If Tomorrow Never Comes {Brendan & Melody}

It had been another normal day for Brendan at the magazine which had just newly started up. With the disappearance of Ian, Brendan had become the editor in chief of both the magazine and the newspaper and was finding himself busier than ever. He was going to have to speak to Connor and ask if he wanted a promotion. He wasn’t sure how Connor would take to it because he loved reviewing music, but there was no way Brendan could cope with the work load of the magazine and the newspaper now. He was lucky that he had April as an assistant editor at the magazine, but the newspaper was struggling a little and Connor was one of the reporters who had been with the paper long enough and Brendan trusted him completely. If Connor took the promotion then he would ask movies reviewer Jonathan Baker to cover the music section as well, wondering if he would be up for both.

When Libby had contacted him earlier asking if she could go to the youth center before coming home he had agreed to it, thinking it would be a good idea as he would probably be late in getting home. He had given Libby an idea of when to be home for. However, Brendan got held up at the office when a last minute phone call had come in and he hadn’t been able to get off the damn phone, it was driving him crazy. He eventually had to cut in and say he had to go as he had a young daughter to collect from the youth center. Even if Libby had said she would make her own way home and Brendan trusted her to do so, it was a way to get him off the phone call. The person had apologised for keeping him so long and he would call again on the Monday. Brendan then picked up the phone again and immediately dialled Libby’s mobile. However it went to voicemail which was unusual, because Libby usually always answered her phone to Brendan. It worried him slightly, and then he shook the thought from his head, her battery probably died or something. But he left the message anyway, telling her not to be too quick in leaving, as he had been held up. He then sent a text saying the same thing.

He had been unable to take Melody to her work that evening like he normally did because hadn’t been able to get home and he knew that she would have had to make her own way to the studio and as he didn’t want Libby going home to an empty house, as he hated to think of her being home alone, he left the office right away and was soon in his jeep heading for home. He was blasting out ‘Highway to Hell’ and bopping his head up and down as he did so. It didn’t take him too long to pull into the street which was where his home was located and as he approached the building before his own the lights on his jeep picked up something on the sidewalk and as Brendan looked again he realised it was the body of a young child. He couldn’t tell from where he was who it was, or if it was a boy or a girl. Naturally Brendan pulled into the kerb and turned off the engine. He stepped out of the jeep and began walking toward the small figure, and the closer he got the more his heart began to pound in his chest.

It was the body of a young girl and from where he was now standing he had this sickening feeling that it was going to be his little girl. Soon enough he was standing above her and Brendan began to physically shake “This jus’ damn well ain’ righ’.” Brendan said as he looked up at the sky as if he was speaking to god. Brendan felt sick and angry and fear was washing over him, but Brendan didn’t swear. He never had, even if this was probably one of the moments when he should have, he still couldn’t do it. A huge wave of nausea came over him and seconds later he was chucking up everything he had eaten that day, or at least it felt like it. The soon as he managed to recover from that he dropped to his knees and began to cradle his gorgeous daughter. She was in such a mess; in fact he wasn’t even sure if she was alive. The tears began to fall, as he sobbed, still cradling her in his arms. Then realising that it wasn’t going to do anybody any good he felt her wrist to try and get a pulse, while the tears were continuing to fall.

There was a pulse but it was very faint, then he saw her beautiful face and the blood on her chest and realised she had been stabbed. Fumbling in his pocket for his phone, while he kept Libby close to him cradling her in his free arm, he called for the ambulance and the police. Within a couple of minutes Brendan could hear the sirens. Soon enough a couple of paramedics came out of the ambulance and rushed toward Brendan. “What happened sir?” One of them asked, but Brendan was so overcome with grief he couldn’t really speak and yet he knew he had to. “She’s ma daughter, an’ she’s been stabbed an’ god only knows wha’ else. I don’ think she’s breathin’.” It was a wonder Brendan was even able to get all of those words out. The lady paramedic put her hand on Brendan’s shoulder gently, “We’ll take great care of her, don’t you worry about that.” Brendan sat back away from Libby letting the paramedics do what they needed and soon enough Libby was hooked up to a drip and an oxygen mask over her face and swab wound dressings on the stab holes on her chest.

