Disclaimer: I don't own the characters of Power Rangers just the ones I make up in the story.
Chapter 14: Two Miracles before Christmas
Kim and Tommy's House, Reefside
December 22, 2012
2 pm
Kim was busy wrapping Christmas presents when the phone rang.
"Hello?" Kim answered.
"Hey Mrs. O. It's Conner. Do you have a minute?" Conner asked.
"You can call me Kim, Conner. What's up?" Kim asked.
"Um yeah, my mom got called into work on short notice and I have to attend a two-day training event with my team so I was wondering if you could sit with Kira while I'm away? I don't want to leave her alone since she's due in a few days."
"Let me check with Tommy first. He's about to get home soon. Ah, here he is," Kim said as Tommy came in, followed by Cody and Amelia. Things have settled down at school since Amelia's cheating fiasco and she and Cody reconciled a week ago.
Cody and Amelia sat down on the loveseat and were being affectionate toward one another. Kim didn't like it that they were moving too fast.
"Hi honey, how was the last day of school before Christmas?" Kim asked Tommy.
"Hectic. Between grading mid terms and watching those two," Tommy gestured towards Cody and Amelia, "it's been quite a ride." Tommy said.
"Well, I was wondering if you needed me around because Conner has a two day training event with his team and his mom got called into work on such short notice and he needs me to sit with Kira while he's gone," Kim said.
"You're leaving me alone with two lovesick teenagers?" Tommy said nodding towards the young couple on the loveseat.
"Afraid so. Kira's due in a few days and Conner doesn't want to leave her alone, especially with Isabelle in case something would happen."
"Okay, fine, you win. You can go. You can make it up to me when you get back."
"Deal. Thanks honey. I'll be back before you know it," Kim said as she went upstairs to pack.
3:30 pm
Kim pulled into the driveway of Conner and Kira's house. Isabelle came outside to greet her.
"Hi Auntie Kim! Daddy, she's here!" Isabelle shouted.
"About time," Conner said.
"Watch your mouth, Conner. I'm early as always," Kim said scooping up Isabelle.
"Fine. Kira's lying in bed reading and I left instructions on how to feed Miko…" Conner said.
"You got the puppy already? I thought…" Kim started to say.
"The breeder said she needed him gone by Christmas, so I picked him up yesterday," Conner said.
"Okay. So now I have your wife and daughter to look after, plus your new puppy. I should charge extra," Kim said.
"I knew you were going to say that, so I left 300 dollars in an envelope on the kitchen table."
"Gee, thanks," Kim said.
"I'll be back in two days, I promise," Conner said as he threw a couple of bags into his car, got in, and waved as he drove off.
The puppy started to bark, and Kim sighed.
"Why me?" Kim said as Isabelle pulled her towards the house.
The puppy, whose full name was Miko Charles McKnight, was an energetic dalmatian who loved to jump and dig. He met Kim and Isabelle at the door and was jumping on Kim. He was only 10 weeks old and Kim knew he was going to be a handful. She didn't know what Conner was thinking getting a new puppy at this time knowing that there would be a newborn baby in the house. But he said Miko would be in a crate when the baby was in the living room with Kira.
Kim hooked the leash on Miko's collar and took him outside into the backyard so he could go potty. Once Miko was finished Kim took him back inside, unhooked the leash, and hung it up on the hook by the front door.
"Kim!" Kira said from the bedroom.
"Yeah?" Kim asked.
"Can you get me a glass of milk, please?" Kira asked.
"Sure," Kim said as she went into the kitchen, got a glass down from the cupboard, and poured a glass of milk for Kira. She carried it to the bedroom and handed it to Kira.
"I'm sorry Conner roped you into this, especially after he brought the puppy home," Kira said.
"That's okay. I'm glad to help out," Kim said.
"Do you want me to help get the pull-out couch ready for you?"
"No, honey, I got it. You need to rest. The baby could come at any minute," Kim said as she went to the hall closet and got out the sheets to put on the pull-out couch. She got the couch ready for her as Miko tried to help.
After dinner and doing the dishes, Kim played tea party with Isabelle and watched some movies Conner and Kira rented from Netflix, then she got Isabelle ready for bed.
Once Isabelle was tucked into bed, Kim helped Kira get settled in. Then Kim got herself ready for bed. She went to sleep shortly after.
12 am
Kim woke up to Kira grunting and breathing heavily. Kim ran to the bedroom.
"Honey, what is it?" Kim asked.
"I'm having…a contraction. Oh crap!" Kira said as she felt something wet go down her leg.
Kim went over to the other side of the bed and gasped. There was a puddle of clear fluid on the floor where Kira was standing.
"Okay, don't panic, we need to go to the hospital, now!" Kim said as she went to the closet and got out some yoga pants and a shirt for Kira to wear. She helped Kira put those clothes on and helped her to the living room. She went to Isabelle's room and woke her up, wrapped her in a blanket, and carried her out the front door and to the neighbor's house. Miranda Davis answered her door.
"Did Kira go into labor?" Miranda asked.
"Yes, she did. Will you watch Isabelle and Miko for me please?" Kim asked.
"Sure," Miranda said, taking Isabelle from Kim. Kim ran back to the house, put the leash on Miko, and ran him back to Miranda's house. Once he and Miranda were inside, Kim went back to Kira, who was having another contraction.
"Kira honey, you need to breathe!" Kim said.
"I'm trying but the contractions are pretty intense!" Kira said.
