The Other Side

Chapter 8

Mark’s heart was pounding hard as he ran into the emergency room entrance of the hospital, trying to bypass the reception desk to get into the main body of the ER, only to be held back by a security guard.

“You can’t go in there, sir.”

“My girlfriend’s been shot!” Mark protested, trying to push the man away.

But the guard was a lot bigger than him and pushed him back into reception easily, nearly lifting Mark off his feet.

“You are not going in there and causing a ruckus, sir. You need to calm down.”

“It’s okay, Jonathan.”

Mark saw Roberto come through a set of double doors that led to the emergency theaters. His heart sank.

Jonathan let go of Mark and Mark hurried to Roberto. He realized his hands were shaking.

“Where are they, Bobby?”

“Calm down.” Roberto took Mark’s arm and led him to a chair, making him sit down. Then he knelt before his friend. He looked exhausted. “They’re okay. I’ve just spoken to Atalya and she’s fine.”

That was some relief. Atalya was alive. But Mark was more concerned about her daughter.

“What about Charli?”

Roberto looked away.

“She’s in surgery right now.”

“Oh, God.” That was never good. Mark gripped Robert’s shoulder. “The baby. What about the baby?”

“We won’t know until they get out.”

That wasn’t very comforting. Mark covered his eyes with his hand, breathing heavily as he tried not to cry.

“What happened?”

“Someone opened fire at the restaurant. Charli and Atalya were sitting in a window booth and the window caved in with multiple gunshots. The waitress was shot in the stomach and is currently in surgery. Atalya was shot in the arm and Charli caught a bullet in her back about here.” Roberto touched high up his back where his shoulder blade was. The baby wasn’t hurt but they’re worried that his blood pressure will drop if she loses too much blood.”

Mark could feel the bottom of his world falling out. He was about to lose the woman he loved and their unborn child because of a punk. He closed his eyes, not bothering to hide his tears.

“I can’t lose them, Bobby.” He said hoarsely. “I can’t.”

“Nothing’s going to happen to them.” Roberto gripped the hand on his shoulder. “Look at me, Mark. Charli is a strong woman. She’ll pull through.”

Mark had to believe that. If he didn’t then he was going to fall apart completely. And he didn’t want that. Charli wouldn’t want him to break down like this.

“Andy did this.” He said, locking gazes with Roberto. “I know he did this.”

“I think he did it as well but we don’t have any proof that he did it. You know proof would make it solid or he walks.” Roberto sighed. “We’ll look at that angle but I’m not making any promises.”

He stood, pulling Mark with him and giving him a quick hug. Mark took the hug gratefully. Then Roberto stepped back.

“Go to Atalya. She’s asking after you. I’ll let you know about Charli.”

Mark knew he was right. He needed to focus on Atalya. She had come close to losing her daughter and grandchild. She needed someone with her.

And he needed Charli.

*****

Charli opened her eyes and squinted at the bright light glaring down at her. The world was blurry and it took a while for things to come into focus.

For a moment she didn’t know what had happened or where she was. Then it all came back in a flash. She had been sitting with her mom about to order food. Then the window had broken in, spraying them with glass. Charli had ducked away from the spray, hearing the splatter of bullets, and then something hit her in the back, radiating white-hot pain across her shoulders.

And then nothing. She didn’t know what had happened to Atalya, to the waitress, or to her baby.

Her baby. Charli raised a hand to her stomach and felt around. The slight swell of her belly was still there but she had no idea if her baby was still there or even alive if it was. Panic began to well up and she began to hyperventilate.

“Charli.”

Mark appeared beside her and took her wrists, forcing her to look at him.

“Charli, honey, calm down. You need to calm down.”

Charli tried but it wasn’t easy.

“My baby.” She squeaked. “What about the baby?”

“The baby is fine.” Mark lowered her wrists and sat on the edge of the bed. He laid a hand on her belly and rubbed slow circles on her. “The bullet didn’t hit anything vital but it did cause some significant blood loss. You were given a transfusion and the baby is being monitored regularly. If it’s fine after a couple of days, you can go home.”

The baby was okay. Their baby was going to be okay. Charli put her hands to her face and the tension flooded out of her in sobs. She felt Mark gently sit her up and put his arms around her, resting her head on his shoulder. Then he gently rocked her, stroking her head and whispering in her ear, telling her that it was going to be all right and she was safe. Charli clung on to him as she sobbed, her body shaking.

“I was so scared.” She whispered.

“I know.” Mark pressed a kiss to her head. He sounded like he was trying to hold himself together. “I was scared, too, when I heard what happened.”

“Why did he do it?” Charli shifted back and looked up at him. “Why did he shoot the place up?”

“Don’t beat yourself up about that now.” Mark stroked her cheek, his hand moving down to the bandages that was wrapping over her shoulder and around her bre*sts, the bandage was soft but somewhat itchy against her skin. “You’re alive, Charli. Your mother is alive. The waitress is alive. Our baby is alive. That’s all that matters. Focus on that.”

Charli knew he was right. She couldn’t mull over what had happened to her and her mother. She had to focus on her unborn child. That was the important thing here.

She glanced at the clock. It said it was ten to seven. But was that morning or evening?

“How long have I been unconscious?” She asked.

“Only the afternoon. It’s the evening now.”

“That would explain why I feel so crappy.” Sleeping in the middle of the day never worked for Charli; it just made her feel worse. She rubbed her hands over her face. “When can I leave?”

“Like I said, they’re going to keep you in for a couple of days to make sure you and the baby are okay. Then you can go home but you must take it easy.”

Charli snorted. Taking it easy wasn’t in her nature. She wasn’t a couch potato so the chances of her sitting still for longer than she needed to wouldn’t be easy.