Thankful for Irene
Disclaimer: The same as usual. I'm not writing these stories for money.
Author's note: Please review!
Chapter 4
The airbags in the car deployed with amazing force.
"Liv, are you okay," Elliot asked frantically.
Olivia was still shocked. " I'm….we're fine El." She was still processing what had just happened.
Elliot jumped out of the car, and ran around to the passenger side.
He dialed 911, but received a message that all circuits were busy.
"Shit, what are we going to do," he thought to himself. It was too dangerous to stay with the car. Another tree could fall on them, there could be a lightening strike. Too many things could go wrong.
"Liv, do you think you can walk? "
"Yeah, I think so. My legs seem okay."
Elliot pried the door open. Olivia was carefully lifting herself out of the vehicle when she felt a slight pop. She felt a powerful gush of warm fluid pour out of her.
She couldn't hide it from Elliot. He had seen her face, and he saw the wetness on her dress.
He ran his hand through his hair.
"Liv, we're going to have to walk a little bit. There's a small motel up the road about a mile. We'll go there, and call an ambulance. I'm sorry, there's no other way. I can't get any cell service…"
Olivia nodded knowingly. "El, it's not your fault.
Elliot opened the trunk of the car, and took out a blue suitcase that Liv had not seen in Atlantic City.
"It's emergency supplies . I didn't want to risk being out in the storm unprepared with you so close to your due date. Do you think you can wheel this overnight bag? If you can't, it's okay, maybe I can…."
Elliot, calm down. That bag is light. Let's just get out of this storm."
It felt like the baby had changed positions, and was now pressing directly into her lower spine. She didn't know how she was going to make it all the way to the motel.
The rain was pouring down. Olivia jumped with each clap of thunder. The wind was so powerful that they were having trouble moving forward. Both Elliot and Olivia were drenched. Every layer of clothing was saturated with water.
"Ugggg…" Olivia moaned clutching her belly with her free arm. The contraction stopped her dead in her tracks. Elliot wrapped his arms around her from behind for support. Soon, the searing pain had subsided.
We've got to keep moving," she said continuing down the roadside with her bag trailing behind her.
After a mile and a half walk, Olivia and Elliot arrived at the Shore Sunset Motor Inn. The sign was not illuminated, and no lights seemed to be lit in the rooms. They trudged on to the lobby to see about calling an ambulance to get Olivia to the hospital.
"The motel has been evacuated," Elliot said defeated. "It looks like the electricity is out as well."
Olivia couldn't hold back her tears. She was beginning to panic. What were they going to do? She was envisioning in her mind having this baby in a huge muddy puddle. She began to hyperventilate.
"Olivia, calm down. You've got to breathe. Come on, take a deep breath with me. Inhale…..Exhale…."
Olivia was able to regain her composure.
"We're going to have to stay here one way or another," Elliot said.
Before she could ask any questions, Elliot kicked down the door to the motel office. Within a few minutes, he had found the room keys, and took all of the bottled water out of the free breakfast bar.
Olivia and Elliot walked three doors down from the office, and entered room 3A. Elliot double locked the door behind him. There was no electricity, so Elliot opened the drapes as wide as possible for light. Olivia sat down on the desk chair, clutching her belly as she felt another contraction build. She closed her eyes, and grit her teeth as her midsection tightened painfully. She felt as if the baby was pushing her spine as she contracted. She didn't know what they were going to do. She knew she needed to get to a hospital. The baby was definitely coming. There was no way out at the moment.
"Liv, why don't you get changed? "
She was about to tell Elliot that she didn't have any clean clothes when he pulled a matronly floral cotton night gown out of his emergency bag.
She looked at him, arching one eyebrow.
Elliot smiled. "I know it's not quite your style Liv, but I brought it in case this happened. It's not sexy, but it's practical. Plus, you won't ruin any of your stuff."
It hit Olivia like a ton of bricks. Unless something changed drastically in the next few hours, she was going to have their baby in a deserted motel room. This really was it. The baby was coming. She hoped Elliot remembered something from the births of his other 5 kids, because her child birth classes from her academy days were fuzzy.
Her soaked clothing hit the bathroom floor with a thunking sound. She grabbed a towel to dry off her hair. She studied her pregnant form in the large mirror in front of her. She really was huge. She had gained 50 pounds, and was carrying most of it in her belly. Her belly button had disappeared. Her breasts had gone from a B cup to a D, much to Elliot's delight. She pulled the loose fitting cotton gown over her shoulders, and smoothed it over her huge belly. She didn't bother with panties considering she would need easy access to that area.
When she waddled out of the bathroom with one hand supporting her lower back, Elliot had already changed into plaid pajama pants. He had set up 3 battery operated lanterns, so the room had become decently lit.
"El, you really did think of everything."
"I was a Marine, and now I'm a cop. I come prepared for everything."
Olivia lifted the lid of the emergency suitcase. Elliot had flashlights, batteries, canned food, water, dry clothes for both them, and for the new baby, diapers, radios, blankets, towels, and a plethora of medical and first aid items. Olivia felt somewhat at ease knowing they were at least materially prepared for the birth.
