Jenny panicked. It was way too early for the baby. She was only 35 weeks and Callen wasn't here right now.
"Jules!" Jenny yelled panicky.
Julie heard her and was upstairs within a minute.
"What's up?" Julie asked worried.
"My water just broke."
"Alright, stay calm. I'm gonna get you to the hospital."
Julie helped her downstairs and grabbed her bag and put her in the car.
"What's wrong with mommy?" Clara asked.
"Your baby brother will be here soon."
"Yay." Clara said as Julie put her in the car.
"You have the number for your doctor?" Julie asked as she got in the car.
"Yeah it's in my phone."
Julie went through her phonebook and found the number for the doctor. Jenny's car had hands free so she could call her on the way to the hospital. The doctor would meet them there.
"Call G too," Jenny spat out as she got a contraction.
"I thought he was on an undercover mission."
"Just call him!"
"Alright."
Julie called G but she got voice mail. She left him a message.
"Call the office. Maybe they can reach G."
Julie dialed Hetty's number.
"Yes Mrs. Callen?" Hetty said as she answered the phone.
"Ms. Lange, it's Julie, Jenny's sister. Do you know where G is?"
"He's still undercover. Is everything alright?"
"Jenny's water just broke, I'm taking her to the hospital."
"I'll see if I get can a hold of Mr. Callen and I'll send him to the hospital."
"Alright thank you."
30 minutes later Jenny was settled in the hospital but they still hadn't heard from Callen. Julie called him again. But it went to voicemail again. Jenny grabbed her phone out of Julie's hand.
"G, wherever you are, get you but over here now!" Jenny spat into the phone
"He'll be here Jen, don't worry. He'll be here," Julie tried to calm her down.
The doctor came to check on her. She was 5 centimeters dilated.
"Can we call your husband?" The doctor asked.
"I already called him. He's away on business so haven't been able to reach him but left him a message," Julie answered.
"Alright."
Jenny lay curled up in the bed getting contractions every 3 minutes.
"Mommy, are you okay?" Clara asked worried.
"Mommy's fine sweetie. Don't worry."
"Where's daddy?"
"I'm sure daddy will be here soon."
4 hours later Jenny was dilated 8 centimeters so they moved her to the delivery room. They still hadn't heard anything from Callen. Jenny was getting worried that he wouldn't make it in time. She couldn't do this without him, she needed him here. She needed him there to see their baby boy being born. Silently she prayed that Callen would make it.
…
10 minutes later Callen walked into the office. He went to his desk to check his phone. He saw he had several missed calls from Jenny and a couple of messages. He listened to the first message. When he heard Jenny was in labor he quickly grabbed his keys and headed towards the exit.
"Mr. Callen," Hetty spoke.
"Not now Hetty, I've gotta get to the hospital. Jenny's in labor."
"That's what I came to tell you. Good luck."
"Thanks," Callen said and with that he was on his way to the hospital. He hoped he was still in time.
Jenny contractions were less than a minute apart. She was almost fully dilated.
"Alright Jenny. We're almost there," the doctor spoke.
"No, not yet. I can't do this without G."
"We can't wait any more. You're fully dilated."
"Damn it G. I'm gonna kill him when I see him," Jenny spat out as she got another contraction.
"You're gonna kill who?" Callen asked as he came running into the room.
"G, you made it," Jenny replied with tears in her eyes and she reach with her hand for him.
"Of course, I wouldn't wanna miss this," Callen said as he gave her a kiss on her head and took her hand.
"You're just in time Mr. Callen," the doctor told him.
Julie took Clara outside to the waiting room.
"Alright Jenny, next contraction I want you to push okay."
Jenny nodded and when the contraction came she started pushing. She squeezed Callen's hand very tight as she pushed. 4 pushes later the baby's head was almost out. It hurt more then with Clara and Clara's head was out faster. Jenny lay back in between contractions breathing heavily.
"You can do it honey. Just a few more pushes baby," Callen told her.
"God it hurts."
"You can do it honey. I'm right here with you," Callen spoke as he wiped her face with a cold cloth. "You can do it sweetie."
Jenny pushed again and again. After 6 more pushes the baby was almost out.
"Just one more push Jenny," the doctor said.
"I can't anymore, I can't," Jenny breathed heavily.
"You can baby, you can. Just one more push honey," Callen coached her. "Just one more push and he'll be out."
Jenny pushed once more and screamed as the baby finally came out.