They then lifted up the stretcher and soon they had her on the bed in the ambulance, one paramedic stayed with her, and the other went round to drive the ambulance. Brendan naturally went into the back of the ambulance with them, and they were soon speeding off to the hospital. They were there within minutes and then he knew the one person he had to have with him, he couldn’t go through this without her, was Melody. He flipped open his mobile and began to dial the station. Naturally he didn’t get through to Melody as she would be reporting the news right at that moment. He had to speak to one of the crew members instead.

In as steady a voice as possible, although it was still very broken he said:-

Brendan: Can ya get a message to Melody fer me please?
Station: Sure, what’s the message?
Brendan: Can ya tell her, it’s Bren, an’ somethin’ real bad has happened to ma Libby an’ I need her.
Station: Certainly sir.

Brendan then flipped his phone closed and couldn’t contain himself any longer as he fell to the floor of the hospital in a heap and just sobbed his heart out with his head in his hands, wondering if his beautiful little girl was even going to pull through this.

Brendan was so upset that the reasonable weather of Las Vegas even for this time of the year was no longer being reasonable, as Brendan's ability kicked into play and it soon became stormy outside. Dark clouds suddenly began to form and a gale force wind and started up. Brendan knew if he didn't get a control on his emotions soon there would probably be a full out storm with extremely heavy rain falling.

As the ambulance made its way speedily toward the hospital, the paramedic in the back continued to work on Libby. The dressing pads which were covering the stab wounds were already soaked through with blood and the paramedic quickly changed them over for new ones, trying to keep pressure on the wounds. “Step on it Zach, she’s losing too much blood, we need to get her to the ER now.” This made the ambulance travel even quicker as the sirens got louder. Once she got Libby a little more stable and keeping the pressure on the wounds she looked over at the girl’s father. He was completely devastated which was only to be natural. “Hi, my name’s Carla and I’m doing everything I can for your daughter right now. What’s her name? And what is your own name? How old is she? I’m sorry for asking you these questions sir, but they’re required for her arrival at the ER.” Carla said as she used a free hand to type up on the touch screen the details when the father had answered her.

It was at that point Libby began to moan slightly. Carla quickly turned to her, “Everything is going to be okay darling, just keep calm.” Not that it made any difference, as Libby was constantly drifting in and out of consciousness and didn’t know what was really happening, she just knew she was in a lot of pain and she didn’t like it. Then suddenly the pain was gone and Libby felt like she was flying in the air.

She opened her eyes to be surrounded by light and when she looked up she saw her mom Faith. Libby began running to her and Faith opened her arms and hugged her. Libby pulled out of the hug grinning, “Mommy yer here?” Libby asked, but Faith shook her head. “No darling I’m not really there, but you are here, and you shouldn’t be.” Libby looked at her mom with confusion, “Wha’ d’ya mean I shouldn’ be here, why where am I?” Faith gave Libby a sad look and then she opened her arms out and suddenly Libby could see why it was so light, a glow formed round Faith and then Libby saw wings unfold from her mom’s body. “You’re in heaven right now my baby girl, but you don’t belong here. It’s too soon for you. I’m so sorry I never told you about your daddy and I can see that he loves you dearly and that was a terrible mistake. You have to go back to him. He needs you, you need each other.” Libby began to cry, “But I don’ wanna go, I don’ wanna leave ya mommy." Faith shook her head, “But you must baby girl, I can’t take you away from him now, it’s not your time, we’ll meet again, but for now you have to go back and be with your daddy.” Libby finally nodded her head, “Alrigh’ then.” She then gave her mom another hug before Faith gently pushed her in the opposite direction and the light Libby had saw was beginning to fade.

