(A few months later)
"Mr. Casey, thank you for coming in." The doctor said as Casey walking into the hospital lobby.
"You said it was important." Casey said.
"It is, I wanted to give you a heads up on what we're looking at here... Hallie's body isn't doing so well on the life support anymore and I'm afraid the baby won't make it to full term. So we've been giving your baby intervenes drugs to help develop its lungs... but if Hallie's body continues to decline the baby could go into distress... I need your consent to do an emergency C-section if that happens." The doctor said.
"But the baby's not full term yet... what are its chances if you do this?" Casey asked.
"Well.. the child will be at 8 months in 3 days and if Hallie's body holds up that long we're looking at a chance of about 80%-85%... but right now we're about at a 70% chance." The doctor said.
"And if you don't do the C-section?" Casey asked.
The doctor gave Casey a hard look.
"Right.. where are the papers?" Casey said.
"Sign here." The doctor said. "You can go in and see-"
"No, I gotta get to work, I have a shift starting in 15 minutes. Call me if anything changes." Casey said as he handed her the papers and headed for the door.
"We will Mr. Casey.. take care."
"Hey, how's everything at the hospital?" Shay said as she and Severide caught up with him at the station.
"Hallie's body might not last long enough to bring the baby to term." Casey said.
"Hey man that's really rough.. anything we can do?" Severide said.
"Pray?" Casey said.
"You got it." Shay said putting her hand on his shoulder.
{Beeeeeeee Booooooop ANNNNNNNNNNT... Engine 51, Truck 81, Ambulance 61, Squad 3...}
"Lets go to work." Severide said as the three of them grabbed their gear.
"Hey" Gabby said knocking on Casey's office door. "A few of us are going over to Molly's after shift, you wanna come?"
"That sounds good." Casey said.
"Great, see you in a few minutes." She said before departing.
Casey was sitting at the bar with Cruz, Gabby, Shay, and Herman, when Severide came charging in the door.
"Dude, I've been looking all over for you! Why aren't you answering your phone?"
"Damn it.. I left it on my desk." Casey said when his pockets came up empty.
"The hospital just called the station... The baby's heart rate dropped and it went into distress.. They're doing an emergency C-section."
Casey rushed into the hospital with Shay, Severide, and Gabby following shortly behind.
"Mr. Casey" the doctor said coming out to meet him.
"What happened? Is the baby ok?" Casey blurted in a panic.
"Your daughter-"
"Daughter? It's a girl?" Casey said, cutting the doctor off.
"Yes.. your daughter wasn't breathing when we delivered her." The doctor said.
"Oh God.." Casey said, tears beginning to swell in his eyes.
"We had to tube her at first but now she's breathing on her own now-"
"That's good right?" Casey said, interrupting again.
"Yes but your daughter's lungs and heart are very weak... we've already had to shock her once... her heart rate could drop again or she could stop breathing...Mr. Casey, your daughter is very sick." The doctor said.
"What are her chances?" Casey said desperately.
"..50%. I'm sorry." The doctor said sincerely.
"Can.. I.. See her?" Casey asked, his voice shaking.
The doctor gestured for him to follow her. Casey walked into the N.I.C.U. with the doctor where she lead him to his child. She was so tiny... she had wires all over her and a breathing strip in her nose.
"Dear God... please don't let her die too.." Casey whispered to himself.
(A few weeks later)
"Hey Casey" Gabby said coming into the N.I.C.U. "How is she?"
"She's doing better. She's growing." Casey said.
Gabby looked down at the little baby in the plastic container. "Have you held her yet?"
Casey shook his head.
"Ok.. have you picked out a name for her yet?" Gabby asked.
Again, Casey shook his head.
"You can't keep calling her Baby Girl Casey forever." Gabby said.
Casey didn't respond.
"Ok, well I'll stop in later..everyone at the station sends they're love." Gabby said, giving his hand a squeeze.
"So how's Casey?" Shay said as she and Gabby cleaned out the Ambo.
"Awful... He's afraid to love his child... He hasn't held her or given her a name..." Gabby said.
"He'll be ok... These things have a way of working themselves out." Shay said.
Casey awoke to the sound of crying when he realized he had fallen asleep at the hospital in a rocking chair. His daughter was crying and Casey didn't know what to do. He looked around for a nurse but didn't see one. Still his daughter cried.
"Shh.. Shhh.. uh its ok baby.. shh.." Casey said as soothing as possible.
Finally Casey reached into the plastic basket and scooped his daughter gently into his arms. The baby stopped crying almost immediately, opened her eyes, and looked at him. It was Casey's first time seeing her eyes...she had Hallie's eyes. Casey felt a tear drip down his cheek as he smiled.
"Hey.. you're gonna be ok.. its gonna be ok...Hallie."
:) Awww.. I hoped you guys liked this chapter as much as I did writing it. Stay tuned for Chapter 3! R&R, R&R!
