So sorry about the huge gap in updates! Life has been crazy. Here is a short little number to make up for it. I have a couple more stories coming your way to keep your eyes open. Thank you all for your sweet support. Happy holidays!
"Alright, just give me one second, and then we'll be good to go."
Tasha is laying on the bottom bunk of one of the beds in the bunker while Patterson prepares a make-shift ultrasound machine. The computer whiz tells her it won't be much, but they should be able to hear the heartbeat and make sure that the baby is okay, and to her, that is enough.
Reade is sitting next to her, holding her hand. It makes her laugh because if they were out in the real world, they would be going to a doctor, and he'd be holding her hand and probably freaking out and asking way too many questions. But, here, underground, he quietly holds her hand and smiles at her, waiting to hear the heartbeat of their child.
"Alright, you ready?" Patterson pulls up a chair next to the bed. Zapata gives her a small nod and Patterson places a small black object on Zapata's stomach. The contraption does not look like much, just two black objects connected by a silver cord, but Patterson swears that it will work and they have learned to just trust her.
"Give it a minute." Patterson tells them as she moves the machine around.
She pauses and that's when they hear it. It's faint but undeniable. It's their child's heartbeat.
"Sounds strong to me." Patterson whispers.
Reade squeezes her hand and when Tasha looks up at him, he is smiling ear to ear and she swears, he looks like he might cry from joy. He had told her time and time again that, while the circumstances were not ideal, he was more than happy to start a family with her. Tasha took more time to get used to the idea, but now, hearing her child's heartbeat, she can't help but grin.
"That's our baby," Reade whispers.
They sit there for a few more minutes, simply enjoying the sound of the baby's heartbeat. Patterson puts the machine away and does a few more vital tests on Zapata. She checks the woman's heartbeat and blood pressure and once again reminds of her the things that she should not be eating and doing. Tasha rolls her eyes and teases that "resting is not really an option right now."
As Patterson goes to put her materials away, Tasha is left alone with Reade, whose face is still lit up. He lifts his hand to brush some hair out of her face and whispers "Tash, we're having a baby."
"You think I forgot? This kid is making me throw up way more than I used to." She teases.
He chuckles. "I'm serious. Just a couple more months and our lives will be completely different."
"I think they're already different," Tasha says as she sits up a bit, mindful of the top bunk above her. "I just hope we are out of here before then."
They had talked about plans. They discussed both privately, and with the group, what they would do if they were still underground when Tasha had the baby. Everyone's ideal was that this was all over before then, but really if they were going with ideals, they would not be in this bunker in the first place. Tasha wanted to make sure everyone would be taken care of if a time came that they were still in the bunker, but she could no longer contribute to the team.
"No matter what, we're together." Reade reminds her.
She hums and squeezes his hand. "I know. I love you."
"I love you too. Now come on. Let's go get you and the baby something to eat." He helps her up and gives her a quick kiss as they leave the room.
"Already taking care of us, huh?"
"Always." He smiles.
Always. She thinks she likes the sound of that.