"Relax honey, he's out sweetie. He's out. You did very well." Callen gave her a kiss on her head.
"Why isn't he crying?" Jenny asked worried. "Is he okay doctor?"
Jenny and Callen watched as the doctor held their baby boy. The doctor cut the umbilical cord. He still wasn't crying and he looked a little blue. Callen and Jenny got worried that something wasn't right with him.
"Why isn't he crying doctor?" Jenny asked again in tears. Callen held her hand tight.
"Call the NICU," the doctor said.
"What?! What's wrong?" Jenny asked panicky.
"Get me a baby tube."
"What's wrong doctor?" Callen asked just as panicked as Jenny.
"You're baby is not breathing at the moment."
"What?! What's wrong?"
"He's in good hands here. The doctor is doing everything she can," the nurse tried to calm them down.
Callen and Jenny watched as the doctor was working on their son. Another doctor came in with an incubator. Jenny looked at Callen. Callen saw the tears in her eyes.
"Everything will be alright honey," Callen tried to calm her down even though he was just as scared as she was.
"I need to deliver your placenta," a nurse said.
Jenny laid back and led the nurse deliver her placenta but her eyes never left her son.
Callen and Jenny watched as the doctors worked on their son. They didn't understand all the medical terms the doctors were using. They saw a tube down his throat and the doctor was taking his vitals and saying something about an Apgar score. After what seemed like an entirety the doctor came to talk to them and their son was wheeled off.
"Is he okay doctor?" Callen asked, eager to know what was going on with his son. "Where are they taking him?"
"They are taking him to the NICU. We had to put a tube down his throat to help him breath. He's stable for now but we'll monitor him closely in the NICU," the doctor informed them.
"Is something wrong with him?" Jenny asked scared.
"We'll do some test to see what caused this."
"What could it be?" Callen asked.
"Not sure, it can be a number of things. Don't worry. He's in good hands here. If you like I can take you to the NICU so you can see him."
"Please," Jenny said.
The doctor got a wheelchair for Jenny. As they came out of the room Julie and Clara were in front of the room.
"What's going on? Everything okay? We saw all these doctors running in," Julie said.
"He wasn't breathing so they had to put a tube in his throat," Jenny told her in tears.
"Will he be okay?"
"He'll be in the NICU for a while. We're keeping an eye on him," the doctor told her.
"Daddy, where is baby brother?" Clara asked.
"Baby brother is a little bit sick. They have to keep an eye on him so he's in a special part of the hospital for new borns," Callen told her as he took her from Julie.
Julie pushed Jenny to the NICU. The wheelchair couldn't go in so Callen and Julie helped her walk to the crib after washing their hands and putting a robe and shoe covers on.
Jenny cried as she saw her son lying there with his eyes closed and a tube in his throat. He looked so small. His skin wasn't as blue as it was when he was just born. He had blonde hair and the cutest little nose. He weighed 4 pounds and 11 ounces. Callen handed Clara to Julie and stood next to Jenny and put his arm around her.
"He'll be alright honey. They're taking good care of him here."
"He's so small and so defenseless."
"He'll be alright honey," Callen said to reassure her, but deep down he was just as scared himself.
"Can I?" Jenny asked as she held her hand above the crib and the doctor nodded. Jenny ran her finger over his cheek. "Hey little guy, so you were the one who was kicking me and using my bladder as a trampoline. Can you do mommy a favor and open your eyes and breathe on your own? Can you do that?"
"Sorry to bother you," the doctor interrupted. "This is Dr. Mason, he'll be looking after your son here. I'll be back later to check on you Jenny."
"Thank you doctor," Jenny said and the doctor left. "Dr. Mason, will he be alright?"
"It's too early to tell. Right now the tube is breathing for him. We're gonna run some test to see what could be causing this."
"Could it be something permanent or live threatening?"
"It could be either one of those, but let's not get ahead of ourselves. We'll keep an eye on him and do some tests and then we'll know more."
"Can we stay here?"
"You can stay here for a little while longer. You just had a baby; you should be resting in bed."
"I need to be here with my son," Jenny spat out.
"I understand but you have to take care of yourself too."
"I can stay with him here," Callen told her.
"And I can too so he won't be alone," Julie added.
"Thank you. Can I hold him doctor?"
"It's better not to since he still has a tube in his mouth. But you can hold him when the nurse has to change his sheets. I'll let you know when that will be."
"Thank you doctor."
"Do you have a name for the little guy?"
"Yes we have. Jamie George Jason Callen."
