Love Knows No Yamato: Chapter Five
THREE WEEKS LATER
"Bu-bump, bu-bump, bu-bump, bu-bump, bu-bump, bu-bump, bu-bump, bu-bump, bu-bump, bu-bump, bu-bump, bu-bump, bu-bump, bu-bump, bu-bump, bu-bump…"
"Oh, that was the strongest one yet…" June groaned, falling back on the bed, exhausted. "How long did it last?"
"Five minutes." Joe said, looking at his watch as he removed his stethoscope. "I think it's time to go to the hospital. It's been about three hours since you started feeling pain."
"Okay." June said, lowering her shirt and slowly scooting out the bed. "Can you wake Davis up for me while I get ready?"
"Sure thing." Joe said, walking into the living room, closing the door behind him. "I'll go and bring my car around."
"So," June sighed, as she slipped on a nightshirt over her T-shirt. "Tonight is the night then, huh, baby? I'm finally going to see what's been going on inside me for the past nine months. It's been a helluva ride, hasn't it? And it's just getting started."
"June, you need any help?" Davis asked through the closed door. "We're all ready here."
"I'm on my way now." she called, picking up her backpack and walking out the room. "Let's get this show on the road."
Davis looked up at his sister with worry echoing inside of his dark brown eyes. "You okay sis?" He asked, taking her hand. "Anything you need?"
June gave a small smile. "Don't worry! You're dealing with the invincible birthing dragon! Armed with child bearing skills that know no equal!"
Davis grinned. "Hardy, har, har." He laughed, taking her backpack and slinging it over his shoulder. "I'm worried about you, and you're making jokes."
"Baby brother, I'm going to be just fine." June reassured as they walked out the apartment. "People do this type of thing every day."
"Think I should call mom and dad?" Davis asked, as they walked down the stairs to the waiting car. "They would want to know what's going on."
"Davis, if you tell mom and dad that you were with me these past four weeks, they're going to kick you out the house. I know they will; I guarantee it. I don't want you to get into trouble on my account."
"But, Ju—"
"Besides, what would having them there do? Not a thing. All they would do was stand there and glower at me, raise hell, and shout that I brought shame to the family, I'm no longer their daughter, this child will be cursed. No. I don't need that around me or my baby."
The young man looked up at his sister with awe. "Sis, I know this sounds corny, and I'll deny it to high heaven if you tell another living soul, but I admire you so much right now. I don't care if mom and dad do find out that I was with you. So what? We'll always be brother and sister no matter what they say."
"Oh, Davis." June gasped, her eyes welling up with tears. "Tha—mmmm!" She groaned, leaning up against him. "Ow…"
Davis wrapped his arms around June, supporting her. "There…there…looks like someone is getting tired of all the sap we were making." He whispered in her ear.
June nodded slowly, taking deep, frequent breaths. "Mmmmmm…." She grunted, swaying back and forward. "It hurts so much…"
"Here's Joe." Davis said, looking at the car that pulled along side the sidewalk. "Think you can walk for me?"
"Uh-uh." June groaned, still clinging onto her brother.
"It's all right then, we'll go together." He said, as he slowly shuffled her towards the waiting car. "There we go…one step at a time."
Joe jumped out the driver's seat and helped June sink into the dark leather back seat. "There you go." He whispered to her, as he closed the door and fastened his seat belt. "We'll be there in half a second. Faster, if need be."
"Can you hold out until we get there?" Davis asked, peaking in the back seat. "Can you hang on?"
"Not exactly my choice, is it?" June sighed; sitting up in the seat and fastening her seat belt as Joe whipped the small car out into traffic.
"Fetal heart tones are great." Dr. McKnight said, looking at the chart. "She's just dilated to four centimeters, 20 percent effaced. She has a long labor ahead of her, but she's having pretty good strong contractions."
"She requested an epidural to take the pain off." Joe added, glancing at the clock over his teacher's shoulder.
"Ah-ah-ah." Dr. McKnight said, wagging his finger. "When do we give epidurals, Mr. Kido?"
"Not until the patient reaches at least seven centimeters and is sixty percent effaced." Joe corrected, glancing at the clock again.
"Very good. Write up the order, monitor June, and invest in a good wrist watch because it gets really distracting having someone constantly looking over your shoulder at a clock on the wall." Dr. McKnight said, handing Joe the chart.
"Oh, sorry." Joe said, bowing his head down. "I didn't mean to be rude."
"Ah, forget about it. But I am curious what got you watching the clock like a hawk." Dr. McKnight said, walking down the hall to his office.
"Actually, Dr. McKnight I was wondering if you would be so kind as to take over with June for a few minutes?" Joe asked, looking up at the elder doctor. "I have an errand to run."
