Eye of the Storm
Disclaimer: Haley and baby mine. Everyone else, nigh. Angel fans my recognize the chapter title.
Author's Note: I'm not sure if I type of car I gave Sam and Haley is believable. I was looking through the IMCDB (Internet Movie Car Database), and came across this particular car model that, according to the database was used in the fifth season of Angel. Hope it's believable; the roof was down (or not there at all, not sure) in the picture I saw, and I'm hoping that since it was used in Angel the model's still available (or at least usable). If not, can someone tell me and I'll correct it.
Also, if anyone's interested, I thought I'd mention now that I based Haley on Darla (minus vampirism) from Angel (yes, I like Angel). Lol, actually, first she was based on Billie Jenkins on Charmed (played by Kaley Cuoco, hence the name Haley), then I got obsessed with Buffy, and for a brief time Haley was based on Buffy, and then finally I settled on my #1 favourite actress, Julie Benz (Well, Darla, since I based Haley on Darla, when Julie Benz was younger). It is actually an interesting coincidence, because Darla was played by Julie Benz, who I learned a little while after creating Haley, had played Layla in the Supernatural Episode 'Faith'.
Oh, and one final note. I don't think any amount of research is ever going to give me the knowledge to properly write from the point of view of a woman who is in labour, so I apologize if any of the symptoms or descriptions are inaccurate. Of course, some of the symptoms are just Haley, nothing to do with the pregnancy, but the rest, I hope is okay.
Review Answers:
Miss Meehan – Thanks, I'm glad you liked it. Yes, that's exactly the feel I was hoping it would have.
FireZombie – Yeah, I know it's a little early. I based it on the only pregnancy I've seen properly (on Charmed, when Piper was pregnant with Wyatt), and the baby was born about six weeks early in that, so I figured I'd just have it that way, make the pregnancy even more stressful for Haley, lol. Here's the update, enjoy.
EmSyd – Thanks, glad you liked it.
Daughter of Ipswich – Unfortunately, not much getting ready, lol. You'll see what I mean as you read on. Here's another fast update, possibly the last until next weekend (weeks aren't a good time for updates).
The Kiss of Death – Lol, yeah, I suppose it does. Thanks, here's more.
Spuffyshipper – Thanks, have done. Yeah, things just aren't going right for her. That's no problem, contrary to what I sometimes think, there is a life outside of the computer (one I am trying very hard to avoid, but know other people don't).
Chapter 15: Quickening
"Sam, get your ass down here!" Dean shouted from the bottom of the stairs. Turning around, he stalked back into the kitchen where Haley was sitting on the chair, on the verge of a panic attack, with Meg trying (and failing) to keep her calm.
"Why is this happening? Now, of all times?" Haley gasped out between her panicked hyperventilation. "This baby isn't due for another six weeks. I am not ready to have this baby yet."
"Yeah, well that doesn't seem to matter to 'this baby'," Dean said. He turned around and was about to call Sam's name for the fourth time since Haley had announced her water had broken, when Sam came into the kitchen.
"What is-" He saw Haley. "What's wrong? Is it the baby? Do we need to get to the hospital?" He asked very quickly, barely taking a breath between each question.
"Hospital, yes. Baby, yes, wrong… maybe." Haley said, taking many breaths between each word.
"Okay, calm down." Sam said. "The first stage of labour isn't supposed to be as painful as you're making it look; your panicking probably isn't making it any easier." Haley shot him a withering glare.
"What are you, a woman?" She asked. "Baby, early, not fun." She said. "Now you either call the hospital and find out why the hell my baby is coming six weeks early or you can get a free ride in the ambulance as a patient." While they all knew that she wasn't serious (well, they hoped she wasn't serious), Sam decided it would probably be a good idea to do what she wanted.
"I'll call the hospital if you promise to calm down." He said. "Just… you know, breathe, calm your mind, and…" He fumbled for the words. "… and all that other touchy-feely-self-help-yoga-crap Dean doesn't like." With a shrug, he turned and walked out of the kitchen (no phone there), to the phone in the hall. He picked it up and had dialled in four of the eight numbers in the hospital phone number before he realized something.
