Complications, chapter 12

A/N: I must apologize to all my readers for the great length of time it took for this latest chapter. I hope it somehow makes the wait worthwhile and appreciate everyone who encouraged me to continue this story and who contributed to the baby's name. I'm only sorry I couldn't use them all, unless I wanted the baby to have a name as long as Kiefers:) So, without further adieu:

Kate allowed the intensity of Jack's embrace to envelop her. It infused her with a sense of security and she continued to lean against him, enjoying the simple, yet precious safety he provided. After a moment, she opened her eyes and it was then that she realized that she was still in the room she had been trying to leave over the last hours and her captor's body lay just a few feet away.

"Jack," she murmured. "Let's get out of here."

He helped her to her feet and with a supporting arm, lead her out of the building. Once outside, they found themselves thrust into the chaos of the crime scene personnel. Jack lead her deftly through the area until they reached the ambulance located at the outer edge of the parking lot.

Addressing the paramedic, he directed: "We need to get to the hospital. She's in labour and she's been injured as well."

"Okay, ma'am," the paramedic turned to Kate. "Let me help you in here. We'll get going right away, but let me ask you a few questions first. Where do you hurt?" He smiled slightly as he realized how irrelevant his question seemed. "Besides the contractions, I mean."

Jack left her with the paramedic, telling her that he would return shortly, and jogged over to the area that Baker had set up as a staging area.

"I'm going with Kate, so you'll be in charge of the clean up, okay?"

"No problem, Jack. We shouldn't be tied up here long. I'll let Tony know for you, too."

"Thanks, Tom, I…" Jack paused, unsure how to properly thank the man who had done better than just saving his life, he had just saved almost everything that he had left in his life.

Baker, sensing his discomfort, gripped his shoulder firmly. "Go, Jack. Kate's waiting for you"
Jack returned the grip, the closest to embracing that the two men, comrades, would ever come. "It's not enough, Tom, but thanks."

Jack returned to the ambulance to find Kate in the throes of another contraction. He climbed in and held her hand wordlessly as they sped away. He brushed her hair from her face after the contraction ended, dismayed as fresh tears welled in her eyes.

"I'm scared, Jack," she whispered so low that he barely heard her. "It's too soon. I don't want anything to happen to our baby."

"Shh," he answered, bending so close that his lips almost brushed her forehead. "Everything's going to be fine. He's going to be fine."

Jack hoped that his words of comfort would prove to be true. The fears that he had pushed aside to focus on the task of saving Kate from Hector moved into the forefront of his mind now, demanding his attention. He struggled to keep their evidence from his face, knowing that Kate needed his strength and reassurance.

They arrived at the hospital and Jack repeatedly had to fight to remain at Kate's side. Medical personnel continually moved between them, or moved her away from him. Finally, Kate was rolled into a trauma room and Jack was able to move to her side again. She held her hand out to him and he grasped it firmly. The doctors continued to quiz Kate about her injuries, her contractions, her pregnancy prior to this day. She was hooked up to a fetal and heart monitor.

Jack felt a fresh layer of sweat break out across his brow. All the activity was worrying him further. That, and the fact that none of the doctors had tried to reassure either of them yet. He felt Kate's hand grip his tightly as another contraction overtook her.

As the contraction passed, a doctor approached the opposite side of Kate's bed. He held a chart that he perused quickly before checking the monitors as well. Seemingly satisfied, he turned his attention to Kate.

"Hi, Kate, I'm Dr. Carter." His voice had a soft, reassuring tone that immediately relaxed Jack. "As far as we can tell, the injuries from your captivity are superficial and your baby seems to be fine." He paused, allowing the couple to absorb his reassurances before continuing. "But there isn't anything we can do to prevent your labour. You're going to have your baby today."

"But, she's only thirty-five weeks," Jack interjected. "It's too soon. Is he going to be okay?"

"Mr. Warner…"

"Bauer." Jack corrected the doctor immediately. "Call me Jack," he added, softening the correction.

"Jack, there are no guarantees, but thirty-five weeks is only five weeks early, really only three weeks from what is normally considered 'term'. It's not ideal, but your baby has a good chance of being born healthy, even if he is small. We're going to move you up to OB shortly. I'll see you up there."

The doctor departed, leaving the couple alone with their hopes and fears.

