SPOV
Lying in a hospital bed is endlessly boring. Lying in a hospital bed is endlessly boring, especially when the love of your life is not with you. Lying in a hospital bed without the love of your life is only made a bit better by holding my newborn son.
Benedict was a beautiful child. Auburn hair, blue eyes that looked so much like John's that I just knew they wouldn't change, ten perfect fingers and ten perfect little toes.
My body was crying out for John. Missing the hormones he would be giving off after the birth, the pure Alpha pheromones that would tell me that I was safe and protected and that our baby would be taken care of.
I stroked his cheek softly while he ate, trying to concentrate on the feeling of his gentle sucking at my chest and sighed.
There was a small commotion in the hall and then Hamish was running through the door with a huge smile on his face, followed by Lestrade and his and Mycroft's little girl Madeline.
"Papa! Is that my little brother?" Hamish said excitedly. "Can I see him?"
"In a moment, Hamish. He's eating right now," I explained.
"What's he eating, Papa? He's got his face all mushed up against your chest?" Hamish said asked, sounding very confused.
"Well, Hamish, babies don't eat the same foods that we eat because their bellies can't handle them, so Papa's body makes special milk for the baby to eat instead," I explained.
"That's so cool! Can I see it sometime?" he asked excitedly.
"Of course, Hai. Maybe we can even do some experiments together while Benny naps," I suggested.
"Yes, yes! I would really like that, Papa!" Hamish squealed.
"That's my boy," I said fondly, reaching out and ruffling his hair fondly.
"You are probably the only person on the planet would want to experiment on your own breast milk with your son, Sherlock," Lestrade said.
"I am a man of my ways, Lestrade," I said before looking back at Hamish. "Have you been good for your Uncle Greg, Hai?"
"Yes, Papa. I drew pictures with Maddy for Benny!" Hamish said proudly, pulling a few creased pieces of paper from his bag and climbing up onto my bed. "When can I show him?"
"In a few minutes, Hai. He's just about finished eating and as soon as I burp him, you can hold him or show him your pictures, whichever you want. Sound good?" I said. Hamish nodded excitedly, a big smile on his face.
"I wanna see baby, Unca Sh'lock! Baby, baby, baby!" Madeline piped up, tugging on Lestrade's hand to try and pull him closer to the bed.
"Now Maddy, you can't pester Uncle Sherlock. He's very tired right now," Lestrade said, trying to contain Madeline's exuberance.
"She's fine, Lestrade," I said, feeling Benedict finish up his meal and yawn against my chest. I shifted him to my shoulder and patted his back gently, pulling my t-shirt down at the same time.
"Can I help, Papa?" Hamish asked.
"I think so. Give me your hand," I said, holding my own hand out. He slipped his hand over my palm and I brought it up to Benedict's little back.
"We have to be gentle, Hamish. Benny is very little, so we can't pat him too hard," I told him, guiding Hamish's hand. After a few minutes Benedict gave a little grunt and a burp, a tiny bit of milk dribbling from the corner of his mouth. Hamish giggled and withdrew his hand.
"There we go, little one. All ready for your big brother to hold you, now," I said, wiping the milk from Benedict's chin.
"Sit on your bottom, please, Hai." Once he rearranged himself I positioned his arms in the correct way and placed Benedict in Hamish's grasp.
"He's beautiful, Sherlock," Lestrade said, coming a bit closer to my bed, Madeline held firmly in his arms and away from the possibility of her little hands making uncontrolled grabs at Benedict.
"Baby, baby, baby," she chanted. "Baby pwitty."
"Thank you, Madeline, Lestrade," I said absently, watching Hamish's interactions with Benedict.
Hamish looked at his little brother with large, curious eyes, trying to take him all in at once. He held Benedict incredibly carefully, as if he was afraid that his slightest movement would cause Benedict harm while Benedict blinked blearily up at his big brother.
"What do you think, Hai?" I asked.
"I like him, Papa," he said. Benedict's eyes fluttered a few times before he yawned and his eyes finally closed. "He's sleepy."
"I would expect so. He's had a big day and he's got a full belly," I said, stroking Benedict's arm gently before slipping my finger into his tiny fist.
"I hold baby?" Madeline asked from Lestrade's arms.
"Not right now, sweetie. Baby is sleeping," Lestrade said. "Maybe when he wakes up Uncle Sherlock will let you hold him if you sit in my lap."
"Otay," Madeline grumbled, folding her arms over her chest and pouting. Lestrade chuckled at her and kissed the side of her head.
"Can you hand me my phone, Lestrade?" I asked, holding my hand out. Lestrade sighed and adjusted Madeline in his arms and reached for the table I had pushed down toward my feet.
"You're not trying to work a case hours after giving birth, are you?" he asked as he handed me my phone.
"No, no. This is much better," I said, turning the camera on and quickly snapping a few pictures of Hamish and Benedict.
