Chapter 25: Touch and Go
Disclaimer: S. Meyer owns Twilight
The whole scene was surreal; it couldn't be happening. Liam needed at least one grandma. Everything was one big blur around Bella. The ER doc made it to the room instantly. Nurses and respiratory techs were running around. The overhead paging system was blaring, "Code Blue, room 344, repeat Code Blue, room 344."
The surgeon then barged into the room. Another nurse appeared, barreling past them, carrying two pints of blood in her hands. That gave her some hope. They wouldn't waste blood on a person that died.
Bella was numb; she couldn't even cry. Jacob had his arms cinched at her shoulders, hugging her and their infant snugly against him.
Suddenly, the door burst open, and Renee was being wheeled down the hall in her bed. A respiratory tech was bagging her all the way to the surgical suite as the surgeon was barking orders to the busy crew. Phil followed them to the surgery door, distraught to say the least.
Miraculously, Renee was still alive. The staff got there in time. Thank goodness, Jacob had the presence of mind to pull the code switch when he did. Now, all they had to do was sit and wait.
Jacob herded his wife to a nearby lounge, and Charlie joined them. He thought, Just like Renee, always with the drama. He kept it to himself, not wanting to lessen the seriousness of the situation, but as everyone knows, levity was his way of coping with stress.
A surgical scrub nurse came out to tell them that it would be hours before they would know anything. She advised them to get some rest or at least go and get something to eat.
Phil was pretty quiet. He went with them to the cafeteria. They all sat the same table but conversation was scarce. Everyone was emotionally bankrupt.
Bella was having trouble getting the food down, she was so upset. Jacob had to remind her, "I know you're worried about your mother, and you don't feel hungry, but you've gotta eat, honey. You have to think about Liam. If you're gonna nurse him, you have to. Here, I'll take him, maybe you can eat better that way."
She handed the baby to her sweetheart, who cradled the little one in his arms. Liam started crying, so Jacob got up from the table and walked around rocking him gently. Maybe it was the heat from his body, or his calm demeanor, but whatever it was, the infant seemed to settle down, and was soon asleep. He sat back at the table again and watched to be sure that his wife got the food she needed to produce milk for the baby. It was true that her milk probably wouldn't come in for another couple of days at least, but still, he wanted a good start for his son. He was sure that Bella would agree with him.
Finally satisfied that she'd eaten enough, the party left the table and Phil advised them to drive to the motel where he took the liberty of booking rooms for everyone.
Phil remained at the hospital. He asked Charlie for his cell number and promised to call as soon as he had any information about Renee's condition.
Once they got to the motel, Bella decided to take a shower. She went to the diaper bag to get out a pad. Uh-oh, she'd used them all. There were no clean clothes with her either. Bella hadn't planned on staying the night. She looked up at Jacob hopelessly, and let out an exasperated sigh.
Jacob caught her sound of aggravation. "Hey, it's okay, Bells. There's a gift shop downstairs. I'm sure they sell Kotex. Liam and I will mosey on down there while you get in the shower. Problem solved."
He came back with the needed item. The water was still running in the shower. Placing Liam in the crib that was so generously provided by the hotel staff, he pulled off his shirt to get ready to hop into the stall himself. Liam started wailing again, so Jacob checked his diaper, nope that wasn't it. He picked him up and the infant's tiny mouth was rooting all over Jacob's chest; he was getting mighty frustrated and wailed louder.
The new father smiled at the little guy, as he continued to wiggle his head, burying his nose and mouth against Jacob's chest searching for that doggone nipple. "Sorry little buddy, they're just there for decoration, they don't really work. Here comes Mommy now, she'll fix you up. Hers work great."
Taking the baby from him, she commented, "Just like his father—always hungry." Then she added, "Always looking around for the same thing too."
It was amazing how much a little spray of water could do for one's soul. They both felt their spirits rise after standing under that shower head for those few minutes.
Liam fell fast asleep after nursing, and Jacob and Bella tumbled onto the bed exhausted. All of this stress was wearing on them, and Jacob was a little concerned for his sweet wife. She needed rest to gain her strength back. Giving birth wasn't exactly a walk in the park. He tucked the blankets around her and cuddled with her, leaning his head against the nape of her neck. He whispered in her ear, "She's gonna be okay, Bells. There's a good team working with her. You go to sleep now, and let me do the worrying, huh?"
He could feel how tense her body was, and then the tears started. She cried softly, but Jacob couldn't stand it. Why did this incident have to drape a pall over the greatest event of their lives? He turned Bella to face him and wiped the tears away with a fingertip. He kissed her cheek, and both of her eyelids, brushing her hair gently away from her face at the same time. "Go ahead, let it all out, honey. It'll make you feel better."
