Chapter Seventeen

It seemed to take an eternity, but Steve knew he couldn't kid himself. This was not a normal delivery – it was emergency surgery, with three very precious lives hanging in the balance. He'd stopped looking at the clock because seeing the minutes (and the hours) tick by was sheer torture. Was his family alright? (Did he still have a family....?)

There was very little Oscar could do except sit by in silent support, waiting to either rejoice or grieve with his friend, depending on what the next few hours would bring. For someone so used to being in control of every situation, it was truly difficult for Oscar to simply sit and wait.

Steve knew that Jaime had held on long enough to at least give the twins a decent, fighting chance...but had they suffered a lack of oxygen when their mother was struggling for air?

Doctor Jeffries emerged first. His body was weary...but his face was jubilant. "Congratulations, Colonel," he said, a hand on Steve's shoulder to steady the new father, "you have two beautiful daughters."

"Girls...." Steve whispered, letting it sink in. "Two girls....and they're...okay?"

"They're very small, but so far they're staying strong."

"And...Jaime?"

Jeffries smile flickered. "Rudy's still with her. We're trying to get her off the ventilator, but she's having some difficulty."

"Will she...make it?"

"If we have to, we'll keep her on the respirator for now," Jeffries explained. Steve noticed that he hadn't really answered the question..and his heart sank. "In the meantime," the doctor went on, "let's go and meet your daughters."

A makeshift (but very efficient) neonatal ICU had been set up in the front corner of the adult Intensive Care, directly across from the nurses' station. Steve tentatively approached the two incubators, almost afraid of what he might see. The first glimpse of the two little girls took his breath away. They were so tiny – one just under four pounds and the other a half-pound lighter – but every finger and toe was there (he counted, of course), in perfectly-formed miniature. He was instantly smitten, completely besotted, and he couldn't take his eyes off of them.

He talked softly to them for a very long time, welcoming them to the world and telling them how very much they were wanted and loved. He wasn't allowed to hold them yet, but Steve put his hand through the gloved hole in the side of each incubator and caressed each of the little pink fists. His heart pounded wildly as the babies' tiny hands closed reflexively around his finger.

He didn't even notice when Rudy came up beside him, until the doctor spoke. "Congratulations, Steve; they're beautiful."

"Rudy...how's Jaime?"

The doctor smiled warmly. "She's finally stable – and she's breathing on her own."

"Is she awake? Can I see her?" Steve asked anxiously.

"She's still in Recovery, coming out of the anesthesia, but I'll take you to her."

Steve nodded and, before leaving the ICU, kissed his hand and laid it lightly on top of each of the incubators. "Daddy loves you," he whispered simply, "and I'll be back soon."

---

Jaime was lying very still, with tubes and wires everywhere, but she looked a thousand times better than the last time Steve had seen her. He tenderly brushed the stray hairs from her face and sat down to wait. Slowly, Jaime began to revive. She opened her eyes to see her husband leaning over her, beaming with his entire face.

"Hi, Mommy," he said happily, bending down to kiss her.

"The babies!" Jaime gasped, suddenly realizing she was no longer pregnant. "Are they alright?"

"Better than alright. We have two beautiful daughters."

"You've seen them?"

"They're perfect – ten fingers and ten toes each," Steve told her. "How do you feel?"

"Did you get the license plate?" Jaime asked lightly.

"Huh?"

"Of the truck that hit me!" In spite of the pain that was starting to flood through her from the incision (and the general trauma), Jaime smiled.

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