Page 56 of Lost Girl

“Shit,” I hiss, dropping to my haunches before her. “You okay?”

Wendy gives a little nod, eyebrows cinching together as the wave seems to intensify. “I will be in a few. Just have to breathe through it.”

"I should've run into town and requested Ward come to us. Fuck.” I feel like a giant asshole, shaking my head at my damn self. “I'm sorry, Wendy."

"Don't be.” She reaches out for me, forcing a smile. “Some of these cramps are more painful than others, that's all."

"Scale of one to ten, how bad?" I press.

"The bad ones are a five, maybe a six."

Yup, just like mama.

I’ve not even risen to full height before I’m whisking her off her feet. "I'm carrying you the rest of the ways."

Wendy squeals and locks her arms around my neck as I double the tempo of my strides. "Tavi, c'mon—you don't have to do that. Put me down! I can—"

"Nope,” I shake my head, “I'm carrying you, end of discussion. If I let you walk, we won’t make it to town until this afternoon."

"This is humiliating," she grumbles.

"Is there an audience watching that I don't know about? Because from what I can see, it's just us out here."

"Shut up,” she shoves my chest, “you know what I mean. I'm not an invalid."

"Never said you were, little wolf. Just trying to ease your pain."

Wendy’s stubborn expression softens. I can see it from the corner of my eye. "You know, I haven't even thanked you yet."

"There's no need to thank me. Any sane person would do the same."

"No, seriously.” Fingers at my chin, she forces my eyes on her. “Thank you, for everything you've done for me. You didn'thaveto do any of it and yet—"

"I had to, Wendy.” Anxious, I tighten my hold on her. “I wasn't lying when I said hearing your screams rocked me to my core. It was all I could focus on while everyone else milled about me. I remember standing there wondering how it could be possible that I was the only one hearing them."

"I don't just mean for getting me out of there. I mean everything. Every little thing.” Her thumb caresses the back of my head, a simple touch I want to yield to.

"Don't thank me, I mean it. I'd do it all over again if I had to."

Over and over again, including the part where I’ll have to let her go because she’ll be free—and that’s what this lost girl deserves to be.

* * *

"Miss Darlington,"Doctor Ward's affable voice calls. "I'm ready for you in here, dear."

Wendy rises to her feet and shuffles over to the door he's holding open. I’m out of my seat, following suit behind her, but before I can so much as make it to the threshold, she's spinning around, giving me the same look she offered in my bathroom as she sets a hand to my chest.

"Stay out here, okay?"

My head nearly snaps off my neck. "What, why?"

Her face falls more than it was while we waited for the good doctor to set up. "You don't want to see this, trust me."

"Wendy,” I grit—as calmly as possible—tamping down the impulse to voice how I’m already certain I know what’s happening.

"Tavi, please. For me?" Her lip trembles, eyes welled with unshed tears.

Half of me wants to give in, to let her have her way. But the other half feels like I need to protect her from this, to protect her from another onslaught of awaiting emotions she’ll need to process when Ward utters the words.

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