Chapter 25

"David, my water broke. I can't do this here. She can't be born here." Erica said trying to stay calm but she couldn't.

"It's okay, you need to stay calm. We should have plenty of time. Just sit down and breathe."

"How can you be so calm David?"

"Trust me I'm not. I'm just good at hiding it. I'm a doctor, I deal with this kind of thing all the time. But right now, this is different. This is my wife and child. So I'm trying."

"We can't stay here David. I am not having this baby in rubble."

"Just keep breathing, Sam isn't going to be born here."

"Well it feels like it."

"What do you mean?"

"This isn't good, this isn't good. Contractions."

"Just stay calm. Keep breathing. This is where I would check to see how far you're dilated but I'm not in the best position for that. Dammit!" He yelled, frustrated with this whole situation, while at the same time trying not to think of possible outcomes if help doesn't come soon.

"I know you're my husband, but it's still a little weird you wanting to play Obstetrician with me. And it's okay, it's not your fault this is happening. Oh, ow." She said as she was hit with another contraction.

"Just breathe Erica. Just squeeze my hand and breathe through it." Someone better get here soon, I can't deliver a baby lying on the floor. He thought to himself.

It was only a few seconds later when they hear the calls. "Hello? Is someone there?" The voice called, a female voice.

The person walked where Erica could see them. "Anna? Is that you?"

"Yes. Erica it's me Anna. Are you okay?" Anna replied, stepping over the same obstacles that Erica walked over to get to David.

"Besides the dirt on my face and the contractions, I'm fine."

"You're what? Where's David?" She said walking up to where Erica was sitting.

"I'm right here." He said with a half laugh as she was finally close enough to see him.

"Oh my god, David." She said in shock to see the man she once cared for under the large beam.

"It's not as bad as it looks."

"What do you mean? You have a beam that probably weighs close to 500 pounds laying across you."

"Oh yeah, that. I'm more concerned about Erica being in active labor in the middle of this war zone."

"You two have yourselves in quite the situation, don't you?"

"Don't get me wrong, I'm happy you're here, but can I ask why you are here of all places?"

"Jackson asked me to find out where you were going, and make sure you were okay. I found out David had made the reservations and I came out here. Luckily I had missed the tornado that came through."

"Jack did what? Ugh, I'm going to slap him if I ever get out of here."

"Let me just say that no one will ever hear me say this again, but thank you Jackson."

"David what are you, crazy?"

"He sent Anna and she can help get you out of here. I may not like what he did, but I'm glad he did it."

"I'm not leaving until we get you out from under that thing. Anna can you help get that thing off of him?"

"I can try. Push on the count of 3?" Anna half asked, half said.

"It's not going to work."

"Just try David please." Erica pleaded.

"Okay. 1, 2, 3." He counted, him and Anna both pushing against the object. It didn't budge.

"I told you. It's no use."

"Please David try again. I'll help too." Erica said moving closer.

"You WILL NOT. You aren't going to risk our daughters life or yours to get this thing off of me."

"If you aren't going to help yourself, I'm going to help you."

"I'll try again, okay. But you just stay there. Don't move." He warned, but she was being hit by another contraction and couldn't anyway.

"Remember, breathe. Let's try again, okay?" He told Erica and then Anna before they tried moving the beam again. It moved a little but it didn't really go anywhere. Just an inch or two. That last attempt to move the beam sent a sharp pain through him. "Okay, okay, let me think." He said catching his breath. "Erica's contractions are getting closer together, she's probably close to 6 or 7 centimeters. I don't want her out walking around." He said, looking around. "Get some of those towels and see if there are any blankets lying around. Set them up around this corner. And Erica, I want you to go over there and relax. Keep breathing." Anna gathered some things and took them to the spot where David directed.

"I'm not going over there, I won't be able to see you or touch you. I'm not going to leave you. And I'm not having Sam here."

"There isn't any room here for you. You're already sitting on who knows what. Go over there and lie down. Anna will be my eyes and my hands. Please."

"I don't want to."

"Trust me I don't want you over there either. But you need more room, and Anna is going to help you. I can't right now." He asked, her. He wasn't telling the whole truth, but there really wasn't enough space for the soon to be 4 of them where they were.

"Okay. But you keep talking to me. I want to know you're okay, and I want to hear you're voice. It'll help me concentrate. And don't worry, I'm going to be screaming at you for knocking me up in a little bit."

He smiled. "Just throw whatever you have at me. I love you and our daughter Erica. We're all going to get though this, okay?"

"I love you. I'd tell you to stay right here with me, but I know you aren't going anywhere." She said with a half smile.

"Thanks." He said. She bent down and gave him a kiss before Anna helped her up. She made her way over to the makeshift "bed" and Anna came back over to him.

"Why are you sending her over there? You're the doctor, not me."

"I can't have her over here any longer. And there isn't any room."

"Is there something you aren't telling me? Why don't you want to be with you're wife when she's in labor. When she's giving birth to you're daughter? David, what is it?"

"I can't have her over here, just go over there with her. Keep her calm and keep me updated."

"Tell me right now or I'll tell her you're keeping something from her."

"Don't you dare." He warned.

"Tell me." She demanded, getting louder.

"Okay dammit, keep you're voice down. I can't have her near me because she'll know."

"Know what?" Anna asked again.

"In about 15 minutes, she'll take one look at me and know something's wrong." He said, with a pleading stare. "She'll know."