Here's chapter 21. Please R&R Thanks.

Chapter 21

I gulp. "Did you just say…your water broke? Are you sure?"

Mom grabs her stomach again. She breathes. "Yes baby, I've been through this before." She cries out in pain. "I need you boys to take me to the hospital."

"How are we going to get there?"

"Your dad's truck is outside."

"Mom, I'm 14. I'm not old enough to drive."

She looks at Kyle. "Can you drive?"

"Mom, he's 14 too."

"It's okay Mrs. McCormick," Kyle steps in, "I'll drive you to the hospital." He looks at me and shrugs.

"Thanks Kyle. Let me go get my bag." She walks out the room.

"What are you doing?" I ask Kyle. "You can't drive."

"Not legally, but I know how. Besides, there's no one else here."

"I can call Katie or Kevin."

"Look, you said earlier you were tired of your family treating you like a baby. Here's your chance to prove to them that you're not a baby."

"I guess you're right." I can't do this alone though. I don't know anything about childbirth.

Mom comes back with her bag. "I'm ready." She hands Kyle the keys. "Kenny honey, I need you to hold my hand."

"Yes ma'am." Mom and Kyle head outside. "I'll be out in a minute."

"Kenny, the baby might not be able to wait. OW!"

"Okay, okay, just give me a second." I pick up the phone and call Katie.

"Hello?" She answers.

"Katie?"

"What?" She said rudely.

"Mommy's in labor."

"So?"

"Kyle and I are taking her to the hospital. Can you meet us there?"

"I'm very busy Kenny."

"Katie please. I don't know what to do, I'm scared. What if something goes wrong?"

She sighs hard. "Fine, we'll meet you at the hospital."

"We'll?"

"Craig and me. Duh! Do you have a problem with that?"

Of course I do. "No, that's cool. I'll see you guys in a little bit." I hang up and head to the truck. "Sorry about that."

Mom is breathing hard. "It's okay, just hold my hand. OW! OW! OW! OWWWWWWWWW!" She cries out as she squeezes the hell out of my hand.

"It's okay mommy, that kid will be out of you soon enough." I tell her as I rub her belly.

Kyle got us to the hospital in about 20 minutes. They got mom checked into a room. She's 5 centimeters dilated and still in a lot of pain. Katie still hasn't made it there yet. I'm still holding mom's hand as she continues to breathe.

"You're doing good mommy, just keep breathing."

"I'm going to wait outside." Kyle tells me as he walks out. Oh great, now I'm completely alone.

"Kenny?"

"Yes?"

"Get the doctor! I think the baby's coming!" Oh shit. I hit the page button.

"Keep breathing!" I tell her. The doctor comes in.

"Is it time?" The doctor asks.

"YES! My baby is coming!" Mom yells out.

The doctor looks at me. "Are you going to help with the delivery?"

"Uh…"

"No, we're going to help." I turn around and see Katie, Kevin, and Craig.

"All righty then, get into those scrubs ASAP!" The doctor tells them. Katie and Kevin grab the scrubs. Craig shoves me out the way before grabbing scrubs.

I sigh. "Katie…?"

"WHAT? What? We're busy!"

"I-I want to help."

"Absolutely not! Get out of here."

"Please Katie, I want to be here for mom too."

"You have been, and you've done a great job. But now, let the adults take over."

"Please don't argue right now." Mom steps in as she continues breathing.

"I agree," Kevin also steps in, "let him help."

"No, I'm not going to allow it. Go wait in the waiting area with Kyle."

"Did you even call your dad?" Craig asks. Oh no, I knew I was forgetting something.

"You didn't call dad? This is why you can't help. You can't stay focused. Get out of here and go call dad, you dumbass!" Katie snaps at me.

"I really want to help! Please don't call me names Katie, that was really uncalled for." I try to stand strong. I'm still trying to get use to Katie being so mean to me.

"Craig…" Katie looks at me, then Craig, then gestures towards the door. With that, Craig grabs my arm and pushes me out the door. I go to the waiting area with Kyle.

"Dude, what happened? I thought you were going to help your mom deliver the baby."

I start crying. "Katie and Craig kicked me out. They and Kevin are going to help deliver the baby."

"Why did you let them kick you out?"

"It's not like I could stop them." I wipe my eye. "Now Katie's pissed because I didn't call my dad."

"I understand why you didn't call him. Katie or Kevin could've called him."

"I have to call him. Katie told me to. Can I use your phone please?"

"Sure dude. Are you sure you're okay to talk to him?" He hands me his phone.

"I'm not, but I don't really have a choice." I dial the number to the bar. "Stuart McCormick please."

"Yeah…" Dad answers slurring.

"Dad, it's Kenny."

"What the fuck do you want?"

"We're at the hospital. Mom's getting ready to have the baby."

"WHAT? Why the fuck didn't your stupid ass call me sooner you little shit head?"

"I…I…It slipped my mind dad, I'm sorry." I cry even harder.

"Goddamnit, if I miss the birth of my fucking child you're going to get it! Do you hear me?"

"Yes sir." He hangs up on me. I continue to cry.

"What happened?"

