Mike was in extreme pain. His pain with each contraction was intensifying, but once his water finally broke the pain was almost unbearable. His water breaking, despite Mike's reaction, was a good thing. It meant his body created a birth canal allowing him to deliver naturally, even though his condition itself was unnatural.
Joel didn't know how to help his friend deal with the mounting pain other than being supportive and talking to him.
Gypsy had brought more ice chips but Mike was just plain fed up with his labor. "This is ridiculous! Why is this taking so long?!"
"I don't know." Joel answered honestly. "But it won't last forever."
"Yeah, yeah..." Mike relaxed as his contraction ebbed away.
"Gypsy," Joel turned to the attentive purple robot. "I need you to bring me some towels and I need you to keep both Crow and Tom out of here until Mike says it's okay for them to come in. Alright?"
"Roger!"
"Hey Mike, do you want Cambot, to uh..."
"Oh God no!" Mike almost yelled at the offer. "That poor little robot has already seen enough horror!"
"Right..." Joel agreed with a half-chuckle. He watched as Mike continued to try and get comfortable on the exam table as he become more and more anxious. "Mike, can I ask you a question?"
"Yeah, sure."
"Can I... touch your stomach?"
"Huh? Oh sure. At least you ask! The bots don't seem to know how important personal space is, they just grab."
Gently Joel put his hand on Mike's distended stomach, which had actually flattened considerably as the baby moved further into position. "Huh, I don't feel anything..."
"Put your hand a little more to the left."
"Here?" Joel did as he was instructed and he could finally feel the gentle movement of the kicking life within. "Wow..."
"Yeah, sure. But after sixth months of constantly being kicked in the gut and bladder, it gets kind of old."
"But I'll bet you'll miss it once its gone."
"If you could feel it from my perspective I think you'd change your opinion."
Joel laughed again. He pulled his hand back when he felt the muscles in Mike's stomach suddenly tighten as another contraction hit.
Mike gritted his teeth and breathed through it. Once it finally let up he was on the verge of tears. "Joel, I can't take much more..."
Joel felt pity for Mike. "Well, should I... check?"
"Yes. Please."
Discreetly Joel lifted the sheet and checked Mike's progress. "Mike, I don't how to tell you this, but I think its time."
"Finally!" Mike sat upright as much as he could and braced his back against the propped up exam table. "Let's do this!"
"Right, next contraction..."
"Right. Are you ready?"
"Ready as I'll ever be." Joel put on a fresh pair of gloves and positioned himself at the end of the table. "Let's deliver a baby..."
-next chapter-