Author's Note; Thanks to all who've taken the time out to read so far... xxx
Same old boy
Same sweet girl
Some years down the road
There's going to be a little one and she says it's time to go
Doctor says the baby's fine but you'll have to leave
'Cause his momma's fading fast and Johnny hit his knees and there he prayed
Take the very breath you gave me
Take the heart from my chest
I'll gladly take her place if you'll let me
Make this my last request
Take me out of this world
God, please don't take the girl
"Sorry, Hotch...." JJ interrupted with a knock on his door, "Haley's on line one....she says she can't get through to you..."
"Okay, thanks..." he replied with a raised brow before resuming his analysis with Gideon. "Tell her I'll call her back as soon as I can." They'd been on the verge of breaking the case all night and he'd little time to think of anything else.
"Uh, Hotch, I think you'd better take the call..." she pressed, looking to Jason with a certain eyes.
He stared blankly at them both momentarily before it suddenly hit him. Swallowing hard, a paled Hotch stood and automatically went into autopilot mode. Lifting his phone from the receiver, he pressed the flashing light. "Haley?... I'll be right there."
He didn't need to tell his grinning team mates what was happening - after all, they'd guessed before he did. He hastily left his office and made a determined bee-line for his SUV, almost knocking Reid's coffee over as he passed through the bullpen.
"Hey," Jason called as Hotch reached the elevator, "Use the sirens...."
With his team-mate's advice in tow, he made it to St. Sebastian's in record time. After giving Haley's name at the desk, he was stripped of his jacket and signature tie before being clad in uncharacteristic green scrubs, a ridiculous cap and the more familiar surgery gloves.
"Aaron?" Haley giggled the sight of him as he came through the door.
"I'll leave you two alone," Jessica smiled, relieved her brother-in-law had arrived. She was never so glad to lose a $20 bet. "I'll just be outside if you need anything."
After a thankful nod, Hotch rushed to his wife's side and kissed her temple. "Hey...," he simply said, taking her hand in his as he surveyed her and the surroundings. "Are you okay? How is the baby? What has the doctor said?"
"You're just what he ordered!" Haley grinned, despite the discomfort of having her legs propped up high. "Everything's okay now that you're here," she assured him, placing a hand on his bristling cheek. "You know, you'd have made a very handsome doctor if you didn't go to Georgetown..."
Despite the utter panic that was about to cripple him, he couldn't help but smile back at her. How could she be so calm? How was she able to deal with being in labour so well? He wasn't complaining of course, he simply wished he knew her secret. She had been truly amazing throughout the whole pregnancy. "You'd probably see even less of me if that was the case..." he offered with a somewhat sad smile. A doctor's hours was the only thing possibly worse than his own.
"Hey, you're here now, and that's what matters..." she said warmly, forgiving him of his busy schedule. Truth be told, she was half expecting to go through the ordeal without him, despite his best intentions. His dedicated and caring nature was one of his many attractions and she was told of the sacrifices she'd have to make once he joined the BAU. Once she fell pregnant, they did sit and talk about certain new priorities however. It wasn't simply about him giving time to Haley anymore and Aaron swore he'd be home more often after their baby was born.
"I'm not going anywhere," he replied in an almost-whisper before catching her lips with his.
Haley gladly reciprocated his kiss until a sharp cramp caused her to freeze and wince.
"Haley...," was all Hotch said as he laid her back onto the propped oversized pillow. How he acted throughout these next few hours was crucial, according to his married friends. If what they said was right, she would use this pain against him forever!
"I'm fine... it's just... ouch... ow-ow-owowww..."
"Okay, just breathe with me...," he instructed, remembering the supposedly wonderful techniques he'd learned from the few ante-natal classes he managed to attend. "In. 2. 3. 4... Out. 2. 3. 4...and in. 2. 3..."
Haley followed his lead without question, holding her swollen tummy with one hand and holding his hand with her other. "2. 3. 4..." she heeved, pushing her head and shoulders forward.
