The thing about falling in love with a Guardian is, you get really good at moving fast during an emergency.
We get from the exhibition space to Raj and Melanie’s house in record time. Aiden is in and out in about thirty seconds. The second he’s back in the car with the duffel bag he found by the door, we’re tearing down the road towards the hospital.
Aiden checks his watch, then blinks when he sees the time we’ve made.
“Shit, we’re so good at this. We’ll get there before Mellie and Noah do, at this rate.”
I laugh, shaking my head.
“No, I don’t think so. I took a night drive with Noah, and let me tell you, he can go fast when he wants to. Even in my car.”
My phone buzzes with an incoming call. Aiden answers, then puts it on speaker.
“Holy shit!” Raj yells, when the call connects.
“Hey, man!” Aiden says. “We’re on our way right now!”
“Me, too!” Raj sounds like he was just running, but I can hear the muted beeping of his blinker, so he must be in his car. “Drive safely, okay? We could - we could have time. It can be up to twenty-four hours before she even goes into labor, and even then, they might have to induce it, if it doesn’t start on its own-”
“Raj, take a breath,” Aiden interrupts. “She’s okay!”
“I know she is, Noah is with her!” Raj somehow sounds more out of breath than he was before. “Look, I’ve gotta go, she’s gonna want me to call her mom - but you guys will meet us there, right?”
“We’ll be there!” I tell him, leaning over to speak into the phone.
“Okay, bye, bye bye bye bye!” Raj says, and hangs up.
~~~~
Ketterbridge is a small town, with a small hospital.
It’s a brick building, only three stories high. The constant rush and bustle of a bigger hospital is absent here. There are only a few people going in and out through the automatic doors, not too many cars in the drive. Aiden and I spot Melanie’s car out front right away.
Noah is helping her out of her seat. She’s holding his arm, and holding tight, apparently. I can see her fingers making deep indents in the sleeve of his jacket.
They must have called ahead. A grey-haired nurse in floral print scrubs is waiting outside with a wheelchair.
I stop my car right behind Melanie’s and put it in park. Aiden and I hop out just in time to hear Melanie say:
“I don’t need that, I’m fine.”
“I’m sure,” the nurse says, wheeling the chair closer, “But we’ll get you where you need to be faster this way.”
“I could still have time,” Melanie argues, repeating Raj’s exact words from our phone call. “I might not even be in - in labor-” Her grip grows even tighter on Noah’s arm. Noah winces, but doesn’t say anything. “In - labor - yet-” Melanie lets out a sharp hiss through her teeth, putting a hand to her baby bump. “Oh - son of a fucking bitch!” she basically shouts into the old nurse’s face.
The nurse chuckles. “Oh, you’re definitely in labor, sweetheart. Come on, let’s get you-”
“No, where’s Raj?” Melanie asks, her eyes frantically scanning around. “I’m not going anywhere until he-”
“I’m here, I’m here!” someone shouts, and we all turn to see Raj flat out sprinting from the parking lot.
Melanie makes a ragged sound of relief, reaching for him, though she doesn’t let go of Noah. Raj crashes to a stop before her, panting and wide-eyed.
“M.” He takes her face in his hands, puts his forehead to hers. “Are you okay?”
“I’m dying,” she answers, and Raj chokes.
“No, she is not,” the nurse interrupts firmly. “Come on, into the chair, please.”
Melanie slowly releases both Raj and Noah, then hesitates.
“I want my mom,” she says, her voice precariously thin.
Raj smooths a hand over her back.
“I already called her, angel. She’s on the way.”
Melanie chews her lip, then sits down in the chair.
“Wait!” I dart forward, holding out the duffel bag. “Raj, don’t forget this!”
Raj takes the bag, and the nurse turns around. She and I both pause, recognizing each other.
“Jamie Keane!” she says brightly. “What a nice surprise! What are you doing here, hon?”
“Chelsea, hi!” I accept the hug she offers me, then step back. “It’s so good to see you! We were just dropping off - don’t mind us, we’ll get out of your way.”
I turn to Raj, about to tell him that he can call us if he needs anything, but he tosses his head at the hospital.
“Let’s go,” he says.
Aiden and I exchange a glance, shrug, and follow Chelsea, Melanie, and Raj through the wide glass doors.
“How’s your mom been, Jamie?” Chelsea asks over her shoulder, steering the chair towards the elevators. “We miss her! I still think she retired too soon.”
“Oh, she’s good! Enjoying not being on her feet all day.”
Chelsea makes an envious noise, standing on one foot to flex the other while we wait for the elevator.
“Well, if Mary ever misses life as a nurse, you’ll send her right back to us, won’t you?”
“Of course!”
Chelsea smiles, then backs the chair into the spacious elevator, bending to speak to Melanie.
“We’re just gonna start you out with a few tests, make sure everything is looking good, okay?”
Melanie nods silently, closing her eyes. Raj winds a hand around her braid, and she lets out a heavy exhale.
