Hurry Up & Wait

Eric squeezed his wife's hand as she breathed through another contraction. He gently wiped her brow with a cool clothe. To their relief, Calleigh hadn't had to be induced; she had gone into labor naturally just five days after her estimated due date. At 5:10am they had arrived at Dade Memorial Hospital. Alexx had shown up just moments after they had. She insisted, and the couple were glad she would be around for extra support. She would pop in the labor & delivery room when needed or wanted, otherwise she would hang around the waiting room.

"You're doing great, Cal," Eric whispered to her, kissing her cheek softly. "I'm so proud of you."

Alexx entered the room quietly, letting the door close behind her with a soft click.

"The anesthesiologist is on his way," she told both. "How ya doing. sugar?" She asked Calleigh.

"I'm looking forward to meeting him," Calleigh huffed.

Alexx smiled and squeezed her friend's hand.

"You're almost half way there, baby," she told her friend. "Before you know it, you'll have your baby girl in your arms."

Calleigh was four centimeters and a half dilated after three hours at the hospital.

Eric stepped out of the room but Alexx stayed when the anesthesiologist administered his wife's epidural. He was surprised to see his friend, boss and his daughter-to-be's godfather in the door of the waiting room. Seeing Horatio Caine in a pair of blue jeans and grey t-shirt was just as big a surprise as seeing him here at this hour. It took the Cuban a second to recognize the red-head.

"Eric," Horatio said, stepping out into the hall. "Everything okay?"

The lieutenant knew the kind of man his CSI was; he wouldn't just leave the room when his wife was in labor unless he was forced to, or he was asked and then Calleigh said it was all right.

"Yeah. The doctor's giving Calleigh her epidural. Alexx thought I should come out here till he's done." Then it crossed Eric's mind. "What are you doing here?" He knew they had only called Alexx before they left for the hospital; Eric had called his parents after they checked into the hospital. They weren't at the hospital, they were anxious waiting for a phone call at their little Havana home.

Horatio smiled. "Alexx called everyone. Frank, Natalia and Ryan are here, too."

Alexx stepped out of the room then, followed by the anesthesiologist and his cart.

"You can go back in now, baby," Alexx said to Eric.

Eric nodded to his boss.

"Talk to you later, H," he said.

Horatio smiled and nodded.

According to his sister, although it was worth it, getting the epidural hurt like a bitch. Eric hoped it hadn't been too bad for Calleigh. He hadn't heard any screams or swearing from her, something Calleigh wouldn't hesitate to do so he assumed it hadn't been as bad.

"Hey," he said, kissing Calleigh on the top of her head. "Ya all right? It wasn't too bad?"

Calleigh was smiling now, she certainly wasn't before so her husband knew the epidural had to be working.

"It wasn't exactly painless but in comparison, I'll take it," she said.

Eric chuckled, sitting down on a chair next to the bed, taking his wife's hand, the one with the I.V. in it.

"I guess we're in for some more hurry up and wait," he said. "You know everyone from the team is out there."

"Yeah. Alexx told me. I guess our girl got an audience waitin' for her."

The nurse came into the room and advised Calleigh she should try and get some sleep before the next phase of her labor. Eric lay with his wife in the hospital bed, facing her, stroking her cheek and hair. No longer feeling intense pain Calleigh felt herself starting to fall asleep, she didn't fight it, knowing she was going to need the energy for later.

"You should get some sleep, too," she told Eric.

"I will," he promised, "as soon as you close your eyes."