"Good. I'd hate to have to call Mycroft in on you. Speaking of Mycroft, have you heard anything from him?" Lestrade asked as he pulled a chair closer to the bed.
"Not since just after Benedict was born," I said sadly.
As much as I had hated to admit it, going though labor and delivery alone hadn't been something I was willing to do. The most logical choice to join me in the delivery room had been Mycroft, being both my older brother and another Omega. He had stayed with me long enough to make sure I was confortable in my new room, until I had pestered him badly enough to try and get in contact with John.
"I'm sure he'll have something soon, Sherlock," Lestrade said.
"I hope so," I sighed, setting the background on my phone to the best of the pictures of Hamish and Benedict before dropping it by my side. "I really hope so."
Hamish squirmed a bit, still trying not to jostle Benedict.
"You alright, Hai?" I asked.
"My arms are tingly, Papa," he said.
"Ah, loss of blood flow. Your arms are asleep, just like your feet when you sit certain ways," I explained, reaching over and gently lifting Benedict from Hamish's arms. "Now just wiggle your fingers for a bit and it will stop."
While Hamish sat wiggling his fingers, Mycroft walked into the room, phone pressed to his ear.
"Yes. Thank you very much."
"Mycroft. Did you get through to John?" I asked as soon as the phone left his ear.
"Hamish, why don't we go exploring for a bit? I think your Papa and Uncle Mycroft need to talk alone for a bit," Lestrade said, standing up. "We'll come back and visit some more before we go."
"Alright," Hamish grumbled, slipping off my bed and following Lestrade out of the room. "Bye, Papa. Bye, Benny."
"John is out on a field mission, Sherlock. There's no way to get into contact with him at the moment," he said as soon as they were out of the room, sitting in Lestrade's vacated chair.
"Well why not? It can't be that hard to get a message through," I complained, holding Benedict a bit tighter.
"It won't do to distract him, Sherlock. He's in the middle of a combat situation—do you really want to risk breaking his concentration in such a high-risk situation?" he asked. I chose not to acknowledge that he was probably right, keeping my gaze on Benedict instead.
"I did leave orders that he be allowed to call home as soon as he returns to his base. He won't be able to talk for very long, but you'll be able to tell him about Benedict," Mycroft continued.
"At least you're good for something. Thank you," I said, glancing over at him.
"However much you don't like to think it, Sherlock, I can empathize with you in this. I hate to think of what this feels like for you, not to have John with you for the birth. I cannot imagine not having Gregory with me while I was giving birth to Madeline," he said. "You are a stronger Omega than I am."
"Congratulations to me, then," I said bitterly. "So glad I got the opportunity to show you up. If you really want to make me feel better, go and get Hamish. I'm sure he wants to hold his little brother again before you take him back to your flat."
"Alright then."
Later that night, long after Mycroft and Lestrade had taken Hamish back to their flat, I sat in near darkness watching Benedict blink up at me.
"You are a very loved little baby, Benedict. I know you're missing your Daddy's smell right now. I am, too. It's not his fault that he isn't here and he loves you very, very much." I smiled as he snuggled closer to my chest, one of his little hands gripping the front of my t-shirt tightly. "He was so upset when he learned that he wouldn't be around when you were born and he is so excited to meet you when he comes home—he probably won't want to put you down."
My mobile began to ring loudly and I swore softly as I rushed to grab it one handed and shut the ringer off before Benedict could start to cry. I looked at the screen and my irritation immediately dissolved and turned to hope when I saw that it was a blocked number and I answered it hurriedly.
"John?" I breathed.
"Yes. Yes, Sherlock, it's me. Are you alright? Nobody's told me anything, I was just told that I was to call home as soon as I got back. Are you okay? Is the baby okay? Hamish?" John rushed.
"Everything is fine, John. I'm fine, Hamish is fine," I said. "The baby is the reason I called, though. He missed his Daddy for his birthday."
"Really, a boy?" John asked in awe.
"Yes. We have two boys now, John," I said, hot tears building up behind my eyelids. "Benedict is beautiful and healthy."
"God, I wish I was there, love. I'm so sorry you and Benedict have to be alone," John said.
"Stop apologizing; it's not your fault and it makes you sound like a broken record," I told him. "But I do wish you were here. I miss you, so much."
"I miss you, too, Sherlock," John said. There was some muffled speech from John's end, then the sound of his hand covering the voice receiver and speaking to the other person.
"I've got to go, love. I wish I could talk longer," John sighed.
"I wish you could, too. I love you," I said.
"Love you, too, Sherlock. And tell Hai and Benny I love them, too," he said.
"I will," I promised. "Bye."
"Bye, love." The line cut out and I put my phone back on the bedside table.
"I told you Daddy loves you, Benedict. He loves you very much, and so does Papa," I said, kissing his forehead. "Now let's get you to sleep, little one."