Post by Astrid Hall on May 5, 2018 2:30:24 GMT
Astrid Hall leaned back in the bed in the hospital room, staring in agitation at the ceiling. She wasn't still laid up, of course - she'd only been in the hospital recovering from surgery for a week, and had been sent home to recover. She had visited the IWF Medical Center to continue working on rehabing her shoulder, hoping to be back in fighting shape as soon as possible. She'd had a dream for the entire past year - a promise that she was going to be going to Night of the Immortals, competing for a belt, and walking out with a championship in hand.
She hadn't made it. Not that far. She'd hoped that she'd have been able to fight her way through all challengers as Shieldmaiden, but Rayne had taken the belt back from her two weeks later. Then she had thought that maybe she could defeat Brooklyn Madrox, and walk into Night of the Immortals as Women's World Champion... but the smaller girl had broken her collarbone and made her submit. There would be no title matches at Night of the Immortals for her.
But maybe she could recover from this injury with her usual swiftness. Maybe she would be able to compete in some smaller match on the card. There was still time, surely. Surely she would be able to find something. To miss not one, but two Nights of the Immortals in a row? She didn't want to think about it.
"Nervous?"
Astrid glanced over at Pandora, who had come to the medical center with her. Technically she still wasn't cleared to drive by herself as her arm was supposed to be under restricted movement, and Pan had been the one to offer. Astrid was glad that Pandora was there - she hated hospitals, and never liked being in them on her own - especially for the waiting. The long and agonizing waiting for the results of all the tests, all the checks...
The Valkyrie shook her head in irritation. "Bah. I don't see the need for all of this. I am fine. She should know that I am fine. Just clear me and let me get back to work!"
Pan smirked. "Right. The great Astrid Hall, back in the ring while she still can't lift her arms above her head without wincing."
Astrid raised an eyebrow. "I don't need to lift my arms high to pin you down, Pandora."
Pan just wiggled her eyebrows in response with a widening grin. "Promises, promises!"
Just then, the door opened - but instead of the expected nurse coming through the door, both women were surprised to see Sarah Cavanaugh entering the room.
"Ms. Hall. Mrs. Freeman. How are you both today?"
Pandora gave a noncomittal shrug, but Astrid snorted derisively. "Stir crazy. Can we get this over with? How long until I can compete?"
Sarah hesitated, glancing between the two of them before taking a seat. "About that... Ms. Hall, I have some news... do you think Mrs. Freeman might be willing to step outside for a few moments while we talk in private?"
Astrid felt Pandora's hand reach across the gap between where she was sitting and the chair. Bad news, Astrid thought grimly. She looked over to Pandora, who returned her gaze with a firm but determined look as she gave Astrid a reassuring squeeze.
Astrid took a deep breath. She didn't want to be alone. Not now, and not ever. She knew that she could face even the most damning of news if Pandora was there alongside her. She only hoped that the doctors hadn't found anything that would cause her to break the unspoken promise she'd made to Spike - she couldn't do that to either of them.
After a few moments, she turned her gaze back to Dr. Cavanaugh. "That will not be necessary," she replied. "Whatever you have to say to me you can say to Pandora. There are no secrets between us anyway, so even if she left she'd find out as soon as the door was open."
Sarah nodded clinically. "I understand. Well. I'm here because there are certain diagnoses that I want to deliver personally, and my staff informed me of what was going on as soon as the results came through. Ms. Hall, I'll say it plainly - you won't be medically cleared to compete for the rest of the year."
Astrid's heart plunged through her stomach. A whole year?
Pandora, however, actually laughed. "You're kidding. Astrid broke her neck last year and was out for two weeks. This will be cleared up by the end of the month. You don't know how quickly my girl heals."
Astrid exhaled slowly. Pandora was right. She did have an almost superhuman speed with which she healed from injuries. It had been true since she was a child. Surely Dr. Cavanaugh was mistaken, surely she'd be back...
Sarah gave a small smile. "Let me explain. I have little doubt given Ms. Hall's exceptional health that she'll be fully recovered from the collarbone injury within a month, maybe two. But even after that's healed, I still won't be able to clear her. Not until... late January, perhaps early February."
"Why?"
Sarah's eye sparkled. "Ms. Hall... I almost never get to deliver this news in this business, so I hope you'll understand why I took the time. Congratulations - the pregnancy test came back positive. You're going to have a baby."
