Note From The Author—It hardly seems possible but we've actually come to the birth of Baby Flack. I picked the name like three hours before I started writing this, just so's you know. I hope everyone agrees it's a good name and enjoys this chapter. As I've never experienced labor I hope you'll forgive me for any minor mistakes or indiscretions in this particular chapter. Enjoy.
Disclaimer—I don't own the characters of CSI: NY
As much as Don had always respected Stella in the hours that were to follow he gained three times more respect for her than he had before that night. Six hours into labor she was getting close, but it had been arduous and painful. Still she was doing amazing. Flack wished more than anything that he could be up on the bed with her, behind her literally as well as figuratively, but his injuries from the crash wouldn't allow it. He settled for a seat next to the bed where he offered a hand he was amazed wasn't broken through all of her contractions.
She was between contractions, with Flack pressing a cool towel to her forehead when the doctor came back in. "Stella, we're going to check your progress. You've been moving along well and we should be getting pretty close."
Stella nodded, fighting to catch her breath. "Okay."
The doctor did her thing, something that Flack preferred not to actually think about, then reappeared a moment later. "You're doing well Stella," she told her. "A couple minutes more and we'll be in business. We'll give it a little more time and before you know it you'll have your baby."
When the doctor had left Flack turned to the bed to kiss Stella's forehead. "You're doing fantastic," he told her.
"Yeah, well it doesn't feel fantastic," she ground out as another contraction overtook her. As the pain overrode everything else, all she could manage was a crushing grip on Flack's hand and a pained cry. As it abated her hand loosened and she groaned. "I'm going to break your other hand if I'm not careful."
He shook his head. "I'll find a way to function without it if you do. Almost there," he told her, brushing a damp curl from her forehead. "Just a few minutes and we'll be holding a son or daughter."
"I know, and it'll be so worth it but…" She cut off as yet another contraction began. When she could breathe again she spoke again. "God I have so much respect for every woman who's ever had to go through this."
"The feeling's mutual," came their doctor's voice from the doorway. "Let's have ourselves a baby."
Soon enough Stella was prepared for the final stage. Her heart was pounding from strain and excitement and maybe even a touch of fear. Flack firmly took hold of her hand as he felt a thrill of exhilarated anticipation. "I love you," he told her.
"I love you too."
"Okay Stella, it's time to push but not until I tell you, okay?"
She nodded. "I've got it."
In that moment everything rose to a crescendo. The pain was intense and emotions were through the roof. The doctor's voice barely broke through the cloud of pain when she spoke. "Push Stella, now!" Even though Stella heard her only dimly she did hear, and she pushed. "Okay, good. Stop and breathe."
"God," Stella sobbed. "God."
"Okay, here we go; push!" Stella's vision narrowed to a pinpoint of sensation and emotion. She felt the pain and happiness, Flack's hand in hers, and all of her emotions flashing through her brain like lightning as she heard the doctor's next words. "One more good strong push Stella. Now!"
It was over so fast it was stunning. Stella waited without breathing and wept when she heard the baby cry, letting her head fall against Flack's shoulder. "You're amazing," he told her before he kissed her. "Absolutely amazing."
"It's a girl," the doctor announced. "Would you like to cut the cord new daddy?" she asked.
Don nodded and with shaking hands did the honors he'd been waiting months for. "She's beautiful Stell. We did good."
In a moment the doctor handed Stella a little pink wrapped bundle. Looking down at her brand new daughter she felt her heart swell and knew exactly what it felt like to fall in love at first sight. "God she's wonderful," she whispered.
Flack reached over and brushed a hand over his daughter's dark thatch of hair. "She is isn't she?" He leaned over and kissed Stella softly. "A baby girl."
She smiled. "A baby girl; Danny's going to be so pissed."
The entire team was waiting outside the nursery when Flack hobbled up to them. Hugs, kisses and slaps on the back were exchanged all around before he spoke. "Stella's doing fine, and we've got a beautiful baby girl," he told them, his eyes welling with tears that he allowed to fall freely.
