Okay, next chapter.
I have to be honest that I have no idea if this is realistic, but it's fiction, so let's keep that in mind..
Thanks for all your lovely reviews, they make my day.
XX
A few weeks later things were going great for both of them. Andy was enjoying her pregnancy more than ever. She loved feeling their little boy moving inside of her. Sam was happy that William decided to stay away. The fact that Andy was glowing every time he looked at her made him a happy and proud man too.
When Andy woke up on Monday morning she stretched out and turned around. Sam was nowhere in sight, but she could hear the shower running. Andy quickly got out of bed and went downstairs. She put on the coffeemaker and grabbed the newspaper.
After ten minutes Sam joined her downstairs. He greeted her with a quick kiss on her cheek. After that he grabbed the plate that already had his breakfast on it. ''You could've stayed in bed,'' he told her. ''I'm capable of making my own breakfast.''
''I know,'' Andy said. ''Just wasn't that comfortable in bed anymore. Besides, I feel like I've hardly seen you this week.''
''Sorry, it's been a busy week,'' Sam explained. ''Things should be returning back to normal now that Nash is back at work.'' Sam had worked a lot of overtime. Of course it was busy, but he also figured that he would have some extra time off when the baby was born if he just worked a little harder.
''You go easy on her,'' Andy warned. ''You know her, if it's up to her she'll be working twelve hours a day, but she needs time at home too. So do you by the way. I know you want to put in a few extra hours, but you're kind of overdoing it.''
''You think she's going to listen to me?'' Sam wondered. He ignored her comments about his schedule. He knew she noticed that he was tired, but it was worth it if he could spent a few weeks at home with their son. ''I don't think Nash listens to anyone if it comes down to work. When she thinks she's onto something, she doesn't let go.''
Andy slowly nodded. ''That's part of what makes her so good, but she also has two kids at home. Just keep an eye on her, okay?''
Sam grabbed the newspaper and read a few articles before he decided that he was already running late. He hated being late, so he quickly grabbed his jacket and gave Andy a quick kiss.
A minute later he was back in the living room. When he didn't see Andy he walked upstairs. He found her in their bedroom getting ready to hop into the shower. ''Your car is in front of my truck,'' he said.
Andy could see that he was irritated. ''Sorry, I thought I needed it yesterday, but then we decided to stay at home.''
''Can you move it?'' Sam asked impatiently. He pinched the bridge of his nose. ''I'm already running late.''
''You'll be at the barn with time to spare,'' Andy argued. She didn't get Sam's need to be everywhere thirty minutes before people expected him. ''Calm down.''
''Just move the car and I'll be out of your way,'' Sam shot back. ''Come on Andy.''
''Just take my car.'' Andy grabbed a new bottle of shampoo and threw off her robe. ''I'm not getting dressed just to move my car when you can just as well take mine.''
''I hate that thing,'' Sam muttered. ''I don't understand why you put it in the garage anyway, you never park it there.''
Andy was getting irritated now too. ''Come on Sam. It's like a fifteen minute drive. I'm sure you'll manage, even in my car. And I put it there because you told me to do so.''
''And since when do you listen to me?'' Sam asked as he started to leave the bedroom again. He slammed the door closed with a little bit more force than he needed to.
''Have a good day. Love you too,'' Andy yelled after him.
XX
Two hours later Andy was sitting on the couch feeling guilty about their little fight. She knew that Sam really hated her car. He even tried to talk her out of buying it, but she insisted that she loved the thing.
Besides, Sam had been working really hard and Andy knew that was because he wanted to be at home after the birth of their son. With a sigh she pushed herself of the couch and looked for Sam's keys. She decided that she might as well make him his favorite dinner to make it up to him.
She searched for her phone and send Sam a text. –Sorry about this morning. Will have dinner ready when you come home. Love you.-
Quickly she locked the house and moved the truck out of the garage. She turned on the music and sang along when one of her favorite songs came along.
With the years Andy had taken over half of the programmed channels. Sometimes she would even catch Sam listening to one of her channels instead of his classic rock.
When she had to stop for a red light Andy felt a big kick against her stomach. ''Yeah, yeah,'' she softly said. ''I know mommy can't sing.''
In a way she felt silly talking to her stomach, but no one was there and she really enjoyed talking to her baby. She still had to get used to the fact that she could call herself mommy now. She had waited for that moment for so long. Now that she had her biggest wish come true it felt surreal.
