Chapter 7—Rapid Developments
1
Anna was reclining on Callen's lap, outside. "Callen, is it okay if we plan the baby shower after Thanksgiving, please?"
"I don't see why not," he answered. "What are your Thanksgiving plans?"
"I don't have any, other than I want to spend it alone with you," she answered.
"Alone? What about Arkady?"
"No, Callen. He's always off gallivanting around the world, or with some lady of ill repute. So, no," Anna answered. "And some of the questions that he will ask are too hard to answer because they are none of his business. He can come some other time. Please."
"Oh, boy."
2
Anna stuck to her guns. She did not want Arkady for Thanksgiving dinner. She prepared a complete feast for herself and Callen, with enough food for only two people, and she didn't care that she was being a bit inconsiderate.
Their tiny, six-pound turkey, filled with its sausage stuffing, was perfect. And so were the roasted potatoes and carrots, the cranberry mold and green beans, the clover rolls and gravy. Anna took pains with the gravy, making it as smooth as she could. She didn't tell Callen that she had thrown it into the blender to guarantee its smoothness.
In the end, he was very happy with their little feast, and that he was alone with Anna. It gave them a chance to bond even more closely than they were, and there was no rush or need to be overly polite to anyone even though they both were super tired. All in all, both were very happy with their Thanksgiving celebration. He made sure that he did the clean-up, giving her a chance to rest.
3
The following week, Anna had a doctor's appointment. She went with good grace, although she didn't want to go at all. Callen ignored all of her objections.
Dr. Waterston examined her from head to toe, and found her to be very healthy. The morning sickness had stopped, and the baby was beginning to grow larger, and develop features. Its bones were visible on the Ultrasound, which was very exciting to Anna. Soon after, the baby's toenails began to form, and the level of activity was increasing. The baby was now able to roll around and flip, although Anna couldn't feel its movements yet. As the baby grew, her abdomen continued to expand, and she was very proud of her new shape. She now felt pregnant, and knew that she looked pregnant. She enjoyed flaunting her pregnancy.
Hetty understood her ulterior motives, but didn't like the effect they were having on the other two agents.
"Tone it down, Ms. Kolcheck," she warned.
Anna looked abashed, and Callen smirked quietly. He knew that she would eventually be busted by Hetty. After Hetty spoke to her, he drew Anna aside.
"Nobody is prouder of you than I am," he said, "but you have to remember that Kensi is ultra-sensitive to all of this. She won't say anything, but she hurts from it."
Anna looked at him, shock showing on her face.
"Oh, man, Callen. I didn't mean to be insensitive about it. I love being pregnant—"
He hugged her. "I know you do, and so does everyone else. Just be more mindful of others, okay, baby?"
She nodded against him. She hadn't intended to upset Kensi at all, but thinking back, she realized that the hurt had been showing on her face.
"What should I do?"
Callen shook his head. "Nothing. Do nothing at all. It will work out, but leave it be. Kensi will come around, but leave her alone. She has to process it on her own." He kissed her for a long moment.
Anna broke the kiss, and hugged him tightly. She felt bad for hurting Kensi. Callen sensed it, and hugged her even more tightly, and rubbed her back.
"It'll be okay, baby," he soothed. "Now…we have to get back to work. Those perps won't catch themselves."
"I know," Anna said, feeling a lot better than she had been. She was glad that Callen was confined to the bullpen for a few days, although she wasn't happy with why. Gently she took his injured hand in hers, and examined it closely. Most of his hand was still badly bruised, although no bones had been broken. She kissed the back of his hand. "I'm so sorry," she mumbled.
He smiled. "Thank you, Anna, but shit happens sometimes. That's why it's called an accident." She had caught his hand in the car door. He flexed it. "Ow."
"I still think it should be put in a cast."
He shook his head. "No way."
"Callen, please," Anna said, wishing she could convince him to do so.
He flexed his hand again. "Oww," he repeated.
She looked up at him, and didn't say a word.
4
Several days later, Callen couldn't tolerate the constant pain in his hand. The bruising was getting darker, not lighter, and the blacks, reds, and purples had him concerned. He went to the staff doctor to have it x-rayed, and learned that two metacarpal bones were fractured. He had to make an appointment with an orthopedist. He was very glad that that doctor was located in the same building as Dr. Waterston.
