“You do now. I’ve been in contact with Charlie’s doctor. He’s amazing and an omega himself. He understands firsthand what you’re going through.”
The fingers running through my hair were soothing, and suddenly, I felt myself falling asleep. I became drowsy and couldn’t help but wonder if there was something else in those pills or that water.
“Did you give me something?” I asked, but I was super tired, and it seemed to take a lot of effort.
“Just the pills for your stomach. One of the side effects was drowsiness though, so it might be that.”
“I’ll say this. I finally feel like I could actually sleep.”
“Then you should certainly do that,” Clay told me. I felt myself being lifted, and then we were moving. I was just going with it, because what else could I do? Clay had been so loving and attentive since we found out I was pregnant. Unfortunately, we’d not really been able to enjoy the news because it seemed that as soon as I found out I was pregnant, I was sick. I had days where the nausea wasn’t too terrible, but on those days, I usually ended up sleeping through most of it. “Here you go,” Clay said as he lifted me into a seat.
I reached up and pulled the washcloth off my eyes and looked around. “We’re in your truck.”
“We are. You’re going to the hospital. You need fluids and to be looked at.” Clay stepped up onto the running board and buckled my seat belt. He gave me a quick kiss on the forehead, then took the washcloth from me. “Relax,” he said.
I felt the seat behind me reclining and sighed when it finally reached the almost flat position. The washcloth was back, and I tried my best to relax and not think about my stomach or what it wanted to do.
The truck started, and then we were moving. I didn’t know when exactly I dozed off, but I woke up to Clay carefully picking me up and carrying me out of the truck. “We’re here?”
“Yep. Let’s get you looked at. Fluids, at a minimum, will help you. But I’m quite worried about you, sweetie. Severe pregnancy sickness isn’t necessarily common in shifters, and it could really hurt you.”
I looked at Clay. “What about the baby?”
“I’m of course worried about the baby as well, but you are my main concern. I want you to get better. To feel like you can do things again.”
I tried to smile. “I want that too.” I leaned my head against Clay’s shoulder and held it there, relaxing against him. The doors opened, and then I was inside under harsh lights. That definitely wasn’t better than outside.
“We’re here for Dr. Birch. I’m Clay, and this is Duncan. He’s expecting us,” Clay said.
“Give me a moment, and I’ll ask,” someone said. “Have a seat.”
Clay walked around slowly, but even I could tell he didn’t have a seat. It didn’t take long before a new voice was heard.
“Clay? Come this way.”
Clay started moving again, and then suddenly, the lights weren’t so painful.
“I appreciate you seeing us here, Dr. Birch.” I felt myself lowered to cool sheets on a somewhat hard surface.
“I’m glad you brought him in. But from the sound of things on the phone, he should have come in a couple weeks ago.”
I opened my eyes and smiled up at Clay. “He takes good care of me,” I whispered.
“Yes, I can see that.” I turned my head and looked at the other voice. There was a man with red hair, staring down at me.“But you should have been brought in after the first three days. Not three weeks.”
I sighed and nodded. “That was me. I didn’t wanna.”
I closed my eyes and definitely nodded off again because when I opened my eyes who knows how long later, there was a rhythmic beeping in the room, and I was incredibly cold. And I really had to pee.
“Clay?”
Immediately, he was at my side, a look of concern on his face. “I’m right here. How are you feeling?”
“Cold. Need to pee.”
Clay nodded. “Hang on.” He kissed my forehead and then was gone again. I didn’t know how long until he returned, but it couldn’t have been too long.
“Hello, Duncan. I hear you need to use the bathroom.”
