"What?" Calleigh called through the door. Tim could her still crying softly.
"It's Tim, can I come in please? I brought you some tea and cookies." There was a full minute of silence which made the New Yorker nervous.
"Fine, I guess," she reluctantly answered. Breathing a sigh of relief, he pushed open the door and carefully entered the room. He was thankful to note that the ballistics expert didn't have her gun anywhere in sight.
"Are you checking to see if I'm holding my gun?" Calleigh asked. Blushing, Speed nodded.
"I thought about it, but no, I didn't get it out," she answered. Tim breathed a sigh of relief. Calleigh tried really hard not to smile when she saw his relief, but she wasn't alltogether successful.
"You have something to tell me?" she questioned.
"Yeah, I do. I'm sorry for what I said. I'm a first class idiot. I know you're not bonkers. You just want to make sure Carrie grows up in a safe place," Speed said sweetly as he placed the tray with the tea and cookies on the table beside the expectant mother's bed.
"Apology accepted, just make sure to never say anything like that ever again," Calleigh cautioned.
"I'll remember that for next time. Now, I think Eric's figured out your organization system enough to make spaghetti for dinner. What do you say? Are you up for it?"
"You bet, spaghetti sounds delicious. I'll be in there just as soon as I finish my tea and cookies," the blonde replied shoving a cookie in her mouth and moaning in pleasure. XXXX
"Another piece of garlic bread, Cal?" Horatio asked holding out the basket of bread.
"No, but could you pass the lemonade?"
"Here you go," the redhead said handing it to her. Her glass was about half full when a frown crossed her face and she let the pitcher fall to the table spilling lemonade on to the table.
"Ahhhhhhhhhh!" she screamed clutching at her stomach.
"Calleigh?" Eric called.
"Oh god, it hurts," Calleigh cried. Just then she felt wetness between her legs. "Oh no, my water just broke," she gasped as another contraction hit. All three guys stared between the growing pool of lemonade on the table to the wet spot forming on the floor. None of them seemed to register the blonde's words. "Hello, did yall here me? I said I think my water just broke! I'm in labor! Owwww!" the expectant mother shouted as another much stronger contraction ripped through her abdomen. Simultaneously they all three jumped to their feet and leapt into action. Eric helped Calleigh to her feet while Horatio cleaned up the mess and Speed grabbed her hospital bag and his keys.
"Okay, let's go, I've got the bag and my keys," he called out. Nodding, Horatio and Eric guided a slightly doubled over Calleigh out of the house and to Speed's car. He still drove his bike, but now that he was going to be a father, he needed a car as well.
"Who do you want in back with you, sweetheart?" Horatio questioned.
"Eric, please," Calleigh replied through gritted teeth. Nodding the Cuban-Russian CSI climbed in back with her and held out a hand for her to squeeze anytime she needed it. The other two men hopped into the front and after making sure everyone was buckled, they headed off for the hospital. XXXX
By the time they got their, Eric was pretty sure he'd lost all feeling in his right hand. He even thought it might be broken, but he wasn't sure. Calleigh had one hell of a grip, he mused. The end result was worth enough for him not to complain about the pain. It was no where near the pain she was going through. Five minutes later they had Calleigh in a wheelchair and they were taking her up to labor and delivery. Horatio had taken over holding her hand so Eric could call her doctor. Speed had been sent for ice chips. Twenty minutes later, the doctor entered the room where the four of them were at. XXXX
"Hi, there, Cal. You're back, I see," she greeted.
"Yeah, and this time, I think it's real. Oh hell, here comes another one," she cried out. Flinging her hand out she reached for whatever she could find. That just happened to be Speed's hand. He opened his mouth about to cry out and protest, but two identical death glares from his lovers silenced him.
"Just shut up and take it," Eric mouthed. Horatio nodded in agreement.
"Okay, let's check you and see how far along you are," the doctor said moving to the foot of the bed.
"Sounds good to me," the expectant mother agreed.
"It looks like you're already 4 CM dilated."
"So what does that mean?" Eric wondered.
"It means she's almost halfway there. Would you like an epidural for the pain?" the doctor asked. Immediately Calleigh nodded her head.
"Yes, please, give me something for the pain."
"I'll have someone come in and give you that here real soon. I'll be back to check on you a little bit later," Karen said leaving the room.
"I'll go call Alexx and everyone else," Horatio said leaving the room.
"Thanks, Horatio," Calleigh said with a small smile.
"It's my pleasure. Thank you for giving us this little miracle," he said patting her hand. XXXX
Three hours later.
"One more good push and she'll be here," the doctor coaxed.
"I can't, I'm too tired," the laboring woman complained collapsing on to the pillows. Her hair was sweaty and stuck to her face and she was exhausted.
"You can do this, Cal. I can't think of anyone else who can," Speed encouraged as he gently wiped her face with a cool cloth.
"Tim's right, I know you can do it to," Eric encouraged.
"Just look at it this way. The sooner you push, the sooner we all get to meet Carolyn," Horatio tried.
"You're right, okay, one more push, but only one," Calleigh replied.
"I want you to push on the next contraction," the doctor instructed.
"Oh god, I have to push! I have to push now!" Calleigh cried.
"Push whenever you feel you need to," Karen coached. Tucking her chin to her chest and clutching Eric and Speed's hands for dear life and staring directly at Horatio she bore down and pushed as hard as she could.
"I can see the head. You're doing great," Eric said choking up as he saw his first glimpse of his daughter.
"Heads out, one more push and we'll have the shoulders."
"You lied, you said that last time, I can't do another push," Calleigh whined.
"Yes you can, you have to," Dr. Johnston argued.
"I c-c-can't," Calleigh whimpered. Her body betrayed her, however, because she could feel another contraction building and the urge to push was to strong. She began pushing automatically. "Aaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" she screamed. She could feel the doctor guiding the shoulders out then she felt her baby daughter slip from her body. Smiling broadly, Karen held the baby up for all of them to see. After she cleared her mouth and nose she smiled when she heard her give a healthy cry.
"It's a girl, 7 LBS, 7 OZ, 20 inches long, born at 11:54 PM, June 22, 2010," the nurse announced.
"Here you go, Mommy. Here's your baby," she said placing the tiny girl on Calleigh's chest.
"She's absolutely perfect," Calleigh breathed.
"That she is," Eric replied.
"Just like her mama," Speed added.
"Welcome to the world, Carolyn Joy Delko," Horatio whispered as he stared transfixed at his newborn daughter.
TBC?
A/n, read and review!
