Chapter 7

Chapter 7

Everything went by in a flash. Somehow Boone had managed to get himself from his apartment to the hospital in a couple of minutes and he had even succeeded to fight away his panic so that he knew what to take with him. He brought clothes for the baby, the baseball outfit, a blanket and a cotton helmet.

Now he was standing at the reception, becoming more and more frustrated by the long queue. God dammit, it wasn't like he had all time in the world. Finally it was his turn.

"Hi!" Boone said kindly. "I'm wondering which room Claire Littleton is in. She's in labour."

Boone was grateful that he had seen her name in a newspaper. It kinda made the whole process easier, and most importantly – faster.

"She's in room: 218, second floor" The receptionist said, smiling towards him.
"Are you the father?"

"No," Boone answered.

"A relative, perhaps?"

"No."

Boone knew were this was going. If he had to lie to get to her, he would.

"I'm not the father but I'm her fiancé," He said, looking as he had been betrayed by Claire.

"Oh, I see." The receptionist seemed ashamed and for a second he felt bad for lying to her.

"That way," she continued, pointing in a direction.

Boone ran towards the door. He couldn't hear the sound that so often comes when you are dealing with the immense pain of childbirth. As far as he could tell, the labour hadn't begun yet. He took a deep breath, preparing himself for what ever reaction that would come from her.

Claire looked up when Boone entered the room. At first, for a couple of seconds or so, she thought that she was hallucinating. That that was a common side effect of being on the edge of giving birth.

"I'm looking for my best friend. Have you seen her?" Boone said smiling his widest smile.

His voice sounded a little uncertain though, as if he was shy to admit that he considered her to be one of his closest friends. But it was all that he needed to say to break down the walls around her. Claire smiled and a tear fell down her cheek, for the first time letting him see it.
He walked towards her and sat down on the bed, stroking her chin, taking away the teardrop.

"You sure know what to say to a woman," she joked.

He opened his arms and folded her inside them, protecting her. He didn't give a damn about if it was right or wrong, all he knew was that she felt vulnerable now and that he, for the first time since she came to him, had the chance to keep her safe.

"I've had a lot of practice," he murmured into her hair. "You're my first pregnant victim, though."

She started to laugh, but halfway up, the sound caught in her throat, turning into a sob. Boone was confused, but let her cry, just holding her in his arms like he had wanted to do so many times before. She wrapped her arms around him, squeezing hard as the tears continued to fall.

Stifling her tears, Claire lifted her face up to his. She could see all the care for her in his eyes. She once again, regretted leaving him. Two weeks had passed but not a single day had passed by without her thinking about him. She had never thought that she would see him again.

"Sorry for being such a cry baby." She whipped her tears away. "How have you been?" She continued in an attempt to change subject.

Boone gave it a thought.

"Claire. I'm going to be honest." He took a breath, looking her right in the eyes. "These last weeks have been miserable without you," he said tearfully. "I've missed you."

She smiled slightly.

"I've missed you too."

"I know that you left because you thought that you would screw up my life."

She nodded, without looking at him.

"You will destroy my life." He paused, seeing her devastated reaction and then continued "…If you walk out of it."

She met his eyes, insecurely.

"You really want this?" She asked, shyly.

That was a question that would come up frequently later.

"Yes," he said, more sure than he had ever been before in his life. "How are you feeling?" He asked, not able to avoid the fact that she was going to give birth.

"Perhaps you could answer that question," Claire said, looking at the doctor that entered the room.

"It looks good," The doctor said, looking at Boone.

Then she turned to Claire.

"Your blood pressures are good."

The doctor took a look on her pad.

"You've opened up about 1.18 inches. It shouldn't take long. Are you going to be here during the labour, sir…?"

"Carlyle, and yes I will," Boone said, giving Claire a determined look.

"No he won't!" She replied through gritting teeth. She met his gaze, challenging him with an even more determined look.

"I will, Claire. I want to be here for you."

"You're so bloody stubbo-"Her voice faded away, being replaced by painful moaning. She was having another contraction.

"That hurt!" She said, giving the doctor a weak look.

The doctor went closer and pushed the nurse button that was placed next to Claire.

