Hope you all enjoy this chapter. A special someone might be in this chapter. ;)
Cal stood there for several seconds. He didn't know what to say, "Are you sure? You're not due for three more weeks."
"Well statistically speaking only 5% of babies are born on their due dates," said Loker.
"Thank you Mr. Fact Giver," said Gillian through gritted teeth since the contractions had started within a few minutes of her water breaking.
"Alright, alright," said Cal stepping forward and helping her to the couch in her office, "Torres, get my car from the parking lot and drive to the front door," he said handed Ria his car keys. Ria nodded and disappeared, "Just keep breathing love, you're almost through this one." Cal remembered the last time he had gone through this but Zoe had gone into labor with Emily in the middle of the night, so they were at home for the early part.
Gillian takes a final breath and loosens her grip on Cal's hand, "Well that one's over," she sighs, "Only a lot more to go."
"Love, just take one contraction at a time, and try not to focus on the pain. Pain is not part of the childbirth process, pain…"
"Cal do you think you could say the word pain one more time?" asked Gillian sarcastically.
"Sorry I was just trying to help you forget the… not great feeling," said Cal.
Loker ran into the office, "Torres has the car outside. You think you can walk outside Dr. Lightman."
Gillian narrowed her eyes at Loker, "I'm having a baby but I haven't lost the ability to move my legs," she said. Cal helped her stand and Loker went to her other side. The three slowly made their way to the car, stopping to let Gillian lean on Cal when she had another contraction. They reached the car and Cal got into the back seat with Gillian.
"Loker, call Emily, and then follow us to George Washington," instructed Cal.
Loker nodded and got out his cell phone to call Emily. The other three individuals pulled away towards the hospital. Cal held Gillian's hand as she moaned with the contractions, "You're doing great love," he said softly, "You're doing great."
Gillian looked up into Cal's eyes. For someone who could be very intimidating to people, he was incredibly gentle when he needed to be, "Are we there yet?"
"We're almost there Gill," said Ria from the driver's seat. She drove into the drop off at the labor and delivery unit of the hospital.
Cal and Gillian slowly got out and were greeted by Dr. Samuel, "Hey Gillian, how are you doing."
"Great the contractions are seven minutes apart," Gillian informed.
Cal handed Dr. Samuel his phone and said, "The contraction log is on there."
Dr. Samuel nodded and helped Gillian into the wheelchair she had brought her, "How's the pain?"
"On a scale of 1-10 about 50," Gillian said as another contraction hit. They brought Gillian to her room and hooked her up to a contraction monitor and a fetal heart monitor. Thankfully, Sophie's heartbeat was strong and she wasn't showing any signs of distress. Mom on the other hand…
"Son of a…" Gillian shouted as she braced herself for more pain.
Cal had to chuckle to himself. In all of the years he had known Gillian, he had only heard her cuss occasionally. He grabbed her hand and she squeezed it hard, "I'm right here darling."
"How long have I been in labor?" asked Gillian.
Cal looked at his watch, "About four hours."
"Only four hours!" asked Gillian in surprise, "It seems so much longer than that." Cal noticed the contraction monitor numbers go up and he rubbed her shoulder soothingly. Dr. Samuel checked her dilatation though she was only three centimeters dilated so they had a while to go yet. Hours passed and Gillian continued to moan and whine in pain while Cal continued to coach. Personally, he thought she needed an epidural but Gillian wanted to be alert and not drugged when Sophie arrived. Finally around 10 PM, Dr. Samuel entered the room to check on Gillian once again.
"How are you doing Gillian?" asked Dr. Samuel sitting down in front of her patient.
"It hurts," Gillian said softly since that was the only thing she could think about right now, "Please tell me I'm more than three centimeters."
Dr. Samuel checked and said, "Yeah, three plus seven more centimeters."
"Does that mean?" asked Cal smiling.
"Yes Dr. Lightman, Gillian can push when she's ready," informed the doctor.
Cal looked down and smiled at his wife, who was smiling back at him, "This is it love. You ready to meet our baby girl?"
Gillian took Cal's hand and nodded, tears streaming down her cheeks, "Yeah."
Dr. Samuel spoke, "The next time you feel a contraction, you need to push. There's going to be a lot of pressure but that's a good sign." Gillian pushed with each contraction, grunting and growling louder than before. Thankfully Cal had read that making noise helped women push or he would've been scared to death otherwise.
"Keep going love, you're doing it," he coached gently, "I love you."
Gillian narrowed her eyes at him, "I love you too but you did this to me. Ouch!" she shouted when she felt more pain
Dr. Samuel smiled to herself. If she had a nickel every time a laboring woman in pain said that to her husband she'd be rich, "The baby's crowning Gillian so you're probably feeling a lot of burning."
"Mm hm," moaned panting to keep herself from screaming.
Cal looked into Gillian's eyes. He knew from when Zoe gave birth to Emily how a baby looked coming out and he was only going to make that mistake once, "She's almost here love. This will all be over soon."
Gillian let out a God awful scream as her baby left her body and then another cry could be heard. But it wasn't Gillian or Sophie for that matter. It was Cal.
"Congratulations you guys," said Dr. Samuel cleaning Sophie off and putting her up on Gillian's chest, "Born on October 31, 2011 at 11:33 PM."
"A little Halloween treat Cal," said Gillian watching her husband, well cry more than Sophie. Sophie was only whimpering softly; Cal was bawling, "Babe, are you crying?"
"No it's just allergies," said Cal doing his best to lie.
Gillian shook her head at her husband and went back to gazing at her baby girl: her soft brown hair, her light blue eyes, her ten fingers, and ten toes. She was perfect.
"What's the little one's name?" asked Dr. Samuel getting ready to make the hospital bracelet.
Cal looked down at his daughter and said, "Sophie. Sophie Madison Lightman."