Chapter 5
"Oh, Andrew, thank you." Monica told her friend gratefully as he finished giving her a back massage on the hospital bed. Her contractions had become worse still and he just had to do something to make her a little more comfortable. He then stepped off of the bed and helped her to lie back again, hoping that would do something to help her relax a little, but it seemed that the moment he stopped, the pain returned. For only seconds after she had laid back down, he noticed all the muscles in his friend's body suddenly tensed again as she screamed in obvious agony.
Now tears suddenly found their way into Andrew's eyes at what was happening and he was quick to reach over to take her hand again. He loved her so much. She was his best friend and it was almost as hard for him to see her like this as it was for her to be going through it. Sam had been back a few times now and she was really close. Probably just an hour or two.
"Andrew, I'm so scared. I don't know what to do. I can't do this!" Monica exclaimed the realization as it suddenly came to her that there was no turning back now. There was only one way out of this pain and she didn't have a choice. Andrew allowed a small tear to find its way down his hansom face as he brought her hand to his lips and kissed it tenderly, careful to avoid the I.V. needle on the back of it. "You'll see Monica. It's going to be okay. I promise. I'll be right here the whole time. You're doing great." He assured in a desperate tone, obviously just wanting to help her in any way he could. But she barely seemed to hear him as the contractions were so close together now that she barely had any time at all to relax.
Her hair and face glistened with sweat from the labor and she was more exhausted and pained than she ever thought she would be. With his free hand, Andrew stroked her drenched hair affectionately in some attempt to make her feel at least a little at ease, but this too seemed to do nothing, though she was grateful for his effort. She knew she couldn't bear this much longer. This baby just had to be born soon.
As yet another shout of distress escaped her tiny body, Monica allowed an entirely new set of tears to pour over her angelic features. She could barely even think straight anymore. This was just too hard. She was glad Andrew was here though. It gave her some form of comfort. When he was around, everything just had to be okay. When she was in his arms, she felt safe and protected from the world. She knew she was a strong angel on her own terms – one of the best on the force in fact – but she couldn't imagine doing this without her friend by her side.
"Andrew…" She gasped in between sobs of anguish and fear. He waited for a moment expectantly before prying the matter. "Yeah?" He asked when she didn't continue, but then she went on. "I…I love you." She informed him a voice so quiet that he almost didn't hear her. But when he did, those three words touched his soul so deeply that another tear escaped his blue-green eyes and he smiled down at her as he dabbed at her wet forehead with a cold rag. "I love you too. So much." He replied honestly to his friend. "And I know you can do this. You're strong and I have faith in you." He assured her, though he seriously hoped he sounded more confident than he felt.
But it was then that Sam reappeared in the doorway and made his way over to them once again. He checked her progress yet again and he knew none of the others were here yet, but he had to tell her the truth. "Monica, it's time to go into delivery. Are you ready?"