"Owen," Teddy called across the apartment.
"Teddy what is it," Owen asked.
"Owww," Teddy yelled.
Owen sprinted to where she was doubled over in pain on the couch.
"What's wrong," Owen asked.
"Oww," Teddy moaned again, "it's too soon."
"Teddy breath and tell me what's wrong," Owen said.
"It feels like contractions but it's still 8 weeks early," Teddy groaned.
"I'm going to call Sarah then we'll go to the hospital when she gets here," Owen said.
"Can I get some water," Teddy whined.
Owen went to the kitchen and got her water. He quickly called Sarah and explained the situation before going into the kids rooms.
"Mommy mad," Leo said.
"She's not feeling well," Owen said, "her and I are going to go to the hospital and get it checked. Mrs Sarah is going to stay with you and Allison."
The two kids weren't unfamiliar with waking up to Mrs Sarah and not their parents. Leo knew and Allison would be okay with it.
As soon as Sarah arrived Owen grabbed Teddy's purse from by the door knowing all of her ID except her passport was in her wallet. With the puse over his shoulder he picked her up off the couch and carried her to the car.
At the hospital emergency room there was an instant flutter of activity when Owen carried Teddy in. Staff jumped to attention seeing the chief of staff, cornel Altman being carried in by Major Hunt. They had heard rumors that Altman was working from home because she was pregnant again but no one believed it because they hadn't seen her in person since February and it was now the end of June.
Teddy was quickly moved up to the maternity floor and her OB paged.
"Is it cervical insufficiency again," Teddy groaned as the woman did the exam.
"It is ma'am," the OB replied, "I'm going to give you some medication to stop the contractions and this time I'm going to use a few sutures to keep this baby where he belongs."
"What are you doing," Owen asked.
"Sir your wife needs five or six stitches to keep her cervix closed," the OB replied.
"Can we try to stop it with out that," Teddy asked, "trandelberg?"
"I was going to do that for a couple hours at least anyway," the OB replied, "if you want to try a few hours of that first ma'am and see what happens you're welcome to."
"I want to try," Teddy said, "it worked with my daughter."
"I have a patient in labour," the OB said.
"I'm staying with her captain," Owen said.
"Of course sir," the OB replied, "have me paged if you need to."
"We will," Owen agreed.
"I'll check on you soon ma'am," the OB said.
"Dismissed captain," Teddy said. The medications were starting to kick in and her heart rate and breathing were returning to normal.
"This happened with Allison," Owen said.
"I told you," Teddy said.
"You said a slight problem," Owen said.
"This," Teddy replied, "she'll get them stopped and send me home to monitor and come back if anything feels off. This was when I stopped operating with Allison."
Owen pulled up a gurney beside Teddy and flipped it so the feet were taller than the head before kicking his shoes off and laying down.
"What are you doing," Teddy asked.
"I told you I'm all in," Owen said, he reached over and covered one of her hands with his.
"He's calming down," Teddy said.
"Daniel it's dad," Owen said, "you need to stay where you are for 8 more weeks soldier. You are not done basic preparations for life yet. Mommy is amazing and she's going to help you grow and be ready to live. You have 8 weeks Daniel time to get big and strong for us. You have the best mommy. Wait till you see her devour a whole pizza in one sitting or half a roast chicken. Your mommy is the kindest, gentlest most loyal person I have ever met and she will be there every single day to build you up."
"Owen," Teddy sighed, "I love you."
"I love you Teds," Owen replied squeezing her hand.
"Don't leave me," Teddy said, "Owen I'm scared."
"I'm not going anywhere," Owen promised, "I'm right here."
"This can't be happening again," Teddy panicked.
"I'm here," Owen said rolling to his side and putting his head beside hers, "I'm not going to leave. Teddy you are not alone this time. I will be right here."
"The kids," Teddy said.
"Are fine with Sarah," Owen said, "Teddy you will never be alone again. I will not leave you."
