"She'll loose the baby?"  Howie asks in shock.

"Yes," The doctor says.  "Now you may see here for five minutes sir; and Mr. McLean, you may stay in the room with her for a while if you wish."

"We'd like that."  Howie says, "I'd like to make a call first."

"OK, I can wait."  The doctor says.  Howie gets on the phone and calls Nick.

"Hello?" Nick picks it up.

"Nick, it's Howie. I'm just calling to let you guys know what's going on," Howie says.

"How's Suzy?" Nick asks.

"AJ nor I has seen her, but we just talked to the doctor a lil while ago...."  Howie says.

"And?" Nick asks.

"She's in premature labor." Howie says sadly.

"What? Whoa! Is she all right?" Nick asks.

"If they can't stop it..she'll lose the baby," Howie explains.

"Aww..man..."  Nick says.

"Yeah, I know. Just tell everyone else? I'm gonna go back and stay with AJ."  Howie says.

"OK. See you later." Nick says.  Howie hangs up the phone and turns to the doctor.

"Follow me."  The doctor says walking out of the lobby.

"Come on man."  Howie says to AJ.  AJ just stands there in shock; tears running down his face.  Howie puts his arm around him and leads him to my room.

They reach my room and Howie says, "Go in man."

"No, you go in first.  I need some time to calm down.  I don't want her seeing me like this."  AJ says.

"OK man."  Howie says as he walks in the room.  Howie walks in the room and looks at me.  He can tell that I'm in a lot of pain.

"Hey lil sis; how you feeling?  Wait, that was a stupid question."  Howie says.

"No, it's not a stupid question; it shows you care."  I say.  "But to tell you the truth; I've been better."

"We're really worried about you.  I don't know what AJ's going to do; he's totally loosing it.  It's like he's taking all of this on his shoulders."  Howie says.

"I really wish he wouldn't do that.  He didn't do it on purpose."  I say through my pain.

"You just keep fighting girl; I don't want you to stop fighting."  Howie says.

"You know me bro, I'm a Patterson, I never give up."  I say as a sharp pain goes through my stomach.

"Yeah, and your a future McLean; and you know how that goes."  Howie says with a smile.

"Don't worry; I'm not going to give up.  I just can't.  This is AJ and my baby."  I say almost crying.

"Now don't cry; AJ will be in soon.  You don't want him to see you crying do you?"  Howie asks.

"No."  I say.

"OK, well I'm going to go out now and let AJ come in here."  Howie says kissing me on the forehead.  "I plan on you tell me that your naming your baby Howie, jr."

"Ha ha, Howie, very cute."  I say.  Howie walks out of the room and motions for AJ to go in.  AJ stands up and walks in the room looking at me.  As soon as I see him; my face lights up with a smile even though I'm in a lot of pain.

"Hey love."  AJ says in a soft, guilty, voice.

"Hey baby."  I say.  AJ runs to the side of the bed, gets on his knees, and says, "I'm so sorry about this; please don't turn away from me!  I didn't mean to; I'm sorry I got jealous too!  I should have gotten jeal..."

"Baby; I know your sorry and that you didn't mean to.  No matter what happens, I'll never turn away from you; I love you way too much."  I say.  AJ looks down at the ground for a couple minutes.

"Talk to me please.  I need you to take my mind off of this."  I say.  AJ looks up; I can tell that he's about to cry.

"You don't have to put a brave front on for me."  I say.

"What...what are you talking about?"  AJ asks.

"Don't play dumb."  I say.

AJ pauses for a while, then says, "Love, I'm scared.  I don't want to loose the baby; our baby."  Tears come to his eyes and he starts to cry.

"I know baby; I'm scared too."  I say as a sharp pain goes through my stomach.  The pain is so bad that I scream.

"What?!?  What's wrong?!?"  AJ yells.

"Oh God AJ, it hurts so bad!!!"  I yell.

AJ runs out into the hall and tells the nurse that something's wrong.  Within a minute the room is filled with nurses and doctors.  I start getting really claustrophobic; but I feel better that AJ's holding my hand.  A couple nurse pull AJ back from me and try to make him leave.  He protests and won't let go of my hand.  Finally a couple male nurses pull him back, our hands break their lock, and he's pushed out into the hall.

"NO!"  I yell.  But it's too late, he's already outside.