“Chelsea and my mom worked together for years,” I tell her. “You’re in good hands.”
Melanie shoots me a grateful look, then reaches up for Raj’s hand.
He has to let her go a moment later, so that Chelsea can wheel the chair out on the second floor. When he goes to take it again, Chelsea waves him away.
“You wait here for a few minutes, alright? You need to fill out some paperwork, anyways.”
Raj bites his lip, then drops to a crouch, puts his hands on Melanie’s knees. He tips forward and brushes a kiss onto her mouth.
“I’ll be right here,” he murmurs.
They whisper some quiet words to each other. Raj presses one more kiss to her forehead, then moves out of the way.
Chelsea disappears down the hallway with Melanie. Raj straightens up, running a hand over his mouth.
“Aw, Raj!” I give his arm a squeeze, beaming at him. “This is so exciting!”
“Seriously, Raj, when the panic wears off, you’re gonna realize,” Aiden adds.
Raj swallows, then turns to look at us.
“I can’t believe this is really-” He stops, his eyebrows furrowing. “Hey - where… where’s Noah?”
~~~~
Aiden and I both twist on the spot, looking around. I thought that Noah was with us - even in the elevator, for some reason - but he’s not. He’s not here.
“Where is he?” Raj says again, a little louder.
I glance at Aiden, who spreads his hands in an I-have-no-idea kind of way.
“I could have sworn he was right behind us!” I say, turning back to Raj. “Maybe he - went to go park the car, or-?”
“Well - can you fucking find him, please?” Raj is speaking in a broken, chaotic way that I’m glad Melanie can’t hear. “I need him, alright? Some - somebody just please fucking go find him!”
“I’m all over it!” I tug on Aiden’s sleeve. “Babe, can you stay with Raj, and I’ll-?”
“Yeah, of course!”
I call Noah while I wait for the elevator. He doesn’t pick up.
I do a lap of the first floor of the hospital. I don’t find Noah, but familiar faces are everywhere. My mom keeps her friends close, and many of the staff here are recurring guests at her outdoor dining table. I get stopped several times for a quick hellos and chit-chat. Doctors, nurses, and admin people alike pull me aside to ask how my mom is, and how I’m doing, and to say that we’ll all need to get together soon. It’s nice to see everyone, but this slows me down considerably, and it takes me longer than I’d have liked to make my way outside.
Melanie’s car is still parked right out front, by mine. I peer through the windows, but Noah isn’t in there.
A thorough search of the parking lot also turns up nothing.
I kind of can’t believe this. Did Noah leave?
No, there's no way. I know him, I know he wouldn’t do that.
I stop by the hospital doors. I call him again. He doesn’t answer.
“Come on, Noah,” I mutter, dialing him one more time. “Come on, come on, I know you wouldn’t just fucking leave…”
A cluster of people drift through the hospital doors, and I move out of the way. I go all the way around the side of the hospital. I need to be alone, to strategize, to think.
Stepping around the side of the building gives me an idea, actually.
I hang up my phone. I walk along the side of the building until I reach the end, then turn the corner, coming out behind the hospital.
I jolt to a stop, then let out a relieved breath.
There he is, sitting on the pavement, his knees pulled up to his chest and his back against the wall.
“Noah!” I call, striding towards him. He’s about halfway down the length of the back wall, and I sort of have to yell.
He turns his head, sees me, and scrambles to his feet, dragging the back of his hand over his eyes.
“Dude!” I toss my hands up in frustration, trying not to scowl at him. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you, what are you-?”
I break off sharply, close enough now to realize that he’s crying.
“Nothing,” he says, in answer to my unfinished question. “Just…”
He fades off, and we stare at each other for a moment. His grey eyes have turned a particularly pale shade, the color of stormy clouds. His dark lashes are wet and clinging together. He’s sniffling.
I think he knows that there’s no point pretending.
“Hey,” I begin, much more softly, and Noah slumps back against the wall, a half-ashamed expression on his face. “It’s okay, man. I know this is a lot.”
Noah pulls the sleeves of his sweater down past the sleeves of his bomber jacket, then presses them to his eyes.
“It’s not that, I just…” His voice is unusually rough and quiet. “Is - is everything going okay?”
“Yeah, everything’s fine. I know we’re all freaking out, but this is the age of modern medicine, dude. Think there’s like, a high probability that we don’t need to worry as much as we are. Presumably. I don’t know. I don’t know anything about this stuff, which I’m sure is becoming obvious the longer I go on talking.”
Noah lets out a strained laugh. “Nah, I know. I know. She’ll be alright.”
There’s a silence. I bite the inside of my cheek, then test out resting a hand on Noah’s shoulder. He doesn’t shrug me off, which is a nice surprise.
“Hey,” I say, as gently as possible. “Raj needs you.”
Noah takes a breath, straightens up. “What’s he need me to do?”
“Nothing, he just - needs you.”
Noah sniffles again, then swipes his sleeve over his face. “Where is he?”
