Hey guys! Thank you all so so much for your wonderful and kind reviews! I am incredibly grateful.I didn't expect to get so many.
Sorry this took longer than expected, I was too depressed to write after hearing that we only get one more season of IPS and that it is only 8 episodesIf you want to sign a petition against it being cancelled, there is a link on my profile page.
Sorry for any mistakes, if you see an obvious typo please kindly let me know and I shall fix it
Disclaimer – I don't own anything
"What are her stats?", a female midwife asked, as the stretcher Mary lay on was hastily pulled from the ambulance.
"Mary Shannon, 37, 32 weeks pregnant, contractions 2-3 minutes apart, her systolic and diastolic BP is 72 over 45, lost consciousness approximately one minute ago, water broke during the ride", the female EMT informed the awaiting medical staff as they rushed her inside.
"Marr...shll." Mary mumbled weakly through her oxygen mask as she was jostled through the hospital hallways. Marshall sighed in relief as Mary slowly began to regain consciousness.
"Hey Mary, you're okay. We're at the hospital now, you're both going to be okay", Marshall comforted over the loud voices of the nurses, as he tried to follow them into the room Mary was being wheeled into.
"I'm sorry sir, you can't go in." A large female nurse placed her hand on his chest, stopping him.
"No, no, I need to be with her, she needs me, I'm her partner!", Marshall said almost hysterically, trying to push past the nurse as he watched Mary being wheeled away.
"Sir, we need to assess her condition and we can't do that with you in the room." The nurse's tone held finality. "Someone will inform you when a treatment plan is decided on. For now, I need you to take a seat in the waiting room." The nurse quickly left, firmly closing the door that separated him from the most important person in his life.
"The waiting room is this way, sir" An orderly guided a forlorn Marshall back through the corridors to the waiting room.
"Someone will be out soon with information on your wife." The man offered a sympathetic smile before leaving. Marshall took a seat in one of the hard plastic hospital chairs, letting out a shaky breath and rubbing away the tears from his cheeks that had escaped. He stared emptily at the blue hospital walls. The situation reminded him all too much of the first night he had almost lost his partner, the night he had broken down and had been consoled by his boss, the night he realized just how much he loved her. He closed his eyes, trying to stop the memories of the hours he spent waiting for information on Mary's condition that night, wondering if she would pull through or surrender to the darkness. However, it didn't work. His eyes flew open a moment later when Mary's strangled voice calling his name rang through his mind, along with images of a pale and unconscious Mary Shannon lying on the ambulance stretcher. He leaped from the seat and shook his head, trying to remove the new memories that were sure to fuel his nightmares for years to come. Marshall began to pace the small room, running his hands though his hair. His pacing was soon interrupted by the familiar wailing of a women he recognized to be Jinx.
Jinx rushed up to the reception, still wearing her dress and heals from the wedding. Stan, Mark and Peter followed closely behind.
"I need to see my daughter", Jinx told the nurse.
"What is your daughter's name?"
"Mary, Mary Shannon."
"I'm sorry, there is no information on your daughter yet, we can't let you see her at the moment", the nurse supplied.
"You have to let me see her, she is my baby!", Jinx yelled at her.
"I need to see her, she is having my baby!" Mark joined Jinx in abusing the nurse.
"I cannot let you see her right now, you will have to take a seat in the waiting room", The nurse insisted. Jinx and Mark were about to argue further when Stan stepped in.
"I am U.S Marshall Stan McQueen, I need to know the condition of Mary Shannon", Stan informed professionally, flashing his badge.
"There is really nothing I can tell you just now, I really need you all to make your way to the waiting room." The nurse offered an apologetic smile and Stan nodded his thanks.
Stan, Jinx, Mark and Peter joined Marshall in the waiting room.
"How's Mary? Is she okay? Is my baby okay?", Mark questioned, clearly concerned. Marshall flinched at hearing Mark claiming Mary's baby as his own.
"Where's Mary? Is she alright?" Jinx asked, desperate for information on her baby girl.
"I don't know anything, I think they are still running tests." Marshall's voice was uncharacteristically weak.
"This is ridiculous!", Mark exclaimed, throwing his arms in the air in exasperation, while Jinx began to sob again. Peter guided Jinx to sit down and reassured her that everything would be alright.
Mark began pacing back and forth, rubbing a hand across his forehead, so many thoughts running through his mind. Mary still hadn't made a decision regarding the future of their child. Part of him was terrified she would go through with the adoption and part of him terrified that she wouldn't and he would become a father.
Stan took a seat next to Marshall.
"Abigail should be here any moment, she's just parking the car", he said, giving Marshall a comforting pat on the shoulder. Marshall nodded, not really hearing what Stan had said. "She will be fine Marshall, she's tough, she's a fighter."
"I know", Marshall agreed, burying his head in his hands.
"Marshall!" He looked up to see Abigail approaching him, a worried expression on her face. "Hey, sugar bug", she greeted, pressing a quick kiss to his lips. "How's she doing?", Abigail asked, taking a seat next to her boyfriend.
"I don't know, she lost consciousness in the ambulance and they wouldn't let me stay with her." Marshall choked out, as fresh tears began to fall. Abigail wrapped her arms around his shoulders and embraced him as he cried for his partner, gently running a hand through his hair as his head rested on her chest.
