Say hello to baby Jessica Grace!


Saturday In The Park

Joss was brought back to consciousness as a sheet was thrown over her legs. She groaned inwardly that her wish had not come true. This was not a dream, she was not asleep; it was a real life nightmare. She tried to focus on the stars twinkling above in the night sky.

"I'm going to check you out," Shaw informed. "It will only take a minute."

Joss turned to look at Reese. "I'm sorry." A tear escaped to trail down her cheek. Reese carefully wiped it away.

"Shhh. It's alright. Look, we're all here, and our baby is on her way. It's not so bad," he comforted.

"I'm having a baby in the middle of Central Park, in front of strangers and our friends, on the fourth of July, and you say it's not so bad?" She tried to make sense of his reasoning. "Wanna trade places?"

Shaw straightened up and patted Joss' leg. "Well, the bad news is that there is no way we are going to make it to the hospital in time."

"What do you mean?" Joss asked.

"The baby is crowning."

"You mean it's coming?" Lionel exclaimed.

"That's the good news."

"The baby is coming?" Lionel repeated. Bear barked.

Zoe turned to look at him. "Yes. Yes, it's coming. Gosh, you're acting worse than John, and he's the father."

"I just...it's just..." Lionel unbuttoned the top button on his shirt. "I can't breathe. The baby is coming."

"Sit down, Lionel," Zoe instructed and helped him to the bench. "Just breathe deep. In. Out. In. Out."

"Who's having the baby here?" one of the EMTs asked.

Shaw reached into the First-Aid Kit and extracted a pair of gloves and quickly donned them. "You're good to go, Joss. Any time you want to push, feel free."

"Okay."

"Oh, yeah. One more thing." Grabbing another pair of gloves, she threw them at Reese. "Here you go, Dad."

Reese looked at the gloves. "What is this?"

"You're delivering."

"I'm what?!"

"He's what?!" everyone chorused together.

"Your baby, your delivery," Shaw informed matter of factly to the stunned man.

"Wait a minute!" he protested. "I don't know how to deliver a baby!"

"You've done the simulation for the CIA. It's a snap. But I'll coach you if it will make you feel better."

"I'm coaching Joss."

"Zoe can coach Joss."

"Shaw...I can't."

"Oh, but you could put the baby there. Sorry, Dad, but you're on."

"I..." Reese looked helplessly at his wife and friends for any kind of intervention. None came.

"If you don't hurry, the baby will be here."

Reese pulled on the gloves and stepped over to where Shaw stood.

"Are you sure this is legal?" the tall EMT asked his partner. "Are you a doctor?"

"Yes," Shaw replied. "And no, I don't play one on TV. Zoe, help Joss. John, get your ass over here. Now."

"I've never delivered a baby. I don't know what to do. I'm a crisis expert, not a midwife," she reminded the petite woman barking orders. She was scared and yet perversely thrilled about the events.

"This is just another form of crisis management. Just take Joss' hand and help her breathe and push. That's all."

Zoe took Joss' hand. "Are you alright?" she asked the prone woman.

"Never better. You look like hell."

"What can I say? This is my first delivery."

"My second."

"At least you got one up on me," Zoe smiled.

"Taylor?" Joss called out for her son.

"Right here, Mom."

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," he assured her.

"Harold?"

"Right here."

"Okay, now that we've established where everyone is, we need to focus on the moment," Shaw interrupted. "On the next contraction, Joss, I need you to push with everything you have."

Joss swallowed hard. "Okay."

"John, you need to do everything I say, got it?"

"Got it."

"Oh, here comes one," Joss cried as her body tightened like a coil.

"Push! Push! Push!" Shaw chanted. "Zoe, help her sit up!"

"I got you, Joss," Zoe said. "Just keep pushing."

"I'm trying."

"3. 2. 1. Relax," Shaw ordered.

"Oh, God! That hurt."

"You should try being my hand," Zoe replied.

"Sorry."

"I see the head," Reese informed in awe.

"Who does she look like?" Lionel asked.

"It's a head, Lionel. She doesn't look like anyone," Reese replied.

"Here comes another," Joss said.

"Remember to push."

"I can't. I think I'm going to throw up."

"Lionel! Get over here! STAT!"

"What? Wait!" he protested.

"Now. Or I'm going to shoot you," Shaw's threat left no room for argument. Hurrying over, Lionel took his place opposite Zoe.

"Help hold her up."

"The pain. It hurts. I can't...I can't..." Joss breathed and tried to swallow down the bile rising in her throat. Without warning, she turned her head and lost her lunch on her partner.

"Oh, great! Thanks!" Lionel responded in disgust.

"Here." Shaw offered a plastic basin to him.

Lionel took it and raised his eyebrow. "It's a little late now."

Joss looked at him with tear filled eyes. "I'm sorry, Fusco."

"No big deal. At least I got my hot dog back."

"On the next contraction, Joss, you need to push."

"Okay."

"Ready, Lionel?" Zoe asked.

"As I'll ever be. Let's get this baby out! One. Two. Three!"

"Push! Push! Push! Push!" Lionel, Shaw, and Zoe chanted together.

