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Jasper scolded at the memory. "Good. We don't need to go to the hospital tonight." He grabbed her hand and began walk down the path. He'd look into the man and where she worked the next day. He was sure Killian knew the name of the place. That was the man's job after all.

He was silent, unsure what to say to Cadie at the moment really. "Do you..." Jasp started before his phone buzzed. He dug it out of his pocket quickly looking down at the message on the screen. A member of the MC had texted him stating Killian just took Grace to the hospital. At least they were keeping him in the loop,however it did take him a moment to think of why Grace had to go there. Then his eyes widened, was she even ready? Something must have happened. Jasper stopped and turned to look at Cadence,"I'm sorry Cadie, I got to go. Grace is in labor." Sure she wasn't his wife or anything, but Grace was a sister to anyone in the MC. And Orion was the father, making it even more important. Even if it was early, he was sure Moria was still getting the house ready for a welcome home bash. So even though he would have liked to stay with Cadie, ,Jasper knew he was needed elsewhere. So he turned and lead her back to the car."I know you said your not on good terms with her, so I'll take you home. Can I get a rain check for the walk though? I'm sorry I got to cut this short."

Dereck felt like everything kind of moved fast after Lyn announced that Grace was in the hospital, something about the baby coming early. Hell, he was sure that she had just found out the gender, which would mean that the baby was very early, and even though he wasn't a doctor himself he knew that couldn't be good. He was silent the entire drive, and the whole time he only thought about the horrible things that he had said to her, and how he made her cry. It wasn't him speaking, it was the cocaine, and that had to be the worst part of it. When they did arrive at the hospital, he did as he was told and moved to take a seat in the waiting room, letting his thoughts and worries shoot through his head.

After a few hours, the nurse returned to where Orion and Killian were previously, and was holding a clipboard in her hands. "Well, Grace is out of surgery. They managed to stop the bleeding, but she did lose quite a bit of blood. They are moving her into her room now, and will be having to do a blood transfusion to get her platelets up again. Because of the severity of the blood loss, I am only going to recommend that one person see her at a time. We aren't sure when she will wake up, but she is going to wake up. She is in room 211." Her eyes looked around at the different faces, before holding out the clipboard to Orion. With that said, she turned around, moving back to the nurses station to go through some paperwork.

'Cause sometimes you just feel tired,
Feel weak, and when you feel weak,
you feel like you wanna just give up

~Cadence Jaycey Sinclaire-Caine~

"Jasper, just go. I can get myself home. I live in the opposite direction of the hospital." Cadence dropped his hand.
"Looks like your going to the hospital either way tonight." Cadie teased gently. She kissed his cheek gently.
"Jasper, go..." She pushed him gently toward his truck. She understood the duties he faced since he was a member of the MC.

She started walking in the direction of her apartment. She was perfectly capable of getting herself home. She wasn't going to let Jasper take her home. He had to get to the hospital.

She had only gone a few blocks when someone on a bike pulled up beside her. The guy handed her a helmet. He smiled at her and Cadence was surprised by who she was seeing. It was Ben!
"Hop on."

~Candie~

It was almost like Grace was asleep, but she could hear everything going on around her. The hum of the machines, and the squeak of the nurses shoes as they moved along the tile floor. Something that was all to familiar, given that she worked here. However, her eyes felt to heavy to open, and she found herself nearly drifting off to let the medicine take her to dreamland when she heard a familiar voice. It took almost all of her energy to open her eyes, and when she did, and they finally focused on Orion, she stared blankly at him for a few seconds, letting her mind settle in on where she was, and what had happened. "You're an a*****e." She murmured, her voice was a bit hoarse from having the breathing tube down her throat during surgery. "I beat her with a bat." She added, letting her eyes linger over his face for a few moments before turning to the machines, and taking a few moments to read her own vitals. There was a long silence before it finally registered what he had said, and she turned back to him. "It's a boy?"

