Month 9
"Women's bodies have near-perfect knowledge of childbirth; it's when their brains get involved that things can go wrong."
~Peggy Vincent
Natara finished placing her camera inside her almost-full suitcase. Mal woke up this morning and insisted that she pack for the hospital, just in case she fell into labor and needed to go to there. He was working right now, though, and Natara was about to go to the precinct, even though Captain told her to take a month or two off to give birth and take care of the baby. Natara declined, though. She just wanted to get back to work, finish the Jake Martinez case, and then rest.
After a snack of Greek yogurt and walnuts, Natara drove to the precinct in Amy's car. Amy had lent the Fallons her extra car so Natara and Mal could go to work at different times. Natara stepped inside the SFPD workforce and went straight for her office, where Ken was waiting for her. He was also working on the case of Jake Martinez's murder.
"Natara, thank God you're here…I found out who killed Jake." He was out of breath.
Nat gasped. "Wait…who? I reviewed his files last night and could not guess a connection."
Ken frowned. "That's 'cause there wasn't one. The killer called himself the Randomizer because he's got anthrophobia, a fear of the human race. So he would kill off random people that looked different from one another to eliminate more and more humans."
Natara gulped. "Oh my God…you're right! The evidence all pieces itself together. That means…that means our killer is Chris Thatcher, doesn't it? He was the only person at the party that Jake was murdered at that seemed uncomfortable and scared around us!" When Ken nodded, Natara gasped. "Oh God…that means that Chris only went to the party to kill! Ken! We have to arrest him!"
Ken nodded and holstered his gun. "You got it. But there's no we, Natara. I'm going with Mal to arrest Thatcher, because he isn't on any other case at the moment. You're going to stay here and create a report about our criminal."
Natara shook her head. Both she and Ken knew that the rule was because she was pregnant. Very pregnant. "No, Ken…I have to go. I know what drives him…if you take quick measures, then Chris will just be afraid of you and kill you and Mal. I'll be careful, I swear. Please, Ken. We can get this over with, we'll arrest Chris if you just let me go with you…"
Ken frowned. "Natara…if you get shot or anything happens to you while we're arresting Thatcher, the SFPD isn't responsible because it was your choice. Please stay here, Natara. You're doing yourself a favor."
The stern look on Natara's face told Ken that she wasn't backing down. "There's no rule that says I can't go to a shootout if I'm pregnant. I promise you I'll do this right. I will not let Thatcher kill anyone anymore."
Ken groaned and called Mal to the car.
When he arrived, he noticed at Natara sitting in the backseat and shook his head. "No, Natara. You're not coming with me and Ken. You're staying here."
Natara shook her head. "No, Mal…I'm coming. I'll put a stop to Chris Thatcher's terrible doings and I'll be so careful…I know about his cravings to kill, I formed a profile while Ken called you over… Please…"
Mal opened his mouth to argue, but Ken stopped him. "Mal, we're wasting time. Just let the pretty lady come. Chris could be getting away right now."
Mal backed down and sighed. He climbed into the backseat with Natara and groaned. "Natara Fallon, if anything happens to you…" he began.
"I'll be fine," Natara argued as Mal's tense face softened.
They rode in silence until they came up to Chris Thatcher's house. Natara stepped out, feeling a strong kick in her belly. She winced quietly and walked up to the door, hoping to get this over with in a smart manner.
A very drunk Chris Thatcher opened the door. He had a pistol in his left hand and a Bud Lite in the right. Thatcher gasped with disgust when he noticed humans standing in the door, but seemed even more afraid when his eyes laid on Natara's pregnant belly.
"No…you…you're creating more spawn!" Thatcher screamed and pointed at Natara. "No…more…HUMAN BEINGS!"
Natara cautiously stepped forward. "Chris Thatcher, come with us. You don't have to do this. Kill us, and you'll be behind bars for the rest of your life. Don't kill us, and you won't be a prisoner. Just come with us…we can change this."