"He said if he misses the birth, I'm in trouble. I didn't mean to not call him Kyle. I'm just so used to calling Katie when I need help. It was nothing personal against him." I wipe my eyes again.

"I understand dude. I understand. Is he on his way?"

"I think so. I just hope the baby can wait for him to get here. I know these things can take hours." Suddenly, Kevin comes out into the waiting area. "What's wrong Kevin?"

He smiles. "Come see your new baby brother…"

"Brother?" I have a baby brother? I cry both tears of joy and fear. Joy because I'm happy the baby made it out safe and sound. Fear, because my dad isn't here and he's going to kill me.

"Yes, brother. Come see him. Mom's asking about you. You can come too Kyle." We follow Kevin back to the delivery room. I see Craig handing the baby back to mom.

"There you are Kenny. Come say hi to your new little brother." I walk over to him. He's the cutest little thing. He has blonde hair like me, big blue eyes and he has the tiniest hands. He's pretty small.

"He's beautiful. What's his name? How big is he?"

"Your dad and I decided that if it was a boy we were going to go with the name Kirby. He's 5 pounds, 12 ounces, and 19 inches long." He is little. "Would you like to hold him?"

"I can hold him?" I'm surprised she even offered.

"Of course sweetie.?" She hands me Kirby. I look down at him and smile. He coos quietly in my arms. "I think he likes you."

"I think so too." Looking at this little guy makes me forget about everything going wrong in my life. If dad wants to hurt me, fine, if the kids at school want to bully me around, fine, if Stan doesn't want me anymore, then fine. Who would've thought someone so small and innocent would make me feel like everything's going to be okay? All I can think about is how I don't want Kirby to have the same life that I have. I want him to be safe and protected. I swear I'm going to make that my responsibility. I'm not going to let anyone ever hurt him. EVER!

"Put him down! NOW!" I turn around and see my drunken dad. "Put him down I said! You're not even holding him properly! Give him to me!" He snatches Kirby from me and immediately Kirby wails…loudly. "Shh! Shh! There, there now. Your daddy has you. Don't worry, I won't let that thing hold you again." He rocks Kirby, but that doesn't really help calm him down.

"Dad, I was doing a good job. He wasn't crying when I was holding him."

"I saw you Kenny, you're not very nurturing. You're not allowed to hold him ever again, do you hear me?"

"But dad-"

"Kenny, I saw what your dad was talking about." Craig jumps in with a smirk on his face. "You should be a little more careful. You could've broken the poor kid's neck."

"Oh shut up Craig! You know that's not true!" Kyle snaps at him.

"I'm just telling you what I saw."

"No, you're just trying to get Kenny into trouble so you can use it to humiliate him later."

"I would never do anything like that." Craig continues smirking.

"Bull shit Craig!"

"Leave Craig alone Kyle!" Katie defends Craig. "God, you're as bad as Kenny. I don't get why you guys are trying to make Craig out to be some kind of monster."

"Katie, if you only knew…"

"I know I'm sick and tired of this shit! Craig has been nothing but nice to Kenny, I don't understand why Kenny has to be such an asshole to him."

"Nice? Don't make me laugh. He's the reason Stan broke up with Kenny."

I tug on Kyle's shirt. "Please don't. You promised." I whispered.

"And just how is he responsible?" Katie inquires.

"Do you really want to hear what he has to say?" Craig asks her. "It's just going to be another lie."

"Is it Craig? Or are you just worried about being exposed to Katie?"

Just then, the doctor comes in the room. "I hate to break up the party, but Mrs. McCormick needs her rest and I'm only allowed to let four people in here at a time."

"That's fine. I guess Craig and I will go." Kyle tells the doctor.

"He's not going anywhere, he's staying here." Katie tells Kyle.

"You, Kevin, your dad, and Kenny. That's four people. There's no room for Craig."

"Kenny is NOT staying here. He's not mature enough to handle this kind of situation." Dad tells Kyle.

"But he's family. He should be here with you guys right now."

"I agree with Kyle, Stuart." Mom steps in.

"Rest Carol, you're too weak to make this kind of decision." He hands Kirby to mom then he turns back to Kyle. "Go home, and take Kenny with you."

"But-" Kyle starts to say.

"Kyle, it's okay. Let's just go." I tell him.

"Are you sure? You know this isn't fair."

"I'm use to it. It's really okay." I turn to the rest of the family. "I'll see you guys later." Kyle leaves and as I turn to leave, but dad grabs me by my hair and pulls me towards him. "OW!"

"Shut up! I meant what I said, I missed your brother's arrival so you WILL get it as soon as we get home. Do you understand me?"

"Yes…" I say weakly.

"Mmm, hmm. I'll take care of you really good when we get home." He whispers then shoves me. "Now get out of here!" He kicks me in the ass. I walk out and see Kyle waiting for me.

"I called my mom and asked her to come get us."

"Thanks." I look down.

"Why don't you stay at my house tonight?"

"Oh, that's okay. I don't want to be a bother."

"It's no bother at all. I don't want to be home alone with no food."

"I'll be okay. Really."

"Nope, it's settle, you're staying at my house and that's that. Now let's go wait for my mom." I follow behind him. Maybe I was wrong, I think my situation has just gotten worse…all of them.

TBC