Author's note: This chapter will be the longest of them all. Also to include the birth of Chris & Percy's daughter. Final chapter is 15 to just finish up the final parts. Please R&R Enjoy!
In the early morning hours of day 3. Chris had awoken in a cold sweat, something was off. While the pain he was experiencing wasn't excruciating, thankfully. It was still something to keep track of. Dull waves of pain coursed through his abdomen.
He purses his lips and shuts his eyes, a hand absentmindedly rubbing his stomach. These were more than likely another round of the Braxton Hicks contractions he'd been dealing with. As unpleasant as they were, he learned to just bear through it, that is, until the real contractions hit of course.
"Today finally the day, baby girl?"
His inquiry is met with a solid kick to the palm of his hand. He winces and eases himself off the bed. Sighing, he trudges to the bathroom, hopping in the shower to get ready for the morning.
At the field office, the team was relieved. It appeared as though their cat and mouse chase was coming to a close. With a few more puzzle pieces put together, coupled with strong tips of whereabouts. They were certain they had finally pinpointed Gordo. Chris watched as his fellow agents tread back and fourth like lab rats.
The abdominal pain still ran through him in waves. Last thing Chris wanted was to bring attention to himself and have the team lose focus of their end goal. Like much of Chris's nature. He did his best to hide this discomfort from others and simply suck it up. There was a heaviness in his pelvic region. This was, irrefutably, his body's cue to him that his daughter's birth was imminent. He see's Pride approach him from the corner of his eye and attempts to compose himself as best he could.
"Finally gotta solid lead on Gordo. You comin' with, Chris?"
The young man manages a small smile towards the senior agent. All-the-while pleading Pride didn't grow suspicious of the internal warfare raging inside him.
"Bet yer ass I 'em"
He responds. That Alabamian cadence particularly accentuated. The corners of the older man's eyes crease with a warm smile before getting back on track. For once it seemed as though he had successfully evaded his employer's inevitable presumptions.
"Good man, now..heave-ho"
Pride quips with an extended arm. Once again, to give the young agent a brace as he managed to find his footing. This action had almost become habitual. If Chris was sitting, no doubt Pride wasn't too far away to lend assistance.
"Thanks King"
He drawls with a bit of a chuckle. Gregorio soon approaches the men and informs Pride of the status.
"Boss, we gotta get goin'.. got word she ain't stayin' in the area long"
He nods and turns to Chris.
"Now Chris, I want ya to stay in the car. Is that understood?"
The young man's heart jumped in his throat upon hearing this rather stern order. It breaking him from his other wandering thoughts surrounding his current predicament. He nods his head.
"Alright then, let's move out"
The team was split into pairs. Sebastian with Gregorio taking a squad car. Chris riding shotgun in Pride's Ford Explorer. It being October meant the city was in the midst of its annual Voodoo Fest. This factor driving a bit of a wrench in their pursuit of Gordo.
The city bustling with seasoned fest goers and novices alike. Seeing as her location was narrowed to an abandon home, out in Katrina-stricken Chalmette within the St. Bernard Parish. Made the insanity somewhat manageable.
Radio droning on quietly in the background. Chris tried keeping his attention out the window. Occasionally glancing over to see the senior agent's frustrated expression partially hidden behind a pair of Ray-Ban's.
"You alright?"
Pride asks suddenly. This nearly causing the young man to jump out of his skin. Chris takes a hard gulp. The wavering pain still quite persistent, though fortunately, were not actual contractions.
"All good"
He managed a response. But something inside him told Chris the older man had trouble buying this. Pride mutters a few expletives whilst trying to maneuver his way through the chaos. The attendance numbers were always a crapshoot. But almost guaranteed to be large each time.
"You're sure 'bout that?"
Came yet another inquiry from his boss. Damn, there was just no hiding things from that man. It was like some sort of sixth sense. Be that as it may, Chris remained mum of the actual situation.
"Positive"
His tone bordering on annoyance. He was thankful the barrage of questions finally let up. Even humoring himself thinking how much Sebastian was probably getting on Gregorio's last nerve.
