Ch 3
Rossi got off the phone with Alice, all the color had drained from his face. "What's happened?" Hotch asked.
"Will's on his way to the hospital with Alice," he said. "They think she's going into labor."
"It's actually very common for women who are carrying multiples to go into labor early. There's a 90% survival rate for fetuses in this stage of development. They should be completely fine, and Alice will be too," Reid said.
"JJ, go with Dave to take care Alice," Hotch said. "Keep us posted."
They got to the hospital nearly three hours later. Rossi talked to the receptionist who then had a nurse take him and JJ to the room Alice was in.
…
Alice was pressing her face to the window when Rossi and JJ came in. "Dad…" she said in a pained voice as soon as she saw him. She walked over to him slowly, he met her halfway. She laughed weakly. "Apparently…. I've been in labor almost all day…" she grimaced and had to lean against Rossi for support as another contraction hit. "I'm glad you're here Daddy…" she sat down on the bed and took a drink of water. "Hi JJ…Henry is with Charlie…they're at my place…we were babysitting him there…"
"Where are you at?" JJ asked her.
"About…7.5" Alice said shakily. JJ squeezed her shoulder gently.
"You'll be ok Alice…" she said gently. "I know this is scary…but you'll get through it."
"At least you had Will…" Alice said, "And Henry wasn't forced on you…. JJ I'm so scared… I have no idea what the hell I'm doing…" she grimaced. "I don't know how to be a mom… I barely even remember my own any more….!" She put her head in her hands and started crying. It had been almost 11 years since her mother had died. "What do I do…? What if I can't do this? What if I screw everything up? What if I completely screw everything up…? What if the twins hate me…?" she grimaced.
"Alice…" Rossi said gently, "everything is going to be alright. You're going to be ok…you're not going to mess anything up. The twins are going to love you, and we're all going to help you." He sat next to her and hugged her gently. He had no idea what he was supposed to do in this situation.
"I don't even have names for both of them…" she said weakly. "I've only named one of them… I thought I had more time…!"
"Alice," Rossi said. "Everything's going to be ok…but you need to calm down and try to get some rest…"
Alice managed to get herself calmed down then sighed…she was completely exhausted, which was bad because she knew what was coming. Once she could think straight again she started remembering everything that she had read about delivery. "You're right Dad," she said. "I need to pull myself together." A nurse came in to check on her.
"How are you feeling?" she asked gently.
"I'm ok….but I could definitely use something to eat…and some more water," Alice said. The nurse nodded then brought her some more water and a fruit cup after checking her over thoroughly.
"You've still got a ways to go hon'," the nurse said when she came back. "Try to get some rest while you can."
"Thank you," Alice said.
