Prompt: Mary/Marshall, Mary giving birth on the side of the road

Marshall slowed his exposition on the types of geologic rocks found in the foothills they were passing through and glanced over at Mary. It occurred to him that his partner had been very quiet the whole day. He eased off the gas pedal, slowed down and took a harder look at her face, taut and drawn.

"Mary, are you okay?" he asked, quickly calculating how many more weeks until her due date. She grunted in response and Marshall's look of concern turned to alarm.

"My back has been hurting," she said tersely. Marshall noted the fine beads of sweat that were on her brow, the ashen color of her face. He pulled over to the side of the road and stopped the GMC.

"Low back?" he asked tightly, slipping out of his seatbelt. She nodded silently, gritting her teeth.

"How long?" Marshall was pulling out his cell phone.

Mary shrugged. "Few hours," she said, placing her hand on her swollen belly.

Marshall grasped her shoulder and turned her to face him. "How. Long." He enunciated slowly, trying to hold in his panic.

"Since this morning," she admitted reluctantly, then gasped in pain and doubled over.

"Marshall," she cried out, her hand flailing for his. He grasped her hand and squeezed.

"I'm here," he said, reaching over to touch her face. "You know what's happening, right?" Scared green eyes stared at him, then she bent over again. Marshall quickly dialed 911 and conducted a hurried conversation with the operator.

"Mary," he said, trying to keep his voice calm and steady. "An ambulance is being dispatched, but it is going to be at least 45 minutes. Mary, how long have you been having labor pains?" She shook her head, tears forming in the corner of her eyes.

"I thought it was just my back. My back always hurts."

"It's okay," Marshall said, dismay pushed to the back of his mind by the clinical rundown of the emergency supplies he had in the truck. He drew in a deep breath.

"Let's get you more comfortable in the back seat." Mary shook her head, then cried out as another contraction rocked her body. Marshall checked his watch, and firmly grasped her arm.

"This isn't a request. I need you to move to the back seat while you still can."

"I am not giving birth in your car!" Mary's expression was one of mingled horror, terror and stubbornness.

"You many not have a choice. Unless you can reason with that kid and convince him to stay in there. You are well along in labor. I don't think you're going to last until the ambulance gets here. Mary please," his voice softened as he pleaded with her, "you need to move to the back. I can deliver this baby if necessary. I've gone through the training." Mary stared at him. "Just in case of something like this."

"I do not want you poking around down in my hoohaw!" Mary squawked, her cheeks turning pink.

"I don't want you or the baby dying out here in the hills," he said shortly, heaving her up out of the seat. She sat down heavily in the back.

"I'm scared Marshall," she whispered.

"I know," he said, leaning in to place a kiss on her forehead.

The ambulance arrived 32 minutes after being dispatched. The paramedics found a tall, distraught man with tears running down his cheeks and a woman wrapped in a blanket holding a small, squalling bundle.

"Sir, move aside please. We need to check your wife." Marshall stepped aside in a daze, then froze as the paramedics gently took the baby from Mary and handed her to him.

"I'll check the baby in a moment, I need to make sure your wife is alright." Marshall gazed down at the tiny bundle in his arms, all squirming limbs and tiny red face puckered up from the effort of crying. He took in the marvel of her perfect features, even covered in slime and couldn't help the muffled sob that escaped him.

One of the paramedics turned from Mary and walked over to him, taking the baby and quickly checking her out.

"She's just perfect," he smiled at Marshall. "You have a beautiful little daughter." Marshall caught Mary's eye and grinned.

"We have a daughter."