Disclaimer: The TV show Dark Angel, all of the characters that appeared on it (Max, Zack, Alec, etc.), and everything else that has to do with the show belong to their respective owners, not to me. No money is being made off of this fic. I only own the original characters (Becky/X6-405, etc.).
Max breathed a sigh of relief as the pain from the contraction passed only to gasp when another one hit her hard. "This sucks, this sucks, this sucks." She breathed deeply and turned to glare murderously at Zack and yanked her hand free from his. "If you even get the slightest idea about touching me ever again, I swear that I will disembowel you with a rusty spoon. Am I making myself clear?"
"Relax, Maxie," Wayne said from his place at the foot of the delivery room bed. He appeared to be as calm and professional as any doctor, but Max saw the usual wicked sparkle in his eyes and shifted her wrath from her fiancé to her brother.
"Stop enjoying this so freaking much," Max snapped. "Unless you feel like having me remove your dick with a pair of tweezers and a roll of duct tape, start behaving!"
"My lips are sealed," Wayne promised. I might be a thrill seeker, but I don't have a death wish!
"They better be sealed, you dirtbag weasel-loving son-of-a-bitch!"
Zack re-grasped Max's hand. "Maxie, it's okay. Wayne said that he'd behave."
"Don't sweat it, Zack," Wayne said. "I might not be primarily an OB-GYN, but I've been doing this for awhile."
"Yeah, and I've been doing this for the past eleven hours, six minutes, and twenty-nine seconds and I want it to be done and over with already," Max snapped.
"She's not the first mother whose baby I've had to deliver, plus I've been on hand to assist other doctors twice," Wayne continued calmly, as if Max hadn't interrupted him. "This type of behavior isn't uncommon among the moms."
"Well, that's good to know," Max said. She suddenly screamed when she felt an especially powerful contraction come on. "Hey Doc, you got any drugs?"
"Sorry," Wayne said sympathetically. "It's a no-go on the drugs. We don't have anything that's both strong enough to help a transgenic and safe enough for the baby." He checked Max's progress. "Besides, you should be ready to start pushing soon. You're in the home stretch now."
"Good," Max said. She briefly closed her eyes and breathed as deeply as she could. This hurts so much. Why does it have to hurt like it does? I want this to be done and over with. I just want to hold my baby! She felt a hand stroking her forehead and turned her head and smiled at Zack. "Thank you, Zack. I'm sorry I'm being an über-bitch."
"It's okay, Maxie," Zack said. He continued to hold one of Max's hands in his right hand and stroked her forehead with the other. "You're doing great."
"I hope—" She sucked in her breath. "—so." The sound of voices coming from back down the hall gave her a distraction and she smiled again. "What do you think the motley crew is yapping about back there?"
"I bet you anything that Krit and Zane are making a bet about something," Wayne said automatically. He caught the look on Zack's face and he shrugged. "But if they're smart, they'll keep in mind what your reaction would be and keep their mouths shut."
"There's actually hope for you," Max said breathlessly, managing a smile despite the pain that she was in. Not too much longer, don't let this drag on… She concentrated on her breathing and tried not to scream in pain. I hate pain, I hate pain. Her mind recalled on of her early lessons back at Manticore and she mentally rolled her eyes. Fuck you, Lydecker, pain is NOT my friend!
Wayne checked Max again and smiled up at her. "It looks like it's showtime, boys and girls. Time to start pushing." His eyebrows went up as Max, as the most painful contraction to that point hit her, screamed something at him in Spanish. "Yeah, I think that I'm limber enough for that to be anatomically possible but I don't feel like finding out right this minute. Push, Max."
"You're doing fine, Maxie," Zack said as Max pushed. "Just keep it up. It's not so bad, is it?" He mentally winced when he saw the evil look that Max gave him as soon as the words left his mouth.
"Not so bad?" Max screamed. "If you think this isn't so bad, then how about I jam a two-by-four down your throat and then throw you like a fucking javelin into the Pacific Ocean? What do you think now?" She cried out as she pushed again and squeezed Zack's hand hard.
"You win," Zack said. He winced when he heard and felt a crack in his hand. "It's almost over, Maxie."
"He's right," Wayne said. "Just keep pushing, Max. Keep going, little sister." Max managed a nod and kept pushing and a minute or so later, they all heard the unmistakable sound of a newborn crying as the baby was born. "You did it, Maxie!" Wayne held the baby up so that Max and Zack could see. "You guys have a little girl!"
"Oh my God," Max said. Tears streamed down both her face and Zack's. "We have a daughter? Really?"
"Absolutely," Wayne said. He handed the new baby to the nurses so that they could clean her up and wrap her in a blanket and a few minutes later, he took his new niece and placed her in her mother's arms. "Congratulations, you guys. She's absolutely beautiful."
"Wow," Zack said softly. He gently stroked his daughter's dark hair and she opened her eyes and looked up at her parents. Zack's own eyes widened in surprise. "She has my eyes."
"She does," Max agreed. "She's perfect. Absolutely perfect. Zack, I'm sorry—"
"No need to apologize," Zack said. He kissed Max. "It was worth it." Max nodded and turned her attention back to her little girl.
"What name did you guys pick out?" Wayne asked.
"Gabrielle," Max said, the look in her eyes becoming a little bit sad before brightening again. "We're going to call her by the nickname Gabby, though."
Wayne understood. "That sounds great." He grinned. "Elle would have been thrilled. She'll be even more happy up there wherever she is if little Gabby turns out not to be short like she was." That got a laugh out of Max and a smile from Zack. Wayne patted Zack on the shoulder. "Come on. Let's tell the gang about Gabby and then we'll get Max moved up to a private room and you can spend the rest of the night with them."
"Thank you," Zack said. He gave Max another kiss and Gabrielle a gentle kiss on her forehead before he followed Wayne out of the room.
Max sighed happily as she held her daughter and watched her fiancé and brother walk out. This is incredible. She looked down at Gabrielle and grinned. I love you so much already. My beautiful baby girl.
TBC