A/N: Here is the next chapter to the story. Sorry it took me so long to upload, the chapter ended up being a lot longer than I thought it would be. I would like to thank everyone who has been reading this story, and sending me reviews, I really appreciate them, thank you. I have already started writing chapter 8, but if I don't get a few more reviews I might postpone its upload till I get an adequate amount. Like always, read and enjoy:)
Chapter 7- A Grand Entrance
Darkness spilled freely from the room through the open door, only to disappear once it met the hall's bright lights. Unable to see anything definitive through the darkness the three agents raised their flashlights, and upon hearing a second whimper of pain, quickly entered the room. Sweeping their flashlights' bright lights through the consuming darkness the three light sources illuminated the room's interior. Roving his light over everything rather quickly Mick located Gina tethered to her bed, shaking slightly beneath her thin cotton blanket. Upon seeing Gina illuminated by the light Mick's heart literally skipped a beat as he raced towards her.
Blinded slightly by the light of Mick's flashlight Gina squinted her eyes to see who it was that was approaching her. Identifying Mick's face through the blinding light a mixed smile of love and relief spread across Gina's face. Even though she had heard Mick's voice from the hall asking her to keep rattling the chains Gina had feared that it might have been some kind of sick, twisted joke being played by the nurse and doctor. At the sight of her husband's approaching form Gina relaxed her legs from their defensive positions. Fighting the onset of pain from another newly formed contraction Gina opened her arms as she was enveloped by Mick's warm, protective body.
Welcoming the warmth that Mick's body offered Gina collapsed further into Mick's arms. A soft moan escaped Gina's lips in response to the persisting contraction, and its bombarding pain. Upon hearing Gina's moan Mick released his constricting hold, pulling himself back slightly so as to see Gina's pain stricken face. His face plastered with an overdose of worry Mick asked,
"Gina, Love, are you alright?"
Nodding her head through the continuous onslaught of pain Gina replied,
"I'm ok, just a really painful contraction."
Wanting to help relieve Gina's pain, in response to her words, Mick grasped Gina's hand securely within his own. A Gina began squeezing Mick's freely given hand Beth settled herself at the end of Gina's bed. Using her free hand Beth patted Gina's covers; finding the newly dampened area of the sheets Beth gazed up at her pain inflicted friend and asked,
"Gina, how long ago did your water break?"
Returning her gaze to her female colleague Gina took a quick deep breath before she replied,
"It broke just a few minutes ago while I was rattling the chains. It breaking was the reason why I suddenly stopped rattling. I wasn't expecting it to break so suddenly."
Trying but failing to grasp the meaning of the two female agents' conversation Mick, with a perplexed expression on his face, questioned,
"Wait a second, Beth, how did you know that Gina's water had already broken?"
Unaffected by Mick's perplexity Beth waved her hand at the bed sheets for reference as she replied,
"I realized Mick that her water had broken because the bed sheets are soaking wet."
Giving her a simple nod Mick then turned his head back to Gina as he asked,
"How…How long have you been in labor Love?"
Hearing the nervousness in Mick's voice Gina gave his hand a gentle squeeze as she replied,
"I don't know how many hours exactly, but the two bastards that abducted me induced my labor right after I regained consciousness. The nurse has been visiting me three times to check my dilation, the last time she checked me she said that I was nearly nine centimeters dilated…Uh! God here comes another one…" Gina takes a few shaky breaths, "Please tell me you guys have or are in the process of detaining the two bastards who abducted and induced my labor."
Hearing the venom in Gina's voice towards the Addison siblings Mick, relieved that her anger was directed at the Unsubs, replied,
"No Love, we haven't found them yet, but Sam and Prophet, and the remaining members of SWAT on their team are searching the fourth floor."
At the mentioning of Sam and Prophet Beth, realizing that they had yet to inform Sam of their discovery, turned to Officer Bell and said,
"Bell, contact Sam, and tell him that we have found Gina, then do the same with the rest of your team members in the west wing. Then, finally, call for an ambulance, we need medics up here as soon as possible."
