John sat by Casey again and took her hand. She squeezed it tightly as another contraction came.
"Alright, Casey, on the next contraction I want you to push, okay?"
She nodded weakly. "Oh my God it hurts…"
John wiped some of the sweat from her forehead. "It'll be okay honey…"
"Okay, Casey, get ready! PUSH!"
She squeezed John's hand with a loud cry as she began to push. John noticed that she was getting a little pale.
"Okay, you're doing great…" The doctor said. "Keep breathing."
Casey sighed. "John…" She breathed weakly, and her head fell.
There were shouts all around the room as they tried to get Casey back. "Casey! CASEY!" John cried before being pushed out by the nurses.
"I'm sorry, you'll have to wait out here!"
"No, please let me stay with her!" Please-" He was cut off as the door shut. The others rushed up as they saw him.
"What's going on?"
John sighed shakily. "Casey…Casey isn't breathing!"
Olivia gasped and held onto Elliot for support. Fin put a comforting hand on his back.
John buried his face in his hands. "Oh, God, I can't lose her now, I just can't!"
Cragen placed his hand on John's shoulder. They all just stood there, as though frozen in time.
"Mr. Munch? You can come back in, she's okay now."
He ran in without another word and took her hand. "John…" She breathed.
"Oh, God, Casey, I thought I'd lost you!" He cried. "Never scare me like that again!" He kissed her hand.
"Alright, Casey, just one more push! One more big push, and you'll have a baby!"
"I-I can't…" Casey moaned.
"Oh, yes you can!" John told her. "You're so brave, and you're doing great! C'mon, Casey! Push! PUSH!"
With a heart-wrenching scream and a squeeze that nearly fractured John's hand, the baby was out.
A loud wail pierced the air, and they knew all was well. Tears filled John's eyes as he saw her. "Casey…you did it!"
"Congratulations, Mrs. Munch, it's a girl." The nurse said, cleaning it and handing it to Casey wrapped in a blanket.
Casey started to cry happily. "Hello, Juliet…I love you, baby girl…"
She held it for a few moments before handing her to John. John smiled through tears. "I've never been so happy!"
Casey smiled and they gazed at her, unable to take their eyes off her for a second.
A little while later, everyone came in to see the baby. There were smiles and awes all around when they saw her.
"Oh, she's so cute!" Olivia said, beginning to tear up.
John and Casey looked at her proudly. "Yeah, she is."
Elliot smiled as the baby gripped his finger in her tiny fist. "She's beautiful, you guys…"
Casey held her out. "Here, Juliet…say hello to Uncle Elliot."
They all took turns holding her. It was a magical moment.
-TO BE CONTINUED-