"I'm sorry, sugar", Abigail sighed. She had always been aware how close Marshall and Mary were and understood how close partners could become. However there had always been that faint thought in the back of her mind that Marshall's feelings for Mary ran deeper than just friendship, but she had been able to dismiss it. Here and now though, as she cradled the man she loved while he cried for another woman, the same woman he had protected with his own body instead of her, that niggling feeling grew stronger.
"Miss Shannon, can you hear me?", a woman asked as a two nurses finished connecting her to various machines and inserting an IV after having changed her into a hospital gown.
"What's happening… where's Marsh...ughhh!", Mary started to ask as she came around quickly, her voice rough and muffled through the oxygen mask. She was cut off by another contraction pulsating through her abdomen.
"Mary, I'm Judy I am going to be your midwife. I need you do breathe, just breathe through the pain", she said while removing the oxygen mask that was no longer needed.
"I cant do this, I'm not ready, it's too soon!" Mary growled through gritted teeth, her hands gripping the hospital bed tightly. "Oh god it hurts!"
"Mary, you need to breathe" Judy repeated.
"I. Am. Breathing. You idiot!" Mary's head flopped back against her pillow as the contraction eased momentarily. "Someone just tell me what the hell is going on! Is my baby okay?", she demanded.
"In the ambulance you passed out because of your low blood pressure. We have given you some medication to help and long as you and the baby remain stable we are going to proceed with a normal delivery."
"But it's too early, the baby's not finished cooking!"
"With treatment and care your baby should be perfectly healthy despite being premature. Now I am going to see how many centimeters you're dilated."
"No! I am not doing this without Marshall!" Mary clamped her legs closed, preventing Judy's inspection. "I NEED MARSHALL NOW!", Mary screamed through another contraction.
" Okay, okay I am going to go get Marshall right now and update your family." Judy stood from her stool and hurried out of the room, quickly telling another nurse to keep an eye on her heart rate and blood pressure.
"Are you the family of Mary Shannon?", Judy asked as she stepped into the waiting room. Marshall, Mark and Jinx leaped from their chairs.
"I am her mother, how is she? Can I see her? Why did she go into labour so early?"
"I am the baby's father, are they alright?" Jinx and Mark blurted their questions out at the same time. Marshall stood behind them impatiently, waiting for information on his partner.
"Mary is doing better now, but we don't know what exactly caused her to go into preterm labour. Is she under a lot of stress?" Everyone in the room nodded. "Well, that combined with her age could be the reason", Judy informed.
"Why did she lose consciousness in the ambulance?" Marshall asked
"Her blood pressure was very low, but it's stable now and we plan to proceed with a normal delivery. However, she is refusing a complete examination until she can see Marshall. Are you Marshall?" Judy turned to Mark.
"No, but I'm.."
"I'm Marshall." He stepped forward, cutting off Mark.
"Okay, I need you to come with me now." Judy turned to leave.
"Why does he get to see her? I'm the baby's father!" Mark protested.
"Sir, it is up to Mary to decide who she wishes to have in the delivery room and she has asked for Marshall", Judy said, slightly exasperated. She gestured for Marshall to follow her and quickly left the room.
"Marshall, I need you to quickly put these on." Judy passed him a green hospital cap and scrubs. A moment later Marshall was ready. His heart was pounding in anticipation, excitement and nervousness about what was going to happen when he stepped into the delivery room. He felt honored that Mary had asked for him to join her in such a private moment.
"Okay, I'm ready", Marshall told Judy.
"Holy mother of god!", could be heard from inside the room, shortly followed by a clattering sound.
"Yeah, sure you are." Judy chuckled slightly. She opened the door to Mary's room and stepped in, with Marshall following behind.
Mary was sitting up, her eyes wild, her hair sticking to her sweaty face and her lips curled in a snarl. A slightly nervous looking nurse stood beside Mary, a small tray usually holding water and ice lay on the floor.
"Marshall!", Mary exclaimed in relief, her fear filled eyes locked onto his.
"Mary!" Marshall rushed to her side, cupping her sweaty face in his hands and placing a gentle kiss on her forehead. "I'm so happy to see you." Smiling, he tucked some loose hair behind her ear.
"Marshall?" Mary's voice was small.
"Yes, Mary?", Marshall asked, one hand still resting on Mary's soft cheek.
"I'm scared, I don't know if I can do this." She looked down, ashamed at her admission. Marshall's heart broke for her.
"Look at me." When Mary refused to meet his eyes, his hand slid from her cheek to just under her chin, tilting it up until she was looking at him. "I know you're scared and that's okay, just tell me what you need."
"I.. I need you", Mary admitted. Marshall smiled.
"I'm here Mary and I'm not going anywhere. You don't have to do this alone, we are going to do this together."
The moment was broken when Mary grabbed the collar of Marshall's scrubs as another contraction ripped through her body. Marshall pried Mary's fingers from his collar and entwined them with his. Her grip quickly became painful, but he didn't dare to complain.
Marshall coached Mary through her contraction and was relieved when it passed. Mary let go of his hand as she flopped back down onto the hospital bed.
"I am going to examine you now", Judy informed. She sat in front of Mary, directing her to put her feet up on the stirrups.
Marshall shifted uncomfortably as the examination began.
"Calm down doofus, just don't look and we will be fine", Mary joked half heartedly. Marshall couldn't help but grin at Mary's nickname for him.
"Well, it looks like you are almost fully dilated. Who's ready to have a baby?", Judy asked smiling.
Thank you for reading :D Please review :D
xx
