“I…see,” the nurse says. “You all have this under control then.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Abbott grunts, getting up as Cassidy moans as she opens her eyes.
He made sure to get ice chips for them both, and he offers one to her as she opens her mouth to accept it.
“You’re doing so good,” he praises her.
“I want to get up,” she rasps. “Now.”
“You’re the boss,” I say, helping her sit up. Abbott pulls her up gently, and helps her begin to walk as she takes a step forward.
The nurse leaves, and Winter whines as soon as the door shuts.
“I…have to push,” she cries out. Bellamy’s beginning to sweat, his teeth gritting as he nods, unable to talk anymore.
I’m not even sure how Winter is able to talk right now. Women are fucking rockstars.
“Fuck,” Abbott mutters.
“On it,” I say, stalking toward the door. “Nurse!”
“I’m sorry, you’re going to have to use the intercom,” another nurse dismisses me as she walks past me.
“Well, fuck that. Guess I’m delivering this baby myself!” I call after her, watching as she trips over her feet.
“What? You all practically just got here,” she says, backtracking.
“Winter broke her water going to the bathroom. Your arbitrary rules don’t have a place in my hospital room. Now, do I need another nurse?” I ask her, glaring.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been sassed and put in my place in the same breath,” she mumbles. “I’m here, and I understand your urgency. I promise to respect the birth space and to take care of my patients. Good?”
“That was pretty damn good,” I grumble, stepping back to let her in.
“She’s pushing,” Shiloh reports, squatting in front of Winter.
Cassidy is swaying now in Abbott’s arms, and the nurse glances at her for a moment before deciding that she doesn’t need to pull in another nurse. Changing her gloves, she tosses more medical pads onto the ground for the blood to drip onto.
We already found the chuck pads and did that earlier, but it’s better to have more.
“I’ll take over if it’s alright with you,” the nurse says, bemused as she stands beside Shiloh.
As Shi moves, he takes Winter’s hand instead, while Bellamy is helping to hold her up.
“I’m Nurse Frida, Winter. Let’s have a baby, shall we? You’re fully dilated, and I can see a head with lots of hair.”
“Yes,” Winter groans.
The pushes emit more deep moans, and I remind her to breathe when it looks as if she forgot.
“You’re doing so good,” I whisper to her.
Her eyes are shining with determination, and she gasps in another breath as she pushes again.
“Perfect. So good, Winter. Listen to your body,” the nurse reminds her.
Twenty minutes of pushing is all it takes for our daughter to make it earthside, and Winter bursts into tears as she hears her little cry. The nurse helps lift the baby up into her arms, and then leads her to shuffle to the bed, where more pads are added before Winter climbs in with our baby.
“She’s so pretty,” Winter sobs. “Hi, pretty girl.”
