CHAPTER SIXTY
"Oscar, tell me please," Nina pleaded once more in worry as she gave his hand a little squeeze.
Oscar took a moment to think, there was no point in keeping it in a little longer but knowing how much they talked about having kids in the past, this news was going to crush her. But she deserved to know.
"Okay," he nodded before taking a breath and running a hand over his mouth. He adjusts his position to lean in forward a bit to get closer to Nina.
"When they took you to the OR, they noticed some blood discharge coming from your," he began as his eyes lowered and it took a minute for Nina to think. "The discharge was similar to a miscarriage," it took one word for Nina's blood to run cold as she looked at Oscar.
She began to slowly piece the what he was trying to say together as tears pooled in her eyes once more. "I was pregnant?" she choked out as Oscar sighed one more.
"They couldn't really tell," Oscar admits. "They took an ultrasound and ran other tests that they could. But with the time on their hands they couldn't be so sure," he tried explaining. "Considering their you had to be around two to three weeks in, on that case," his eyes softened.
"Nina, we didn't use protection that night. Unless you were supposedly on the pill?" he brought up but Nina recounted the last few weeks not really remembering the last time she took a pill for birth control.
It would've made sense that she could've been pregnant. Even though she hadn't been feeling any symptoms, first signs of pregnancy appear when a woman is four weeks into her pregnancy. And she was due for her period some time next week so she couldn't really tell for sure.
But one thing was for sure and that she had lost the opportunity to find it out for herself. "I wasn't on the pill," she bit her lip as she slightly shook her head. When she had said that Oscar's heart broke even more.
"That um... that depressive episode I had after we lost Tony," she tried to recount. "I-I lost track and at one point I just stopped drinking. I-it was o-one of the things I ended up... not.."
It all began to crash into her again. The weight and loss of will to do anything for that matter. The amount of times she found herself crying and eventually staring blankly at work. How she had to forcefully drag herself out of bed each morning.
Now that everything good was coming back into place. The Prophet$ happen. This happens.
"Oscar, I think I was pregnant," she nodded in agreement to his suspicion as a tear rolled down her cheek. "I would've been pregnant, but I lost it in an instant before we could've known for sure. This is all my fault. Oscar, I'm so sorry," Nina started crying in front of him.
"Baby, this isn't your fault. None of this was your fault, Nina," Oscar tells her softly as he held in hand using both of his. "I mean, we both knew we weren't ready for one just yet," he said in attempt to divert the idea.
Nina avoided his gaze taking in that familiar weight of pain and guilt. "I knew we talked about it a lot saying we'd promise to take things slow this time. But we have to admit that somewhere deep down, a part of us wanted this to happen."
Tears began pooling in his eyes as well because he knew she was right. He'd always wanted to be father. Getting together with Nina made him realize how much he had actually wanted to have his own family. Having a child with Nina would've been a dream. They both weren't ready but they really wanted to be parents given the time.
"Oscar, I'm so sorry," Nina shook her head again as she apologized. The more and more she cried the more Oscar's heart sank. He knew that she didn't deserve the blame for what happened. It's not like neither of them could've anticipated what happened.
"Nina, mi amor, this isn't your fault. What happened wasn't your fault," he cooed standing up, still holding her hand. He walks over to her upper body to pull her into another hug as she cried. "Don't apologize, Nina. This isn't your fault," he says to her softly as he rubbed up and down her arm.
The sudden flash of memory of that night began to race in her mind. Being surrounded by the counter. The amount of guns pointed at her. The amount of hits she had to make and take. Her body going cold by the corner of the store.
"I was so scared when they all pulled their guns on me but I know I couldn't give into it, it'll just make things worse for me," she sobbed into him. "When Marcus told me the truth about Tony something in me just snapped but then when he started walking away he told them to... t-to..." Nina couldn't even finish.
They were gonna touch her. Marcus said to make sure it was going to hurt. Make sure this wasn't going to be something she would forget. A message for Spooky and Los Santos to never mess with the Prophet$ ever again.
Oscar's eyes grew wide with anger understanding what Nina was implying.
"He gave them the green light to touch you?" his voice was suddenly so low as he composed his boiling anger. When Nina nodded slowly, he balled his fists until his knuckles turned white. As Nina sobbed even more Oscar had put those angry feelings a side.
"I tried to make a run for the door so many times but they kept coming at me. I was angry and scared and the adrenaline was just putting me on my feet. For a moment I thought my mind just blacked out cos I didn't even know I could do those things," she continued with a sniff.
