The baby.
Her friend.
And the right to receive medical care without humiliation.
David was at work when Naomi called.
He saw her name on the screen and smiled.
Then he answered.
"Hey, beautiful."
For a moment, there was silence.
Then Amanda spoke.
"David, it's me."
His expression changed.
"Where's Naomi?"
Amanda took a breath.
"She's here. We're in an ambulance going to the hospital."
He stood immediately.
"What happened?"
Amanda explained as carefully as she could.
An encounter outside the pharmacy.
A shove.
A fall.
And the decision to seek urgent medical evaluation.
David's face went pale.
"Is the baby okay?"
"We don't know yet."
For a moment, he couldn't speak.
Then he grabbed his keys.
"I'm coming."
Amanda nodded.
"I'll send you the hospital information."
He ended the call.
For several seconds, he stood beside the workbench, trying to steady his breathing.
Then he contacted his supervisor and explained the emergency.
The man immediately arranged coverage for his responsibilities.
David drove toward Richmond.
He didn't know what he'd find when he reached the hospital.
He only knew his wife had been pushed onto the pavement while eight months pregnant.
And the thought filled him with a kind of fear he'd never experienced before.
At the hospital, the obstetric team evaluated Naomi.
They reviewed the fall, her pregnancy history, blood pressure, symptoms, and the available medical information.
They also arranged appropriate monitoring and tests to assess her condition and the baby's well-being.
Amanda sat beside her during the initial waiting period.
She had removed the dramatic black cape coat and folded it carefully over a chair.
Without it, she looked less like a celebrity.
Just a frightened woman trying to support someone she loved.
Naomi stared toward the monitor.
For a moment, the sound of the baby's heartbeat filled the room.
Her eyes closed.
Tears slipped down her cheeks.
Amanda reached for her hand.
Neither spoke.
They listened.
For several seconds, the steady rhythm seemed to push back the fear that had followed them from the pharmacy.
Then Naomi whispered, "There you are."
Amanda looked toward her.
Naomi smiled through tears.
"Hi, baby."
The champion lowered her head.
For the first time since arriving in the parking lot, she began crying openly.
She had faced fierce opponents.
Walked into arenas filled with thousands of people.
And learned to control fear before stepping into a fight.