The paramedic had just pressed the resuscitator paddles onto Libby’s chest for the third time and finally a heartbeat started showing up on the monitor. “Damn it Zach, thought I had lost here there.” Zach put his foot down even more, “We’ll be there in a minute Carla, keep her holding on.” Carla gently brushed some of Libby’s hair to the side, “You best hang on in there Libby, your dad needs you.” Carla said in a soft voice, now that Libby’s father had answered the questions she had asked before. Then the ambulance came to a sudden stop and soon enough the doors were being opened by Zach and he and Carla got Libby onto the wheeled bed and began to push her into the ER where doctors and nurses were already waiting to receive Libby.

“What do we have?” A doctor asked. Carla looked at him and began to speak, “Eleven year old girl, two stab wounds to the chest, I think one of her lungs or both might be fatally damaged. There’s a heartbeat, but it’s faint, she’s lost a lot of blood. Blood pressure is stable for now, but I had to resuscitate her in the ambulance. All other vital signs seem to be good, she’s a fighter this one, but she requires immediate surgery I would say. I think she may have been raped as I noticed blood down below, might be worth checking her internal organs, make sure nothing has been damaged, it would be a damn shame if the kid couldn’t have any children when she’s older.” With that the doctors began to wheel Libby through into the operating theatre and a nurse turned to Brendan.

“We’ll take good care of your daughter sir; may I suggest you move along to the waiting room next to the operating room? You will be kept updated on how things are going along with your daughter; I promise we’ll do everything we can to bring her back to you.” With that she made her way to the operating room to assist the doctors.

Melody knew that by not getting a reply from her voicemail message, that something was terribly wrong. Something real bad must have happened to Libby, and she hoped that she wouldn't be told when she got to the hospital bad news from Brendan. Melody knew that Libby meant the world to Brendan, and she also loved Libby like a daughter. She didn't know what to expect when she got to the hospital. But when she saw Brendan slumped on the floor, crying, Melody didn't hesitate, and just ran to him, taking him in her arms.

When she said that she was here, Brendan broke down and cried heavily, feeling his own arms going around her. Her own tears were starting to fall more now, and she tried to control them, trying to be strong for Brendan with whatever happened to Libby. Melody ran a hand through his hair, "Shhh, Bren. I'm here." She slowly rocked him in her arms, hoping that he would calm down only a little to tell her what happened. Whatever it was, Melody felt that it was quite serious, and she hoped that she could do something to help.

Melody just sat there with Brendan, knowing that just being there for him right now was the only thing she could do until she found out what happened. She took a few deep breaths, trying to control her own emotions, and soon enough Brendan moved out of their embrace. Just seeing how he looked made Melody wipe a stray tear, and sigh a little, waiting to see what he said. A few things had gone through her midn of what might have happened, but really, knowing what happened was the best thing to know, instead of thinking of radical ideas.

Melody listened to what Brendan said. Hearing Brendan blame himself was enough for Melody to shake her head a little. She let him continue, not saying a word till he finished. Melody frowned a little, then gasped at hearing that Libby had been stabbed. Her emotions were starting to act up again, but she swallowed back tears, and tried to listen more. She could see that Brendan was going to be sick, like he gagged a little, but then that moment was gone. Melody was worried for Brendan just as much as she was for Libby. She gently put her hand in one of his own, "Bren, don't blame yourself. There are some evil people out there. Ever since it got out that there are people out there like us, humans have been tring to do away with us. Sadly they found some of us here in Las Vegas, and even more tragic, is they are preying on young kids like Libby." Melody felt her other hand go into a fist, feeling angry now.


Brendan then told her that he had been told to wait outside the operating room, so that he could be kept updated on Libby. Melody nodded, as she watched Brendan get up off the floor, and she also then got up. As he put his arm around her, Melody did the same, keeping an eye on him. She had no idea what he was truly feeling as she had no children, yet, to speak of, but feeling close to Libby already, she was angry, hurt and very much sad to know that she was injured. She just couldn't understand why this was happening. Libby was a good kid, but it seemed that these humans just didn't care who it was, as long as they got to an Evolved Human.