"The only thing that kept coming into my mind was Victoria, the twins, and you. I didn't wanna go, especially not like that. I wanted to come home so badly," she cried clutching on to Oscar's hand tightly. "A part of me was just thinking that this was a nightmare and I was going to wake up with you holding me. And you'd tell me everything was okay."
"I never thought I could hurt all those people. It was so unlike me. I thought I was gonna lose you. I thought I was gonna lose all of you. I thought I was gonna die that night," she whimpered as her hand started to shake. Her breathing was heavy but the weight on her body made it too difficult to catch a breath without her wincing.
"And in that process I lost our baby. We didn't even get a chance to find out about it ourselves," she croaked out as more and more tears kept coming.
"I feel like I keep hurting you, Oscar. I don't wanna keep hurting you. I love you so much and I feel like I keep hurting you," she shut her eyes tight as she continued to cry. Oscar took the chair to sit closer to her.
"Hey. Baby, baby, look at me. Please," he pleaded cupping her cheek so Nina could look into his eyes. "You gotta understand what happened wasn't your fault. Stop blaming yourself for what happened. You did what you needed to do stay alive. You did what you needed to do to get out and come home to your family."
He spoke with such urgency and stress. He was angry at what they did and of course he was hurt with what happened. But he was hurting more seeing Nina take the blame for everything that had happened when she shouldn't. There were things he could've done too. Nina didn't deserve to take on all the blame.
"Nina, I love you. There's nothing you could do to hurt me," he assured wiping her tears away with his thumb. "We're a team. Don't take all of this and put on you. Each time you're hurting, I'm hurting too. You're a strong girl, Nina. The more you think about it like this, you're just gonna keep hurting yourself."
"And I know it sucks and I know it hurts but let me help you. I'm gonna be with you this entire time. I'm not going anywhere. ¿Me entiendes, amor?" he asked softly and Nina nodded slowly as a reply. "And what did I say about apologizing?"
"I'm sorry," Nina said on impulse causing Oscar to sigh. "I'm sorry, I can't help it, especially with what happened. I just feel guilty," she admits in a whisper and Oscar's expression softens.
"You shouldn't be feeling guilty for keeping yourself alive. For wanting to stay alive," Oscar assures. "And, again, you don't gotta go through this shit alone. I got you, Nina. I always will. I'm gonna be here for you every step of the way. If you gotta talk to someone about what happened then you have my support. In anything."
He runs his thumb over her hand. As he searches for her eyes, he couldn't help but notice that she was a little bit absent. He couldn't blame her for that.
"You have me, my love, I mean it. I'm here for you," he assured her once more. "I'll be here to remind you to take your meds, help you along with any physical therapy, help you eat, and even help you get dressed. You're own personal Nurse Diaz."
Nina bit back the snort but Oscar caught on and he couldn't help chuckle himself. "You're probably gonna get sick of me but I'm gonna be a whole new level of clingy and sweet as long as you want. No matter what you need, I got you," he smiled softly at her prompting Nina to look into his eyes.
She smiles softly at him. She notices how tired he looked but he looked more relaxed seeing that they were here together right that moment. "Thank you, amor. Te quiero. Te quiero mucho," she hummed holding on to his wrist once more.
"Yo también te quiero," he nodded with a smile placing a kiss on Nina's forehead.
"Guys?" the two of them turned to Victoria who was at the door. "Guys, I'm really sorry to interrupt but Captain Cortez is here along with his detectives. They wondered if they could talk to you alone. They just want your statement on what happened," she said pointing to the cops who were a few feet away from her.
"Can't they wait?" Oscar groaned a little. He just finished a crying session with his 'fiancé' and all he wanted was for him to be alone with her a little longer. And Nina wasn't exactly okay.
"They said it would only take a second," Victoria added with a shrug. She didn't want to disrupt their time together but she knew how this would go.
"It's okay, babe. It'll be quick," Nina assured Oscar. "Go play with the twins or talk to my friends. I'll be fine."
Oscar sighed. "Okay. I'll be outside if you need me."
"Thank you, papi," Nina smiled a little. The nickname she had used made him blush a little. He had a small smirk on his lips before leaning over to place another kiss on her lips.
Just as Oscar walks out the door he comes in contact with the cops that Victoria was talking about. They were dressed in smart casual attire and displaying their badges hanging on their chests. He walks past them and finds the rest of Nina's family as Captain Cortez and his associates walk in Nina's room. As promised they were alone as Victoria had followed Oscar to be with her family as well.
