Chapter Seventeen
"Now, breath in…good. Now release," Cassie followed the motions with me, allowing me to sit up in bed. We had been cramming a whole class on birthing into 2 days, so that I could handle the labor that was coming up. But I will say this, I sure as hell wouldn't be doing it without Epidural. I needed that lifesaving anesthetic. I hated pain.
"You know…..this is…..actually a lot….harder than it….looks," I said between breaths. It was difficult to keep the pace deliberately slow. And I had to question the actual effectiveness of this. Did it really help with the whole birthing? Why?
"You're doing good anyways, girl. Don't worry!" Cassie smiled huge. She had been visiting and keeping up with Comet for me since I was trapped in bed the whole time. But he had gotten his upgrade for a holoform, so it would turn out well in the end. He was just having a hard time mixing Ratchet's form and mine together so we looked related.
After several more minutes, the class was over and I could finally breathe regularly. It was hard going through the motions. And even more so when I felt my body suddenly get lighter, my head spinning around and round.
I groaned, my hand suddenly fluttering to my forehead. I squeezed my eyes shut in hopes the spinning would stop, but it really didn't do much to help with the feeling.
"I really hope this doesn't happen when she decides to come along," I said, rubbing my face. Cassie placed her hand on my forehead, watching as my eyes slowly opened. She looked at me concerned, giving me a reassuring smile.
"You'll do fine, okay? Just relax."
"Alright," I still didn't believe her but she just smiled at me, placing the covers over my form. I just smiled as she walked away, turning the lights out. My brow raised in surprise at her actions, but got the hint as I relaxed. It was time to rest.
~XXXXXXXXXX~
It was time. And in my case, the wrong time as I suddenly pushed myself up into a sitting position, my forehead covered in a cold sweat. I didn't want to alarm anyone with a scream or any such thing, but I really really needed Ratchet. The only problem? I was alone in a bed and the phone was on the other side of the room.
"Shit," I felt my jaw clench as another wave of pain overwhelmed my body. I had to swallow a scream that threatened to push its way out of my mouth. Ratchet had to go and do something, I had forgotten what exactly, but Rosalyn, our dear "sweet" Rosalyn, had to choose now of all times to let me know she was ready.
"Thanks a lot, brat!" I hissed as I tried to slowly move out of my bed. My body felt 10 times heavier than normal, but my water remained unbroken. I was grateful for that, not wanting to have a wet bed to lay in for several minutes…or wet pajama pants. Both of those are horrible ideas.
My feet touched cold floor as I took in a deep breath, keeping calm as another set of contractions overtook my body. I rested a hand on my stomach, slowly straightening to a standing position while keeping in a laugh. I just needed to get to a damn phone (and this one being a wall phone…how convenient) but it was turning into an adventure of some sort. Wonderful.
"Okay, keep breathing," I told myself as I shuffled my feet to the bed. Ratchet was going to get an earful for leaving me alone when he got back. It totally wasn't fair. He knew I was so close to bursting, that Rosalyn wanted to wait another week before she joined our world. She was our daughter! And even then, another femme for the Transformers universe! A femme for crying out loud! I thought they were rare to come by!
"Damn it, keep calm," I kept speaking to myself, constantly rubbing my stomach as I finally reached the wall. My smile could not be contained as I dialed the private number that would connect me to Ratchet's comm link. And sure enough, he did answer at the first ring.
"Hallie? Is everything alright?"
"Why yes Ratchet! Everything is perfectly fucking fine! I mean, feeling contractions is absolutely nothing right now. Just acceptable and perfectly-"
The line was disrupted before I even finished my statement. Ratchet was immediately in my room, his hands quickly landing on my shoulders. He didn't say a word about me being up on my feet, which told me he was down the hall, but it was something that really tugged at my spark. He must have been concerned.
He quickly had me lay in bed, even against the protests of my water possibly breaking and making a huge mess. He merely ignored me as he apologized before shoving his fingers up my….
"Son of a bitch!"
"You're dilating faster than normal. Already at 5….6 now. She will be coming shortly. Epidural will be pointless," he watched as I stared at him. I had warned Ratchet that I needed some sort of numbing medicine. I couldn't handle pain very well and this…..shit.
"Ratchet, I need something…like now!" I screamed. He shook his head.
"By the time it kicks in, Rosalyn's head will be out. I know you didn't want this, but you need to accept the fact that you will be going "all natural," Ratchet didn't even sugar coat it as my head fell back on the pillow, my teeth grinding against each other. This was hurting like you wouldn't believe.
"Ow! Ow! Ow ow ow ow!" I tried my best to breath, trying to keep myself from freaking out. I wanted to cry, my lips trembling as the pain increased. Ratchet's holoform had rolled up his sleeves, his eyes focused on my face. I never realized he had even removed my pants. Which made me look at him rather bewildered before another contraction forced my head back down onto my pillow.
