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“If it’s a choice between being discovered or losing you and the baby, I’ll choose getting caught,” he said.
Before she could protest, Grux was helping her up, wrapping her in a long coat and putting on her shoes. Scarlett wanted to argue, but the painful contractions were coming even faster, and all she could do was stay curled up, her hands wrapped around her belly as if she could protect her baby if she just held on tightly enough.
Even though Grux piloted the hovercraft—which he repaired in rapid fashion since he still had the wires he cut—with the utmost care, he still had to move quickly. Scarlett felt every single movement right through to her bones, and she cried out every time she was jostled around. Nausea was beginning to overcome her, and the contractions were getting stronger and closer together.
“Hold on, Scarlett,” Grux whispered, glancing over at her. “Just hold on.”
“I’m trying,” she cried. “It hurts so much.”
Even though she knew that staying calm was the best thing, Scarlett could feel her anxiety getting stronger by the second. She couldn’t help being afraid.
“I don’t know what to do,” she whispered. Grux looked over at her, his eyes wide. She could tell he wanted to drive faster but was scared to put her under more stress.
When they arrived at the hospital, Scarlett had almost forgotten about being discovered. She’d accept just about anything at this point, so long as she knew her baby was safe.
Grux strode into the building with an air of command about him. He kept one strong arm wrapped around Scarlett, supporting her as they came into the main foyer. For a few seconds, the doctors, nurses, and patients looked at him with some surprise.
“Get a wheelchair!” roared Grux. “She’s having contractions, and the baby is not full term!”
One of the older nurses responded immediately, and others scrambled to help. Scarlett sank into the wheelchair gratefully, dimly realizing that these doctors and nurses had probably never treated a human before.
The first hour or so was a blur as the medical staff worked on her. She was wrapped up in a very comfortable bed and asked lots of questions. At first, they couldn’t give her anything for the pain because they didn’t know if something they gave her might harm the baby.
Grux stayed by her side the whole time, holding her hand and rubbing her back. After some complicated tests were done, the doctor returned to speak with them.
“How are you feeling?” he asked gently. He was a tall, purple male like Grux but much thinner. Scarlett didn’t know his name. She didn’t even know if he’d introduced himself because she’d been so out of it.
“I’m much better,” she said in a small voice. “I think the contractions have settled down, and it doesn’t hurt so much.”
“Excellent,” the doctor said, checking her vitals on the nearby monitors. “I think your body is reacting to the baby being cross-species. You have completely different blood chemistry, and your system is having trouble assimilating now that the baby is getting bigger.”
“Will the baby be okay?” Scarlett asked, alarmed.
“We will do everything we can,” the doctor said. “But we’ve never treated a human before, so our experience here is limited. Just rest up, and we’ll keep you on the IV for a few days and see how we go.”
The doctor left as if he didn’t want to answer any more questions. Scarlett watched him go, clinging to Grux’s hand. When he looked at her, she could tell he was afraid but trying to give her confidence.
Scarlett tried to hold herself together, but she couldn’t stop the tears from flowing down her cheeks.
For the first night, Scarlett’s room stayed very quiet. Grux remained by her side, trying to keep his interactions with any of the nurses or staff to a bare minimum and staying out of sight of the other patients.
He was worried about the baby, but now that Scarlett’s contractions had settled, he was beginning to wonder if anyone in the hospital had recognized him—or worse, if they’d say something about the Terran they saw. Even though he’d stayed inside Scarlett’s room the whole time, he knew it only took one talkative nurse, and the entire hospital would know.
When the early morning staff came on, Grux was caught walking out of the bathroom. Even when the doctors and nurses came in and out, he’d taken pains to keep his face covered, but this nurse’s eyes had widened as soon as he had emerged from the adjoining bathroom.
“Oh, Your Highness! I’m sorry. I didn’t know—”
He held up his hands, shaking his head. “No, no.” He grabbed his robe, slipping the hood on. “Please don’t call me that here.”
She nodded. “Of course, Y— sir.”
“I’m hoping for your discretion here, nurse… Ryn,” Grux said, reading her name tag. “I’d like my partner and I to have as much privacy as possible, please.”
Nurse Ryn smiled at him as she made notes on Scarlett’s chart. “Of course, Your Highness—I mean, sorry. Master Grux.”
“Even that is too formal,” he muttered. “Just avoid saying my name, please. Don’t tell anyone I’m here.”
She nodded and left the room to care for other patients. Grux hoped there would be no other slip-ups.