"Hello, Nina," Cortez greeted with a nod. "How are you feeling?"
"Hey Captain Cortez, a little tired and emotional but I'm good," she forced wiping her eyes. No doubt she looked like a mess again and she was in desperate need of a shower. She wanted to go home but she knew she couldn't. She was going to be stuck in this hospital for awhile. "I thought you were the Captain of the 21st precinct in downtown LA?"
Captain Cortez smiled. "I got transferred over a month ago. When I heard about what happened to you, I knew I just had to see and get to it to myself. I got my best detectives to get down to it. Anything for Arturo and Carmen's kid."
Where was this when they couldn't get it straight with Tony's case? Nina thought.
"Nina, I trust you know how this goes?" Cortez asked.
Nina nodded. "I've seen mom and dad do this several times," she said looking at Cortez. "So where do I begin?"
Nina told what she could despite how difficult it actually was to recall that night in the bodega. Her mind drifted back and forth between the night and how Berto and Angelica must have felt seeing what happened to their store. Then the haze of being rushed to the hospital and on the brink of death in Oscar's arms.
With each blink and breath she took telling the story of the fight, the flickering lights of the bodega appeared in her mind. The deafening and ringing of gunfire. That rapid motion going back and forth keeping herself upright whilst defending herself from all these guys.
"I think we got what we need," one of the detectives concluded. "Thank you for your cooperation, Ms. Garcia. We'll do everything we can to put Marcus Gray into custody."
Nina nodded her thanks as the detectives left the room while Cortez decided to stay behind a little while. "Thank you, Captain. For putting your effort and time for my case. But you don't really-"
"It's fine Nina. I made a promise to your mom and dad to make sure you and your sister were safe," he cut in. "Though I must admit that I haven't been really fulfilling the end of my bargain," he chuckled bitterly to himself. Nina didn't know what else to say to him.
No matter how much he tried to offer them help they refused each time insisting they were okay. But rarely did he check up on them. Every interaction they had lately was by a matter of chance.
"I saw the footage from evidence," he began. "You've gotten really really really good with your fighting. I must admit I was surprised to see you move like that. You're at parr with some of my team members. Maybe even better," he mused.
Nina grew awkward still letting it sink in that she took down nine men. "Mami and Papi put me and V in those classes for as long as I can remember. You even used to spar with us when we were kids," she recalled all that training.
Her parents were never hard on her for it. She understood it was for protection. Her and her sister ended up enjoying it anyways.
"I remember. You used to hit me in the stomach and it would feel like a tickle," he bragged in amusement. "Ever consider being on the force? Or maybe something more federal like the FBI or CIA? You have both combat and intellectual skills fitting for the job," he offered but Nina instantly shook her head.
"Arturo was a NYPD liaison to the FBI," Cortez said out of blue catching Nina off guard. She never knew that. "Got recruited just a few months before his passing."
"Law Enforcement isn't really my thing," she says truthfully after a beat. "The pressure and stress plus the amount of violence that occurs whether you like it or not. I don't want it."
Cortez sighed. "You say that but then if you take a look who you're affiliated with-"
"Captain-"
"Nina, please just listen," he begged and Nina forced herself to bite her tongue. "I get that you two love each other but look at the damages thats been done. You're sister has two kids, the last thing they need is another loss in the family."
Nina avoided his gaze allowing him to talk even more. "Just think about what you're getting you're family into. Leave before its too late. Before you get your family in too deep."
-
"How you feeling?" Sad Eyes asked her amidst the two other cholos who were fighting over a green pen. They're starting to act like the twins.
Nina just shrugged in response. "I'm still a little sore plus all the medicine is just making me feel weird. Seeing you guys come around helps a lot," she answered truthfully in terms of her coping with what happened. But she couldn't help but ask.
"How's Oscar?"
It took convincing for Oscar to leave the room and go eat. When he said he didn't want to leave Nina's side, he meant it. When her friends or when the cholos came bringing food, he wouldn't even eat until after he made sure Nina ate as well. Most of the time he would just take naps by Nina's bed, holding her hand as he slept.
Sad Eyes sighed. "Have you noticed his knuckles?" Of course I noticed his busted up knuckles. Every time Nina tried asking he would brush it off. That wasn't until she would talk to her friends and Oscar was in the clear.