The motel was also pretty clean, much to Olivia's relief. Elliot stacked up the bed pillows, and motioned for Olivia to come lay down.
She carefully lifted herself onto the tall bed, and leaned back into the pillows. She was exhausted. That walk had drained her of energy. Elliot turned off all the lanterns except the one on the side table, closed the drapes, and climbed into bed with her. He pulled the covers over both of them. She was shivering from being out in the cold and wind. He turned off the final lantern, wrapped his arms tightly around her.
"Liv, everything's going to be fine. Let's try to get some sleep. I think we have a while till the baby comes. Your contractions are still far apart, and irregular."
Without any argument, Olivia closed her eyes, and curled up tighter in Elliot's arms. She really was exhausted, and knew she would need all of her strength to push her baby out. As she drifted off to sleep, she could hear the wind howling outside. She could hear debris blowing around, and tree limbs snapping. This was the first time in her life she could remember actually being afraid of a storm.
Olivia had managed to sleep for about an hour before being woken up by a powerful contraction. She sat half up in bed, and grabbed her belly. "Arrrrrghhh," she moaned through gritted teeth. The contraction was more intense, and longer than her previous ones. She panted through the contraction, and when it was over fell back on the pillows. Beads of sweat were already forming on her forehead.
Elliot took her hand in his as she recovered.
"Liv, let me check you. We have no idea how far along you are. That long walk may have sped things up a little."
As embarrassing as it was, she agreed. He peeled back the covers, and moved to the foot of the bed. He turned on the lantern again, and grabbed a pair of rubber gloves from his suitcase. He helped her move her legs into position, and pushed up the hem of her night gown. He placed 2 fingers inside of her, and felt carefully.
"I think you're only about 2 centimeters Liv."
Olivia was somewhat relieved. Being only 2 centimeters meant that she still had time to get to a hospital. She prayed the storm would let up, and they would be able to get out of that motel.
Elliot climbed back into bed, and pulled the covers over them both. He wrapped Olivia tightly in a fleece blanket as well. She was still very cold from being caught in the soaking rain.
"Let's rest for a while"
A few more hours had passed.
"Liv, do you want to try some walking? The gravity might help the baby come down further. It worked for Kathy."
Olivia agreed, and he helped her sit up, and put her feet on the floor.
"Elliot, I'm scared. I never planned on having a baby like this. I'm already a higher risk because of my age, plus this baby is huge. What happens if something goes wrong?"
"Olivia, you aren't an old lady yet, even if you are dressed like one."
She slapped him playfully.
"You're only 39, not seventy. You're in great physical shape. I've got medical supplies, and I have a little experience with childbirth. Besides, you still have some time. We will probably get to a hospital by the time you deliver."
"I hope you're right."
Elliot pressed his fingertips directly into the part of her back that had been killing her. Her toes curled in delight.
"How did you know that was the spot?"
"Just experience I guess. It helped Kathy when she had back labor with Maureen."
Olivia and Elliot had been pacing the floor of the motel room off and on for about 3 hours. Her contractions were becoming more intense, and were now about 30 minutes apart.
She took a break from walking, and sat on the foot of the bed. Elliot massaged her lower back with his magic fingers.
"Liv, why don't I make you something to eat? It's been hours since you've had anything. You are going to need your strength to have this baby. I saw a gas stove in the breakfast area of the lobby. I can warm up some soup."
Olivia was not hungry, but agreed to eat just for Elliot's sake.
"I'll just be three doors over in the lobby. Yell if you need anything."
Olivia continued her pacing. She swore she was going to wear a path in the carpet. She wondered if all of this walking was even helping. She didn't feel any different. The baby was moving around a lot, which took some of the worry off of her shoulders. As she was turning around near the bathroom, she heard a huge crash, and the building shook.
"Elliot," she called out. She raced to the door as quickly as her 9 month pregnant body could carry her. She opened the door, and saw Elliot coming back toward their room.
"It's okay," he said hugging her tight."A tree fell through the building on the other end."
Olivia's heart began to beat normally again. She was scared to death thinking something had happened to Elliot.
"We should be okay here. There aren't any trees close enough to this side of the building to fall through. Let me go back and get the soup."
They ate their dinner of Chunky beef vegetable soup, with some bread that Elliot found in the breakfast bar. Elliot also made Olivia a large mug of tea.
She was tired of walking, and laid down on the bed to rest. The storm still showed no sign of letting up.
Another contraction ripped through her. Her spine felt like it was being twisted. Her abdomen was rock hard, and constricted. She screamed out in pain. She tried panting, Lamaze breathing, everything that she could think of, even holding her breath. The pain was unrelenting.
He noted it had only been 23 minutes since her last contraction. There was no denying that the baby was on her way.
He felt guilty for dragging his very pregnant wife on a vacation when a hurricane was predicted. He should have known better.
Author's Note: It would really rock my socks to have some reviews!