"Max!" A voice called, he turned to see Connie walking towards him.
"Where's Zoe? She should be here by now?" Connie asked.
Max checked his watch, "I don't know, she said she would be here on time?"
"Well clearly she isn't." Connie snapped.
"Clearly." Max retorted. "I'll give her a call."
"Thank you." Connie said walking back into cubicles.
Max got out his phone and called Zoe's number. No answer, it rang a couple more times before going through to voicemail.
"Zoe where are you? Connie's on my back! Call me." Max left a message.
Dixie and Iain were on their way to an RTC, two cars involved, one overturned. The fire brigade were also on their way.
"Over there look!" Iain said.
"Right lets go!" Dixie called as they got out of the ambulance and ran over to a car each. Dixie took Zoe's car, the realisation hitting her as she saw the registration plate. "Oh god, IAIN!" She shouted over to him. "This is Zoe's car!"
"I'll be right over! The driver hasn't made it, old fella." Iain answered.
"Zoe! Can you hear me?" Dixie called into the car. Zoe was coming around and managed to murmur, "Dix?"
"Ok sweetheart, can you tell me where it hurts?" Dixie asked.
"It's my stomach, Dixie I'm bleeding! Please help me, I can't lose this baby!"
"Ok Zoe, we're not going to let that happen! I need you to stay calm
and still, we need the fire brigade to cut the roof off before we can get you out." Dixie explained.
"Max, I need Max." Zoe cried.
"Ok, we'll let him know, don't worry." Iain said, "I'll call ahead now and let them know." Iain told Dixie.
"Ok thanks, let them know we're going to need a obstetrician when we get there." Dixie replied.
"How long they going to be Dix?!" Zoe cried."I need to get out of here!"
"It won't be long love, remember what I said about staying calm. Does it hurt anywhere else?" Dixie said.
"My neck and back hurt, it must have been when I was thrown about." Zoe told her.
"Oh look Zoe, the fire lot are here, we'll have you our in no time." Dixie told her.
The roof of the car was sawn off, and Iain and Dixie had managed to lift Zoe out of the car, "God Zoe, what did you have for breakfast?" Dixie joked.
"I may be carrying a bit of extra weight at the moment." Zoe managed to say before clutching her stomach, "AARGH!" she yelled.
"Whats happening?" Iain asked.
"I think the contractions have started! It's too early!" Zoe cried.
Dixie and Iain lifted Zoe onto the stretcher and into the back of the ambulance.
"I'll drive!" Iain offered.
Dixie sat in the back with Zoe, holding her hand between contractions.
"It was all going so well." Zoe said.
"Hey, less of that mate, it's all going to be fine, you'll see, I need you to be positive!" Dixie encouraged.
They arrived at the hospital, Max was waiting at the entrance with Dylan and Robyn.
"Ok make some room please!" Dixie shouted. "This is Zoe, 41, involved in an RTC, complaining of neck and back injuries, 36 weeks pregnant and contractions have started."
"Get her into Resus," Dylan instructed, "someone call Dr Thompson."
"He's on his way." Robyn advised.
"Zoe, what happened?" Max asked.
"I didn't see him Max, I'm so sorry, this is all my fault, I won't forgive
myself if anything happens to the baby." Zoe was crying.
"Don't talk like that Zoe, it's not your fault." Max held onto her as she was wheeled through the ED.
"Zoe?" Tess had just arrived so was unaware of what had happened, she ran into Resus with her friend.
"Zoe, were you unconscious at all?" Dylan asked.
"Yes I think so, I remember coming round as the ambulance arrived."
Zoe grabbed her stomach in pain.
"Another contraction?" Max asked.
Zoe nodded.
"Where is that bloody consultant?" Dylan asked, "I absolutely do not want to be delivering your baby!"
"Cheers Dylan, means a lot." Zoe said sarcastically.
"Sorry it took so long!" Dr Thompson ran through the door. "Ok, what's happening?"
"Contractions every five to seven minutes." Max told the Doctor.
"Did you sustain any injuries during the crash?" Dr Thompson asked Zoe.
"Yes, I'm bleeding. I've also hurt my neck and back, I think I've bruised my spine." Zoe told him.
"We're gonna get off Zo, good luck yeah?" Dixie interrupted.
"Thanks you two. Do you know what happened to the other driver?" Zoe asked.
"He died at the scene Zo, suspected cardiac arrest, I'm sorry. That's what caused the accident, witnesses saw him grabbing his chest." Dixie told her.
"Oh poor man. What about his family?" Zoe said.
"Zoe, come on, I need you to focus on you and the baby now." Dr Thompson told her.
Dixie and Iain left the room.
"I'm concerned about the bruising on your back, I don't want to risk you giving birth and doing more damage."
"What does that mean?" Max asked.
"We need to get this baby out and quick, we don't know the extent of the damage caused in the accident so I think we need to get you to theatre for a section." Dr Thompson explained. "Are you ok with that Zoe?"
"Anything that helps the baby." Zoe replied.
"Can I be there?" Max asked.
"Of course, you'll need to change into scrubs though." Dr Thompson told him. "Right, let's make a move!"
Zoe was wheeled through the ED to the lifts, the staff wishing her luck as she went past.
Theatre had been prepped, Zoe had undergone a spinal block and Max has got changed.
"Ok, all ready?" Dr Thompson asked his team. He pressed on Zoe's stomach, "Zoe can you feel anything?" He asked.
Zoe shook her head.
Dr Thompson grabbed a scalpel and made the incision across her abdomen. "We're in."
"Feels like you're doing the washing up in my stomach." Zoe managed a laugh.
"It will feel a tad strange." Dr Thompson told her. "Ok, I've got the head, I'm pulling the baby out now."
Max was watching not fazed by the whole situation.
"Congratulations!" Dr Thompson told them both as he lifted the baby out, "you've got a son!"