As they walked towards the place where Brendan was told to go, Melody heard what he said next. "No, it's okay. I am glad that you called, instead of waiting for me to finish. The producer was understanding. I am here now, that is all that matters to me. You and Libby matter to me." Melody hugged him close to her, and headed with him towards the waiting area.

After Brendan had said to Libby that he was there and not going anywhere, he heard Libby say in broken words and very softly that she loved him. Brendan ran a hand through his hair, and more tears fell down his cheeks. “I love ya an’ all, sweetheart.” He managed to say and then he just hung his head down again running his hands through his hair constantly. Then the monitor that was keeping a check on Libby’s heartbeat flat lined and Brendan thought he was going to lose her and started to tell God that he had only just gotten her into his life and he couldn’t take her away now. But then he heard the paramedic Carla’s voice say that she got her back and Libby was a fighter and that she had a feeling she took after him. Brendan gave the paramedic a weak smile, “Yeah, I guess she does.” He replied and then sniffed a few times, desperately trying not to break down again but finding it very difficult not to.

Soon enough they were in the hospital and Brendan could barely take in what the nurse was saying to him as he had found he couldn’t stand any longer and had slumped himself to the floor against a wall sobbing his heart out. It hadn’t taken long for him to soon feel arms go around him. Melody had arrived and she was doing what she could to calm him down as he felt her run a hand through his hair and try to hush him down. She rocked him in her arms slightly and eventually his sobs began to subside to a degree where Brendan would be able to talk to Melody and tell her what he knew.

After a short while Brendan began to tell Melody what he knew had happened to Libby making sure to say he blamed himself. He soon felt Melody’s hand in his own and she began to speak telling him that he wasn’t to blame himself and that there were evil people out there who were preying on people like them and young people in particular. Brendan knew what she was saying was true and making sense, but still, if he had gone to collect her from the youth center it wouldn’t have happened and he can’t get that out of his head. “I jus’ wished I had collected her, it wouldn’a happened if I had gone an’ collected her.” But he knew he shouldn’t keep going over it all the time, because Melody would just say once more he shouldn’t blame himself.

Brendan had then told Melody he had been told to wait outside the operating room in the waiting room opposite and he had then got up and Melody followed, and the both of them walked to the waiting room in silence until Brendan apologised for getting Melody away from her work but he just needed her there. He gave Melody a weak smile when she said that it was okay and that she was glad he had called when he did rather than wait until she was finished. She continued to say that she was there now and that was all that mattered to her, that he and Libby mattered to her and then she hugged into him. “I know tha’ Melody an’ I appreciate it.” Brendan replied, using her proper name, somehow he just didn’t feel like using his nicknames.

They soon reached the waiting room opposite the operating room and maybe about fifteen minutes had passed when the door opened and a doctor came in and began to speak to Brendan. Brendan could feel the tears stinging at his eyes again when he heard what the doctor had to say. The soon as he mentioned the blood group he knew that he wouldn’t be a perfect match and he would have helped as well, but now he couldn’t. He put his hand up to his head, “Ma blood group is A, an’ I already know tha’ means I ain’ gonna be a match, son of a bitch.” Brendan said in a slightly defeatist voice. “Ma sister’s in New York, she’s too far away to help even if she were in the same group as Libby an’ I don’ think she is, am sure she’s in the same group as me.” Brendan looked at Melody with sad eyes, knowing what it could mean if Libby didn’t get a transplant, he would lose her.

“Wha’s gonna happen now?” Brendan asked in a shaky voice as he tried not to cry once more, but he had an idea of what he would be told, he just didn’t really want to hear it.

The doctor felt truly sorry for Brendan when he had said he wasn’t in the same blood group as his daughter and he knew that it meant he wouldn’t be able to help. He couldn’t do anything other than to give Brendan a sympathetic smile. Brendan then went on to say he wasn’t even sure if his sister was in the same group or not and that she was in New York anyway. “Don’t worry Mr. Harris, we shall contact your family anyway, can you give me their contact details please?” Doctor Trent asked Brendan and then he had made his way to Melody and introduced himself to her and asked if she was Libby’s mother.

