The Deal

When he got the call from Blair who was sobbing saying something was wrong with the baby he drove like a madman getting to her. Arriving at her place he found the door unlocked so he walked in, calling out her name. He ran to her bedroom and heard sobbing coming from the bathroom. He found her wrapped in a sheet on the floor by the toilet, her tear stained face looked up at him.

"I'm bleeding," she said, moving the sheet over to show him the blood on her nightgown.

He goes over and gets on his knees. "I'm taking you to the hospital." He scooped her up into his arms with the sheet still wrapped around her. He could have called for an ambulance but since they were close to the hospital he thought it would be quicker if he took her rather than waiting. His heart was pounding in his chest, he had no idea what was happening and when she put her arms around his neck she started crying into his neck. He felt her tears wetting his skin and knew she was scared to death. "It's going to be alright sweetheart, please believe me." He wasn't sure who he was trying to convince, her or himself.

It didn't take him long to reach the hospital and once there he got out of his car, leaving it running and the door open. He goes around her side and lifts her gently out, her arms going around his neck. It tore on his heartstrings to hear her sobbing as she mumbled how she didn't want to lose their baby. Inside he started yelling for someone to help them.

A nurse rushed over, calling for a stretcher. "What do we have here?"

"My wife, she's about three months pregnant and there's something wrong with the baby, help her, please," he cried out, his voice cracking.

As they laid her down she grabbed his hand. "Austin, I'm scared."

"I know baby," he said, leaning over her he stroked her forehead. "You both are going to be alright." He tried to go in the other room with them but was forced to stay behind.

"Sir, you have to wait here, I promise the moment you can go in I'll come to get you."

He loosens his tie and started pacing back and forth, then he thought he had better call Rachel and let her know what was going on. Hanging up he sat down, putting his head in his hands. He had never been this scared in his whole life. He blamed himself for what was happening, it was because of him that she was going through this, and with him sending her flowers, calling and doing everything he could to get her back it was stressing her out. If anything happens to her or the baby he would never forgive himself. He looked up twenty minutes later when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

"Austin, where is Blair and what's going on?" Rachel said as she sat next to him.

His eyes were full of tears when he looked at her and tried to explain. "She called me, crying and saying she was bleeding so I rushed over and brought her here. I'm scared Rachel, I think she might be losing the baby."

"You don't know that," she said, looking worried.

"But she's been in there for so long and no one will tell me anything. I'm going mad with worry, I should be with her. This is all my fault, I should have stayed away and she wouldn't have been so stressed out."

"Don't blame yourself, if anyone is to be blamed it's that damn Patrick."

His head turned sharply to look at her. "Why do you say that?"

Knowing she should have kept quiet, especially after seeing the fury in Austin's eyes. "Oh, it's nothing."

"Don't tell me it's nothing, you wouldn't have mentioned his name if it was nothing. I want to know what he's done."

"Alright, but keep calm, Blair needs you to be here for her. Patrick was the one who told her about you and the shares, he has also been calling, texting, wanting to get back with her. He even scared the hell out of her when he sneaked into the building one night when she was working late."

"I'll kill him," he barked, grinding his teeth.

"You don't have to, she set him straight and he has been banned from the building. I doubt any of us will be hearing from him anytime soon."

Just then the nurse came out from the back room and he stood up, trying to see from her facial expression if it was good news or bad news. "You can go in and see your wife now sir.

"How are she and the baby?" he asked, swallowing the lump in his throat.

"The doctor will be in shortly to talk to both of you. I'm afraid she can only have one visitor at the moment," she said, looking at Rachel who was also following them.

Rachel grabbed Austin's arm. "Tell her I'm here."

"I will," he answered and then he followed the nurse.

Her head turned towards the door when it opened and seeing Austin tears rolled down her face. "Austin," she cried out, her arms reaching for him.

He rushes over, taking her in his arms, stroking her hair. Her tiny body was trembling, her tears wetting his shirt.

Neither one spoke, fear gripped them as they waited for the doctor, not knowing if they had lost the baby or not. The minutes just seem to go so slow, he had to stop looking at the clock on the wall. He closed his eyes and prayed for their baby to be alright. They both looked up when the doctor finally entered the room, carrying her chart.

"I can see how worried you both are so I'll let you know right off the baby is fine, there are no worries there."

Blair and Austin looked at each other, relief showing on their faces, he touched her cheek tenderly. "Thank God," he said to her, his arm still around her.

"Now, the problem is Mrs. Cooke is that your blood pressure is dangerously high. We are going to keep you overnight until it goes down. I'm also putting you on bed rest for ten days, in that time I want to see you back here for another checkup."