As Beth finished speaking and Bell nodded his head and exited the room Gina, seeing the relieved expression upon Mick's face, said,
"Don't look so relieved Mick Rawson, I'm equally pissed at you for getting me pregnant, but the contraction's immense pain is making it extremely hard for me…"
Balling the sheets up into her fisted free-hand Gina squeezed her eyes shut and hissed in response to the pain-filled contraction. Hoping to comfort Gina as she continued to battle the pains of her current contraction Mick raised his free hand and placed it upon Gina's forearm so as to gently rub it. When his hand came in contact with the exposed portion of Gina's forearm Mick found her arm to be cold, not far from being ice cold. Looking down at the forearm where his hand laid Mick saw that her arm was also completely covered in goose bumps. Seeing the true extent of Gina's shivering Mick quickly started to rub his hand up and down Gina's arm, not just to provide her with comfort, but to rub some warmth back into her skin. Concerned over just how cold Gina was Mick turned to Beth and said,
"Her skin is nearly freezing cold to the touch Beth. We need to get another blanket over her and warm her up before hypothermia sets in."
Nodding her head in understanding Beth quickly gazed around at the graffiti covered room. As Beth looked around the room Mick returned his gaze to Gina and asked,
"Gina, Love, I can tell by how cold you are that this is the only blanket that you were given, but do you know where the doctor and nurse kept the other blankets and supplies?"
Taking slow deep breaths against the pains of another back to back contraction Gina replied,
"I'm not really sure; I only ever saw them open one closet that contained supplies, that one over there across from the bed. But from what I could tell there weren't any extra blankets in there, just containers of supplies stacked from floor to ceiling…AHHH! God I would love it if one of the containers had something to help with the pain but I already know that it's too late."
Hearing the specific contents of the noticeable closet Beth, while rising from the bed, said,
"Well I'm going to need to get supplies for the delivery anyway so I can double check."
Walking over to the camouflaged closet Beth opened the door and stared at the multiple stacked piles of supplies. After carefully examining each stack of supplies Beth extracted a sealed pale green container from the depths of the closet. Placing the container on the bed Beth, upon seeing the curious expression on Gina's face, explained,
"According to the label on the container this has the supplies we'll need for the delivery. Now I'm just going to search for some extra blankets…I think I saw another closet close to the main door…"
Walking towards the main door Beth paused, and sure enough there was another closet. Opening the closet door a smile of success spread across Beth's face, she had found the hidden stash of blankets. Grabbing three blankets from the closet's collection Beth closed the door before she made her way back to Gina's bed. Placing the blankets beside her on the bed Beth quickly covered Gina with one of the three blankets before she ripped the protective cover off the pale green plastic container. Taking a second to thoroughly examine the containers' contents Beth rose from the bed one last time to retrieve a pair of latex gloves from the wall mounted box.
Pulling the gloves onto her hands Beth gave Gina a sympathetic look as she said,
"I know that you're in a tremendous amount of pain Gina but I need you to separate and bend your legs close to your chest so I can try and determine if your dilation has changed in the short amount of time since your last check."
Knowing that Beth's actions were intended to help her Gina obligingly did as Beth had asked. Feeling an increasing pressure between her legs another soft moan of discomfort escaped Gina's lips as she said,
"Beth, please tell me you're almost done, I'm experiencing an increase of pressure- it feels like the baby's head is already between my legs."
Having been in and experienced everything Gina was currently going through Beth didn't need any clarification of Gina's words, she immediately understood what she meant. Lifting her eyes Beth stared at her best friend and sister and gave her a small reassuring smile as she replied,
"Just by checking you I can understand why you are having that particular sensation- I can already start to see the baby's head, it appears to be crowning. But there is one thing that needs to be done first before we begin anything…" Beth turned her gaze to Mick, "Mick do you think you can pick the locks of these shackles so we can remove them from Gina's wrist and ankle? Removing them would give her a wider range of motion as well as some much needed freedom."
Keeping his and Gina's hands interlocked Mick removed his other hand from Gina's forearm, diving it deep into his front jean pocket. Extracting his hand from the pocket a second later Mick held two small, thin metal instruments between his fingers. At the sight of the two small metal instruments between Mick's fingers a feeling of ecstasy flowed through Gina's body; never before had she been so glad of Mick's constant insistence to keep the simple lock picking tools in his jean pocket on every case they were assigned. Desperately eager to have the heavy, annoying shackles removed Gina quickly extended her chain laden arm towards Mick. After a quick inspection of the shackle's lock mechanism Mick inserted the tow wire thin ends of both instruments into the keyhole.
As Mick worked, vigorously picking away at the lock a familiar voice filtered through Beth's and Mick's ear piece,
"Agent Griffith, Agent Rawson? This is Officer Bell, the commander just contacted me, as well as Dellums, Mathis, and Marx, and he has requested that we join him and the rest of Agents Cooper and Simms' group up on the fourth floor. If I understood the commander correctly, I believe they have located the Addison siblings, and are in the beginning process of detaining them."
