21
Hawkeye sat at his desk in his office as he looked through pictures of different homes. He and Margaret had wanted a house before the baby was born. He was now definitely cutting it close considering that Margaret was now eight months along. Although, he wasn't worried since there were going to be people helping him. Right now he was just concerned about keeping it a surprise. He also had a few things to do up at his Uncle's cabin. That was his present to Hawkeye and Margaret, to let them have the cabin to themselves for Christmas.
"Come in!" he said after hearing a knock at the door. One of the nurses walked in and stood before his desk.
"Do you have Mr. Robinson's chart?" she asked.
"Here it is," he said handing it to her. She thanked him and then went to leave.
"Wait," he said stopping her.
"Shelly? What time is it?" he asked.
"Four," she said. He sat back and thought for a moment.
"It's real quiet today isn't it?" he asked. Shelly shrugged.
"I'd say so," she said.
"Do you think that I could get away with leaving a few minutes early?" he asked causing Shelly to softly laugh.
"Don't worry, I'll call you if you're needed," she said. Hawkeye happily stood up and grabbed his coat.
"Thanks. I owe you," he said.
That night, Hawkeye walked in the door about an hour late.
"Hey," he said looking around. Daniel walked out of the kitchen and smiled at his son.
"Margaret's upstairs. She's been asleep most of the day. She's not even aware of the fact that you were late today," he said.
"How far did you get today?" Daniel asked.
"I got the tree decorated and today during lunch I set up an appointment to go check out a few houses," Hawkeye said.
"Good deal. You might actually pull all of this off," Daniel said.
"I will," Hawkeye said. Daniel shook his head as he laughed.
"Well, dinner's almost done," he said.
"Okay, I'll go wake sleeping beauty up," Hawkeye said. Hawkeye walked up the stairs and got to the bedroom door. For a minute, all he wanted to do was watch her. He hated to wake her, she looked so peaceful and calm, but then again, she would get mad at him if she missed dinner because he wouldn't wake her.
"Margaret," he gently called while sitting down beside her on the bed. She stirred a little, but didn't wake up. He laughed and then patted her belly. Margaret cringed.
"Don't do that so hard," she snapped. Hawkeye just gave her a look of confusion.
"I'm sorry, I didn't think I did it that hard," he said. Margaret sat up and sighed. She stared down nervously at her stomach.
"You didn't did you?" she asked. Hawkeye just shook his head.
"I'm scared," she said as tears started to fall from her eyes. Hawkeye grabbed her hand and squeezed it.
"It's been hurting. I didn't think much of it because, well, a few cramps here and there are normal. But all day long," she said starting to sob. Hawkeye tried to think of what would be going on, but just couldn't. He was too scared himself. He was just so afraid of getting it wrong. Of telling her everything was okay and then finding out that she had a miscarriage or telling her that there is something wrong and getting her even more worked up for nothing.
Margaret gasped as she grabbed her stomach. He saw her close her eyes for a moment while her grip on his hand got tighter. He rubbed her back and waited for what he thought was a contraction to end. Once her grip loosened up she looked to him with fearful eyes.
"Come on, I'm getting you to a hospital," he said standing up. Margaret nodded as he helped her up. When she did stand up, he saw blood on the bed.
"Oh God," he muttered.
"What?" Margaret asked trying her hardest to keep calm. Following his gaze, she looked back at the bed and saw blood.
"No," she whimpered. Hawkeye took her arm and lead her out of the room. Now she had a very good idea of what was going on. She could see it now. The doctor walking in and sadly shaking his head. Not even having to shake his head, just the look on his face giving it away. Telling her that she was so close to being a mother. Telling her that there's always another chance. Knowing in the back of her head that this was her second chance and that she blew it. Her thoughts were interrupted when Hawkeye spoke.
"You better count us out for dinner," he said. Daniel gave them a look of concern. He didn't even have to ask what was going on.
"You want me to give you two a ride?" he asked. Margaret nodded. She knew that this meant sitting in the back seat, but, Hawkeye could be back there with her, and right now she needed him. They all piled into the car and then went off to the hospital. It was only a few minutes after he pulled out of the driveway that Margaret had another contraction.
"Okay, okay," he said holding her hand and rubbing her back. She finally sat back and started panting.
"This isn't normal," she said still panting.
"I've only been in labor for the past ten or fifteen minutes," she said. Hawkeye knew that there was a reason, but he couldn't figure out why. Under normal circumstances, he could, but he was scared. There was no way that he could think straight right now.
"Maybe you were all day and just didn't notice it," he suggested. She just looked up at him.
"I want to believe that," she said.
They finally arrived at the hospital and got Margaret admitted. Hawkeye and Daniel waited outside while they ran a few tests on Margaret. Hawkeye sat there blankly staring at the wall. Everything that he had been waiting for was going wrong. All he had wanted was a family. He would still have Margaret, but there was no way that she could cope if something were to go wrong. It would just be too much in such a small amount of time. He was also looking forward to meeting this child. Getting to be apart of this one's life. He hated thinking so negatively, but he just couldn't help it.
"She's going to be alright," Daniel said. Hawkeye looked back at him.
"You don't know that," Hawkeye said. Daniel sighed and sat down next to him.
"I know you're worried, but I don't think there's time for that," Daniel said. Hawkeye just looked at him.
"What I mean is that in a few minutes, they're going to tell YOU what's going on and that you can go see her and tell her yourself," Hawkeye looked down to the ground as he thought about that.
"If it's good news, then you'll have no problem, but if there is something wrong, you're going to have to be the strong one. You know that it would be a huge blow to the head to her. Every one knows that you would be greatly hurt, but think about her," Daniel said.
He was right. He had to be strong for her. Even if it was good news, she would still be shaken up. She would still have nightmares. The same thing that she was going through, just worse.
"Dr. Pierce, you can go see your wife now. She's in room 132," she said.
"Thanks," he said and then got up to go down the hall. They didn't tell him anything, so he didn't have to figure out what he was going to say. Yet.
"Hi," he said walking into the room. He saw Margaret tightly gripping the sheets as she writhed in the bed. He rushed over and rubbed her shoulders until she finally relaxed.
"Hi," she weakly greeted him and then softly smiled.
"They told me something," she said still out of breath.
"What's that?" he asked brushing the hair back from her face.
"That it's twins," she said. Hawkeye smiled as he leaned down and kissed her.
"See? Everything's going to be okay," he said.
"I guess," she said still not truly believing that this was all okay. She looked over to the door as a doctor poked his head in.
"Dr. Pierce?" he asked. Hawkeye turned around and saw him motion for him to come out into the hallway. He looked back at Margaret and sighed.
"I'll be right back," he said. Margaret just stared at him looking as if she were ready to cry again. He got up, walked out, and closed the door behind him. The look on the doctor's face alone to indicate that it was bad news.
"Well, I guess she already told you about the twins," he said.
"Yes she did," Hawkeye said awkwardly smiling.
"I know, I know. Tell you what's wrong. Well, the placenta separated from the lining of the uterus. That explains any pain that she had been having and her contractions being further along then they should be," he said.
"They didn't make it did they?" Hawkeye asked.
"There were two heartbeats, but the odds of both of them living are almost nothing. The first one born has a small chance, but the second one barely has any chance at all," he said. Hawkeye just stared. He couldn't believe it. His little baby was most likely going to die. Right there, right in front of him, and couldn't do anything. Leaning his head against the wall, he heavily sighed.