Holding On
A/N: Happy Chicago Day! There was no chapter Saturday and probably will be like that for a while from now on of us only posting Wednesday as we are running low on written chapters,
Anyhow, who's ready for Owen's birth.
Chapter 50
"Yes, yes, we're on the way to the hospital, meet us there. Cindy said she'll come and collect the kids." Carol Manning spoke to her husband over the speaker in her car as Will sat in the backseat with Natalie.
Nat swapped between moaning in pain and squeezing Will's hand to crying in fear, "I can't do this. Why did I think I could do this?"
"Nat, try to stay calm okay?" He tried, pushing her hair off her forehead.
"Calm! Easy for you to say, you're not having a baby….arrgh." She bent forward as another contraction hit.
"Right. Sorry." He told himself more than her, "You've got this okay? You're the strongest person I know."
The tears started spilling from her eyes as she straightened up and laid her head back against the seat. "Thank you Will."
"And everyone's here for you okay? And anything you need, I'm here." He gave her hand a small squeeze.
Her Mom butted in, telling Natalie to breathe properly and count the time between the contractions as if being in labour was normal like going to the grocery store.
"I'm scared Will." Natalie admitted in a whisper as her Mom pulled the car into the hospital bay.
"Hey, hey." He said softly, wiping her tears away and cradling her face in his hands as her Mom was distracted getting the bags out of the trunk. "You're going to do great. And you're going to meet your little boy soon. Everything will be okay, I promise."
She stared at him with rapt attention in her big brown eyes and if he wasn't in love with her before, he was a total goner now.
But the moment was ruined when her mother appeared at Natalie's door, already with a doctor and wheelchair at the ready. Will climbed out behind her, ready to wave goodbye but she grabbed his hand and arm with both hands.
"Please don't leave yet."
"I'm not going anywhere." He promised as he followed alongside her up to the maternity ward.
The doctor explained where they were going and what was happening, only being interrupted by Nat's Mom who threw her own advice in as well, trying to not look at Will, or her daughter who was clinging to him.
They were wheeled into a room where they got Natalie onto a bed.
"Honey, your Dad will be here soon okay?" Her Mom said, rubbing Natalie's back as another contraction hit. "Do...do you want us to call Jeff?"
"Jeff?" Natalie gasped, looking around after lying back.
The doctor came back in, interrupting her answer, asking for Will to leave so she could examine Natalie and see what progress had been made.
Will took the opportunity to take a breath and frantically ring Rhodes and Herrmann. He didn't know about Jeff, but he knew that Natalie would want her best friends there.
The door opened again as the doctor led Natalie out who was now hooked up to some sort of movable drip, one he had seen his Mom on one too many times.
"Natalie here is going to go for a little walk, see if we can get that baby moving huh?" The doctor told both Will and Nat.
"I'll be right back Honey, your Dad is just outside, he needs the keys to the house, you know him, he'd forget his head if it wasn't screwed on."
"It's fine Mom, go ahead."
The doctors pager beeped, "Well I can't have you wandering around on your own."
"Oh, Will...would you mind?" Natalie asked, looking suddenly vulnerable in her hospital gown.
"Of course." He replied without hesitation, putting his phone back into his pocket.
He took her arm gingerly, suddenly aware that he couldn't overstep, but she sighed and leaned into him, letting him lead her.
The doctor may or may not have caught him with a self-satisfied grin on his lips .
The two boys in the front seat of the car were slightly agitated. Sarah sat in the backseat as Connor drove through Chicago to get to Natalie. Henry had stopped tapping his foot.
"The one night we're not with her!" Henry stated.
"I know." Connor shook his head.
"Guys, you couldn't have known." Sarah tried to calm them down. "Her due date is next week."
"I should have counted prematurity. Max was born early, I should have seen the signs."
Sarah wished that Natalie was there, she would have known how to deal with both of them.
They finally arrived to the hospital, and now Will was the one not answering his phone.
Chris arrived behind them, Nat's Mom had texted him the details, and knew where to find Natalie. He led them to the elevator, arriving the same time as Jeff and his parents.
Connor and Henry locked eyes with Jeff as Chris urged all of them forward, Sarah meanwhile had tried calling her Mom and tell her what had happened.
Will found them all by the hallway that led to Natalie's room, Chris had gone on ahead to talk to Carol. "Will, are you, how are you here?" Henry asked, Will actually looked casually dressed unlike the rest of them. "Were you on a shift?"
"Ah, no I was actually at Nat's when it happened." Wil said.
"Why am I not surprised." Connor mused. "Well, she's lucky you were there. Thanks for taking care of her."
"Of course." Will said, almost defensively. "How was the dance?"
