Chapter 11

It was about twenty minutes after the surgery before she started to awake from the anesthesia. Not that she knew any different. She only remembered part of the drive to the hospital and not much more. She took a few moments to get her eyes to adjust to their environment. A room, a hospital room. She felt some pressure on her legs, looking down to see David, seemingly asleep with his head resting there. She felt something squeezing her left hand. It was David's fingers laced with hers. It wasn't until she noticed all of this that saw that her quite large belly was small. "Dylan?" She half cried. "David, David" She called to her sleeping husband.

He woke up, hearing her call his name. "Erica?"

"Dylan, where is Dylan?" She continued.

"He's fine. He's fine." He tried comforting her as he took her arms in his hands, trying to get her to look him in the eye. "Erica, look at me." He said a little commanding as she did so. "He's in the NICU. You had a C-section about an hour ago. I can let the doctor know that you are awake and they'll bring him down. Okay?" He explained it as calmly as he could. She was fine and their son was fine. He just had to convince Erica of it too.

"He is? I want to see him, David. I need to see him." She pleaded.

"Okay, Okay. I'm just going to step outside and tell the nurse." He half said, half asked. He stood up, still looking at her, waiting for her to acknowledge him. She nodded and he walked out the door to her room, finding the nearest nurse. "I need you to page Dr. Peters and Joe Martin stat. Tell Peters Dr. Hayward said now, room 412." He instructed the nurse before quickly walking back into the room.

He hurried down the hall, They said room 412. He remembered, knowing that room was just three rooms down on the left. One, two, three. He found the door was already open, so he knocked and walked in. It was quite a surprise to find a happy David and Erica, who was holding Dylan.

"Joe." Erica said as she saw him walking in the room, David who was sitting on the bed turning around.

"Erica?" Joe said half surprised at the site before him. "When I got the page, let's just say I wasn't expecting this."

"I'm sorry about that Joe. She woke up a little panicked and I had you and Dr. Peters paged. I guess I could have told the nurse to explain." David apologized.

"It's quite alright. It seems everything is fine."

"Yes, Joe. Thank you. David told me what you did for me and our son."

"No thanks necessary Erica, I was just doing my job."

"David, isn't there something you're forgetting?"

"Oh yeah." David responded, getting up off the bed and taking their son out of her arms and into his arms. He walked around the bed, to Joe. "This is your grandson. Dylan Joseph Hayward." He finished putting the baby in Joe's arms.

"Dylan Joseph?" Joe asked, half said. Of course he didn't mind the sound of it, but he wasn't expecting it.

"We thought it was only fair that he have your name. You did bring him into this world."

"This wasn't necessary, really, but I will say I like it."

"I tried for Dylan Joseph Martin, but David wouldn't have that." She smiled, looking over to David.

"I was thankful Joe, but not that thankful." David laughed.

"He looks a lot like his mother." Joe noticed.

"Well he has his father's eyes" Erica mentioned.

"At least he has something of mine. I just hope he gets his mothers conscience." David said, Erica and Joe laughing a little.

Erica noticed that Joe was looking intently at Dylan. "What is it Joe?"

"I wasn't going to say anything, but I think he has my nose."

David and Erica were both a little taken back by the mans words. "You think so?" Was all David managed to get out. It was strange to think about his son looking like Joe Martin. He wasn't related to them was what his head would tell him, but he was. His son's looks were determined by DNA and Joe Martin shared that with both he and his son.

"Yes, I do. It's my mother's nose. Or so my father told me." He said looking up to David and back to the baby. "So am I the first one to see this little guy?"

"Yes you are. I have to call Bianca in a little bit, let her know her brother is waiting to see her."

"I was thinking that maybe Ruth would like to see him." Joe said, handing the almost sleeping baby back to David.

"Is she still here?" David asked.

"What do you mean?" Joe asked

"Ruth was here, with Jake and Tad. She waited with me when you took Erica into surgery. She said about waiting, I thought maybe she was still here." David told Joe.

"She probably went home. I'll call her then."

"Well if you find her here, just give her the room number. She's welcome to drop in and see him" Erica said.

"Okay, I will. Why don't you bring him by the house sometime after you're discharged? And only when you're feeling up to it." Joe asked of the two of them.

"We will." Erica answered.

"I'll let you get your rest Erica, and you too David. You're going to need it. Don't hesitate to call Ruth or I if you need anything, okay?"

"Thank you Joe." David said, getting up to walk the man out of the room.

"Thank you, for letting me hold him. And for the honorary but unnecessary naming of your son after me."

"Well I do like Dylan David better." David joked. "No, really Joe, thank you. For everything today." David said, holding his hand out for the man to accept his handshake.

"You're welcome, son. Erica." Joe returned, shaking Davids hand before leaving.