The trek out to the location seemed to drag on for eternity. When in reality was barely 25 minutes. Both vehicles ease alongside the curb. Pride turns to face Chris once again.
"No leavin' this car"
He orders to the young man once more. Chris rolls his eyes slightly.
"Yeah, I know, King. Stay put.. got it"
Pride couldn't help but chuckle a bit at this irritable undertone. Suddenly Sebastian appears on his driver's side window.
"Whaddya want, Sebastian?"
This time it was Pride's turn to be annoyed. He cracks the window slightly as the nerd leaned forward a bit more.
"Yeah, just wonderin' if you're ready to go"
There was almost a hint of eagerness in his voice. As if he couldn't wait another second to start kicking ass. Pride nods to him, he could see the socially awkward newbie agent's face light up with glee as he kept one hand on the holster.
With keys still in the ignition. Radio left on to preoccupy a very pregnant Chris. Pride exits his driver side door. Watching on as all three approach the semi-dilapidated home. Guns drawn, at the ready.
"NCIS! Lisa Gordo, come out with your hands up!"
Announces the senior agent with an edge to his voice. There was nothing but silence in response. The trio exchange complexed glances before Pride orders them to bust the door down on his command.
The frame falls without issue. Erupting into a plume of dust. Darkness on the inside with the exception of some sunlight filtering in. Dwayne sensed something wasn't right. It was too quiet.
Without warning, two of Gordo's lackeys appear from out of nowhere and open fire on the agents. Chris hears the commotion from the SUV. Fear for his teammates lives trumped any orders he was given. He makes his way around the vehicle.
"Its a trap, Chris, get back in the car!"
He hears Pride yell out. Much to his averseness, he does as he's told. Settling into the passenger seat when all the sudden he hears a stern female voice from behind him utter.
"Don't say a damn word"
With Gordo's men out of the way. Pride and the others emerge from the building to find the cruiser tires slashed and the SUV gone.
Chris awakens some time later. Still groggy, to discover his wrists are bound with rope. Fixed to a chair, in what looked like an abandon warehouse. Her presumed hideout. This deranged woman had chloroformed him before stealing the SUV and disabling the GPS tracker. In other words, he was fucked.
"What the Hell do ya want?!"
Yells the agent in an almost pitiful tone. She turns to him with a sickening smirk. Her black hair hanging in heavy strands. Only adding to the image of her true unbalance.
"The only thing I want, agent LaSalle. Are women to be free of burden. I'm the one to give it to them"
Comes a response, coupled with an almost sinister chuckle. He looks at her perplexed. Anger mounting.
"Wha' the fuck you on about?!"
He orders. His eyes narrowing with rage.
"Its simple, really. I "remedy" unplanned pregnancies"
Chris's eyes widen in sheer horror as he realizes this mental case had this warped, predisposed notion she was actually doing a great service. He notices the spear-point blade in her grasp. Only exacerbating his distress. He struggled, but was powerless against the binding ropes. When suddenly, his worst fears came to life when the real contractions started kicking in.
"C'mon Patton, I know you can figure somethin' out...please"
Begs Pride on his cell to the down-low hacker. The team had held out hope he could somehow work around the disabled GPS and find Chris's location.
Through what could only be discribed as a miracle. He was able to use the last known signals of the device and remotely activate it just long enough to get an address.
"5225 Hopedale highway, Saint Bernard"
Chris was weary. Cuts and bruises inflicted from his struggles and her torture. begging with her to let him go. And worried sick she would do something to his daughter.
"Please, (comes a weakened plea) she's comin'! I hafta go"
The overwhelming sensation to push was upon him. He was almost certain his fate was sealed.
"You act like I give a shit"
Comes a scathing response. He had lost hope. Hanging his head low. Battered and defeated. This vile excuse of a human was going to take his precious little girl from him, and there was nothing he could do. Just when he thought all was lost. Came the most beautiful sound in the world.
"Lisa Gordo, drop your weapon or we will open fire"
Barked Gregorio. Chris breathes a sigh of relief. Spotting Pride and Sebastian following suit. Guns at the ready. Suddenly, Gordo brings Chris to his feet with the blade now mere inches from his throat.
