Ch 91
They stopped in the kitchen on the way to the medbay when River asked for more water.
She practically downed it all in one go when he handed her the glass. "I don't want Terra near the baby if she's sick," she said, wiping her mouth.
"I'll let Jack know."
She squeezed her eyes shut with another pain. She groaned, knuckles white as she grasped the arms of the wheelchair. The Doctor found a cloth towel, running it under the tap before dampening her forehead with it. "Breathe," he whispered, keeping the cool cloth against her heated skin.
She tried to take a very deep breath, whimpering in pain. Just as River's contraction was ending, Felix's cries could be heard from down the hall again.
The Doctor sighed silently, already knowing that he wasn't going to leave River alone. He brought her with him out of the TARDIs and into the flat to the nursery.
"Mummy and daddy are here, my love." The Doctor hummed as they entered. He left River's side momentarily to scoop the baby up. "What wrong, hmm?"
The baby whimpered and squirmed a little.
"Is he saying anything?" The Doctor asked River.
"I don't know, I-I can't focus." She took a breath. "Would you mind if we set him up in the medbay with us? It'd be easier to have him close if we're going to be there all night."
"That's fine." He handed Felix over to River so he could push the wheelchair.
River struggled to hold the baby during the next contraction, trying not to squish him. Felix didn't seem to mind so much, calmer in his mother's arms than he'd been alone in his cot, even if her grip was snug. River tried to be quiet so she wouldn't scare him—she hadn't had to watch her volume so much when Terra was in the room.
The medbay looked slightly different when they arrived back there. The TARDIS had tried to make it look a little homier, so the wallpaper was now a yellow instead of white. There was a crib in the corner for Felix and the cot that usually looked like a hospital bed now just looked like a plain bed one might find in a guest room, complete with a quilt and a nightstand.
"Holding up okay?" The Doctor asked.
River nodded with shaky breaths. "It looks different in here."
"Looks like the old girl tried to make it more comfortable for you." He and the TARDIS knew all too well the reasons why River disliked the medbay.
He helped River onto the bed and Felix into his crib, cooing at his son. "You can stay right here while mummy and daddy work, alright lovie?" The Doctor turned back to his wife once their son was settled. "We could be here for a while."
She didn't respond, her whole body visibly tense. He gently took her hand and sat on the edge of the bed. Her hands trembled in his, her lips pressed tightly together. "We could try the epidural again..." he suggested after a moment.
"It didn't work last time. It's not going to work this time," She gritted out. "It's just not compatible with my biology."
He sighed, knowing she was right. "I'd like a to set up a saline drip at least. You're dehydrated."
"Okay." She agreed. He rose only when she released his hand and set up a line for her, kissing her forehead when he had finished. "Can you distract me?"
"Sure, but—"
She swore in pain before he could ask any follow-up questions. "Say something." She begged.
He jumped to the first story that came to mind, recalling a date they'd had on Tyrphaxio Lamda.
As River sucked in breathes as evenly as she could manage, she found that the story was actually helping. Perhaps it was just that the Doctor was tracing circles into her skin and moving holding her closer.
"What happened after that?" River breathed, trying to keep up with him as he told the story.
"That's when one of our favorite songs came on," he smiled stroking her damp curls off her face. "You were so thrilled that you dragged me right to the dance floor and didn't even care that I was stepping on your feet."
She smiled weakly, "I remember now."
"I don't suppose you remember the look on my face when that man tried to ask you for a turn to dance?"
"Perhaps you could recreate it for me?"
He chuckled, then dawned the best jealous scowl he could. River laughed softly, a sound that quickly turned into a whimper of pain.
He tried to continue the story quickly. "You did dance with him, but you insisted it was because, how did you put it, ''I look sexy when I'm jealous.'"
Jack knocked at that moment, poking his head in. "How's everything going in here?"
River groaned loudly.
"I guess that answers that." Jack murmured. "I read Terra a book and gave her some medicine. She's asleep now. Do you guys want any help in here?"
"We need to adjust the antidote." River breathed once she was able to, "Help would be appreciated."
The Doctor pointed to where the medicine was on the table. As it were, he hadn't actually gotten a chance to work on it, busy helping River deal with the pain.
"I'll work on it." Jack offered, letting River and the Doctor go back to what they had been doing. They thanked him and resumed their conversation.
Jack didn't make any of his usual snide comments in the next hour or two, regardless of having plenty of opportunity to. Anything he did say was a question about what he was doing and what he should do next—except for one comment about Felix being a very cute sleeper.
River was beyond exhausted, too tired to even react when Jack claimed to have 'probably finished'.
The Doctor kissed her forehead. "I'm just going to go double check it. I'll be right back." He looked plenty worried as he went over to see Jack's work.
"I think I've got it." Jack murmured, pointing out the adjustments.
