~Chapter Seven~
The Waiting Room At Memorial
The Gage children, Anna B and Erica were all out of the house converging on Sumner before he could turn the car off. All of them were shouting questions at him at once wanting to know how Sydney and the baby were.
"Hey, hey, hey can I get a word in?" Sumner shouted above the din. "First guys you have a new little brother," he told Chris, Piper and Cat. "Your Dad got there just in time to deliver him. He's small because he was born so early… they are checking him out thoroughly at the hospital. If you guys get ready we can take you over there," he told them.
The kids raced into the house while Sumner grabbed hold of Anna B holding her close. Erica turned to him asking, "How's Sydney?"
"She going to be fine," Sumner answered pausing a moment before continuing. "The baby had a little breathing problem at first but the EMT were right there and looked after him…"
"He's all right isn't he?" Anna B gasped out the question.
"All the medical people thought so their main concern was getting Syd and the baby to the hospital," Sumner confirmed to them putting their minds at ease for the moment.
"I'm telling you though," Sumner went on, "I really don't know what I would have done if Gage hadn't got there. He just knew exactly what to say to Sydney and what to do… I'd never be able to do what he did."
Erica smiled remembering how Gage had coached her through and delivered Simon. "Yeah he is pretty good at getting you through it but I'll let you in on a secret Matt both Sydney and Gage admitted to Jimmy and I, Walker is the one that got them through Chris' birth. Gage confessed to me he had never been more scared in his life to hear Sydney crying out in pain like that and not knowing what to do for her. Walker talked them both through it and he was there for Piper too. Now that you've seen the miracle I'm sure you could step up to the plate if need be."
"I don't know," he hummed and hawed looking at his wife, "I think it's hospital for us."
"I second that," Anna B agreed only to be interrupted by a chorus of we're ready.
"I'm going to head for home," Erica told them knowing her kids would soon be there. "Tell Sydney and Gage I'll come by later tonight."
"Will do Erica," Anna B agreed all ready herding the girls in the car.
That had been over an hour ago and now they sat in the waiting room. "Sumner why don't you go to the nurses' station and see what you can find out?" Anna B prodded her husband.
"I'll go with you," Chris volunteered beginning to fidget and worry with all this waiting and his father not appearing.
Getting up the two of them walked over to where a nurse sat working on charts. "Excuse me," Sumner began, "We were wondering about the Gages they were brought in earlier."
"Oh yes are you family?" she asked.
"Yes they're my parents and my little brother was just born," Chris cut in.
"You look like your Dad," the nurse smiled. "They are downstairs visiting that new brother of yours in the neo-natal nursery. If you go down there you can probably see them through the window."
"Thanks," Chris replied motioning Anna B and the girls to come on.
Downstairs In The Nursery
Sydney had just finished coaxing a burp out of Cody and handed him to Gage to hold as Jeanie pulled back curtain. He had just nuzzled the tiny babe to his chest watching his little eyes close when Syd called out, "Gage the kids".
Looking up a big smile crossed his face seeing their children standing there peering in trying to get a glimpse of their new brother. Chris was holding Cat in his arms so that she could see her little face pressed against the window pane while Piper stood with MacKenzie Anna B and Sumner behind them.
Jeanie helped Syd to stand up as Gage took Cody over as close to the window as he could without tangling the wires that were tethering him to the monitors.
A few minutes later reluctantly the new parents tucked their son into his crib and with his arm around his wife they went to join their kids.
"So what do you think of your new brother Dakota Sydney?" Syd asked.
"Dakota Sydney," Anna B tried it on for size before asking, "What are you calling him Gage?"
Grinning Gage informed her that Dakota was going to be known as Cody getting smiles from everyone.
"He's so tiny Mom," Piper exclaimed.
"You weren't that much bigger young lady," Gage teased his daughter.
"Dad," she cried at his teasing.
"Dad," he mimicked back taking Cat from Chris. "So what do you think of your new brother Puss?"
"I want down Daddy," she cried. "I really didn't want a new brother you know," she declared tears in her eyes.
Everyone stood silent Gage finally clearing his throat saying, "Chris why don't guys help Mom back to her room Cat and I will be up in a few minutes."
"Okay Dad," Chris agreed holding his arm out for Sydney to take.
Giving Syd a quick smile he turned to walk to the end of the hall with his daughter. "What's up Cat?" Gage asked his little girl. "It was just yesterday that you told me you could hardly wait for the new baby to get here."
"I changed my mind," she told him her lower lip trembling tears rolling down her cheeks.
"We may have a bit of a problem then cause Cody is part of our family now." Gage began explaining.
Interrupting her father Cat blurted out, "You love him more then me just like you love Chris and Piper more then me."
The child was near hysteria Gage wrapping his arms around her holding her close. "Cat you know that's not true," he tried again.
"Yes it is, yes it is," she persisted the sobs almost drowning out the words.
"Cat I love you every bit as much as I love the other kids…"
"Then why didn't you deliver me?" she cried out breaking Gage's heart.
"Oh Cat Honey I didn't deliver the other kids cause I loved them more then you. I wanted Mommy to be in the hospital when she had all of you and you were the only one who did just that," he told her.
Cat wiped her hand across her face as she listened to her father. "You know that Mom and I are always getting into dangerous situations and it just seems that's what happened when it was time for the other kids to be born. There just wasn't a doctor around so I had to help Mommy bring them into this world.
You though you weren't the perfect delivery either the minute you were born they had to whisk Mommy to surgery to take a knife out of her shoulder.
Cat if there had been nobody but me with Mommy when you were born I would have delivered you too. I just felt so much better that there was a doctor there for you and I could let him do all the work while I watched and held Mom. I love you every bit as much as the rest. You know what Puss I was the first one to hold you even before Mom," he told his daughter watching her digest the information.
