A/N: Sorry about the wait guys, I don't like to post until I've got the next chapter written and I found it hard to find the time! lol. Unfortunately the angst isn't over yet. Sorry. Thanks to Gene'sGirl13 once again for beta-ing.

Chapter 29

Gene paced nervously up and down the corridor outside the operating theatre. Alex had only been in there ten minutes but it felt like hours. The lack of communication wasn't doing anything to ease his worries; since the initial decision to perform the operation no one had told him anything. They hadn't explained the procedure or told him what to expect or anything. It was like his feelings as a father didn't matter. As he walked past the theatre door for what seemed like the hundredth time his eyes fell on the pay phone in the corner. He debated whether or not to call the station and get Ray to go and pull Molly out of school but he knew Alex would kill him if Molly missed lessons. He checked his watch; it was 2.45, Molly would be out in 20 minutes. He pulled some change from his pocket and strode towards the phone. Ray answered after only 2 rings,

"CID?"

"Raymondo!"

"Guv? 'As she 'ad-"

"She's bin rushed into surgery; don't really know what's goin' on," he sighed, "no one's tellin' me owt."

"Shit Guv. I'm sorry. There owt we can do?"

"Yer can get yer arse round ter Moll's school an' wait fer her ter come out. The swing by the 'ouse an' get Lucy. Bring 'em 'ere." Gene was about to lecture Ray about not panicking the girls when the door to the theatre opened and out stepped a surgeon. "Gotta go Ray. Doc's 'ere." Without giving Ray a chance to reply, he'd hung up. The doctor approached,

"Mr Hunt?"

"Yeh, that's me."

"Congratulations Mr Hunt. You have a daughter. 6 pounds 5 ounces." Emotions overwhelmed Gene at that moment so much so that he had to brace him against the wall for support; he had another daughter.

"She okay?"

"She's a little smaller that we'd like; but that's not unusual for premature babies. I don't foresee it causing any problems. You can see her once the nurses have cleaned her up."

"An' Alex?"

"Miss Drake is still in surgery. She lost a lot of blood and needs a transfusion." Gene ran his hand through hair; this was supposed to be one of the happiest days of his life.

"What exactly 'appened?"

"Miss Drake developed a tear in her uterine wall; resulting in a massive bleed."

"But she's goin' ter be alright though?" The doctor took a deep breath,

"It's difficult to say at this moment; she's in a critical condition. My colleagues are assessing the damage as we speak. Depending on the severity of the tear, we may have to perform a hysterectomy." Gene let out a massive sigh. "Do I take that to mean that you know what that entails?" asked the doctor.

"I might be a bloke, but I ain't completely ignorant," Gene gruffed.

"Sorry. Not all men are as enlightened as you Mr Hunt, and I need to make sure you're aware of all the facts." Gene had never been called 'enlightened' before and probably would have scoffed at the notion if the situation were different. Instead he waved his hand in a dismissive gesture.

"Don't worry about it. 'Ow long til' we know if she's goin' ter pull through?"

"Could be up to three hours before we've finished in theatre depending on what we find. After that it will depend on Miss Drake. We'll take her up to intensive care and will have to wait and see. I'm sorry I don't have better news for you." Gene collapsed into a cold hard plastic chair and put his head in his hands. She had to be alright; she just had to be. His girls needed their Mum. "Your daughter should be up on the special care baby unit in a few moments. You should go and see her."

"But Alex-"

"There's nothing you can do for her now Mr Hunt. Go and meet your baby girl. I'll have someone come and find you when we're done in theatre." Gene nodded but didn't move from his chair. The doctor let out a small sigh and left him with his thoughts.

And that was how Ray, Lucy and Molly found him half an hour later.

"Dad?" called Lucy as they entered the corridor. He looked up and saw Lucy and Molly running towards him. He gathered all the emotional strength that he had and stood to meet them. They flung themselves into his arms, tears flowing freely down both their faces.

"Is she going to be okay Dad?" asked Molly, her voice quivering.

"I...I don't know," Gene admitted as he hugged them both tighter. "She's still in surgery. Goin' ter be a couple o' hours til' we know owt."

"What about the baby?" Lucy asked.

"Little girl. 6 pounds 5 ounces. Apparently she's fine.

"What d'yer mean 'apparently'?" challenged Lucy. "'Ave they not let yer see 'er?"

"Said I can see 'er whenever," he told them. "I just don't know if I can."

"Dad? Yer 'ave to! She needs yer!"

"So does Alex!" he barked. "An' I ain't leavin' 'er."

"There's nothing we can do for Mum," Molly stated matter of factly, pulling away from Gene. "But we can be there for the baby."

"I can't." Lucy and Molly shared a look.

"Fine! Stay 'ere an' wallow!" snapped Lucy. "But me and Molly are goin' ter see our sister! Come on Molls." They stormed off in the direction of the stairs leaving Gene alone with Ray. There was silence for a few moments before Ray couldn't hack it any longer,

"They're right y'know," he pointed out.

"An 'oo asked fer yer opinon Carlin'?"

"No-one," he admitted, "but I ain't goin' ter sit 'ere an' watch you make the biggest cock up since England failed ter qualify fer the World Cup in 78."

"What are yer prattlin' on about? What's football got ter do wi' this. If yer've got a point ter make then just get the bloody 'ell on wi' it will yer?"

"What would Drake say if she knew yer'd abandoned yer daughter ter sit out 'ere indulgin' in self-pity?" Gene didn't answer. "Well?" pushed Ray.

"I don't know," snapped Gene.

"Yes yer bloody well do! Y'know she'd be fumin' and she'd rip yer ter shreds. Now stop bein' a twat an' get yer arse up ter yer daughter. If not fer yerself or yer kids, then fer Alex. She'd give owt ter be wi' the sprog right now, but she can't so yer need ter do it fer 'er!"

"Do me a favour an' go back ter the station Carlin'!" Gene instructed in a tone which Ray knew not to argue with. As he got up and left his boss alone in the corridor he could only hope that some of what he said had sunk in and he'd do the right thing. He wouldn't like to be around to see the fall out if he didn't.

A/N: So will he do the right thing or won't he? What do you think? Leave me a review and let me know. Oh, and a quick message for Fenella Church: Sorry; I know you really wanted the baby to be a boy, but it was always going to be another girl. I just like the idea of Gene being outnumbered living in a house full of women!