Title: Feelings Uncovered
Disclaimer: I own Ami, George and Ariel.
Summary: Sara and Nick have a daughter that Nick doesn't know about...how will Sara cope raising a child on her own?
Chapter one – The Perfect Christmas Gift
"Where do you want me to put this?" Ami asked as she walked in carrying a box of Sara's things through the front door of the apartment.
"In the second bedroom." Sara replied. "I'll sort it out later." After leaving Las Vegas six months earlier Sara had finally found her own apartment and had only just finished moving the rest of her things in.
"OK." Ami left the room and returned a few moments later without the box.
"This place looks amazing. I don't think I've ever seen so many decorations." Ami had been Sara's best friend since they were in Pre-School together. She had been helping Sara out a lot since she moved to San Francisco. She had even pulled some strings at the police station she worked at and helped Sara get a new job.
"It's amazing what you can do when you're home all day every day. You should see what I've done to the baby's room." Sara laughed. "I can't take credit for everything though. I had Jerry my neighbour help me out hanging the tinsel and things on the roof."
"Well it still looks great even if you didn't do it by yourself."
"Thanks." Sara replied. "So did you want a cuppa or something?"
"Yeah that'd be great." Ami replied.
"Ok. Just give me a second to get up." Sara struggled to get halfway up before she fell back down again. "Dam I hate being FAT!" She cried.
"Here I'll help you." Ami grabbed Sara's hands and pulled her up. "You're not fat you're pregnant. There is a difference." She smiled.
"Thanks. I don't know what I would do without you."
"Let's not find out." Ami replied as she helped Sara into the kitchen.
"You know I'm glad you're here for me. I couldn't go through this without you." Sara told Ami as she sat down on one of the kitchen chairs.
"I'm glad I'm here too. I mean it is my god daughter/son you're carrying. And you know that everyone else at the station is going to be there for you too. Even though you are on Maternity leave."
"Yeah I have been for almost a month now and it is really starting to piss me off." She rubbed her sore back. "Plus the pain is horrible."
"Hey. You'll get used to it after a while. It took me forever to get used to it when I had Dakota But trust me the pain is definitely worth it." Ami replied.
"Yeah. How is Dakota by the way?" Sara asked.
"She's doing great. She started walking yesterday. She took her first steps when we were at the supermarket. I guess she just wanted the chocolate so bad she was willing to make an effort for it." Ami explained.
"Yeah. She's gorgeous. I hope my baby is just as gorgeous and well behaved as her."
"Oh trust me Dakota can be a pain most of the time. She just puts on an act when everyone else is around. So, when are you due?"
"Two weeks. But the doctor said it would vary. The baby could come early or it could come late." Sara explained. "Dr Kelly told me that I'm very healthy. Apparently I am a very fit mother. I'm just worried about how I'm going to cope all on my own. I've never been alone with a baby before. I wouldn't know the first thing to do." Sara sighed.
"I'm sure you'll be fine. You watch. Mother's instinct will kick in as soon as you hold that little baby in your arms for the first time." Ami smiled. "Besides you're not alone. You've got me and George, and Jerry next door of course."
"I suppose. But I can't exactly rely on you for everything. Especially not after the past few months."
"Don't worry about it Sara. You're my best mate, what else was I supposed to do? Let you live on the streets for six months?"
"I know. But I just feel bad for imposing in yours and George's lives."
"You weren't imposing. George loved having you around. And for that matter so did Dakota." Ami laughed.
"I just wish…" Sara trailed off and sighed.
"You just wish what?"
"Oh…nothing." Sara sighed again.
"Come on Sara, I've known you for long enough to tell that when you sigh like that it definitely does not mean nothing. Now what's up?" Ami sat beside Sara and put a hand on her hand.
"It's just…well I wish that I still had Nick."
"You know the only solution to that don't you?"
"What?"
"Call him and tell him."
"I can't Ami. We've been through this before remember. He's already moved on. Last I heard he was getting married to some Russian woman." Sara took a deep breath and tried not to cry.
"Things could have changed. It has been a while you know."
"Yeah but I highly doubt he would have changed his mind and dumped her. He just seemed so happy with her." Sara closed her eyes and gulped back tears.
"Aww Sara." Ami wrapped her arms around and hugged Sara. "It's alright. You've got us now. Let's just forget about Nick for now hey."