When the light turned green again, Andy slowly got the truck moving again. She didn't even see the car that was speeding from the left side.
The car that obviously ran a red light.
Andy didn't even notice the car crashing into the truck. She didn't notice the airbags around her exploding. All she felt was everything going black.
XX
Sam was sitting at his desk waiting until his computer finally opened the right program. When his phone rang he looked at the caller id and answered it. ''I swear to god,'' he said without listening to a word Oliver had to say. ''I think I spend about an hour of every day waiting for the damn computer to work.''
He had been in a foul mood all day long. His fight with Andy was still playing in his mind and he was just generally tired. He didn't even know why he made such a problem about her car. And even if it was a problem, it would have been a few minutes of work to move her car and then take his truck to work.
''Sam.'' Oliver said. The tone of his voice was enough for Sam to know that something was really wrong. ''You have to come to the hospital.''
Immediately Sam knew that this wasn't something that involved a case. This was personal. It was that feeling in his gut that told him that this was serious, ''What happened?'' he asked. ''Where is she?''
''She was in a car accident,'' Oliver said. Sam could hear that Oliver was emotional. Over the years Andy had won a special place in his heart. ''They're taking her out now, but you should head to the hospital right away. As soon as she's out they're taking her there. We're only five minutes away.''
''How bad?'' was all Sam could ask. He felt like he couldn't move anymore. In a minute he had thought about at least ten scenarios that could happen. Each one uglier than the one before.
''I don't know,'' Oliver answered truthfully. ''Someone crashed into her. She's not conscious. Get someone to drive you, okay?''
In a haze Sam moved around the station. He grabbed one of the newest rookies and told him to drive him to the hospital as soon as possible. Even though it wasn't allowed, Sam flicked on the sirens. Thankfully the rookie was just glad that he was allowed to drive for once, so he didn't protest.
When they reached the hospital Sam rushed out of the cruiser and ran into the building. It took him a few minutes to find out where they had taken Andy. When he saw Oliver Sam ran towards him. ''How is she?'' he asked.
Oliver looked at his friend and shook his head. ''I don't know. They wouldn't tell me anything. They're working on her now.''
Sam went to search for someone that could tell him more about how Andy and their baby were doing, but nobody could tell him anything. Everybody said that he just had to wait. A doctor would find him whenever they had more news.
Defeated Sam dropped down on the chair next to Oliver. He put his head in his hands and took a deep breath.
Oliver tried to bring some comfort by placing his hand on Sam's shoulder. ''You know her brother,'' Oliver told him. ''She's tough.''
''We had a fight this morning,'' Sam said. ''I don't even know why I got mad. I was just irritated and I took it out on her.''
''Sam, don't do this,'' Oliver warned. ''We don't know anything yet. They are probably just doing every test they can think of to make sure that she and the baby are okay.''
''It's a boy,'' Sam said. Andy wanted to keep the gender a surprise, but Sam just needed to say something. He swallowed and shook his head. ''It's a boy.''
XX
For Sam it felt like days had passed when a doctor finally made an appearance. The waiting room was filled with people from 15th. Sam knew that he was well liked around the station, but everybody loved his wife.
She always gave a little something extra and was always willing to help her colleagues. A lot of people came by to find out if they already knew more about her condition.
''Mr. Swarek?'' the doctor asked when he looked around the crowded waiting room.
Sam's head snapped up and he walked towards the man in the white coat. ''That's me. How are they doing?''
Oliver had stood up when the doctor came in too. He and Traci were both standing next to Sam. Traci had a hand on Sam's arm, trying to keep everything together.
''Why don't we find some place a little more private?'' the doctor suggested.
''Tell me here,'' Sam demanded. ''Please, just tell me something.''
He could see the doctor look around the waiting room. The look on the doctor's face told him that things weren't good. ''Your wife was involved in a car accident,'' the doctor started. ''When they got her out she was unconscious. We have done some tests, but we're not able to do every test we would like.''
''Why not?'' Oliver asked.
''Some tests could hurt the baby,'' the doctor explained. ''Right now our biggest concern are her lungs. There is also some risk for brain damage, but so far her reactions are good. We suspect she has broken her right leg, but that's not our priority right now.''
''What can you do?'' Traci wondered. ''Will she be okay? Will the baby be okay?''
''Right now we have to take a lot of things in consideration,'' the doctor said. ''For the mother it would be best to perform an emergency c-section, but for the baby it would be better to stay with the mother for a little longer.''
