The operating room was suddenly filled with people. Eric sat at Sookie's head behind a small curtain draped across her chest. The smell of betadine and latex assaulted him all at once as he allowed himself to take in his surroundings. Suddenly a portly man with small round glasses entered the room. His cap and mask obscured most of his features as he held his hands up like Eric had seen doctor's do on television. The man suddenly leaned forward and touched his forehead to Sookie's.

"I'm going to take care of your baby. I give you my word." Sookie offered him a weak and frightened smile as the nurses checked her various levels and pressures. Dr. Johnson stepped into view and Eric could see the smile in his eyes as he looked down at Sookie.

"Okay, we're going to get started. Just relax and you're going to feel just a little pressure. When the baby's born don't been alarmed if you don't hear crying. It's a little early and the lungs may not be developed. But that's normal at this stage. So just be aware, okay?"

Eric nodded his understanding and stroked the side of Sookie's cheek. She saw him flinch and knew they had cut her open. She felt a little pressure and then the doctor spoke again.

"My, my. It's dry as the desert in here. This baby was running out of fluid. Almost out now…almost."

Then suddenly she heard it. Peace washed over her and Eric felt Sookie suddenly relax and a push calmness rushed toward him. She closed her eyes and whispered, "Thank you."

That was the moment she heard her daughter's first cry.

Eric pulled the cap from his head and pushed through the doors of the waiting room. Pam was immediately on her feet followed by Bill, Sam, Jason and Amelia.

"She's here." Eric beamed at the gathering that Sookie called family.

"Well!?" Amelia motioned expectantly with her hand and Eric finally smiled. Sookie had given him a job. The most important job he could have; announcing his daughter.

"Sara Adele Northman was born at 2:34 AM and weighs 4 pounds 9 ounces." Pam beamed while Sam clapped Eric on the back. Bill nodded respectfully and Amelia jumped up and down while squealing with delight.

"How is she?" Bill asked quietly. Suddenly everyone quieted. Eric stood taller and his face took on a serious tone.

"She is in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Once Sara has been evaluated the doctor will allow me to visit her while Sookie is in the recovery room."

"Does she have any medical problems? She's so early." Pam asked while Amelia clung to her arm.

"I have not been informed of her condition yet. The doctor assured me he would let me know a soon as possible." Eric's jaw tightened. It took every ounce of control he had not to burst through the hospital to be with his daughter.

Everyone turned and stared at the nurse at the door demanding Eric's attention.

"Mr. Northman, if you'd come with me. Your daughter would like to visit with her daddy."

Eric's eyes blinked rapidly as he tried to fight the tears pooling in his eyes. The red liquid threatened to spill down his cheeks, but he quickly composed himself. He nodded mutely and followed the nurse down the hall leaving his family in the waiting room.

"We've placed her in an incubator to allow her to grow stronger. You're going to see a lot of equipment hooked to her so we can monitor her heart rate and O2 levels. The doctor will talk to you first while you're washing up and then you can see her."

"Thank you." Eric replied quietly as he entered the NICU. The nurse motioned him over to a large sink and went over the hand-washing instructions.

"Three minutes. Start the timer once you start to scrub." Eric started the timer and twitched his nose at the pungent antiseptic soap. He recognized the glasses of the doctor in the operating room as the pediatric doctor that was caring for his Sara.

"I'm Dr. Payne. Sara's doing well. She's got a strong little spirit. We put an oxygen tube under her little nose and apparently it wasn't to her liking. She removed it three times before we finally just took the damn thing off her." The doctor chuckled lightly but Eric's face grew more concerned.

"Does she need the oxygen? Is this something she requires?"

"It's just a precaution and she's proven that she's sturdy." Eric couldn't help but smile at the doctor's description of his little girl.
"So her lungs have developed?"
"Oh yes, you heard her wailing. She's a strong one. She's just a little small. Your wife's placenta had stopped feeding the baby. If ya'll hadn't come in when you did, well..."

"What?"

"Your baby would have starved to death." Eric felt his dead heart drop and absently scrubbed harder against his hands.

"But she's fine now?"

"She needs to gain some strength. She's being given lipids and we need to run a few tests to rule out a few things. Strictly routine with preemies."

"Preemies?" Eric's brow creased at the doctor's terminology.

"Premature birth. Your daughter was born at 34 weeks. That's classifies her as premature."

"I see. How long will she have to stay in the hospital?"

"Best guess…three weeks."
"Why?" Eric had rinsed and dried his hands and was now towering over the portly doctor.

"She's got to get stronger. She was seriously weakened and undernourished. We're going to take care of her, Mr. Northman." Eric relaxed his stance and kept his mouth shut so as not to expose the fangs that had run down with worry and stress. He simply nodded and allowed the doctor to lead him through the dimly lit room. There were enclosed incubation units along both sides of the room. Each bed had a large computer screen displaying various readouts. In front of each unit was a large wooden rocking chair. Sara was in the first unit on the right. As he looked at her small sleeping face and her small little body resting on the bedding he felt something swell inside him. He stood frozen as he heard her tiny heart beat and watched the rise and fall of her chest.

"Would you like to hold her?" The nurse started to unhinge the clear plastic door to the unit. Eric shook his head quickly and took a step back.

"No…no. She's so small. She's…."

"She needs to feel you. You're her daddy. She needs to hear your voice."

"But Sookie….she should be the first…"

"You're wife didn't get to hold her?"

"No." The nurse smiled softly at him and nodded.

"You're right. The mother should be the first. I'll go call recovery and see how she's doing."

"Thank you." Eric stepped forward again and rested his large pale hand on top of the unit and stared into the face of his daughter. He probed the bond and could tell that Sookie was feeling a little stronger. He would find a chance to give his wife his blood. That would heal her. He knew Sookie needed to be with Sara. He suddenly felt a sudden push of fear and worry. Sookie was more coherent by the minute and was obviously worried about their daughter. He gave one last long look at his angel's sleeping face and then looked for the nurse that was checking on Sookie.

"They're moving her to a room now. 414."

"Will she be able to come see Sara tonight?"
"No. She'll be under medication and won't be able to for a few hours. Give her until the morning. She should be easing off the meds by then and they'll wheel her down in a wheelchair."

"Thank you."

"Of course, Sheriff." Eric looked up startled. He had been so preoccupied that he hadn't noticed the young nurse was a vampire. She nodded deeply and offered him a smile.

"You will call me if anything changes."

"Yes, Sheriff. She has the best babysitters in the world."

"I'll be with my wife." Eric nodded and went to find Sookie.