Anna was very near the end of the second trimester. She was very surprised to learn that her baby now had developed its lungs, and was covered with the vermix caseosa, which in turn was covered with the fur-like lanugo, which helped to protect the vermix from movement. She was very aware that the baby was responding to her voice, and other external sounds, but she wished she could feel the baby move and kick.
Callen emerged from the orthopedist's office with a bright blue cast on his hand. He was very upfront about telling Anna that it was broken, and that he'd have to wear the cast for about eight weeks.
Later that night, as they were lounging in bed, watching TV, Anna nearly jumped out of her skin.
Callen looked at her funny. "What's wrong?"
She shook her head. "I don't think anything is! The baby kicked me!"
He sat up and stared at her. "Say what?"
"Callen! Callen! I felt the baby move!"
A huge grin filled his face. He put his hand on her abdomen. He felt the movement.
"Oh, my gosh!" he crowed. He kept his hand on her, and a huge sense of joy filled him. "This is amazing!"
Anna put both hands on her abdomen. "It sure is!" She moved Callen's hand over to where she was feeling the most movement.
An even bigger grin filled his face as he felt the strong movement. He followed the baby with his hand.
"This is awesome!" he chirped. "Wow!"
They lay down again, and Callen was especially gentle as he put his arm around her. He still held her close; he preferred sleeping with her up against him, although it was becoming more and more difficult with her growing belly.
5
Anna began to daydream at work. She was becoming more and more aware that the baby was very active when she was still, and that it calmed down when she herself was moving around.
"Baby," she said, "You have it all backwards! You like to kick and flip when I'm trying to sleep!"
She was by herself in the bullpen, and slouched in her chair. She pulled up her shirt so she could watch the baby's movements, and sure enough, she did see a ripple cross her abdomen. She put her hand on it.
"What are you doing?" came Callen's voice as he caught sight of her sitting with her shirt up.
Red-faced, Anna pulled her shirt down. "I'm watching the baby," she said.
Callen shook his head, and then sat down in Kensi's chair. "Anna, baby, save that silly stuff for home, please. Nobody needs to be a part of that," he cautioned.
"I know," she said, "but it's exciting! I want to see the baby move, and feel it, too," she explained.
He nodded with his nose in the air. "I see," he said. "I'll tell you what. At home, you can take your shirt completely off. Okay?"
Blushing again, Anna laughed. "Okay," she agreed. "Do you want a turn?"
He laughed. "Of course I do!" He dragged his chair closer to her, and put his hand under her shirt. Within minutes, he felt the baby's movements. He scritched his hand on her abdomen, and felt the baby react. "Oh, my God! We really need to do this at home!"
6
That night, Callen knelt by the bed, and leaned his head on her belly. Then he kissed it.
"Hey, baby," he said directly to the baby, "this is your papa speaking. Do you know that you're going to have the best mama in the whole world?" He put his hand on Anna's belly, and waited for the baby to react. And sure enough, it did. Callen became very excited. "Hey, baby! Soon you'll be with us for real, and we'll be able to hold you in our arms," he added.
Anna laughed. She stroked Callen's head. "You're going to be a great papa," she said.
His knees were beginning to hurt, so he stood up. Then he leaned over and kissed her belly. He was amazed at how much he loved the baby already, although it hadn't been born yet.
Anna sat up awkwardly. "Callen, I'm hungry," she said, struggling with her shirt.
He helped her to remove it. "What do you want to eat?"
"I don't know," she said, standing up. "Maybe some surprise me?"
Callen began to laugh at her. She was half-naked, and her pants were at an odd angle beneath her bulging belly. She could not wear anything at waist-level, so everything was centered under her belly. She had stopped wearing skirts and her business slacks. Now, she wore mostly sweatpants, and half of those were Callen's.
"Not a problem," he replied, gathering her into his arms. "I love your baby body,"he added, kissing her.
"But nothing fits!" she griped.
"Stop. What you have fits fine," he said.