"Mmm." Sara took another deep breath and sighed.
"So, how about that cuppa hey?"
"Yeah." Sara went to stand up and felt a sudden pain in her belly. "Ugh." She grabbed hold of her stomach and put a hand on the table for support.
"What is it?" Ami asked, concerned.
"Nothing. Just a cramp." Sara brushed it off after the pain had stopped.
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah I'm fine. You'd better get back to work. Wouldn't want George to get angry." Sara laughed. "You know what he does when he's angry."
"Very funny. I'll leave you to it. If you need anything just call and I'll be straight over."
"Thanks." Ami kissed her on the cheek and left.
Later that night Sara sat alone and wondered if this is the way her life was meant to turn out. She didn't have anyone but Ami to help her with the baby she was going to have any day now, she had no idea what Nick was doing with his life. The last thing she knew he was getting married to some other woman. She just felt really alone.
She sighed and turned on the TV. She flicked through the channels a bit but there was nothing on, so she decided to turn the stereo on. The first CD she came to was a CD her mother had given to her three weeks earlier. She put it on and flicked through to her favourite track, then made herself comfortable on the couch.
"Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Let your heart be light
From now on your troubles will be out of sight, yeah
Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Make the Yuletide gay
From now on your troubles will be miles away, oh"
She had fallen asleep before the third verse and was snoring away happily as the song played on.
"Here we are as in olden days
Happy golden days of yore, ah
Faithful friends who are dear to us
They gather near to us once more, ooh
Through the years we all will be together and
If the fates allow
Hang a shining star upon the highest bow, oh yeah, oh
And have yourself a merry little Christmas now, oh, oh
Faithful friends who are dear to us
They gather near to us once more, oh, oh
Through the years we all will be together and
If the fates allow, oh yeah
But 'til then we'll have to muddle through somehow,
Oh yeah, oh, oh
And have yourself a merry little Christmas now"
She woke up half an hour later with stomach cramps.
"Eeew. What is that?" She felt the couch, which was now damp.
"Oh No!" She tried getting up but she couldn't. So she reached for the phone. "Aaaahhhhhhh!" She screamed as she pulled her hand back and grabbed her stomach.
"I've been told how painful this is…but I never imagined it to be this bad!" Once the contraction was finished she tried again to reach for the phone. She tried as hard as she could but the excess weight on her stomach was making it hard for her to move. She reached once again and succeeded in making herself roll off the couch onto the floor.
"Ouch!' She cried and she rubbed her stomach as she rolled over onto her back. "Ok remember what the doctor said. DON'T FORGET TO BREATHE!" She started her breathing exercises as her next contraction came along.
"Hey Sara?" Jerry asked knocking on the door. "Are you Ok? I heard screaming."
"Jerry you got to help me. I think I'm in labour!" She cried hoping he could hear her through the closed door.
"Ok just stay calm. I'll go get the spare key from Owen."
"Hurry!' Sara cried and then she started her breathing again.
5 minutes later Jerry and Owen (the landlord) rushed up the stairs to Sara's apartment and Jerry fumbled with the keys and unlocked her door.
Jerry rushed to her side and grabbed her hand.
"Are you OK?" He asked.
"Call an ambulance!' Sara cried. "Please."
"Ok. Calm down. Owen Call an ambulance." Owen grabbed his mobile and dialled the emergency number.
A while later the ambulance still hadn't arrived and Sara's contractions were getting closer, she was lying on the living room floor in pain sweating really badly.
"It hurts Jerry!' She screamed.
"I know Sara. It's ok. I've called Ami and she's on her way." Jerry explained. "I didn't think you'd want her to miss this."
"Thankyou."
"And Dr Kelly is on his way to the hospital now so he should be there waiting when you get there." Owen explained.
"Thanks guys." Sara said with a smile, which then turned to a grimace as she had yet another contraction.
"How far apart are they now?" Jerry asked.
"About two minutes why?" Owen asked.
"Do you mind if I check to see how much you've dilated?" Jerry asked nervously.
"Do whatever you can I just want this thing out of me!' Sara cried.
"Only one cm to go." Jerry cried. "That ambulance better get here soon."
"And what if it doesn't get here in time?" Owen asked already knowing what the answer would be.
"We're going to have to deliver the baby ourselves."
