“I heard that. We’re on our way.” Nick didn’t use the siren because neither one of them wanted to upset Devon.
They arrived, and he hopped out of the bus to jog up to the front of the birthing center.
Naomi was wandering through, and she nodded whenshe saw him. “He’s in his office. I think we’re on family leave now.”
“On it. Got it.” He headed straight to his husband, finding Devon at his desk, phone in front of him, tears streaking down his cheeks. “Hey, babe.”
“Laird? I was about to call you. Raven says I need to start my leave. I—Can you please take me home?”
“Of course, baby. You mind riding in the bus? That’s what we’re in.” He dropped a kiss on Devon’s head. Technically, he shouldn’t be transporting anyone on the ambulance who wasn’t going to a medical facility, but they had no calls, so it would take maybe three minutes to get Devon home, and then his dad could come over with D’Artagnan and sit with Devon for a bit.
He’d need to call Dad back, in fact.
They got hugs from Raven and Naomi, and promises to come see Devon on their downtime.
“Hey,” Nick said when they came out to head home. “How you feeling, Dev?”
“Like my head might just blow.” Devon chuckled. “Blood pressure spike. I just need to put my feet up.”
“Aw, man, that sucks, my dude.” Nick helped him get Devon up in the back of the bus. They settled him on the bench seat, leaving the gurney sterile, and Nick moved up to drive while Laird sat next to Devon, grabbing his hand.
“You okay, baby?” He didn’t like the look of Devon’s skin. It was just kind of pale and a little sweaty.
“I’m okay. I’m mostly just embarrassed that I didn’t listen to my body and stay home today, but I really wanted to see Marissa one last time before Raven took over her appointments.” Devon squeezed his hand and then leaned against him, taking strength from him, he hoped.
“I’m so proud of you, baby.” He raised Devon’s handand kissed it. “I think you are amazing, but this is good timing for your family leave. How is Marissa, anyway?”
He knew he had to keep Devon from sinking down into his own thoughts, because if he let his husband do that, he could get into a weird headspace. Not that Laird didn’t understand. He was something of a workaholic himself.
“She’s okay. She’s having a little bit of the same problem I am, because she’s got a little bit of high blood pressure, and her feet are a little swollen. But really, I think she’s doing great.”
“That’s awesome. I know she was worried because she had such a hard time with her first one.” He might not know all of Devon’s patients personally, but he felt like he knew them because he listened to their woes and their happy moments when Devon told him about them when he came home. Then again, he’d met quite a few of those patients because he’d been in and out of a birth center, and Secret Springs was a small town.
“Yeah.” Devon leaned against him. “It’ll be okay. I’m just a little emotional and tired.” Devon shrugged, the look purely exhausted. “You know, I tell all of my clients they shouldn’t be embarrassed or angry if they have a cesarean, but I really want Raven to deliver Cameron.”
“One way or the other, it’s going to be exactly what it needs to be.” Maybe that was a non-answer, but it seemed like it would be the best option.
“Spoken like a true first responder. Don’t panic the pregnant person with high blood pressure.”
Laird chuckled softly. “Now once we get you home and settled with your feet up, I’ll panic you all you’d like. Dad said he’s gonna come and see you and bring D’Artagnan home.”
“Oh, I miss him.” Devon sniffled, and man, those hormones were swinging wildly.
They heard the call come in when they were about halfway home. Dispatch crackled right to life on the radio.
“110 Secret Springs, 65-2, please respond to 204 Maple Avenue, Secret Springs, for a pregnant female with severe abdominal pain, dizziness and nausea, and vaginal bleeding.”
“Oh my God. That’s Marissa! I just saw her.” Devon clutched his arm.
“Should we drop Devon off first?” Nick asked.
Devon shook his head. “No way. She’s my patient.”
Laird was torn. The birth center was on one side of the bridge, and Maple was on the other…
“Go. If we have to, we leave Devon at Tim and Lukas’s house. Same street.”
“65-2 responding. We’re on our way.”