Astrid stopped breathing. She felt her eyes go wide as dinner plates, and her hand contracting like a vice around Pandora's. Her mind was almost unable to process the information that she'd just been given... but she was definitely glad that she wasn't alone.
She hadn't made it. Not that far. She'd hoped that she'd have been able to fight her way through all challengers as Shieldmaiden, but Rayne had taken the belt back from her two weeks later. Then she had thought that maybe she could defeat Brooklyn Madrox, and walk into Night of the Immortals as Women's World Champion... but the smaller girl had broken her collarbone and made her submit. There would be no title matches at Night of the Immortals for her.
But maybe she could recover from this injury with her usual swiftness. Maybe she would be able to compete in some smaller match on the card. There was still time, surely. Surely she would be able to find something. To miss not one, but two Nights of the Immortals in a row? She didn't want to think about it.
"Nervous?"
Astrid glanced over at Pandora, who had come to the medical center with her. Technically she still wasn't cleared to drive by herself as her arm was supposed to be under restricted movement, and Pan had been the one to offer. Astrid was glad that Pandora was there - she hated hospitals, and never liked being in them on her own - especially for the waiting. The long and agonizing waiting for the results of all the tests, all the checks...
The Valkyrie shook her head in irritation. "Bah. I don't see the need for all of this. I am fine. She should know that I am fine. Just clear me and let me get back to work!"
Pan smirked. "Right. The great Astrid Hall, back in the ring while she still can't lift her arms above her head without wincing."
Astrid raised an eyebrow. "I don't need to lift my arms high to pin you down, Pandora."
Pan just wiggled her eyebrows in response with a widening grin. "Promises, promises!"
Just then, the door opened - but instead of the expected nurse coming through the door, both women were surprised to see Sarah Cavanaugh entering the room.
"Ms. Hall. Mrs. Freeman. How are you both today?"
Pandora gave a noncomittal shrug, but Astrid snorted derisively. "Stir crazy. Can we get this over with? How long until I can compete?"
Sarah hesitated, glancing between the two of them before taking a seat. "About that... Ms. Hall, I have some news... do you think Mrs. Freeman might be willing to step outside for a few moments while we talk in private?"
Astrid felt Pandora's hand reach across the gap between where she was sitting and the chair. Bad news, Astrid thought grimly. She looked over to Pandora, who returned her gaze with a firm but determined look as she gave Astrid a reassuring squeeze.
Astrid took a deep breath. She didn't want to be alone. Not now, and not ever. She knew that she could face even the most damning of news if Pandora was there alongside her. She only hoped that the doctors hadn't found anything that would cause her to break the unspoken promise she'd made to Spike - she couldn't do that to either of them.
After a few moments, she turned her gaze back to Dr. Cavanaugh. "That will not be necessary," she replied. "Whatever you have to say to me you can say to Pandora. There are no secrets between us anyway, so even if she left she'd find out as soon as the door was open."
Sarah nodded clinically. "I understand. Well. I'm here because there are certain diagnoses that I want to deliver personally, and my staff informed me of what was going on as soon as the results came through. Ms. Hall, I'll say it plainly - you won't be medically cleared to compete for the rest of the year."
Astrid's heart plunged through her stomach. A whole year?
Pandora, however, actually laughed. "You're kidding. Astrid broke her neck last year and was out for two weeks. This will be cleared up by the end of the month. You don't know how quickly my girl heals."
Astrid exhaled slowly. Pandora was right. She did have an almost superhuman speed with which she healed from injuries. It had been true since she was a child. Surely Dr. Cavanaugh was mistaken, surely she'd be back...
Sarah gave a small smile. "Let me explain. I have little doubt given Ms. Hall's exceptional health that she'll be fully recovered from the collarbone injury within a month, maybe two. But even after that's healed, I still won't be able to clear her. Not until... late January, perhaps early February."
"Why?"
Sarah's eye sparkled. "Ms. Hall... I almost never get to deliver this news in this business, so I hope you'll understand why I took the time. Congratulations - the pregnancy test came back positive. You're going to have a baby."
Astrid stopped breathing. She felt her eyes go wide as dinner plates, and her hand contracting like a vice around Pandora's. Her mind was almost unable to process the information that she'd just been given... but she was definitely glad that she wasn't alone.
Well howdy there pardner.