"Ten days in bed. I can't take that much time away from work."

"I understand how stressful your job can be but you got lucky this time with the baby being alright. The stress and high blood pressure can affect the baby later on. My first priority is the safety of your unborn child. I can keep you here in the hospital for ten days unless you agree to stay in bed once I release you."

"I'll make sure she does doctor, even if I have to tie her to the bed and lock the door."

"Will there be someone there to take care of her?"

"Yes, my housekeeper will watch her through the day while I'm at work and then I'll be there at night."

"OK, that's good. I'll be back in the morning to check on you before discharging you. Get a good nights sleep."

Blair felt better knowing that she hadn't lost the baby but not pleased about the way the men were talking about her as if she wasn't in the room. "What is this about Helen watching me and then you. Do you think I'm staying at your place?"

"You heard the doctor, you need to rest for a few days. At my place, you will be taken care of so please don't fight me on this, for our baby's sake. You can go back to yours after that. You also have to cut back on the hours you work, hire someone else to take over some of your duties and to help Rachel."

"You're right, I will stay in one of your guest bedrooms, but after that, I go back to my place. I just don't want you getting your hopes up that we'll get back together."

"What's important right now is our baby," he said, but in the back of his mind, he was still hoping to win her back. He took her hand when she laid back in the bed. "I'm also worried about you, just because we are apart right now doesn't mean I'll stop caring."

Rachel walked in and over to Blair. "Thank God you and the baby are alright, you gave us both a scare," she said, motioning to Austin. "What did the doctor say?"

Blair told her everything, even the part of cutting down her hours.

"Wow, you ten days in bed, I got to see that. But hey, don't worry about the company. I will make sure things run smoothly until you get back. Now, you can stay with me, we'll just have to hire a nurse for through the day."

"That won't be necessary," Austin piped up before any more could be said. "Blair will be staying with me, while she's getting better."

"You?" Rachel said, looking at him, she was shocked to hear this bit of news.

"It makes sense, my housekeeper will there all day when I'm at work then at night I'll be there."

She looked back at Blair, asking if she had agreed to this. "Alright, if you're sure. I guess I better go before the nurse comes back to tell me visiting hours are over. I'll call you soon to see how you're doing." She leaned over Blair and kissed her cheek. "Get some sleep now."

"I'll walk you out," he said, following behind her.

When they got outside the door he pulled her over to the side. "I need for you to see to it that she starts taking things a lot easier when she does go back to work. Her job is fast-paced and can be stressful so that means her blood pressure can go back up, endangering the baby and herself. I'd like for you to talk her into hiring someone to help both of you, that way taking away some of the pressure off of her."

"I totally agree with you, with Blair away I'll need extra help. I mean I can do it myself but it would be better to have an extra pair of hands, especially when she comes back to work. Leave it with me Austin, I'll take care of it."

"Thank you and I think it would be best if she doesn't know we had this conversation, you know how she can be."

"Oh, I know. You still think you can get her back don't you?"

"I don't think, I know."

"Well, good luck, see you later."

He waited until she walked away before going back into the room. He walked over to the bed, her eyes were closed so he pulled a chair up and took her hand in his. He was glad to see that she had fallen asleep. After the scare that she had she needed a good rest.

"You're still here?"

He looked up at her, brushing away a strand of hair that fell over her eye. "Yes, I'm still here. I'm not going anywhere. I'm never going to leave you or our baby," he said, placing his hand over her stomach.

"You should go home and get some sleep yourself.

"I can sleep right here."

She put her hand over the top of his. "I was so scared when I saw the blood and thought I was losing the baby. I'm so glad you're here with me."

"Me too," he answered. "Promise me that when you're back on your feet that you'll take things easy. I know how important your work is to you but the baby has to come first."

"I promise, will you get me some water?"

He goes over to the jug of water that was on the end table and pours some into one of the plastic cups and hands it to her. When she was done and thanked him he took it from her. "Now close your eyes and get some sleep. I'll be right here when you wake up."

She laid down and closed her eyes, it was a comfort to her knowing he was there so she was able to fall asleep.

Taking off his jacket he swore under his breath about how hot they kept hospital rooms. He stretched out his long legs and leaned back in the chair. Throughout the night he kept getting woken up with all the noise coming from outside the room, people talking and walking around.

He did manage to get a couple hours of sleep but would be glad when he was home in his own bed. He took out his phone and left a text for Harry, telling him what had happened and that he wouldn't be in tomorrow. and to clear his schedule.