Kuvira's trial is upon them, so Bumi and Lin are hosting her family while they are in the city.
After they leave to return to Zaofu, an old friend of Bumi's makes an appearance. How does this affect Lin and Bumi?
A/N: Another longer chapter. I forgot to add Haru's birthday into the last chapter, so I worked it into here.
Since Lin wasn't in Ruins of the Empire anyways, I am only going to briefly be touching on things that happen in it, most likely much less than what I did for Turf Wars. But I will still link the transcript from the Wiki for those who have not read the comic so that you know what is going on in the background while the next couple chapters are taking place.
Three weeks later - Lin 26 weeks pregnant
It was the day before Kuvira's trial began and Lin was preparing lunch and tea in the kitchen. Bumi and Haru were finishing up Haru's airbending practice in the garden. They were expecting Su, Baatar, Huan, Wing, and Wei to arrive any moment. Lin had insisted they stay with them through the trial.
The back door opened, and her own boys entered the house.
"Smells yummy, Mama." Haru said, sniffing the air.
"I'm glad you think so badgermole." Lin said, giving him a smile. "Why don't you get Daddy to help you wash up. Your cousins, Aunt and Uncle should be here any minute."
"Okay!" He said excitedly, before grabbing his father's hand and pulling him towards the bathroom. Lin shot Bumi a look of amusement when their eyes met before he left the room.
Shortly after, Lin heard the sound of an automobile pulling into their driveway. She made sure everything would be fine for a few moments, before making her way to the door.
She opened the front door just as Su was about to knock, startling the family outside.
"Not sure why I didn't expect that to happen." Su said, quicker to calm than her family.
Lin offered Su a smirk, before allowing the younger woman to pull her into a hug.
"Oh look at you! Your belly is so cute, and look at your cheeks. I don't remember a time when your cheekbones couldn't cut glass." Su pinched Lin's slightly fuller cheeks. Another thing she hadn't had with her pregnancy with Haru. "And a girl! Lin this is incredible, I am so excited for you!" Su said excitedly.
Lin internally grimaced at her sister's excitement. She knew she meant well, but the weight gain had made her a little more self-conscious than she had been. Not to mention, she still felt mixed feelings about how she was going to raise a daughter.
"Dear, let your sister breathe. We know you are excited, but stressing her out won't help, remember?" Baatar said gently, as he pried Su from Lin.
Lin shot Baatar a grateful smile. Once Su was detached, Baatar gave Lin a quick hug. "Congratulations. I know we've spoken briefly over the radio, but I wanted to offer it in person."
"Thank you, Baatar." She motioned for them to come in. She greeted her nephews. "You can put your bags away in your usual rooms. Lunch is almost ready. Why don't you freshen up and head to the dining room?" Lin offered as she shut the door behind everyone.
She returned to the kitchen and finished getting lunch ready. Bumi had Haru helping him set the table.
Lin finished plating everything as the Zaofu Beifongs made their reappearance.
Wei and Wing went on either side of her and planted a kiss on her cheeks at the same time, before each grabbing a dish to carry to the table for her. "Smells great Aunt Lin!" Wei said.
Su chuckled at her older sister's flustered appearance, before also grabbing a couple dishes - handing one to Baatar.
Huan smiled at his Aunt and picked up the tray with the tea, leaving Lin with nothing to carry. So she followed him to the dining room and saw Haru greeting his Aunt.
"Auntie Su-Su!"
Su set the dish on the table before picking Haru up. "Hello my little darling! How are you?"
"I good!" He leaned back grinning at her. "Guess what?" He asked, conspiratorial like.
"What?" Su asked back in a similar fashion.
"I three!" He said excitedly, holding three fingers up.
"You are?" Su smiled at him. "Such a big boy now! I'm sorry we could be here a few weeks ago for your birthday. But we brought you some birthday gifts, and you can open them up after lunch."
Haru smiled at his Aunt, excited.
"You know you spoil him too much. He is supposed to not have worldly possessions as an airbender." Lin said, sitting beside Bumi as Su placed Haru in his chair on Bumi's other side.
Suyin just waved her hand at Lin and sat down between Wing and Baatar. "He's a child, Lin. I don't have any other nephews to spoil."
"You think she is bad with Haru, wait till she gets ahold of the new baby." Wing said.
"Yeah she always wished for another girl, but she got stuck with us instead." Wei continued.