"Everyone leaves me," Teddy whimpered, "my parents, the first Allison, Henry, Joshua."
"You've had more huge losses than anyone should ever have," Owen said, "this me, our kids, we're not one of them. When the time comes I promise you can go first."
"I've almost lost you so many times," Teddy cried, "the IED, after you came the first time, Christina, Amelia."
"Teddy I am not going anywhere," Owen assured, "I am right here always. You are not alone for a moment of this. I am here."
Teddy began to cry.
"What hurts," Owen asked first.
"Nothing," Teddy replied.
"Teddy, I need you to talk to me," Owen said softly, smoothing her hair back from her face.
"I'm relived," Teddy said, "little man will stay where he is until he's ready. Our kids are safe and you're here this time. Last time this happened I was alone and so terrified."
"You should never have been alone," Owen said, "I should have reached out when weeks went by and I didn't hear from you."
"I stopped fighting for you," Teddy whispered, "until this happened with Allison I thought I could do this alone. I was okay until this."
"I'm not going anywhere," Owen promised, "you will not be alone. I'm sorry I wasn't here. You shouldn't have been alone. I'm so sorry Teddy."
"It's the past," Teddy said.
Owen's phone buzzed.
"Megan," Owen said.
"She can entertain us," Teddy said.
Owen opened the face time call.
"Why are you in the hospital," Megan asked, "why is Teddy in a gown?"
"We're waiting to be released," Owen said.
"What happened," Megan panicked.
"He threatened to come out early," Teddy replied, "this happened with Allison. Just an incompetent cervix."
"Are you okay," Megan asked.
"We'll be okay," Teddy said, "just some rest. This happened with Allison."
"If we show you the first pictures we have of our baby can you stay calm," Megan asked.
"Yes," Teddy said, "show us! I need good news today."
Megan held up the photo to the camera.
"They look good," Owen said.
"They do," Megan said.
"How are you feeling," Teddy asked.
"I'm feeling better," Megan said, "still tired but less nauseous."
"Tired doesn't go away for a while." Teddy said.
"You have how much longer left," Megan asked.
"8 weeks," Teddy said, "he looked good on the ultrasound today. Did you get to hear the heartbeat?"
"It was magical," Megan said.
"It is," Teddy said, "he cried."
"Owen," Megan laughed.
"The first time we heard little man's," Teddy said, "I have with all my babies."
Teddy flinched.
"Teddy," Owen asked.
"Big kick," Teddy said.
"I'm waiting for that," Megan said.
"Soon," Teddy said, "it's small at first."
"Her whole stomach moves now," Owen said.
"You're not showing Megan," Teddy said.
The OB was at the door, "ma'am I need to check you again may I come in?"
"Come in captain," Teddy said, "Megan we have to go."
"Let me know," Megan said.
"We will," Teddy said.
They hung up and the OB did her exam.
"I'm going to hold off on the sutures for now," the OB said, "on the condition that you come back in 48 hours for me to check again."
"Restrictions," Teddy asked.
"Until I re check you couch or bed except to shower and use the washroom," the OB said, "nothing physically strenuous until you have your baby."
"So exercise," Teddy asked.
"A walk, gentle stretching," the OB said.
"We have a two and a three year old," Teddy said.
"Get help with your older children," the OB repeated, "do you two have help?"
"We have an on-call nanny," Owen said, "can we go home?"
"You can," the OB said, "I'll see you in two days."
Owen helped Teddy get dressed and into the wheel chair to go to the car.
"Is everything okay," Sarah asked, seeing them come in.
"It will be," Owen said.
"The kids are both in bed and went down no problem," Sarah said.
"Thank you," Owen replied, "I don't have cash on me can I run it up to you tomorrow?"
"Of course," Sarah said, these were the only babysitting clients she accepted the we'll bring it tomorrow line from because they always had it to her before lunch the next day and she knew when they called last minute it was a true emergency.
"Thank you," Owen replied.
"Thank you for being here Sarah," Teddy said forcing a weak smile.
