Chapter Two

Zalea's tears had slowed, but she now breathed with the rhythm of someone who had cried too much too fast, almost hiccupping in response. Sheppard put a finger under her chin and brought it up to look her straight in the eye.

"Don't fall apart on me, Zalea. We need to concentrate our efforts into getting out of here and we can't do that if you lose control."

She nodded, her eyes unfocused. "I'll try."

"That's good."

Tears welled up almost immediately as she placed a hand on his chest. Her pleading gaze caught Sheppard by surprise. "Please tell me you've delivered a baby before."

Sheppard grimaced. "No, no, I haven't exactly, but I've read on the subject and seen movies and stuff like that . . . "

His eyes had darted away, but when he looked back to Zalea, he met her gaze directly, "Don't worry, one way or another, I promise that you and the baby will be just fine. We've got people working to get us out even as we speak, people who don't know how to give up. They will find us in plenty of time."

His rousing encouragement seemed to work its magic because she relaxed a bit. At least until the next contraction hit and all of her confidence dissolved in a rush of pain.

"Here, why don't you lie down?" he asked after her breathing steadied.

He helped her to recline on the table top, then noticed her teeth chattering. He removed his jacket so she could use it for warmth.

"I'm so cold," she whispered.

"Your wet clothes aren't helping any," he said. "I'm going to look for something you can change into."

Her head popped up, despite her discomfort, and she looked around. "That cabinet on the far wall has emergency supplies. This basement is one of our city's designated emergency shelters, so there are supplies distributed in all the rooms of the lower levels."

Sheppard looked over at the cabinet and back at her, smiling. "Well, isn't that convenient? I'll be back in a second."

McKay had climbed up on a file cabinet, still aiming Sheppard's P-90 at the ceiling. As Sheppard approached, he sat on top of it with a dejected air. He laid the P-90 in his lap and rubbed his injured shoulder.

"What did you find?"

"Nothing short of heavy equipment and a lot of manpower is going to get us out of here."

"We knew that already. What about the ceiling?"

"Like I said before, it's fairly stable unless we have another trembler, then it's –"

"Pancake City. Yeah, I know." John scratched at his forehead as he looked around. "We've got to start thinking worst case scenarios. If that baby does come early, we will need something to wrap it in. We also need to make it warmer in here."

McKay rolled his eyes. "Yes, yes, and how about a pot to boil hot water while you're at it? They always do that in the movies, though I never understood why . . . " he paused, snapping his fingers. "But there is a portable generator in the corner. Maybe I can jury-rig something for more light and maybe some heat."

"Now, you're talking."

"It doesn't change the fact that neither one of us has the slightest clue about delivering babies."

Sheppard sighed. "Women have been doing it for thousands of years . . . "

"Yes, they have, but usually in hospitals surrounded by lots of knowledgeable people."

Sheppard frowned and decided he was tired of pointing out the sunny side of life to McKay. "Just get the generator going. Zalea said this storage cabinet is full of emergency supplies. I'm going to see what's in it."

He turned away from McKay and opened both large doors to the walk in cabinet. It was nearly as big as his quarters back at Atlantis. "Wow," he whispered, his mouth dropping open.

There were jackets, coveralls, blankets, fold up cots for beds, a tool kit, rope, an industrial sized first aid kit, stacks of something resembling emergency rations and several cases of bottled water. Apparently, these people believed in being prepared, and Sheppard was very grateful they were. Things were definitely looking up.

When he glanced back at McKay, Rodney was already fiddling with the portable generator. "This is great, McKay, there's all kinds of stuff in here."

McKay didn't sound very thrilled as he glanced back and sneered, "Did you find a pot in there to boil water, too?"

"Cute," John said as he loaded his arms with items for Zalea.

McKay spun around, squinting at the contents of the cabinet. "Is there food in there?"

"Yeah, enough for us to last for days, maybe even weeks."

"Toss me one of those food pouches. I'm starving."

"Of course you are," Sheppard said with a shake of his head.

He threw the food over to McKay, and then he realized he hadn't heard anything out of Zalea since he'd left her. He spun around and saw her curled up on her side. He grabbed a jacket, some blankets, and few more items, then rushed over to her. Tossing one of the blankets over her, he leaned down to be at eye level.

"Zalea, talk to me. How are you doing?"

Her face was a wordless expression of pain.

"Zalea," he asked again, pulling her arm so he could meet her gaze. "I need to know how you are."

She reached up, grabbing him by his t-shirt and pulled him closer. "I'm having a baby, how the hell do you think I am!" she yelled suddenly, startling Sheppard.

