"What about Nigel?" Aaron’s accusing eyes settled on his enemy. "Where is he, or have you already murdered him?"
"He’s being held in my tent, you just get her ready to travel...I’ll make sure he meets you at the truck. Next time, Deleany, you won’t be so lucky." Omar quickly left and dismissed the guards before going to fetch the father of Ms. Fox’s child, although he feared it was already too late, for the child and the young man...
Aaron didn’t waste time. Wrapped in a blanket, he gathered Sydney up into his arms and started for the door. She was nowhere near coherent anymore, her body limp, exhausted from the ordeal. Just a quick glance to make sure he had everything he needed, and he was off. But not before gabbing one more significant item.
"They’re going to really need you dear." Aaron muttered, and stuffed her into his jacket. Poking half way out of his pocket, her strawberry blonde curls once again dancing in the cool Karducian air as he strode off to their waiting vehicle, was Sophie...
Aaron drove while Nigel stayed with Sydney in the back. So much was unknown at this point. As much as Aaron wanted to believe there was still a chance she hadn’t lost her baby, he held very little hope for good news once they arrived in Van. Things were peaceful now, and it seemed as if Sydney’s embattled body had finally given in to sleep at long last. Her head rested on Nigel’s lap, and he mindlessly stroked her hair back from her face in a slow soothing manner. The action calmed his nerves as much as it had hers when they first started out.
"Do you really think she’s lost the baby?" Nigel absentmindedly asked in a subdued, British drawl. It sounded more like a plea than anything else. He desperately needed some reassurance, and usually turned to Syd for that when things looked their darkest, but now that was impossible. He had to rely on himself, and he wasn’t very good at it yet. In fact, he wasn’t very good at a lot of things unless he had her by his side to help keep him steady. "The bleeding seems to have stopped, and so has all that horrible cramping."
Aaron didn’t want to even guess... but for the sake of his younger companion’s morale, he looked at it positively. "I’m not a doctor son, I’m a miserable excuse for a friend is what I am. I’ve seen this happen in few times in my life, and each time the outcome was not a desirable one." He let go of a mournful sigh. "But I will say this. She’s been quiet now for, oh, about two hours now? My guess is that if she hasn’t lost it by now, she won’t. All you can really do for her now is pray for her Nigel."
Aaron glanced into the rear-view mirror to see a hopeful smile etch across Nigel’s weary face. He had to say something positive. Aside from escaping with their own lives and the discovery of the Ark, they had little else to be grateful for...
Sydney blinked her eyes, opening them to a lovely, bright summer day in a beautiful garden. She was warm, and she felt so safe...almost like she was being lovingly embraced by God Himself.
"Hi." Chirped a tiny, female voice.
Startled, Sydney turned to see a pretty little mahogany haired child, not more than seven or eight years old standing just behind her, giggling. "Hi there."
"What’s your name?" She asked, and skipped closer, curiosity in her vibrant grey-green eyes. Expressive eyes Sydney had seen someplace before.
"My name’s Sydney. Who are you, and where did you come from?"
"Oh, you’re Sydney!" Her face exploded with the biggest, silliest grin Sydney ever saw, thinking it looked just like Nigel’s goofy faced smirks from time to time. "I’m glad you came to see me! You're prettier than I imagined."
"Oh, honey, thanks! Listen, I have no idea how I got here, can you help me with that?"
"Uh-huh...I can help you Sydney! I will always be around to help you."
Sydney smiled. "Okay, then start talking little one. I still don’t know you’re name."
The child’s cheerful grin faded and she kneeled at Sydney’s feet, tugging on her pant leg to join her. Sydney got down to the girl’s level and listened intently. "I’m Sophie. Daddy sure knows how to give good names, huh?" She explained softly. "I’m that little baby you have, right there." Reaching over, she patted Syd’s middle and looked into her eyes. "Mama, I don’t know if I’m ever going to meet you in the real world or not, but God told me one day, you, me and daddy will all be together in heaven. Won’t that be wonderful?"
Sydney could not find her voice. This was, IS impossible...
"Oh, and you and daddy were naughty, naughty, naughty for going into old Noah’s Ark!" She leaned over, as if she were trying to tell her a secret. "But that’s okay, He hid it better now, and He said it’s okay with Him for you to keep the dolly. He said He forgives you both, even daddy for stealing my dolly! Daddy didn't know I was still playing with it." She sighed. "All the other little kids here think my mum and dad are klep...klepto..."
"Kleptomaniacs."
"Thank you mummy, that's it." She smiled again. His smile.
Now Sydney wanted to cry...this was her child? Hers and Nigel’s little girl? Now she could see it, where the resemblences skirted around the truth at first, it was now blaringly obvious... She was in a word...breathtaking.
"God said it’s okay if you want to hug me now mama..."
Sydney’s tears fell freely as she scooped the child into her arms and hugged her so close. "Oh Sophie..."
"Oh Sophie, I love you..."
"Syd?" He thought he heard her say something. Feeling the warmth of Nigel’s hand on her shoulder and lifted her head up to meet that same concerned, grey-green gaze. "How are you feeling, aside form scared to death, I mean."
She didn’t know what to say, and knew telling him was just out of the question.
"We’re at the hospital in Van Syd, Aaron’s gone inside to get a doctor. Everything’s going to be okay..."
Sydney just looked up at him through her dark, languid eyes, then passed out one more time.
Go to Part Thirty Three.