Katelyn panted heavily, trying to block out the pain that wracked her body. Cold sweat trickled down her face as another wave hit her body. A shriek of agony flew from her mouth as it overtook her. All she could do was ride the waves, having no power to stop them.
"Keep breathing Katelyn." Carol coached, squeezing her hand.
Carol started worrying about an hour ago when Katelyn stopped fighting and her grip became weak. She kept looking at the doctor who was frowning every time she glanced at Katelyn. So far, labor had become more intense but it wasn't progressing and Carol knew that Katelyn was in trouble.
"Please." Carol whispered, praying out loud, "Please let Katelyn and the baby be okay."
Carol knew what it was like to lose a child and she couldn't imagine what Daryl would do if he lost them both. It would be twice as bad, too, because he wasn't there at her side.
"We're getting close to time." Dr. Adams said quietly, not wanting Kate to overhear, "We've started prepping a room to perform a C-section."
Carol nodded, looking down at the pale face of Katelyn. Staring off at the wall, Katelyn lay on her side. Tears poured down her frightened face as another contraction hit her. Crying out at the piercing pain, Kate squeezed her eyes shut then choked on a sob.
She knew something was wrong.
"Daryl. Where's Daryl?" She moaned, pleading for him, but he was nowhere to be found, making her cry even harder.
"Katelyn, I need you to breathe, okay?" Dr. Adams called out to her, trying to get her to refocus so she could breathe through the pain.
Another contraction hit, catching Kate off guard, and causing her to curl up in a ball, gasping for air. She threw her head back in agony, moaning from low in her throat.
"S…s…something's wrong!" Katelyn screamed before her breath caught in her throat when another pain hit her.
"You're doing just fine. Keep breathing. Slow your breathing down. The baby's not turning and you're not dilating so I'm going to prep for a C-Section." Grace told her, leaning down near her head so she could hear.
Carol squeezed her hand as another contraction hit, causing her to throw her head back again and cry out fultilely.
"Daryl!" She cried, sobs wracking her body as terror rushed through her. At this point, she wasn't coherent, simply existing in a haze of agony.
"He's on his way." Carol told her over and over again, trying to calm her, but knew she was lying. No one had heard from him.
"Please…please…something's wrong. What's happening? Daryl!" Katelyn was in full panic now, struggling to get out of bed as the pain abated for a second.
Carol grabbed her shoulders and shoved her back down just as another contraction hit.
Katelyn gasped, before a bloodcurdling scream let loose from her.
###############################################################################
The minute the helicopter touched down, Daryl bolted for the door.
Three guards ran out to meet the Major.
"I expect you to report my behavior to the General immediately." He ordered his Lieutenant.
"Report you for what, sir?" The lieutenant said back, plastering an innocent look on his face.
The Major looked at him and smirked.
"For my misconduct." Jackson stated.
"I don't know what you're talking about, sir." The lieutenant said back, rushing to hook up the straps on the helicopter.
The Major patted him on the shoulder, smiling, then turned and walked inside.
##############################################################################
He could hear the screams as he approached the tent. He could tell instantly, that something was wrong as he flung back the tent flap and hurried toward the back of the tent.
"All right, sweetheart. It's time." Dr. Adams said, kicking the brake release so she could move her bed.
"No! No!" Katelyn started screaming in terror, trying desperately to bolt from the bed.
Daryl entered just in time but nearly froze at the sight.
Katelyn was terrified, her face pale and damp, with eyes wide and pupils dilated beyond belief. She frantically fought what the doctor was trying to do and was near hysterical.
Racing to her side, Daryl grabbed her before she fell out of bed.
"Hey…hey…hey. Look at me. Katelyn. Look at me." Daryl said soothingly, his hands gently pushing her down to the bed.
Katelyn moaned, grabbing her stomach as another pain took hold. The black haze of anguish blocked out his voice and all she heard was the blood pounding in her ears.
"Boy am I glad to see you." Grace told him.
"What do I do?" Daryl asked, his heart racing with alarm. Katelyn didn't look good. He'd seen childbirth before and he could tell that something was wrong. She was in too much pain, and her pale face and weak grip wasn't a good sign.
"I just need you to talk to her. Get her to engage with you. She's not listening to anyone at this point. She's panicking." Grace told him, moving lines around and hooking them to the side of the bed.
Katelyn moaned his name again and Daryl looked down at her face. Brushing her hair from her face, he took her hand in his.
"Katelyn…Katelyn." Daryl said gently, kissing her hand, but she was in too much pain to recognize him.
"Kate!" Daryl said firmly, taking her face in his hands. "Look at me!"
Katelyn started shaking her head but then a pain gripped her and she cried out, her eyes flying open.
"Katelyn! Look at me!" Daryl shouted, moving her head so she was forced to look at him.