"Oh, it was a total bust." Henry admitted. "Thanks for calling us by the way."
"Don't mention it, I know Natalie would want you guys here."
"And you for sure."
"Yeah, tell that to Jeff, it if wasn't because he was ushered away by his parents, he probably would have punched me." Will admitted. They all watched as Chris walked over.
"Dad, how is she?"
"She's comfortable for now, the baby might not come in a while, you kids should probably have a seat. I'll go and tell your Mom and Lizzie. Sarah should Connor drive you home?"
"No, I already told my Mom, I want to be here for Natalie." Sarah said quickly glancing over at Connor.
"Alright, well, you then make yourselves comfortable. This might take a while."
"Can we see her?" Connor asked.
"In a minute, she's in there with Jeff and her parents." Chris said, his eyes primarily focusing on Will. "You should tell your sister to get herself here kid." he told Connor.
"Ah, I texted her." Henry piped up.
"You texted Claire?"
"Well, yeah I was bored at the dance since the two of you had gone awol." Henry retorted. Connor merely stared at him. "So, yeah Claire and I text."
"Relax Henry…" Connor said, his tone softening. "It was just a question."
"Sorry. I'm just worried about Nat." Henry half lied. Sarah didn't miss the tension building up and while Will went to call Jay, she pulled Connor to the side.
"You okay?" She asked as they sat on the chairs by the end of the halway.
"Yeah, I'm fine, but Hermann is right, I should probably take you home, we don't know how long it's going to be."
"No, I really want to stay, plus I wouldn't want you to not being here when the baby is born." She said. He nodded, and felt as she leaned her head to his shoulder. "She's going to be okay, right?" Sarah asked after a moment.
"Yeah, she will be." Connor said, tracing small circles in her hand.
"Connor…"
"Yeah?"
"I told my Mom and Mr. Charles I want to be a senior next year." Sarah let out, looking up at him. Connor looked at her too, with his deep blue eyes and smiled.
"Is that what you really want?"
"Yeah, at first I had all these doubts on what I'd be missing out or on what it would mean for my Mom now that she thought I was doing it because I was with you but it just means I get to challenge myself more and that's what I want, and even if I graduate at sixteen, I could still take a year or so to take some courses before I decide on what I want to do for the rest of my life, you know? And that way I can be around Jason longer."
There was a momentary silence between them. "Sounds like you'd thought of it for a while."
"Yeah, sorry I didn't tell you sooner, but I wanted to be completely sure before I told anyone, even you."
"Of course, but babe, that's amazing, you should be proud of yourself, it doesn't matter what I or anyone else thinks, I'm not going to say that I'm not happy that we'll be together though but it's huge, it really is."
"Yeah and scary." Sarah admitted shyly and Connor leaned to peck her softly on the lips reassuringly. "But I've never felt braver in my life than right now, I mean if Nat can have a baby on her own, then I can do this, right?"
"You are going to do amazing Sarah, trust me." He beamed at her just as Will came down the hall to sit beside them.
"She's going to be okay, right?" Will said more to him than to them but Sarah sat on straight and took his hand.
"Of course." She said with a reassuring smile.
They remained quiet for a little while longer until Henry joined them as well.
Now all that was left to do was wait.
The waiting room got a little crowded when Jeff and his parents came out and Claire arrived. Sarah was just glad there was enough people between Jeff and Will when Natalie asked for Will next.
"I really don't think that's appropriate." Helen, Jeff's mother whispered not so quietly.
"Anyone want anything to eat or drink?" Claire asked, speaking over the older woman, letting Will make a break for Nat's room.
"I saw a vending machine by the door." Henry chipped in a little too loudly, "I'll help, anyone want anything?"
Everyone sat trying to not look at Jeff and his parents for fear of being rude but not wanting to exclude them either.
It would be a long wait.
"Sure I'll have some chips, we didn't get to the buffet table." Sarah offered, just to avert the awkward silence.
"Yeah a couple of waters would be good too, thanks kids." Herrmann said.
They had the food that Henry and Claire wrangled together eaten before Will came back out and a doctor came in to keep an eye on progress.
Then Natalie asked for Connor and Henry. Which seemed to just agitate Helen more.
Connor poked his head out the doorway and beckoned Sarah in. She hesitated, this was a momentous few hours in Natalie's life, she didn't want to intrude.
"Eh...Hi Natalie...I mean I can wait outside…" She said as she slipped into the room, earning herself her own glare from Helen.
"That bracelet means you're one of us. Haven't you learnt that yet?" Natalie smiled.
But then she grabbed Henry and Connor's hands and started breathing too fast. Another contraction so Sarah's argument died on her lips.