"I love you both very much." Their mother said, pinching Wing's cheek. "I love all my children, even the ones who have strayed." She smiled sadly. Baatar took her hand in his, knowing how she felt.
Bumi decided to redirect the conversation back. "I have worldly possessions, look how I turned out." He smirked.
"Yes, look how you turned out." Lin responded dryly. They all laughed a little, Bumi included.
He leaned over towards Lin. "I think I turned out pretty lucky." He placed a hand on her extended belly and placed a kiss on her scarred cheek. Lin blushed, still embarrassed easily at public displays of affection, even if it was family. But she still managed to give him a smile. "Now, I don't know about everyone else, but I'm starving."
Lin rolled her eyes, while the others laughed.
After lunch, they gathered outside to enjoy one of the last warmer days of autumn before it got colder.
Haru was sitting on his aunt's knee and was opening the present on the table in front of them.
Lin sat in a chair opposite them, with Bumi standing behind her and resting his hands on her shoulders. She couldn't believe her baby was three already, and soon would be a big brother. Her thoughts drifted back to the morning of his third birthday.
Lin was startled awake when a little body started jumping on Bumi's side of the bed.
"Mama! Mama wake up!" Haru said loudly in his excitement.
She contained a groan, before opening her eyes to look up at him. Or at least tried to focus on his moving form.
"Haru, what has Mama told you about jumping on the bed?" She said, her voice raspy from sleep.
Haru bounced to a stop and flopped down to lay beside her. "Jum'in on bed bad." He just grinned up at her, not even the least bit sorry. She blamed Bumi for that.
"Yes, you could hurt yourself." She pulled him into her arms, and he snuggled up to her chest. "Now what has you so excited at…" She glanced over at the clock and grimaced slightly at the time, "6 in the morning?"
"It my birfday!"
Lin held back a grin, having already known the answer, but decided to continue to play him a bit. "It is? I don't think so, I should know."
"It is, Mama! Daddy said!" Haru said, giving her a pout.
Lin tickled under his chin. "I'm just teasing you." He let out a peel of laughter as she tickled him. She stopped after a minute and let him catch his breath. "And how old are you today?"
He frowned in concentration as he attempted to show how old with his fingers, but he ended up only holding two up. Lin gently pulled one more finger up. "Here badgermole, how many is this?"
"Three!"
"That's right." Lin grinned at him. "Happy Birthday Haru, I am so proud of you."
Haru grinned back at her before giving her a slightly sloppy kiss. "Love you Mama."
"I love you too, little badgermole." She placed a kiss on his forehead and drew him into another hug. She couldn't believe her baby was three today; it seemed like just yesterday she was single and running the Police Force, and now she had Haru and Bumi… a family. She sniffed back tears, not wanting to get overly emotional so early in the morning, knowing that she would have other moments later in the day. Pregnancy hormones really were exhausting sometimes- make that most times.
"Hey sleepyheads, who is ready for breakfast?" Bumi asked, leaning against the doorframe.
"Pamcakes?" Haru asked excitedly, pulling away from Lin to sit up and look at his dad with wide blue eyes.
"I think that can be achieved. What do you think, Mama?"
"I think Daddy needs to help me up cause baby badgermole is on Mama's bladder."
Bumi grinned and came over to help her up.
"I'll meet you two downstairs." Lin said, before heading quickly to the bathroom.
Lin was drawn back to the present, at Haru excitedly talking loudly about the train set they had brought him.
"Haru, what do you say?" Lin asked, prompting the little boy.
"Tank you!" Haru said, giving his aunt a kiss on the cheek, before wiggling out of her lap and then proceeded to give hugs to his uncle and cousins.
"Can we go set it up in the living room?" Huan asked. To Lin, he seemed just as excited as Haru, though he was trying to hide it.
Lin gave him a smile. "Actually, set it up in his new room. Then we don't have to worry about tripping over it."
Huan nodded and lifted the box that contained the metal train set, while Wing and Wei took Haru by the hands. Along the way, they would swing him up, making him giggle loudly and ask for them to do it again.
Soon enough, the boys were all in the house, leaving their parents outside with their tea.
"So is Haru enjoying his new room?" Su asked, accepting the cup of tea from Baatar.
"He thinks it is cool that he has a big boy room." Bumi answered with a smile.