He could tell the moment she realized he was there. Her eyes widened and she cried out his name.
He smiled gently down at her.
"Daryl!" She sobbed, trying to grab hold of him, but she was so weak.
"I'm here…I'm here." He assured her, holding her arms so she didn't hurt herself.
"Something's wrong!" She cried out as another pain shot through her, causing a screech to erupt from her throat.
Daryl turned and looked at Dr. Adams.
"We're prepping for an emergency C-section." She said, beginning to move the gurney, "We're gonna move her to a classroom where we've got an OR set up."
Daryl grabbed the sides so he could help.
"What's happening?!" Katelyn called out, confused and scared.
"We're going to move you sweetheart. Dr. Adams is going to do a C-section. You're almost done." He said, realizing that Katelyn was in bad shape.
"Tiffany, I want you to grab 50 mg of Fentanyl and give it to her now." Grace called out, as she and Daryl began moving her through the tent.
"Can't we give her one of those epi-things?" Daryl asked, trying to keep himself calm.
"Not enough time now. The pain medication Tiffany just gave her should take the edge off and then we're going to knock her out completely. It's the fastest way to do this and we need to hurry." Grace told him as they moved her across the gymnasium.
"Is she gonna be okay?" Daryl asked breathlessly, suddenly aware of how worried the doctor was.
"I'm not gonna lie. It isn't good, but I think we can do this." Grace looked him in the eye and nodded encouragingly.
"I'm gonna need you to stay strong, okay?" She asked, seeing his face lose its color too.
Daryl nodded. He didn't have a choice.
Major Reese saw them and hurried to assist. Carol was rushing behind them, pushing the IV cart. People in the gym stopped to watch the procession, knowing that something was wrong. They'd all gotten to know Katelyn and liked her very much, making them all hope for the best.
Jackson grabbed the other end of the gurney, helping Daryl lift it over the door frame before hurrying down the hallway toward the classroom Dr. Adams had turned into an operating room.
"She's gonna be fine, Daryl." Jackson told him, after seeing his pale complexion and worried look.
Daryl's eyes met his and he nodded.
"Turn here." She called out, opening the door for them.
Katelyn didn't know what was happening and began to panic again. The pain medication had kicked in, making her a little drowsy but the pain was still intense. Frantically looking around the room for Daryl, she was relieved when he grabbed a stool and sat right next to her head, blocking her view of what the doctor was doing.
"What's happening?" Katelyn whispered, cringing as a wave of pain seized her.
"She's prepping you for a C-section, honey. Don't look. Just focus on me, okay?" He explained, kissing her fingers.
"Is the baby okay?" She begged, grasping his hand frantically.
"The baby is fine. The doc said you weren't dilating so they're gonna have to do it this way." Daryl said softly.
She looked up into his eyes, trusting that he would protect her.
"I shouldn't have left." He whispered, taking her hand in both of his. "This is my fault. Please forgive me."
She smiled, her eyes bright with unshed tears and she squeezed his hand.
"I love you." She whispered back as the nurse injected the anesthesia into her IV tube.
Daryl watched as her eyes drifted shut and he let out the breath he'd been holding.
Tiffany came to take her pulse and blood pressure while Daryl pressed her hand to his lips and closed his eyes, praying that they would be okay.
"She's out." Tiffany confirmed before going back to help Grace.
With that, Dr. Adams got to work, carefully cutting through the abdominal wall and into the uterus. With her hands on the baby, she pulled it carefully from her belly, handing it off to Tiffany who stood by with a towel. Wrapping the baby snugly, they clamped the umbilical cord, freeing the child from its mother and cleaned it off.
"It's a girl." Grace said, handing the baby to Daryl who stood with shaking hands, ready to hold her.
Tears pricked Daryl's eyes as he gazed down into her eyes. She didn't cry but gazed up into his eyes before looking around curiously, taking the world in. Never, had he felt like this; so in awe; so breathless with wonder. Leaning down, he kissed his newborn daughter on the forehead, then handed her back to Tiffany, who waited to take her from him.
Turning back to the unconscious Katelyn, he kissed her, stroking her cheek with his finger, while Dr. Adams worked on stitching her up.
He noticed how pale she was and grew concerned.
"Is she all right?" He asked, his brow furrowed with worry.
Grace looked up at Katelyn's face and motioned for Tiffany to check on her.
Hurrying over, Tiffany took her pulse and blood pressure.
"Pressure's dropping." The nurse called out, and Grace began to hurry through stitching her up.
"We need to finish this, quickly." Grace stated, more to herself than to anyone else.
"What's going on?" Daryl demanded, looking at the two medical professionals.
"She's going into shock." Tiffany explained, moving quickly to hook up another IV bag.
"Step back." Tiffany stated, trying to work fast so they could save the fading Katelyn.