The Doctor looked over all of Jack's work carefully, reading and re-reading all the new diagnostics. "Alright, let's give it a go."
The Doctor was back at his wife's side and Jack pushed the drug through her IV. It was her third unit of the night due to her perspiration so much from the pain, but with any luck, it would also be her last.
"I'm so tired." River murmured, squeezing the Doctor's hand.
"I know, my love." He stroked her hair back. "Let's give the medicine a chance to work, hmm?"
Several minutes passed and no new contractions came. It was the longest break River had gotten in the past hour. "How do you feel?"
"Exhausted and sore." She breathed.
"You did great," The Doctor praised, pressing chaste kisses to her cheek and mouth. "And do you know what the good news is?"
"What's the good news?" She murmured.
"You'll be able to feed Felix in a few hours when he wakes up."
She smiled weakly, "Good, that makes me happy."
It was almost four in the mourning and Felix still slept soundly in the temporary medbay cot. "Do you think you can sleep?"
"If you stay."
-x-
Felix woke up crying a couple hours later at his usual time. River groaned, nudging her husband.
"Hm?" He blinked awake, focusing on her face since it was so close to his.
"Baby..." She breathed, eyes still closed, "Sore. Can you get him?"
He slipped out of bed and peered down into the cot at the red-faced infant before lifting him up. "You're alright, my little star." The Doctor rocked him gently as he brought Felix over to River. "Sh, sh, it's okay."
River had managed to sit up in bed, holding her arms out for Felix. The baby didn't calm much in River's arms until she started nursing him. He switched impossibly fast from unrest to calm.
"There we go." River murmured, happy that she could finally give Felix what he needed.
"He so much less fussy than with the bottle," the Doctor commented.
"He hates the bottle. Can't for the life of me figure out why."
The Doctor made a noise of agreement. None of the other kids had as much of a problem with the bottle as Felix did, and the Doctor wondered briefly if it was because he was so young or just because he preferred the proximity to River. Either way, this was the most Felix had eaten in one sitting in a few days, so they were pleased regardless
The feeling of better echoed through the mental connection, followed by a general sense of content.
The door creaked open and little footsteps came tiptoeing into the med bay. The Doctor took his eyes of his wife for a moment, smiling softly at the small, investigative face peering over the bed. "[What are you doing up so early, my star?]"
"[Don't feel good.]" Terra pouted, trying to wiggle up onto the bed.
He helped her up. "[Why don't I get you some more medicine and you sit tight with Mummy.]"
River tensed just slightly, "Doctor...the baby..."
"Oh.. um," he paused, getting the pill he needed and gesturing for Terra to come over. "[Come over here to take your medicine, Terra.]"
"[But I want to stay with Mummy.]"
"[She needs to finish feeding your brother,]" he excused.
Terra sighed and agreed, getting off the bed again.
"[There we are.]" He offered a smile and then offered the pill inside a spoonful of maple syrup. "[Now see if you can swallow this in one go.]"
Terra took the medicine without trouble. "[I want to cuddle.]"
"[Why don't you and I do that.]" He gestured to a cozy looking chair by the bed.
"[But I want Mumma too.]" She huffed.
"[I know, lovie, but remember she's feeding the baby right now.]"
"[But can't she cuddle and feed the baby?]"
He paused, deciding it would just be easier to stop beating around the bush. "[Terra, do you know how an immune system works?]"
Terra shook her head no.
"[Well... it's like the body's defense against germs and things that make you sick. If you have something like the stomach bug, for instance,]" he gestured to her since that seemed to be what Terra had at the moment, "[Then your body puts a lot of white blood cells into your blood and it's their job to go and kill the germs until you get better. Does that make sense so far?]"
She nodded slowly, not seeing where he was going.
"[Babies have very weak immune systems when they're first born. They don't have all the right cells they'd need to fight off germs if they get sick.]"
"[So? He's not sick.]"
"[I know, but if Felix gets sick it could be very bad.]" He said gently. "[Do you understand?]" He asked again.
Terra gave a short nod and concluded, "[So the baby can go somewhere else and I can cuddle with Mummy.]"
"[Not while he's eating, lovie. Sometimes we have to compromise on these things. You can cuddle with me for now, and perhaps in a bit switch to mummy while I hold Felix.]"
They sat down together on a nearby armchair. Felix started to doze off when he finished nursing as did River.
Eventually, the Doctor suggested that Terra come help make breakfast.
"[But my tummy still feels twirly.]" Terra informed him.
"[Well.. you don't have to eat a lot. Do you think you could have a piece of toast?]"
She shrugged. "[I don't wanna get up.]"
He sighed. "[If I made some toast for you, would you try to eat it?]" She nodded. He stood. "[Sit tight and be good for mummy, alright? I'll be back soon.]"