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Chapter 3

Finding Alex

The elevator opened on to the level of the parking deck that he and Alex use. Very few cars remained at this hour. He did a quick tour of the level, there was no sign of her vehicle. Running his hands through his hair, pulling out his phone he called Alex's father. "Her car isn't in the parking deck."

His gruff voice came over the airwaves. "Damn! I'm going to over to her house, and check it out."

Bobby nodded, as he glanced at his watch. Alex was already two hours late. "I'll get a description of her vehicle out to those on shift, and see what we turn up. Her car may have stalled in this weather."

The last comment was one stated in hope, but he had his doubts. Alex would have called. He bit his lip. Would she have called me for help? He headed back inside One Police Plaza to get the information out. As he stood in the elevator, he wondered why he had to be so stubborn about not going with her. He shook his head, feeling a heavy weight on his shoulders and his heart. Looking up at the ceiling, he stared at the light. Let her be okay. Just let her be okay.

The orderly wheeled Alex back into Jennifer's room, placing her next to her bed. During her absence, they had put her on oxygen, and had a fetal monitor in place. Alex's face showed concern. Taking hold of Jennifer's hand, she studied the exhausted woman. "How are you doing?"

She smiled weakly. "They keep telling me 'everything is moving right along'. How about you?"

Alex glanced at the walking cast on her right foot. Frowning, she tried to move her toes. "Not too bad. They have to let the swelling go down before they can determine if it's broken."

Jennifer moaned as another contraction hit. "We're a pair, aren't we?"

She tightened her grip on Jennifer's hand, trying to comfort her. "We sure are."

"I know this is selfish." Jennifer turned her damp head towards her. "But I am glad you are here. Hey, you were going to call someone, weren't you?"

Alex put a hand to her mouth. It was already ten thirty. "Oh my God, they must think I'm stranded, or worse."

Jennifer nodded. "You better call them now."

Alex reached for the phone, and began punching in a number. Her mother picked up. "Mom, this is Alex. No Mom, I'm okay. Is Dad there? No? It's a long story. No, I'll call him. I'll see you tomorrow, okay?" She hung up.

Just as she was going to dial Bobby's cell, the nurse came in. Checking the dilation, she smiled at Jennifer. "Everything seems to be moving right along." With that, she stepped outside the room.

Jennifer rolled her eyes. "See?"

Alex couldn't help but smile. Both women could hear the nurse speak to someone, but neither could make out what was being said. Jennifer's face paled. "I'm getting good at this, I can tell you when the next wave is coming, before the machine."

Tightening her grip on Alex's hand she looked, wildly around the room. Alex quickly picked up a nearby tray and put it underneath her chin as Jennifer spewed out bile. Alex looked towards the door, willing the nurse to return. As if reading her thoughts, Nurse Ratched returned, this time with what appeared to be a doctor. "How are we feeling?"

Jennifer glared at him. "We are exhausted, and we want this over with."

The doctor laughed. "I bet you are. We are preparing a room now. It looks like it will have to be a C-Section. From what we can determine, he's facing up, a Stargazer. His forehead is catching, and not allowing him to pop out."

Jennifer gritted her teeth, feeling another wave. "Let's do it."

The doctor smiled as he signaled a couple of orderlies to help move her bed towards surgery. He glanced down at Alex and her chair, slightly frowning. "We can't allow you in, the room is limited in space, but we can set you up in the observation room."

Alex nodded, as an orderly stepped by her chair ready to move her. "I need to make a phone call. Can I have a minute?"

Bobby was traveling the route that he knew Alex would have gone when his cell phone rang. Pulling it from his pocket, he furrowed his brow. Caller unknown shown on the screen. Flipping it open, he answered. "Goren."

Alex smiled into the phone. "Hey..."

Hearing her voice he quickly pulled over to the side of the road. "Alex! Alex, where the hell are you?" Growling out the last sentence.

Her smile got bigger at his burst of concern. "I'm at the hospital. I really can't talk, have to go to surgery." She gave him quick directions before he could ask her more details. Hanging up, the orderly quickly moved her down the hall to the observation room.

Not hurt? Going to surgery? Moving his vehicle back into traffic he quickly called John. He left out the information about surgery. He didn't want two Eames laid up in the hospital.

Alex watched in amazement as the baby was brought above the protective cover. The light hit the baby's wet body made him almost appear to be aglow. Watching them cut the cord, a group of nurses weighed the baby and then cleaned him up. Another group of nurses assisted with the closing. The doctor looked up at the window where Alex was sitting. Grinning from behind his mask, he gave her the news. "It's a girl. Seven pounds, seven ounces and 21 inches long. Both are fine."

She sat back in her chair, feeling the tension leave her body and exhaustion creeping in. The doctor looked up again at the window. His eyes crinkling from his smile. "The nurses tell me that time of birth is Mid-night. She's our first Christmas baby."

An orderly leaned down and whispered in Alex's ear. "She'll have to go to recovery for a short time. Do you wish to return to the room."

Alex nodded. Arriving at her room, the orderly helped her to the cot, stacking some pillows, he gently put her injured foot on top of them. He left the chair near her bed. Pulling the blanket on, Alex quickly nodded off, knowing that in a short time, Jennifer and baby would be joining her.

Bobby pulled into the hospital parking lot. Barely letting his vehicle come to a stop, he was out heading towards the main door. He stopped at the information desk, inquiring what room Alex was in. The woman looked at the computer screen. "Sorry sir, there's no Alex Eames here."

Bobby rubbed the back of his neck. "She's got to be here."

The woman behind the counter shook her head adamantly. "I'm sorry sir, there is no one registered here by that name."

He stepped out of the hospital and turned towards the Emergency Room. The snow was now gently falling, as he peered out into the lit parking lot, his eyes fell on some distant vehicles, cocking his head, he stared at one in particular. Walking over to it, he swept the snow from the windows and looked inside. Nothing in particular caught his eye. Walking to the rear of the vehicle, he swept the snow off the license plate. "Alex."

He headed towards the Emergency Room.