Chapter 38 – Labour Day Part 2

Eventually Jack and Jackie managed to get a foetal monitor attached to Rose, showing the unnamed boy was still perfectly stable. But as the hours filtered by in a whirl of tedium and monotony for Jackie and Jack, they were filtering away in impatience and worry for Rose, whilst it was pure pain for the Doctor... Pain that inevitably became worse and worse. Soon he stopped crying out, and had started constantly groaning loudly for the entire length of the contractions. They started getting closer and closer, more and more painful, and soon the Doctor's loud groans were yells. Then he was crying, and then he was screaming.

But whilst the contractions were getting closer together and more painful, Leah's birth seemed to be repeating itself as Rose's dilation had monumentally slowed down. She'd only dilated a further centimetre in the two hours that had gone by.

Jackie's amusement at the Doctor's situation had very quickly evaporated in the moments he had begun screaming, so while Jack decided to take Rose for a walk around the TARDIS to hopefully speed things up, Jackie had taken it upon herself to look after the father to her grandchildren, sitting by him for support.

As another contraction came to a close, the Doctor was left lying on the bed clutching at pillow, crying and gasping for air. She'd never seen him in so much distress; it was quite disturbing. She wondered what she could say to help him – probably nothing. But as it happened, the Doctor was the first to speak, his voice barely a whisper; his throat raw from screaming.

"I can't do this, Jackie," he panted, tears pouring down his face. "I thought I could but I can't, I just can't..."

"You're kinda committed now, sweetheart," Jackie pointed out gently, rubbing his arm reassuringly. "I know that's not what you wanna hear, but in a few hours it'll be over, and you're gonna 'ave a beautiful new baby to raise. That's what I 'ad to keep tellin' myself, and it got me through two labours."

"I don't care about what you went through!" he suddenly screamed, and she could see he was having another massive contraction. "Yours was nothing compared to this!"

She didn't reply as he screamed and contorted with the agony in his abdomen; she understood. As the contraction came to a close the Doctor panted and blew his way through to a mild mental stability, and opened sunken eyes to Jackie.

"Sorry," he muttered.

"It's okay," Jackie replied. "When I was in labour with Tony I gave Pete a helluva smack I can tell ya. He got a mild concussion. Don't bloody regret it, neither. He was spewing out the same rubbish I am to you right now."

The Doctor let a small smile tug at the end of his lips through his otherwise pain-wracked face, but it soon disappeared again as he lost the energy to even smile. She gazed sympathetically at him just lying there completely drained of life – he was horrendously pale now, gasping for air, tears silently rolling down his face with barely enough energy to open his eyes.

"Look," she began gently. "I know you don't care what I think, but I think what you're doin' is amazin'. This 'appened with Leah, right? I reckon it took guts to wanna go through this again."

"Or pure stupidity," the Doctor breathed.

"Yeah, there's that," Jackie admitted, laughing. But her laughter ceased as another contraction hit, and remained for one very long minute. She held him through it, hoping she was giving him some kind of help.

"Jackie," the Doctor gasped through pants and blows when it had finished.

"Yeah?"

"I love Rose, I love Leah, I really do."

"I know you do, sweetheart."

"Tell them that. And my boy."

Jackie frowned. "What?"

"If.. If the worst happens, I've prepped a theatre for a c-section – that one." He gestured to one of the adjoining rooms with an uncoordinated hand movement. "Look after them."

Jackie quickly realised he seemed to be acting like he was on his deathbed. "What are you talkin' about?"

"I... I don't think I can make it through this," he croaked.

"Don't be silly, sweetheart, you're gonna be fine."

"I'm..." He took a deep affirming breath. "I'm trying to hold on, but I... I don't think I'm gonna last much longer..."

"Doctor, your brain is messin' up with the pain. You're really confused and scared, okay?" Jackie replied gently, brushing back his hair from his sweaty forehead. "You're gonna be fine."

"I can't do this," he sobbed. "I can't..."

"You can," Jackie urged.

"I can't," he squeaked, tears rolling down his face, and yet another bullet of a contraction hit him. Instantly Jackie realised that although his body might live through this, his mind was fighting a losing battle.