Melody had shook her head and said that she wasn’t. “That is a pity; the mother would be the perfect match given that the father isn’t.” He sighed wondering if there would be anything at all they could do for the girl if they weren’t able to get a match from any of the family members. This was when Brendan asked what was going to happen now. “Well, we will contact your parents and your sister, there is still a chance one of them could be a match, however, if not, then we will have to try and find a suitable donor, but whether we will find one in time...” He trailed off not wanting to think about what he should say to Mr. Harris, but Libby was just a young girl he couldn’t bear to say that she could die, but really the father could probably already tell that would be the case.

When Melody spoke about finding out her blood group the doctor gave her a smile and nodded his head, “Well, we can certainly test your blood, I could take a sample now, I just need to get a syringe, if you are happy with me taking the sample?” The doctor asked and then waited for Melody to reply before he left the room and was back a few moments later with a syringe and a tourniquet. He wrapped and pulled the tourniquet around Melody’s arm and then gently felt with his fingertips for a vein and found one pretty quickly. He then took the needle and syringe giving Melody a sympathetic smile, “This shouldn’t hurt too much but you might feel a slight pinch and some pressure.” Doctor Trent never liked to lie to his patients, he then gently inserted the needle into the vein and soon enough he had managed to draw enough blood which they could test.

“Thank you. I will be back as soon as I can with the results.” He then left the room leaving Brendan and Melody alone one more, still waiting.

{ooc - I thought I would let you write the results, as you know about your idea}

After Melody spoke, saying that Libby was a fighter, and that she was here for both of them, Brendan said she was right. Then when he mentioned that they had nearly lost her in the ambulance before, Melody felt her mouth slightly open, swallowing a bit, trying to keep herself together for Brendan. "If she pulled through that, then I am sure that she can pull through this as well, okay? I believe in her, Bren. And I believe in you, and that you are going to have her back in your arms soon enough." Melody had no idea what the future was going to hold, but she had this feeling that Libby was going to live, and that all would be well soon enough. Well, she hoped that what she said was the truth.

As they sat in the waiting room in silence, Melody kept cursing to herself as her phone kept going off. If it was work, it could wait. She would update them as soon as she felt like it. This current situation was more important than work. Then Brendan mentioned that he should tell his mum and dad about Libby. Melody gave him a sympathetic look, "Okay." She watched him move towards the corridor where there was a phone. Melody sighed, watching a very different Brendan heading down the corridor. She wished that the time would go faster, and that Libby was okay, for Brendan's sake, more than anyone elses.

Melody checked her phone, knowing that she had better in case it was important. As she turned it on, it was what she had thought. A couple of messages from her co-anchor, saying that he had heard that she had left for personal reasons, seeing if she was okay. Then a couple of messages, that were pretty standard, from work that told the news anchors what the headlines were for the night, that will most likely be brought up the following day and night. Melody just shook her head, and felt like she couldn't deal with it right then.

She placed her phone back in her bag as Brendan came back. Her heart was going out to him so much, and she just wanted him to be not so miserable. But really, right now it was just a waiting game for all involved. She watched him put his head in his hands, which led to Melody rubbing his back with her hand slightly in a circular slow motion. Melody listened to what he said, "Okay." She wondered if they were going to contact Debbie, or try and get into contact with Gray or not. But really, if that was the case, Brendan would have mentioned it.

When the doctor came out, telling them of the situation, the talk of blood types came into play. Melody watched as Brendan said that he knew he wouldn't be a match, adding that he wasn't sure about his sister either. The doctor than asked Brendan to give him the contact details for his family, and Melody watched as he did so. He then handed back the numbers, adding that he hadn't long called his parents, telling them of the situation. Brendan then told the doctor to be careful of how he told his sister, as she didn't know nothing yet. Melody hadn't met his sister yet, but she did wonder how she would take the news, unless his mum did get in contact with her first, which she hoped she did.

