Come Back for You

“Well, we got the results back from your blood draw. Looks like what he injected in you wasn’t actually heroin, it was something called Rohypnol.”

“The date rape drug?” She asks, squeezing my hand and I squeeze back.

“Yes ma’am. Which is better than the heroin we thought it was, but it is a little concerning since you’re pregnant.”

She laughs, “I’m sorry, I don’t think I heard you right. I’m what now?”

“Pregnant. We are gonna need to do an ultrasound to check on the baby. Make sure the heart rate is good and strong. I’d also like to monitor you overnight.” He says and Whitley cracks up.

“Sir, no disrespect, but that’s not possible. Ya see, I’ve only been with one man in the last year,” she hitches her thumb towards me, “and it’s this big idiot, who had a vasectomy ten years ago.”

“Thanks, babe,” I mumble, patting her hand.

“Well, nothing is one hundred percent effective. What say we bring the ultrasound technician in, just to double check.” He winks and stands, washing his hands before leaving the room. She turns to me.

“I swear, it’s only been you Dean,” she insists, and I cut her off. Because I trust her, and I believe her when she says she hasn’t slept with anyone else.

“I believe you, sugar. Let’s just let the tech take a peek and then we’ll talk, okay?” She nods in agreement and I press a kiss to her forehead, my mind running a mile a minute. Shortly after, the technician rolls the machine into the room.

“Well, hello, mama and daddy!” She chirps, lowering Whitley’s bed and tucking the blanket down and her gown up, so her stomach is exposed. I swallow heavily as memories of the last time that we did this fill my mind. Whit inhales a shaky breath and I can tell she’s feeling the same type of way.

“Scoot over,” I urge her, sliding up onto the bed. She looks at me like I’m insane.

“Dean,” she hisses.

“Scoot that fine ass, baby,” I nudge her over, sprawling out beside her and propping myself up on my elbow. The tech arches an eyebrow at me. I make a ‘carry on’ gesture and Whitley huffs out a breath.

“Alrighty roo, let’s take a peek.” The tech squirts the gel on her stomach, and I lace my fingers with Whitley’s. It’s not long after she moves the wand around that the sound of the baby’s heartbeat fills the room.

“Oh my god, Dean!” Whit squeals out, excitement lacing her voice and I can’t help but feel a little giddy myself.

“Holy fuck,” comes from the doorway and we both glance over at Zander. He holds his hands up, “shit sorry guys, I can just...” he hitches a thumb over his shoulder.

“No no, you’re fine, come on in,” Whitley invites him in, and I grunt, Zander chuckling as he makes his way into the room further.

“I’ll be damned,” he murmurs, “congrats y’all.”

The tech pressed some buttons that spit out a couple pictures, taking a few measurements before putting the wand back and cleaning off Whit’s stomach. She hands Whitley the ultrasound pictures and wheels the machine back out of the room with a promise that the doctor will be back shortly. I’m still frozen. Silent. I don’t have any words.

“Hey,” Whit shakes me out of my stupor by placing her hand on my cheek, her eyes bouncing back and forth between mine. “Oh my god,” she whispers, tears filling her eyes.

“What? What’s wrong? Are you gonna puke?”

She coughs out a laugh and shakes her head. “No, I’m not goin’ to puke, Dean,” she rolls her eyes. “Are you sure you’re okay with this? I mean, just two days ago we were fightin’ because you didn’t want to do this again.” God, I’m so fucking stupid.

“Baby, if the last twenty-four hours have taught me anything, it’s that life is precious, and it can change in an instant. Me having the vasectomy, that wasn’t about not wanting kids, not really. It was about being so scared to go through what we went through again. Losing Everly,” I swallow around the emotion in my throat, sliding my hand into her hair, “losing her was so hard and I wish every day it was different. But baby, losin’ you? That would have killed me. And having a baby with you? Well fuck, honey, that’s just more of you that I get to spend the rest of my life lovin’.” I seal my lips over hers, an unspoken promise passing between us. A promise to love her through the good and the bad. Not just today, but forever.

Whitley

Staring at myself in the bathroom mirror, I inspect my reflection. My skin is paler than usual, bags under my eyes and my hair is piled on top of my head. I run the sink, splashing water on my face. The bathroom door opens, and I meet Dean’s eyes in the mirror.

“You ready, honey? The nurse just dropped off your discharge papers.” Discharged from the hospital and six weeks pregnant. I just got done throwin’ up my breakfast in the toilet, not sure if it’s morning sickness or nerves. I give him a weak smile. “They also sent your prescriptions to the pharmacy. I’ll get you home and run up later to pick them up.”

“Thank you,” my smile falters a little. Pregnant. Dean comes up behind me and rests his hands on my stomach, him behind me, both of us looking in the mirror. He drops a kiss to my shoulder.

“If...” he starts and stops, blowing out a shaky breath, “if this isn’t something you want…” he trails off, leaving it unsaid. I shake my head.

“I do. I do want it. So bad. I’m just scared,” I finish in a whisper. Scared of losing another baby. Scared of losing Dean again.