After nearly two hours, Jack worried that Kate's strength would fail her. Her contractions were coming closer and closer together, but she hadn't dilated fully. He knew she was exhausted; dark circles had formed beneath her eyes and she seemed to respond less vigorously with each progressive contraction.

He wasn't faring much better. A little over an hour ago, a doctor had found him dry-heaving in the men's room and had tried to admit him. He had barely managed to convince him that his nausea was only a result of nerves and the stress he was under, as opposed to the withdrawal he was suffering from the heroin. Thankfully, he didn't press him much further, but did get him some Gravol to help him through the remainder of the night.

Kim and Michelle had arrived about a half hour earlier. The pair had spent a few minutes with Kate, but were now in the waiting room along with Kate's father. He knew that Michelle had gone with Kate to her prenatal classes, offering her the support that he had failed to provide, and he asked her to stay with them through the delivery. She had declined and he knew it was because she didn't feel comfortable intruding on the intimate moment. For the most part, he was thankful that she had declined, but a small part would have appreciated the quiet strength that he knew she would have brought with her.

Kate moaned weakly bringing his attention back to the present. He caressed the side of her face, squeezing her hand reassuringly.

"You're doing a great job, sweetheart. Just keep breathing deeply. That's it." He continued to murmur nonsense in a soothing tone, caressing her face, squeezing her hand and feeling absolutely useless.

The doctor entered as her pain subsided. "Let's see how we're doing," he spoke as he moved his hands beneath the sheet thatoffered Kate some semblance of privacy.

Kate and Jack waited in silence, anticipating the man's assessment. Jack hoped that he would tell them that they would soon be meeting their son. Kate hoped that he would be offering her an end to her pain.

"How are you feeling, Kate? Holding up okay?"

"How much longer do you think it's going to be?" she asked in answer to his questions.

"It's not going to be much longer now. You're not quite fully dilated, but the baby's moving into the birth canal. I know you've had a long day so far. You're just going to have to hang in there a little longer, okay?"

She nodded in response but her disappointment was clearly evident on her face. Jack's feelings of helplessness surged within him again. He didn't remember it being this way with Teri. He didn't remember her seeming so weak and fatigued until Kim had been born. Even then, the pure joy of motherhood had fortified her and the exhaustion remained at bay. 'But then, Teri hadn't spent the time before her delivery being tortured,' Jack thought.

"Doctor, isn't there something you can do to speed things up a bit?" he asked before the doctor could leave the room.

"Sorry, Jack, but there isn't much that we can do, at least not anything that I'd recommend. She hasn't been in labour that long when you consider how long labour usually lasts. I know these are not normal conditions," he quickly added, "but, all in all, things are progressing as they should."

He hesitated at the door and turned his focus to Kate. "If you're up to it, Kate, you might try walking around a bit. That might get him moving a little more quickly, but only if you can handle it."

His admonishment found deaf ears on Kate who was already trying to sit upright. Jack rushed to her side, assisting her in her efforts.

"Kate, are you sure you want to get up?"

"I have to, Jack. I have to do something. Help me stand up."

Jack moved to wrap his arm around her, supporting her weight almost fully as she stood gingerly beside him. Gradually, he felt her become stronger until she stood on her own, his hands just resting on her for reassurance. He pulled the back of her gown together, grimacing as he covered the vivid bruises along her back.

"Kate, are you sure you're up to this?"

"Not all by myself, Jack, but I can do this if you help me."

Humbled by her faith in him, he quietly supported her as she made the journey from one end of the room to the other, pausing once she reached the end of the bed. They followed the path a few more times, each time resting at the end of the bed. Finally, Kate surrendered to her exhaustion and refused to walk any further. She continued to stand, elbows resting on the foot of the bed, while Jack ran his hand listlessly along her back.

Just over an hour later, Kate held Jack's hand in a crushing grip, screaming with the pain that ripped through her. Collapsing as the contraction ended, she felt him brush her hair from her forehead and press a kiss against the back of her hand. Exhaustion pulled her more deeply into the mattress.

"You're doing wonderful, Kate," the doctor encouraged. "Just a few more minutes."

"I can't…" she answered breathlessly, eyes closed. "I don't think I can do this."

"Of course you can, Kate." Jack pressed his forehead against Kate's. "You just have to be strong for a few more minutes."

"I can't, Jack…"

"You can." He kissed her temple. "You are amazing, Kate. So strong. I love you, Kate."

