Ainsley took a deep breath and counted to 10; she slowly released the breath. Johnny walked into the bedroom, "Did you hear me?"
"Yes, yes, I heard you," she said exasperated.
"What?" He asked, giving her a completely confused look.
"Seriously? You're acting like I'm a child that can't stay home alone and you're going to ask me what?"
"I'm not acting like you're a child that can't stay home alone."
"You want me to go stay the night at Joanne's while you're on shift," Ainsley argued astounded at his comment.
"Not because you're a child, but because your pregnant," Johnny explained.
"Pregnancy is not an illness, Johnny. Plenty of pregnant women stay home alone at night, without any problems," Ainsley chided.
"And some have problems," Johnny said, running his hand through his hair. "Know how I know? Because I have to go deliver their babies."
"So, if anything happens, I'll just call the station and you can come deliver ours," Ainsley retaliated.
"Not funny, Ainsley!" Johnny said, getting irritated. "I've told you, Roy, Dr. Brackett and everyone else that has made that stupid joke a hundred times, I'm not delivering this baby. You're going to be in a hospital, surrounded by doctors and medical equipment."
"Well, tonight, I'm gonna be home," Ainsley said, throwing the last pillow on the bed.
"Why are you making this so difficult?" Johnny asked.
"I don't know, why are you?" Ainsley put her hands on her hips and turned to face him.
"Because I'm worried about you," Johnny snipped.
Ainsley sighed, feeling her heart melt. She moved to put her arms around his waist. "I know," she whispered leaning her head against his chest.
He wrapped his arms around her, closing his eyes and resting his head against the top of hers.
"Joanne is just down the street. I promise, if I even have the slightest twinge of a contraction, I'll call her. I love Chris and Jennifer and Joanne. But I'm going to be in a classroom full of 4th graders all day; it's hot, I'm cranky because I'm huge and uncomfortable. I just want to come home and relax. Please try to understand."
"What happens if you wake up in the middle of the night and the contractions are so bad you can't get to a phone?" Johnny asked.
"You put a phone extension in our bedroom. I just have to lean over," Ainsley said.
"What happens if you get up and go to the bathroom and something happens?"
Ainsley laughed. "I'm going to be fine, Johnny. I promise."
"You can't promise that," Johnny said.
Ainsley leaned back. "You need to let it go, Johnny. Tim's gone; I'm safe."
Johnny pushed her head back to his chest and just held her tightly. Ainsley rubbed her cheek against the rough fabric of his shirt. "I'll go to Joanne's," she said quietly.
"No, you're right. You don't need a babysitter, but don't be surprised if I call you from the station, 2, 3, 20 times," Johnny said with a slight chuckle.
Ainsley tilted her head, accepting a light kiss from her husband. "I'll anxiously await each and every call."
E
"So how did Ainsley finally get you to agree not to make her stay the night at our house?" Roy asked, pinning his badge to his chest.
"She told me I needed to let it go, Tim was gone," Johnny said. He shook his head. "Who would've thought, 3 months dead and the guy is still messing with my head."
"It's the impending birth. It causes paranoia. I'm glad I wasn't a paramedic when Joanne was pregnant with either of our kids. Knowing all the things I know now, I'm not sure I could handle it," Roy said.
"Thanks, pally," Johnny said ruefully.
The paramedics wandered into the kitchen. "Coffee," Mike held up the pot. Both men nodded yes.
"Ainsley's due any day here now isn't she?" Mike asked pouring two mugs of coffee.
"Don't remind me," Johnny said, plopping down on chair at the table.
"Not excited?"
"Don't get me wrong. I can't wait for the baby to be born. To find out if I have a son or a daughter; but I hate her being home alone when I'm on shift. I worry about the delivery. Her doctor warned us that women with endometriosis have a greater risk of hemorrhaging during delivery. There's so much to worry about," Johnny said.
Captain Stanley walked in to hear Johnny discussing all the things that could possibly go wrong in the delivery. "Just wait, Johnny. That isn't anything. Once the baby is actually born, you have to worry about chocking, falling down the stairs, getting hit by a car. Oh and then wait until they get to be teenagers, dating and driving," Captain Stanley shook his head.
"Thanks, Cap. That makes me feel so much better," Johnny said sarcastically.
"He's just tryin' to tell you, you can't drive yourself crazy worrying about every maybe and what if. You'll miss out on all the joys, Junior," Roy said sitting down next to his friend.
"What measles, mumps, maybe polio?" Johnny said miserably.
"Their first laugh," Captain Stanley said. "Or their first step."
"The first time they say dada," Roy said, a nostalgic smile on his face, as he remembered both of his kids first dada's.