"Asami, Mako, Bolin, Opal, and Korra took him shopping to decorate his room as his birthday present." Lin continued, before taking a sip of her own tea. "Not sure who had more fun, Haru, Asami, or Bolin." Lin smirked.
Eventually the conversation ebbed from happier topics to the current political climate.
"Good on Wu to step down. I think the people of the Earth Nation deserve the right not to be under just one person's thumb. Each region is so vastly different from each other, the monarchy was so outdated." Suyin said, leaning back against her seat.
"Has nothing to do with you having your own city and wanting to run that without needing approval from a King." Lin responded with a quirked eyebrow, but her words didn't hold the hostility in them that she had shown a few years ago in Zaofu.
Su waved her hand in dismissal. "We ran as a self-governed state for a long time. The Queen had issues with it, sure, but we paid our taxes on time and helped with infrastructure in Ba Sing Se when they needed it. So she had no choice but to leave us be, in order to continue such a good working relationship."
"I'm pretty sure it also had a bit to do with you both not getting on very well." Baatar said with a fond smile directed to his wife.
Su huffed. "Not my fault she was an insufferable bitch. I know it's callous, but I for one think she got what she deserved. We had many refugees from the lower ring over the years… and what she allowed to happen there… It sickens me to think about it. Not every family was as fortunate as Bolin and Mako's."
Lin thought about the boy's family that were now housed in a new home that Asami had designed specifically for them. The house had almost been completed when Kuvira's attack on the City happened. Mercifully the house is located not too far from their own here, so it had not been damaged, and it had been completed. The family was very welcoming to Bumi, Haru, and herself. Even if they were a little odd to Lin and she could really only take them in small doses… very small. But overall, even she was impressed at the commitment they had to each other, it was very strong.
Lin nodded her head. "We have housed a large amount since her reign began. They were all hoping for a new life. Unfortunately not everyone was lucky here either. Oh we offered temporary housing, help finding work, and scholarships, but there were still many who we ended up having to evict as they were trying to live off the free supplies we gave them instead of putting in the work to help themselves. We tried our best, but factory work or other jobs only pay so much… The triads offer a pretty good pay, which is how their numbers are always so high." She sighed. She felt Bumi's hand on her thigh, and she put hers on top, clasping his.
"You can only offer people so much help, ultimately it comes down to if people want help or if they don't." Bumi said softly. "Unfortunately many people would rather do what they know instead of adapting."
After a few moments of them pondering that, Lin shifted in her seat. She cleared her throat lightly, "so how is Baatar Jr. doing?"
Both parents' shoulders dropped a little. "He's been quiet. Sticking to his room, even though he is allowed access to the whole family area." Su sighed. "We've tried to include him in things, but either he doesn't come or the other kids are hostile with him."
"He refuses to help work on projects with me, like he used to… I am glad he is home, but I don't know how to get through to him." Baatar added, his hand reaching out to grab his wife's.
"I've talked with Opal a little about this…" Lin began. She squirmed a little under the stares from Su and Baatar. "I-I know a little bit about feeling betrayed by a sibling…" She gave Su a look saying that they were still okay and she no longer harboured ill-feelings towards her. "The difference though, is that Opal is not me. She is much more open with her feelings and has better relationships with her family. She and the boy's will eventually come around, but it won't happen overnight. Just be patient with them, and with Baatar. He's made mistakes… but he started out with good intentions."
"Lin, I'm sor-"
"No, Su, no more apologies. It is history now." Lin offered a smile to the younger Beifong. "Your family will get through this, I know it."
Su returned Lin's smile with a watery one of her own. "Just need to get through Kuvira's trial."
The trial only lasted one day. Kuvira pled not guilty, shocking everyone but Lin. Lin had seen that coming a mile away. She knew Kuvira thought what she had done had been right, and there was no way that she would admit to something she didn't think she did. She was stubborn, and Lin hated to admit, but she could see a bit of herself in the young woman. They both had been abandoned at a young age and practically raised themselves, they both decided to become the voice to lead a large group of people with the intent to make the world a better place. They differed in that Kuvira forced people to agree with her commands, withdrawing protection or supplies should they disagree; while Lin enforced the rules the City put in place that were there to protect everyone no matter who they were or what they had previously done.
Su and her family ended up leaving not long after the trial ended. The Zaofu matriarch was too upset to stay any longer. She hadn't wanted her young nephew to see her and her family filled with anger. Opal had decided to head to Zaofu as well to be with her family.