Anna shook her head. "No, it doesn't. Most of what I wear is yours!"
He glanced at the shirt they had dropped on the floor. "Oh, boy," he said with a huge grin. "Oh, who cares?"
Anna shrugged. "I sure don't, but I want stuff to fit again."
"Stop it," he answered. "No, you don't. You like being pregnant."
"I know." Awkwardly, she laid her head on his shoulder. "Will you please get me some sardines and grape jelly?"
It took Callen a moment to process her request. "What?!"
"I want some sardines and grape jelly," she repeated.
"I see. Why don't you order something, and I'll go to the supermarket and get you some snacks?"
"Okay, Callen. Thank you," Anna said, giving him a kiss. She climbed up onto their bed, and settled against the headboard.
He was as good as his word. He went through every section of unusual foods, and bought a wide variety of them, taking care that they would provide the nutrients that she needed. He also bought a huge amount of yogurts and oranges and broccoli florets. He added fruit juices to his collection, and then added a few packages of cookies for himself. Eighty dollars later, he drove home with his treasures.
Not too long afterward, the delivery boy brought their Chinese food feast, and Callen paid him, including a good tip.
Anna ate her sardines first, and then delved into her dinner with gusto. Callen was so glad that her appetite had returned to normal, and then some. With the baby growing by leaps and bounds, she was almost insatiable. Of course, with a bigger baby came more frequent trips to the bathroom. She couldn't believe how often she had to pee.
7
A few days later, Anna had another doctor's appointment; she had begun the two-week checkups.
She asked Dr. Waterston every single question she could think of, and the doctor was very patient with her. She explained that the baby's development was mostly complete, and that the lungs were beginning to function. She also pointed out that the baby would be growing larger by the minute, shocking Anna.
"You mean I'll be as big as an elephant?"
Dr. Waterston smiled. "Maybe not that big, but close. The more your baby grows, the better. You need a healthy baby who will arrive when he or she feels like it." She was very aware of the baby's sex, but was equally aware that the parents did not want to know. She took them into the Ultrasound lab.
Anna leaned on the table, and Callen lifted her onto it. She pulled up her shirt, and the doctor smiled when she saw Anna's pants. There was no way they could be at waist-height.
She drizzled the gel onto Anna's belly, and then ran the transducer across her whole self. Both she and Callen were enraptured by the development and size of the baby. They could clearly see its features, including the finger- and toenails.
Callen caught sight of what he thought was the baby's genitalia, and fleetingly thought he noticed that the baby was a girl. He kept his opinions and observations to himself.
Dr. Waterston printed the images they were seeing, and he put his picture in his breast pocket. Anna held onto hers, staring at it. She was still having trouble grasping that she was carrying a small human inside her body.
Thereafter, Anna had appointments every two weeks, and then, suddenly, she was placed on the every week schedule. The doctor pointed out the current dimensions of the baby, surprising both Callen and Anna; the baby was now about six pounds, and a little over a foot long.
The next visit, it was revealed that the baby was a good size for delivery. It measured almost eighteen inches long, and weighed just over seven pounds. All they had to do was wait.
By then, Anna was tired of being pregnant. She was crabby and short-tempered, and Callen had to hide from her periodically. She was too prickly. He also knew that she couldn't help it, but he also couldn't help his reactions. Each time, after he had calmed down, he went back to minister to her, willing her to feel better.
He took the time and trouble to speak to Hetty about taking time off to be home with Anna, and Hetty agreed. She thought it was safer for both of them. Once he had that information, Callen relaxed a great deal, and he found it easier to deal with Anna's crazy mood swings.
A day or so later, he called Dr. Waterston and asked her what he should watch for when it was time for the baby to be born. The most obvious sign was Anna's water breaking. She taught him to watch for it, and to get Anna to the hospital as soon as possible afterward. Nothing had happened yet, so the doctor asked him to bring Anna to her office. She wanted to check on the baby's position, and be sure it was head down. The Ultrasound revealed that everything was ready to go; it was just a matter of waiting.
8
Anna was very uncomfortable with her size, and she found it difficult to do the simplest tasks. Every day, Callen had to get her dressed, and every day, he had to escort her into the bathroom to be sure she was safe.