Kim grabbed Kira's overnight bag, slung it over her shoulder, and helped Kira to her car. Once they were in its Kim drove the six blocks to the hospital.
Beechwood General Hospital, Beechwood
December 23, 2012
1 am
"Yes, Tommy, I'm sure she is. Her contractions are 5 minutes apart and she's dilated to a 5. It's moving quick. They don't even need to give her the Pitocin drip. I left a message for Conner to call me back but he's probably asleep. Ethan and Paulette are here I have to go," Kim said as she hung up the phone.
"Kim! We got here as soon as we could! How is she?" Paulette asked.
"She's fine. The contractions are five minutes apart and she's dilated to a five," Kim said.
"Man, she's moving quick!" Ethan said.
"Have you got a hold of Conner yet?" Paulette asked.
"I left him a message, he's probably asleep," Kim said as the doctor came out.
"Mrs. Oliver?" The doctor asked.
"Yes, that's me. How is she?" Kim asked.
"I checked her again and she's at a 6 now and she's asking for you and her friends," the doctor said.
"What room is she in?" Kim asked.
"Room 524, down the hall," the doctor said as Kim, Ethan, and Paulette followed him to Kira's room.
Kim peeked her head in the door.
"Ready for us?" Kim asked.
Kira nodded as they went in.
"Kira!" Paulette said.
"Paulette! I'm glad you could make it! Is David with Lisette?" Kira asked giving Paulette a hug.
"Yes, he is. Is Isabelle with Miranda?"
"Yes, along with the puppy."
"Wait a minute…I thought…"
"The breeder wanted him picked up before Christmas. She's leaving on her cruise early."
"That nasty woman! Oh well, at least you got him before she gave him to someone else," Paulette said.
Kira nodded as a contraction hit her. She grabbed for the nearest hand which was Ethan's. Ethan cried out in pain as she squeezed the life out of his hand.
A minute later the pain subsided, and Ethan shook out his hand.
"Can't stand the pain, huh?" Paulette teased him.
"Shut up, Paulette," Ethan said. Paulette laughed.
"How about we turn on the TV, shall we?" Kim said as she turned on the TV. They sat down and watched reruns of That 70's Show.
4 am
Kira's labor slowed down around 3 am and stayed that way until the nurse came in with an IV bag of Pitocin.
"I thought I wasn't getting one of those," Kira said.
"Your blood pressure is high and the doctor isn't taking any chances and since your labor slowed down he wants to speed it up, hence the Pitocin drip," the nurse said as she hooked the bag to the IV pole and hooked Kira up to it.
"I check you in an hour," the nurse said as she left the room.
Then Kim's phone rang.
"Hello?" Kim answered.
"Kim! It's Conner! I got, like, the third message you left on my phone! I'm sorry I sleep like a log! Tell Kira I'm on my way!" Conner said.
"Well, hurry up and get here. They just gave Kira a Pitocin drip since her labor slowed down some. Her blood pressure's high and the doctor is not taking any chances," Kim said.
"Okay, I'll be right there!" Conner said as he hung up.
7 am
Kira's contractions were 2 minutes apart and she was 8 centimeters dilated. She was on the verge of breaking down. Then a news bulletin came on the TV.
"This just in: There was a 16-car pileup on I-90 heading to Los Angeles. Traffic is being diverted off the Interstate. More to come as soon as we get more information.
"What!" Kira said.
"Don't worry. I'll call Conner," Kim said as she got out her phone.
"No need to. He's right here!" Tommy said as Conner came out from behind him.
"Conner!" Kira said.
"I was just getting off the Interstate when the pileup began. I got here as fast as I could from where I was," Conner said hugging Kira.
Kira nodded as a contraction hit her hard. She started to grab for Ethan's hand, but he pulled it away.
"I believe she wants your hand, dude," Ethan said as Conner took his place.
"We're going to go to the waiting room," Kim said as she, Ethan, Tommy, and Paulette went to the waiting room.
Kim and Tommy sat down on the couch and Paulette and Ethan sat down in chairs.
They fell asleep soon after.
At around 9 am a cry could be heard from down the hall. Kim woke up first, followed by Tommy, then Ethan, and then Paulette.
Conner came out soon after.
"Hey guys, he's here! I have a son! Kira wants to see all of you," Conner said proudly as Kim, Tommy, Ethan, and Paulette followed him to Kira's room.
Kira was sitting up in bed, cradling a red, wrinkly baby close to her chest. The baby was sucking on a pacifier.
"Oh Kira, he is so cute!" Kim said hugging her.
"Thanks, Kim," Kira said returning the hug.
"Oh girl, he is so adorable!" Paulette said getting her turn to hug Kira.
"Thanks, Paulette."
"Nice job, dude!" Ethan said clasping Conner on the back.
"Thanks, dude!" Conner said back.
"What do you think, Dr. O.?" Kira asked Tommy.
"I think he's very handsome," Tommy said as he put his arm around Kim.
Kira and Conner smiled back at him.
"Do you have a name picked out for him?" Paulette asked.
"Yes, we do. Guys, meet Chance Ethan McKnight!" Conner said proudly.
"Dude, I'm touched!" Ethan said.
"I told you my firstborn son would have your name as his middle name, so I kept my promise," Conner said.
"Thanks, dude!" Ethan said as he and Conner bro hugged.
Just then the lactation nurse came in.
As if on cue, Chance started to fuss.
"We'll take that as our cue to leave," Kim said as she, Tommy, Ethan, and Paulette left the room.