"The phone's dead." He said, sticking his head into the kitchen. Dean raised an eyebrow, while Haley stared straight ahead, trying very hard to calm her breathing and forget what she'd just heard.
"Okay, well… try your cell phone, maybe we can- Meg, what're you." Meg had walked over to one of the walls, and flicked on one of the light (despite the fact it was broad daylight). For a minute, everyone just thought she'd lost her mind. Then they noticed something; the light, even barely visible in the daylight, had begun to flicker.
"Oh, that's not good." Haley groaned, not willing to say, but truly believing, that things couldn't get any worse. On top of the premature labour she was about to experience, now there were demons somewhere in the neighbourhood. Possibly the Demon, considering their luck. A look of mild discomfort crossed her face as she felt a contraction coming on.
At that moment, John, Caleb and Bobby burst into the kitchen.
"The Demon is-"
"Here." Haley interrupted John. She nodded toward the light.
"You don't sound anywhere near as worried as you should." Caleb stated.
"Neither would you if you had something the size of a Chihuahua trying to squeeze out of your lower half." Haley shot back, looking a little… delirious actually. She closed her eyes, letting out a strangled sob. "It's smothering me… it's all I can feel… all around me… no control… Just keep pushing… never winning…" Sam's eyes widened.
"What?" Dean asked, noticing his brother's look. "What is it? Is she actually making sense to you?" A brief look of panic crossed Sam's face but quickly vanished.
"I… I think she might be… uh… sensing the baby." He said. "Not just sensing it. I think she's… uh… experiencing it. Like when I was…" He trailed off. But Dean got the idea.
"You mean to tell me that what Haley's feeling now… that she's… she's feeling the labour… from the baby's point of view?" He asked. Sam gave a quick nod. Dean looked around the room, not really looking at anyone. "Wow, count the ways that that could go wrong."
"Hello, did everybody forget about the Demon?" Bobby asked. Haley suddenly turned to panicked look on the hunter.
"He's here… he's coming for me, I can feel it… no… that's not right… he's hiding in plain sight, out of sight, out of mind…" She actually gave something that resembled a giggle. Then she put her head in her hands, and began crying. "Get me out of here." She sobbed. "God, get me out of here now." Things began to shake, move on there own. Sam turned a startled look on Haley; there was no doubt she was doing this, even though she didn't seem to realize it. But that didn't make sense. Haley was an empath; the only time she could use telekinesis was when the psi-vamp's essence took over.
"Okay, we're going." He said, reaching over and putting a hand on her shoulder. She looked up from her hands, and the shaking stopped. "Come on." He said, helping her to her feet.
"Okay, Caleb, Bobby, you two go with them." John said. Sam shot a surprised look over at his father.
"What?"
"I'm staying," John said. "See if I can't hold it off while the rest of you get gone."
"Well, then I'm staying." Dean said. Sam's look moved to his brother. "You can take care of Haley… I'm not leaving Dad to fight this alone…"
"Dean…" Sam began.
"No…" His brother cut across him. "Anything you say… is gonna sound too much like a chick-flick-picture-perfect goodbye. None of which I approve. I'll be seeing you again. At the hospital, later."
"Well…" Bobby began. "If you two idiots are staying… you're gonna need a level head around to keep you both from getting yourself killed-"
"Woman in labour over here," Haley interrupted irritably. "Can we just decide who's coming and who's staying and go already."
"Caleb, get her out to the car." Sam said. She suddenly shot him a panicked look. "Don't worry, I'm coming… I'm not leaving you. But I need to talk to my brother and father for a minute." He glanced up at the light. The flickering was getting more and more insistent, like it was an actual warning. "Hurry up, we don't have long!" Without another word, Caleb walked over and helped Haley out of the room. Sam turned on his brother.
"Yes." Dean said before he could even open his mouth. "I'm sure. I'm staying here to make sure you can get Haley to the hospital before she gives birth to my nephew." Sam bit his lip, but nodded, turning to Meg.