Johnny couldn't help but smile. He had known Roy when Jennifer said her first dada. The guy's feet hadn't touched the ground for a whole week. "Yeah, that'll be pretty cool."
"C'mon guys, let's do roll call," Captain Stanley stood up and moved toward the bay. The guys following him out and lining him up.
Chores were assigned. Captain Stanley took pity on his paramedic team and assigned them to hydrant checks. Something that wouldn't be too taxing.
Roy and Johnny loaded into the squad and headed toward the first neighborhood. "Do you think Joanne could casually swing by and check on Ainsley?" Johnny asked as Roy drove.
"She's teaching at school Johnny. She's fine," Roy said with a chuckle.
"I don't mean right now," Johnny said. "Tonight, maybe after dinner? She could take Chris and Jennifer to the park and ask Ainsley if she can hang out on the deck while the kids play?"
Roy rolled his eyes. "Johnny, do you remember when you delivered that baby right after you found out Ainsley was pregnant and that dad was so completely frantic he knocked you over?"
"Yeah, I'll never forget that one. Julie had a beautiful little girl, but that dad was crazy," Johnny remembered the delivery.
"At Rampart, you told me if you ever acted as crazy as that guy, to slap you. Partner, I'm gonna have to slap you real soon," Roy looked over at him as he parked the squad.
"Oh, c'mon, Roy. I am not nearly that bad," Johnny said with disbelief.
"Yeah, yeah, you are," Roy told him.
The day wore on with fire hydrant checks interspersed with rescue calls. As the guys settled down for dinner the squad got called out again; this time for a child not breathing.
Roy and Johnny quickly moved to the squad and raced toward the address. They were met at the door by a frantic mother holding a baby that was approximately 10 months old. "I don't know what happened?" The mother said near hysterics. "I put her down for the night, but went to check on her a few minutes ago and her lips were blue. Now, look at her," the mother started crying harder.
Johnny took the baby from her arms, not only because he needed to start checking her, but because he was seriously concerned the crying woman might drop her.
Johnny laid the baby on the carpet and started checking respirations and pulse. Roy began to hook up the biophone. "Respirations are 8 and shallow. Pulse is 50," Johnny told Roy. He pulled a flashlight from his pocket and opened the babies mouth checking for any obstructions.
"Rampart, this is Squad 51, how do you read?"
"Go ahead, 51," Dr. Morton's voice came over the biophone.
"Rampart, we have a child, 10 months old with difficulty breathing. Pulse is 50 and respirations are 8," Roy relayed the vitals to Rampart.
"Roy," Johnny said quietly. "I think I've got something shiny in her throat here."
"Ma'am, could the baby have gotten a hold of anything shiny, a coin, something?" Johnny asked the mother.
"No, no, of course not. I'm very careful. When I put her to bed she was fine, and," the mother waved her hand toward the bedroom and suddenly stopped looking down at her hand. "Oh! My ring, my wedding ring! It's loose, it must have fallen off when I put the baby down!"
The mother started hyperventilating. Roy took her by the arm and forcibly got her to sit down. "Ma'am, you've got to calm down. You need to take slow breaths; do you hear me?" Roy spoke in a loud, firm voice.
"Roy, I can't get my fingers in there, the baby's throat is too small. Hand me the pediatric forceps."
Roy leaned over and handed Johnny the long, metal tool. Johnny carefully inserted the forceps and grabbed the ring, slowly pulling it out of the baby's throat. As soon as he got the ring out, the baby let out a loud wail. Johnny smiled.
The baby and mother were soon loaded into an ambulance on their way to Rampart. Johnny rode along as a precaution, wanting to make sure the baby continued to do well.
Roy joined Johnny by the nurse's station. "Okay, now I'm hoping Ainsley can hold the baby in for another year or two," Johnny said, shaking his head.
Roy just shook his head.
E
Ainsley left Johnny a note reminding him that she had the 4th Grade Science Fair after school that day. She was hoping he would come with the DeSoto's to see Chris's project, but she hadn't asked him to do that, not knowing how his shift had gone the night before.
Ainsley stretched her back and grimaced. She was definitely ready to be done being pregnant. He due date was only a few days away. She really hoped she didn't deliver late; she didn't think she could take this much longer.
She moved throughout her day, helping kids with last minute details for each of their science projects. Ainsley smiled when she saw Johnny walking into the gymnasium with Roy, Joanne and Jennifer. She moved to greet the group.
"Hi, Handsome," she leaned over and gave Johnny a quick kiss.
"Hi, Beautiful." Johnny looked her over and took in her swollen ankles and slightly flushed complexion. "You feelin' okay?"
