Chapter Twenty Five
"What's wrong?" Elliot repeated as he looked at Dr. Carhart. His voice was filled with panic. How could something go wrong? He needed to know that everything was going to be fine. For the baby's sake, everything had to be fine. It was not created under pleasant circumstances. That factor should not doom it for the rest of its life.
Olivia's eyes grew wide with fear. "What?" she asked as she sat up slightly. "Something's wrong with my baby? There can't be." She turned to Elliot and motioned emphatically for him to stand next to her again. She grabbed his hand and clutched it tightly. She could feel the tears warming in her eyes. She did not care that she was in pain any more. All she cared about was making sure that her baby was healthy.
"Relax," Dr. Carhart assured the couple. "There's nothing wrong with your baby. It's rare, but we do see it. The baby's not exactly breech."
"Well, then what is it exactly?" Elliot asked in a confused tone.
Dr. Carhart sighed. "The body's meant for the baby to be delivered head first, upside-down. Your baby is head first, but she is already facing upwards. It's not life-threatening," she repeated. "It's just going to be that much harder on both you and the baby. It's all on you now, Olivia."
"Push!" the nurse yelled.
"Oh, shut up, you Nazi push nurse!" Olivia commanded harshly. She turned back to Elliot. "I can't do it," she whispered. Tears were coming from her eyes. "I've been trying, but I just can't."
Elliot shook his head as he took her hand. "Yes, you can, Olivia. This is no different than catching a rapist. It'll take some extra work, but it will all be worth it in the end."
Olivia slapped his chest. "You couldn't have thought of a better metaphor!" she asked him. "Like softball?" She groaned and once again resumed pushing. It was harder than she had thought. She hated it. She just wanted to get to the part where the baby was delivered. She did not like the delivery itself.
Dr. Carhart shook her head. "Push harder, Olivia," she said. "The baby's in a difficult position right now."
"I know you can, Liv," Elliot told her. He felt Olivia's grip on his hand tighten. Her face tightened in pain. This was it. They were about to become parents.
It took Olivia about a half an hour to get the baby out. Throughout that time, she kept insisting every six or seven minutes that she could not deliver the baby. Elliot kept assuring her that she could.
Dr. Carhart smiled. "Head's out," she said as she and the resident guided the rest of the baby's body out. "Ease up, Olivia," she said soothingly. "You did great."
The baby almost instantly began crying. That sound was all Olivia needed to hear. Relief filled her body. Her baby was safe. She looked up at Elliot.
"I'm so proud of you," Elliot said. He kissed her lips before they turned to the other non-yelling nurse.
The younger nurse had just finished cleaning off the baby. The child was still crying, but Elliot and Olivia did not care. "Congratulations," the nurse said. "You two are the parents of a beautiful, healthy baby girl." She walked over and placed the baby in Olivia's waiting arms.
Olivia looked down in shock and awe. "She's gorgeous," she whispered up to Elliot.
Elliot nodded. "She's perfect," he told her.
"You two settled on a name yet?" the nurse asked.
Olivia smiled at the nurse and nodded.
"Thank you," Casey said into the phone. "And congratulations again," she added. "Give Olivia our love." With that, she hung up.
"Elliot?" Munch questioned as he fought back a yawn.
Casey nodded. "With the birth and afterbirth, Olivia was exhausted. She's already asleep." She smiled. "That's right. Pay up, boys. Alexandra Serena Benson-Stabler. Eight pounds, eleven ounces. June 9, 2006. 11:39 P.M."
((Author's Note: I'm sorry to those of you who wanted Olivia to have a boy, but it had to be a girl. It's part of the title. (Though I'm not planning on raping Lexy.) And I've had that name picked out from day one (as in before I knew that Alex was coming back). Thank you all. You've been great. There's still about two more chapters left, but I don't know if I'll be able to get them up as quickly as I've gotten these past four.))