Connor looked as freaked out as Sarah felt but Henry jumped to action, leaning Natalie back after the worst and wiping her forehead with a cloth.
"You should have been my birthing partner not my Mom" Natalie joked as Henry then produced a drink with a straw and held it out for Natalie to sip on.
"What? And face the wrath of Helen? No thanks." Henry joked back.
"Ugh she has far too many opinions for a woman who didn't want me to have this baby." Natalie sighed. "How am I not even at 3 centimetres yet?"
Sarah just watched Connor visibly cringe when he realised what his best friend was talking about.
"It's totally normal. You're contractions are still quite a bit apart." Henry told her calmly.
"It doesn't feel like it." Natalie shot him a death glare.
"I'm sure the baby will start moving soon?" He answered meekly. He got her up and helped her walk around the room, Connor would watch just how confident he was, but he couldn't help but worry, Natalie's life was about to change forever in a matter of hours.
Henry offered to stay with Nat as he and Sarah stepped outside. Connor just needed to take a breath.
He had been in and out of hospitals all his life because of Elizabeth but even if this was a happy occasion, he couldn't really shake the odd feeling that something might go wrong.
Another half an hour passed and all of them were anxiously waiting on news on Nat, Henry had remained beside her for as long as they would allow him and Connor did appear with Sarah a few times too, and she made them tell her about the dance and also asked Sarah quietly to keep an eye on Will.
"Mirs. Manning?" The doctor had come out of the room suddenly, asking for Carol, she understood what it meant, the baby was coming. Henry stood up worriedly as Chris wrapped an arm around his shoulder and they both stood beside Connor and Sarah.
All of them holding on a breath.
Sarah could barely believe it was not even 9 pm, but the emotions of the day were beginning to take a toll on her.
Carol had then asked Jeff to come in for a minute and the boy looked back to his parents as he followed her inside the room. He came back a moment later, Will had now remained in the far side of the waiting room with Claire Rhodes.
"Come on honey, you can do it, I know you can, slow breaths now." Carol told her daughter rubbing on her back as Natalie struggled through yet another contraction. "That's it, let the epidural help honey, it's almost over, I promise."
Natalie took a deep breath and pushed again tiredly, how did her Mom and Cindy manage to do this so many times she didn't have a clue, to her, they were the bravest women in the world. "One more Natalie, you are doing great. Slow now." Dr. Mars said sweetly as she looked up from her spot. "This little guy wants to meet us soon. Do you have a name for him yet?"
Natalie bit her lip as another contraction hit. "Alright Nat, I can see the head, slow pushes now…"
The young girl honestly didn't know how long it lasted but she tried to fight exhaustion as she cried out for her Mom. "I can't...Mom how am I going to do this alone?"
"Oh honey, you are not alone, trust me, I'm here with you, we all are here with you." Carol said, leaning her forehead against Nat's. "One more push my beautiful girl, come on, I know you can do it."
Finally, she heard it, her son's first cries. Natalie gasped as she pushed her head back tiredly as Dr. Mars lifted the baby up, she honestly hadn't seen anything so disgustingly beautiful as the baby's eyes locked with hers.
"A healthy baby boy." Dr. Mars announced. "Great job Natalie, he's beautiful."
Sarah's eyes were closing as Carol came out of the room. The baby had been born and he and Natalie were both healthy.
"Lou, come here." Carol called her husband who was there with Olivia and Nate. She also called for Jeff and his parents. Henry and Connor both let out relieved sighs at the same time and gave each other a much needed hug, Chris clapped, Claire cried a few happy tears and Sarah was amazed that in a few minutes their whole worlds had changed.
Sarah was the only one that noticed Will stand up and reach for his jacket though. "I'll be right back." She told Connor in a low voice and kissed his cheek before following Will out of the waiting room.
"Will?" She called as he got into the elevator.
His shoulders slumped and he turned around when he heard her voice, "What Reese?"
"Are...are you okay?" Stupid question, she told herself but she really didn't know how the boy would be feeling right now.
"I'm fine. I'm just going home."
"Home?" She asked as the elevator doors began to close so she jumped in with him.
"Yeah, Nat's fine, the baby is fine. I got nothing else to stay for." He shrugged on his jacket, glaring straight ahead.
"But I'm sure Natalie wants to introduce to to the baby and she'd be happy to see you again." She tried.
"Sarah, she's after having Jeff's baby. All that baby and Nat needs right now are him and their families. Not me."
"But…"
"Reese. I'm not going back there. Natalie needs space. I need space from all of it, from her, from her and Jeff. I can't go butting in where i don't belong, not when she'll be so vulnerable as right now. I'd never forgive myself. I don't want to be with her, not like this."