Ainsley gave him a slight smile. "Just hot and tired. I've been on my feet most of the day."
"You need to get your feet up and drink some water," Johnny told her.
"Soon," Ainsley said. "The judging is about to take place and I'm one of the three judges."
Johnny walked over with Chris to see his science project, a model of the solar system that actually revolved around the sun. "This is really great, Chris," Johnny said impressed by the project.
Chris drug him to several of his friend's projects. Johnny personally thought Chris's was the best and hoped he would win.
Johnny watched as Ainsley, Principal Haggerty and another teacher discussed each of the projects, trying to decide the three winners. Ainsley kept putting her hand on her back and leaning backwards, then she would move her hand to her stomach and rub.
"Joanne, how much longer?" Johnny asked.
"They should be making the announcements in a minute."
Ainsley stepped away from the group. Johnny watched her walk out the door and tried to go after her. She was quite a bit farther down the hall when he exited the gym. He would have jogged to catch up to her, but he saw her enter the restroom. He went back to get Joanne. "Can you go check on Ainsley? She just went into the bathroom."
Joanne smiled at Johnny and headed toward the restroom.
"You okay?" She asked Ainsley who was standing near the sink.
"I think my water just broke," Ainsley said.
"What?"
"I felt a pop and a gush of water. I'm not sure, but I think my water broke," Ainsley said looking over at her friend.
Joanne gave her a big smile. "Sounds like it to me."
"I was expecting a big gush," Ainsley said.
"Not usually. When the contractions start, you start losing water with each contraction; at least that's how it was for me with both Chris and Jennifer."
"Don't say anything to Johnny. I need to help announce the winners before he makes me go to the hospital," Ainsley said.
"He sent me in here to check on you. I can't lie to him," Joanne said.
"Okay, give me a chance to get back to the platform. You can tell him, but let him know…ewww," Ainsley said. "More water. I feel like I just wet my pants."
Joanne laughed. "You'd better go make that announcement."
Ainsley walked backed to the platform and joined the other judges. "Are we ready to make the announcement?" They all agreed with the final choices.
Joanne walked over to Johnny. "Is she okay?"
Joanne smiled. "I hope you're ready to be a daddy; her water just broke."
"What?" Johnny looked over at Joanne and then back toward the front of the gym where Ainsley stood.
He started to move toward her, but Roy caught his arm. "Let her finish this, Johnny. She's doing okay right now."
Johnny swallowed hard, watching as the other teacher stepped up to the microphone. "Ladies and Gentleman, we have a winner for our 4th Grade Science Fair. In third place, we have a wonderful, active volcano, created by Andy Winters." The crowed clapped as Andy walked up and go this 3rd place ribbon.
Ainsley stepped up to the microphone next. "Our second place winner, created a beautiful array of specimens at various stages of development that you got to view on various microscope slides. Amy Peters, congratulations." Ainsley handed the little girl her 2nd place ribbon.
Johnny watched as Ainsley's steps faltered just slightly as she walked over to the other teacher. Her hand went to her stomach and he watched her bite her lip.
"Roy."
"Relax Johnny. She's got plenty of time."
"You and I both know that isn't always true."
"I promise, if she has the baby here in the gym, I'll do the delivery," Roy said, trying to hide his smile.
"Not funny."
"Finally, we are pleased to announce our first place winner," Principal Haggerty said into the microphone. "I am sure you all got a chance to see the exceptional exhibit showing our solar system, slowly orbiting around the sun, created by Chris DeSoto. Chris, you are our first place winner."
"Woohoo!" Joanne yelled.
"Way to go, Chris!" Johnny said, whistling his approval.
Chris went up and accepted his ribbon, he walked over and gave Ainsley a hug before running over to join his parents.
"Now?" Johnny asked.
"Now," Roy agreed. "I'll get the principal to let me use the phone, so I can call her doctor."
Johnny walked over and took Ainsley's arm. "Now."
Ainsley smiled up at him. "Thank you for letting me announce the winners." She allowed Johnny to direct her toward the exit.
"I'll drive Joanne and the kids home and meet you at the hospital," Roy said as they walked by.
"Why are they goin' to the hospital?" Chris asked.
"Mrs. Ainsley's going to have her baby," Joanne said.
"Yea! Chris said jumping up and down. "I bet it's a boy!"
"Nu-uh," Jennifer said, shaking her head. "It's gonna be a girl!"
"Boy!"
"Girl!"
Roy and Joanne exchanged looks. "Boy," Joanne whispered over the kids heads.
Roy shook his head. "Girl," he whispered back.
E
Ainsley let out a slow breath as she got out of the car. Johnny ran around from the driver's side. "Another contraction?"
