Cat and Mouse

Chapter 17

Mouselings and Kitlings (Apologies to Dr Who!!!)

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Ace: 'I felt like I could run forever, like I could smell the wind and feel the grass under my feet, and just run forever.' Dr Who "Survival" 1989

"Thy teeth are as a flock of sheep which go up from the washing, whereof every one beareth twins, and there is not one barren among them." (Bible)

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Emma rolled on her side, trying to find a comfortable position for her swollen belly, legs and feet. Adam had not let her get out of bed for the past week, as he was worried about her and the baby. Shalimar, of course, had no restrictions with her pregnancy. Her body seemed to revel the whole nine months. Any day now they were due.

Shalimar rolled over behind her in their bed and Emma stiffened. She knew deep down that Shal was only concerned for her, but Emma hated all the attention from everybody, most of all from Shalimar, Jori and Chessy. Somebody was always with her 24 hours a day.

Just then the baby kicked and Emma's lower back cramped sharply, causing her to arch backwards hard and making her cry out loudly, thus waking Shalimar easily. Emma was also embarrassed as she felt her bladder release, as another sharp cramp made her whimper. Shal started rubbing Emma's lower back trying to ease the pain her younger friend was feeling.

"Better, little Mama?" She crooned when Emma relaxed a little.

"Yeah, that was a bad one." Emma leaned back and realized how wet she was. "Uhm, Shal?" She didn't want to ask her, "Could you please get me a towel? My back wasn't the only thing that cramped."

"Ok, sweetie." Shal moved out of bed and around to the bathroom. She paused to give Emma a quick hug and kiss. She glanced down at Emma's legs and looked away with a little alarm as she saw the sheets turning bright red. Emma's eyes were scrunched tight against a smaller cramp. Shal hurried into the bathroom where she was greeted by a pair of eyes at the twin's bedroom side to their joint bathroom.

"Mommy, it's time, isn't it?" Jori asked.

Shal held her finger to her lips. "Jori, go get Uncle Brennan and tell him to start boiling water. Chessy, go get Uncle Jesse and tell him that I need help with your Mama. Go get dressed first." The girls ran off. Shal then called on the comlink. "Adam. Adam, Emma's water broke."

"How far apart are the contractions?"

"About a minute and a half."

"I'll be right there."

Shal pulled out the big towels and the extra sheets. They had been wearing oversized t-shirts for the past two weeks: Emma being too miserable to even try anything else, and Shal mostly because it was easier to move around in.

"Shalimar?" Sarah's voice came over the comlink. "Adam just told me. Do you still want me bring your breakfasts in?"

"Yes, Sarah. That would be nice. And make a lot of coffee and tea too."

Emma cried out again, this time tinged with fear. "Shal?"

"Coming Emma."

Emma was looking at her hand, covered in blood. "I smelt blood. I don't think that was my bladder earlier." She looked from her hand to the linens in Shal's hand, realization finally showing in her eyes. "M-m-m-m-my water. The baby!" She tried to sit up, panicking and cried as another cramp doubled her over.

"Sh, Emma, it's alright. Everybody's up and Adam's on his way here." Shal dropped the linens beside the bed. "Let's get you a little more comfortable before they get here."

She quickly rolled Emma on her back and arranged the pillows behind her. She pulled the soiled sheet up and threw it in the general direction of the bathroom. She grabbed the box of baby wipes from the bedside table and started cleaning Emma's lower half. She was thankful that they had thought to lay down the disposable bedding when Emma was put on bed rest earlier in the week. She arranged the towels like Adam had suggested and settled the clean sheet over Emma's bent knees and pulled it up to her waist.

Sarah knocked at the door. Shal left Emma's side long enough to unlock the door. Sarah gave Emma a knowing look. She handed a milkshake to Shal and some pieces of jerky. She sat next to Emma. "Come on, try some of the shake. You're going to need your strength in a little bit." Emma obediently sipped some. Shal thankfully drank some of her shake and ate a piece of jerky while Sarah kept Emma distracted for a few minutes. Where was Adam? She thought to herself.

On cue, Adam walked in with Jesse on his heels. "Chessy's with Jori in the kitchen." He told Emma. "Let's see how you're doing." After a quick glance, his eyes told everything to Shalimar. Shalimar's heart fell. "Damn, there's not time to get her to the med-lab, " he muttered. He turned away and said into his com-link, "Brennan, bring the water here, to the Den."

"Coming right up."

Adam turned to Jesse, "Jess—go get my bag out of the lab and bring syringes and the bottle marked with Emma's name out of the fridge there. Also bring the whiskey from the kitchen." Adam looked at Sarah who gave him a nod. He then told Emma, "Finish up your milkshake. I'm going to wash my hands. Shalimar, come with me please."

He closed the door shut behind them. "Wash up quickly. I'm doing to need your help in holding Emma down. How are you doing? Are you having any contractions yet?" Shal shook her head no. "Good, because this might take a while."

