HI! We're almost to the end of this one. So I hope you like the events in this chapter. R&R if you want. Thanks so much for reading - Carebearmaxi
Take The Long Way Home -Chapter 7
It had been a couple of hours now since Peter Alcott had left Philadelphia. He knew that it was approximately three more hours until he was in the vicinity of Pittsburgh. He was buzzed only a half hour ago to which he had made a stop and phoned Angela Wells. She told him that Cathy had started bleeding pretty badly and that the first baby's head was down; however, she was afraid that the placenta may be blocking the birth canal and that's why she was bleeding badly. Peter knew he could not risk taking Cathy to a hospital for an emergency C-Section because of what he feared at least who one of the children resembled. He could not make a real diagnosis until he arrived at the Wells' residence up in the moutainous part of Pittsburgh.
Peter had also contacted Vincent via Mr. Wong's telephone and that also worried Peter because Vincent was liable to lose reason and try to make it himself to Pittsburgh to be with Cathy. She was his wife, after all, and those two babies were his as well and their connection was unfathomable; so Peter knew also in light of their history together that Vincent was not going to be without Catherine ever again if he could really help it. Hopefully the pull of his three young children at home with him restrained him from doing anything truly foolish and life threatening.
All Peter could do was keep driving and try to concentrate on what he could do if Angela Wells' diagnosis was correct.
Meanwhile the couple of hours that Peter was on the road coming to her seemed like an eternity to Catherine. She had had several contractions and especially a hard one where she had to start pushing. Catherine lay with her legs apart and had felt wet all over her bottom. Angela finally sitting at the foot of the bed sat with a gloved hands waiting for the first baby's head to come out more. Cathy knew that Angela was worried because of all the blood and that's when Angela had decided to inform Cathy of what she thought the issue may have been. Catherine stated succinctly that she knew that couldn't be the problem because she had had monthly checkups up until a week ago when Peter starting making them weekly. Catherine was not the only pregnant woman in the tunnels at the moment, but she was one of the most special needing specialty treatment directly from the obstetrician from above.
"Your labor has slowed a little bit, hasn't it?" Angela asked waiting with waiting fingers to help deliver the first baby whose head was nearing Cathy's opening. She could feel it and she wanted Catherine to push on her next contraction, but it seemed that it had been forever since the last push.
"I don't feel as much pain as frequently. Isn't it odd that it stops now? Right before the first...ooo...perhaps I spoke to soon," Catherine said with swift intake of breath.
"Would you prefer to sit up more? I think that might help you push the babies out a little easier," Angela suggested.
"Ok," Catherine agreed.
Calling on Devin's assistance, they both helped scoot Cathy to the end of the bed propping her up on a cushioned pillow rest which was sturdy and maintained Catherine's comfort while her legs rested on end tables constructed of very hard wood. With her feet in the first drawers of each night table, Catherine had the sudden need to push making use of gravity.
Angela eyed her patient and said soothingly as she sat on the chair brought from Angelica's desk, "Ok, breathe in, hold, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6...push Cathy, 7, 8, 9, 10. Another breath..." Angela counted and coached Catherine to breathe. Devin held Catherine's shoulders and encouraged her with words of his own much like he had done when Angela had given birth to their three girls.
"Ok, great stuff, Cathy. Take it easy for a minute unless you need to push again. Baby's almost here. I see a lot of hair," Angela said.
Catherine looked up at Devin and they both knew what each was thinking. Was this the baby that was going to resemble his father and look like a little kitten?
Catherine could not think long because swiftly she needed to push again.
"Ok, good, go ahead. Just a second. Blow through the rest of this contraction because I need to move the umbilical cord." Angela did her business and taking some olive oil spread some around Catherine's vaginal opening so the stretching would be lubricated and not burn as much. This baby was going to be big and although Catherine had had three previous children her opening may still tear.
With one loud scream, Catherine pushed the last of the first baby out. There was a lot of blood and as Angela suctioned the baby's nose and mouth waiting for a cry she cried aloud: "Congratulations! It's a beautiful baby girl!"
Angela swaddled the little baby girl in a soft towel and placed her on Catherine's chest for a little skin-to-skin.
"Born at 2:30 pm in the afternoon!" Angela exclaimed as she waited for the birth of the next baby.
Just then, there was a knock on the door and Devin walking away from Catherine temporarily looked out the bedroom window and was visibly relieved when he saw Peter Alcott standing on his doorstep.
Devin ran to the front door and opened it.
"Devin, I got here as fast as I could. Everything ok?"
"Catherine just had a "normal" little girl." Devin said emphasizing the word "normal".
"Good. I'm just in time then. Where can I wash up?" Peter asked
Devin accompanied him to the bathroom where they talked about the birth and if Peter had been able to contact Vincent.
"Yes. He's very worried to say the least, but he's got enough obligations around in the tunnels so he hasn't tried to get here himself."
Devin just sighed and then accompanied Peter to Catherine's side.
"Well, if it isn't my favorite patient. How are we doing with that second baby? You must be Angela, " Peter said patting Cathy's shoulder and then shaking hands with Angela as she took off her glove.
"I think it's about time I pushed this second one out. Caroline was born almost 10 minutes ago. That's too much time between births."
"It sometimes happens, Cathy, don't worry," Peter said and saw, at once, that everyone seemed to breathe easier now that he was there. "Let me take a look to see what's happening."
Washing his hands once again and putting on sturdy rubber gloves he brought in his bag Peter peered under the covering over Cathy's legs to keep her warm. He saw a lot of blood as Angela had told him, but he was relieved to know that the first baby was born with no issue. However, this second one may prove a bit more curious. Peter laid a hand on Catherine's still large protruberance and felt the contraction coming on.
