Accidental Surrogate

Sinclair

The doctor knocks gently at the door then. I slide my eyes to him, annoyed to have another person in the room. Is this best for her, all of these interruptions?

“How is she,” the doctor asks, coming to Ella’s side. Cora moves to stand at Ella’s head, making room for him.

“The same,” I murmur, returning my eyes to my mate’s pallid face. “No changes.”

“What does that mean, doctor?” Cora asks, wringing her hands.

“Well,” the doctor replies, leaning down to study Ella’s face. “I can’t say that I’m encouraged by it. I think that if she were getting better, she would have woken by now.” He moves away from her and over to some of the machines, lifting the tape they’ve been printing for hours to read the report. But,” he murmurs, studying them. “It doesn’t seem like she’s getting any worse.”

“Is there anything we can do?” Cora asks, looking at him with pleading eyes. She, like me, wants to do something, anything.

“Go home,” the doctor says frankly. “Get some rest. There’s nothing you can do for her here. So go home, prepare yourselves.”

“Prepare ourselves?!” Cora gasps, her eyes going wide. “For –”

“For whatever’s next,” the doctor interrupts, meeting her eyes evenly. “It’s not going to do any good to panic. If she survives, she’s going to need you, all of you.” He glances around at the rest of us as he says this. “She’s going to need you to be strong for her, so it doesn’t do any good to stand around her worrying. I would recommend that you go home and let us care for her here.”

Cora nods anxiously, but I can’t help the anger that builds in me.

“I am going nowhere,” I snap, my eyes fixed on the doctor, who comes back to the bedside now.

“I understand,” he replies, meeting my gaze. “But you two,” he says to Cora and Roger, “I don’t recommend that you stay.”

“All right,” Cora murmurs, steeling herself and nodding. Then, she looks to me. “But we’ll be back- tomorrow. And if anything…”

bruskly, heading out of the room

frowning a little as looks at the empty

of like him,” I mumble begrudgingly. “He’s no

just shrugs as Cora moves to his side. “Sinclair,” she says, her voice serious. “How long have

her. What

doctor is right –

wakes up, she’s going to need

shake my head. “I’m not…I can’t rest. Not when

can’t finish the sentence.

to understand. But then

her dreams?” I snap my head, looking towards her. “Can you…” she waves a hand

grinding my teeth. Why the hell

“Not without her invitation. She has to bring me into the dream, and I don’t know…” I lean forward to look at her. “I don’t even know if she’s dreaming, let alone

feel a sudden flutter of hope

Cora begs. “Please, try.

for a moment and then, slowly, I begin to nod. “All right,” I agree, against my better judgement. If I fall into a sleep…and she’s not

not looking at

them. I take

coming to meet you, trouble,” I murmur

Ella

to myself as I spin around in my little dream forest. It’s so good to be back here – where the

in circles, like I used to love to do as a little girl, laughing as I go. “Spin, spin,”

I turn towards her, she’s gone. Silly pup, where is she of to? I hear her again, and spin towards her, seeing

looking for her, and am hit with

too much spinning.” I giggle again, laughing at myself. Silly girl, making myself sick. I throw myself back on the grass then, enjoying the feeling of it against my skin, waiting for the nausea