As each week went on Kate found her role at NAVCOM get slightly eaiser. Unusually for her she actually found the set routine relaxing and calming. Knowing when she would be in the office and what time she would be home was of comfort to her it made her feel less stressed about everything.

At 32 weeks she was now in the last trimester of pregnancy and the baby was developing well. It was the first week in June. With the winter rolling in it was a pleasant warmth but not too hot and sticky which was a bonus. She was reading the latest reports from Hammersley. They had intercepted a SIEV which had been spotted in the coral sea. The crew had given up a fight and resisted arrest resulting in several people getting shot. Thankfully it was mostly the bad guys and the boarding party only suffered minor injuries. Reading that there were children on board and the vessel was crammed and over capacity. It broke her heart how could the smugglers be so callous they were just out to make as much money as they possibly could and they didn't care who got hurt in the process. She felt tears rolling down her face. Some how reading about it was horrible. She had never felt like this on the boarding's them selves apart from the odd one that got her yet hear she was a blubbering wreck.

"pull your self together you silly moo" she told her self. She knew it was her hormones and everything but they had come across this on a monthly basis and she was used to seeing this kind of set up after 5 years on the patrol boat service

Standing up she went to walk out to get a drink. The second she stood up she doubled over in pain crying out. It was like a sharp stabbing in her side. The pain was unbearable. One of the young midshipmen looked over from where she was sat. Walking to the door she could see something was up.

"Ma'am? Are you alright?" she asked

"fine Bones" Kate forced a smile trying to straighten up but the pain was too much and she doubled over again. "no. Get Captain Flynn for me please"

"Ma'am" bones was unsure about leaving her

"NOW!" Kate snapped louder than she meant sending the young girl running off afraid of the consequences of disobeying her superior. There had been rumours flying around about all the punishments she had given as XO of Hammersley for little pranks.

Mike arrived in the office after 10 minuets with bones hovering by the door wanting to know if her boss was alright but also what was going on.

"Kate? Is everything okay?" he asked

Kate shook her head. "I think I am in labour"

"but you still have..."

"8 weeks left" Kate spoke in barely a whisper doubling over again as another contraction hit like a wave.

"I think we best get you to the hospital" mike smiled "looks like this one wants to meet mommy and daddy early"

It didn't take long for them to drive to the hospital. Once in the maternity section Kate was taken straight to a delivery suite. She had just got comfy on the bed when a midwife came in to examine how far into labour she was. Checking Kates over and the obs that were constantly being taken a worried look came over her face which she tried to hide. She reached over the back of the bed pushing the emergency buzzer to alert the medical team something was wrong.

"whats wrong" Mike asked panicking

"Kates blood pressure had dropped rather low as has the baby's heart rate" the midwife replied as the doctor walked in.

After examining Kate the doctor turned to them both. "Baby's heart rate is a little lower than I would like. So we need to perform a emergency caesarean"

After scrubbing up mike watched on sat next to Kate. Although their baby was extremally early there was a tinge of excitement holding Kates hand through out he watched as the doctors brought their baby in to the world. Waiting to hear the cry was the worst part. Then all of a sudden the cry filled the theatre

"congratulations you have a beautiful baby girl" the doctor smiled

"can I see her" Kate called

"she needs to go straight to NICU I am afraid you can go and see her after we have sorted you and got you back on to the ward" the midwife smiled trying to reassure Kate.

It was several hours before Kate woke up on the maternity ward. After they had delivered the baby she had passed out because of a small bleed that was caught and got under control. Trying to push herself upright she winced as the stiches pulled. Mike awoke from the doze he was in sat in the chair

"Kate?" he smiled

"I need to see my baby. where is she"

"she is down in NICU. The doctors said you can go down in the morning. Right now you need to rest and not pull those stiches out.

"have you seen her?"

"not yet I was waiting for you to wake up. There was a bleed and you passed out..."

"go to her she needs to know she isn't alone" she pushed his hand away. And watched as he relented and walked out of the side room they were in.

5 minuets later her phone buzzed on the cabinet beside the bed. It was a video call from mike.

"you are going to get me shot but I though if you cant go see her then this would have to be the next best thing" he turned the camera around showing their little girl lay in a incubator with all sorts of wires and machines coming off of her.

"she is tiny" Kate breathed she knew that because of how premature the baby was she would be small but she wasnt expecting her to be that tiny.

"but she is like her mother. Stubborn and a fighter" mike turned the camera back on to himself "I know its not the best but you can come and see her soon"

Kate lay back on her pillows she wished that she could have her baby next to her like all the other mums on the ward. but she knew it would be worth the wait. Mike returned in to the room after 5 minutes.

"Belle" Kate called

"sorry" Mike smiled sitting back next to Kate

"Isabella I think we should call her Isabella"

"Isabella Flynn it suits her." He sat on the bed next to her "I am so proud of you and sorry you couldn't see her. But if the doctor says so I will take you down tomorrow." He smiled opining his arm allowing her to snuggle in to the crook. She lay there. He kissed the top of her head. "she is amazing. She has your eyes" kate had drifted off asleep again. Gently slipping his arm out from under her he kissed the top of her head again before walking out. He couldn't resist taking another look at the beautiful baby girl they had created

so I hope you enjoy. I have know idea how a c-secton actually works and can only go on what I have watched on medical dramas. please let me know what you think.