Here's the next chapter of Oh, Brother. Thanks to everyone who added me on their story alerts, favorites and reviewed. This means a lot to me and keep it coming. Hope you enjoy.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything owned by CBS.
All mistakes belong to me.
The next several months went by uneventful. Except for the occasional strange cravings that my mom had, it was pretty… good. I guess. I turned 16 and went out with Louie and a couple of friends for the night. School went by quickly and I soon started my junior year of high school. Louie kept making fun of me, saying that junior year was easy and I shouldn't be so worried about it. I was a nerd, I guess, but I'm also one of the jocks. I'm a jock/nerd. But I'm keeping the nerdy part about myself quiet.
It was the end of September and my mother was 8 months pregnant and life was alright. I was still reeling with the fact that the house would be quiet for only a couple of more weeks until my little sister was born. Yes, a little sister, I was going to be a big brother of a little girl.
The thing that scares me the most is Tanglewood. I've had my experiences with them and most of them were… alright? Being with those guys made me feel high up on the social end of the spectrum, but everything that happened before we 'went' to AC never left me and I promised myself I wouldn't put myself in that mess again. I also promised myself not to get my little sister into that mess, though Sassone already took an interest with my unborn sister. I'm going to keep an eye on him, just to make sure.
I guess you could say that I'm also nervous to be a big brother. Louie doesn't have to worry about it. He's moving to a small apartment next month so he'll be out of the house by the time she's born. I, on the other hand, will still be in high school by the time she's born. I know that my parents will make me be a baby sitter every once in a while, but could I do that? Could I be a big brother and not… I don't know. I'm just nervous.
I guess I just have to wait.
Great.
CSINYCSINYCSINY
It's around 4 in the morning on October 17 and I've been sitting in the waiting room at this fricken hospital for more than 4 hours. I'm tired, I have school, but don't plan to go, and Louie is stretched out on the only couch in the waiting room, sleeping. I have read these dumb parenting magazines over three dozen times and will be a very good father in the future.
Yippy. Not that I plan to get married or have kids in the new future.
The minutes ticked by and we heard nothing about what was going on with my mom. She had been in labor for over 6 hours and it was dad who finally called me and told me to get my ass out of bed and get to the hospital before mom had the baby. Now, I've been here, again, for 4 hours and hitting my head against a wall out of boredom and curiosity.
Wish I brought my English book, than I could get a little farther on my book. And homework. I rested my head on my hand as I yawned again and closed my eyes. The silence in the waiting room was enough to
slowly lure to sleep. I don't know how much time later, but I heard the doors open and my dad walk out with a pink bundle in his arms. I look up and cocked my head. I looked over at Louie who was still asleep on the couch and looked back at my dad who was now standing in front of me. I stood up and looked down to see a sleeping little child wrapped the blankets. Dad looked up at me.
"You want to hold her?" Dad asked me and I shrugged.
"Don't worry, you won't drop her." dad said as he slowly handed her to me. I took her in my arms and I held her close to me, the knot in my stomach becoming bigger as I held her.
"Relax." Dad told me and I nodded as I held her close to me.
"What's her name?" I asked.
"Cara Vita Messer." my father answered. I smiled down at the little girl who was now awake and was waving her fists in the air.
"You want to see your mother?"
I shrugged and looked at Louie, "What's about Louie?" I asked and dad shrugged.
"We'll just let sleeping beauty be for now and get him later." Dad said trying to lighten the situation, but all I could do was nod and follow him into a strangely white hallway and he entered a room where my mom was lying on the hospital bed with a small smile on her face.
"Hey Dan." she said quietly and I smiled.
"Hi Ma. How you feelin'?" I asked licking my lips and suddenly Cara started crying. I froze, but dad just plucked her out of my arms and quietly put her back to sleep before gently placing her in the crib that sat next to mom's bed.
"Tired, but I'm doing fine." Mom said as she watched dad place Cara into the crib and the baby fell back asleep. I shifted uncomfortably as I stared at my feet, at a loss of what to say next. When I looked up, mom had fallen asleep and dad was patting one of the chairs next to where he was sitting. I shuffled over and plopped down in the chair, resting my hand on my chin, staring at the little girl in the crib.
CSINYCSINYCSINY
"Danny, stop worrying." Dad told me later that morning when we went to get mom something to eat.
I looked up at him and sighed. I was worried. I was down right scared to be honest. I was an older brother and I didn't want the relationship between Cara and I the same relationship that was between Louie and I. I hated it with a passion and I had promised myself months ago that I wouldn't turn into Louie. Part of me was scared though, and I hated my dad for having the skill to read my thoughts. Him and mom where the only people who could do that. I hated them both for it.
"I'm not worried." I told him as I grabbed a Styrofoam cup and filled it with coffee. Dad gave me a sideways glance as he reached for a tray that had a bagel with some cream cheese with it.
"You are worried. I can see it in your face. Mom can too." Dad told me as we moved down the line. I sighed.
"I have the option to be worried, right?" I asked him and Dad nodded.
"Of course you do, Danny. Your mom's worried, too."
I gave him a look, "Why is she worried?"
"Because, she has to raise another child again, and she almost lost Cara more than once." Dad said.
I stopped and turned to him, my brows furrowed, "What?"
Dad hurried to grab something else to eat to avoid answering my outburst. But I wasn't giving up without a fight.
"Dad, answer me. What do you mean by 'she almost lost Cara more than once'?" I asked him and Dad bit his lip and slowly turned toward me.
"We didn't want to worry you, but because of your mother's age, the pregnancy was going to be risky. Really, Dan, don't worry about it. What's done is done. I'm sorry I didn't tell you, but just… don't say anything to your mother." Dad said as we made our way to the cashier and he pulled out some cash to pay.
I smirked, "You don't want to get your ass kicked, do you?"
Dad looked at me and nodded, "Hit the hammer right on the nail."