By the end of the week, the Zaofu Beifong's weren't the only ones to have left the City.
Korra had left along with Asami, Mako, Bolin, and Prince Wu to head to Gaoling. Apparently there was some sort of uprising of the last holdout of the Earth Empire. So the five of them were escorting Kuvira of all people to the historic town to hopefully have her help the group to stand down.
Lin was unsure how that would go, but she realized it was time to leave these things to the young people.
Now it was two weeks after the trial. Lin and Bumi had taken Haru out to help out again with handing out supplies to the camp. Thankfully, many people had been set up in their new apartments and homes. It was mainly young, single people or couples with no children left as the priority for housing had been the elderly, families with children, and the sick.
The three were making their way back to the main tent being used for volunteers as they had finished for the day, when a voice rang out.
"Well, I'll be damned… Commander Bumi in civvies and hair neatly pulled back."
Lin and Bumi turned around and saw a woman approaching. The woman was dressed in a dark red uniform jacket and white pants. Her hair was dark brown, with a few strands of silver. She looked to be in her early to mid-forties, if Lin had to guess. She had bright amber eyes and had surprisingly delicate features for someone in the United Forces.
"Lieutenant Commander Misumi! Aren't you a sight for sore eyes?" Bumi responded, offering the woman a beaming smile.
Lin raised her eyebrow somewhat at the way he greeted the other woman.
"Actually, if you look here," the woman started, pointing to the medals on her chest and the gold detailing on her jacket, "I got promoted. Turns out a position opened up over 4 years ago because some crazy guy decided to retire."
"I stand corrected then, Commander Misumi." He teased her. "What are you doing here? I thought Iroh was stationed in Republic City right now."
"He was, but President Moon decided that his men should be relieved and some fresh eyes be here. So the Second Division was called in to take over. We'll be here at least until the last of the citizens are placed into their new homes." Misumi made a show of looking Bumi over. "You're looking good. I guess retirement is suiting you."
"Well, I wouldn't say I'm completely retired. With Harmonic Convergence, I was one of the few that started airbending. So it's been a lot of training with my brother."
"Lucky you." Her voice dripped with sarcasm, she obviously had heard about Tenzin through Bumi over the years.
"The last few years haven't been too bad. The first year of my being here and becoming an airbender was a little strained, but we've gotten along better lately."
Lin had enough of being ignored, so she decided to introduce herself. She cleared her throat and stepped closer. "Hi, I'm Lin, and this is Haru."
Misumi met her eyes. "Wait, are you the illustrious Chief Lin Beifong?" She gave the older woman a look over, noticing her bump, but not commenting on it.
Lin nodded sharply. "I am. I'm sorry, I'm not familiar with who you are."
Misumi smiled at Lin. "I am Misumi, Commander of the Second Division of the United Forces Navy. I used to be Bumi's second in command. Though we always were a little more than just colleagues, isn't that right Boom?"
Lin blinked at the woman in front of her. She had noticed Bumi freeze from the corner of her eye and it took all her effort to not look at him for answers right now.
Haru took that moment to speak up. "Hi. You Daddy's fwiend?" He asked, looking up at the lady with curious eyes.
Misumi gave Bumi a questioning look, before kneeling on one knee in front of Haru. "I am your Daddy's friend. You're Haru?" She asked, recalling the name from when Lin had introduced them.
"Uh huh." He nodded, in the exaggerated way young children do.
"Well it's nice to meet you, young Haru." Misumi gave him a salute.
Haru giggled as he raised his hand to copy her.
Misumi stood, brushing her knee off. "You should come to our favourite pub later, I'll round up the boys to join us. Will be nice to catch up."
"Sounds great. It will be nice to see everyone!"
"Say around 9? I should be able to round everyone up by then."
"I'll be there."
Misumi turned to Lin. "It was nice to finally meet you in person. Bye Haru." She said, giving him one final salute and a wink, before she turned and left.
Lin was internally fuming, but she bottled it up and didn't let any of it show through to the boys.
When they got home, Lin went to the kitchen to start on dinner as she needed something to do with her hands. While dinner was simmering she decided to make some bread - more so she could pound the dough since she couldn't break boulders to disperse her frustrations.
Bumi had taken Haru upstairs to wash up and got him playing with his new train set. Once he was settled, he decided to check up on Lin as she had been very quiet on the trip back.