"He won't tell me anything about it," Nina answered softly as Sad Eyes looked to the floor. It wasn't long until Gabriel stopped drawing smiley faces and answered.
"We got Spooky covered," Gabriel put it simply. "He's been beating himself up for what happened," he added and Nina started to feel heavy again.
"N-n-no no no, it ain't your fault Nina! If you think it's your fault it ain't your fault. Spooky just gets emotional when it comes to you," Gabriel tried once more earning a somber look from Nina. "N-n-no, I just mean- well we gotta start covering up his room soon-"
Nina's eyes widened, she should've known.
"You know what? Imma just go back to drawing more smiley faces," Gabriel chuckled awkwardly before Martín snatches away the markers from him. "You've colored enough smileys, fool," Martín said to Gabriel.
"But seriously Nina, don't blame yourself for it. Spooky's gonna be okay," Martín smiled assuringly and Nina took a breath. With a sigh she leans over a little and places a kiss on their cheeks causing their eyes to go wide and their cheeks to redden.
"Thank you for looking after Oscar. It really means a lot to me," she spoke softly to them but the three of them were frozen and red. In that moment Oscar walked in eating another cup of chocolate pudding from the cafeteria. "You know when I said eat I meant eat actual food, baby."
Oscar snorted paying attention to the pudding. "I did eat, this is my dessert," he smiled looking up from the cup. His eyes furrowed seeing his friends. "What's up with them?" he asked seeing the cholos red and frozen.
"U-uh I forgot I got a run to do," Sad Eyes squeaked out as he stood up from the chair. "Y'all wanna come with?" he asked Gabriel and Martín. Oscar and Nina looked at them weirdly as Sad Eyes voice was ten times higher than usual and the two other cholos just stood up and ran outside the door.
"I-I-I'll s-see you later Spooky. Get well soon Nina!" Sad Eyes squeaked out before running out the door himself leaving Oscar and Nina weirded out and confused.
"What happened?" Oscar asked walking over to Nina.
"I kissed their cheeks and thanked them for taking care of you while I was out," Nina explained in confusion. Oscar started laughing loudly and Nina got even more confused. "What's so funny?"
"Baby, you too cute. But you just kissed three single cholos who've been going through pussy drought. There's that and they think you sweet and pretty," he explained laughing but Nina was still confused. "Nina, you broke my friends."
It took awhile for it to click. "Ooooohh!!!"
-
"I can't believe you guys are leaving again," Nina said sadly looking up to her friends. "I wish we had more time. We could've went to a theme park or something," she added with a laugh.
"I know. We haven't tasted Oscar's cooking yet," Johann chirped making Oscar smile as he played with Nina's finger on her freehand.
"Next time, homies. I promise," he answered with a nod. But when Oscar had mentioned a next time they noticed a change in their expressions. Victoria took notice of it too. "You guys okay?" Oscar raised his eyebrow.
The three of them shared a look and the two boys had nudged Leah to speak. She glared at the both of them and turned back to the rest of her friends. "We sorta feel guilty coming back cos every time we do bad sh-stuff happens," she admits remembering not to cuss seeing that the twins were drawing stuff on Nina's cast.
"Don't tell me you guys are saying you feel like all of this happened because you guys are here," Victoria crossed her arms over her chest. "Guys, what happened was just a coincidence. It's not that we wanted any of this to happen."
"We know V," Joel answered. "It's just... we don't really feel safe here," he muttered under his breath. The three of them looked to the floor slightly embarrassed about what they had to admit. Even Nina and Victoria were trying to figure out what to say.
"Y'all have a right to feel that way. Shit here is pretty messed up," Oscar answered for them.
"You said a bad word!" Alex and Penelope looked up and pointed at Oscar. They didn't really understand what they were talking about as all they heard was Oscar saying the word shit.
"Go back to making my cast looking pretty, bebes," Nina smiled at them before turning back to her sister and friends. "Oscar's right. It is pretty dangerous here, it isn't exactly ideal to raise kids and have visitors around Freeridge," she added to Oscar's point.
"I mean don't get us wrong. We love being able to see you guys and the twins plus the Santos seem pretty cool," Johann tried to lighten things up a little. "But with what happened to Tony and then Nina getting jumped," he had lost other words to say.
"We get it. It's totally fine," Victoria nodded sadly. It was unfortunate for all of them that the only two times they come here all the way from Washington Heights one of their friend dies following their other friend nearly meeting death as well.
