Please title this page. (Page 5)

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March 23-May 18, 01.

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Carol lay on her and Doug's bed, fanning herself slightly. She was hot, exhausted, and her feet were swollen. She felt like a whale. Even though she was complaining to herself in her mind, she knew she wouldn't care if she had legs growing off her head as long as she had a healthy baby who she got to love and share with Doug. She smiled and looked down at her swollen, nine month old stomach and patted it gently. She suddenly got the overwhelming urge to urinate. Carol sat up with some difficulty, her huge abdomen nearly preventing her from sitting. She stood, making her way into the restroom. She knew it wouldn't be long before the baby would be here, because she was beginning to feel slight contractions. They didn't come very often, only every few hours and they weren't painful. More like a pressure. She smiled as she sat on the toilet.

When Carol stood she felt a slight pop then wetness on her legs. She looked down and saw clear fluid in her underpants and on her sweatpants.

"My water broke." Carol murmured, looking down. She grinned suddenly before waddling into the bedroom, her pants still down around her ankles. She managed to get herself out of them and into fresh underwear and sweats before picking up her bag from beside the door. She was half way out the bedroom door, when she felt another contraction. This one was painful, unlike the other ones. She stopped, wincing slightly and leaning on the doorframe.

"Oh.." She whispered to herself and straightened, making her way down the stairs carefully. She made it to the telephone and wondered who to call. She finally decided to see if Mark was home. She picked up the phone and dialed the number to his apartment.

"Hello?" A woman's voice answered the phone, her British accent apparent.

"Hey Elizabeth." Carol said.

"Oh, hello Carol. How are you?" Elizabeth asked.

"I'm good, actually, I'm great. Is Mark there?" Carol asked.

"No, he's not. He had to take Rachel to a friend's house. Is there something I can do?" Elizabeth asked.

"Uh, I need a ride to the hospital." Carol says. Elizabeth pauses before speaking again.

"Are you having contractions?" She asked.

"Yes. I've had only 3 today, and they weren't really painful. It was just pressure. But I was going to the restroom and my water broke and as I was leaving my room, I had one more contraction and it hurt. I need a ride to the hospital and I don't want to call Doug or a cab and I can't take the El." She says.

"Say no more. I'll be over as soon as I can. I'm leaving now." Elizabeth said and hung up the phone. As she ran into the kitchen, writing Mark a short note about where she was, as Carol was sitting on the couch patiently, awaiting Elizabeth's arrival and more contractions.

Within minutes, Elizabeth had arrived at Carol's house. Carol was already awaiting her at the door when she came running up the steps. Carol swung the door opened, carrying her hospital bag and smiling widely. Elizabeth grinned.

"Hey Carol. How are you doing?" She asked, taking the bag from Carol and helping her down the steps.

"I'm good. I haven't had any contractions since the last one after my water broke." Carol said, waddling down the steps. Elizabeth smiled.

"Good. At least we know we'll get to the hospital before you deliver this little guy....or girl." Elizabeth said, opening up the front door for Carol. She places the bag in the back and then helps Carol into the front. Just as Carol is almost in, she stops and squeezes Elizabeth's hand. "Another?" Elizabeth asks. Carol nods, gritting her teeth slightly. Elizabeth waits until it passes and Carol then looks at her watch.

"11 minutes." Carol said.

"That's good." Elizabeth said and then careful not to hit Carol, she shut the door and ran to her side. They were soon on their way.

ooooo

Elizabeth had Carol's bag thrown over her shoulder and she was walking with Carol into the hospital, helping her along.

"God, it feels like the head is between my knees." Carol said. Elizabeth grinned.

"That's the general idea, Carol." Elizabeth said. Carol nodded, trying to walk normal and not like she had a basketball between her knees.

"Hey Randi." Carol called out pleasantly, as if this happened to her everyday. Randi looked up.

"Carol what are you going here? Elizabeth? You're both off today." Randi says.

"We are. Is Doug around?" Elizabeth replied. Randi stopped, suddenly realizing what was going on.

"Are you...?" She trailed off. Carol giggled slightly.

"Yes, I am and where's...uhh..." Carol said, her voice trailing off and her smile fading.

"Another?" Elizabeth asked.

"Uh huh." Carol replied. Elizabeth waited patiently for it to pass before lifting Carol's wrist to check out her watch.

"Still 11 minutes." Elizabeth replied. Carol nodded.

"Uh..I'll get Doug." Randi said, not wanting to see a child slide out from between Carol's legs.

"Thank you." Elizabeth replied. Randi, in a hurry, decided not to go search for Doug, instead she used the intercom.

"Dr. Ross, please report to the admit desk. You're needed immediately." Randi said. Within seconds Doug was approaching the desk, still not spotting Carol.

"Randi, what was that all ab--...Carol?" Doug asked, spotting her and Elizabeth. She smiled.

"Hey honey. I think you have somewhere to take me." Carol said. He stopped.

"Are you contracting?" He asked. She grinned.

"Yep. 5 so far today. And my water already broke." Carol said. He smiled then and walked around to the desk.

"Did you bring her, Elizabeth?" Doug asked. Elizabeth nodded.

"Yes." Elizabeth replied. He smiled.

"Thanks." Doug said.

"I didn't want to call you and have you drive clear out and I didn't want to take a cab or the El." Carol said. He grinned.

"That's fine." Doug says, just as Mark comes striding through the doors to the ER.

"What's going on?" Mark asked.

"You got my note?" Elizabeth asked. He nodded.

"Carol, your water broke already?" He asked. She nodded, smiling.

"Yes." She replied.

"Well then what are you doing down here? Get her upstairs, Doug." Mark ordered, smiling. Doug grinned.

"We were on our way." Doug replied, and took Carol under his arm, beginning to lead her to the elevator.

"Keep us posted." Elizabeth said. Carol looked back, smiling.

"We will." She replied.

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"It's a girl!" Dr. MacLucas announced, holding the wet baby in her arms.

"Did you hear that, Carol? It's a girl!" Doug announced.

"Joanna Lynn." She said, her smile wide accompanied by tears rolling down her cheeks as she held her arm out for the wailing baby. She brought the baby as close to her as she could and smiled happily. "Oh Doug." She murmured. He smiled as he watched her, falling in love with her all over.

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Doug sauntered into the ER, walking up to the admit desk. He leaned against it and waited for someone to notice him. Within seconds Mark had noticed him.

"Doug!" Mark called out, causing everyone to look at him. "So?" Mark asked, walking up to him.

"Joanna Lynn was born 1:33 p.m." He said proudly.

"Congratulations!" Everyone said. He smiled.

"Carol is thrilled. I'm thrilled." He smiled widely. "I'm a Daddy." He said. Everyone chuckled at his happiness, all of them forgetting their own worries, their own troubles for a brief moment as they basked in the glow of a new life.

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Yes, it's short. It's sweet. And I know I didn't give you much of a birth scene. But it feels like I write those in every other fic I write. So, check out some of my other fics. :)

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