Disclaimer: I own nothing, except my own creations.
"I just wanted to see you."
Lawyer spoke to lawyer discussing the settlement offer on the far side of the room.
She faces Amanda and tries to think of what to say.
"I'm so sorry."
"It's okay," came the reassuring response. "Things always work out in the end."
She was walking on air as she leaves the room, Edie Coulson speaking into her phone in her usual quick manner.
Her lawyer hangs up her call before they reach the front door and turns to face her. "It's all sorted," was the businesslike explanation.
It has all been sorted out.
Heidi woke up with a smile on her face, the happiest she's felt in a long time. Throwing back her sheets, not even her struggle to ease herself upright and off the bed could dampen her spirits on this fine morning, just like it hadn't for the last four days since Amanda Sydney had accepted the settlement and left her life forever.
She was humming as she pulled off her long t-shirt that served as her pyjamas, rubbing her distended belly as she headed for the shower. Dressing was a little harder, but looking into the mirror as she fixed her hair, she felt like she'd lost ten years of her life. Her upbeat mood remained as she waddled through her lounge room and into the kitchen.
Opening the fridge door she pressed a hand to her back as she surveyed her choices. Not feeling particularly hungry for some reason, she picked up a yoghurt, figuring that the calcium would be good for the baby at least.
Finding sitting uncomfortable, she remained standing. Reaching for her remote, she turned the television on as she absentmindedly rocking her body from side to side trying to ease her back pains, taking a spoonful of yoghurt. It never got to her mouth as the morning program suddenly changed.
"This morning at 7:12am a tidal wave hit the southern coast of Western Australia. Hundreds are dead and thousands feared missing..."
There wasn't much more information forth coming, cameras broadcasting the chaos wreaked by Mother Nature from air. She wasn't sure how long she stood there, but when there was a knock on the front door and a man stepped through seconds later, she still hadn't budged.
Jordan approached with caution, resting a hand on Heidi's shoulder with a question on his lips before he saw what she was watching. "I know," he said a hard voice. "It's a devastation."
Squeezing her shoulder, he turned her attention to him as his free hand reached for the remote and turned off the television. "Do you still want to go to work?" he asked in a concerned tone. "No one would mind if you wanted to take it easy and took your maternity leave a couple of weeks early."
That snapped her back to reality.
Heidi stepped back away from Jordan and the fire returned to her eyes. "I'm more than fine," she retorted. "You're not stopping me from coming to work."
"I'm just looking out for you both," replied Jordan defensively, raising his hands in surrender.
Heidi softened for a moment. Resting both hands on her belly she took a deep breath. "I know you are Jordan, and thanks," she said as she tapped her swollen abodmen, "but this kid isn't arriving for another three weeks and you're going to need me at work." Resting her hand on his cheek, she paused a moment to look into his dark eyes before she backed away. "And besides, I'd go stir crazy here."
Jordan wisely refrained from saying anything else on the matter and changed the topic of conversation as he picked up Heidi's bag before she could. "Where's your sister?"
He removed the keys from her hand and locked the door as she replied. "Bendigo. She's camping with friends for her version of a long weekend."
When they arrived at the station, there was a buzz in the air. Michelle was on the phone with WA Rescue discussing options to send some teams to assist and Chase was in the store room cataloguing all their equipment to see what could be spared. As Jordan stashed his and Heidi's bags in their lockers, Dean and Lara returned from working an MVA.
The team grouped together to talk about the situation in Western Australia as Vince stepped into the fray. "Listen up Rescue people." There was silence as Vince paused and then continued. "The firies are doing a fundraiser for the people working the tidal wave, so we're going to match it."
"We going to one up them Vince?" asked Dean.
"No Deano," replied Vince. "We're actually going to be working with them. Joint effort."
The first reaction was one of incredulity before Vince ordered them to pipe down. "Let us put aside our rivalry long enough to help the victims. Hmm?" There was a grumble of consensus before Vince made one last comment. "And besides, they can't even hope to do it without us."
"Just what is this fundraiser going to be?" asked Heidi.
Jordan looked up from the paper Vince had handed him. "It's an auction."
"An auction for what?" asked Chase as he received his own.
Lara laughed out loud as she snatched Dean's paper away. "For men!"
Two nights later countless rescue officers, firemen, colleagues and interested parties packed the local hall. Their station had managed to snag a table not far from the front where Michelle, Lara and Heidi sat. (The table hadn't actually been free, but Lara had made a loud declaration of a "pregnant woman coming through" and two blokes from the SWAT team had been kind enough to offer their table.)
She was thankful, but she just couldn't get comfortable in the seat. Her discomfort was momentarily diverted when she saw Vince coming their way with a chair held over his head. He looked ready to join them before he was intercepted by Dean. "Heading the wrong way mate." A protesting Vince was lead away backstage by his team.
Feeling twinges along her taut abdomen, Heidi rubbed at the pain but refused to acknowledge it as a smorgasbord of shirtless rescue officers and firemen walked the small runway. She felt a sharp pain when Jordan posed at the end of the stage but when nothing followed, she diverted her attention.