"You already know I'm staying," She said. She put her arm around Dean's shoulder. "And you know nothing you say, or he says for that matter, is going to change my mind." Sam frowned at that, but nodded.
"Okay." He said. Giving them something between a nervous and encouraging smile, he added, "Good luck, make sure you arrive in time for the birth." And then he was gone, leaving Dean alone with Bobby, Meg and John. Dean walked around the kitchen counter to the four drawers containing various kitchen utensils, and pulled the bottom drawer all the way out. Beneath it, there was a compartment where Haley had stashed some of her weapons on the off chance she'd need them (she'd had to hide them because Sam didn't seem to trust her with weapons while she was pregnant; probably with good reason).
"Okay, ready guys?" He asked over his shoulder, seeing his father and Meg standing there. He took out some of the weapons and dropped them on the counter-top.
-;-
Haley was sitting in the back seat of 1959 Cadillac Deville she and Sam had gotten as a late wedding gift; from Dean. Apparently, he'd spent the three months up until the wedding, and the next two months after that, trying to put it back together. The roof was down, the wind was in Haley's hair, and she could feel the contraction begin to die down again, for the next fifteen-to-twenty minutes at least.
"'You doing okay back there?" Sam asked from the driver's seat. Caleb sat in the front passenger's seat.
"Do I look okay?" Haley asked, leaning her head against the top of the door.
"Do you want an honest answer?"
"Are you going to tell me I'm gorgeous?"
"You are, but no."
"Lie to me."
"You look relaxed and beautiful." Sam said with a smile on his face, though the smile never reached his eyes. Haley could sense the concern coming from him. He was worried; about the baby, maybe? They'd lost one already, and now this one was possibly going to be born six weeks before he was supposed to be due. Sam, she mused, had every right to be concerned.
"We can't go to the hospital." He suddenly said about ten minutes later. Haley sat up straight, looking at him.
"You are kidding me, right?" she asked, glaring at what she could see of his face in the rear view mirror. The look in his eyes told her everything she needed to know. "Of course you aren't, you never kid about stuff like this." She laid her head back down.
"They'll be expecting us to go there." Sam said. "Even if… Dad and Dean and the others keep the Demon busy back at home, his minions could possess, well, just about anyone in that hospital. We'd be sitting ducks if we went there." As much as she hated to admit it (all Haley really wanted to do right then was get to the hospital and possibly pass out from exhaustion on a hospital bed while the doctor told Sam whether their second baby was going to live or die).
"What time is it?" She suddenly asked. She realized that the sun seemed a lot lower then it should've been.
"About…" Caleb glanced at his watch. "Three-thirty." Haley's eyes would've widened if she'd had the energy. She'd slept like a log last night, and had slept for another… seven hours today. Where was all her energy going?
Into the baby, she thought. Drained by the Demon, by the empathy… She still had the feeling of being trapped, of the endless struggle for freedom like she'd had back in the house, right before her water had broken. Sam had said she was feeling the baby? Talk about unpleasant thoughts. She couldn't imagine what it would be like if she actually channelled the baby when she was actually giving birth.
"Where will we go?" she asked. She tried to forget about how much time she'd lost sleeping in the last week.
"I… I don't know." Sam admitted. He glanced over at Caleb. "'You know of any abandoned huts or shacks outside of town?" He asked hopefully. His eyebrows rose in surprise when Caleb began his sentence with:
"Well, as matter of fact…"
-;-
"Oh, yes, this is a lovely place to give birth to our first child," Haley muttered as Sam helped her to a couch that had definitely seen better days. "It's right up there with the sewers and a nuclear waste dump." She turned a disgruntled look on Sam. "I am not staying here."
"Well, hey, at least it's… reasonably clean." Sam responded, looking around the small room. That was an overstatement; it looked like the place hadn't seen any kind of cleaning utensils in years. There was about a centimetre of dust coating the floors, half the woodwork appeared to be rotting, and all the furniture looked like it had spent a year or so in the sewers.
