Summary: A what-if story of how Annie's labor could've gone
Rating: PG-13 for some brief language and intense scenes
Spoilers: Up until In Praise of Women (which I believe is the episode where she has the twins, if not, someone please inform me) Basically an alternate universe.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the 7th Heaven characters, so please don't sue me
Author's Notes: This is something that has never been attempted before (at least of my knowledge) and I know I'm probably going to get flames for it, go ahead, I can take it. You could call this another "dark" 7th Heaven fic. May the board blossom with them. Read on. And review.
When Heaven Weeps
"Give me drugs, now!"
Annie Camden's screams echoed through the birthing room, making every occupant cringe at her coming wrath.
"Eric, you did this to me, tell them to get me drugs!"
Eric Camden swallowed uneasily and looked to the doctors and nurses for guidance, or reassurance of some sort.
"Honey....."
Annie gripped her husband of 21 years hand tighter, till his knuckles began to turn a crisp white.
"Don't "honey" me."
A male doctor, tired of Annie's continuous whining, stepped forward and attempted to gain control of the situation,
"Mrs. Camden, you've been through this many times, there's a certain time window that allows us to administer drugs, but I'm afraid that the window has closed."
Annie's face grew redder as he spoke each word, she clasped the sheets around her and hissed through her clamped teeth,
"Open it! Then open the goddamn window."
Eric stood in shock, his wife had just spoke an evil word, he quickly closed his gaping mouth and shook off the disbelief, she was in pain after all.
"Let's breathe through the pain, okay?"
Annie rolled her eyes and looked Doctor Peterson square in the eye,
"Get these babies out of me, or you'll regret this for the rest of your life. And I'm not just some woman in labor who doesn't know what she's saying. I know full well what I'm saying, and I'm saying to get these babies out of me!"
Doctor Peterson sighed heavily and motioned for the nurses to gather around him, preparing for this joyous occasion.
"First baby's out, you have yourselves a little girl, now for one more."
Annie fell back on the pillows, sweat dripping off her round face, her eyes flashing.
"Why two? Why oh why?"
Eric ignored his wife's cries and allowed her to grip his hand tighter, his knuckles turning white in the process.
"Baby is in distress."
Annie sat up a little straighter, she wasn't too concerned, because of her age, and having carried twins, this was normal.
"Baby's breech, I'm going to have to turn it around."
Eric looked down at his wife, her face expressionless,
"What does that mean?"
Annie steeled herself and hissed through clenched teeth,
"It means turn away."
Eric obeyed. It was easy to do now, almost routine like. After Annie became pregnant, things had changed. This wasn't a normal pregnancy, sure she had the usual cravings and "project". But the whole 8 ½ months were pure torture for Eric. She would fly off the handle for no reason, he had left his shoes out in the foyer, was ten minutes late for dinner than he said he would be, forgot to throw in the load the laundry, trivial things.
He loved his wife. There was no doubt in his mind about that. The question was, he didn't even know what the question was anymore. It was almost as if she had brainwashed him. Completely free of memories and such. It scared him. To no end.
"Baby's heart rate is dropping, the head has a bluish tint to it. Possible cord wrapped around the neck."
Eric bit his lip at the doctor's words, he glanced down at his wife, still breathing through the pain, her face still expressionless.
"Annie, everything is going to be okay."
Annie Camden slowly shifted her gaze upwards and stared into her husband's eyes, her voice low,
"No, it won't."
Eric shrank back at his wife's steely statement, he placed both hands to his temple and rubbed gently, the gnawing of a headache slowly edging its way into his skull.
"Baby's heart rate is plummeting, we need this baby out now, and I mean NOW."
Doctor Hart leaned forward and met Annie's hard face, and slowly spoke to her, as if she was a child,
"I need you to give me a final, hard push, understand?"
Annie nodded firmly and grasped the cotton sheets, and bracing herself for the forth coming pain.
"Baby's out."
Eric watched in fear as the doctor and nurses gathered round the silent baby, their murmurs too low to make out. Eric looked down at Annie and kissed the top of her head,
"It's a boy, Annie, we have ourselves a boy."
Annie stiffened at his touch and wrenched away from him, staring at the scene in front of her,
"If anything happens to this baby, I will get revenge, if it's the last thing I do on this earth."
Eric slowly stepped away from his wife and walked over to the still silent baby laying on the table. He gently stroked the motionless foot, unaware of the orders being passed along. The finally, the inevitable, the slow drawn out voice spoke,
"I'm very sorry, Mr. Camden, there's nothing more we can do. Time of death: 11:42."
Eric closed his eyes and continued to caress the tiny foot, growing cold already. He swallowed and allowed the single tear to fall gently on the little body in front of him, tuning out the loud sobs from his wife behind him.
To be continued....???? You tell me.......please review