One particular day, about ten days later, she wiped herself, but couldn't get dry, no matter what she did. She even asked Callen to wipe her, but it didn't help. He got the same results that she had gotten.
Callen looked up at her. "Anna, it's time. We need to take you to the hospital now," he said gently.
She looked at him with panic in her eyes. The whole concept of having a baby was intriguing and fascinating, but the reality was hard for her to deal with. Callen was just as fidgety as she.
"I don't know what to do," she said, trying not to cry.
He leaned over and hugged her. "It's okay, Anna. That's why the doctors and nurses will be there with you," he soothed. He could hear her trickle again, and hid a laugh. "Let's get you cleaned up so we can go, please."
Anna nodded, and again had trouble wiping herself. Callen got her a pad and put it in her underwear for her, and then attempted wiping her again.
"Forget it," he said, helping her to stand up. Then he pulled up her panties and pants, and then hugged her. "It's okay, baby. You'll be fine."
She still believed that he could fix anything, and relaxed in his arms. He felt the difference, and was glad that she was relaxing, even if it would be for only a moment.
He brought her over to the big blue chair, and helped her to sit down. Then he checked her go-bag, making sure that she had packed everything she would need for her hospital stay, including her toothbrush, and some pads. He put the bag over his shoulders, and then helped her to stand up.
Callen held her hand all the way down the stairs and to the car. He slid her seat all the way back, and then helped her to sit down. Then he buckled her seat belt. He gave her a sweet kiss, and went around to the driver's side, and got in the car. He buckled himself in and then drove over to St. Anne's ER entrance, and he parked nearby.
9
He got out of the car, leaving Anna within. He went over to the doors, and spoke to the first person he saw, explaining what was happening.
The orderly grinned, and went to get a doctor. When he returned, he also had a buddy and a gurney with him.
Callen escorted them to his car, where they all helped Anna out of it. The men settled her on the gurney, and strapped her onto it, not wanting to take any risks.
Anna had begun to experience contractions, and she was crying softly.
"Callen, they hurt," she said. "I need them to go away."
The orderlies grinned. They were used to pregnant women saying odd things, and Anna was no different.
"Can I stay with her?"
"Not yet. Not until they get her into a delivery room," one man said. "We'll come for you when it's time."
"Thank you, man," Callen said. He bent over Anna and whispered sweet nothings in her ear, and then kissed her. When the orderlies wheeled her away, she began crying in earnest.
Callen himself felt like crying, too. He found a waiting room and sat down in the nearest chair. Shortly after, a clerk came for him. She handed him a mask, and then explained he had to fill out all kinds of paperwork on Anna. He did so willingly, as it distracted him from freaking out himself. When he was finished, he returned to the waiting room.
Callen didn't have to wait long. True to his word, the orderly came for him, and escorted him to the delivery room where Anna was.
"Thanks again, man," Callen said to him, although his attention was focused on Anna, who was crying non-stop. All he wanted to do was go to her and comfort her. He glanced at the medical team. "Please?"
The lead doctor nodded.
"Hold on!" said a nurse. "You need to get disinfected, and put on a gown."
"What?" Callen stopped in his tracks. Another nurse grabbed him and brought him over to the sink where she helped him scrub up. Then she dressed him in a gown, and head cap. She cautioned him about his mask, but realized it was a futile thing to do.
Callen went immediately to Anna. He stood next to her head, and fussed over her, patting her and soothing her, and kissing her. She calmed down a great deal when she saw him, and was able to smile at him.
"You staying with me?"
"Oh, yes," he replied, moving behind her head, out of the way of the doctors and nurses.
One nurse measured her dilation, and she was at 8cm. She needed to be at 10cm.
As her contractions increased, Callen moved over to make room for a male nurse to hold Anna's hand for each contraction. Callen cautioned him to be careful as she was very strong.
The nurse laughed, and reminded Callen that he was used to being crushed by the pregnant women. Both men laughed.
10
Anna's screams were piercing, and the lead doctor asked her if she wanted an epidural. She nodded.