"Damn it," Danny swore. His breath expelled harshly as Lindsay elbowed him in the stomach. "You know I didn't mean it that way. Congratulations man."
"Thanks. God it's amazing," he said, his voice full of wonder as he ran a hand over his hair. "They're bringing her in now."
They all watched eagerly as the nurse came in carrying the little brand new baby girl. She settled her into her bassinet and they crowded around the window to see her as close as they could. They all cooed over her when they saw her. Flack was right, she was positively gorgeous. There wasn't a dry eye in the hall as they all looked in on their first ever New York crime lab baby.
At last someone thought to ask the million dollar question. "What's her name?" Hawkes questioned.
"It's Sophia." Just saying it made his heart swell with love and pride. "Sophia Elyse Flack."
They all wanted to see Stella as soon as possible, but the nurses weren't about to let almost ten people in the room at once, so they took turns, each taking a couple of minutes to speak to her and offer congratulations. When they had all left, Stella and Flack were left alone for the first time since she'd given birth. Flack asked a nurse to bring Sophia in from the nursery, thoughts bouncing around his head at a rapid fire pace.
"Here she is," the nurse announced.
She settled the baby with Stella who sighed contentedly. "Thank you." The nurse nodded and made a relatively swift exit.
Sophia was wrapped in the typical little pink hospital blanket and as Stella held her Flack reached over to brush a hand over his daughter's cheek. "I have something for you," he told Stell.
"Oh really?" she asked, smiling. "What's that?" He grinned and reached over to unfold the blanket. For a moment Stella couldn't even comprehend what she saw. When it hit her that there was a princess cut diamond set in platinum tied with a ribbon to her daughter's hospital bracelet she could have sworn that her heart momentarily stopped.
"So what do you think Sophia?" he asked casually. Then he looked up and his eyes met Stella's. "Think your mama will make an honest man out of me?"
"Don," she said quietly.
"What do you stay Stell? You going to marry me?"
"Did you honestly think I would say no?" she asked incredulously. "Of course I'm going to marry you."
He leaned over to kiss her slowly and thoroughly. That irresistible boyish grin of his was firmly in place when he pulled back. "Better put the ring on then."
She reached over to pull gently on the ribbon and Flack held his hand out to let it fall there. Stella shifted the baby to rest in the crook of her right arm and he slid the ring onto her left hand. She gave in to the purely female compulsion to hold her hand out and wiggle her fingers, watching the diamond flash like fire. "You did fabulously, it's perfect."
"I'm glad you like it."
"I don't like it, I love it, and I love you."
"I love you too." He kissed her sweetly then looked down at their little girl, resting in her mother's arms. "What do you say baby, you want to be a flower girl at your mom and dad's wedding?"
Stella laughed. "She'll make a beautiful little flower girl."
"You ready to get out of here?"
"More than ready; but they're not letting me out of here until tomorrow."
Flack nodded. "We'll be ready when they do. Then we'll finally have this little one home."
"Finally."
By noon the next day they were back at home and Sophia was settled in her crib. Still exhausted, Stella switched on the baby monitor and she and Flack collapsed on their bed. She settled in against him, fitting herself along his uninjured side. "I didn't think I'd be so tired," she sighed.
"You've been put through the ringer Stell. It only makes sense that you'd be worn out; plus neither of us really got a lot of sleep the past two nights."
She nodded. "I know. Now I'm going to sleep, for as long as I can."
They both drifted off blissfully quickly, but it seemed as if only bare seconds had passed when Sophia's cries filtered in through the baby monitor. Stella groaned and Flack sighed. "Welcome to parenthood."
Note From The Author-- Okay, okay, the really short labor scene was a cop out, I know. But I figured it was better to make it short rather than making an even bigger ass out of myself since I've never actually experienced it. Please forgive me :)