Nodding her head to no one in particular for a second time Beth pressed a gloved finger to her ear piece as she replied,
"Thank you Bell for letting us know we really appreciate it. The four of you go on and head upstairs where your assistance is needed. Agent Rawson and myself are about to become immensely busy ourselves with Agent LaSalle."
After a final affirmative reply to Beth's instructive words Beth ended the transmission. At that moment, as Beth removed her finger from her ear piece, a single, loud triumphant click resonated from within the shackle upon Gina's wrist as it released her from its imprisoning bond. A small sigh of relief passed through Gina's lips as she gently messaged her red, irritated wrist. Even though Beth had asked him to pick the locks of both shackles Mick reluctantly returned the lock pick tools to his jean pocket. Nodding her head in reference towards Gina's covered yet shackled ankle Mick explained,
"I know that you asked me to unlock both shackles, but I figured that I can pick the lock of the shackle attached to Gina's ankle after she delivers. Besides, from my current position, even with added assistance form Gina, I'm unable to adequately reach the lock to pick it. Anyway, from Gina's slight, yet constant movements I don't think she could contain her urges while I picked the lock."
Biting her lips against the pain so hard it nearly bled Gina nodded her head in agreement to Mick's supposed words. Upon taking multiple fast paced breaths Gina looked to the end of the bed at Beth. Before Gina could move a muscle, or open her mouth to speak Beth interceded,
"Are you feeling the intense urge to push Gina?"
Relief once again flowed freely through Gina that Beth had asked her the question so that she didn't have to verbally admit to the urge she had been feeling. Without pausing Gina nodded her head. Seeing Gina's quick affirmative response Beth replied,
"Well if you feel like you need to push then by all means start pushing."
At Beth's commanding words, with Mick's hand intertwined once again with her own Gina began the difficult physical part of the labor. The process itself was slow, and in no time at all Gina's brow was literally drenched in sweat. As Gina continued to push so as to end the horribly painful ordeal a gunshot sounded from the floor above, followed by two additional, consecutive gunshots. Raising his head to peer up at the ceiling Mick verbally pondered,
"What the Bloody Hell is going on up there?"
Occupied with her duties Beth gave her shoulders a shrug as she replied,
"I have no idea, but that is something we can question Sam and Prophet about once this is over…" Peering up at Gina Beth could see the fatigue of all her physical labor beginning to set in, "You're doing great Gina; the head is nearly completely out. Just a few more pushes."
Breathing heavily from her arduous work Gina, with a gleam of hope shining in her eyes, questioned,
"Really, you're sure? Just a few more pushes?"
Concealing her amusement over Gina's inquisitive response Beth kept her face as neutral as she replied,
"Yes Gina I'm positive, after a few more pushes the baby's head will be completely out, then the rest of the body will pass through smoothly."
Having risen from his spot beside Gina to visually check, purely out of his own curiosity, the progression of Gina's physical labor based on Beth's words Mick resumed his knelt position at Gina's side. Giving Gina's hand a gently squeeze of extra reassurance Mick commented,
"Beth is right Love, I just tool a peak myself, the baby's head is almost completely sticking out, and it's completely filled with hair. But I'm not sure what color it is exactly, so let's keep going so we can both find out together."
Feeling reenergized by Mick's words Gina, giving her head a single nod, inhaled deeply before she bore her head against her chest and resumed pushing. It seemed that Mick's words had not only reenergized Gina mentally but physically as well. In a matter of a few minutes and nearly two pushes Gina's progress had made a leaping bound. Hands at the ready Beth watched as the baby's head was steadily and completely expelled. Holding the baby's delicate head securely in her hands Beth waited, aiding the baby' little by little as the rest of its body was delivered. A soft hiss was emitted from Gina's lips, Beth knew that she was most likely experiencing a burning sensation at that point, but sadly there was nothing she could do to aid her friend, except get the baby completely delivered.
At last, with a pop-like sensation the baby was delivered. Having spread out the second of the three blankets over the bed beside her before Gina had first started to push Beth gently placed the wiggling newly born baby on the blankets. Keeping a secure hand on the baby Beth quickly retrieved the few essential supplies from the plastic container. Maintaining her quick pace Beth, using the suction ball, removed the birthing liquid from the baby's airway. Airways free and clear the baby let loose a high pitched wail.
