CHAPTER 4

"Oh man, I'm definitely having a blond moment!" groused Joe. "I totally forgot about the emergency phone!"

Ann laughed as Joe had slapped the side of his head. He opened the box that held the phone…then let out a heavy sigh.

"I really hate Mondays…the phone is here but the wires are torn out," he explained, slamming the box shut. He turned around when Ann let out a low moan.

"I think I should sit down."

"You're not in labor, are you?"

"No…at least…no, I've been having a lot of false labor…my doctor called it Braxton-Hicks…I'm sure that's all it is."

Joe helped Ann slide down to the floor and knelt beside her, brushing some hair away from her face. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah…I'm okay."

Joe nervously chewed on his lower lip. If he had been alone he would have climbed up to the ceiling of the elevator and going out the emergency hatch. He was contemplating doing just that but there was no way he could leave Ann alone…especially if she was in pain.

"Should I call your husband to let him know where you're at?"

"He won't care…anyway, he left."

"You're kidding me! He left you even though you're…"

"It's okay Joe…he didn't know I was pregnant when he left. When I found out I did let him know."

"And that didn't change his mind? What a jerk!"

Ann smiled. "You sound like my boyfriend."

"Your boyfriend sounds like a great guy. I guess your ex didn't want to be a father?"

"I thought he did but when my baby sister came to live with us, I found out how he really felt. After he left I moved here and started working at Morton Realty…"

"You work for the Mortons! My brother and I used to go to their farm every summer."

"Oh my….Joe Hardy! You're...you used to date Chet's sister…the one who….that must have been really hard for you." Ann placed her hand on Joe's shoulder when she saw the hurt expression on his face.

"No…I mean…you just caught me off guard. It's been over eight years and I still miss her but I'm not in mourning or anything like that. I met someone who, well, 'saved' me. I don't know what I'd do without her." A soft smile crossed Joe's face as he thought of Vanessa.

"Uh…Joe!"

"What…what's wrong?"

"I think we're in trouble…my water just broke!" Ann looked at Joe, her eyes wide with fear.

Joe remembered that the elevator also had a alarm. He leapt forward and hit the alarm button.

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The first thing Frank did was dial the emergency number and report the broken elevator, and let them know there was a pregnant woman trapped inside. Then he called Fenton, wondering why Joe hadn't used the emergency phone in the elevator.

"Hello, Frank."

"Hi Dad…you'll never guess where Joe is right now."

"From the sound of your voice I'm not sure I want to know." Frank smiled as he listened to his father's laughter.

"I guess he was coming out of Dr. Bates' office because he's trapped in an elevator at the Crestview building…oh, and the best part: he's not alone. He's trapped with a pregnant woman."

"Oh good Lord! We better get over there!"

Frank agreed. He ended his call just as Mackenzie came into the room.

"I thought you were going to veg on the sofa."

"I was but Joe changed my plans. Seems he's trapped in an elevator over at the Crestview. Dad and I are going over."

"Oh dear! Do Vanessa and your mom know?"

"I'll call them when I get there."

"How about I call them while you drive."

"Deal," replied Frank with a smile.

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"Chet, that was the best meal I ever had!" Vanessa said with a satisfied sigh.

"Those stuffed Cornish hens were as good as Gertrude's!" said Laura.

"They should be – it's her recipe!" chuckled Chet.

Suddenly Bed of Roses by Bon Jovi started playing. Vanessa opened her purse and took out her cell phone.

"Hello?"

"Hi Vanessa, it's Mackenzie…" Vanessa listened intently, letting out a small gasp as she glanced at Laura. "Thanks for calling, Mackenzie; Mrs. Hardy and I are on our way."

"Vanessa, what's wrong?" asked a worried Laura.

"It's Joe…he was leaving Dr. Bates' office when the elevator he was on broke down. He's trapped inside along with a pregnant woman."

"What?!" gasped Chet. "Does she have red hair – do they know her name?"

"Oh dear, Chet you don't think…" Laura clasped her hand over her mouth.

"I think we should all go!" said Vanessa, nudging Chet out of the way.

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Joe Hardy wiped the sweat off his forehead and glanced at the young woman who lay panting on the floor. He was starting to get a headache from the blaring alarm.

'How do I end up in these situations?' Joe thought to himself. 'Why does this always happen to me? Why don't these things ever happen to Frank?!' Letting out a heavy sigh, Joe hoped help would be arriving soon.

"Hee, hee, whoo….hee, hee, whooo…."

"You're doing great, Ann…just great." Joe squeezed her hand.

"How…how do you…know this..stuff, Joe?"

"I went undercover as a medical student once…had to help one of the doctors with a birth once. Never thought I'd be doing this again."

"Oooh…here comes another one!" groaned Ann.

Joe placed his hand on Ann's stomach feeling how it clenched tightly. "Breathe…breathe…come on, ride it out. You can do it." He checked his watch…the contractions were getting closer together.

"Joe, I have to push!"

"Are you sure? What am I saying, of course you are!"

"This isn't how I wanted to have my baby! He wasn't supposed to come for another two weeks!" wailed Ann.

"I don't think babies follow calendars…so you're having a boy?"

Ann shot Joe a murderous glare.

"Sorry…I'm a little nervous." Joe spotted a bottle of hand cleanser which had spilled from Ann's purse. He squeezed out some of the cleansing gel onto his palm and rubbed it into his hands. He took a deep calming breath, then looked intently at Ann.

"Okay, let's get this show started."

Suddenly there was a noise from up above. Joe and Ann looked up to see one of the panels move and face appear.

"Looks like we came just in time," said the man, who turned out to be a fireman, as he jumped down from the top of the elevator. He raised a two-way radio to his mouth. "Better hurry up, this baby isn't waiting."

END OF CHAPTER

Disclaimer: The Hardy Boys are owned by Simon and Schuster and the Stratemeyer syndicate and are only being temporarily borrowed for a little run. They will be returned in … mostly … 1 piece when this is done.

A reminder: Please see Copagirl's profile (which I promise to add more information to as I have a chance to do so).

Enjoy!