For a minute he screamed non-stop at the top of his lungs, his entire body shaking badly. It finished, and he just laid there with his eyes closed, not saying a word and panting. A few moments passed, and for some reason Jackie found herself incredibly worried.

"Doctor?" she asked quietly.

He didn't respond. She checked he was breathing, then checked his hearts – all still going.

"Doctor, are you awake?" she asked quietly. He didn't answer. She checked his eyes just in case he was too exhausted to reply, but he didn't even flinch. He'd passed out from the pain. "Oh love," she breathed, pushing back his hair again. "Just hold on."

"How is he?" came Rose's anxious voice from the doorway, followed by the frantic waddle of a very pregnant woman moving to her husband.

"He just passed out from the pain," Jackie informed her quietly as Rose reached the Doctor perching on the bed beside him and taking his hand, kissing him on the lips. "Can't we give 'im anythin' to help with the contractions?"

Jack shook his head sombrely. "Martha said we couldn't last time because he's allergic to the medication and it might hurt the baby through the bond."

Jackie sighed, looked at the Doctor lying there – her technical son-in-law, the father of her grandchildren, and suddenly felt extremely responsible. She let go of him and marched over to Jack. "Call Martha, tell her to bloody get here right now or she'll have a very angry grandparent to deal with, you got that?"

"Yes, ma'am," Jack said quickly, digging out his phone.

"Rose." She turned to her daughter. "Don't move from that bed, he needs you."

"Okay," Rose replied, getting onto her knees on the bed to hold him tight, just in time for him to come around again.

"... Rose?" he asked quietly, barely being able to focus or speak through desperate gasps for oxygen.

"Yeah?" she whispered, kissing him.

"Don't go," he panted.

"Stayin' right here," she assured him. "I love you. We can do this."

"It hurts," he whispered.

"I know, just a little longer."

Another contraction hit, but he didn't even have the energy to scream anymore.

"P-P-Please..." he croaked. "Please... help me."

Rose could feel tears in her eyes at the incredible pain and distress he was in. "Just a little longer," she repeated.

"Why..." he gasped. "Why did you... d-do this to me..."

"I'm so sorry," she whispered, unable to stop the tears. "I love you so much."

"I h-hate you," he croaked between pants. "I hate you... I hate this baby!"

Rose swallowed. She had known this was coming, but it was still a punch in the face. "I... I'm so sorry for this. I love you. You're the bravest, most intelligent and attractive alien I've ever met and I want to be with you forever. You don't deserve this, I should be feelin' this. I can't even do anythin' for you. I feel so guilty. Please forgive me."

The contraction stopped, and the Doctor began to heavily pant and blow, taking a moment to compose himself before he looked back at Rose, and gave a wonky smile.

"Thanks," he whispered.

Rose burst out laughing even through the tears.

"Whatever... I say..." he began, reaching up to stroke her face. "Don't mean it. I love you... And this is our son. Don't feel bad. I chose this. Only my fault."

Rose nodded, but inside she hated herself. And even more so when the next contraction hit. She held him tightly through it, but he still passed out.

Things only went from bad to worse. The Doctor was barely conscious, his breathing was rapid and shallow, he was sweating and every time he woke up he seemed to be more and more confused about who he was and where he was. Martha had told Jack to put him on a physiological monitor, a pulse oximeter, and an oxygen mask, and to watch for him going into shock – he seemed to already be halfway there.

Yet another hour passed with no signs of Martha. She and Mickey were just coming up to Bristol, and with Rose at eight centimetres now, Martha had said not to wait for her and deliver as soon as they could, because with the Doctor going deeper into shock with every minute that passed he could be in serious trouble. It was the most terrifying waiting game Jack, Jackie and Rose had ever experienced.

"I've phoned Gwen," Jack announced at midnight, dropping into a seat beside the bed. "She's got onto Andy and got a police order out that Mickey's car can break the speed limit as soon as it crosses the Severn Bridge into South Wales. She should be here really, really soon."

