As Sweetheart makes her way to the nurses station, she begins to lose her nerve once again. This time is much more serious and she may already be too late. She can't hold back her tears any longer and feels a panic attack begin to take hold. A nurse jumps up and runs around the desk to Sweetheart's aid, positive she is in labor and about to collapse. She was half-right, Sweetheart's shaking legs give out just as the nurse arrives at her side. A wheelchair and two orderlies are quickly summoned to help.
Mr. Shire, only a room away, is alerted by the commotion and peeks out to see what is going on. Realizing it is Sweetheart they are all fussing over, he rushes over to her side.
"Oh, Mr. Shire! Is he ok? What's going on? Where is he??" She is near hysterics and crying uncontrollably as the nurses try to calm her down.
"Remember what I said about the baby, please calm down, sweetie." Mr. Shire takes her hands in his. "They're working on him now. I'm expecting an update any minute, ok? You must stay calm."
"Ok, I'll try." She sniffles and takes another deep breath.
"We need to take her back and check her out, sir. How far along are you, honey? Eight months?" the nurse asks soothingly.
"Almost nine. Is my baby ok?"
"I'm sure she's fine, but we'll go check to make sure, ok?"
Sweetheart wipes the tears away, "Ok." She turns back to Mr. Shire as she is wheeled away. "Please find me when you talk to the doctor, ok? No matter what the news?"
"I will." Mr. Shire replies as he heads back towards the waiting room.
After a few minutes, he just can't stand waiting any longer. He has to know what is happening with Teddy. It had been over an hour since they had arrived, with no word on his condition. He had seen which doors the doctors had taken Teddy through, and nonchalantely slips through them himself. The noise level was much higher back here. Doctors and nurses rushing back and forth between rooms and shouting out orders for films, lab results, and various medical equipment. It didn't take him long to find the right room, it was the one where most of the activity was taking place.
Mr. Shire stood looking into the window and felt a new heaviness pressing down upon him. It couldn't really end this way, could it? He had been Teddy's mentor for many years now, had helped him through some pretty rough times. They shared a similar past, which seemed to instantly bond them together in some special way. He always considered Teddy the son he never had, and felt as if he had failed him this time. He just wasn't able to pull him out of this one.
A nurse saw Mr. Shire standing outside the room, recognizing him as the man who had brought in the boy they were working on. She handed her tools over to another nurse and came out to his side.
"He must have been serious. Most kids his age take a bottle of aspirin and call for help, just wanting some attention. But this one...he's in pretty bad shape. We're doing everything we can, but it might not be enough. He seems to be responding now, but cases like these often turn quickly. Does he have any family we can contact?"
"Yes, I'll call them." He had Rose and Ace's numbers, they were the only other family he would dream of calling.
"Alright. Please don't lose hope. I must ask you to return to the waiting room now. I'll make sure the doctor talks to you as soon as possible."
Mr. Shire nods to the nurse, appreciating her support and honesty. He reluctantly returns to the waiting room and places the awkward calls to Rose and Ace. They are both on their way. He returns to his seat and tries to focus on the news reports cycling over and over on the television. A short while later, a nurse enters the room and calls his name. He jumps up, fearing the worst.
"Sir, Sweetheart Spencer is calling for you. She's going into labor."
"Oh! Where is she?" He follows the nurse to the maturnity ward. Sweetheart looks frightened. He sits down next to her bed and grasps her hand.
"Mr. Shire, I'm so scared. I can't do this by myself!"
"It's alright, Sweetheart. I'm here. Do you want me to call your parents?"
"My mother, yes. How is Teddy? Please tell me he's ok?" Sweetheart shifts painfully in her bed, trying to find a more comfortable position.
"I'll find out right now, and call your mother. Will you be ok until I get back?"
"Yes, but please hurry. Ok?"
Mr. Shire nods and leaves the room. He calls Cherry, Sweetheart's mother at a payphone down the hall. Once he assures her that Sweetheart is ok and gives her the room number she is in, he hangs up and returns to the nurse's station. He needs an update on Teddy now. The nurse makes a couple calls and instructs him to wait a moment for the doctor to come out.
The doctor approaches through the double doors, "Mr. Shire?"
"Yes. How is he?"
"He's resting now, but I believe he's going to make it. He's responding well to our treatment." He smiles and turns back to speak to the nurse about another patient.
"Thank god." Mr. Shire sighs as his great weight is lifted. He'd thought he really lost Teddy this time, thought he was already gone when he had found him earlier that day. He'd never been so scared in his entire life. "Doctor? Can I see him?"
The doctor turns around and sees the concern on Mr. Shire's face. "Alright. But only for a moment." He leads the way back down the hall and through the double doors.
