Chapter 41 – Braxton Hicks?

Two months later…

Abby and Sam walked through the floors of a Mall to designate themselves to a baby store. They are both now on maternity leave and both are heavily pregnant, feeling uncomfortable with their huge bump. Sam was due a few days before which is not unusual for the baby to arrive late. She is feeling fed up and impatient waiting for the birth. Sam decided to fill the time by going shopping dragging Abby along to buy the last remaining things for the nursery. Their eyes marvelled when they entered the baby store. The place is filled with nursery equipment, cots, strollers, beddings, clothing and toys.

Sam puts her hand on her lower abdomen and winced.

"You ok?" Abby asked, tilting her head looking at her.

"Yeah I'm ok" She replied, her curls bounced when she shook her head. "It probably just Braxton Hicks, I've had them since 31 weeks…

"I first got it at that time too"

"This pregnancy feels so different from when I had Alex"

"Good news is that most women who have their second or more, they usually give birth quicker"

"Yeah I can't wait for that, I was 28 hours in labor"

"Uh you don't tell me! I've got a good endurance test ahead of me"

"I need to pee again," Sam moaned, rolling her eyes.

Abby laughed "It's a bummer really, baby pressing on your bladder"

"I'll just nip to the ladies room, won't be long"

"That's ok, I'll be in the bedding section" Abby watched her colleague head off to the toilets and walked to the bedding section.

Sam entered the ladies room and walked in one of the stalls. She sat down on the loo. She bends over clutching her stomach, groaning out loud in pain. She overheard a woman talking to another woman in the wash area.

"Sounds like she's constipated" She muttered. Sam scoffed in disbelief after hearing this. She lets out another groan.

Abby is browsing around until someone called her name caught her attention. It was an old acquaintance of hers. They got chatting for a while. When Abby finished her conversation with her friend, she realized that she has lost track of time. She frowned as her eyes scan round the baby department looking for Sam who is nowhere to be seen. Abby spotted an assistant and walked up to her but paused on the spot. She hesitated asking because she just realized what she was going to ask her… have you seen a pregnant woman here? And the whole floor was full of them!

Abby decided that she would check the ladies room. She walked in and heard Sam groaning from one of the stalls. There was a young woman who was washing her hands.

"I've already asked if she is ok" The woman said, "She didn't reply"

Abby nodded "Ok" She watched the woman leave and knocked on the door "Sam? Are you ok in there?"

Abby heard the door bolt being unlocked.

"Sam!" Abby gasped when she pushes the door ajar and stared at the mess on the floor "Your water's broken"

Sam winced. "I can't move, it's so painful, I think the baby's coming, AARGH!"

"You're not wrong about that," Abby said, looking down with her hands on her waist. "Jeez Sam why didn't you tell me you were REALLY in labor? Not some Braxton Hicks"

"I dunno, like I said this pregnancy feels different"

"I want you to breathe in and out… in… out… in…" Abby rounded her lips and gracefully moved her hand in a breathing motion.

Sam laughed at Abby's face looking serious, trying to instruct her with her breathing technique.

"Ok… well I'm going to call the paramedics"

Abby squatted down to kneel on the floor. She had to catch her breath as the baby is putting pressure against her lungs when she leaned over. She got her cell phone out of her bag and flipped it open to punch in the numbers 911. Placed it to her ear and she listened to the ring. Waited for the operator to answer.

The operator answered, "Please state your emergency?"

"Hello I am a Doctor and I need the paramedics urgently, a pregnant woman in labor, need to get her to the hospital, her water's broken"

"Your location?"

"We are at the 900 North Michigan Shops, a Mall on Michigan Avenue, in a store called "GALT Baby" on Level 5… I think it's level 5?"

Abby flipped the phone shut and placed it on the floor.

"Paramedics are coming" Abby said, rubbing Sam's hand, who is nodding frantically, huffing and puffing. "Do you want me to contact Luka?"

Sam nodded "Please, oooooh!"

Abby picked up her phone and flipped it open again. Punched in her work number. She placed it to her ear listening to the dialling tone.

"Hello ER" Jerry answered.

"Hey Jerry, it's Abby. I need you to get Luka"

"I'll page him for you and he can contact you, when he's free"

"Aah!" Sam gritted her teeth.

"No Jerry!" Abby scolded down the phone "I need to speak to him now, at this instant, it's a matter of urgency"

"Ok, ok, who's making that noise?"
"Never mind that Jerry… Get Luka now!" Abby shouted down the phone abruptly.
"Erm… yes, hold the line, I'll see if I can find him"

"Thank you" Abby said, rolling her eyes. She placed the phone on her shoulder and wedges it with her ear. Abby leaned forward to Sam and puts her hand on her bump to examine her. She can feel the contractions coming.

"They can't find Luka?" Sam asked, blowing air in and out repeatedly.

"Jerry's gone to fetch him" Abby replied. "Sam, I'm sorry to ask you this, I need you to lie down so I can check how far dilated you are"

"Just as well I am wearing a skirt today!" Sam said abruptly, widen her eyes at Abby "Go on have a nosy!"

"I just need to know whether the baby will come in here, in the ambulance or hopefully at the hospital, ok? I haven't got time for your embarrassment, not like as I've not seen it before"

"Oh yes… I forgot that you used to be an OB-GYN nurse" She winced again. "Eeeeeee!"

Abby lifted Sam's skirt to examine between her legs. She raised her brows and looked at Sam "Oh god you're 5 cm dilated!"

"Abby?"

"Hello?" She answered holding the phone properly after unmerging it from between her shoulder and ear.

"Aargh!" Sam groaned in the background

"Dr Kovac will be waiting for you both"

"Thanks Jerry" She hung-up and flipped the phone shut. Abby reassured Sam by saying "Luka's waiting at the hospital"

"Hello?" said a voice, echoed in the toilets.

"In here" Abby called out.

The paramedics have arrived...

Abby came rushing in through the ER doors, with the paramedics pushing a gurney with Sam on it. Luka came rushing to them.

"It's ok Sam I'm here" He said kissing her forehead and holds her hand. "Fill me in Abby?"

"She is now 7cm dilated" Abby replied, out of breath "We need to take her up, baby will be long coming"

"My god Sam I can't believe our baby's coming!"

"Oooooooh" Sam groaned, gritting her teeth at Luka.

Most of the staff in the ER stopped what they were doing and watched them all going past. Abby stopped for second to catch her breath back and carried on to catch up with the others. As she strode past the admit desk, she caught a glimpse at someone who is standing, looking and smiling at her. John Carter… She stumbled nearly tripping over her own feet in shock, when she got her balance back everything went in slow motion, as if she was in a dream. She started to feel dizzy. She could hear Sam shouting for her from a distance begging Abby not to leave her. She needed her to assist the delivery. Abby took a good look, elated with mixed feelings, feeling pleased but then again feelings of anger, hurt and rejection. She doesn't smile back and walks off…

"Abby?"

"What?" She snapped swinging herself round on her heel.

"Aren't you gonna say hello?"

Abby scoffed and folded her arms. She cocked her head to one side. Stared hard at him

"Wow look at you! You're glowing and your bump is so big" Carter chuckled. The expression on her face wiped the smile off his face. He knew she was not happy, he knew that there would be a lot of work to build up the trust back and amend their relationship. He feels optimistic about it because he has left her twice….

Abby still hasn't said a word to him. She took a deep breath and walked away…