They gave him the middle names of Callen's grandfather and Jenny's father.
A little later Callen took Jenny and Clara back upstairs. Julie stayed with their son.
"Will baby brother be alright?" Clara asked.
"I'm sure he'll be fine sweetie," Callen answered.
"He's so tiny."
"Yes he is. That's because he's born a little bit too early."
"Is that why he's sick?"
"Maybe. The doctor is taking care of him so don't worry."
Jenny lay on the bed just starring at the window. Callen put Clara down at the foot end and sat next to Jenny. Jenny leaned against him as Callen put his arm around her. Jenny started crying.
"It's okay honey. He'll be alright. I know he will." Callen gave her a kiss on her head and pulled her closer. "It's okay honey, just let it all out. I'm here with you. We'll get through this together."
"I hope he'll be alright. I can't lose him."
"You won't honey. He's in good hands here. The doctor is taking very good care of him."
"But what if he never can breathe on his own?"
"I'm sure he will honey. You gotta have faith in that. Our little boy will be alright. He has to be."
Clara crawled up to them and the three of them lay there in the hospital bed. Callen kept as calm as possible for Jenny but he was just as scared as she was. He didn't want to lose his son. He would do anything he could for his son and for Jenny. He had to keep strong for them and for Clara.
"Try to get some rest honey. I'll be here with you and as soon as there's something about Jamie I'll let you know."
"Okay."
Jenny shifted in the bed and tried to get some rest. She was really tired after the birth. A little later she fell asleep. Clara was asleep next to her. Callen took out his phone and called Sam.
"Hey G," Sam said as he answered the phone.
"Hey Sam."
"Hold on G, let me put you on speaker phone."
"Is everything alright Mr. Callen?" Hetty asked.
"Not quite. The birth really took long and it was really hard for Jenny. When the baby was born he wasn't breathing. He's in the NICU now with a breathing tube in his throat."
"Will he be alright?" Kensi asked.
"It's too early to tell. The doctor is doing some tests on him to see why he wasn't breathing."
"How's Jenny?" Sam asked.
"She's sleeping right now. It's been really hard on her."
"Of course it is. How are you Mr. Callen?"
"I'm hanging in there. Trying to stay strong for Jenny."
"Hang in there Mr. Callen. Can we stop by later?"
"Sure that's fine."
"Alright. We'll all pray for your little boy."
"Thank you Hetty." And with that Callen hung up.
Callen looked at Jenny and Clara asleep on the bed together. They looked cute together. Callen hoped their son would be able to join them soon. He sat down on the couch and just stared at them. He was so worried about Jamie. This pregnancy had been so hard on Jenny and now this. He couldn't stop the tears flowing over his cheeks and he let it all out. He prayed that his little boy would be alright.
A little later Clara woke up and Callen took Clara to go see Jamie.
"Hey, how's Jenny?" Julie asked.
"She's sleeping right now. Could you keep her company?
"Yeah sure. You want me to take Clara with me?"
"No, that's okay. She can stay here with me."
"Alright. Hang in there G," Julie replied and gave Callen a hug.
"I will try."
Julie walked upstairs to Jenny's room.
"Is baby brother asleep?" Clara asked.
"He sort of is."
"What is this for?" Clara asked and pointed to the tube.
"That's to help him breathe. He can't breathe on his own yet."
"Why not?"
"I don't know sweetie. The doctor is trying to figure that out."
"Will he be alright?"
"I'm sure he will sweetie."
"I make baby brother better," Clara said and she moved closer to him and gave him a kiss.
"That's sweet of you Clara. I'm sure that will help," Callen told her and gave Clara a kiss.
Callen sat down with Clara next to her crib just to watch his son. He looked really cute even though he had a tube down his throat. A little later all kinds of alarm bells went off and the doctor came rushing towards Jamie. Callen moved out of the way to let the doctor work.
"What's going on?" Callen asked worried. Callen didn't get any answer. "What the hell is wrong with my son?!"
"Your son was having trouble breathing. He wasn't getting enough oxygen. We gave him a little more oxygen via the tube," the doctor explained.
"Will he be alright?"
"It's just a minor setback. We gave him some more oxygen so he should be fine now."
"Do you know why he wasn't breathing?"
"We're still waiting on some test results. We'll let you know as soon as we have them back."
"Thank you doctor."
Callen stayed for a little longer before going back to Jenny. When he walked into the room Jenny was awake.