Jasper looked to Cadie as she told him to go and shook his head,"No, Cadie I can take you home. It won't be a problem." Yet there she was yet again pushing him away; towards his truck insisting he leave her. That he did so hesitantly. "Alright, if you are sure. Text me when you get home though." He told her before turning and jogging towards the truck.

Jasper drove straight to the hospital. When he arrived he found Killian and Orion, he stood near them for support. He barely noticeed Lyn and Dereck sitting in the waiting room. Once the nurse came and told them that Grace was ok, He nodded to Killian after Orion left giving his orders. Jasp would go back to the club let those there know that she and the baby were good; probably not coming home for the next couple days, or weeks for the baby boy, but they were ok now.

As Jasp started the truck, he reached down to his phone, frowning that he didn't have a message from Cadie,
To: Cadie
From: Jasper
'Hey Babe, did you make it home alright?'

Grace allowed the corner of her mouth to pull up into a small smirk when Orion laughed. God, how she loved his laugh, and his smile. Of course he deserved that, and she would have continued on if she had the energy, but she didn't, not to fight with him, anyways. Her lips pressed into a line when he mentioned that their baby boy was in the NICU, which was something she could have guessed, but her brain was still waking up from the anesthesia. There was a part of her that felt guilty about all of this, having the baby early and whatnot, however, she had also been really stressed out, and over worked in the weeks leading up to this, which was probably what led to having the little guy so early.

At the mention of name ideas, she breathed out a small sigh and looked up at the ceiling for a moment, pressing her lips together. "Well, how about Thomas? Thomas Michael." When she looked back at Orion she squeezed his hand, and chuckled at his little comment. "I love you too, jerk." Slowly she moved to sit up in the bed, and pushed some of her hair behind her ear, while reaching down and grabbing her own clipboard, out of habit. It wasn't that she didn't trust the nurses to treat her and the baby right, it was just that she trusted herself more. "Have you seen him yet?" After scanning over her papers, her eyes moved back to Orion. It was almost like she was constantly in work mode, even when she wasn't working.

'Cause sometimes you just feel tired,
Feel weak, and when you feel weak,
you feel like you wanna just give up

~Cadence Jaycey Sinclaire-Caine~

Cadence smacked the helmet away from her. She glared at Ben and put her hands on her hips.
"Why are you following me Benjamin?!" She snapped and he smiled at her. He reached out, grabbed her about the waist and yanked her to him.
"I wanted to make sure you got home okay Princess." He said and leaned in to kiss her. She lifted her hand blocked his kiss.
"Dream on!" She retorted and tried to pull away. Ben laughed and held her against him. He plopped the helmet on her head.
"Get on, and hold on tight." He stated firmly.

Cadence didn't move. She stood there with her hands on her hips. Ben looked her up and down.
"Your headlights are on." He stated and stared openly at her breasts. She crossed her arms over her chest.
"C'mon Princess! I just want to make sure you get home since your boy toy ditched you. You can't walk around dressed like that. Men will get the wrong idea." Cadence begrudgingly climbed on the bike. Her dress was too short, she was extremely self conscious about riding in her dress.

Once they arrived at her apartment in a few short minutes, she climbed off the bike. She pulled off the helmet and shook out her dark hair. She handed it back to Ben.
"Thanks for the ride..."
"Any time Princess."
"Since when do you ride?"
"For years." He stated and got off his bike. He put the two helmets away and stepped up to Cadence. She stepped back, he smiled down at her.
"You look pretty, but you shouldn't strip down. Cover up. He will either like you or not. Don't slut it up for him. He is no catch by any means." Cadence felt her face heat up. She was embarrassed and angry with what Ben said. She turned quickly and started toward her building.

