to go take a bath. Your daughter needs to see a clean and daddy when she wakes up. I'll find you something to change into." I .
"Come on, Ania. I can't just leave..."
"Your face will be the first thing that your daughter will want to see when she up, Andy. You can't appear to her like this. Hurry up and don't take long." I , and he sighs.
He stands up.
"Thank you doc." I say as I hand her back the kit. She smiles, and leads Andy to he will have his bath.
When they are out of my sight I fish out my phone and dial Ambrose's number. We 't spoken in months since the return of Maria, even Rita, and I hope he picks .
"Tania! Hey!" He picks on the second ring. That was fast.
"Ambrose! I really need your help. Where are you?" I ask.
"We are about five minutes from the hospital. Detective Paul called us earlier about happened. How are you? Are you all safe?"
"Aah, we are fine! The doctors haven't reported about Angel though and we are out. Andy is not taking it too well."
"I'm sorry. Anyway, just hang on. We are nearby. Do you guys need anything?"
"Yeah. I need you to grab a tee and some shorts for Andy." I say.
"Oh. Okay. Anything else?"
"No, Ambrose. Just, please hurry up."
"Okay. We will be there in five."
I drop the call, and now it's my time to pace back and forth. I might not have any from today due to how I am biting them to curb the nervousness. I think I was earlier because Andy was with me. Now I am a nervous desperate wreck, I even wish I didn't send him to have that bath. What if the doctors come out of
Angel's room right now?