It was a slow, awkward walk but Joel and Gypsy managed to escort Mike to the ship's medical bay. Joel helped Mike sit on a large medical bed while Gypsy gathered some necessary supplies that could be used during the delivery process.
"How's that feel?" Joel asked as he watched Mike get situated on the exam table.
"It's fine. Thanks."
"Not to pry or embarrass you, but, uh... are you going to take off the rest of your jumpsuit?"
"Huh?" Mike blushed a little.
"I mean, if you're going to deliver naturally..." Joel awkwardly inferred.
"Oh, right... I guess that would be in the way."
"I'll draw the curtain for you." Joel pulled the privacy curtain around Mike's table to try to give the laboring man some sense of dignity right before he'd be exposed to everyone on the ship.
Mike pulled the blanket up over his legs toward his distended stomach and took a deep breath. "Man, I never thought in a million years I'd end up like... this!"
Joel pulled the curtain back open. "So, how are things?"
"Didn't you just ask that?"
"Yeah, but I want to know how you've been since being stranded, not just, you know... this!"
"Oh, right. Well, things have been interesting for sure. Like last week we-" Mike clutched his stomach and held his breath. "Ooooooowwwwww!"
Joel looked at his watch. "About ten minutes. Right on schedule."
"Great, that's what matters..." Mike ran his hand through his sweaty blonde hair. "Joel, I hate to ask but..."
"What is it?"
"Well, when it's you know, time, would you mind... helping...?"
Joel smiled a little and patted Mike's leg. "Not at all. I wouldn't have stayed if I hadn't planned on helping you out. Besides I never programmed the bots with any form of babysitting protocol, let alone child delivery."
"Joel?"
"Yes?"
"Thanks for staying."
"My pleasure. It's not everyday you get to say you helped deliver a baby. Especially a man's baby!"
-next chapter-