Triad Storm

Bundle of Joy

The ambulance doors fly open as doctors and nurses speak so fast she can't keep up. As the gurnee's wheels touch the ground, another contraction rocks her body making her scream out in pain. All eyes are on her at that moment and their faces are covered with concern as they rush her inside the hospital. 

As she is wheeled into an exam room, Novah can hear Max's concerned voice pulling her away from her pain. "Max!" Novah screams, hoping they'll let him in to be with her. She closes her eyes as another contraction hits her like a tank. She reaches to wrap her hand around the rail on the bed when a hand squeezes her hand hand. Her eyes fly open as Max sits down next to her. She smiles sweetly at him as sweat begins to roll down her face from her forehead.

Max reaches for a rag and begins to wipe her face. "It'll be okay, No. Just take slow deep breaths." he says, showing her how and trying to get her to follow what he's doing. She takes a deep breath through her nose and let's it out her mouth slowly. As she repeats this, she can feel herself relaxing more and more. As her body relaxes, the contractions aren't as bad. 

A doctor in pink scrubs rushes in and begins to read her chart. "Hello, Novah. I'm Dr. Shepard. I'll be taking care of you and your little one." the lady says with a warm smile. "Do we know what we're having?" Novah shakes her head unable to speak as another contraction washes over her. "Okay, how far along is she, daddy?' Dr. Shepard asks Max, as she's walking to the end of the bed by Novah's feet. Max feels like the wind as been knocked out of him as he opens his mouth to answer. "I don't honestly know." The doctor frowns at him but before she can judge him he takes a deep breath to explain. "You see, ma'am, she was just rescued. A man kidnapped her about 3 months ago." 

The doctor's eyebrows raise and she looks at Novah. "Is this true, Novah?" She nods in response, feeling tears fall down her cheeks into her ears. Dr. Shepard nods, with a sad look on her face. "Did he rape you, Novah?' Novah tries to stop the sob from escaping but it was too late. The sob shook her body and the doctor nods again. Turning to Max she puts a hand on his shoulder. "From what I can tell from her chart, she was about 3 months when she was last seen. That means she's about 7 months now." Taking a deep breath she continues. "Her contractions are very close together. That means the medicine I could give her will not work." Max nods, feeling numb and scared. "You baby is coming too soon. So we will put him or her in the NICU for a while until we're sure the baby is able to fend for itself without our help." Squeezing his shoulder, as if to pull him back to reality, she makes him look her in the eye. "Do you understand what I just told you, Max?" He nods, slowly. "Yes, I understand. The baby is coming too early, which means the baby may not make it. Am I right?" The sad looks that appears on her face confirms his fear and all he can do is nod.

Dr. Shepard starts to talk fast to the nurses, telling them what all she's going to need done. "Novah, I need you to scoot your butt to the end of the bed please. I know you're going to think you're going to fall but I promise you won't. Okay?" Novah looks down at her watching as she puts gloves on. Novah nods and begins to scoot down. As she does another contraction hits her again. "Slow deep breaths, Novah." Dr. Shepard says, she pushes the blankets up to exam her. As the cold air hits her thighs, she feels a pressure down at her core as the doctor pushes her hand into her to check on the baby. The doctor feels around giving her an apologetic smile and then she frowns. The doctor pulls her hand out removes her gloves. "Okay, Novah. It looks like you're fully dilated. Do you know what that means?" Novah shakes her head. The doctor pats her hand. "That means there is no time for any drugs or for a C-section. You're going to be having this baby all natural." 

The doctor steps away to put on a blue paper looking wrap on over her scrubs and puts on a mask. A nurse walks over and helps put gloves on her hands. While another nurse is tying the wrap on her. "Okay, Novah, I need you to listen carefully to me. she says as she looks Novah in the eye. "When the next contraction hits, I need to bare down on your bottom and push like you're trying to take a poop. Can you do that?' Novah takes a deep breath and nods. "Okay, let's have a baby shall we?' she says as her smile at her warmly. She turns to look at Max no. "Do you want to stay in here?" Max nods as a nurse comes over with a mask and the same cover the doctor is wearing. "Okay, sit by her head and help her push. Remind her to take slow breaths." Max nods as he moves towards her head and holds Novah's hand.

As soon as Max takes her hand, a contraction slams into her making her gasp. "Okay, Novah. Push!" the doctor screams at her. Novah does as she's told and begins to push with all she has. The nurse next her begins to count out loud. "1...2...3...4...5...6...7...8...9...10." She looks at Novah and wipes her face. "Take a breath, honey. When you feel another one push again." Novah nods, trying to slow her breathing down. As she's starting to relax another one comes and she begins to push again.

After about an hour of pushing, the cry of a baby is heard through out the ER. Dr. Shepard pulls the baby out with a proud smile. "You did very good, Novah." she says, as she walks over to put the baby on her chest. She looks at Max. "Congratulations, daddy, it's a girl." Max looks down at his daughter and begins to cry. She was so tiny and weak. The nurse takes her and begins to clean her up and puts her in an incubator. "I'm going to take her upstairs so she can get checked out. They'll move you guys to a room. Once everything is okay, we'll come get you so you can see her." Max nods, knowing Novah is too tired to listen.

After the doctor and nurses leave, Max bends down to kiss Novah's cheek. "You did it, No. You did amazing." Novah turns to look at him and smiles sweetly before she falls asleep. He leans over and puts his cheek against her hair. He finally had his family whole again and he felt like the happiest man alive. Taking a deep breath to relax, Max falls asleep with her as they waited to be taken upstairs.