When the ambulance arrived, Dawn was still sitting in AJ’s car, she wouldn’t let him leave her side. She held onto him as he tried his best to comfort her, the only thing he could do was hold her and tell her everything would be okay, but he was just as afraid as she was.
Denise ran over and talked to the ambulance attendants, then they ran towards him and Dawn. Everything happened so quick, before AJ realized what was going on Dawn was on the stretcher being put in the ambulance. As she was put in the ambulance, her hand was ripped from his.
"Alex, don’t leave me!" She cried.
"I won’t baby, I’m right here".
He stood outside the door watching them hook up a million different things to her while she continued to cry and call his name. He felt so helpless.
Denise came up next to him and put her arm around him. They watched as everyone attended to Dawn. As they got ready to close the doors, Dawn called for AJ again.
"Can I ride with her to the hospital?" He asked the ambulance attendant.
"Sure, try to keep her calm,” he replied as AJ jumped into the back of the ambulance.
"I’ll meet you there,” Denise said to him as the doors closed and the ambulance drove away.
AJ held Dawn’s hand, he was almost afraid to touch her because of all the things that she was hooked up to. He looked around and saw something beeping, he couldn’t figure out what it was.
"What’s that for?" He asked.
"That’s the baby’s heartbeat,” the attendant answered.
AJ looked down at Dawn and smiled.
"Did you hear that?" He asked her softly as he wiped her tears away. "That’s the baby’s heartbeat".
She looked over at the monitor and watched the little beeps. She could barely hear them, but she could see them. She looked back up at AJ who was stroking her hair as he held her hand.
"I’m so scared,” she said as she choked back tears.
"Sshhh, everything will be fine. They’re gonna take good care of you. Just try to stay calm,” he said in a soothing voice as he kissed her forehead.
They arrived at the hospital and the doors to the back of the ambulance flew open. AJ got out of the ambulance and the attendants rolled Dawn out then they started towards the emergency room entrance. He followed, holding Dawn’s hand.
They got inside and headed towards a set of double doors. Right before they entered, the attendant held back and put his hand on AJ’s chest. He felt Dawn’s hand slip out of his.
"I’m sorry, but you’ll have to stay in the waiting room".
AJ took one last look at Dawn being wheeled through the doors, he heard her call his name and it broke his heart. He stood there watching her for as long as he could, then the doors shut in his face.
He turned around and saw his mother standing a few feet away from him with a somber look on her face. He walked over to her, she held her arms out for him. He hugged her tightly and didn’t let go. He didn’t know what to do. He knew he needed to be strong for Dawn, but he had never dealt with anything like this before.
They sat in the waiting room for what seemed like hours. He tried calling Dawn’s mother to let her know what was going on, but he got the answering machine stating that she was out of town. He didn’t know how else to get a hold of her. He sat back down next to his own mother. She put her arm around him and he lay his head on her shoulder.
"I hope everything’s okay,” he said in a soft voice.
"Everything will be fine. Just remember, everything happens for a reason,” she replied, trying to prepare him for the worst.
He didn’t even want to consider the possibility that Dawn might lose the baby.
"I know the baby’s not mine,” he began. "But I feel like it is".
Denise kissed the top of her son’s head.
"You really love Dawn, don’t you," she asked.
"I can’t even find the words to explain how much,Mom.." his voice trailed off. "I don’t know how things got so crazy between us. It’s like, one day everything was great, then it seems like overnight everything just blew up in our faces. I thought she loved me, then she pushed me away and went back to Anthony, I just don’t know anymore".
"I know it’s hard sweetie. Just keep in mind that Dawn has so much on her mind right now. She doesn’t mean to hurt you and I think she DOES love you, she’s just trying to protect you. She’s trying to do the right thing and in her mind, that’s letting Anthony be involved in the baby’s life".
He sat up in his chair.
"She can do that without going back to him,” he felt himself starting to get mad. "He doesn’t deserve to be in the baby’s life either".
"Hate will eat you up, Alex. You just have to let it go and trust that everything will work itself out.”
"I know, but you didn’t see what he did to her,” he said with a distant look in his eyes.
Denise looked over at her son. It killed her to see him going through so much pain. Especially considering there was nothing he could really do to change the situation.
"Listen to me", she began. "The situation that you both are in, is terrible. You do have to realize that there are a lot of important decisions that have to be made, but not by you. There may not be a whole lot you can do, either. As Dawn’s friend, though, you have to be there for her. She needs you right now. She trusts you, and, whether or not she wants to admit it or show you, she DOES love you. You have to understand that everything she does, is done out of love. Love for her child, and love for you".
"I just wish she’d stop pushing me away and making decisions for ME,” he quickly replied. "I can’t help her if she won’t let me".
"Dawn’s always been very independent, if I remember correctly,” Denise said.
Just then the doctor came out.
"Are you the party that admitted Ms. Simon?" He asked, looking at both of them.
"Yes," AJ said as he shot up out of his chair. "Is she okay? Is the baby okay?"

Chapter 32
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