After Melody had said that she wasn't the mother, the doctor said that it was a pity, as the mother would be the perfect match. She felt bad then, but there wasn't much she could do if she wasn't the biological mother. Melody just hoped that someone from the family would be a match. Brendan then asked the doctor what was going to happen now. Melody listened to what the doctor said, and she felt like the doctor was running out of options for Libby. Brendan then spoke after the doctor had trailed off from what he was talking about. Brendan then said to contact them as soon as he could. Melody hoped that the doctor would also. It was a young girls life in his hands, what more could he do.

Just then, Melody said that she had no idea what her blood group was, but then said that she could find out. Brendan had then given her a weak smile, saying that he guessed it wouldn't do any harm. She returned his weak smile, with a hopeful one. The doctor acknowledged this, and asked her if she was happy for him to take the sample. "Yes, of cause. Whatever I can do to find out if I can help in anyway." Soon enough the doctor obtained what he needed, and came back to withdraw some blood from Melody. The doctor then spoke about it not hurting too much, which she replied with a small smile, "Okay." Melody couldn't remember if she had ever had to have blood removed from her, and she wondered how she would go. The doctor soon found the vein, and then the needle went in. Melody flinched slightly, then began to watch the blood go into the syringe. But then she began to feel a bit queezy, and had to turn away, looking anywhere but at the needle.

The doctor soon withdrew the needle, and thanked her, saying he would be back as soon as he could with the results. Melody turned and gave the doctor a weak smile, feeling a bit better than she had before. Brendan then thanked her for doing what she had just done, and added that if she was to be a match, he didn't know how he would ever be able to thank her. Melody put a gentle hand on his arm, "Let's worry about it when it comes up, okay? Let's just wait to see what the results are first, then you can worry about the thanking thing when all is well with Libby." Melody sat back in the chair, and looked at the clock, hoping that it wouldn't take too long for the doctor to get the results, especially since it was meant to be in a hurry.

In about another fifteen minutes, the doctor appeared again. He came over with a piece of paper in his hands, and he didn't look very happy, really, he looked rather down, which made Melody feel like she was useless to helping Libby. She slowly got up out of her chair to meet the doctor. "I am sorry Melody, your blood type does not match Libby's." The dcotor looked at Brendan, and then back at Melody. "But something else came up in the bloodwork. That is why I was a little longer with the testing. I had to do another test to confirm what I thought." Melody's heart began to race. What has he found, she thought. Melody looked at Brendan, thinking that it was something bad, and now he would have to deal with two bad things in one day.

The doctor looked at Melody a bit more, with a slight grin on his face. She frowned a little, thinking what it could possibly be. "A positive came up in the test results, and you are in fact pregnant." Melody felt like she hadn't heard him right. "What? I can't be? I... this is the wrong time for good news." Melody backed away, and soon felt a chair behind her legs, making her sit down. She was pretty much lost for words now. It was good news, but not the right time for it.

{ooc - I know by bringing in Ashton, you might want to split your posts - but she might only be needed for one or two - so if you're happy to bring her in after this Brendan one - as she's overheard the doctor speaking, that would be great}

After Brendan had told Melody that she was right about Libby being a fighter and how they had almost lost her in the ambulance, Melody’s mouth opening a little hadn’t gone unnoticed by Brendan and yet Melody still did what she could to keep calm in order to help Brendan keep calm which he was truly appreciating. When Melody spoke saying she believed in Libby and him and that he would have her back in his arms soon enough he nodded his head slightly. He knew he had Melody and regardless as to what happened with Libby that would never change, but he just wanted his gorgeous little bundle of fun back. He figured he should try to be positive, having a negative attitude wasn’t going to do any of them any good. He finally replied saying, “I guess yer righ’ sweetheart.” He had a feeling that if he was going to lose her, he would have lost her in the ambulance when she had flat lined.