"That doesn't mean we don't wanna see you guys again," Leah added. "Just maybe some other time or you guys can come over to Washington Heights again. The people back in the barrio still talk and miss you guys," she tried smiling.
Right after they could figure out the hospital bills again, Victoria thought. "Yea, maybe. Someday," Victoria smiled looking at Nina who seemed keen on the idea herself. But with her current situation, they knew they wouldn't be flying anywhere any time soon.
"Just don't take four years too long," Joel smiled. The two sisters nodded smiling a little. This was going to be another different goodbye they were even more uncertain until when they were gonna see each other again.
"Mira, we gotta go. I gotta break someone's heart tonight," Leah said sadly referring to Gabriel. With her not coming back for a long time she knew that the long distance thing wasn't gonna work. "Any advice Spooky?"
Oscar chuckled and nodded. "Go easy on him. He's one of my best boys on the Santos but he's a real softie."
"I could think of another one just like that," Nina smirked earning a glare from her novio. "I'm really gonna miss you guys," Nina said sadly going back to her friends.
They all sighed offering Nina a comforting smile. As they began to say their goodbyes Nina felt like crying again. She cursed herself for being so emotional like that. It was mostly because Joel started crying and everyone started following next. They fell into a group hug, being careful with Nina's frail body. Victoria had even pulled Oscar in for the hug when the twins joined in.
They were all heading out now as Victoria would be taking them back to the house. "What about you, Oscar?" she turned back before she could walk out the door.
"I'm gonna stay for a little while," he said looking at Nina. With one final nod, Victoria leaves and closes the door behind her. The reason why he wanted to stay behind was because he wanted to tell Nina about what he did to Crystal. Because he knew if he just kept it a secret it could only make things worse.
"And then there were two," Nina said with a small smile as she laced her fingers with Oscar's. It was comforting knowing he had been by her side all day. When she would ask him about Santos business, he assured her that things were doing fine with his absence that day.
She turned to her cast, admiring the twins drawings. "The twins did pretty good if I do say so myself-"
"Nina I have to tell you something," Oscar cuts her off without warning slightly catching her off guard.
"U-uh, okay? What is it, amor?" She asks him. He could see it in her eyes that she was completely clueless. If he were being honest, it frightened him a little. With what happened the first time around with Cesar, it shook him up with the possibility of this not ending well. But he had made her a promise.
Here goes nothing. "I had to get rid of Crystal earlier today."
He watched as Nina's face fall a little. She didn't exactly comprehend what he meant as it all seems so sudden. "You did what?"
His palms started sweating and his heart started beating so rapidly. "Crystal gave the idea to the Prophet$ for what they did to you and to Tony. What she did was a different form of betrayal and she tried to brush it off saying that we were in love before. But what she did to you and Tony was out of line. That was full on sabotage. And as Spooky I had to-"
"Oscar, breathe," Nina continued giving his hand a small squeeze. She wasn't angry at Crystal nor was she angry at Oscar. She was more worried.
"Y-you're not mad?" he asked in whisper.
It was a lot to take in.
"I admit I was taken off guard about what you said and I'm quite confused to why Crystal did what she did," she explained. "But I'm more worried about you. You grew up with her, Oscar. She was your friend. You're first. How are you feeling?" she asked in concern.
Was she serious right now? He thought to himself surprised thinking she would be mad. "You serious? You're not mad?"
Nina shook her head. "There's a reason to why you do things. Why? D-do you want me to be m-mad?"
"What? No! No!" he said hurriedly. "I was just scared that me saying this would give you another reason to leave me," he admitted softly.
"Baby, after everything we just went through? After everything you've done for me?" Nina looked into his eyes. "I promised you remember? I promised I'd be more understanding. The only way I'm gonna leave you is if you break up with me. And I don't want that," she tells him sweetly.
His eyes softened. He really did love her so much. "Does this mean we're good?"
Nina smiled a little and nodded. "I mean, you are my fiancé. We gotta talk these things through right?" she added lightly making Oscar smile a little. He wished she really was his fiance. "But what about you? You didn't really answer my question. How are you feeling?"
Oscar took a deep breath. "I don't know how to start."
She gave his hand a tight squeeze. "Then tell me everything you can."
---
lololol this was a little overdue im sorry for the delay ive been caught up with school
can i get real for a sec? There was a time where you guys would actually vote on chapters. And in my opinion the feedback on the past chapters were a little underwhelming....
the two just got back together... Nina almost died... i dont know... do you guys no longer like what I'm putting out?
Tell me what you guys think :))
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