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Presley sat in the Emergency Room trying to calm Sutton down, who still hadn’t stopped crying. She was beginning to get really concerned and to be honest she was scared. In a way she wished she would have told Nick to come home, but at the same time she was annoyed at him. She couldn’t help but think he had been lying to her. Nick never mentioned having any friends in Canada, much less one that had a reason to be in his room at 1 in the morning. Presley tried desperately to tell herself that was exactly what it was, but she knew in the back of her head what he had been doing. The real question was whether or not she would confront him about it, or just let it go. Did she really want to lose Nick over a one night stand with a fucking groupie? Was that worth losing her relationship over? Apparently Nick thought it was.

“Sutton Carter!” The nurse finally called. Relieved Presley carried Sutton into the back with the nurse. Thoughts of Nick went out the window and she concentrated on finding out what was wrong with Sutton, if anything.

Within a few minutes of being in the room a doctor hurried in and took a deep breath. “Who do we have here?” he asked looking down at Sutton who had finally fallen back asleep.

“This is Sutton…” she started.

“And what brings you in with Sutton tonight?” he asked.

“Ummm… I may be over reacting I am not sure, but I am really starting to get concerned about him. He has been crying a lot over the last few days and can’t seem to get any good sleep. At least for not any long period of time, and now when he cries he is starting to get a bluish/purplish color around his mouth.”

“Ok, well let’s take a listen ok?” he said standing up and walking towards the two of them. He placed the stethoscope that was around his neck in his ears and placed the other end on Sutton’s chest. After expertly moving it around he turned away from Presley and wrote something down on his chart. After a few seconds he sat back down and moved his chair towards Presley. “I want to run a few test on the little guy. I would like to do a CT scan and draw some blood if that is alright with you.”

“Of course, but do you mind me asking why you want to do them?” She asked suddenly feeling like she was going to cry.

“It could very well be nothing, so I don’t want to get you upset. I am just being precautionary right now. There is no need to worry Mrs. Carter.” He replied. Presley smirked at him calling her Mrs. Carter, but she didn’t bother to correct him. Presley just nodded her head giving permission for him to proceed. “A nurse will be in shortly get draw some blood from the little guy.” He added as he stood up and walked towards the door. Once he reached he turned around again and said, “I meant what I said, don’t start over thinking anything. I am just being precautionary at the moment. There is no need to get upset, alright?”

“Thank you.” Presley answered as she nodded her head in agreement.

The next couple hours seemed to drag by. The nurse came in and drew Suttons blood which woke him from his sleep, then he had been taken down to have the CT were they had to sedate him, because he was crying too much to be still so that they could get a clean scan. Now they were back in the room waiting on some news as to what was going on. She desperately wanted the doctor to come back in and tell her that everything was fine.

Finally after waiting for what seemed like eternity the doctor walked back into the room, more collected and calm this time around. He sat down on the swivel stool and place the CT scans on the table beside him. He looked down at his chart once more before looking up at Presley, “I believe Sutton has what is called Tetralogy of Fallot. It is a heart defect.”

“What?” Presley asked not sure she was comprehended what he had said. “What does that mean?”

“It is a complex condition of several congenital defects that occur due to abnormal development of the fetal heart during the first 8 weeks of pregnancy. It consist of four defects Ventricular septal defect (VSD) in which an opening in the ventricular septum, or dividing wall between the two lower chambers of the heart known as the right and left ventricles that is not suppose to be there. Then there is a pulmonary obstruction, a muscular obstruction in the right ventricle, just below the pulmonary valve, that decreases the normal flow of blood. The pulmonary valve may also be small. Are you getting this?” he asked as he continued to explain the situation.

Presley nodded her head yes, but in reality his words all sounded foreign to her.

“He could also have an overriding aorta in which the aorta is shifted towards the right side of the heart so that it sits over the ventricular septal defect. The fourth problem is that the right ventricle becomes enlarged as it tries to pump blood past the obstruction into the pulmonary artery.”

“Are you sure he has all of those things wrong with him?” Presley asked as her heart rate continued to increase.

“No, I am not. I am just a general surgery doctor; Sutton will need to see a pediatric cardiologist for further testing.”

“What does this mean? Can this kill him?”

“Eventually it could, but if he does indeed have it, there is a surgical procedure that can be done to correct it and he can live a perfectly normal life.”

“So, what do I do?” she asked lost.

“I would like to admit Sutton to the Pediatric ward and contact the cardiologist to come and see him. This defect is usually caught at birth, but sometimes it can go unnoticed in children who do not present the bluish skin color early on.”

“What caused it? Did I do something wrong when I was pregnant?” she asked.

“Probably not. Unless you were a heavy drinker while you were pregnant it is probably a random defect.” The doctor assured her. “So are you alright with us admitting the little guy?”