“Upstairs. I’ll take you.”
Noah nods.
Silently, he falls into step at my side.
~~~~
“Oh, thank fucking god!” Raj says, the instant Noah and I step off the elevator.
He rushes forward, and Noah has about two seconds to open his arms before Raj flies into them. They give each other a tight hug. Raj mumbles something in Noah’s ear, too softly for me to catch. Noah answers just as quietly, then lets him go.
“Where’s Aiden?” I ask. “Don’t tell me we lost someone else, now?”
“He went to move our cars.” Raj runs a hand through his dark curls, leaning an elbow on Noah’s shoulder. “I did the paperwork, they said that someone will come get us when we can go back there - oh - there’s Melanie’s mom!”
A tall, willowy woman in a camel coat hurries out of the elevator. She smiles brightly when she sees Raj waving.
“Raj!” She strides over to him, pulls him into a hug. “Oh, honey! What a big day. How are you feeling? Is my baby alright?”
“Hi, Cassie! Yeah, she’s okay. She said she wants you to go straight back.”
“Okay. I’ll go speak to the nurse.” Cassie starts to move away, but her eyes land on Noah, and she pauses. “Wait, are you Noah?”
He blinks in surprise, casting a confused look at Raj.
“Yep, this is him,” Raj answers, slapping Noah’s back.
Melanie’s mom smiles, then pulls Noah into a hug, just like she did with Raj. I can see his startled expression all the way from where I’m standing.
“So nice to finally meet you!” she says when she steps away. “I’ve heard so much about you.”
“Oh.” Noah is clearly taken aback, but he returns her smile. “Nice to meet you, too.”
“Hang in there, guys!” Cassie strides past us, heading down the hallway. “I’m sure they’ll come get you soon!”
Noah and Raj stand in the middle of the hall, watching her go. Noah turns to Raj and starts speaking quietly into his ear. Raj listens, closes his eyes, and finally takes a full breath. I fall back, give them some space.
“Hey,” Aiden says, coming up behind me. “Got the cars moved.”
“You just missed Melanie’s mom,” I tell him.
“Did I?” Aiden looks relieved. “That’s good. She’d probably be wondering what the fuck I’m doing here, of all people.”
“I don’t know about that,” I answer, glancing at Noah. “Seems like Melanie keeps her pretty up to date.”
A nurse comes strolling out of the closed double doors at the end of the hallway, holding a chart. Her eyes scan over us, then stop on me.
“Jamie Keane!” she says, flapping a hand at me. “Hey there, you!”
I smile, open my arms for a quick hug. “Hi, Zara!”
“Do you know literally everyone in this hospital, dude?” Aiden asks me.
“Yes,” I answer, over the top of Zara’s head. “Literally everyone.”
“Catch up later,” Zara tells me, then raises her voice. “Okay, I’m looking for…” She checks her chart. “Rajiv?”
Raj raises his hand. “That’s me!”
Zara beckons with her head. “You can come back and be with Melanie now.”
Raj nods, then nudges Noah’s arm. “Let’s go.”
Zara, who had gone a few steps already, comes to an abrupt stop. “I’m sorry, it’s family only back there. Hospital policy.”
Noah starts to back away, but Raj seizes his hand.
“No, what? No.” Raj tugs on Noah’s fingers, pulling him to stand by his side. “Hang on a sec - look, I know that Melanie wants him there, too-”
“Yeah, she already asked if I could make an exception for him, that’s how I know he’s not family,” Zara says. “I told her the same thing I told you. Hospital policy is family only.”
Noah is trying to work his fingers free from Raj’s grasp. “It’s fine, man, honestly-”
“But he is family,” Raj tells Zara, tightening his grip on Noah’s hand. “He’s family. He’s my family.”
“Raj,” Noah says hoarsely. “Don’t, it’s okay.”
Raj is still looking at Zara. “Please.”
Zara sighs deeply, and I step closer to her.
“Zara,” I say. “He’s a close friend of mine. I promise he won’t do anything to get you in trouble.”
Zara twists her lips to the side, glancing between me, Raj, and Noah.
“Ugh, fine. But only because I owe your mom a million favors, Jamie.” She uncaps her pen, turns a page on the chart. “Melanie said your name is Noah? What’s the last name, please?”
Noah’s mouth moves, but nothing comes out, so Raj answers for him.
“Last name is Raunier. R, A, U, N-”
“Raj!” Noah stammers, trying again to pull his hand free. “Seriously, this is your-”
Raj turns to look at Noah. I can’t see what’s happening on his face, but whatever it is, it stops Noah still.
“Oh, you - you don’t want to be there with us?” Raj murmurs. “It’s... it’s okay if you don’t want to, I just thought...”
Noah bites his lip. “I mean, of course I fucking want to, but-”
“Okay, we’re going!” Raj announces, and gives Noah’s hand a tug.
Aiden and I stand together, watching until they disappear through the double doors.
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