Thatcher shook his head and ran outside, dodging Natara, Mal, and Ken. He stopped himself in the street and raised his pistol. "No. Either way, I'll be stuck with you human pigs."
Ken frowned and grabbed his gun from its holster. "You know, Thatcher…you're a human pig, too."
Natara felt more and more tremendous kicks coming from her belly, and gritted her teeth in pain. "OW…" she whispered, reaching for her gun. Mal and Ken didn't hear her; they were too busy cornering Chris.
"Give up, Thatcher." Mal's voice was strong.
"Now." Ken ordered.
Chris shook his head wildly again and fired a shot at the sky. "No way…in hell!"
Ken groaned. "You know, I really would like you to resist."
Natara was about to talk some reasoning into Chris when a jolt in her stomach sent a searing pain through her body. "Nhhhhhh…" She gasped. This time, Mal heard her mutter and turned around in alarm.
"Nat, you all right?" he quickly asked, facing Chris again.
Natara struggled to nod, but managed to bounce her head up and down once, raising her gun. A sudden sensation to punch something spread through her aching body, as the world swam. She swallowed hard and tried to snap back into Special Agent mode.
"NO, PIGS!" Chris screeched and…
POW! POW! POW!
He fired 3 shots! The first one whirled right past Natara's head, the second pinged off the sidewalk, and the third hit Ken in the chest. He doubled over and fell down, even though he was wearing a bulletproof vest. Natara felt a painful, final cramp that brought tears to her eyes.
"AHHHHHH!" she screamed in agony as she dropped to the grass on her knees, clutching her aching belly. Mal noticed that she was in pain and growled at Chris Thatcher, who aimed his pistol at Natara.
"You messed with my friend…" Mal looked down at Ken, who was clutching his chest and grimacing. "You messed with me…" He frowned and heard a click coming from a pistol, but it wasn't his. "But you crossed the line by messing with my wife." Raising his pistol to shoot Chris, a screaming sound came from behind him.
Mal realized it was coming from Natara again and whirled around to get good look at her. She let out one final, agonizing scream…
"AHHHHHHHHH!"
…and shot Chris Thatcher in the head.
Mal watched as Chris fell down into the grass, blood spraying from his skull. He couldn't believe it…Natara was screaming in pain, clutching in the grass, but she managed to kill Thatcher with a perfect shot to his head. He ran over to her and noticed she was holding her stomach.
"MAL…contractions…" Natara cried out loud as she tried to breathe.
Mal gulped and charged over to Ken. "Ken! Ken! Natara's in labor! You need to help me get her to the hospital!"
Ken groaned and clutched his chest. "Nhhhhhh…ouch…damn, that hurts…" he muttered. "…I…I'll be ok. Here, I'll help you carry her to the car." He clenched his teeth as he got up. "All right. Let's go."
Meanwhile, Natara was trying to focus on her breathing. "Hhhh… Hhhhh…"
Mal and Ken helped her up gently and walked carefully to the car. Ken pushed her into the backseat with great care. "Mal, I'll drive. Get in the back with her." He ordered and climbed into the front. Mal slid next to Natara and gulped.
"Go, Ken!" Natara screamed.
"I am!" Ken argued, but he saw the death stare on Mal's face and stopped arguing with Natara.
Mal grabbed his cold water bottle from the cup holder and ripped off a piece of his shirt. He wet the cloth and placed it on Natara's hot forehead. "There you go, Nat…we'll be at the hospital…don't worry…"
Natara could only focus on her breathing. She gripped Mal's arm tightly. "I didn't think…" she began, trying to spit out words. "…it would hurt…this much…" She tried keeping her eyes open, but then decided that hurt too much, so she kept them closed.
Mal brushed his hand across Natara's cheek. "We're almost there, Nat…"
There were five seconds of quiet, and then…
Natara felt water gushing on her leg. "OH MY GOD! MAL!"
"What is it?" he gasped.