He pulled back, wondering what had happened to the polite, albeit, frightened young woman who had been there minutes before. He forced a smile on his face and kept his voice light. "That's right, you're having a baby. And look at the supplies I found. Everything you could possibly want when trapped in a collapsed building."

She didn't look nearly as happy by his discoveries as he had been, then she dissolved into another wave of tears. She cried so hard she couldn't catch her breath. He leaned closer taking her hand. "Breathe, Zalea, you've got to breathe. Think of the baby."

She nodded and forced herself to take a few slow deep breaths. He busied himself with the supplies he'd brought as he spoke of unimportant things to help keep her mind off the contractions. It seemed like he'd only just started when she grabbed his hand and squeezed it hard, screaming with the force of the contraction. Sheppard chewed on his lip as he realized that not only were the contractions coming faster, they also seemed to be lasting longer.

Sheppard looked around for McKay for backup, but he was still busy with the portable generator. John tapped his radio headset. "Lorne, do you read me?"

"Yes, sir. We've arrived at the power station. Sorry it took so long, but the area has been hit pretty hard by the quake. I've been talking to Dr. Hozer and his engineers. They will survey the damage while Stackhouse brings Beckett and Zelenka here. Weir is sending all the help she can. Give us a couple more minutes to assess your situation and I'll get back to you."

"Getting Beckett would be good, since this young lady looks like she's going to have her baby before you can get us out of here."

Zalea wailed so loudly, Sheppard had to stop speaking for a moment.

"That doesn't sound good," Lorne said quietly.

"Just get Beckett here!" Sheppard said, raising his voice more than he meant to.

"Yes, sir. Working on it."

"Sheppard out."

He stood as she started crying again, then he noticed that she was still trembling. He grimaced, fumbling for the right words. "Um, I'll hold up the blanket to give you some privacy to get out of those wet clothes. Then you can use it to cover up afterwards."

She nodded and he held up the blanket, shielding her from his view and McKay's. After a minute, she said, "Okay, I've changed."

When he lowered the blanket, he saw she had put on the jacket and covered her lower body with the other blanket. The pile of discarded clothes sat at the end of the table. He placed the blanket he was holding over her, taking a moment to tuck her in. "Now, that's better, isn't it?"

She gave him a half-hearted smile. She didn't want the baby to come any more than he did. Another contraction hit and there was nothing he could do except hold her hand. Not that he wanted to. His hand was already aching from all the squeezing she'd already done. The room unexpectedly brightened with additional light and Sheppard put a hand up to shield his eyes. Squinting, he saw McKay emerge from behind a console and approach them.

"That's an improvement," Sheppard said, still blinking from the sudden brightness.

"It's temporary, but I think it will last as long as we are here. Now, I'll get started on. . . "

Zalea moaned, finding Sheppard's arm without opening her eyes, her knuckles whitening with the force of her grip. He stood there for a full minute before she relaxed again. She stated the obvious as she whispered, "It's worse each time."

Sheppard looked up at McKay, knowing his sense of helplessness shone strong in his face. McKay shrugged, then flinched, holding his injured arm again. After a moment, he said, "I'm going to see if I can find that pot . . . "

"Coward," Sheppard hissed at McKay's departing back.

When he looked back at Zalea, she was crying again. "I'm-I'm sorry to be so much trouble. I really didn't plan on having the baby so soon."

"Hey," he said, his voice soft. "We didn't plan on any of this. We just have to make the best of it that we can."

She nodded, still crying. Sheppard thought it best to keep her talking. "Have you picked out a name for the little guy yet?"

Zalea smiled. "Yes, after my husband's father. Masan."

"Well, that's a good strong name. I'm sure it will suit him. He's gonna be a strong kid if he decides to make his appearance right now."

There was a rumbling again, but this time, it seemed to come from above.

"Ah, crap," McKay exclaimed as he flattened himself against a wall to minimize his exposure to falling objects. Sheppard pulled Zalea off the table and moved her underneath it. Debris showered the floor, but the support beams remained in place.

As it ended, Sheppard shot a worried look at McKay. "That was different."

"Yes, it was." McKay tapped his radio headset. "Lorne, whatever idiot is up there experimenting with the rubble, tell him to stop! It's shifting the ceiling over our heads!"

"Yes, sir, they stopped the moment they realized what was happening."

"Tell them to wait until Zelenka is there and not touch a damned thing before then."

"Yes, sir."

McKay tapped the radio off and sighed. "We were lucky that time."

