The O.B. nurse comes into the room.
"Your doctor had to go to the O.R. for an emergency c-section," she announces.
"Now is not a good time," Jackie points out.
"The resident is going to step in, and..." she begins.
"The resident is not going to deliver my baby. Find someone else," Jackie argues.
"There isn't anyone else. The other doctor is also in delivery right now. I'm sorry. The resident will be in to check on you in a few minutes."
"Find me another doctor, or I will have your job," Jackie threatens.
"You can't do that," the nurse argues.
"Want to bet? While you're looking for another doctor find me another nurse, too."
The nurse leaves the room. Zoey shoots her a look.
"You didn't have to be so mean," Zoey calls her out.
"A second year resident is not going to deliver my baby."
There is a knock on the door.
"Come in," Jackie calls.
Coop walks into the room with a smile, and a bouquet of flowers. He approaches slowly.
"How are things going in here?"
"I am about to give birth, and the nurse just told me the resident is going to deliver my baby."
"I am sure that you have plenty of time."
"I was at eight twenty five minutes ago."
"What do you want me to do?" Coop questions.
"I am ready to push."
"Jackie how long have you been in labor?"
"Like three hours," Zoey reveals.
"I doubt that you're ready to push right now," she argues.
"I don't," she snarls, "Zoey..."
Zoey shakes her head, "I am not going down there."
Without a word, or a moment of hesitation Dr. Cooper pulls on a pair of gloves. He looks at Jackie.
"Go ahead," she says, gritting her teeth.
Zoey remains focused on Jackie's face. Her hair is pulled into a pony tail, and her face is red, and she is sweating profusely. Coop flips up the blanket. Without a single word he begins to disassemble the bed.
"What are you doing?" Zoey questions.
"Zoey put a pair of gloves on please, and grab the stuff out of the warmer."
"Why?"
"Just do it," Coop answers.
She pulls on a gown, and gloves. Coop changes his gloves, and grabs gown, and a face shield. Jackie proceeds to put her legs into stirrups. As Zoey collects supplies she can see that the baby is crowning. Coop looks up at Jackie.
"Jackie are you ready to push?"
"I already told you that I was."
"Go ahead on the next contraction," he instructs her.
She pushes on the next contraction, as Zoey counts. Zoey keeps her eyes focused on Jackie's face.
"Again," Dr. Cooper tells her.
She pushes again, and Zoey hands Coop the bulb syringe.
"Ok, give me one more good push to get the shoulders out," Coop prompts.
Jackie pushes, and Dr. Cooper slides the baby's shoulders out.
"Jackie if you reach down you can pull the baby out the rest of the way," he offers.
She reaches down, and pulls the baby onto her chest. The baby lays on it's side, as Zoey rubs the baby's back, and clears the airway.
"It's a boy," Coop reveals.
Jackie looks at the slimy baby, with dark, matted hair. He starts to cry. Jackie looks down at the baby as Zoey rubs. Coop clamps the cord. Zoey hands Jackie the scissors the cut the cord. Zoey takes the baby for a moment to wipe him off, and measure him. The resident walks into the room after everything is already over, including the placenta being delivered. Coop looks up at the resident in the doorway.
"You missed it buddy. We're good in here."
The color drains from the young resident's face as he backs out of the room, and closes the door behind him. After Zoey finishes measuring, and weighing the baby she wipes him off some more, and bundles him up in a receiving blanket, and places a cap over his dark hair. She lifts him out of the warmer, and hands him to Jackie. Jackie stares at the baby, in silence as Zoey places him into her arms.
"Eight pounds four ounces, and twenty one inches," Zoey announces.
Coop nudges Zoey. "Let's give her a few," he suggests, seeing that Jackie is in a state of shock.
Zoey, and Dr. Cooper clean up the room, and then leave for a few minutes. Zoey makes a few stops, including at the computer to chart. When she's finished she meets Dr. Cooper downstairs for coffee.
Jackie stares at the little boy in her arms. She peels the cap off his head. She finds a head full of dark hair. He stares up at her with slate colored eyes. He whimpers.
"Hi sweet boy," she smiles at him. He instantly stops whimpering. He searches for the source of her voice.
She feels a wave of emotion wash over her. As she stares at the face of the peaceful little boy she feels as if she is going to cry. She holds back the tears as she studies him. She speaks, to him, once again, in a calm , soothing voice.
"It's nice of you to finally join us."
He stares up at her, intently.
"You're definitely a handsome little boy."
Zoey looks at her watch 615. She tosses her empty coffee cup in the trashcan. It's been fifteen minutes since she left Jackie's room. It's been half an hour since the little boy came into the world. Coop is paged to the E.R. Zoey returns to Jackie's room. She pushes the door open, half expecting to find and empty room. Instead she finds Jackie right where she left her. Zoey slips into the room, and takes a seat in the chair, next to the bed.
"You ok?"
"I'm fine."
"So I guess when he finally decided that he was ready he wasn't going to wait," Zoey comments.
"I guess not."
"I can't imagine where he gets that from."
"I don't know what you're trying to say, Zoey."
"Maybe he acts just a little bit like you."
"I certainly hope not."
"You did it. Here he is, healthy and safe."
"When I first found out, I kept asking myself why I was being punished."
"And now?"
"Why did I ever think it was a punishment? Why did I ever think that he was a punishment?"