Ranger's Baby Surprise (Special Forces Elite 2)

Julie came back out into the living room. She was wearing another pair of leggings a t-shirt, and her hair was thrown up in a messy bun.

“Is it okay if I carry you?” I asked Emma.

My arms itched to pick her up and hold her to me as if that would keep her safe and healthy. I realized that to her, however, I was just a doctor that she had seen a few times.

Even with our little interaction she still reached her hands out to me. I scooped her little body up into my arms and carried her out the door with Julie on my heels.

“Take my car,” Julie said pointing to a little SUV in the parking lot. “It has her car seat in it.”

I set Emma in her set and stepped back to let Julie buckle her in. Julie passed me the keys and moved around to sit next to Emma in the back seat. I could see she was still beside herself.

The sooner I got Emma to the hospital the better. We speed along the streets and freeways in silence. Only the sound of Emma’s occasional cough penetrated my concentration on the road. With every cough, I looked back in the rearview mirror and then increased my speed.

I knew it was illogical of me, but I didn’t care. Emma was my little girl, and I was going to do everything in my power to get her what she needed as soon as I could.

An hour later, I walked into Emma’s hospital room. She had been admitted immediately and given an IV. After a round medication on the nebulizer, she already was breathing with more ease.

I watched Emma’s angelic face as she dozed in her hospital bed. I came to sit by Julie who was leaning forward to hold Emma’s hand in her own.

I rubbed my hand up and down her back trying to ease her worry.

“I should have been home last night,” Julie said softly.

She slowly let go of Emma’s hand and leaned back in her chair next to me.

“If I had been home last night, maybe I could have done something.”

“Hey,” I said leaning her into my arms. I kissed her softly on the head. “I promise you; you did nothing wrong. Even if you were home last night, I doubt you would have caught it any sooner. We got her here while it was all still very new in her system. She is going to bounce back quickly.”

“I just can’t leave her anymore,” Julie said looking up at me.

“And you don’t have to. Okay?” I assured her.

She nodded and leaned into me.

“Once she gets a good amount of fluids in her, she’ll be able to leave by the end of the day. I can take you both home.”

“And stay with us,” Julie said with her head pressed against my shoulder.

She looked up at me then. I searched her eyes for her meaning.

“As long as you want me to,” I answered.

I slipped down to the hospital cafeteria to get us both something to eat. Julie was still a little anxious and didn’t feel comfortable leaving Emma, even if she was still asleep.

I scanned the line of the usual hospital food. It didn’t matter if it was in the middle east or hear in my hometown, hospital food sucked.

My eyes fell on a case full of sweet treats, and I couldn’t help myself. I grabbed one to give to Emma when she woke up.

I came back upstairs and to Emma’s room to find both girls awake and sitting in the hospital bed.

Emma already looked better. Her nap, as well as the added liquids, brought color back to her face. I couldn’t help but match the smile she gave me when I walked into the room.

“You look like you are feeling better,” I said as I strolled into the room. “You're in luck too, because I found the perfect treat for you. Don’t tell your mom," I added in a whisper with a wink.

I pulled out of the bag a chocolate cupcake with pink frosting and a bright red cherry on top.

“Just in case your wondering, it’s called a cherry coke cupcake. That means not only is it a cake, but a cake filled with soda.”