"What's wrong, Adam?"

"The baby's breech. I'm going to have to turn it around. Here. She's already dilated 9 cm." He spoke into the com-link again. "Hurry, Brennan, Jesse. Brennan, please ask Clara to bring some milk too." Adam and Shal finished washing their hands. He turned to Shal with, "Are you ready?"

She nodded, worried for her mate.

"I'm going to have to get her drunk to relax because painkillers won't work in her system and I don't want to harm the baby in any way. Sarah's already given her some relaxers in her milkshake. I was hoping the baby would have turned by now, but it didn't. Now, lets go out there. Try to keep calm yourself or you'll set her off. Drink some of the whiskey yourself with her if you have to. That little bit won't hurt you or your babies."

They walked out of the bathroom the same time as Jesse and Brennan came in with their assortment of items that Adam had requested. It was happening too fast for them to do anything more than obey Adam's quick instructions.

They managed to get Emma drunk in-between contractions with the milk and whiskey. That was the easy part. Brennan headed back to the kitchen to distract Jori and Chessy.

Adam positioned himself with surgical gloves on the end of the bed. "Emma, on the next contraction I want you to hold your breath. You're going to feel some pressure from my hands. Ok?"

Emma nodded. She was in too much pain to do anything more than nod. Shalimar threw back a quick shot of whiskey and sat down behind Emma. Sarah moved behind Shal and rubbed her shoulders as Jesse took Sarah's place on the other side of Emma. Emma screamed as the contraction shook her and then held her breath as Shal and Jesse held her upper body still while Adam did the turning. Emma squeezed her eyes shut tightly.

When Adam nodded, Shal started coaching Emma, "Emma, breathe. Breathe. Remember how we practiced." Emma gave her a little smile, then her back arched with another contraction.

"Push, Emma, push!" Emma pushed hard and Adam guided her daughter out. He handed the baby to Jesse to hold as he cut the umbilical cord. They waited for the afterbirth.

Instead, a second daughter soon followed the first one and then finally the afterbirth. They wrapped the two girls in towels as Shalimar had forgotten to get out the birthing cloths in all the excitement.

Emma was all but asleep from the alcohol and the strain from having twins. She looked at her two baby girls and then up at Shalimar, with love and astonishment in her eyes. She smiled and fell right to sleep.

Adam put his fingers to his lips and beckoned to the rest of the group. Shalimar and Sarah carefully picked up the two baby girls to go show them to their big sisters and Brennan. Adam cleaned up the rest of the bedroom and made sure Emma was ok.

Sarah volunteered to take the first shift of watching all 4 girls, when Shalimar came back to crawl in behind a sleeping Emma. Shal marveled at Emma's much flatter stomach. She entwined her hand in Emma's and the two girls slept a few more hours.

Shal soon felt restless and headed into the bathroom to take a quick shower. She had a few contractions, which she promptly timed, 5 minutes apart. Then her water broke while she was in the shower. She spoke into her com-link, "Adam, meet me in the lab in five minutes. It's my turn."

Shalimar quickly dried herself off and dressed. She checked on Emma before she left the room who was just waking up. "Hey, sweetie, how are you feeling?"

"Like a truck ran over me. Where are the babies?" Emma looked around a little worried.

"Sarah had them the last I knew."

A contraction made Shalimar wince and close her eyes briefly. Emma realized the funny achyness that woke her up was Shal's not a dream. She reached up to touch Shalimar's stomach protectively, "Your water broke." Shal nodded. "I need to go with you." She rolled up, but Shal pushed her back down.

"Emma, wait. I want you there too, but I don't think you're going to make it all the way to the lab. And I sure can't carry you myself right now – as much as I'd like to." She called on the com-link, "Adam, Emma's up and she wants to be there."

"Good. I'll send Jesse up to bring her there. Are you ok? How are the contractions?"

"About four minutes apart now. I'll wait for Jesse and we'll all come down together." Shal said that as she saw the plea in Emma's eyes of 'not to leave her alone.' She picked up Emma's hand and kissed it.

Jesse knocked on the door. "Shal? Emma? What's up?"

Shal smiled. "Well, Uncle Jesse. My water broke about 10 minutes ago and Emma can't walk just yet."

"Are you ok, Shal?" Jesse saw the pain in Shal's face.

"Yeah. Just pick up my girl and let me lean on you a bit. Adam's waiting."

Fifteen minutes later, Shalimar's two babies were squalling. Emma smiled as one held her finger. "I'm jealous, Shal. You drop two babies and are almost ready to go party. I have two babies and I can't stay awake." She laid her head down on Shal's shoulder and fell asleep right away. Shal patted her head lovingly.

Jesse shook his head at the two of them.

Sanctuary was not going to be the same with four babies in the Den area. Little did they know how much it was going to change and soon.

"And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb." Bible

TBC

A/N: Now, for naming the babies? Any suggestions?

A/N: 3 chapters in almost as many days? I'm spoiling you all!