"Austin, stop. I got it." Martin leaned over his face. "I'm going to check Janey into the maternity ward. I will relay everything ASAP." He kissed his brother's head.
Martin whisked Janey in a wheelchair toward the elevator. Bravo team’s Trask "Head Cap" Winslow was posted at the entrance to the ICU. "Head Cap, call Raptor, tell him Austin's awake and his wife is in labor. I need a set of coms and a video set-up. Also, ask him to dispatch two operators to Labor and Delivery. I don't want the press to interfere with this."
"Good luck, ma'am. I'll take care of things, boss." Trask squeezed Janey's shoulder.
Once Janey was safe with his mom and the delivery room staff, he returned to the ICU to find Austin struggling with Seth. "Cut it out. Your kid needs you healthy. I have an earpiece for you and video coming. But if Seth or Tess tells me you need rest, I'm shutting the feed. They’re starting an IV and checking her out. After I call Elizabeth to tell her about you, I will go right back to Janey."
TY.Austin fell asleep.
Elizabeth ached. Her phone was heavy in her hands. "Sunshine, you did it. Austin...he's awake. And Janey is in labor.”
"Do you want me to come?" Her voice was raspy.
"No, Sunshine, go back to sleep. I'm sorry I woke you. If I can't leave here, someone will pick you up in the morning. I love you so much."
"I'm so glad. I love you too, Marty. Today and always." Her head fell back onto the pillow.
Martin scanned the pastel-colored room. It looked like Easter eggs exploded. "Mr. Bailey, I'm Lois Massey, Janey's obstetrician. Your mom filled me in on the situation and what you did for Beth. Thank you. Janey is moving right along for a first baby. She's at five centimeters. I'm going to change, and I'll be right back." The sculpted brunette in her thirties headed out the door.
"Hey, honey, how ya doing?" Martin pulled up a chair.
"I'll skip the epidural, I think."
"How about we try to talk to Austin? I'm going to put this in your ear. If you tap it here, you’ll be able to talk to him. Seth or Tess will help him answer you." The small earpiece rested in his palm.
In the back and forth, Janey made the decision to skip the epidural and asked Martin to stay as a substitute coach. Wolf showed up about thirty minutes later with a video setup. "Mrs. Bailey, I'm Archie Stevenson. I'll make sure you two can see each other."
"Marty said your name is Wolf." Janey scrunched her brows.
Fay laughed. "Janey, these military men all have nicknames. Marty's is Farmer. You can ask Austin how he got that." One eyebrow rose.
"Marty grew up on a farm, right?"
"They used to call him Iowa. Austin helped him earn Farmer." She offered an amused smile.
"How long have you known, Mom?"
"Five minutes after Ian called from Iraq to speak to Austin. Janey, 'Iowa' was stationed in Iraq when Austin decided he would cheer his brother up by sending him some drought-resistant seeds. Marty got the seeds to grow. His crop-sowing almost cost him his career. Austin thought it would be funny to send him pot seeds."
Janey laughed and groaned in time for the next contraction. Martin stood. "Janey, breathe with me." The preparation Ian ordered him to go through during his wife’s pregnancy was about to pay off again. "Another breath."
Wolf flicked a switch. "Good luck, Mrs. Bailey. Farmer, I'll be with Head Cap if you need anything."
Every time Janey moaned, Austin's monitors alarmed through his com. "Austin, she's doing great." Martin was the coach for both his brother and sister-in-law.
By two a.m., Janey was miserable. The contractions rolled in one on top of the next. "Ready to have this baby?" a cheery Lois asked.
Janey snapped, "I have been ready to push for the past three hours." The com hit the wall with an angry outburst directed at her husband for making her pregnant. Her mom and Fay tried to help.
Austin's alarm screamed. "Bro, she still loves you; I swear. Means the baby is close. Janey, I'm going to get my eyes off the action area and come up by your shoulder. Yell all you want."
Lois Massey gowned and gloved. "Next contraction, push from your bottom."
The pain hit too fast for Janey to respond. She was exhausted and unable to focus after pushing for an hour, combined with her lack of sleep since Austin was shot. Lois appeared worried, and Seth spoke to Martin through his com.
"Austin, chill. Janey, I don't care that you’re tired. It’s too late to change your mind. Next contraction get mad. I want you to stare at that ugly abstract art on the wall and push all the anger out. Anger at Austin for not being here and anger at the man who shot him."
"I can't, Marty," she hyperventilated.