Rose nodded, sitting with the Doctor's head in her lap, dabbing away the sweat from his forehead with a cold flannel. He hadn't moved or made a sound for an hour. "Hear that, Doctor? It'll be over soon."

To her complete surprise he opened his eyes, looking up through slits. He grunted, eyes scanning around the room at all the people before resting on Rose.

"Rose," he whispered.

"What?"

"Something... doesn't feel... right."

"Yeah," Rose said gently, squeezing his hand. "You'll be okay soon."

"No..." he croaked. "The baby. Something... Something's wrong."

"He's fine, Doctor," Rose replied instantly, smiling reassuringly. "I'm almost dilated."

"No," he persisted, frustrated. "Please check."

She frowned slightly, then drew back from him. "Okay," she said, looking at Jack. "How's he doing?"

Jack checked the foetal monitor. "Looks fine to me."

"Please," the Doctor urged.

"He's fine, Doctor," Rose insisted, pressing a hand to her belly. "Still there, still fine... hold on..."

She pressed both hands to the bump, checking it over, it almost felt like...

"Oh god, I think... I think he flipped back over."

"What?" Jackie asked quickly. "Are you sure?"

Rose reached out for her hands and pressed them to her belly to let her feel. Jackie did so carefully, and drew back quickly with wide eyes. "Oh god, I think he's breech, love."

"But he was head down earlier!" Rose insisted, staring at Jack and her mother in shock, before looking at the Doctor, but he was unconscious again. Her heart sank. "Oh God, what do we do?"

"Check her dilation," Jack ordered quickly, standing up. "I'll phone Martha." He drew out his phone again and speed dialled Martha. After two very long rings, she picked up.

"Jack?"

"We've got a problem, we think the baby's flipped back over into a breech position."

There was another pause. "Oh no."

"Jack!" Jackie called from across the room. "She's at ten!"

"She's fully dilated, Martha," Jack said urgently. "The Doctor's out for the count, what the hell do we do?"

"How are the baby's lifesigns?"

Jack darted over to check the monitor. "Looks fine."

"Start pushing."

"Rose," Jack said quickly. "Start pushing."

"When?" she asked, grabbing for the Doctor's hand as she positioned herself. "I can't feel the contractions..."

Suddenly there was a knock on the infirmary door, and everyone instantly froze in mid-panic, frowning and staring at the door. Jack glanced at Jackie and Rose before moving over to open it.

"Oh, hello, Leah. What are you doing up?" he asked the girl standing in the corridor hugging Floppy and sucking her thumb, staring up at him.

"Can't sleep," she said tiredly. "Uncle Jack, I'm scared."

Jack's heart sank. "Leah, I'm really, really sorry but you have to wait, everyone is really busy."

She looked at the floor, then back up at Jack. "What's wrong with Daddy?"

Jack frowned. There was no way she could see him from where she was standing. "He's just in a bit of pain from helping out your brother, but he's fine."

"No, he's not," Leah said adamantly. "He feels bad. I'm scared."

Jack frowned. "Daddy's going to be fine, Leah, and it's all a bit kind of graphic in here and trust me, it's not really something you wanna see."

"I wanna see Mummy and Daddy," Leah insisted, not moving from her spot.

"I'm sorry but..."

Leah quickly decided she'd had enough of trying to reason with her Uncle, before blatantly ignoring him and marching past him through the doorway to where her Mum and Dad were. She seemed unfazed by everything that seemed to be happening around her, using a chair to climb up next to them. She methodically placed Floppy down at the head of the bed, then took her unconscious father's hand in her little one and placed a kiss on his forehead. She then looked up at her Mum, and smiled supportively, taking one of her hands in her other one.

"Carry on," she said brightly.

Everyone was slightly stunned for a moment, before Rose suddenly jolted and her other hand flew to her belly, her eyes wide.

"I felt that!" she gasped. "I felt the contraction!"

"The pain?" Jackie asked urgently.

"No, I just felt it pulling!" She looked at Leah, stunned. "Did you do somethin'?"

Leah just shrugged with a look of pure innocence, looking back at her Dad, still unconscious.

"We can push!" Jackie concluded. "Rose, sweetheart, push!"