Pressing the side of her head to his shoulder, he rubbed soothing circles on her back. "Shh … shh …" he murmured.
It was hard to sleep that night in a strange bed, plus Liam, like all other babies, woke up just about every two hours to nurse. Jacob, with his keen hearing, picked up on the first tiny peep, and would rush to the crib, change his diaper, and then hand his son over to Bella as she lay in the bed.
Sometime during the night, Jacob heard the sound of Charlie's ringtone going off in the adjoining room. He could overhear the whole conversation. Renee was out of the woods and was being recovered in the ICU. They found and repaired a major blood vessel that had been leaking. She could receive visitors later on that day.
After Charlie ended the call, he rapped lightly at their door. Jacob answered, and listened attentively to his father-in-law even though he had heard it all beforehand. He would let Bella know the next time she had to feed the baby.
They marched down to the ICU late that morning. They didn't get to stay very long. The mean old nurse told them ten minutes only. Renee was wide awake, brushing her hair and putting on lipstick. She squealed as they walked into the small room.
Bella was so relieved at the sight that her eyes were misting over once more.
"Oh, honey, don't cry," Renee chastised her daughter. "I'm so doped up, I feel great. Whee!
"Hey, where's that baby at? I want to hold him again."
She oohed and aahed over Liam, telling him how handsome he was. Then she became serious. "Listen up, kids, I want you to get back to Forks. You have a lot going on right now. Don't worry about me, I'll be fine. And, Jacob, I'm holding you to your promise. Don't let me down. I'll call you every day so you'll know how this ol' lady's doing. So stop staring at me, and get going."
Jacob took the baby, as Renee said, "Bye, bye, Liam, Grandma loves you."
Renee and Bella kissed each other goodbye, then Renee motioned to Jacob. "Come over here, Jake, don't you want a hug too?"
He complied as she actually put her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek. Then the couple slipped out the door.
Charlie went in after them, only visiting for a minute. They left the hospital, with Phil staying behind.
Ten days went by and Renee was released from the hospital. She and Phil rented an apartment close by for a couple of weeks until she could get back on her feet.
By that time, Bella no longer needed any help, so she would bring Liam with her to visit his grandma. Never having children of his own, Phil kind of doted on the kid too. He bought him a onesie with his team's logo on it—The Belmont Bruisers. There were little booties that looked like cleats, and a little baseball cap to match. Then there were the pint-sized gloves, ball and bat.
He shrugged his big shoulders, and defended his purchases, "He'll be big enough to use them before you know it."
Things back at Forks, settled into a routine. Bella stayed home with the baby, while Jacob went to summer school, and worked part time. It was difficult for him to tear himself away from his child; Liam was growing so fast and changing it seemed from day to day.
Grandma and Grandpa Dwyer had to leave and return to their home in Florida when their two weeks were up. Renee instructed her daughter, "I want pictures once a week without fail, even if it's only one."
Phil startled everyone by asking to hold Liam just one more time. The big athlete actually had a lump in his throat, and tears in his eyes, as he kissed the infant goodbye.
Shoving him in the shoulder, his wife teased, "Why you old softie."
Before the baby came, Jacob's friends all warned him about how hard it would be to patrol, go to school, work, and take care of Bella and his child. Boy, were they wrong. It was worse—much worse. Some days it was so difficult he felt like he would break under the strain. The only thing that kept him going was the thought that he was doing this for Bella, his little one and his people—in that order.
What truly amazed him though, was how much work one little boy could be. But the first time Liam smiled at his daddy made it all worthwhile. His wife, his baby—he reminded himself how lucky he was.
Five weeks, right on the money, Jacob was ready to resume loving his wife if you get my drift. He'd been thinking about that very thing all the days leading up to it. That was a lie, he'd been dreamin' about it way before then. He loved his baby, but he was stark, raving nuts about Bella. It was a totally different kind of love.
This was the night; Bella had seen the midwife and got the okay to begin their love life again. She shouldn't have been so nervous about it, but she felt like she was beginning all over again.
The funny thing was Jacob, with all his anticipation was a bit anxious too. This time he was prepared, though. The nightstand had a box full of condoms. He'd heard that as long as a woman was breast feeding, she couldn't get pregnant, but he was not taking any chances. One baby in the house was enough for now. They could add another farther down the road. He just wanted to love his Bella, and couldn't wait for tonight. He kept his fingers crossed, and hoped that Bella felt the same way.
A/N: By bagging, I mean the tech was pushing air into her lungs with an ambu bag.