Title: Push (2/X)
Author: Romantique
Email:
Classification: A Gary-centric romance.
Rating: M for suggestive adult situations.
Summary: Sequel to "Play the Cards You've Been Dealt" and "Double Down" Takes place four months later. After marrying the love of his life, Gary and Kate await the arrival of their new family.
Disclaimer: Early Edition fan fiction occurs very in the early third season. This fan fiction would have taken place about 1998-99.
Legal: These characters do not belong to me. I'm just a fan and have not made a dime. Please email me to obtain permission to post.
Northwestern Hospital
Maternity Floor
Kate came through the delivery really well. She was tired, but feeling good and very happy.
After a time, the nurses took the babies to the nursery for a time to be cleaned, monitored, and undergo routine testing. A nurse entered the room to let Gary know that his parents were in the waiting room. "You can take them to the nursery to get a first look at their grandchildren in about an hour," she instructed. "Then, they can come back later tonight to visit Kate."
Holding Kate's hand, Gary said, "I guess I'd better go and see Mom and Dad for a minute." His wife's eyes were getting heavy; she was having a hard time staying awake. "I'll stay here until you fall asleep. I won't be gone long."
"Would you call Candice and my folks?" Kate smiled.
"Oh, these are going to be some of the happiest calls I've ever made," Gary smiled back and leaned down to give is wife the sweetest kiss near the corner of her mouth.
Then, he took a seat in the chair near her bed and softly talked to her until she drifted off to a well-deserved sleep.
Gary went into the hallway and down to a room where he could use their cell phone, and he placed calls first to Candice and then, to Kate's parents. Next, he walked down to the waiting room to find his parents.
"Gar!" Bernie shouted at the sight of his boy. "The nurses came out and told us our grandchildren are here. How's everyone doing?"
A big smile came over Gary's face. "The babies are fine; Kate is fine. She's sleeping now," he reported. "I can take you to the nursery in about 20 minutes."
"Oh, I can't wait," announced Lois. "This is such a happy day."
In a whisper, out of the side of his mouth, Gary changed the subject for a moment and asked, "How's the Paper?"
"N-n-n-n-n-n-no," Bernie shook his head. "You don't worry about that today, son. We're doin' just fine. I just checked it, and it seems the Paper is even giving me and Lois a break right about now."
"Yeah," Lois smiled. "It's like the Paper wanted us all to be here for the blessed event."
About that time, Marissa entered the waiting area with Spike.
"Marissa," Gary smiled at the sight of his friend and guided her over to their corner of the room.
"Gary," she smiled. "Have I missed anything?"
"They're here!" Grampa Bernie announced with pride. "Less than an hour ago."
"How's Kate, the babies?" she asked.
"Oh, everyone's great," Gary answered. "Babies are fine; Kate's fine. It was all so incredible."
"And how are you doing, Papa?" Marissa grabbed for Gary's arm.
Being called Papa for the first time felt like a wave of love wash over him. "I'm great," he said. And then, he began to sway, off balance with Marissa hanging onto his sleeve.
"Yeah, Gary," Lois looked at her son. "How about we all have a seat until the nursery is ready for us?" she suggested. He seemed to be coming down a bit from his tremendous high.
"Or we could go down to the cafeteria," Bernie suggested. "When's the last time you had something to eat, Gar? At breakfast?"
"Uh, no," Gary put his hand up to his head, realizing he was light-headed. "I don't even think we had a chance to have breakfast."
"Bernie, why don't we go down to the cafeteria and bring something back for Gary," Lois said, seeing that her son's blood sugar must be very low. "Gary, you stay put and visit with Marissa. Can we bring you anything, Marissa?"
"A coffee would be great," she smiled. "A coffee with cream."
"You got it," Bernie smiled. "And how about a sandwich for you, son."
"Anything would be great," Gary nodded. "I could use a coffee, too."
"We'll be right back," Lois smiled, and she and her husband left the two in the waiting room.
"So," Marissa broke the silence. "How does it feel to be a father after all those times you thought it would never happen for you? You've had a dream come true, my friend."
Gary took in a deep breath. "It's surreal," he started. "I mean, we've known the babies were coming for almost the last nine months. But to see them, to know they're now really here. Wow! I've never experienced anything like it." He was doing a very good job of conveying his feelings of joy.
After a pause, he continued. "And Kate. Oh, my God. She was just amazing. What a gift she's given to us. I am in absolute awe of my wife."
Marissa gave Gary's arm a squeeze. "Well, congratulations," she smiled again. "I can't think of anyone who deserves the happiness of a family of your own more than you do."
"Ahhh, thanks," Gary placed his hand over hers. "So, how does it feel to be 'Aunt' Marissa?" he laughed.
Marissa returned the laugh. "It feels great. But Gary, you haven't told me anything. What are the names of my niece and nephew?"
"Ezekiel James and Zoey Elizabeth," Gary beamed. "But we're going to call our son Zeke."
Marissa laughed. "Just as you always said it would be. Except you never said anything about Zeke having a sister."
"Well," Gary went along. "Zoey was a surprise. She was the most wonderful surprise."
