Briar looked up at the door, to see Caroline peeking in. She motioned for her to come inside.
“You can come back in, you know. I could use some company.”
“I thought I was the perfect type of company..” Mars turned to face his girlfriend and playfully pouted.
“And you are, But just not at the moment.” Briar joked.
Mars kissed her atop her head and raced out the door, giving Caroline a nod of recognition.
Caroline nodded back and smiled at Mars. She went to Briar's side, rubbing her back comfortingly. "How are you feeling?"
“To be honest, I just want to collapse on my bed, eat chocolate and watch Netflix..” Briar sighed.
“Or..go scrub in on a surgery—“
Just then the baby let out a high pitched wail, startling Briar terribly.
“Is he alright, what should I do? Is he hungry?” She began to shake a bit, scared and feeling helpless.
Caroline sat her friend down and went over to the baby. "No, Bry. This is amazing. He just took his first independent breath." She gingerly reached into the incubator and picked him up. She cradled him and brought him over to his mother.
Briar gently caressed him, gingerly kissing him atop his tiny head. She looked at his face, which was being guarded by tiny fists.
“He’s so beautiful..” she whispered, stroking his tiny hand.
"You want to hold him?"
“But..I thought I wasn’t allowed to-but, can I?” Briar’s eyes went wide with fear and excitement.
"For a bit. I'll check him after, and x-ray him for any internal deformities." She gently set him down in his mother's arms.
“Oh..my..” she breathed, holding him close to her chest. She stroked his wispy thin strands of hair and marveled at him. How could something so tiny..be so mesmerizing.
“He shouldn’t be X-rayed right? I mean, all that radiation exposure could be lethal to him..”
Natalie came back into the room. "Bry, as soon as you and the baby are strong enough to leave this place, my house is set for both of you, and Beth." She said, still texting her mom about the arrangements.
“Oh..my..” she breathed, holding him close to her chest. She stroked his wispy thin strands of hair and marveled at him. How could something so tiny..be so mesmerizing.
“He shouldn’t be X-rayed right? I mean, all that radiation exposure could be lethal to him..”
"We have a special sort, it's approved and completely safe."
“Alright..” she kissed him atop his head one last time before passing him back to Caroline. Briar turned to Natalie, an inquisitive expression on her face.
“Who’s Beth?”
Caroline held Anthony tightly to her and exited the room, heading for the x-ray room.
"Beth. She's ahhhhmmmm……………………..well she's a new patient of mine. Her family's abusive, and she struggles with anxiety and depression. She attempted suicide three times. So I'm putting her into a new program me and a few other doctors have created. She'll be our test subject. We really want her to get better. She's a sweet kid."
Briar’s hand flew to her mouth.
“Oh my Goodness…wow.” It was all she could say.
Natalie nodded. "Why don't you get some rest. You've had a really hard and pain filled day."
“Alright..fine..” Br
“Alright..fine..” Briar slipped under the covers and rested her head on her pillow. She fell asleep promptly
Natalie was about to leave the room, but decided to stay and keep an eye on Briar. She sat down quietly and continued to make arrangements.
Brair suddenly sat up boltright, holding her stomach.
“Nat, there’s something.. w-wrong..”
Natalie put her phone down quickly. "What do you mean Bry?" She asked worriedly, quickly walking over to her.
“It’s Just..I think..” Her breathing began to become rapid and shallow, making it harder for her to finish her sentence.
Natalie put her hand on Briar's shoulder. "Bry, breath. Try to tell me what you think is wrong."
Caroline walked in, she set him to the room with Anthony. Upon seeing Nat looking worriedly at Bry, she set the kid down in the incubator and knelt by Bry's side. "Where does it hurt, Briar?"
(Hello???)