"Final warning, Gordo, drop it!"
She screamed. The woman simply smirked and angled the blade to make the fatal cut when Gregorio opened fire and shot her dead. Another one of her peons (that had carried Chris from the SUV to the chair) was killed by backup. Chris was a wreck. But very thankful he and his baby girl were alive. Another strong contraction hit and he grits his teeth.
"Guys, she's comin' "
He puled. Pride and Sebastian rush to his side and assist him to the SUV. Dwayne slides in the driver's side while Sebastian stayed with Chris in the backseat. No sooner had he put the keys in the ignition, he hears Sebastian cry out.
"My shoes!"
Chris's water had broken. Completely ruining the poor nerd's treasured Starwars footwear in the process.
"Omigod! Chris! Do you know how rare those were!?..limited edition!"
He yells in a frenzied panic. Between his breathing and trying to focus he shoots Sebastian a look. Meanwhile Gregorio was in the passenger side, had notified Percy of her daughter's impending arrival. She wasn't going to miss this for the world. Even if she couldn't physically be there. Percy's face suddenly appears on the live-stream feed of the phone screen.
"You can do this Country Mouse"
He hears her familiar voice say inbetween panting and groans. Sebastian, of course, still in a meltdown over the shoes.
"Yeah, except go back in time and not get baby juice on my.."
He trails off as he notices the agent give him another death glare.
"Sebastian, I swear, you bring up 'em damn shoes one more time you're dead"
Pride turns in his seat. Attempting to be peacekeeper.
"Alright, alright no one's gettin' murdered, okay? Sebastian, I'll buy you a new pair later on"
Suddenly the field agent rather timidly interjects.
"Well actually, you can't just buy.."
Until he catches yet another death glare from Chris and shuts up. Sweat beading down his face. He could feel her moving further down. Between the wavering pain throughout the day, combined with the kidnapping. He was fully dilated to where all he had to do was push. He bears down and gives a hearty push.
"She..she's crowning!"
Sebastian exclaims. Unable to hide the excitement in his voice. Nine long months for this moment. But no one was probably more eager to meet her than her daddy. Pride and Sebastian switch places. A blanket still draped over Chris's legs and midsection.
"Y'know...this' yer fault"
He informs Percy in the midst of yet another incoming contraction. Pregnant or not. She wasn't going to hold back. In typical Percy fashion responds.
"Ah Hell no, you ain't pinnin' all this on me, LaSalle. Takes two to tango. You're the one that said you were on the pill"
Well, she got him on a technicality there. Pride sitting opposite of him. Occasionally checking to monitor his progress. Through it all Chris manages a grin and retorts.
"Ya got me there, City Mouse...guess, *pants*..I wasn't thinkin', just wanted 'ta plow ya like a cornfield"
Suddenly he hears Sebastian from the driver's seat pipe up mildly disgusted.
"Well, thanks for ruining corn for me now, Chris"
The couple put their petty squabble behind them. Percy looking on in anticipation. He almost could've sworn there were tears in her eyes. Suddenly the entire SUV goes silent as Pride announces.
"She's almost here Chris...gimme one more push, k?"
He tunes out everything around him and tries with all his might, despite his fatigued state, to push the rest of her out. Blurry eyes catch a glimpse of Pride reaching underneath the blanket. Before long, the sound of a wailing infant fills the air.
She certainly had a champion set of lungs on her. Percy now completely unable to restrain her emotions, tears of joy streaming down her face as she watches her beautiful baby girl emerge.
Pride reaches for a pair of sterilized scissors from the emergency med kit and cuts the umbilical cord. Beaming as she is swaddled in a small white towel and gently handed over to Chris.
She was the most beautiful thing he had ever set eyes on. Olive complexion, thick black hair plastered to her head. Then she opened her eyes to reveal a gorgeous steel blue. Clearly a trait from her daddy. He gently strokes the top of her head as she begins to contort her face in protest of being evacuated from her warm, cozy residence. Chris manages a light chuckle.
"Can't believe yer finally here, baby girl.. but you were certainly worth the wait"