"Would this errand involve the baby's father?" Dr. McKnight asked, looking back at his student. "Because if it does…"
"Sir, me and the father were really close friends when we were younger." Joe explained, "I know that this isn't any of my business, but I know that—"
"Mr. Kido. We are not a matchmakers or counselors. This is a hospital." Dr. McKnight said sternly, crossing his arms over his chest tightly. "We're not in the practice of tracking down delinquent baby daddies. The answer is no."
"Yes sir." Joe said, sadly, turning away. "I understand."
"However," Dr. McKnight said, tapping him on the shoulder. "We are in the practice of making new families. You have one hour: I'll cover while you run your "errand".
"Thank you, sir." Joe said, shaking his hand vigorously as he handed over June's chart. "I'll be back in an hour." He called, jogging down the hall.
FLASHBACK…
"It feels like I'm going to give birth to a beached whale." June groaned as Joe helped her to her feet off the bench.
"Actually, you look more like a beached whale," Davis said, leaning up against a light post. "But I wasn't going to say anything."
"So help me, I will deck you the second I get my figure back." June growled as she picked up her shopping bags.
"So I'm safe for the next thirty years, huh?" Davis jeered, grinning.
"I would quit while I thought I was ahead, if I was you." Joe warned.
"All right, all right. I'm backing off." Davis said, holding up his hands. "I'll meet you at the apartment later tonight. See ya!" He called as he disappeared in the crowd of people along the sidewalk.
"Well, I think we hit enough stores for today." Joe said, picking up the remaining bags. "We should get on home."
"Awwww, come on Joe! One more shop!" June whined, tugging on his arm.
"Come on, June. We've gotten just about everything you need, and then some!" Joe said, holding up the bags helplessly. "And besides, you should be hanging closer to home. You're due any minute now."
"Yeah, yeah. All right." June lamented, slumping her shoulders. "Lets head home."
"Besides, if you still have a need to shop, there's always online shopping." Joe offered. "All the world's stores at the click of a few keys. And it keeps you at home just in case."
"Okay. I'll check it out when we get back." June agreed as the two began walking down the sidewalk.
"Hey, Joe?"
"Yeah?"
"Is it wrong of me to still love him?" June asked, head tilted down to the concrete pavement. "I mean, I hate what he did, and I hate what he almost drove me to, but I still love him."
"I think you're always going to have a soft spot for him because he was your first love and now you're carrying half of him around with you." Joe explained.
"You know, I really wanted him to be a part of this. I really wanted him to be there for me and watch our child grow and develop. You might think this is silly, but I've always had a dream that when I get pregnant, I would have my husband rest his head on my belly and talk to the baby. Just me, him and our baby."
June wiped a stray tear from her eye and chuckled. "Silly isn't it?"
Joe shook his head, his eyes showing deep thought. "Not silly at all. Don't worry. Things are going to work out just fine. Someday you will find the right guy."
"Thanks, Joe. You know, you've been great through this whole thing. I know I've been a bother at times, and I know that I'm really screwing up your internship training—"
"Stop right there." Joe interrupted, holding up a hand. "Lets get some things straight. One: you have not been a bother to me at all. If you were a bother to me, I would march right up to Dr. McKnight and resign. Two: this is part of my internship training. Any in-hospital things I miss I can easily catch up on no problem at all. And three: you are my very best friend. I would never leave you in your time of need. I swear it."
END FLASHBACK…
57944 South 22nd Street…here it is.
Joe wadded up the paper and threw it in the passenger seat of the car. He then took off his lab coat and tossed it, carelessly, in the back seat. He pulled off his hospital ID badge and tossed it on top of the coat.
I know there's a better way to do this, but I'm out of options. He can't run away from this. I won't let him run away from this.
The young doctor dug through his glove compartment and pulled out a small, glossy picture. He looked at it for a second and sighed before tucking it in his scrub pants pocket.
June, Junior, this is for you.
Joe slammed his door shut and locked all the doors with a press of a button on his key remote.
BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG…
"All right, all right. I'm coming." The blonde groaned, padding towards the front door. He squinted at the clock on the VCR. "It's 3:00 in the morning." He groaned as his bare feet hit the tile entry foyer by the front door.
BANG BANG BANG….
"Hold on a minute, will ya?" He grumbled as he unlocked the door and twisted the knob. "Now, will you tell me why you could—"
Before he could get his word out, a small fist burst through the small gap in the door and landed squarely on the side of his cheek, sending the blond stumbling backwards stunned. "What the—"
"Get your behind up right now!" Joe bellowed, kicking in the door and marching up to the cowering blonde. "Get up!"
"Joe?!" Matt yelled in bewilderment. "What the f—"
"Shut up!" Joe shouted, grabbing him by his pajama collar and slamming him against the wall. "You shut up right now. It's MY turn to talk now!" he growled.
TO BE CONTINUED…