Smiling at the baby's responding cry Beth quickly wiped the baby off before, since the umbilical cord was still attached, loosely wrapping it in the third of the three blankets. Cradling the baby in her arms Beth turned and faced Gina and Mick. Placing the bundled new born into Gina's waiting, out stretched arms a proud-filled smile spread across Beth's lips as she said,
"Allow me to officially be the first one to offer you guys my congratulations. Your baby girl is just precious, and absolutely adorable."
Eyes glistening with unshed tears Gina gazed down at the now calmed baby girl in her arms. The water works dam broke as tears of joy cascaded down Gina's cheeks, a loving smile, identical to Mick's, spread across her face. Watching the loving admiration being bestowed on the new born by her two friends Beth knew there was still work that needed to be done. Grabbing the two plastic clamps from the temporary placement upon her legs Beth, after separating the loose blanket slightly to expose the umbilical cord, quickly locked both clamps into their appropriate places. Curious as to what Beth was doing Mick watched as she completed her task at hand; the clamps secured Beth handed Mick a pair of surgical scissors as she said,
"Alright Mick you get to do the honors of cutting the cord."
Smiling eagerly Mick accepted the offered medical tool. Severing the cord between the two clamps where Beth had indicated Mick, while handing the scissors back to Beth, questioned,
"So Beth, besides the fact that you have given birth to two children yourself, how is it that you knew how to clamp off the cord so it could be cut?"
Taking a second to deposit the scissors back into the container Beth replied,
"Well after having Wyatt at home in the apartment I remember Sam telling Garcia where exactly to clamp off the cord, so I just did what I remember him telling her to do."
Unable to think of a decent verbal response as Beth rewrapped the blanket securely around the baby Mick merely gave a silent nod of his head in response. Catching Mick's nod out of the corner of her eye a small grin spread across Beth's face. Looking back up at Gina Beth further explained,
"Gina, I'm not quite sure of how to deliver the placenta, so if it's ok with you I'm just going to leave it for the paramedics or the real doctors to deal with."
Taking Beth's sincere words into consideration Gina nodded her head in agreement. Just as Gina did this Prophet's familiar voice filtered through Mick's and Beth's ear pieces,
"Hey Mick, Beth, we just officially apprehended Amelia and Grant Addison. The SWAT team commander and his men are escorting them downstairs now. How are things on y'all's end?"
Exchanging a quick glance with Mick, who continued to gently caress his daughter's cheek, Beth replied,
"We're good here; we now officially have a new female member added to our team and family. I asked Bell when I talked with him earlier if he could call for an ambulance, have you heard anything about it?"
In a slightly forced neutral tone Prophet replied,
"I called Garcia after the small shoot out ended, and asked her about medical support- she said that they had already been dispatched and one was about ten minutes out, so it should be here shortly…So we have another girl in our mixed up family, does she have a name yet or do we have to wait till we join you guys on the third floor?"
At this moment Mick, with his hand still attached to the baby's cheek, answered,
"Yes she has a name, but if you don't mind I think we'll wait to tell you guys her name after you join us to tell all of you what it is. Now it's your turn to answer a question Mate. What the Bloody Hell happened up there to warrant guns to be fired?"
Through their ear pieces Mick and Beth could hear Prophet heave a sigh before he replied,
"We had a slight altercation with Grant Addison; apparently he didn't like the idea of surrendering himself to federal agents. Instead he pulled out a handgun and fired at us. He only managed to graze a certain someone's upper arm before the SWAT commander and myself fired back. I hit him in the wrist while the commander got him in the upper arm. With those two bullet wounds in his arm Grant Addison surrendered, with his sister by his side…Ok, uh guys Cooper and I just reached the third floor landing, do you think one of you guys can give us a room number so we can figure out where you guys are?"
Trying to keep her building anger over Prophet's insinuating words at bay Beth calmly replied,
"We're in room 328, to make it easier for you to find us I'll be standing outside the door, and another hint, the room is on the East side of the floor."
After receiving a final response of thanks from Prophet the transmission was ended. Rising once again from her spot at the end of the bed a look of heated anger covered Beth's face as she turned towards the door, and mumbled out loud,
"I swear if Sam really was the one that got shot…grazed…whatever… I'm going to give him a good piece of my mind when I see him in the hall…"
Grinning at Beth's seemingly non-threatening words Mick, not wanting to ruin the surprise of the baby's name for Prophet and Cooper, kept his mouth shut as Beth made her way to the door to stand outside, and wait for their wandering teammates…