Sarah didn't know what to say.
"You know Nina broke up with me earlier on and the first person I go to see is Natalie and it's like we just keep going in circles. I need space."
"Okay." Sarah agreed quietly.
"I'll send her a card and present but I don't think I'd be let anywhere near her anyway. Her Mom and Jeff's Mom are like two guard dogs…" He mused, "Thanks for coming after me Sarah, but I think you should get back up there." He said as the elevator doors opened and he stepped out.
"Give Nat and the baby a hug from me alright?" He asked with a pained smile.
"I will." She promised.
Sara thought she would turn to mush as she watched Connor and Henry coo over the little baby resting on a very tired Natalie's chest. For guys that could be so hardcore on a hockey rink, they sure were softies when it came to their newborn 'nephew'. The baby had them wrapped around his finger before he even had a name.
Jeff sat in the chair beside the bed. Natalie asked that he stay. Afterall, Sarah thought, this was the new normal. Jeff would always be a part of their lives now.
"Jeff, can you pass me that water please?" Natalie's voice was tired and hoarse even as she mumbled to the baby who squirmed slightly in her arms. Jeff nearly fell over himself trying to get her the drink as soon as possible, even holding it for her to take a sip before sharing a warm smile with her and looking in awe at the baby. His baby. Their baby.
Sarah was finally starting to see flickerings of why Natalie had fallen for him in the first place.
Suddenly, a nurse ushered them out of the room because the baby needed to be fed, Natalie asked for her Mom and Jeff left behind Sarah and the boys.
The waiting room had emptied except for Jeff and Natalie's parents and Claire and Hermann who had of course stayed to make sure everything ran smoothly, when he spotted them, he suggested they'd go home, Henry of course protested, but the truth was that he was tired and he knew better than anyone that they should leave Natalie to bond with her baby alone.
Sarah had gotten a text from her Mom who had suggested James to go and get her, Connor almost fought her when she told him, but Sarah knew he wanted to stay with Natalie a bit longer too, before she left though, Natalie called them all back into the room. The baby was nuzzled against her as she smiled tiredly. "Come in guys."
"How's he doing?" Connor asked. "How are you?"
"Tired, but okay, I wanted to officially introduce you to Owen."
"Owen." Henry echoed. "I love it."
"Owen Morgan Manning." Natalie corrected herself. "I made compromises with Jeff, I guess this is the first one of many."
Connor smiled as his finger brushed the baby's head slightly. "Do you want to hold him?" Nat asked tenderly. "Here, Owen, go with Uncle Connor, I have a feeling you two are going to get along just fine."
Connor took the baby from her carefully as Owen settled against him, Sarah's heart skipped a beat as she watched her boyfriend. He looked beyond 16 as he comforted Owen as he fuzzed, Natalie didn't miss her staring.
Her mind a million miles away. "You are going to the ranch tomorrow with Kim, aren't you?" Her friend asked as Connor now had handed Owen to Henry who was now officially the baby whisperer.
"Yeah, it's Jason's first session, my Mom finally agreed." Sarah smiled.
"You are going with her, right?" She said to Connor.
"I'm meeting them there later, Jason doesn't have any idea, it's in case he's not too comfortable."
"That's great." Natalie smiled tiredly.
"Oh, easy there bud, here you go back with your Mommy now…" Henry smiled as Owen was now in Nat's arms. Neither of them missed the word that had sneaked out so naturally from Henry's lips referring to their 16 year old friend. "I still can't believe you are a Mom."
"Yeah, don't remind me. I'm too tired to even freak out about it." Natalie sighed.
"Hey guys." Claire appeared by the door. "Sarah, they're here to pick you up."
"Oh, okay." Sarah then turned to Natalie. "I have to go, please text me tomorrow, I'll come later if I can."
"Sure, the doctor said I might have to stay in a few days to get used to everything."
"I'll walk you." Connor offered as Claire took his place beside Henry, the nurse then came back again to explain something else to Natalie as they both watched tentively.
They wanted to take in as much as possible to help her.
"Man, I can't believe that happened." Connor said as he stopped suddenly down the hall from Nat's room, he ran his fingers through his short hair. "I can't believe Natalie is a Mom…"
"I know." Sarah echoed. He smiled at her. "But, the good thing is, that her parents are supportive and Jeff seems so too and she has all of us."
"Right." Connor said, they made it all the way down as James was waiting for them. Sarah's step Dad smiled at both kids as they said their goodbyes, Connor had given Sarah a quick kiss and thanked James as he then settled by the entrance bay of the hospital to catch his breath,
This had been a definitely long day.