The MC – a rescue officer by the name of Sami who worked night shift – invited the men to roam the room and for the audience to inspect their wares. Vince was nowhere to be seen, but Dean and Jordan made a beeline for their table, Chase racing a firie for the table of chicks near the back.
Dean had Lara covering her eyes when he attempted some pretty embarrassing dance moves, whilst with Jordan standing in front of her, Heidi was more than willing to give into temptation and ran her hands up his bare chest. Her grin as she slipped her hands over his biceps turned into a grimace as she felt another flash of pain, a little higher this time.
Jordan's concern was instant as he ducked down to her level where she was almost doubled over. He ignored the MC's instructions to return the merchandise to the stage. Feeling the pain passing, Heidi rose once again and realised she was still gripping his arm. Loosening her grip, she patted his arm as she tried to reassure him that she was fine. "Go back to the stage," she ordered him with a smile plastered on her face.
With Dean tugging on his arm, Jordan looked uncertain as what to do. Standing up, he looked down at his best friend. She nodded her head with that fake smile of hers and he nodded his head uncertainly. Taking a step back he didn't get very far as Heidi's hand flew out and she gripped his lower arm fiercely.
He knew for certain that something was wrong this time.
"What's going on Jordan?" asked Lara breathlessly, realising that he was still there.
Jordan took a while to answer as he tried to see Heidi's face, his hands running over her body where she was doubled over again, one arm wrapped around her stomach, the other gripping his shoulder. When she finally looked up at him he saw the clenched jaw and pain lining her features.
"She's in labour."
There was a swarm of action at this declaration. Michelle was in PR mode, ordering Dean to the stage to join his fellow auction items. Heidi may be having a baby, but that didn't mean that the night needed to be disrupted. Lara was already digging into Heidi's bag for her mobile.
There was no question as to where Jordan would be. All Dean had to say as he passed the couple was "Good luck" to Heidi and "Mate, put some clothes on" to Jordan.
Jordan barely heard the words, but stood up and pulled on a shirt nonetheless in a hurried manner as Sami's voice boomed over the PA system. "Ladies and no gentleman, the auction will now begggggggggggin." He spared a glance to Lara when she pulled the phone away from her ear. He couldn't hear her, but got what she mouthed: Lexie wasn't answering the phone.
A roar of applause erupted as the first firie marched across the stage. The first bid was called at the exact moment that Heidi felt another contraction. She leaned forward, gripping Jordan's upper thigh as she groaned through the pain.
Jordan snapped into action then.
Pulling his car keys free from his pants, he threw them at Lara. Tugging Heidi upright, he wrapped his arms around her and clasped her close to his chest as he made for the back of the hall. He ignored the looks they received as he remained intent on his destination, Lara following close behind with bags.
Outside, Lara fumbled with the car keys so Jordan snatched them back. Unlocking the doors with a press of a button, he eased Heidi into the back seat as Lara ran around to jump into the other side. Heidi was panting and looked a little fearful as he prepared to shut the door. Spontaneously, he pressed a kiss to her damp brow and looked into her eyes with a promise. "We'll get you to the hospital babe."
Jordan's driving had them pulling up into the emergency entrance of St Anne's hospital just under twenty minutes later. Not caring that he was parked in a No Parking zone, Jordan turned off his car and threw open his door. Wrenching open Heidi's door, he reached down to help her out at the exact moment she cried out in pain.
Lara was already out of her seat and rounded the car at the exact instant that hospital security made their way over. "You can't park here."
Jordan's head flew around to face the short portly man as Heidi's head rested against his abdomen as she sobbed. "She's in labour man," he said sharply.
"Doesn't matter," said the man with a shake of his head. "You still can't park here."
Jordan looked ready to explode when Lara jumped in. "Jord, go. I'll park the car and meet you soon."
He looked undecided before Heidi made up his mind for him when she gripped the door and backseat and heaved herself out of the car in a break between contractions. "Get me out of here," she snarled.
Lara started the car and drove off as Jordan helped Heidi through the automatic doors. Dashing for reception, Jordan called out loudly in a loud voice. "She's in labour." Instantly, Heidi was whisked away in a wheelchair before his very eyes. He made to follow but was pulled aside by the nurse on duty with a firm voice. "We need you to fill out some paperwork."
Later he would remark that he knew the answer to every single question, but at that moment he couldn't care less, scribbling in the answers as quick as he could so that he could get back to her. Almost throwing the clipboard at the nurse in his impatience, he looked around wildly. "This way sir," a calm young woman stepped forward.
He followed without question.
As he followed the nurse's aide down the hall, the preppy woman smiled widely. "So is this your first?" she asked enthusiastically.
Jordan's mind was on other things at the moment and his response was instinctive and short. "Yes."
"Don't worry," the young woman smiled as they turned a corner. "Your wife is in good hands."
"She's not my wife."
"Oh I'm sorry, your girlfriend then?"
Jordan didn't know why he was having this conversation now. "It's complicated," he said abruptly. "But she's my partner, and I need to be in there now."
"Right this way."
Next chapter:
26 hours later...