"Hey honey, how's Jamie?" Jenny asked.
"He's doing okay. He had a minor setback so they had to give him more oxygen."
"Minor setback?" Jenny asked scared.
"He didn't get enough oxygen so the alarm of the monitor went off and they gave him some more oxygen."
"Oh god," Jenny sighed.
"He'll be alright honey, I'm sure," Callen replied as he sat down next to her and gave her a kiss.
"I hope so honey," Jenny said as she leaned against Callen.
In the afternoon Jenny's father stopped by.
"Hey dad," Jenny said as she saw her dad.
"Grandpa!" Clara squealed.
"Hey Clara," Jason said as he picked her up and gave her a kiss.
"Hey sweetie," Jason told Jenny and he gave her a kiss. "How are you?"
"Tired and scared. I'm worried about my little boy."
"I'm sure he'll be alright sweetie."
"I hope so dad."
Jason stayed for a little longer before Callen took him to see Jamie.
"He's very cute," Jason told Callen as they stood beside his crib.
"Yeah he is. I just hope he's gonna be alright."
"I'm sure he will son, I'm sure he will," Jason replied as he put his hand on Callen's shoulder. "If there's anything I can do just let me know."
"Thanks Jason."
They stayed for a little longer before going back upstairs. In the evening the team stopped by. Hetty gave Callen some time off, as long as he needed. They thanked them for coming. Julie had taken Clara home. Jenny was pretty tired by the end of the day but she wanted to see Jamie before she went to sleep so Callen took her to the NICU. He looked a little better than he did this morning.
Jenny stroked his cheek with her finger.
"Hey little guy, it's mommy again. Can you open your eyes for me sweetie? Mommy and daddy want to see your eyes open. Can you do that for us?"
It was hard for Callen to see her like this and to see his son like this. It broke his heart to see Jenny like that. He just wanted his little guy to breathe on his own, he couldn't lose him. This really took and emotional toll on both of them. Callen tried to stay strong for Jenny but he was almost falling apart himself too because they didn't know what was going on with their son.
"Goodnight little guy mommy loves you," Jenny spoke and gave Jamie a little kiss.
Callen took Jenny back to her room and helped her in bed.
"Could you please stay with me tonight? I don't want to be alone."
"Sure honey," Callen answered and crawled next to her in bed.
Jenny crawled against him and lay her head down on his chest and Callen moved his arm around her.
"I'm glad you got here in time, I wouldn't have survived today if you weren't here."
"I'm glad too. I'm here honey. I'm not going anywhere. I'll stay here with you. Just try and get some sleep."
"I don't know if I can. I'm too worried about Jamie."
"Let me worry about Jamie, you just get some rest. I'll be here if you need me."
Callen pulled her closed and gave her a kiss on her head. A little later Jenny fell asleep. Callen didn't sleep much that night. He was too worried about his son. Every time he closed his eyes he would get images of something horrible happening to Jamie. What if it was something permanent? What if it was life threatening? What if he would never be able to breathe on his own? Callen tried to shake off the thoughts but they kept coming back.
Jenny woke up early the next morning and she felt Callen's arms around her.
"Good morning honey," Callen spoke when he noticed Jenny was awake.
"Good morning honey."
"Did you sleep okay?"
"I slept fine. You?"
"Not so much but that's okay."
"Have you been to see Jamie yet?"
"No not yet, wanted to wait for you."
The doctor came in to check on Jenny. Everything was fine with Jenny after the birth so she could go home at the end of the day. She was happy about that and wasn't happy about it. She was glad she could go home and sleep in her own bed and stuff but it also meant that she would have to leave Jamie in the hospital and that she wasn't that close to him if something happened.
After eating her breakfast Callen took her down to see Jamie.
"Good morning Mr. and Mrs. Callen," Dr. Mason said.
"Good morning doctor. How's Jamie doing?" Jenny replied.
"He's doing a bit better. He made it through the night fine. His vitals have gone up a little bit so we're reducing his oxygen flow a little today to see how he responds to that and we should have his test results later today."
"Alright, thank you doctor."
Callen and Jenny both stroked his little cheeks and his little fingers. He looked perfect, except for the tube in his throat. The nurse came by to change his sheet so Callen and Jenny could hold him. They put their hands under him and lifted him up, careful for the tube and wires and Jenny held his head. She was glad she finally got to hold her son even if it was like this.
Jenny and Called stayed in the NICU for the rest of the day. In the afternoon the doctor came by with Jamie's test results.