Prompt 19 – I Promised I will Always Be on Your Side.
"I'm not sure when they will get back Daisy. I would guess by sometime tomorrow, maybe in the morning."
"That's what I figured. I know they've only been gone for five days, but I miss Robbie. I'm guessing you miss Phil too?"
"I do. You hungry? There's some leftover lasagna in the fridge. I could whip up a salad to go with it. Throw some rolls in the oven."
"Oh yes. I'm starving."
Melinda laughed as she looked over Daisy who was now thirty-five weeks into her pregnancy. The doctor had set her due date on October 25. Melinda go up from the porch swing that the two were sharing. "I'll get it started then. Should only be about fifteen minutes."
"Yeah I'll be in. I'll need to pee first, as always."
Melinda nodded and went inside to the kitchen.
Daisy moved to get up but felt a strong kick from her daughter and waited a few seconds for it to pass. When it did, she got up, took three steps to the door and felt her legs get wet. She didn't have to pee that bad did she? She looked down at the puddle on the porch "Fuck. Melinda ! Melinda !"
It was less than a minute before Melinda appeared at the door, brandishing a gun as she slammed open the door. She looked at Daisy who was still gripping the swing frame and then noticed the wetness on her sweatpants and finally saw the small puddle on the porch. And then Melinda May did something that Daisy had never seen her do before. She panicked. Completely. She put the gun down on a flower basket and ran over to Daisy.
"You should sit down. Maybe lay down? Should I call 911? Are you in pain? It's not time is it? It's early. Is it okay? Are you okay? Oh shit I turned the oven on for rolls. I should turn that off. I'll be right back." She turned to run back into the house and then stopped and turned around, coming back to Daisy. "Here you should sit down right? I don't have my phone." She frantically searched her pockets. I need the car keys, right? I can drive you to the hospital. Or do you want an ambulance? I have to find the car keys."
Daisy sat back down on the swing, watching Melinda lose it. She giggled. It was the most precious thing she'd ever seen.
"Okay. Look." Melinda knelt down in front of Daisy. "I'm gonna find my phone and the keys. Okay? You stay here. I'll be right back." Melinda got up and ran full speed back into the house.
Daisy very calmly got out her phone. She dialed a number. "Jemma. Yeah... My water just broke. Um yeah I had one contraction, maybe two... I thought she was just kicking... Yeah, I'm good... Okay... No I've had a bag packed for a few weeks now...You will... Oh great, so they'll be expecting me then... Just Melinda... Yeah Phil and Robbie are on a mission with Yoyo and Mack...I'll tell her once she gets it together...oh yeah...big time...total melt down...I know...yeah see you soon." Daisy sat back and waited for Melinda.
Melinda came running back outside to the porch screeching to stop in front of Daisy. She had her phone out in her left hand and her left hand clutched a set of keys.
"Are you ready to go? Can you make it to the car? I can call someone from the base to help. Wait I know, I'll go bring the car up here on the grass. You just wait here. Damnit, Phil's not answering. "She gave her phone a dirty look before pocketed it and starting down the steps to the walkway.
"Melinda." Daisy spoke softly.
Melinda kept moving, nearly at the bottom.
"Mom!"
That stopped Melinda in her tracks. Daisy rarely called her that. Usually only after a nightmare or when she was in pain or distress. Then it was usually mama, not mom. She turned around.
"It's okay. I've got a while yet before she comes out, okay. I talked to Jemma and she called the hospital. You're a mess, and honestly, although it's endearing as hell, I need my mom. I need you to not freak out, cause I know I'm eventually going to be a mess. You can't be a mess too."
Melinda took a deep breath. She slowly walked up the steps and sat down next to Daisy. "Give me a minute."
Daisy watched as Melinda controlled her breathing and masked her face into her 'Melinda May doesn't take any shit' face. Daisy reached over and took her hand and squeezed.
"I have a bag packed in my room. It's on my dresser. If you can get that and a change of clothes and my shoes, you know the only ones I can still get my feet into, cause I'm a little wet. I can just stay here. Okay?"
Melinda nodded. "I can do that." She got up and smiled at Daisy, squeezing her hand. Daisy watched as a far more together Melinda calmly walked back into the house.
Daisy, however, was starting to understand that this was really happening. Her nerves were slowly unraveling. Daisy knew calling Robbie was not a wise choice. But she didn't care. She did it anyway in the hope that they'd finished early and they were on the quinjet coming home. But his phone went right to voicemail. She stayed fairly calm, leaving an even voiced message that she was in labor. She hung up and called Gabe, telling him he was soon going to be an uncle, and asked him to continue to call Robbie cause she really, really needed Robbie right now. Hanging up her phone she felt a wave of pain start in her back and as her stomach tightened the pain moved to her front from the top to the bottom of her belly. She closed her eyes and did breathing techniques through the pain. When she opened her eyes, Melinda was standing in front of her.
"You time them yet?"
Daisy shook her head.
"Okay. I just set my phone. It's four-twenty-six now. Let me know when the next one starts and I'll time it, okay? Come on, I'll help you to the bathroom. The closest one by the family room."
Daisy nodded and allowed Melinda to help her up, leaning on her as they went into the house. Melinda guided her to the bathroom where she had put out a basin of warm water, towels, and a washcloth. She'd hung her new dry clothes on the rack.
"You good or should I help?"
"Maybe just help me pull this wet stuff off and then I can take it from there."
Melinda helped Daisy and then left the room, giving her a little privacy. She waited outside, listening to Daisy mumble and swear. After a few minutes, Daisy opened the door wearing the clean sweats and T-shirt. She held her socks in one hand and smirked at Melinda.
"I do need some help with... Owe. Oh shit." She grabbed the door which moved, and Melinda grabbed both the door and Daisy helping to keep her steady.
Melinda opened her phone and timed the contraction.
"That's it. It's over."
Melinda nodded. "It lasted around forty seconds."
"How much time was between them?"
Melinda didn't answer right away. When she did, Daisy could tell her words were guarded. Not quite seven minutes. Um...six minutes and fifty seconds." Melinda helped Daisy to a chair and bent down to put her socks and shoes on for her.
"Oh that's pretty far apart yet right?"
"Yes, you're fine."
"But?"
"It's fine Daisy."
"Melinda."
"Your water broke. Labor usually intensifies and speeds up after that." Melinda pulled Daisy up from the chair, reached for Daisy's bag, and walked her to the door.
"Okay."
"And Jemma said that we need to get you to the hospital cause chance of infection goes up once your water breaks. That's all."
"That's all?" Daisy's eyes grew wide. "I couldn't get Robbie. He's not going to make it on time, is he?"
"I called Phil. He'll get him back."
"You talked to Phil?"
"I left a bunch of messages. He'll get one of them."
"I can't do this now. I can't have a baby Melinda. Not alone."
"You're not alone baby. I'm here. Jemma will be at the hospital with Fitz and Gabe. Honey, you are not going to be alone."
Daisy nodded as a few tears fell. "Promise."
"I promised I will always be on your side. I will also always be at your side when you need me Daisy. You mean the world to me. You'll get through this. You are strong and you are resilient. Now let's get to the hospital so your daughter can be born. Cause there is no way I want to deliver another baby. Especially my own daughter's." Melinda helped Daisy down the steps toward the car.
Daisy was halfway to the car before she turned to Melinda. "Wait. You delivered a baby?"