He saw her punching the dough in the kitchen and came up behind her. He placed his hands on her shoulders to massage them. "Hey love. What did the dough ever do to you?"
He felt her freeze under his hands, and then she swiftly moved out of his reach.
"I'm not in the mood, Bumi." She said tightly, putting the dough into the proofing basket, once again her back to him.
Bumi frowned at the strain in her voice and at the distance she had put between them. "Linny, are you okay? Did I do something wrong?"
"Why don't you tell me." She responded, bracing her hands against the counter in front of her, eyes tightly squeezed shut.
"Lin, is it about going out with my old crew tonight? I'm sorry I didn't double check with you first, but you have to understand, I haven't seen them in over four years."
"It's not about that. I understand that."
"Then I'm sorry, I'm not sure what-"
Lin spun around and glared at him. "What I don't understand is how you could let that woman flirt with you right in front of me. Not only did you not introduce me or our son, but you ignored us and were also flirting back with her. I was right there."
"Lin, I'm sorry I didn't introduce you both, I got caught up in the surprise of seeing my friend."
"Friend… right. So you're not sorry for flirting with her while I was standing right there with our son?" She could feel tears welling in her eyes, and it made her angrier that she couldn't hold them back.
"I wasn't flirting with her!"
Lin scoffed, and angrily swiped at a tear that escaped her eye. "I'm going to go for a walk right now. You may as well take Haru to the Island for the night. I don't think it is a good idea for him to see me like this." She turned around and flipped the knob for the stove's burner off. "Have fun with your friends tonight. I hope you find what you are looking for."
She turned and left towards the front door. She ignored his calls of her name and pleas for her to wait. She slipped her shoes on and was out the door quickly. She hopped into her satomobile to drive it downtown.
Once there she got out and decided to walk with no direction in mind.
A part of her knew that she was being a little harsh, that she didn't judge Bumi for his past relationships like he didn't of hers. But this felt different. He had ignored her, practically forgetting that she and Haru were there. No to mention the easy flirting he returned seamlessly. He didn't introduce her as his wife or even partner, making her introduce herself.
What struck Lin the most though, was how beautiful the woman was. She was tall, with all the right curves. Her delicate features and vivid amber eyes had been surprising for a woman of her rank; and her personality was easily likeable, which grated on Lin's nerves. She lived up to her name meaning; she really was a pure beauty. No wonder Bumi had been attracted to her.
She tried to shake the thoughts of self-doubt, but she couldn't get rid of the thought of why Bumi would be with her, when he could be with someone young, good-natured, and still full of adventure. She was fat, old, and damaged.
Lin looked up when she heard a loud crack. She saw an old building that was in partial ruins start to crumble. A young boy was standing too close, and he would get hurt. Lin went to bend her cables, before she remembered she wasn't in uniform. She made a quick decision and ran as fast as she could, reaching the boy just before a piece landed on him. She had been able to turn it to dust before it hit and tried to get the boy to move, but it was too late. More pieces started to fall. Lin had no choice but to bend the earth up around them to protect them.
The little boy whimpered, and clung to her leg. She could hear people screaming in the distance, but it was faint under the loud rumble of stone crashing against her earthen dome she had erected.
She panted under the strain of holding the earth in place. But she knew she needed to keep the boy calm. "Hey kid, what's your name?"
"Jianyu." The boy managed to get out through his tears.
She held back a grunt as a heavy piece added to the weight above them. "H-hi Jianyu. I'm Lin. How old are you?" A searing pain wracked through her torso, but she pushed through it, knowing if she let go for even a second that the people above would be finding bodies instead of living people.
He sniffled. "F-f-four."
"Wow, so big." She finally felt that there was no more movement above her, and could make out faint calling of the boy's name. "Jianyu, I need you to be brave for me, can you do that?"
He pulled back a little but she could feel the nod of his head, even though it was pitch black in the enclosure.
"Alright, good boy. I'm going to bend a hole big enough for you to yell out so others know where we are. I need you to yell loudly. Can you do that?"
"Y-yes."
"Good." She kept one hand holding the structure and used the other to bend a small hole. It was just a bit smaller than the boy's head, but she knew she couldn't do larger at the moment for risk that they'd be crushed. "Okay Jianyu, go ahead."
"W-what do I say?"
"Yell 'help.'"
