CHAPTER SEVEN
A/N Sorry about the delay here. Personal problems, coupled with writer's block, got in the way. Thanks for the lovely reviews as always
T/W Pregnancy complications, descriptions of medical procedures. Huge love and Kudos to Sweeet-as-Honey for her excellent guidance here.
Cath couldn't believe her bad luck. She'd hoped to get away from the ED as quickly as she could, but a patient had just been brought in who needed an ECG. The unlovely Sam Strachan had more or less sidelined her to being little more than a spectator.
She noticed Robyn ushering in a heavily pregnant woman.
"Cath, you can deal with this lady."
"I'm here for Ralph" the woman explained and a twinge of pain showed in her face.
"Are you all right?" Cath asked, "Would you like water or tea? Or I can show you an execise-"
"Please, I just want Ralph to be all right."
"Your husband's in good hands" Sam reassured the woman. To his annoyance, the woman looked at Cath again. She obviously trusted her more.
"Why don't we walk around outside for a while?" Cath suggested, trying to sound as calm as she could. It wasn't easy with a nervous pregnant lady and the fact that she could change back to being Cal at any second if Flavia Octavia's wrath had now been appeased.
"What's your name?" she asked gently as she helped the patient walk.
"I'm Rebecca Tanner."
"Well, it's all going well with Ralph, Rebecca-"
"Oh NO!"
This last comment wasn't a cry of disbelief at Cath's words, but a cry of shock and a little shame as Rebecca saw and felt the puddle at her feet.
"Rebecca, your waters have broken. We need to get you up to Maternity."
"I want to stay with my husband!"
Cath sighed inwardly but hurried into Resus again.
"I need a trolley now!"
Sam's eyebrows rose, but he grinned inwardly. He rather liked this side of the placid blonde.
"Trolley now, please!" he ordered.
Having wheeled Rebecca into a bay, Cath smiled at Amira.
"Amira, check how far dilated Rebecca is please."
"Can't you do that? I'm really busy-"
Cath didn't fancy explaining to Amira just why 'she' shouldn't check. She gritted her teeth and smiled.
"Okay,"
"She's 10cm dilated" Cath reported. Her only hope now was to be an emergency birth partner.
"I'll be here all the time, Rebecca. I could be your birth partner?"
Just then a serious-looking young woman hurried into the bay.
"Sandie, you got here! It's okay, doctor. Sandie's here to be my birth partner.
Oh, whoopee, thought Cath/Cal, just call me Cal the Midwife.
Sandie and Cath helped Rebecca to breathe, and tried their best to keep Rebecca focussed on the birth, but the phrases that Cath kept hearing from Resus weren't very reassuring. "Crossmatched blood" could well mean a transfusion, and bradycardia and hypotension were even more worrying to overhear.
Rebecca too overheard:
"Doctor, what does that mean? Brady- what's that?"
Cath explained the medical terms as best she could but said forcefully:
"We need to concentrate on YOU here, Rebecca. Your husband will be just fine… look, just push for me, good girl… oh, good girl!"
And as the medical team performed fluid resuscitation on Ralph, Rebecca gave one final push and their child was born. Ironically it happened just as Sam announced smoothly that Ralph was back with them again. Smiling, Cath placed the small, crying body on Rebecca's chest, trying not to think of a baby called Matilda…
"What's your name, Doctor?" Rebecca gasped in between tears of happiness.
Cath had a wicked urge to say "Ask me tomorrow and we'll see" but she told Rebecca her name was Catherine.
"Oh I like that. Her first name's going to be April because I've planned it for so long but how about April Catherine?"
Cath couldn't help but glow with pride. And at last her long shift was over and she was heading for the restroom where she felt she had an imminent discovery to make.
Rebecca wondered if it was because she felt so woozy after giving birth to April Catherine or if she'd been so worried about Ralph that it had made her hallucinate.
She was sure she'd seen Doctor Catherine Harvey's breast size reduce drastically in the last half hour.
No, that was nonsense. She had Ralph back safely, and they had April to love and look after. That's what she'd think about now.
"Cal, you're back!"
Robyn, wearing her day clothes and clearly ready to leave the ED for the night, was beaming with genuine pleasure.
"I'm back, Robyn… but I'm legging it out of here as fast as I can before I'm hauled back into Resus. I'm totally kn*ckered. All I want to do tonight is to have a good warm shower, a good hot dinner and a wonderful long sleep."
Cal couldn't help but notice the disappointment on Robyn's face. He knew that they had lots to catch up on now that she knew he hadn't played any dirty tricks on her and the others after all.
"But tomorrow night I'd like to make this last few stupid days up to you properly. Do you like films?"
"What kind?"
"I was thinking of the latest Pirates. It's on at the local Multiplex."
"I've missed Jack Sparrow!"
"So that's a yes, then. And a meal beforehand? Wherever you like, your choice."
"That'd be lovely."
"Bless Lofty for doing his stuff with Flavia Octavia."
"He deserves a medal. Hey, there's no reason why we can't share a taxi home together, is there?"
Cal beamed.
"Not at all!"
"So could we go out formally tomorrow night?" Ethan asked Lily.
"Will anything between us ever be formal again now you've made me laugh like a schoolgirl?"
Lily's smile was ironic but very friendly.
"Where should we go? Anywhere you like."
"I'd like to see the latest Pirates film at the Multiplex."
"Very frivolous silly entertainment. Yes, I think I would like that."
Sam was starting to have one of his severe headaches. Resus had been bad enough, even though they'd successfully saved Ralph Tanner. Oh well, he was free now for the evening and would treat himself to a good meal. He thought about a taxi to the restaurant, but then decided that would be stupid as they had good parking facilities.
As he drove out of the carpark and on to the main street, he was forced to pull up at a Zebra crossing, across which a strange-looking old lady was shuffling as slowly as she could for the sake of it. Horns were honking behind Sam and he had had enough. Winding down the window, he yelled loud and clear:
"Oh get out of my way why don't you, you stupid old hag?"
Flavia Octavia gave him a long, slow, meaningful smile…
