November 9, 2001

Week 32

The people who make a difference are not the ones with the credentials, but the ones with the concern. ~Max Lucado

Abby shifted slightly in the bed. She was still sound asleep, but her dreams were slowly being disturbed. A dull pain shook her awake. She slowly opened her eyes as a pain ached in her lower abdomen. She glanced at the clock as it faded. Just be achiness please. Abby took in a deep breath and four minutes later the pain came back a bit more painful. Shit. She slowly shook Luka.

"Luka, wake up." She said slowly sitting up.

"Get five cc's of Morphine." He mumbled. Abby smiled slightly shaking him a little rougher.

"Luka, wake up now. I'm having contractions." She said. He eyes shots open.

"What?" Abby grabbed Luka's hand as another pain shot through her stomach. He sat straight up, "Oh my god. It's time???"

"I think so." Abby said. Luka jumped up running his hand through his hair.

"Okay....Okay. Shoes I need shoes...and pants." Luka quickly ran around the room getting dressed. Abby smiled slightly lugging herself up. "Hospital bag...Where's the hospital bag??" He ran to the closet and grabbed the small diaper bag that they had filled with things Abby might need at the hospital when the big day had arrived. "Jacket...I need jacket...Cold outside." He ran down the stairs. Abby sighed slipping her slippers on.

"Ah...Luka, forgetting something?" She smiled rubbing her belly. She heard the front door shut and the car pulling out of the driveway. "Oh Luka." Abby smiled walking down the stairs. The simple task of walking down the stairs had become an adventure the past couple of weeks. She slowly made her way down and to the front door. She grabbed her jacket and slid it o. She walked out on the porch and waited for Luka to realize she wasn't in the car.

If it were about ten degrees cooler, the sky would have opened up and covered Chicago with a blanket of snow. Abby was thankful though that they didn't have to speed to the hospital in a blizzard. She leaned against the door massaging her hips and took a deep breath in. She glanced down the street and saw the car coming back. It screeched in front of the house and Luka jumped out.

"Oh god Abby i'm so sorry." He ran to her side taking her hand. Abby laugh lightly.

"It's okay, Luka." She said walking towards the car, "Let's just get to the hospital." Luka helped her into the car and ran into the driver's seat and sped down the street.

"How are the contractions?"

"They aren't very regular, but very intense." Abby said taking a deep breath in as another one came.

"Do you think you're dilated?"

"I don't know." She smiled; "I couldn't really check myself."

"Right. Well we'll be there in five minutes." Luka said driving white knuckled. Abby smiled slightly. "We're having a baby Abby."

"Two babies." Abby corrected him. Luka smiled at her taking her hand.

"We're having two babies." Luka pressed down on the gas pedal as Abby had another contraction and squeezed his hand. She breathed deeply.

"God, that one hurt."

"I know, Baby." Luka said as he screeched into the parking lot. He immediately jumped out of the car and helped Abby out. She walked through the door and Luka ran into the ER and grabbed a wheelchair from Kerry, "I need this."

"Are you on?" She asked.

"No. Abby's having the babies." Luka ran back to Abby's side leaving Kerry stand there.

"Good luck!" She called out. Luka pulled the wheelchair up next to help and helped her sit down in it. Luka smiled at her as they got into the Elevator.

"How do you feel now?" He asked.

"I don't know." Abby said closing her eyes. "This is happening too fast. They were supposed to wait a few more weeks." Luka smiled and kissed the top of her head as the doors opened up to the maternity floor. Pat saw Luka rolled Abby in and rushed to her side.

"Is it time?" Pat asked.

"I don't know. My water hasn't broken yet but I've been having painful contractions." Abby said. Pat patted her head.

"Okay. Let's get you in five and see how you're doing." Pat smiled, "Sydney, page Dr. Coburn." Pat rolled Abby into room five. "You think you can get on the bed yourself."

"I'm not an invalid." Abby said slowly standing up. She took a deep breath in and whimpered slightly, "Luka, can you help me?"

"Sure, baby." Luka took her hand and helped her up onto the bed.

"Okay lets get you all set up and I'll check to see how much you've dilated." Pat smiled, "Let's get an IV in."

"Luka, you do it." Abby said.

"Its okay, i've put them in before." Pat smiled.

"I don't care! I want Luka to do it!" Abby snapped.

"Okay. I'll do it." Luka said taking Abby's hand in his and found a vein. He pricked it and stuck the IV in. He taped it up. "There."

"Thanks honey." Abby said closing her eyes as Pat checked her dilation progress.

"You're only about two centimeters along." Pat said taking her gloves off. Janet walked into the room.

"Hello Abby. A little early, aren't we?" Janet smiled getting her gloves on. Abby only nodded. "Let's see...When was her last contraction?"

"About ten minutes ago." Pat said, "She's been very irregular."

"Let me check you're water, Abby." Janet said. Luka took Abby's hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Humm.... Doesn't look like it has any intention f breaking tonight."

"What do you mean?" Luka asked.

"Abby's in false labor."

"No. No I'm not." Abby said, "The contractions hurt really badly." Janet looked at Abby.

"And where were these contractions happening?"

"In my lower abdomen...Oh." Abby sighed, "Right." Janet smiled softly.

"When you start feeling them in your lower back, you'll know it's the real thing." She said, "and trust me when those contractions start, these will feel like nothing."

"Thanks Janet." Abby rolled her eyes.

"I want to keep you here for an hour of so just to keep an eye on you okay?"

"All right." Abby smiled.

* * *

Abby sighed heavily with boredom as Janet walked into the room.

"Okay...Everything looks fine and it was just false labor." She said, "So you can go home. I'll see you back here for the real thing." Abby smiled.

"Thanks Janet." Abby said. She looked at Luka, "I'm sorry."

"What are you sorry for?" Luka asked taking her IV out.

"For getting your hopes up about having the twins now." Abby said.

"Baby, we aren't due until January, so i'm glad we didn't have them right now or they'd have to stay on the NICU longer. Next month we'll start worrying about the labor and birth." Luka said, "This was just a test to keep us in check for the real thing."

"Just try to promise me one thing Luka."

"Anything for you." Abby smiled at him.

"When the big day really comes, don't forget me again." Abby said standing up. Luka chuckled.

"You're not going to let me forget that one are you?"

"Never in a million years." Abby said, "I'll be telling our grandchildren how you forgot me."

"Thanks, Abby."

"Anything for you." She winked at him.