It's Time!
Daniel woke with a start from a troubled sleep, eyes blinking open quickly. His name... Sam was calling his name... moaning his name.
She was leaning against the bedroom door, somewhat slumped over, groaning and gasping.
"My God, Sam!" Daniel cried out, out of bed and at her side as quickly as he could manage, trying not to trip over the tangled bedsheets. One look at her face and he bit back the words of reprimand for not waking him sooner. "I'm here now, baby, hold onto me," he commanded gently.
Sam's fingers dug into his shoulders, her head down until the contraction passed. Her eyes focused on her husband as she managed a wan smile. "Don't have much time... between contractions. Got to go." She felt exhausted.
"Okay, yeah, right, baby," answered a somewhat flustered Daniel. He grabbed the packed bag, scrambled for his keys on his cluttered bureau. "Let's go!" He nudged her in the direction of the doorway.
"Aren't you forgetting something?" Sam inquired, lifting an eyebrow and glancing below his waist.
"What? Huh?" Daniel's brow furrowed in impatience. He still was not "getting it."
"Your pants, Dan. Shoes would be good, too."
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A little crazy, that ride through Colorado Springs. As Daniel flew through yet another red light, Sam cautioned, "We just might get a police escort, if you don't slow down, Babe."
"Aw, they're probably sipping a large coffee and filling up on donuts at this time of morning," answered Daniel. Looking over at his beloved wife, he noticed the beads of sweat on her forehead. Poor baby, up all night without waking me – me asleep – not fair! I'd take on her pain if I could! I love her so damned much! "Love you, Sam, so..." but he stopped mid-sentence as her face contorted in pain and she bit her quivering lip. "Sam... let it out. Go for it!" Daniel encouraged. He managed a nervous laugh, but it seemed contrived.
Then Sam grabbed his hand, squeezing it with a strength that surprised him, and, racked with the strongest contraction she'd felt yet, let out an involuntary scream.