A nurse prepared the injection, and then she, and the team of nurses, rolled Anna onto her side. Then they prepped her body for the injection of the epidural analgesia. The nurse poked her as gently as she could, and then pushed the plunger until the needle barrel was empty of the medicine.
The shot hurt, and Anna cried some more. She didn't know what to expect from it, and almost didn't care, as long as the pain was taken away. After a half hour, she began to relax, and she realized that the injection was working.
Callen looked for, and found, a box of tissues. He grabbed a bunch, and wiped Anna's face.
"It's all done, baby. Just relax now," he coached. She held onto his hand with a steel grip. "Easy, baby," he cautioned, showing her his other hand.
Anna grinned through her tears, and loosened her grip on him.
Callen moved away from Anna for a moment, wondering where he should actually stand. The doctor told him he could catch the baby if he wanted to.
His eyes opened wide in shock. "Sure!"
The medical team placed him just to the side of Anna's bottom half. While he was standing there, he thought his eyes were deceiving him. He saw a thick trickle of urine slide out of Anna, down to the floor. The longer he watched, the more urine she passed.
"Oh, boy," he said to no one in particular.
One quick-witted nurse heard him. "What's wrong?"
"She just peed all over the floor," he explained.
"What are you saying, Callen?" Anna asked. Her hearing was as good as ever.
"You peed on the floor," he repeated.
"I did? I didn't even feel it."
The nurse grinned. "This happens to many women who take the epidural. They can't feel anything down there." She went to a storage cabinet and took out some tubing. She saw the look of confusion on Callen. "It's okay. It's simply a catheter."
"Okay," replied Callen, who was wondering what other new experiences they would have before the birth of the baby. He watched the nurse insert it into Anna's bladder, and the tube immediately filled with yellow liquid.
"She always pee like this?"
"Only when she has a UTI," he answered.
"Okay," said the nurse. She readjusted the tubing toward Anna's chest, moving it away from the cervix.
Another nurse measured Anna again, and was happy to announce that she was just about 9cm dilated.
"Soon," she said to Callen and Anna.
"How soon is soon?" he asked.
"A few more hours or so, or maybe less. It depends on the baby, mostly. Once she is at 10cm, she will be good to go."
"Okay," Callen said.
11
The team measured Anna every half hour to check on her progress. She was wide awake and alert, and Callen was glad. He hung out with her, even though he stayed down by her feet, and Anna was thrilled. Periodically, her body would contort with the contractions, and Callen watched with fascination.
A nurse measured her again, and this time, she was nearly 11cm dilated.
"What's that mean?" Anna asked.
Callen face-palmed himself, but he kept quiet.
"It means you have to push the next time a contraction comes," the nurse explained.
"Push?"
"Yep. If you push, the baby will exit your body," the nurse said patiently.
Callen hid a smirk.
The doctor moved to Anna's bed. He checked to see if the baby's head was crowning, and if so, she needed to push with the contractions.
He smiled. "Would you like to see?" he asked her.
"Okay?" Anna replied.
He instructed a nurse to hold up a hand mirror and show the baby's head to its mother.
"Oh, my gosh!" Anna reacted.
Callen was as surprised. He could easily see the baby's head. "Where should I stand?"
"Directly in front of her," the doctor answered. He could see that Anna was having a contraction, so he told the nurses to help her bear down to expel the baby.
Callen stood ready, hoping he wouldn't panic or faint. A nurse was right there with him in case there were any problems.
At last, the baby's head was completely free of the cervix, and Callen stood ready. His heart was racing, and he was as nervous as he could be. He fleetingly thought he'd have a problem, but he was more excited by the prospect of catching his child as it was born.
The nurses helped Anna bear down again, and she gave a mighty push. A little more of the baby was visible. And again. A big contraction overtook Anna, and the nurses guided her to push as hard as she could. At last, Callen caught the tiny baby in his arms.
He looked up at the exhausted mother. "We got us a girl!" he crowed happily. Then he looked at the nurses. "Oh, my God!" He was astounded and flabbergasted and shocked all in the same breath. Here he was, holding the tiny baby that he and Anna had made. The baby howled, and her father grinned foolishly.