I know, I know, I know. This doesn't even qualify as a chapter. But this is just a little something to let everyone know that I haven't forgot about this story. I've been going through some interesting things lately and a few brain farts. Don't kill me, but I promise you this, I am working on it and this story will have an ending hopefully by Christmas. I'm gonna be putting myself on a schedule. Enough about me, on to the teaser….
"AAAH!" Brin screamed, clutching her belly and lying down. On the couch two days later, Brin was in the middle of labor with a sheet covering the bottom of her legs. With Max to her right and Sam taking care of the birth, all Brin had to worry about was pushing something the size of watermelon out of a hole the size of an almond.
"Brin, you can't push yet. Slow, strong breaths, okay," Sam instructed, having learned her name earlier that day.
"What the hell do you expect me to that!" Brin shouted.
"Just stay calm," Sam replied.
"CALM!"
Sam gave a pleading look to Max. Feeling bad for the guy, Max decided to try to get her sister a little more relaxed.
"Let the man do his job. He's just tryin' to help."
Brin snapped her head over to Max and glared at her, "If he was really trying to help, he'd cut me open and get this thing the hell out of me!"
"Yelling ain't helping things. Now if you wanna get this over with do as the man says and 'Breathe," Max commanded in a tone that told Brin to stop arguing. She concentrated on her breathing for a few long minutes before Sam announced he was ready for her to push. She grunted and groaned while squeezing Max's hand until the tips turned bright red.
"You're doing good, Brin. Just a little more," Sam encouraged.
"Yeah, keep it up," Max stated in a strained voice, trying not to show how much Brin's grip was hurting her.
"I see the head!" Sam announced and then looked up to see Brin's face.
"Ok, I need a big push."
Brin took a deep breath with all of her might, she squeezed her inner muscles and pushed. Suddenly a loud wail filled the room.
"AAAAHHhhhhh!" screamed the baby.
Sam cut the umbilical cord, cleaned the baby and presented it to Brin.
"Congratulations, it's a boy," he said.
Brin clutched the little bundle in her arms. Her head was pounding, her body ached, she was mentally and emotionally exhausted, but somewhere she found the strength to look at this new life in the face. Brin saw her life reflected back at her in this little boy. He represented Manticore, danger, sacrifice, freedom and… hope. Brin lifted him to look at the back of his neck. It was clean, no markings. Brin made a slow smile and held him close to her chest.
"Not a number," was the last things she said before she passed out.