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‘Could be’ Theo sighed ‘If it’s concealed or severe, we could be looking at DIC—in which case there’s no tis’

The expression on his face meant that Madison made a final connection This must have been what had happened to Theo’s one into DIC—disse factors in the blood were activated throughout the body instead of being localised to the site of the injury So s up the blood’s clotting factors so it couldn’t clot where it was really needed

Every time he had to deal with a case like this, it must rip his heart to pieces Doubly so, now that he was a dad-to-be

‘It’s going to be all right,’ she said softly, taking his hand briefly and squeezing it

‘I’ to try my damnedest to make sure it does’

There was the tiniest, tiniest crack in his voice Nobody else would have noticed it, she was sure But she had

But by the tiency department there was no fear or emotion in his face Theo was cool and cal when he introduced them both to the patient

‘Mrs Staveley, I’m Theo Petrakis, the senior consultant obstetrician, and this is ory’

Mrs Staveley pulled the oxygento be all right,’ she begged, her face absolutely white

‘I know you’re worried,’ Theo said gently, ‘and that’s e’re here If you don’t mind, I’d like to examine you while Maddie does a few checks on you, and I’d also like to give you an ultrasound so we can see exactly what’s going on And keep thatto help you breathe and make you feel a lot better’

Madison took Mrs Staveley’s blood pressure and checked her heart rate while Theo exae, she caught the concern in his eyes, and she guessed that Mrs Staveley’s abdomen was tense and ‘woody’ to the touch Given that her blood pressure was low and she was still tachycardic, this was looking more and more like a case of abruption

Quietly, she gave Theo the figures He nodded, but kept the concern out of his face ‘Thanks, Maddie Mrs Staveley, I’el on your tummy now—it’ll feel a little bit cold And then we’ll take a look at the baby Can you still feel the baby ?’