Her screams interrupted his encouragement and he helped her upright. Her teeth clenched as the almost unbearable pain ripped through her. Sweat rivulets tracked along the side of her face. She screamed with a final push before dropping back again. A few moments passed and then they heard the angry cries of their son. Tears spilled from her eyes, tracing a path down her cheeks. Jack kissed them away, still holding her hand tightly in his. He didn't release it until the nurse brought their son to her.

She struggled to a position better suited to hold him and then he was in her arms. She gazed upon his tiny, red face and knew that her heart could never feel more love, more pure adoration than it felt at that moment. Jack wrapped his arm along hers, holding his son through her. His free hand brushed the tears that continued to fall from her eyes. She watched him press a kiss on their son's forehead, followed by a kiss on her temple.

The trio shared another minute of privacy before the nurse interrupted, taking their son away. It was then that Kate was reminded that his birth had come too soon. That this moment had not been as surrounded with joy as she had hoped. That her son would spend the next hours of his life not surrounded by the love of his family, but instead, surrounded by machines that would ensure that he was as healthy as he had appeared.

"Jack." Kate's voice was barely above a whisper. "Go tell everyone who is waiting about our son. They've been waiting a long time."

Jack left Kate to find their friends and family in the waiting room. As he opened the door, Kim jumped up to meet him with an embrace. He revelled in the love and strength she infused in him. Finally, he pulled away, taking in the anxious faces around him. "Kim, you're no longer an only child. You have a little brother."

"We kinda figured that out already, Dad. How is he? How's Kate? How much does he weigh? What's his name? Details, please."

He smiled at her enthusiasm but turned to face Kate's father before beginning. "Kate's fine, exhausted, but she's fine." He noticed the relief clearly cross Bob's features. Continuing, he said to the group in general: "We don't have a name yet, but our son seems fine. Small, but fine, we hope. He only weighs five pounds, ten ounces. The doctors are running some tests right now, so we should know more in a little bit."

In the silence that followed, Kim moved closer to her father. "Dad, you look awful. Here," she indicated the couch to their right. "Sit down and I'll get you something to eat."

"No, it's alright, sweetheart. I'm fine, just a little tired. I'm going back to Kate."

Jack returned just as they were preparing to move Kate to a private room. There, they would wait for the doctors to bring them news of their son. He felt the sheer exhaustion of his day pulling at his eyelids. He couldn't imagine how Kate must have been feeling if he was this drained.

"Kate, honey, you should rest for a bit. I'll stay here with you while you sleep."

"You know I won't be able to sleep. I need to know that our son is okay. We need to give him a name."

"I know, sweetheart, I know. I'm worried about him, but I'm worried about you, too. We need a name, so what are you thinking?"

Her doctor entered the room after Jack's question. "How are you feeling, mom?" he asked. "Feeling up to a small trip to visit your son?"

Jack helped her into a wheelchair and the trio moved down the hall to the neonatal intensive care unit. A nurse brought them to the incubator that held their son. Jack felt his fear and helplessness wash over him again. He looked so tiny and defenceless and he wondered how he could ever protect this small life.

Kate had leaned closer to the incubator, reaching a hand to hisperfecthand, in miniature. She smiled through her tears as his tiny hand gripped her forefinger. "Connor," she whispered. "Connor Justin."

A young woman dressed in hospital green approached then, clipboard in hand. Glancing at it briefly, she addressed the couple before her: "Kate, Jack, I'm Dr. Nunez. Did I just hear a name for our little man?"

Kate nodded in response, while Jack answered aloud. "His name is Connor. How is he?"

"Well, he's a little early, as you already know, so he is underweight. He seems to be breathing fine on his own, but we want to monitor him in here for a while to make sure he doesn't get tired breathing."

"What do you mean?" Kate questioned. "He's not strong enough to breathe."

"No, not entirely, but he may not have the endurance to breathe on his own. It's almost like birth is a marathon and he didn't quite prepare fully for his marathon. Some people can get away with skipping a little training and still finish the marathon and some people can't. Your son," she quickly added, "seems to be ready for his marathon, but we just want to make sure."

"So, he's going to be okay?" she asked carefully.

"Everything seems to point that way. All his organs are functioning normally. We just need to put some weight on him and he'll be on his way home."

A/N: Again, sorry it took me so long, but I hope everyone enjoyed it still. Please read and review. I have about one or two more chapters to post. I'm hoping the next will be up more quickly this time.