Ainsley took another breath. "Yes."
Johnny checked his watch. "That puts them about 4 minutes apart. Let's get you inside."
Johnny saw Dr. Brackett by the nursing station with Dixie when they walked in. "Doc," Johnny called out.
Dr. Brackett moved toward the couple. "Ainsley, has your OB been called?"
"Yes, Roy was going to call him for us," Ainsley answered.
"Okay, let's get you into a room, see how things are going," Dr. Brackett said, leading Ainsley into a treatment room. Dixie stopped Johnny from following her. "I'll come back out to get you in a minute."
Johnny paced the hallway until Dr. Collier arrived. "Dr. Collier," Johnny called out. "She's in Treatment Room 3."
The doctor nodded and proceeded to enter the treatment room.
After several minutes Dr. Brackett and Dr. Collier came out, wheeling the gurney, Dixie walking slightly behind them.
Johnny jumped forward, "What's wrong?"
"Johnny, relax," Dr. Brackett said taking his arm and moving him out of the way. "She's starting to bleed a little bit. We're gonna get her up to an OR and take the baby by caesarean section."
"Doc," Johnny grabbed Dr. Brackett's arm, a look of panic crossing his face.
Dr. Collier continued moving the gurney toward the elevator. "Doc. If you have to make a choice," Johnny said, pausing.
Dr. Brackett laughed. "John, no one's making life and death choices. Ainsley and the baby are both fine. The C-section is a precaution to make sure they stay that way."
"Doc," Johnny was still holding his arm.
"Dix," Dr. Brackett said looking at his nurse.
Dixie removed Johnny's arm from Dr. Brackett's. "C'mon. We'll get some coffee and wait for Roy. Then I'll take you both up and show you where to wait."
Roy chose that moment to walk in to the hospital.
"Hey, how's Ainsley?"
"Roy, they took her to the OR, she started hemorrhaging," Johnny said, the panicked look coming back over his face.
"Bleeding, Johnny. Lightly bleeding," Dixie corrected. She leaned behind Johnny's back and exchanged looks with Roy.
"C'mon partner," Roy put his arm around Johnny's shoulders.
Dixie led them to a waiting room near the OR. Johnny sat down in a chair and dropped his head in his hands. "I've known her less than a year," Johnny said to no one in particular. He looked up, his eyes meeting Dixie's. "And I don't know what I would do if I lost her."
Dixie sat down next to him, and wrapped her arms around him. "Johnny, she's gonna be fine. I've heard great things about Dr. Collier, and Kel's gonna be in there too."
"Dixie, will you go check? Please," Johnny asked, his eyes pleading.
"Sure," Dixie stood up and walked toward the OR.
"Dr. Collier, her blood pressure is dropping, 95/65," the anesthesiologist said.
Dr. Brackett looked. "Her bleeding has increased."
"Hang a bag of B+ blood," Dr. Collier ordered. He removed the baby from the uterus. Dr. Brackett took the baby and moved over to the side to exam the baby. He finished clearing the nasal passages, and smiled when the baby gave a loud wail.
He was just finishing his examination when Dixie ducked her head in. "The other patient is completely freaking out. How's it going?"
"Come see," Dixie moved over and looked down at the baby.
"Oh," Dixie smiled softly, taking in the baby's dark hair and blue eyes.
"22 inches long, 8 lbs., 14 ounces," Dr. Brackett told her.
"Big baby," she said, surprised.
"Dr. Brackett, I could use a hand," Dr. Collier said. "The bleeding is increasing. I'm trying to save the uterus. I know Ainsley wants more kids, but I'm not sure…"
Dr. Brackett moved over to the table and began to assist. "Dixie, why don't you take the baby out to Johnny."
Dixie swaddled the baby and walked out of the room. Johnny and Roy both stood up as she walked out of the room. "Johnny, want to hold your son?" Dixie asked.
"Son," Johnny said, a huge grin spreading across his face.
"8 lbs., 14 ounces, 22 inches long," Dixie said, with a smile.
"A little brute," Roy said, slapping Johnny on the back.
Johnny carefully reached over and took the baby in his arms. He looked down at the boy now laying in his arms and felt his heart swell. He was so beautiful. "Well, hello there, Hunter Jackson Gage," Johnny said softly.
"Everything's okay with him?" Johnny asked.
"So perfect, he makes me uterus hurt," Dixie laughed.
Johnny smiled down at the baby. He had managed to wiggle a hand free from the blanket. Johnny let the baby grasp his pinkie. The baby was pursing his lips. "Dix, do you think he's hungry?"
