The Infirmary

I held her hand the whole time, not looking away from her eyes even for a second. I could feel the tears slipping down my face but I didn't stop to wipe them away. "I love you," I whispered and kissed her hand.



"Love you... too... always. Take... take care of her."



"Don't talk like that baby. Don't. It's gonna be fine. You're gonna be okay. You will."

When I finally had Ronna opened up I carefully worked with the baby, getting her out. She was another healthy baby girl but she'd been in distress and needed checked asap. One of the girls who had come in to help took her and rushed her out of the room while I worked on trying to save Ronna "Stay with me, sweetie."

I could feel myself fading fast and gripped Carter's hand as hard as I could. "Not... gonna make... it... Let... let me see her... please let me... see her."



"You are gonna make it, damnit, you are. Don't... don't talk like that," I said, my voice choked.

Pepper called for the baby to be brought back into the room so I did, I took her over to her mom and dad "She's beautiful."

Tears that had nothing to do with the pain slid down my cheeks as Carter helped me hold her. "So beautiful... You are so beautiful," I whispered. "Your daddy's... gonna take... he's gonna take... really good care of you," I whispered and kissed the top of her head, my heart breaking as Carter cried beside me. "I don't want to go," I whispered.



"Then don't. Stay... stay with me baby please," I whispered, kissing her softly as she handed our daughter back to me.



"Can't... I'm not... I'm not strong... enough..."

I was doing everything I possibly could but it wasn't enough, she was fading and I heard Ronna slowly take her last breath.

I felt her stop breathing and laid my forehead against hers as someone took the baby from me so they could finish checking her. I pulled Ronna into my arms and just held her, my tears falling harder, faster, until sobs shook my body so hard I could barely breathe.

"I'm so sorry Carter....I'll give you some time." I whispered and left the room to get cleaned up. I couldn't hold my own tears back though.

I walked slowly into the infirmary behind the blonde.She went about her business but I was so nervous I didn't know what to do. This was all really bad timing...

I heard footsteps but didn't look up right away. When I did it was hard to see through the tears. I wiped my eyes before wrapping my arms around Ronna again, then finally looked up. "Br... Brooke?" I whispered, unable to believe my eyes.

"It's me." I whispered. I hated seeing him like this, it broke my heart into a million pieces. If we ever got to see each other again I didn't want it to be like this.

"What... what are you doing... out here?" I whispered, turning my head back to look at Ronna as I slowly ran my fingers through her hair.

"I...I was taken. I was taken and dumped out here then Jack and Brett found me. Sometimes I go out on my own...I just got back." I said "I'm really sorry about her, Carter."

"Thank you," I whispered, holding Ronna closer to me. "Taken why? Who took you?"

I shrugged a little "I don't know...they used chloroform and I passed out. When I woke up I was in the middle of nowhere."

"Who would... do something like that? What happened? I just... I always thought... I mean you just disappeared. Vanished."

"I know, I'm sorry. There was no way for me to get back and let you know otherwise."

I nodded a little, then looked at her for a minute before looking back down at Ronna, my fingers still running slowly through her hair. I felt numb... my body, mind, and heart just... empty. "You're avoiding my question. What happened? Why would someone take you... and put you out here? What happened Brooke?"

"I don't know, Carter. I'm sorry, I wish I had answers." I said, hating myself for lying to him but it wasn't a good time.

"Doesn't make any sense," I said quietly and looked at her again. "I know it's... been a long time and... and I want to catch up and all that, but... but I'd really... just like to be alone right now. I'm sorry."

"You don't need to be sorry, I completely understand. I didn't mean to intrude on you, I'm really sorry this happened Carter." I told him and walked outside the infirmary.

When she was gone I got up and closed the door, then got out new sheets. The bed was covered in blood, she couldn't be on a bed covered in blood. I moved her over to the other cot and changed the sheets as quickly as I could, then got out a gown that was in the closet. I changed Ronna into the gown then put her back on the bed, pulling the covers over her. She could be sleeping now... I got slowly on the bed, careful not to jostle her, and laid down beside her, pulling her back into my arms. I ran my fingers through her hair again, letting the tears fall down my face again.

We got to the infirmary and there she was, setting outside on the steps "Oh my god, it's really you." I said as I went and hugged her.

"Damn.... How... how are you here? What happened to you?"

"I was taken and dumped in the wilderness...I was unconscious so I'm...not sure who it was. It's good to see you though."