"It hurts!" Joss cried as she laid back down and tried to catch her breath.

"I know," Reese said from his position. "It's almost over. The head is out."

"Sweep it's mouth for anything that might be in there," Shaw directed.

Reese did as he was told. "Clear."

"Alright, Joss. The hard part is over. On the next contraction, I want you to give it all you've got."

"Can I get an epidural?" she wondered.

"Too late. The baby is almost here."

"Have you decided on a name?" Zoe asked.

"Joss did, but she hasn't told me."

"Jessica Grace," Joss said simply.

"What?" Reese and Finch said.

"For the both of you. I want to honour the women you both loved. The women who made you who you are and led you to me. I want our daughter to be as good as they are. Were," she panted.

"I don't know what to say?" Reese murmured.

"Say 'thank you' and deliver the baby," Shaw returned. "Joss, I need a big push. Give me everything you have, okay?"

"I can't. I can't."

"Yes, you can," Shaw encouraged.

"No." Joss shook her head.

"Darling. Joss," Reese's voice cut thru the pain engulfing her. "Listen to me. I need you to push. Jessica Grace needs to come out as meet the people who love her."

"Okay. Okay."

"Concentrate on my voice. On three, I want you to push. One. Two. Three. PUSH!"

"John!"

"Keep pushing, Joss! She's almost here! Keep going! She's here! She's here!"

Joss felt her body nearly tear in half before an unexplainable peace filled her. A second later, Jessica Grace's cry filled the air. The crowd that had formed around them, burst into cheers and applause. Even Bear barked his congratulations.

"Let me see her," Joss ordered.

"Give me a minute to clean her up. Want the pleasure of cutting the cord, Dad?" Shaw offered Reese the tools. Guiding him, she watched as he cut the appropriate said inches and attached the clamps. "Good job," she praised. "If this executive position doesn't work out, you might have a future as an obstetrician."

Reese handed the scissors over. "No, thanks." He waited while Shaw checked the baby and then swaddled her in a large towel. "I'll take her."

He stepped over to where his wife lay. She was drenched in sweat, her hair was flying in every single direction, and she was past exhausted. But in his eyes, she had never look so beautiful.

"Here, Joss. Here's our daughter." He placed the baby in her arms and kissed her gently.

Joss pushed back the towel to gaze on her baby's face. "Oh," she breathed, "she's beautiful." Tears ran down her cheeks. "Hi, Jessica Grace," she greeted. The baby grunted in response and tried to focus on the face speaking to her.

"She looks like you," Zoe complimented.

"Thanks."

"Funny how she went thru all of that and still looks better than me," Lionel grumbled and tried to wipe off his soiled shirt.

"I'm sorry, Lionel," Joss apologized. "How can I make it up to you?"

"Well, Glasses could always buy me a new wardrobe," he said wistfully.

"How about...Uncle instead?" Reese offered the olive branch.

"Uncle?" Lionel was stunned by the offer. "Are you sure?"

"Why not? You've been there for me and Joss when we needed you. And you were there for Jessica."

Lionel puffed his chest out. "Uncle Lionel," he repeated the title. "I like it."

"Thanks, Lionel."

"I still want that new wardrobe," he stated firmly. "What do you say, Finch?"

Finch looked at the man who had helped deliver his goddaughter into the world. He wrinkled his nose. "Sure. Just make sure you stand over there," he suggested to the detective.

"Thanks, Shaw," Joss smiled.

"She's a fighter. That baby is going to kick ass," Shaw predicted.

"Especially if she inherited the best of both parents," Zoe finished.

"I have a feeling with Aunts Zoe and Sam, and Uncle Lionel watching over her, she won't have to kick much ass," Reese said hopefully.

"At least Zoe and I get to add 'mid-wife' to our resumes," Lionel stated proudly. "Along with 'aunt and uncle'."

"Of course you would find the silver lining," Zoe said with a small chuckle, but her heart burst with pride.

"I hate to break up this family moment," the short EMT interrupted, "but we really need to get them to the hospital to get checked out."

"Okay," Joss said reluctantly. She didn't want the moment to ever end. "Wait! Where's Taylor?" she inquired and looked around for her oldest.

"Right here, Mom." He held her hand. "You did great, Mom. She's beautiful." Then he laughed.

"What's so funny?" Joss asked.

"I just realized what I can write my term paper on when it's due."

Joss gave him an incredulous look. "You're not going to write about your mother giving birth in the middle of Central Park on the birthday of our nation, are you?"

Taylor reached out and lovingly stroked his sister's downy, ebony curls. Looking up, his eyes met those of the people who were now linked to him via his sister. Everything he ever wanted had finally come true.

He shook his head. "No. It's going to be about family."

In response, Jessica Grace stretched and yawned and snuggled close to her mother's bosom. With a smile on her lips, she closed her eyes and faded off to sleep while the fireworks exploded in the night sky above her. As far as she was concerned, life was perfect; it couldn't get any better than this.

The End.


Happy 4th of July to all of my readers! May your day be blessed! And may God always bless and protect America!