"Maybe," Dixie said looking at him. "I can get you a little bottle, do you want to feed him a little?"
"Shouldn't I wait for Ainsley to do it?" Johnny looked up at Dixie and felt fear again when he caught the look on her face. "Dixie, what's wrong? What's wrong with Ainsley?"
"Relax, Johnny," Dixie said when the baby started to cry. "He can sense your tension. You need to relax."
"What's wrong?"
"She's having some more bleeding. She's not in danger. Both doctors are taking care of her," Dixie tried to reassure him.
Johnny looked over at Roy and then back down at the baby. "His name is Hunter Jackson Gage, after both our fathers," Johnny said.
"Good, strong name," Roy said.
Dixie left to get Johnny a bottle for the baby. He sat down in the chair, looking at his son and worrying about his wife. He had finished feeding Hunter a bottle and had him up on his shoulder to burp him when Dr. Brackett and Dr. Collier came out of the OR area. Johnny, Roy and Dixie all stood up. Johnny was too afraid to speak.
"Ainsley's fine," Dr. Brackett said.
Johnny actually laughed, his relief was so intense.
"She should be awake in a little bit," Dr. Collier said. "She may be a little weak, she lost a little more blood than I would have liked. It would be my recommendation, that if you want any more children, you don't wait too long."
"Thanks, Dr. Collier," Johnny said.
"As soon as she's awake we'll take you back. Do you want Dixie to take the baby to the nursery?" Dr. Brackett asked.
"No, I want to bring him in with me to show Ainsley," Johnny said glancing at the baby now sleeping cradled in his arms.
Johnny settled into a chair waiting to go see Ainsley. Dr. Brackett appeared again a bit later. "Let's go, dad."
Johnny entered the hospital room and smiled at Ainsley who was propped up in bed. "Hi, sweetheart."
"Hey, handsome. Do you have Hunter Jackson or Grace Elizabeth with you?" Ainsley smiled at the sight of Johnny carrying their baby.
"Meet your son, Hunter Jackson Gage," Johnny walked over and carefully transferred baby Hunter to her arms.
Her face lit up as she stared down at son. "Oh, Johnny. He's so beautiful." Ainsley snuggled the baby to her chest. Johnny sat on the edge of the bed and reached over to stroke her cheek. 'I love you, Ainsley."
"I love you, Johnny," Ainsley smiled at him.
E
Ainsley looked at the clock, it has just past 1:30 AM.
She looked over at the empty sheets next to her. She knew the baby hadn't cried, she'd have heard him. At three months he was sleeping pretty well through the night. She slowly got out of bed and moved toward the baby's room.
Johnny was standing near the crib, watching their baby sleep. She wrapped her arms around his waist from behind, resting her chin against his back. Johnny turned and put his arm around her. Ainsley took his arm and led him back to bed. She got him to lay down and she snuggled up next to him.
Johnny pulled her closer. "I've been thinking about what Tim said. That it should have been me and Roy instead of him and Rob. Why am I here, so blessed to have you and Hunter, and Tim and Rob are dead?"
Ainsley brushed her fingers through Johnny's hair and lightly kissed his lips. "Tim was overcome with grief. He wasn't able to see past his own pain to the truth."
Johnny cocked his head and looked at his wife. "What truth?"
"You're rescue men, Johnny. It isn't what you do, it's who you are. All of you. If you and Roy arrived at a scene, and someone pulled you off the side and told you, that you would rescue a victim; but the building would collapse and you'd be seriously injured, maybe even killed, you would still go into the building, wouldn't you?"
Ainsley met his eyes. He stroked her cheek, knowing his answer would be hard for her. "Yes," he said quietly.
"I know that," Ainsley said. "I knew that when I married you. It's one of the things I love about you. But, Rob and Tim weren't any different. If they had been told in advance what was going to happen, they would've still gone in that building. It's who they were too. Feeling guilty isn't how you honor their sacrifice."
"So how do I honor their sacrifice?"
"What is it you want for the people you rescue?"
"To be happy, healthy and safe," Johnny said.
"You honor your brother's sacrifices, by living the best life you can. By not taking any of your blessings for granted. By enjoying watching your son grow into a strong, happy, boy. By, enjoying your wife. By living each day to its fullest," Ainsley said, meeting his eyes.
Johnny smiled at her. "I really am enjoying my life. But, if that is what I really need to do to honor their sacrifice, there is one thing I really need," Johnny said with a mischievous glimmer in his eye.
"What's that?" Ainsley asked.
"A little girl," Johnny said, with a wink.
Ainsley smiled as Johnny leaned her back, and slipped his hands underneath her nightgown, pulling it off over her head.