"Ok, sweetheart, you feel like pushing? This little guy is still pretty far up the canal, but that's because his sister blocked him. I think he just needs a little push from mommy."
"Yes, I'll push on the next contraction which is...right...now," Catherine said and with her chin to her chest she pushed very hard to hopefully bring her little boy into the world.
"Good, Cathy, very good. I can see him," Peter said while Angela stood at the foot of the bed watching the progress as well. There was more blood and it gushed down the covering of the bed which Angela had placed there before Catherine started bleeding heavily.
"Whew!" Catherine said.
"Ok, quick break and then another one, ok? We've got to get him into the world," Peter said trying not to show concern. He knew labor and being born was the riskiest part of a baby being born but a baby that was special the birthing was that much scarier. Peter had delivered Mary Margaret, Vincent and Catherine's third child and she had been delivered very slowly. When she was finally born everyone had exclaimed how cute and kittenish she looked as she had inherited her looks from her father. Mary was not an exact replica of her father, so she could pass as completely normal without comment in the World Above one day if she chose. However, this child whose looks were still in question because the ultrasound had not completely revealed everything.
"Ok, push, Cathy...the baby's coming!" Angela said. Baby Caroline wailed as Uncle Devin held her close and murmured that her mommy was just a little busy.
"It's burning...ugh..." Catherine said through gritted teeth and pushing. All at once the release came and Catherine took a grateful intake of breath and looked down at the little baby who looked somewhat like a kitten with strawberry blonde maine and little tiny hands with the smallest replica of claws. His little flat nose and cleft upper lip resembled his father as did the big blue eyes that looked up at Peter when he started to cry.
"He's Vincent's son, for sure," Peter said proudly and relieved. Again the baby was swaddled and put on Catherine's chest. While Peter and Angela were busy cleaning Catherine and waiting for the placentae to be delivered. Catherine held Vincent, Jr. to her breast while Devin held little Caroline who had suddenly stopped crying.
"Do you want to switch?" Devin asked. Catherine nodded between crying aloud at the pain of bringing forth the placentae.
Catherine had looked at both of her children and declared then perfect. Little Caroline had her green eyes and a smattering of blonde hair: whereas, Vincent, Jr. was the spittin' image of his large lion-like father.
After Catherine was all cleaned up and moved back up the bed to lie comfortably and rest. Devin and Angela decided to tend to the newborns.
"Angela, did you want to get a look at Vincent, Jr.?" Devin asked carefully. He knew that on first glance when he was born, Angela did not say a word but examined him through curious eyes.
"Sure. He's a baby, isn't he?"
"Look, I know what you're thinking. Everyone thinks the same thing when they meet Vincent for the first time. This little guy looks like a miniature Vincent," Devin said giving him a little kiss on his forehead.
Angela wondered if she would feel that accepting when she held the little guy. She was a nurse, after all, and she had seen a lot worse conditioned children upon their births. She had witnessed and assisted at births where children had only half a limb or a cleft palate, so a little guy whose little face could remind one of a cherubic kitten should not be so frightening.
They switched the babies and Angela could not help but be captivated by those vivid blue eyes. His little hands were just like any other baby's hands except the nail pits looked more like claw pits. They were still hands, though, not paws. He was a darling little baby. She only hoped that upon meeting Vincent she could feel as accepting.
"So this is what your brother looks like?" Angela asked her husband as they sat together in the living room with the two little babies.
"Pretty much. Of course, he's over six feet tall and has long hair. He wear his mane like a rock star. He's very sensitive and kind and brave. He's the best man I have ever known. So I hope you like him when you meet him. I know he'll like you and our girls are already attached to Uncle Vincent," Devin said as he kissed Angela on the cheek.
While Catherine was in the early stages of labor, Angela and Devin had hauled out the crib from what was to be the new nursery for their son who had not been born. Angela was so worried over her patient that the significance of the crib had not dawned on her at that moment. However, now, as she placed Vincent, Jr. in it and Devin placed Caroline right next to him a tear escaped from her eye.
Devin saw her wipe away the tear and came over to where she stood over the other side of the crib and took her in his arms and held her tight.
"It'll be ok, sweetheart. We can try again," Devin whispered and stroked her hair as her head came to rest on his shoulder.
"Sure. We can..." Angela said as she cried cleansing her soul of the grief of the baby who was to have been born only a few months ago and the joy at seeing two babies, though not hers, occupy the crib.
Peter had stayed with Catherine to let her know how she was doing and warned her that she may not be able to have any more children.
"Vincent and I are through with this, I'm pretty sure, Peter. We now have five where before we despaired if we would have any," Catherine said.
" Nonetheless, you're bleeding pretty badly. If it turns into hemmoraghing we'll have to consider a hysterectomy. So, I hate to say this but you can't go home just yet. I'll be here a few more hours and if it doesn't look like it's going to stop I'm getting an ambulance and taking you to the nearest hospital."
"What about the babies and Vincent?' Catherine asked wanting so badly to head home now and show her husband their two newest children.
"I will contact him and make him understand there would be no other way. The last thing he wants is to lose you. So I know he'll understand when I explain it to him."
"Peter, if it does slow down, do you think we could head home tomorrow?"
"We'll see. I'm staying at a nearby hotel and I will be in touch," Peter said as he rose.
"Now go to sleep. The children are fine and if they really need you Devin or Angela will let you know. Remember they are parents, too, so they can handle a couple of newborns for a couple of days. Now get some rest," Peter said bending down and kissing Catherine on her forehead and tucking her in the warm bed.
Catherine fell fast asleep feeling secure that she would be going home soon.