She was still contracting, so she braced herself and began to push with all her might. When the contraction ended, there didn't seem to be anything happening for the moment.

"Keep it going, love, he'll be right out," Jackie urged, true relief filling her that this would be over very soon.

Jack had returned to them now, his phone put away. "Can I help?"

"Watch beep machine," Leah instructed, gesturing to the foetal monitor with her head.

"Yes ma'am," Jack replied, assuming the position. Another contraction came and went with no sign of the baby's emergence. Then another. And another.

With the fifth contraction Rose pushed harder than she ever had before, and still nothing happened. But just before the sixth one arrived Jack suddenly frowned, still staring at the foetal monitor...

"Wait, stop!" he said quickly. "Rose, the life signs are falling..."

"What?" Rose squealed, panting from the effort of pushing. "Is he okay?"

"I dunno, but they're falling, his hearts rate is getting slower..."

Rose turned to check the monitor herself, suddenly panicking badly, to confirm it with her own eyes. They were falling, down, down, down...

"Mum?" she gasped, her eyes beginning to water.

Jackie seemed a little pale. "Now don't worry, calm down sweetheart..."

Jack was already reaching for his phone, but as it turned out he didn't need to as suddenly the infirmary door burst open and Martha strode in with Mickey behind her, stopping in her tracks to regard the situation.

"Okay, just what's going on in here?"

"Martha!" everyone exclaimed at once, utter relief washing through them all simultaneously.

"The baby's life signs are falling," Jack said quickly.

"Okay, out of the way," Martha said quickly, jogging over to them and quickly scrubbing up to don some gloves. Jackie moved out the way as Martha checked what was happening. It quickly became apparent to her what was happening.

"Okay, the cord's prolapsed and compressed and all wrapped around your somersaulting son," Martha said quickly. "Jack how are the vital signs?"

"They're plummeting."

"Okay, we need to get him out right now. We're going to do a crash c-section. Is the Doctor awake?"

"No," Jackie said quickly, glancing at the Doctor.

"Has he prepped a room?" There was a very slight pause. "Anyone?" she urged.

"Yes," Jackie suddenly said. "He said it was in there." She gestured to the room behind where Mickey was standing, transfixed by what was going on in front of him.

"Wait!" Rose yelped. "He said not to have a..."

"Your baby is a premature footling breech, the umbilical cord's prolapsed and wrapped around him and has dropped to just above baseline, and is now being compressed, which is restricting the oxygen supply to your baby, and in turn his hearts are failing. If he gets no oxygen he will be brain damaged, he may die. You're having a c-section, Miss Tyler," Martha replied sharply in full doctor mode, then turned to Jack and Mickey. "Scrub up you two, you're assisting me." They quickly ran off. "Mrs Tyler, Leah, I need you two to look after the Doctor in here, keep him on oxygen. If he starts failing do CPR; you need to do chest compression to both hearts, not just one. Got it?"

Jackie swallowed nervously, then nodded quickly. "Okay."

"Miss Tyler," she turned to Rose. "Stay calm, I'm gonna put you under general anaesthesia, and when you wake up you'll have your boy, all right?"

"I want the Doctor," Rose gasped, tears streaming down her face.

"Miss Tyler, I am so, so sorry he can't be with you for this, but the more time we lose the more danger your baby is in, there's no time."

"Doctor," Rose sobbed. "Please Doctor, please I need you..."

He didn't move an inch.

"Ready!" Jack and Mickey appeared in the doorway, fully kitted up for surgery.

"Captain, get Miss Tyler into theatre."

"Doctor!" Rose practically screamed, desperately reaching out for him, but she was already being wheeled away, and there was nothing she could do. "Leah, Mum, look after him!"

Jackie watched as her daughter, Martha, Jack and Mickey disappeared through the doors in a rush of energy. As the doors swung shut behind them she found herself in sudden silence, standing next to the Doctor lying there on the bed, pale and unconscious with Leah holding tightly onto his hand.

"Mummy and baby be okay," she said positively. "Don't worry Granny."

Jackie offered her a smile, dropping down in to the chair beside the bed. "Am I glad you're here, sweetheart."