"Mrs. Hotchner, it looks like you'll be all set soon," an attending nurse informed, taking note of the contraction. She flicked through Haley's chart before looking to Hotch. "You are doing a wonderful job Mr. Hotchner, will you be joining us inside?"
There was no question, of course. Haley's grip on his hand had steadily tightened and there was no letting go by the time she was ready for the theatre. Her usually porcelain and peach complexion was now a flushed pink and her silken blonde hair had become drab and wet. Her original glowing, blissful demeanour had also quickly diminished into one of fear and aggression.
"Don't you think you've done enough?" she spat as he repeated the doctor's instructions to push. "If it wasn't for you... OWWW!!!"
"Its okay Haley, that's it," he replied, wiping her damp brow as she panted, "You're doing great..."
Ironically, Hotch was able to ignore her screams and snapping at him but couldn't help but notice the doctor and nurses conversing in a serious nature amongst themselves. "Have it on standby, she's losing a lot...," he heard Dr. Monroe say to a colleague before looking back to her patient. "Haley, this is really important; I need you to give me one big last push, okay - can you do that for me?"
Haley collapsed back onto her pillow in exhaustion and broke down into a fresh batch of tears. "I can't! Aaron, I can't...,"
"Sweetheart, this is it... look at me, you can do it, okay – just one more... that's all..."
"I can't," she repeated, shaking her head and gasping for breath.
"Yes you can," he insisted, kissing her hand. "Come on Haley, you can do this..."
"Just one?" she whimpered after a moment.
"Just one - that's it."
"Promise?"
"I promise!"
With his strong arm supporting her, she lifted herself forward. "Aaron..."
"I'm here honey," he assured, locking his eyes with hers. "Let's meet our son."
She nodded in reply and took a deep breath before shutting her eyes. With grinding teeth, she pushed for all she was worth.
"That's it Haley, you're doing so good..." Hotch encouraged, himself now high on adrenaline and numb to her nails digging into his palm.
With a final scream, she fell limp against him, and didn't shed any tears until she heard their son cry.
"You did so good sweetheart....," he said, kissing her forehead as he watched the medical crew wrap the tiny newborn in a blue blanket
"Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Hotchner, you have a beautiful baby boy..." Dr. Monroe announced, passing the babe to his father.
Reluctantly letting go of his wife, a nervous Hotch took him into his arms. "Hi buddy...," he whispered after a moment, watching the infant with complete awe and wonder. If there was ever a single reason to rid the world of the criminals he dealt with every day, this was it.
"He's perfect..." Haley observed softly with a sniffle. Her husband's arms never looked so big and secure as they cradled such a tiny person.
Hotch sat himself beside his wife, allowing her a better view of their son. Rendered speechless with both amazement and the lump in his throat, he simply shifted his gaze between them. Nothing could have possibly prepared him for the first moments of having a family. No degree, training or field experience could teach this. "I love you," he eventually managed to croak as his eyes welled up.
Slowly taking her eyes off their baby, she looked up at him. She opened her mouth to return the sentiment, but somehow found herself unable to speak.
Hotch furrowed his brow in confusion as she suddenly seemed to become disorientated. "Haley?" he called, but she was now no longer looking at him. Her eyes appeared to be unfocused and she then fell back onto the pillow in a convulsion. In a desperate panic, he called for the doctor. The machines began to beep and he suddenly found their son taken from his arms. "I need to stay with my wife...," he protested as he was being hurriedly escorted outside. "Haley? Haley!"
"We're doing all we can for her Mr. Hotchner...we need you to stay calm and stay out here," was all the nurse said before shutting the theatre door.
Eventually, he turned to meet a colourful display of balloons and flowers set out along the benches. In his state of shock, he didn't register the faces of his family and teammates, however.
"Aaron...c'mon," Séan said lowly, leading him to sit, "it's gonna be okay..."
Hotch finally allowed his tears to fall. With his brother and Jessica either side of him, he sat in ardent prayer. "Please... don't take her..."
Two more chapters to go... :-)