Chapter 3: Where's The Fire?

April 1981

As of April 20th, Dixie is on maternity leave. Kel wanted no risk of the baby coming early, so...

Dixie's not very happy about it, but she was arguing 1-on-4, since Joanne, Joe Early, and her OB all share Kel's view. The baby is due May 13th, and Dixie is as bored as can be waiting. She's doing all she can to keep busy, but there's only so much she can do.

As May approaches, Dixie finds herself growing more and more apprehensive. Excited, of course, but nervous as heck. Her, a mother?

May 14th, 1981

Kel leaves for Rampart at 6:30. wanting to arrive early for his 7:00 shift. He does his best to keep quiet in the morning, and let Dixie sleep, but he usually fails. Such as it is this morning. Dixie wakes up at 6:00, when Kel is in the kitchen. She stays in bed, though, and feigns sleep when he comes back into the bedroom. He always feels bad when he realizes he woke her up, and she usually tries to spare him that guilt.

At 7:15. Dixie gets up and gets dressed. She makes herself some eggs and cleans up, trying to keep herself busy. The dishes are put away quickly, too quickly. There's not much else for her to do. She winds up finding the book she was reading the night before, and settles on the couch to continue it.

It's nearly 9:00 when she feels the first contraction. Keeping her promise to notify Kel as soon as the labor started, she walks to the phone and calls Rampart.

"Rampart Emergency, Miss Cable speaking," Kelly picks up the phone.

"Kelly," Dixie says, breathlessly, "find Dr. Brackett for me."

"Right away, Mrs. Brackett," she answers, concern in her voice. Lucky for her, Kel is right outside the base station, looking at a case file. Kelly pokes her head out. "Dr. Brackett," she calls, "Your wife is on the phone."

Kel leaps up and hurries into the base station, almost knocking Kelly over in the process.

"Dix," he picks up the phone. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," she replies, "but the baby is ocming."

"I'm on my way," he says, and hangs up the phone.

He heads out of the base station and down the hallway. So intent on reaching his car and his wife, he almost runs into Joe Early.

"Whoa, Kel," Joe is rather startled. "Where's the fire?"

"My house, Joe," Kel responds. "Dixie's in labor."