"Who do they look like? Tell me," Marissa asked.
"To be honest," Gary said, "they are so small. They look like babies. Their eyes aren't even open. They both have a little bit of dark hair, which could be like either one of us. I think we're going to have to wait awhile before we can answer that question. But I can tell you that Zoey has my toes. I immediately recognized those toes, especially the baby toe."
"Poor girl," Marissa quipped.
"Hey," Gary defended himself. "There's nothing wrong with my feet. I have nice feet."
Marissa laughed. "I'll have to take your word for it."
"You do have nice feet, son," Lois said upon her arrival, overhearing part of their conversation. "They're like my sister's, your Aunt Shelle. You get them for my mother's side of the family."
"See, Marissa," Gary felt vindicated, as he thankfully took the sub sandwich they brought for him.
For the next several minutes, Gary hungrily worked on the sandwich. He was much hungrier than he knew.
"You're going to have to make even more of an effort to take care of yourself, son," Lois said with motherly concern. "Both you and Kate are going to need some extra care, plus you have these two tiny little ones who will need to eat on a regular schedule. Your Dad and I have been talking, and we'd like to make you an offer. We'd like to stick around for the next couple of weeks and help out, get the chance to see our new grandbabies. At least until Kate is up and back on her feet."
Marissa was very quiet. She knew how Gary's well intentioned parents could get under his last nerve.
Surprisingly, Gary answered, "You know, I've been thinking a lot about that. I can't be there to take care of Kate, and she's going to need help in the beginning. I'll talk to her, but I think 2 weeks would be about right. You see, Candice wants to come, too. Maybe I'll ask her to come in 2 weeks, and that way, Kate has help for the first 3 or 4 weeks … even longer if she needs it."
"It's spring time," Bernie smiled. "We're good to stay close by in the Grey Ghost. You'll see, son. You'll be glad to have us around now."
"I'm already glad to have you around," Gary said, popping the last bite of the sandwich into his mouth.
Just then, a nurse came into the waiting area and approached Gary. "We're all ready for you in the nursery. You can go in, Mr. Hobson, and hold them if you'd like."
"You bet I'd like," Gary smiled. "C'mon," he turned to his parents and Marissa. "There are two people I'd like you to meet."
Gary led the way down the hallway to the nursery. The nurse allowed him in where he was instructed to wash his hands and gowned up in a yellow surgical gown. Then, he was led to a room with a window to the hallway and instructed to have a seat in a rocking chair. He could see his parents and Marissa on the other side of the glass, his excited mother frantically waving at him. He calmly smiled and waved back.
A moment later, a nurse entered the room pushing a bassinette holding the two babies.
"What's going on?" asked Marissa. "You're going to have to tell me everything."
Then, the obvious suddenly dawned on the Hobsons. They would need to describe to her everything they were seeing for the first time. They would need to be her eyes.
"A nurse is handing Zeke to Gary," Lois began. "At least I think it's Zeke because he's in a blue blanket. Oh, Gary is so cute taking his tiny, tiny bundle from the nurse. The babies are wrapped really tight in their blankets so they feel more secure."
Getting the camera ready without the flash, Bernie stood by the ready to start snapping pictures. After Gary was feeling secure in his grip, he held Zeke upright, facing the window, so his parents could get a good look at their first grandson.
"He is so tiny, Marissa," Lois described what she was seeing, as her husband began snapping pictures. "And he's so cute. He has a little blue hat stretched over his head to keep his body temperature warm. His skin is so pink! He's a beautiful baby."
Gary held his son close to his cheek, smiling for the camera. After several minutes of this, he asked the nurse if he could have Zoey.
The nurse took Zeke for a moment and placed him back in the bassinette. Then, she handed Gary his new daughter. Zoe was wrapped in a pink blanket.
Lois again described everything she was seeing to Marissa. Her son was so happy and was becoming a little more relaxed with the babies. When he held Zoey up for them to take a look, Lois exclaimed, "Oh, wow. She looks like Gary. She looks like Gary did when he was born." And a tear welled in Lois' eye. I will never in my life ever forget what my Gary looked like the first time I say him. And he looked just like little Zoey."
Marissa smiled. "You know, when you too came back from the cafeteria, Gary was telling me he recognized that Zoey has toes like his."
"You want to know something? It's a lot more than toes," Lois lamented with a smile of joy all over her face. "She's the spittin' image of him."
All the while, Bernie was busy snapping pictures of his grand daughter.
After a few moments, the nurse handed Zeke back to Gary, so that he was proudly holding both of his children. This was a first.
"Here's the money shot," Bernie proudly announced, and clicked away, taking the first pictures of his son holding both of his first children.
"Awwww. Gary is holding both babies, now," Lois described for Marissa. "He has one in each arm."
"I bet he is about to burst with pride," Marissa imagined.
"See," Lois began, "that is exactly what he's doing. You can see! You see with your heart, don't you?"
Marissa smiled. "I never thought about it, but I suppose I do." She closed her eyes. "I see my friend, Gary … happier than he's ever been."
And Lois reached over and gave Marissa a motherly hug. "That's exactly what I see, too."