The boy released his hold on Lin's leg and stepped closer to the hole. He started yelling for help, getting louder each time.
Lin wasn't sure how long it took, but it felt like hours before the rubbled was bent away from them. She watched as Jianyu was rescued first, smiling slightly at seeing him wrapped in his assumed mothers arms. Shortly after the weight was lifted from Lin's own bending. As soon as it had though, she collapsed as she finally acknowledged the pain that was coursing through her.
"Ma'am are you alright?" An older man in green clothes asked her.
"N-no. I need to get to a hos-hospital. Some… Something is wrong." She gripped a hand across her belly.
The man called out for someone to call for help.
"Paramedics are on their way." An officer said as they ran over, a radio strapped across them. They then recognized the woman on the ground. "Chief Beifong?"
Lin could only answer with a nod, the pain and her own terror too great.
The officer spoke into the portable radio, informing dispatch that the ambulance should be top priority as it was Chief Beifong who was injured.
Lin didn't know how long it was but she barely acknowledged the paramedics when they arrived, or being moved to the vehicle. She became aware of her surroundings as she was wheeled into the hospital and moved right into a trauma room.
A team of healers, doctors, and nurses entered the room.
"Can you tell us your name?" A woman in a blue water nation outfit asked.
"Lin-Lin Beifong."
"Hi Lin. I am Aala and I am the head obstetrics. I'm going to help you and your baby with all that I have. I need you to answer me, how far along are you?"
"Twen… Twenty-eight weeks. It's too early… please…"
"Just take a deep breath Lin. We're going to check you over, and do everything we can to keep this baby in you as long as possible okay? But you need to breathe. Focus on me… That's it. In and out."
Lin focused on the woman, and did her best to follow her directions. She felt someone cutting away her clothes, followed by a set of hands touching her belly with healing water.
She could tell by the look on the healer's face that things weren't good.
"I'm sorry, Lin, but it looks like we are delivering this baby right now. The baby is in distress, so we need to get them out quickly. We will take you to a different room, and we will be performing a cesarean as we do not have time to deliver the baby naturally."
"No, she's not ready… she's too young… Please." Lin begged, grabbing onto the healer's arm, urging them to do something - anything else.
"I'm sorry Lin, this is what is best for you both. But 28 weeks is far enough that she will have a good chance." Aala gripped Lin's hand tightly in her own after removing it from her arm. "Is there anyone we can call?"
"My husband, Bumi. H-he was going out, so I-I d-don't know if he'll be th-there." She waited a moment as another contraction ripped through her. "T-try Air Temple Island i-if he doesn't answer. Kya has been m-my healer."
"Okay, we'll get your telephone number and if you have a more direct one for Air Temple Island we'll call for you."
Lin listed off the numbers to a nurse, who then took off to go call.
She was soon changed into a hospital gown and given an injection of a local anaesthetic into her lower middle back. Shortly after she was whisked down the hall, up an elevator, and into a sterile room. There was a bassinet to one side, with a team of three people beside it.
She was transferred onto a different bed, that was more like a table. Her arms were then strapped down to keep her from moving, and a sheet was hung so she couldn't see what was happening below her chest. Lin felt an overwhelming panic hit her. Only a hand touching hers again brought her back to the present.
Aala was back beside Lin, in a protective surgical gown and mask. "That team over there are all trained specifically for infants. They are going to see to your baby as soon as they are delivered. Now you may feel slight tugging and pressure. You shouldn't feel any pain, so if you do let us know, okay?"
"Yes." Lin managed to get out. She doesn't think she has ever been more terrified in her life.
The healer squeezed her hand. "You be strong, Lin. Your baby is going to need you to be strong, okay? I'm going to do my best to make sure you both get through this."
Lin nodded, tears streaming down her face. She felt lost the moment Healer Aala let go of her hand. She heard them say that they were beginning the incision. After a bit she felt pressure and tugging, just like she was warned.
Eventually she heard Aala call out. "It's a girl, Lin!"
Lin smiled briefly, until she realized that she couldn't hear anything. "Why isn't she crying?" When she heard no response, she called out again. "Why isn't she crying? She's supposed to cry!" She sobbed. "Please… Why? Why isn't she crying out?" She kept repeating those words. But as she heard them working on her baby, she could feel herself growing weak.
"Shit, she's hemorrhaging."
"Please…" Lin pleaded one last time before darkness consumed her.