"You need to breath, Hal. You can't keep holding your breathe," Ratchet's calm voice had me release the very breathe I was holding as he placed a blanket over my legs, the door to the room opening. Several other people surrounded me, some I recognized as the doctors and nurses that worked here at the base. Ratchet immediately informed them of my condition, his hand finding mine. Until I suddenly squeezed it, catching the medic off guard with the strength I presented.
"Primus, Hallie. You'll break a hand doing that."
"Oh shut up Ratchet! You are totally the one who got me knocked up in the first place. How the fuck am I supposed to know how Autobots are made?! Fucking hell!" I squeezed his hand tighter, my eyes pricking with tears. I felt my back arch as I tried to breathe. My body felt like it was on fire as the first feelings of pushing came over my body. The other doctors were moving quickly, my legs being moved for me as Ratchet kept talking to me. But I didn't hear him. I just felt like my whole body was being torn apart.
"Hallie! Hallie, calm down. You need to stay calm."
"Ratchet, it's time. She needs to begin pushing," my mind was blank as I just followed their words. I didn't know exactly what they meant, but my brain just followed the feelings of my body. That just seemed right to me as I sucked in as much air as possible until my lungs felt like exploding.
"Hallie! Push!"
"I'm fucking trying to do this! It's my first time!" I screamed, pushing when my body gave me the signal. Each time I would hiss, feeling the burning sensation get worse. I didn't even want to know how in the world I was even having a human baby in my half Cybertronian form, but whatever.
"Almost! I see the head!"
"You're doing great love," Ratchet continued to give me reassuring words as I continued to follow their instructions. I just wanted this to end…..
As soon as I thought that, the very thing I wanted happened as a sudden feeling of relief overcame my body. But my body felt heavy as I watched the doctors lift up a small bundle, my optics suddenly heavy. My lungs were failing to fill properly with air. Breathing seemed far too difficult. Something was wrong and I knew it as my vision started to go fuzzy before everything went black…
~XXXXXXXXXX~
How is she doing?
She's stable and her system's regenerative cycle has just finished. She's fully functional but…
Do you think…
She'll wake up soon. She has too.
My mind filled with the faces that the voices belonged too as I groaned, shifting uncomfortably in the bed. I also felt something that moved with me. A strange heaviness on my chest that made a whiny noise….whine?
My optics fluttered open as I felt them adjust to the light, first noticing the tubes connected to my face that gave me oxygen followed by a tuff of blonde hair and bright purple eyes. My spark slammed hard against my chest as my hands fluttered to land on the tiny bundle on my chest, a smile transforming her features. She seemed so fragile to me, her kind optics sparkling in the light.
"Hey, darling," my voice was soft as she giggled at me, her tiny hands gripping the front of my shirt. I felt tears prick my eyes as I tried to keep them from falling down my face.
"Someone's up," his gentle voice made me look up, tired eyes focused on my face. I sucked in a breath as I noticed how horrible the holoform looked, knowing his true form was probably just as bad. But little Rosie needed someone to watch her. To care for her properly.
"How long?"
"Too long. But you're awake now," Ratchet sat on the edge of the bed, a smile curving his lips. He could see the effort he was trying to take to remain happy as I smiled at him, my hand still hugging our daughter to my chest. It didn't matter how long I was out. I was awake now, and I sure as hell wasn't going anywhere.
My eyes slowly traveled to focus on the little bundle on my chest, the young femme yawning suddenly before snuggling against my chest. She was still so small and young but I knew she was going to grow fast. If my pregnancy told me anything, is that her childhood would end quickly. But I would forever remain by her side, watching over her.
"Ratchet?" the strength in my voice was slowly returning as my husband slowly looked at me, the tears he was trying to hide rolling free down his face. I smiled at him, one of my hands finding his own as I gave him a wink.
"Honey, quit crying. I am not going anywhere period and after today, these two brats are going to pay me back for all the hell they put me through," I told him with confidence, seeing a smile transform his features. Ratchet chuckled at me as he rested his forehead against my own, feeling the weight come off his shoulders.
"I love you, Hallie."
"I love you too, idiot medic," I heard him grunt as I gave him another wink, adding, "Now get to bed. I have a lot of work to do with you because we need to catch up!"
~XXXXXXXXXX~
A/N: Alright everyone, little bitty Hope has arrived. I know this may seem like a crappy ending but I really ran out of things to continue on this story so, yeah, this is the end. Hallie's story is officially completed! Gwahahhahaha
Hope you all enjoyed! Read my other stories if you like and I'll see ya'll around the story boards! Peace out!