"That's what I was afraid you'd say." Owen gulped.
"Hey it's ok. You won't have to do much. Go and find some towels or something." Jerry told him.
"Ok." Owen replied and he set off on his mission.
"How are you doing?" Jerry asked looking at a very pale-faced Sara.
"Not so good." Sara replied. "It hurts way too much."
"It's ok. Just think at the end of all the pain you'll have a little baby to hold in your arms." Jerry smiled.
"That's very…" She stopped talking as she had another contraction.
"Ok contractions are getting closer." Jerry smiled. "We're almost there."
"That's reassuring." She forced a laugh. "How close is 'almost there'?"
"I don't know. It depends. If you're dilated enough then you'll have to push. If not then we'll have to wait a bit longer."
"Oh great." Sara sighed.
"OK. It looks like we're ready. When the next contraction comes along I need you to push." Jerry told her.
"Since when did you know so much about delivering babies?"
"Sara I used to work in a children's hospital."
"Oh." Sara replied.
"Ok get ready to push." Jerry said. Sara was just about to start pushing when Ami burst through the door.
"I came as soon as I could. What did I…? Oh." Ami cried when she saw Sara on the ground doing her breathing exercises and Jerry helping her to give birth.
"Sara are you OK?"
"Does it look like I'm ok to you?' She cried.
"Ok Sara push 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10. And breathe."
"Whew. This is harder than I thought." Ami laughed at Sara's comment.
"And again." Jerry cried. "Push 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 and breathe."
"I found some towels!" Owen cried as he walked back into the room.
"Hey Owen." Ami smiled at him.
"Ami." He nodded his head.
"Thanks." Jerry grabbed a towel off Owen and placed it onto the floor between Sara's legs.
"Ok and again. Push 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 and breathe. I've got a head." He cried.
A smiled came across Sara's face.
"Ok another push and we should have it." Jerry told her. "Take a deep breath in and Push"
"Congratulations. You have a beautiful baby girl." Jerry said and he wrapped her in a towel. He cleared the blood away from her mouth so she could breathe.
"She's gorgeous." Ami commented.
"Why isn't she crying?" Sara asked starting to panic. 'Is she breathing?"
"She's fine Sara. She's perfectly fine." Jerry was backed up when the baby started screaming.
"See she's fine." Ami commented. "She definitely has strong lungs." Sara laughed.
"Come here baby girl." Jerry handed her the baby that was wrapped in a towel, tears were streaming down her face.
"You were right the pain was definitely worth it." She kissed the baby on the head.
Sara started crying. "She's beautiful."
"You did it Sara. You did it." Ami whispered and kissed Sara's Cheek. Then she grabbed the baby's hand. "She's the perfect Christmas gift." Ami smiled.
"She's my beautiful baby girl."
"The ambulance is here." Owen commented.
"Bit late." Ami scoffed. Sara didn't say anything. She just sat staring at her baby girl.
The paramedics rushed in with a stretcher and picked Sara up. They put her onto the stretcher and wheeled her out to the ambulance.
"I want you to come." Sara whispered to Ami.
"I know." Ami replied. "But I'm not allowed to. I'll see you when I get to the hospital though ok."
"Bye." Sara cried and Ami watched as the Ambulance doors closed and Sara was driven away.
"She's beautiful." Ami commented as she looked at the baby Sara was holding.
"I know." Sara replied with a huge grin.
"Have you decided what to call her yet?"
"Ariel. Ariel Joanna Sidle."
"A beautiful name for a beautiful baby." Ami smiled.
"Have you heard from my parents yet?"
"Yeah. Their flight was delayed. They should be here by tomorrow afternoon." Ami explained.
"Thanks. For everything."
"No probs. I've got to go Call in at the station. They'll want to know the good news." Ami said.
"Yeah go ahead." Sara smiled. "Just don't let them all come in at once. I don't think the hospital staff would like that very much."
"Don't worry. I'll let them know."
"Ok well I'll see you in a few hours."
"Ok. Bye." Sara watched as Ami walked out of her room. She sighed and kissed Ariel's head.
"It's you and me from now on baby girl. I'm going to make sure nothing ever happens to you. I promise." She held her close and breathed in the smell of her new baby.
It's not changed heaps but I have edited a fair bit. Hope you all like it : ]
Jess