"Mm…my water…" Natara could only breathe out the words she wanted to say. "I…I think it's broken… it's… AHHHHH!" The contractions got much, much worse.
Mal could feel his leg becoming wet. He wanted to scream in agony like Natara, he wanted all of her pain to be transferred to him, he wanted her to be all right… But he forced himself to remain calm. This…wasn't good. At all.
Natara kept trying to hold in her screams, but her voice wouldn't give in. It rang across the car as she yelped. Mal held onto her tight as her soft brown eyes closed and everything went black for a long, long moment.
15 Minutes Later
Mal wished he could be with his wife, but she was in the hospital room with Dr. Thomas Hughes, the obstetrician. Ken sat next to him, reading Parent magazines and sipping coffee. He seemed so calm, but Mal couldn't contain himself. He practiced rhythmic breathing to see if it would help…and it did, a little. But his heart still thumped wildly.
"Mr. Fallon?" a nurse called. Mal jumped up out of his seat and darted to her. "Your wife seems to be having slight complications…the baby's heartbeat is somewhat irregular and shows a reduced oxygen level… Dr. Hughes recommends an immediate cesarean section."
Mal couldn't swallow or breathe. He only nodded weakly. "All right. C-section it is." This couldn't be happening.
The nurse marked something on her clipboard. "Come with me, Mr. Fallon. We'll get you a mask, cap, and gown. You'll be able to be with your wife now."
That was a giant relief to Mal. He breathed in hard and followed the nurse to a closet, where he accumulated hospital cover-ups. After quickly placing them on, he walked into the delivery room, where he saw Natara in her bed. She was awake now and clenching her teeth. Mal knew she was in pain…it tore his heart to see her going through this.
Dr. Hughes motioned for Mal to get alongside Natara. He stood next to her, holding her hand. The nurse placed a curtain over Natara's belly so she wouldn't see the light cuts being made in her abdomen.
"Hey, sweetie…" Mal gently ruffled his wife's hair.
She tried to smile but then grimaced as she felt a needle going through her skin as regional anesthesia was placed. Mal had already signed the permission-to-give-anesthesia papers and sighed as he watched Natara keep her eyes open.
Dr. Hughes began the C-section. Natara seemed to be alright, because she was seeing, feeling, and hearing everything that was going on. She could feel the doctor remove something from her body after the incisions, but felt no pain. It felt as if a large weight was being removed from her abdomen.
Mal couldn't help but smile when he saw a baby's head peeking over the curtain as Dr. Hughes said, excitedly: "It's a boy!"
Natara gasped with joy, and a smile formed on her lips.
Dr. Hughes weighed the baby at 7 pounds, 5 ounces. Mal felt hot tears forming in his eyes, and let them fall as he saw the baby struggling and crying. Natara tried to sit up and reached out for the little pink baby. Dr. Hughes placed the child on Natara's breast and he happily sucked.
Natara smiled. "Mal…" she whispered quietly. "It did turn out to be a boy."
Mal stroked her cheek. "I know…have we decided on a name yet?" He gently asked.
Natara looked at Dr. Thomas Hughes with a sense of extreme gratitude resting in her heart. She nodded and smiled. "Thomas."
"I love it." Mal laughed with joy. "After Dr. Hughes."
Dr. Hughes turned around. "Mr. and Mrs. Fallon, it's an honor."
"Thomas Malachi Fallon." Natara finished her thought as the nurse wrote the baby's name down.
Mal couldn't speak, but he nodded and kissed Nat's cheek gently. "It's perfect…" he finally whispered when he could regain his speech, which was a few seconds later.
Natara sighed and grinned. "I couldn't have asked for a more perfect baby."
Mal returned a smile. "Yep."
The couple shared a blissful silence as they watched Thomas fall asleep.
"Nat?" Mal broke the silence with a question.
"Hmmm?"
"Maybe next time it will be a girl."
"Who said there's going to be a next time?" Natara laughed and wrapped her lips around Mal's in a tender kiss.