Sheppard chewed on the inside of his cheek for a second. "Maybe we should move everything to the other side of the room by the control panel and the supply cabinet. The support beams seem stronger over there."

McKay glanced along the beams again. "Yeah, that might not be a bad idea."

"Help me move her."

Zalea wrapped her blanket around her torso and they escorted her to the other side of the room. John went back to retrieve the rest of the supplies they'd left on the table when there was another rumble. He grabbed the medical kit and turned to run back toward the others as bits of the ceiling began to drop. The falling material stung as it hit, peppering his head and shoulders, then one larger piece struck Sheppard on the side of his forehead, staggering him for a moment. His vision blurred, making him blink to clear it as he dropped to his knees.

He felt hands grab him by his arm and shirt, pulling him away. His disorientation grew when a loud rumble signaled the collapse of another support beam near the site of the first collapse. McKay flung both of them as far as he could and they hit the ground hard as debris spread out over them like a dust cloud.

Sheppard was only distantly aware of what was happening. McKay pulled away and yelled into his radio, "Damn it, Lorne, what the hell is going on up there? You almost killed Sheppard just now!"

"It wasn't us, sir, I swear. Things are still settling."

McKay coughed. "Well, it almost settled right top of us!"

When McKay rocked back to his heels, Sheppard's double vision cleared a little. He raised his head to stare at the area where they'd just stood in disbelief, for it was now six feet deep in rubble. McKay switched off his radio and muttered, "Imbeciles."

Feeling another wave of dizziness, Sheppard's head dropped back to the ground and he groaned without meaning to.

"Rodney, how is he?" Zalea called from her position.

"I think he'll be okay," he said nervously, then caught Sheppard's eye as he said, "He's got a pretty hard head."

Sheppard made a face at him as he brought his hand up to his forehead. Zalea was about to say something more when she groaned with a contraction. McKay straightened from Sheppard's side. "Do you need help?"

She shook her head, unable to speak.

John cleared his throat. "Go help her. I'm fine," he said, putting more force into his words than he felt.

McKay started to stand when Zalea waved him off.

"It looks like everybody is playing the martyr today," he mumbled. "Well, I guess I'm staying with you. Out of the two of you, you look the worst. At least, you're bleeding the most."

Sheppard looked up at McKay, his voice rough as he still battled to regain full consciousness. "Damn it, McKay, why don't you ever listen to me when it's important?"

McKay just gave him a withering glare. Sheppard closed his eyes, ignoring him. After a moment, he whispered, "Thanks for the assist back there."

McKay shrugged. "Now, we're even. You saved me earlier, now I saved you."

"You were keeping score?"

"I always do."

Sheppard stared at McKay in confusion for a second before he said, "You always . . . do?" He grunted, rubbing his forehead. Sometimes the things that came out of McKay's mouth dumbfounded him.

The light from McKay's portable generator flickered for a moment before returning to normal. The room was now half its original size, but it was easier to see up into the rafters above the collapsed section. What Sheppard saw didn't encourage him. Beams and wall supports were scattered atop the collapsed rubble like a massive game of pick up sticks. He had no idea how the others were going to get down to them, but that was the concern of Zelenka and his engineers at the moment. He started to rise and faltered.

"Give yourself a minute," McKay said in a low voice as he grabbed the first aid kit that had fallen from Sheppard's hand in all of the commotion. "That's a nasty gash you have on your forehead."

Sheppard wiped at his temple with the side of his hand. As it came away, he was surprised to see it heavily streaked with blood. "It's nothing, more irritating than anything else."

"Please, consider those of us who puke at the sight of blood . . . "

McKay pulled out a dressing, and pressed it against the cut on Sheppard's head, making Sheppard hiss with discomfort. "Ow! It was fine before, now it hurts like a son of a bitch. Thanks!"

"To quote you, suck it up," Rodney said as he wrapped the dressing awkwardly around Sheppard's head.

Sheppard continued to complain, "I would if you'd leave my head alone! Listen, it's not that bad."

"Might be a concussion . . . "

"It's not a concussion," Sheppard protested, but he came off sounding like a whining kid as he rose up on his elbows.

"Well, you've had enough to know," McKay said.

"Colonel Sheppard?"

Without warning, Beckett's voice came over Sheppard's headset, making him sit upright. The room began to spin a bit before it settled down.

McKay nearly leapt for joy. "Carson, am I glad to hear your voice!"

Beckett chuckled. "And it's good to hear yours. How is everyone doing?"

"We're banged up a little, but all things considered, we're doing fairly well."

Sheppard raised an eyebrow at McKay's comment. "That was positive," Sheppard said in a loud whisper.

