Violent Reaction

Mia got Sage ready to go and gave Timothy a kiss in the office before joining her son in the living room. They were still trying to keep their relationship quiet with the twins, but Mia could see that it was weighing heavily on Tim. He didn't want to hide any more, especially now that his relationship with Sage was thawing slightly. She believed that they were nearly at a point where they could be honest with their children.

Mia and Sage went outside with two bodyguards and one of them drove the sneak car to the car park to get a chauffeured car. Then the driver took Mia, Sage, and the two guards to the Research Center. The guards were asked to stay in the lobby and after a moment's hesitation Mia told them it was fine. They were met by Nicholas who looked at the pair of them and smiled.

Nicholas was in full doctor mode and immediately took the boy to an exam room. He told Mia he was going to run some tests and he would be with her in a while. Mia asked him where she could find Rachel and he told her to look in supply room B. Mia headed off in search of the fair girl.

Coming up to the supply room Mia spotted Rachel inside. She appeared to be reorganizing the shelves in the room. There were all types of medical supplies and equipment in the room stacked neatly on the shelves. Perusing the shelves and about to speak up she stopped. On the shelf next to her hand were boxes of clearly labeled pregnancy tests.

Could she be pregnant? She had no way of knowing because the law said that a doctor had to perform the test, and she couldn't see her doctor about this currently because her doctor was Nicholas. Before she could talk herself out of it, she reached out and took two boxes and stuffed them in her large purse at the bottom.

Mia felt guilty immediately because she had never stolen before, but she needed to know. Mia tried to console herself that she gave massive amounts of money to this place for charity and right now she needed a little charity.

It was at that point that Rachel turned around. The girl shrieked a little in fright but then rushed forward clasping Mia's hands. Mia was grateful at that moment that she had remembered at the last moment to switch rings.

"Mia, oh I am so happy to see you. The hospital is so dull without you and Sage and Ginger of course." Rachel's sentence ran on from her excitement.

"I missed you too. How have you been?" Mia asked curiously.

"Not terrible, I am starting to feel better now anyway. Come, let us find a place to sit where we can talk." Rachel said walking out the door to the storage room. Once Mia had followed her out, she closed and locked the door.

Mia followed the girl to a lounge where they sat chatting. "Anything new around here?

"Of course not, you know how hospital life is nothing ever changes." Rachel shrugged. "Mia, how long do you think it will be before the wedding?" Rachel asked delicately.

"I don't know Hun. Sometimes these things take time." Mia answered evasively.

Rachel nodded, it's just that I think Nick will be much happier once you are married. He is sad a lot now and it makes me sad for him."

"Why is he sad?" Mia asked her young friend.

"I think he's tired of being alone and he l..." Rachel began but was cut off.

"That will be enough sister. Let's not burden Ms. Lane with my woes." Nicholas cut in.

"I am your friend Nicholas you can talk to me." Mia told him.

"Can I see you in my office Ms. Lane?" Nick asked, turning away.

Mia stood and followed waving goodbye to Rachel who pouted prettily.

Nicholas felt relieved; He should never have told his sister how he felt about Mia. The last thing he wanted was for her to think he was weak or worse trying to manipulate her. He had very little hope that he would prevail but what hope he did have couldn't be based on guilt.

He wanted her but only if she truly wanted him in return anything else would be unbearable. Nick had been waiting years for a chance to be with her and right when it could happen, Barrett came strolling in. Nick had dedicated years of his life to this woman. It wasn't fair. He didn't want her to feel sorry for him because he loved her. He couldn't bear that.

Nicholas opened his office door, and she strolled past him. Every time he came in here, he remembered each time he had taken her in this room. How she had looked, how she tasted, and how badly it had hurt when Mia had walked away from him. Nick had vowed to get her back and just when he'd been close it had slipped away from him.

"I will be back in a few minutes with the test results. Can you wait here please? I think it's better if you and Rachel don't talk too much." Nicholas sighed, leaving the room.

Nicholas walked back into the room twenty minutes later leafing through a small stack of papers. He sighed. How could he tell her this? He could lose her forever but still he forged ahead.

"Mia, the test results are not as stable as I would have liked at this stage. Sage isn't in any danger now but in the future if his numbers continue to decline... "He stopped talking momentarily searching for the will to say the words. "Cord blood could be necessary. In which case a direct sibling would be his best chance." Nicholas finally got out. But Mia had known this could happen before she had...

Nicholas eyed her as she took in his words. "Unless perhaps you are pregnant now."

"What? No, I..." Mia trailed off.

Nicholas sat up quickly. "Mia are you pregnant now?"

"I don't... I don't know." Mia answered absently, her mind still reeling from the fact that Sage wasn't all better.

"Well, we should do a test. This might be ideal because we could bank the cord blood in case Sage needs it in the future. Mia you should not have tried something so reckless on your own without telling someone. Barrett is a dangerous man."

"I didn't..." Mia began but Nick cut her off as he came around the desk. She didn't understand what he was implying.

"Doll, it will be all right. Whether or not you're pregnant doesn't matter to me. I love children, I just don't want my tainted blood to make sick babies. You know that right."

Mia stood from her chair feeling uncomfortable. Nick was between her and the door. "I think we are having a misunderstanding right now, Nick."

"I'll say," Nick muttered, he reached for Mia which caused her to back up against the wall. "Sweety, I'm not mad. You're a good mother trying so hard to save your child. I will still marry you. We can be happy." Nicholas stepped in close to her, reaching for her face.

"Nick back up!" Mia said sharply. He reached for her again and she panicked shoving him backwards hard. Nicholas staggered back a few steps and she saw sadness then a flash of anger then sadness, but it was too late.

The back of Nicholas's fist hit her in a backhand across the jaw and mouth opening a wide cut in her lip. The force slammed her into the door frame to the bathroom where she hit her forehead right at the hairline opening another wound. Blood started to pour from both wounds across her face and onto her clothes.

Nicholas cursed trying to get to her but she side stepped around him.

"Mia, doll, I didn't mean to do that. You must believe me. I would never hurt you. Oh no, I am so sorry." Nicholas panicked.

Mia darted out of the room and ran to the playroom and found her son. "Sage, we need to go right now.

Sage looked up at her, "momma?"

"Now, baby." Sage ran over to his mother as a nurse came up to Mia.

"Mia, you're bleeding what happened?" The nurse asked.

Mia swung Sage in her arms and took off running for the lobby blood dripping across her and her son. Sage was crying.

Rachel came out of the side hall. "Mia, what happened to you. Let me get a towel." Mia didn't bother to stop. Mia came around the corner to find Nicholas blocking the lobby doors.

"Thank goodness, you're still here. Mia, I am so sorry. Let's get you cleaned up and we can talk about this." Nick said imploringly, raising his hands.

Mia ran past and all that Nicholas managed to do was catch her hand and when she yanked free the ring, he had given her came off in his hand. Mia ran through the doors. Nicholas started to curse violently. Completely gone in his rage for a minute before he slumped against the wall and slid to the floor. The ring in his hand was heavy as he stared at the glittering cold diamond.

"What did you do to her?" Rachel shrieked at her brother.

"I messed up." Nick said not bothering to look at his sister. All he could see was the ring in his hand.