"It's going to be okay," the doctor said calmly.

"Easy for you to say! You're not gonna have A BABY COMING OUT OF YOU, RIGHT!" Claire raised her voice, terrified.

She winched in pain when another contraction began.

"This is a big one!"

"I – can – feel – that-" Claire said between breaths.

Boone held her hand tightly, growing more and more afraid by each second. He hated to be powerless, and here, in this situation, there was nothing he could do to help her.

"You can do it," he whispered in her ear.

Deep inside, Claire was thankful that he was still there. Most men would run away like scared rabbits during the circumstances. Like Thomas, who ran away even before the worst part of the pregnancy. That coward. Oh my god, she was glad that she had found Boone.

"Thank you for staying," she said, sincerely, squeezing his hand.

"You're welcome," he replied, smiling at her.

"Miss Littleton. We need you to push," a nurse told Claire.

For Boone, the birth of Claire's son, seemed to went by like a dream. Afterwards, he could only remember the pressure on his hand increasing and then the sudden wail of a baby.

"It's a boy," he heard.

----------------------------------------

"I told you that you could do it," he whispered, kissing her forehead.

He was so proud of her. Taking a long look at her, he knew that he would always remember how satisfied she was, for the rest of his life.

"I'm tired…" Claire mumbled.

"Go to sleep, Claire. I'll take care of the baby."

Claire closed her eyes, falling asleep almost immediately. When she woke up a couple of hours later she saw Boone sitting in the chair next to her. Claire smiled at Boone and the baby.

"I think he wants his mommy," he said sweetly and the baby gurgled in response. Boone handed her the small bundle in blue.

Claire giggled with excitement.

"I have a baby boy. A son," she said, proudly, all her fear and doubts that she had had before draining a way when she looked into his blue eyes.

"… And I can see my feet," she laughed.

"There are many things that you can do now, that you couldn't do when you were pregnant." Boone said, holding the baby's hand in his, mesmerized by how tiny the little boy was.

"I know!" Claire said, happily.

She looked at Boone.

"Have you gotten any sleep?"

"I'm not that tired."

He smiled slyly.

"I have something for you. Wait here."

Claire raised her eyebrows, curiously. She waited eagerly for him to return. Her eyes focused on the baby, she couldn't avoid being amazed by how innocent he looked, and the fact that he was hers. She would be there to watch him grow up, go to school, be at an obstinate age (she didn't look forward to that) and perhaps, one day, get married.

But she would be all alone; perhaps she had thrown away her only chance of happiness by leaving Boone? Despite her sad thoughts, she burst into laughter when she saw a huge teddy bear walk through the door.

"I love it!" she said, moved by the gesture.

"Just something I picked up. He needs a home."

"Afraid I don't have one. Her smile faded. "He's gonna be a homeless teddy." Claire had meant it to sound like a joke but there was a sad undertone to it.

"You know that all three of you could move in with me, right," he said, putting down the bear. He sat down in the chair again with a serious expression on his face.

"I know, but we won't," she said, while she was rocking the baby slowly to sleep.

She called the nurse to take care of her son for a couple of hours, knowing that they needed some alone time. They needed to become clear where they stood.

"We have to talk, Boone," she said, looking him in the eyes. "This time, without arguing."

Claire was serious. She had realised the last couple of days that the two of them either laughed or argued. They didn't have any middle and she didn't want it to be like that.

"Sure," Boone replied.

"I'm going to find my own place," She said, straight to the point.

Boone lowered his head of disappointment; he wanted her to stay with him.

"Okay," he nodded, still looking down. He didn't see the small flush on her cheeks as she continued.

"But, I still want you to be in my life."

It was difficult for her to admit and she stuttered a little as she said it.
Boone looked up again, smiling slightly.

"I would like that!"

They sat quiet for awhile, both of them too embarrassed to come clean about their feelings. Boone finally spoke.

"Claire, that day – when you left- you said that there was something else between us."

She blushed.

"Did you mean it?" He asked, hesitantly.
"Yes… I have feelings for you, Boone." She paused. "I want to take it slow."

She avoided his gaze and added:

"I don't know if you feel the same."

"I do…" he said quietly.