McKay rolled his eyes. "I'm not all doom and gloom, you know."

"Yes, you are."

"Colonel Sheppard?" Beckett interrupted with alarm. "You don't sound so good."

"I'm fine, just banged my head when things started falling here a minute ago. Besides, you've got another patient to focus on . . . "

"Aye, I understand you have a little lady ready to deliver."

Sheppard sighed. "Yeah, and the sooner you get down here the better."

Zelenka interrupted. "Sorry, Colonel, but no one is going anywhere until we can ensure our actions won't make matters worse."

McKay sighed with relief. "Radek, thank God. Tell me what you see from above and I'll tell you what's going on down here."

"McKay . . . " Sheppard started.

"Look, do you want us all to die?" Rodney said, turning to face Sheppard. "You can talk to Carson after we're done."

Beckett's voice was hesitant. "Colonel?"

"It's okay. Let them talk for a minute, but then the radio belongs to me and Beckett. We need to have a game plan."

"Yes, yes, now shut up, you're wasting precious moments. Radek, what do you see as the primary concern?"

The two scientists began talking. Sheppard scratched at the bandage on his head. He was tempted to just pull it off, but he changed his mind when he felt how quickly the dressing had become wet with blood. He looked over at Zalea and found her bent over with another contraction. He got to his knees with a lurch and then to his feet, and awkwardly made his way over to her.

She was still panting, her face red and sweaty. He sat down heavily beside her. "How are you doing?"

Her big blue eyes pierced Sheppard's heart. "I'm scared."

"We've had a lot to be scared about, but the important thing is that we don't let it paralyze us. Between the three of us, we've got a lot of smarts, and there are the others up top trying to find a way to get to us. We'll make do until they get here."

"I know you're right, but I'm sacred to death about having the baby here, in the middle of all of this. . . "

He patted her hand. "We can do this," he said simply.

She sighed, then looked at the bandage on his head. "Does it hurt?"

Sheppard made a face. "This? Nah. McKay was right. I have one of the hardest heads around."

She cried out with the next contraction that lasted close to two minutes. When she could talk next, she said, "I think – I think we're getting close."

Sheppard straightened. "Close? As in the baby is coming close? Damn, this is happening way too fast!"

She nodded. Sheppard tapped his radio. "This is Sheppard. You guys can talk later. Right now, I need Beckett and I need him now."

Beckett came on the line. "Yes, Colonel."

"I think the baby is close to coming."

McKay was standing next to the collapsed area, looking up, when he spun around and cursed. Beckett sounded surprised, too. "Already? I thought she started labor pains shortly after the quake. Is this her first child?"

"Yeah."

"Well, it's a wee bit unusual, but not completely unheard of."

"What supplies do you have?"

"A large medical kit, water, blankets . . . "

"Is there something you can use as a clamp on the umbilical cord before you cut it?"

"Clamp?" Sheppard looked around, catching McKay's gaze. McKay reached into a tool bag and pulled out some small zip ties. Sheppard smiled. They could wrap one around the cord and cinch it up, almost as effective as a clamp. "Yeah, we have something that would work."

"And you've got your knife?'

"Yeah."

"All you need to do is sterilize it and choose which of you is going to deliver the little one."

When Sheppard's gaze met McKay's, they both shook their heads, pointing at the other one. Sheppard shook his head with more vigor, making it hurt. He held it as he got to his feet and stammered, "You-you should deliver the baby, Rodney. You've got the science background – "

McKay followed him until they were a few steps away from Zalea. McKay put out his hand to stop Sheppard from continuing. "No, you're the commander. You should do it. Besides, I've got a bad arm."

Sheppard's eyes bulged a bit. "Yeah, well, I've got a – concussion."

"You said you didn't before."

"Well, I've got one now."

McKay stuck out his chin. "Well, I'd pass out."

Both of them sighed in disgust. Sheppard ran a hand through his hair and said, "Let's resolve this fairly, in a traditional time tested way. Rock, Paper, Scissors."

McKay smiled and nodded, but the game was cut short by Zalea's scream.

Sheppard sighed. He'd known from McKay's first squeamish glance that he'd be the one, but he'd been hoping for a different resolution. He turned to McKay. "I'll do it, but you are staying by my side in case I need some backup."

McKay nodded. Sheppard turned to go to Zalea when he swayed for a moment, enough to McKay grab his arm and say, "Are you sure you are up for this? You took a pretty hard blow to the head."

"Don't have any choice. I have a feeling once that baby starts coming, you'll faint."

