Page 70 of Titus

The interior of the chopper was quite luxurious, and I only hoped the small leather sofa I had her sit on would keep her comfortable until we got there.

“Do you have a doctor I can call?” I questioned her as the helicopter slowly lifted off the pad.

“Dr. Aster,” she said.

“John?” I said, shocked that the woman had just mentioned my childhood friend’s name.

She let out a long exhale, hopefully a reprieve from the pain she’d been in since I’d encountered her.

“No,” she said, “Mickie.”

“Very good,” I said, opening my phone and dialing Mickie.

The call barely rang twice before she answered.

“Titus?”

“Hey, Mick,” I said quickly, glancing at Amelia, who was curled against the leather seat as another pain hit her. “I have one of your patients with me. Amelia Veléz.”

“Veléz?” Mickie asked.

“She told me she’s Cat Veléz’s sister?” I said, confused, as Amelia shook her head.

“It’s Navarro,” Amelia corrected.

“Forgive me,” I said to Mickie. “Amelia Navarro.”

“Yes, she’s scheduled for an ultrasound with me this week.”

“She’s in extreme pain and bleeding,” I said. “We’re airborne, headed to Saint John’s. My pilots were cleared to use the hospital’s landing pad. They’ll be in contact with the hospital and providing an ETA,” I informed her.

“Very good. Can you tell exactly how much bleeding there is?”

“It was running down her legs after I found her doubled over in pain,” I relayed as I watched Amelia struggle through another wave of pain.

“Okay,” Mickie answered calmly, in full doctor mode. “John is on call tonight and already at the hospital. I’m alerting ER and Labor and Delivery now.”

“Thank you.”

“Do not let her panic,” she instructed firmly. “Stress will only make things worse until we know what’s happening.”

Amelia let out another soft cry beside me, curling tighter into herself.

“Mick,” I said, lowering my voice, keeping my eyes on Amelia. “She’s terrified she’s losing the baby.”

Mickie’s tone softened. “We don’t know that yet,” she said. “Early pregnancy bleeding can mean several things. I need her at the hospital before anyone assumes the worst.”

Mickie’s calmness alone helped save my mental state in that moment. Hopefully, I could now offer some comfort for the young woman in pain.

“I’ll have John meet you directly at the helipad,” she continued. “I’m clearing imaging and ultrasound now so there’s no waiting when you land.”

“Appreciate it.”

“And Titus?”

“Yes?”

“If she loses consciousness or the bleeding worsens before you land, I need you to tell your pilot to radio ahead immediately.”