He followed along behind her and she stopped and turned to face him. She lifted her hand up to stop him.
"Stop right there! You don't get to call me a slut, and then invite yourself into my apartment."
"I didn't call you a slut. Said you shouldn't feel the need to dress like one for that idiot." Ben stated calmly.
"Go away."
"Oh, don't be rude. I'm not trying to get into Candyland like he was. I actually like you for you. Not for your body, or associations. In fact I am willing to look pass your associations."
"What did you say?" She snapped and took a half step toward him.
"The associations...?"
"No. Yes. You said Candyland. Why did you say that?" Ben smirked at her and chuckled.
"Candie baby, I know all about you. Know all about your MC loving. Ex biker boys, and they were just that BOYS." Cadence backed away.
"Your from the Outcasts...." She accused and felt the terror starting to pump through her veins.
"What? Hell no! Not with those losers!" He unbuttoned his shirt and proudly displayed the tattoo on his chest. Cadence had seen that insignia before. She knew it was for a MC, just not which one.
"I don't run with either MC." Cadence stated quickly. Ben knew that was the truth but he wanted to hear it from her. Wanted to be certain.
"You sure about that?"
"Yes. So....just...go." Ben moved quickly to her and gripped her arm.
"Don't be afraid. I don't want to hurt you. I told you, I know about you and your past. I don't care about it. In fact I want to distance you from it. I like you, I want you. I can offer you a lot more then any of the Reapers or Angels ever could hope too. They can't even keep you safe." Cadie pulled her arm away and ran up the stairs. She fumbled with her purse and the keys inside the bag.

He planted his hands on either side of her head. She got the door open and they both fell in practically. He grabbed her arm again She was shaking visibly. Clearly terrified.
"Hey, hey! Cadence, calm down. I promise I will not hurt you. I just wanted you to be aware of who, and what I am. I know with your brother he will ask questions. He is a paranoid little dip s**t. I want nothing from them or the Reapers. I don't even want to associate with those guys. I want you." He let her forearm go and watched her walk upstairs. She was still scared, he could tell so he followed slowly behind her.
"Cadie, please talk to me."
"Did you know when you hired me?" She asked softly.
"No. I didn't know till the background check came over, and I saw you talking with an Angel one day after work. I was surprised, you didn't come off as a biker whore. No tats marking you as anyone's old lady. So I started investigating a bit more and found out you were in with the Angels. I wanted to know how deep the ties ran, and if you knew who I was. Everything else came out slowly and...I realized I wasn't researching you because I believed you were a threat. I long ago figured out you weren't. I liked you, and realized you were someone I could be the real me with. I wouldn't have to be so guarded all the time." Cadence was at her front door. She turned to face Ben who was now standing right behind her.

He stared down at her, she was calming down. It seemed she was finally realizing he had no plans to harm her. He touched her cheek gently and leaned in and kissed her. He kissed her till she felt light headed and she pulled away. Quickly she turned away from him.
"Please leave Ben."
"Cadence..."
"Please leave Ben." She repeated louder this time. He mentally counted to 10 and then spoke.
"Fine. See you at work tomorrow Candie." He lightly touched her hair before he took his leave.

Once she heard the door close, she hurried downstairs to lock that door. Then she ran back up the stairs and unlocked her apartment door. Once inside she slammed the door hard and put all four locks on. Including the deadbolt and chain lock. She had finally started to feel safe again and now....Ben had just destroyed that for her.

She hurried to her room, threw her purse on the bed and started to pull the night stand over in front of the bedroom door. She pushed it against the door. Using it as a barricade. She went to her other night stand and pulled out her gun. She double checked to make sure it was loaded. She laid it on the night stand and only then did she change quickly.

She settled herself into bed. It was then that she realized she never texted Jasper to let him know she was home. She dug through her purse to find her phone and pulled it out. She mentally groaned, he had texted her already.
'Jasp,
Yes, made it home. Sorry for the late text. How did everything at the hospital turn out?' She hit send and laid back in her bed. She tried to relax but she couldn't. She felt scared and vulnerable.

~Candie~