Eventually due to hearing Melody’s mobile going off all the time Brendan said he had better let his parents know about Libby. Melody replied saying okay and gave him a sympathetic smile and all he could do was give her one back and went out to make the telephone call. After a few moments just about holding it together to tell his mom what had happened he was back in the waiting room and had told Melody that his parents would get here as soon as they could. When he sat down and put his head in his hands he soon felt Melody rub at his back which seemed to be making him feel somewhat a little better. However Brendan wouldn’t be completely better until the doctor came in and said that everything was going to be alright with Libby.

When the doctor asked Brendan for the contact details for his parents and Debbie he had told him to be careful how they gave Debbie the news because she didn’t know anything yet. He could only give the doctor a weak smile when he said they would be as gentle as they could be and then he felt the doctor’s hand on his shoulder and gave it a squeeze. Then the possibility of Melody being a match came into play when she had said she didn’t know what her blood group was and maybe she could help. The doctor had then gone about taking a sample of Melody’s blood which she had been only too willing to give. The doctor said he would be back with the results as soon as possible and Brendan had then said he didn’t know how he would be able to thank her if she was a match and could help Libby. He just gave her a weak smile when she replied saying they could worry about that later. He gave her another weak smile and replied saying, “Alrigh’ sweetheart.” After all there was still a chance she might not be able to help anyway.

They both then went back to sitting in silence as they waited on the doctor arriving back with the results; deep inside Brendan kept hoping and praying that she would be able to help, even if it was just to replace some of the blood Libby had lost. About fifteen minutes later, which to Brendan felt like a lifetime the doctor came back into the room with the results. Brendan didn’t need the doctor to speak to know that the results weren’t good, the look on his face had said it all. Brendan just put his head into his hands again, tearing at his hear slightly as he willed the tears to keep at bay, he really didn’t want to lose it again. But then the doctor said that something else had shown up in her blood and he had to get it confirmed saying that’s what took him longer to get back to them. This made Brendan sit up again and he side glanced toward Melody who had looked at him and he could just tell what was going through her mind, that if it was something bad he would have to deal with that as well as what was happening with Libby.

Brendan was just about to tell the doctor to spit it out because he was ready to snap with the emotion and stress of everything which had happened so far when he heard the words ‘you are in fact pregnant’. Brendan’s mouth fell open slightly, of all times to have found out news like that when Libby was, well for want of a better word, dying. Melody’s verbal reaction was somewhat similar to what he had been thinking, but the truth of the matter was, it was good news. Brendan had wanted to be a father again for so long, to be able to watch his child grow from a baby to the age Libby currently was, and he had missed out on that chance when the baby Stacey was carrying had turned out not to be his. The doctor then said he understood the news hadn’t come at the best of times but if they could hopefully get his daughter fixed up they could celebrate the news. Brendan just gave the doctor a weak smile and then for the first time since everything had turned to shit, Brendan suddenly felt stronger and he took Melody’s hand and kissed the back of it and then caressed with his thumb.

“Despite everythin’ Melody, tha’s real happy news, we’ll get through it, don’ ya worry.” Then a nurse came into the room and went to the doctor and spoke to him and soon enough after the nurse left the doctor turned to Brendan and told him that he was terribly sorry but his parents or Debbie’s blood groups didn’t match Libby’s either. He then added that he wasn’t in the habit of letting a child die and he was going to do everything he could despite the fact that Libby was running out of time and then he left Melody and Brendan alone again. Brendan was still somewhat dumbfounded at the news of Melody’s pregnancy and was now feeling very mixed emotions. He was happy that he was going to be a daddy again and sad and worried sick and devastated that he was going to lose Libby.

“Well I’ll be damned Melody, it must’a happened Christmas night.” Not that they hadn’t made love since then because they had, but given that it wasn’t even quite a full month since Christmas Day it was the only time he could think of. Then again it would depend how far on Melody was, so really it could have happened any time since Christmas and up to a week ago probably.