"I'm glad everyone is all right," Sarah said, "call if you need me."
"We will," Owen said, "have a good night."
"You two," Sarah said before slipping out.
"I need to shower," Teddy said.
"Bath," Owen said, "then you're seated."
"She said I could be up to shower," Teddy snapped.
"5 minutes," Owen said.
"Can I have tea when I'm done," Teddy asked.
"In bed," Owen said, "it's almost 11:30 Teddy. You should rest."
"Thats all I've done today," Teddy said.
"I know," Owen said, "shower, tea and we can watch a movie."
"Can you hold me," Teddy asked.
"Always," Owen said.
Owen knew if Teddy was asking to be held with tears rolling down her face she was upset and had reached her breaking point. The last time she had asked him to hold her was when she had lost her first baby. He had stayed with her that night and simply held his best friend while her world crumbled.
While Teddy was in the shower Owen texted his mom and Megan, "we're home a few days bed rest and no running after the kids."
Evelyn, "mentally?"
Owen, "shaken. Its 11:30 we're going to go to bed and I'm just going to hold her until she falls asleep."
Megan, "give her a hug for me."
Evelyn, "tell her I love her and will talk to her tomorrow."
Megan, "do you have help?"
Owen, "Sarah is going to come during the day while I work until we can ge me working from home set up. I'll take over most of her job. She needs to be on medical leave."
Megan," can they do that now?"
Owen, "I'll have to call the general and explain. My family comes first."
"Owen," Teddy called.
"Get in bed," Owen said, "I'm going to shower then come hold you. Do you want water?"
"Yes," Teddy said.
"Go get in bed I'll be there in 5," Owen said.
He brought Teddy a glass of water then jumped in the shower. He had noticed she hadn't had the energy to brush and untangle her hair after her shower so he grabbed her brush off the counter.
"Why do you have my brush," Teddy asked.
"You were to tired to brush your hair," Owen said, "so I'm going to do it."
"Have you ever brushed hair," Teddy asked.
"I did it for Meg when mom wasn't around and she was in the hospital," Owen said, "I do Allison's all the time. I'll be gentle. Sit up so I can."
Teddy sat up and Owen gently brushed her hair working through the tangles in Teddy's soft blonde waves.
"The last person to do that for me was my mom," Teddy whispered, "she would do it when I was sick or scared and it calmed me down."
"Do you want me to keep going," Owen asked.
"Can you," Teddy pleaded.
"I will," Owen agreed.
He kept brushing her hair even though there were no more tangles because it comforted her. He had no idea how much it would sooth Teddy. They had known each other almost 20 years but it still surprised him the little things he didn't know about her, like brushing her hair calmed her down but what was really bothering him was the things he didn't know about when she had Allison that had come out in the last few months when she would make comments about it, usually off handed. He was also realizing that Teddy was more of a people person than she let on and was missing her friends and seeing people. Owen had become part of that group now and they had begun to spend time with other couples with kids the same age as theirs.
Teddy was nearly asleep so Owen whispered, "lets go to sleep love."
"Don't leave me," Teddy whimpered.
"I won't," Owen said, "come here."
Teddy laid down with her head on his chest.
"See you can hear my heart," Owen said, "I'm right here. You're going to close your eyes and try to fall asleep. I'm going to hold you all night."
Teddy looked at him with eyes swimming in tears, "I can't lose you or our kids."
"You won't," Owen said, "Allison and Leo are sound asleep in their beds and little man is safe and cozy right where he needs to be. You're in my arms. I can feel you breathing on my shoulder. Teddy I have you. I will never walk away from you again. You will not lose me. This, you and I our kids you can trust this. I love you, I have loved you for 20 years."
"I've loved you that whole time," Teddy said.
"I love you," Owen said kissing the top of her head.
"I love you more," Teddy whispered before falling asleep. Owen kept one hand stroking her arm as she slept, he placed his other hand with hers feeling where their son slept.