"I don't faint, I pass out, and who's to say I will – "

Sheppard ignored him as he started in Zalea's direction, but he stopped when he saw she had the radio to her ear.

"Can I speak to Arlin?" she asked in a rush. He must have come on the line, because her expression lit up with relief, which quickly turned to fear. Her voice trembled. "I can't believe you won't be here for Masan's birth," she whispered.

The two men paused to give Zalea some privacy. McKay looked antsy and said, "I'm going to round up the supplies we'll need."

He delved into the supply cabinet as Sheppard said, "Be sure to cut a couple of those blankets into towels and diapers. We don't know for sure how long we'll be stuck down here and I like being prepared."

While McKay got to work, Sheppard paused, standing idly by, waiting for Zalea to finish, which she did a moment later. "I love you, too. Stay on the radio in case I need you."

Sheppard took a deep breath and went to her side. McKay joined them a moment later, his hands full of supplies. Zalea nearly dropped the radio as she screamed with a major contraction.

McKay fumbled to pick up the radio while Sheppard grabbed her hand. "Breathe, Zalea, breathe."

John glanced upward, as if that would help him get Beckett's attention more easily. "Help me out here, Doc. What do we do?"

"You need to check and see if the baby is crowning."

Sheppard frowned, not fully understanding what Beckett was talking about. "What?"

"You need to see if you can see the baby's head."

"Oh," Sheppard said quietly.

Zalea's eyes squeezed shut until the last contraction ended. When she looked at Sheppard next, she took a ragged breath and said, "I think it's time."

Sheppard sighed and nodded with dread. "Okay, let me get down there where I can see what's going on. I mean, if you're ready for that – "

"Go," she said breathlessly.

He took a deep breath and moved down to her feet. Before he got there, she had another contraction, grabbing McKay's hand and squeezed. McKay let out a howl of his own.

Sheppard frowned at him. "Buck up, McKay."

McKay winced and muttered, "It's okay. It's only my right hand. It's only the hand I use for everything. I don't think she broke every bone . . . "

She groaned as she brought up her knees and pushed down. Sheppard didn't waste any more time. He threw back the edges of the blanket over her knees and moved her legs a little further apart so that he could see and was surprised to see the crown of the baby's head pushing through.

"Oh, boy. He's coming, Doc."

"Tell her to push hard. She's going to do all the work. All you are going to do is catch the baby and clean him up, clamp, and then cut the umbilical cord."

He readied himself and said, "Okay, Zalea, push. Push for all your worth!"

She glared at him, looking like she thought she was already pushing. She took a deep breath and bore down again. Another quick breath and she pushed again. The baby's head and shoulder came out. She pushed one more time and the rest of him slid all the way out.

"He's here!" Sheppard said, laughing as he held the baby up for Zalea and McKay to see. "Damn, will you look at that!"

Zalea started crying. "He's beautiful."

McKay turned away, looking a little green as he swallowed several times like he was trying to swallow down bile, but he didn't say anything aloud.

Beckett spoke up. "You aren't done yet, Colonel. Make sure his airway is clear. Take a cloth or a paper towel and clear his mouth of fluid."

Sheppard had barely finished when the baby screamed, quiet at first, then rising in tone. "I think his lungs work just fine, Doc."

The tiny infant screamed louder, throwing its whole body into wailing. Sheppard relaxed a bit. This was a good strong baby. John thought about the next step. "McKay . . . " he said, "I need your help now."

McKay scooted down to Sheppard's position, not willingly, but he came anyway. "I need a wet rag to wipe him down, then we need to do the umbilical cord thing before we wrap him up."

"You do remember that I can lose consciousness at the sight of blood?"

Zalea screamed with another contraction, startling both McKay and Sheppard. "What is it? You aren't having twins, are you?" McKay asked, his voice breaking at the end.

Before she could reply, Beckett said, "No, it's probably the placenta. Continue with the baby. I'm sure it's cold down there and you will need to wrap him up warmly as soon as possible."

Between McKay and Sheppard, they got him cleaned up and the cord cut and tied off, and then John put Masan into Zalea's arms. "Oh, he's beautiful. He's just beautiful," she whispered.

"Yes, he is," Sheppard whispered.

She picked up her radio, her voice trembling with awe, "Arlin, he's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. He's healthy and strong and . . . "

As she spoke, Sheppard looked over at McKay, and he was surprised to find tears in the scientist's eyes as he stared at the baby. "He's beautiful," McKay repeated, then stopped when he realized Sheppard was staring at him.

Sheppard smiled. "Come on, McKay, let's clean up things here while mom and baby have some quality time to get acquainted."

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