Dark Clouds and Silver Linings - Chapter Two

       Rick paced the halls of the hospital corridor like a caged beast.  He'd been summoned to the hospital, but they wouldn't allow him to see his wife.  Jonathan sat on a nearby bench.
       If Rick was aware of his presence, he gave no sign of it.  He continued to pace the corridor, seven steps down, turn left, two more steps, seven steps back, another turn and two steps.  He repeated this pattern over and over. 
       "Something's wrong," he finally said after ten minutes.  He looked at Jonathan who stared back at him.
       "You don't know that," Jonathan replied.  The baby wasn't due for a few more weeks, but it could be they'd just estimated the time wrong. 
       "Something's wrong," Rick said again as he set off in search of some answers.

       Evy delivered a little girl fifteen minutes past two o'clock in the morning.  She knew without being told the child was dead.  She couldn't say how, but she'd known it from that moment in the museum. 
       The doctor handed the small bundle to a nurse who then turned to leave the room.  "I want to hold my baby," Evy said softly.  The nurse and doctor exchanged a worried look. 
       "Now Mrs. O'Connell, that wouldn't be good for you." the doctor replied while motioning for the nurse to leave. 
       Evy had been in labor for over 12 hours.  She was mentally and physically exhausted.  "Please," she begged.  "Is it a boy or a girl?"
       "A little girl," the other nurse replied. 
       Evy moaned.  "Please, please, I just want to hold her." 
       The doctor turned away and the remaining nurse stepped over to pat Evelyn on the arm.  "It's better this way," she assured her patient.
        Evelyn screamed and tried to sit up.  The nurse and doctor tried to calm her down, but she simply sobbed over and over to let her hold her daughter.  The doctor ordered her sedated.  Overcome with grief and despair, Evelyn let the darkness claim her.

       In the corridor down the hall, Jonathan Carnahan watched his brother-in-law pace again.  Despite assurances that his wife and baby were fine, Rick felt desolate.  He couldn't explain it, but he knew something wasn't right. 
       An hour later the doctor gave him the devastating news.  Rick swayed on his feet.  "Is Evy alive?" he asked. 
       "Your wife is fine, Mr. O'Connell.  She became very agitated when we couldn't give her the infant, but she's sleeping comfortably now."
       "Where’s my daughter?" Rick asked.
       The doctor gave his a pitying look, "Mr. O'Connell, be reasonable -"
       It was as far he got before Rick's hand was at his throat.  "If my wife wants to hold our little girl, my wife is going to hold our little girl," he stated emphatically. 
       "Mr. O'Connell, that's not healthy," the doctor squeaked. 
       Rick pushed aside the overwhelming grief he felt.  His voice was like ice when he said, "Make it happen." 
       He then shoved the man aside and punched the wall.
       Jonathan glared at the doctor and added, "Now," before cautiously approaching his brother-in-law.

       Evelyn woke to her husband's grief stricken face.  "I tried, Evy" he said.  I tried to make them bring her for you to hold.  Evelyn wanted to reach out for him, but the darkness beckoned her again.