Haley was staring distastefully at the couch, and finally shook her head, "Forget it; I'll just sit on the floor." She walked over to the wall and sat down, leaning against it. She let out a small sob. "It isn't supposed to be like this. This pregnancy is supposed to be a good thing. But everything just keeps going so wrong." Sam stared at, apparently not knowing what to say. "Why the hell is this happening? Can't we just get a few months peace to have this baby?" She was shouting now, as if she really thought the Demon could hear her.
Sam gave a sigh, and moved to leave the room. A panicked look suddenly reached Haley's face. "Where are you going?" She asked.
"To help Caleb." He said. "We need to salt all the windows and doors, just in case the Demon somehow gets away from Dean and the others." Haley stared at him for a minute, and then quickly nodded.
"Yeah, okay, you… you do that… I'll sit here and wish fervently that this is all a dream and I'm going to wake up and the baby will be born and…" Sam left the room, leaving her to her rambling. He wondered if all women got like this during the first stage of labour, or if it was just Haley.
She sat in the uncomfortable silence for a couple of minutes before another contraction started. Her eyes were squeezed shut; this one felt a little stronger then the last, and it hurt more. From what she could remember (Sam had done most of the labour research and just relayed it to her), that meant the birth was getting closer. She just couldn't decide if that was a good thing or a bad thing.
"Hey," Caleb said as Sam re-entered the room where he was currently spreading a circle of salt around the door. Well, a half-circle anyway.
"Hey." Sam said back. He looked at the circle of salt, and then back at Caleb. "You need any help?" He asked. The older hunter shook his head.
"Nah, it's not that difficult." Caleb said. Sam nodded. He looked like he hadn't really expected Caleb to except the offer of help, but had decided to make the offer all the same.
"So… you really think the Demon will follow us here?" Sam asked. Caleb shrugged, finishing the circle around the door.
"You never know," he said. "Anyway, better safe then sorry." The older hunter glanced over at Sam, who had a somewhat nervous look on his face. "Hey, don't worry. No demon's are gonna get through these salt circles once I've got them down." He gave Sam a reassuring smile, which Sam returned.
"That's not really what I'm worried about," he said. Caleb raised an eyebrow, and Sam leaned in. "I'm actually worried about how much noise you're going to make when I kill you." Before Caleb could so much as breathe, Sam had his head in both hands, and had twisted it almost all-the way around. There was a sickening crack, and Caleb fell, his head turned at an odd angle.
Standing over his body, Sam gave a cold smile. "Hmmm, guess I had nothing to worry about," he said. And then, like a cloud forming on fast-forward, a sickly-yellow haze spread out over his pupils. "You said it yourself, Caleb; better safe then sorry." The Demon said. "Now I know I'm safe." On that last sentence, his voice had gone a lot deeper, with a lot more malice. Then his eyes returned to normal, and he gave Caleb's body one sound kick (as if making sure he was really dead, like the broken neck wasn't evidence enough), he then he turned around, heading back to where Haley was waiting for him. Well, waiting for Sam.
-;-
A/N: (Insert maniacal laughter here). So, I know I gave away what happened with Laura. Tell me, did I do better here? Hehe, I hope so. Yes, Daughter of Ipswich, in answer to your first review, I have done a lot more then considering. I have actually had it planned since the beginning of Eye of the Storm, if not before that, just couldn't say anything because I like surprising (in other words, shocking) people. And I realized how perfectly it fit not long ago, when I remembered that in 'The Phantom Traveller', Dean mentioned that someone who is emotionally vulnerable (not his exact words, but the gist of it) is open to possession, and Sam was definitely emotionally vulnerable. Next chapter will tell you guys just how long he's been possessed, along with a few other explanations.
Oh, and I hope the fact that this chapter is kind of short is offset by the fact that it is the third update in about three days. If not, at least make sure when you murder me that it's quick, painless and subtle. On that rather unhappy not, I bid thee farewell until the next chapter (don't even ask where that came from, lol).