“Yes. I want him to be admitted. I want him to get better as soon as possible.” She said as she wiped a few stray tears from her cheeks.

“Alright, well I will sign the papers and someone will be in a few minutes to take him up to his room.”

“Will I be able to stay with him?” she asked suddenly realizing that she didn’t want to be without him.

“Of course. He is going into the PICU so he will have his own room, and there should also be a parent bed in there for you.” He said patting her on the back.

“Thank you.” She replied as he turned and walked out.

Presley pulled Sutton close to her and she could no longer hold back the tears. She broke down into sobs saying that she was sorry over and over again. She knew the doctor said that it was probably just a random defect, but she couldn’t help but blame herself. She hadn’t really taken good care of herself while she was pregnant and she was really stressed out for the majority of it. What if that caused this? There was a very real possibility that Sutton was going to need surgery on his heart and that scared her to death.

An hour later Presley stood next to the crib watching Sutton sleep. As soon as they arrived in the room, nursing began to hustle around getting everything set up. They stuck an IV into Sutton’s arms and had connected leads to his chest and stomach to monitor his heart rate and blood oxygen levels. They also placed a nasal canula on him to supplement oxygen. Presley looked up from the crib and towards the window as the sun started to rise. She knew she needed to call Nick, but she wanted to wait until she knew he would be awake and hopefully alone. He was a few hours ahead of them, so she figured now would be a good time to call, since Sutton seemed to be sleeping comfortably.

She walked over to the lounge side of the room and sat down in the chair that was placed in front of the window and took a deep breath before dialing Nick’s number. After a few rings he answered the phone.

“Hey baby! Sorry, I was in the shower. What’s up?” he asked nonchalantly. Although guilt from the night before had been eating at him.

Presley immediately started crying. “You need to come home Nick. Sut is really sick.”

“What? What’s wrong with him?” he asked as panic rose in his voice.

“They think he has a heart defect called Tetralogy of something…. It is pretty bad. They admitted him to the hospital and have contacted a pediatric cardiologist to come and see him. They have him hooked up to all of these monitors, it is horrible Nick.”

“Okay, okay…umm,” Nick searched for words as he ran his hand nervously through his wet hair. “I am on my way, alright baby? I am coming. I will be there as soon as I can.” He promised.

“Okay. I love you Nick.” Presley told him through her tears.

“I love you too, baby. Kiss Sutton for me.” He said. “I better go. I gotta get all of my shit packed and buy a ticket and let the guys know.”

“Okay, bye.”

Nick hung up the phone and grabbed the closest clothes he seen and through them on. Grabbing his wallet he hurried out of the room down to AJ’s, banging on the door loudly in hopes of waking him up. AJ opened the door half asleep in his boxers. “What the fuck Nick!”

“I need your help!” Nick pleaded.

AJ noticed the serious look on Nicks face and was suddenly wide awake. “What’s wrong?”

“It is Sutton. He was admitted to the hospital. The doctors think he has some kind of serious heart defect. I need to get home like right now!” Nick said as he pushed his way into AJ’s room.

“Shit man. I am so sorry. What can I do?” AJ asked realizing the seriousness of the situation.

“Tell Bri and D for me. I don’t have time to wait around and tell everybody. I have got to get home to them. God I am a horrible person!” Nick said as he sat down in a chair and buried his face in his hands.

“You didn’t cause this Nick…” AJ said not understanding where Nick was coming from.

“I know, but last night while Presley sat in the E.R. with Sutton, I was….” Nick couldn’t even finish his sentence.

But AJ could, “Fucking that girl. Is that what you were going to say?” AJ asked knowingly.

“Yea.”

“I figured that much. Why’d you do it man? You know how much Presley hates that shit. Do you know what would happen if she found out? Love or no Love, you would be gone!”

“I know. I was just….Ughhh. We had a stupid fight before I left for the club, and I just wasn’t thinking. By the time I came to my sense I was already inside the girl.” Nick said shaking his head in shame. “What should I do?”

“Whatever you do, don’t tell Presley! All that will do is ease you conscience, but it will hurt her bad! Just don’t fucking do it again Nick! I mean it! She is a great girl and she fucking really loves you. Don’t screw it up!”

“So you aren’t going to tell her?” Nick asked shocked.

“No. I am not. When it comes down to it, my loyalty lays with you. I have told you multiple times over the last few months P and I are over, for good. I have no right or reason to go sticking my nose in your relationship. Just try not to hurt her though bro, she really has been through enough.”

Nick nodded his head agreeing with him. He walked over and wrapped his arms around AJ and hugged him tightly. “I missed you man!” Nick said implying that all was forgiven and that he had his best friend back.

“I missed you too, Nick.”