"I love you too Daddy," she whispered her arms tight around his neck.
"Then Cody can stay?" Gage questioned watching Cat's head bob up and down saying yes.
Daddy can we stop and see Cody again before we go up to Mommy's room?" she asked looking over his shoulder at the window of the nursery.
"I think that would be possible," Gage smiled walking back over to the window. Both silently peered in the window their eyes on Cody. He once again brought his little fist to his cheek gave a great big yawn never wakening. "I bet he snores like you Daddy," Cat informed him completely serious.
"Snores like me?" Gage asked acting totally offended
"Well you do Daddy."
"I think we had better get upstairs to Mommy before this goes any further," Gage told her tickling her side eliciting laughter.
"Daddy stop it," Cat cried as Gage grasped her tightly to her in a hug.
"Let's go see Mommy," her father whispered to her his lips at her temple.
"Okay Daddy," she whispered back.
Going to the elevator Gage pushed the button the doors opened and he stepped in Cat still in his arms.
Hitting the button for Syd's floor the doors closed Cat chatting on to Gage that she was going to help Mom with Cody. "I'm going to sing to him," she yakked on Gage only half listening he's thoughts migrating back to his wife and new son.
Suddenly the doors opened on the main level for more people to get on. Absently Gage looked out in the corridor just in time to see Ron Wilson step onto the elevator opposite them and the doors slide closed.
Just as quickly the doors of their elevator closed starting its upward motion once again. "Daddy what's the matter?" Cat questioned putting her hands on either side of his face to turn his head towards him.
"Nothing Honey," he told her turning his attention back to his daughter silently screaming at the elevator to hurry.
After two more stops the doors finally opened on Sydney's floor. Hurrying with Cat still in his arms Gage rushed to Syd's room. "Sumner I need a little help," Gage exclaimed depositing Cat on Syd's bed with her.
"What is it Gage?" Syd asked her sixth sense concerning her husband kicking in.
"I… um… that is I saw someone that need Sumner to help me identify," he finally got out. "Chris can you stay here until we get back," Gage told him as he and Sumner disappeared out the door.
"What's up boss?" Sumner asked as he followed behind Gage.
"What floor is Lorna Wilson on?" Gage questioned Sumner who had been keeping track of her condition.
"Six," Sumner answered running to keep up, "Why?"
"I saw that bastard husband of hers get on the elevator carrying a big bouquet of red roses. That's why," Gage retorted hitting the elevator button non-stop. The door opened to a small crowd of people unable to wait Gage made for the stairs at the end of the hallway Sumner right behind.
Pulling open the door of the sixth floor both men were met by a loud scream. A young nurse her hair falling in her face holding her cheek was stumbling into the corridor. "Help he tried to kill her," she cried out pointing the opposite direction after a fleeing man.
"It's him," Gage shouted running full force after Wilson dodging wheelchairs and people.
Wilson turned slightly looking over his shoulder to catch sight of Gage, "Find your wife?" he gloated pushing a gurney between the two of them.
With one flying leap Gage dove over the stretcher catching Wilson by the throat knocking him against the wall driving his fist into Wilson's big mouth. Both of Wilson's hands were grabbing at Gage's hand that was around his throat, which seemed to tighten the more he fought.
Sumner had caught up to Gage he stood back almost in fascination watching as his boss repeatedly bring his fist into Wilson's face. As the man's head lolled to the side Sumner finally jumped in taking hold of Gage's fist stopping the next hit. "You're going to kill him Gage," Sumner cried out.
With Sumner's words sinking in Gage loosened his grip from Wilson's throat watching the man slowly slide down the wall crumpling to the floor. Gasping for breath Gage squatted in front of Ron Wilson clutching a handful of his shirt with his fist. "The next time you raise your hand to a defenceless child or woman you remember this," Gage warned. "Because if I ever find out that you have…" he left the sentence unfinished.
Sydney and Gage's ~ The Home Coming
Sydney had been released from the hospital the following day but Cody got to stay and additional five. The front porch was crowded with family and friends as Gage pulled into the driveway with Sydney and the baby. Lorna Wilson sat on the porch swing MacKenzie beside her. She had survived her husband's attack in the hospital; he had tried to smother her with a pillow only to be interrupted by the nurse who he had attacked when trying to escape.
Mackenzie slipped her hand into her mother's hand holding tight as they watched the van pull in.
Anna B, Sumner and the kids had decorated the porch and front yard with balloons, streamers and a big banner to welcome Cody home. Sydney was all ready releasing his seat belt by the time Gage got to her side of the van. Reaching in Gage lifted their son from his seat and into Sydney's waiting arms. "I love you Honey," he whispered letting his lips caress the top of her head.
"I love you too," she murmured only to be interrupted by Cat's squeals.
"Mommy, Mommy do you got him?" the little girl cried her excitement getting the better of her.
"We sure do," her father answered lifting her in his arms so she could get a closer look.
Coming around from behind the van Alex, Erica and Anna B crowded around Sydney as well as Piper, Angela and Torrie everyone fussing over Cody who slept oblivious to it all.
"Dad," Chris addressed his father. "Aunt Julie called she said that her Robin are coming down they should be in Dallas some time tonight. She also said they have a big announcement to make and that you aren't to call her cause she's not telling you until they get here.
"More wedding bells?" Alex asked catching part of the conversation.
"That just might be the case but I wouldn't put any money on it this is Gage's sister Julie we are talking about," Sydney retorted with a smile.
Suddenly feeling the attention had moved to some Aunt he didn't even know yet Cody let out a loud cry.
"All right Cody," Gage smiled taking his son in his arms, "This is your party and you are still the star." With that Gage continued into the house with him Sydney beside them.
The End