Sam closed his eyes and tried to keep things under control. He couldn't believe that all of this was actually happening. It didn't seem fair that they had waited for their son for such a long time, only to have everything end like this. ''Please don't make me choose,'' he whispered. ''I can't.''
''We won't,'' the doctor promised. ''We're monitoring your wife and baby very closely. Every change makes us revaluate our options. If necessary we'll bring her into surgery and do a c-section.''
Oliver understood that Sam was too lost to be asking anymore questions, so he asked the question that was on everybody's mind. ''What are their changes?''
''I can't give you any guarantees,'' the doctor explained. ''But Mrs. Swarek is nearly 31 weeks pregnant. There are risks to preterm birth, but with today's technology we can do a lot.''
''So both of them could be fine?'' Traci asked.
''We're doing everything we can,'' was the doctor's short answer. His pager went off and he shot the group an apologetic smile. ''I'm sorry, I have to go. If you have any more questions you can go see a nurse.''
As soon as the doctor walked away everybody was quiet. Everybody knew that Andy was strong, but some things were too hard to fight against.
Sam stood in the middle of the room, motionless. He didn't know how to process everything that the doctor had told him. In a way he didn't know more than he did an hour before. He could lose both his wife and child on the same day. Both could survive as well. Nobody had any answers yet.
Without knowing where he was walking to, Sam stepped away from the group of people. He walked for a while and when he found an empty room he punched the wall a few times. He let out a scream and kicked a bench.
''Sam,'' a familiar voice said.
Sam turned around and found Sarah standing next to him. She placed her hand on his shoulder and squeezed it. Tears filled her eyes when she saw the pain that was behind her little brother's eyes. ''I'm so sorry,'' she whispered.
She stood on her toes to hug Sam. It took him a second, but then he just let go. He wrapped his arms around his sister's waist and let out a sob. He didn't even remember the last time he cried, but now that his whole world was crashing down on him he didn't know what else to do.
''I can't lose them,'' he said. ''I can't lose either of them.''
''I know,'' Sarah answered, keeping her own tears at bay. ''I know.''
The siblings stayed like that for a few minutes. ''She's one of the strongest people I know,'' Sarah told Sam. ''She won't leave you or your baby if she's got a fighting chance.''
''I'm scared,'' Sam admitted. That wasn't someone that he ever said. Ever since he was a little boy he had learned that he had to be strong. Being scared didn't solve anything.
Seeing her brother crumble like that made Sarah's tears fall freely. She gripped him a little tighter and ran her hand across her back. ''She's so strong,'' she said again. ''She loves you so much. She'll come back to you. She has to.''
''The doctor's can't tell me anything,'' Sam said. He let go of Sarah and whipped his tears away. He clenched his jaw and turned his hands into fists again. ''All they do is talk around the subject.''
''They can't give you too much hope,'' Sarah tried. ''It's their job to not make any promises. How about you go sit with her for a moment?''
Sam nodded with his eyes closed. ''I just need a moment.''
Sarah smiled sadly and kissed Sam on the cheek. ''We're all here for you,'' she promised. ''Is there anything I can do?''
Sam cleared his throat and shook his head. ''Actually,'' he said after a second. ''Ask Oliver to go to Tommy's house. I tried calling him, but he won't answer. He needs to be here too.''
When Sarah nodded he thought of another thing. ''Someone has to go get Boo. He's alone at the house.''
''Consider it done.''
XX
When Sam walked into Andy's room he had to catch his breath for a moment. His wife was looking paler than he ever saw her. She was attached to a lot of wires and machines.
A nurse was readjusting a few things and looked up when he came in. She shot him a small smile and stepped away. ''They're strong,'' she told Sam. ''We're keeping a close eye on both of them.''
All Sam could do was nod. He didn't trust his voice to speak yet.
''I'll give you a minute,'' the nurse said, sensing that he could use a few moments alone.
When she left Sam rushed to Andy's side. He noticed a big gash on her forehead. Her leg was in a brace and she had oxygen in her nose. Next to her were a few machines. Carefully Sam sat down next to Andy. He brushed her bangs out of her face and found out that she had blood in her hair too.
''God,'' Sam whispered. ''Sweetheart, you have to be okay, alright? I can't do this by myself. I know that you think that I can, but I really can't. I need the two of you. You guys are all I care about.'' Tears filled his eyes again. Seeing his wife so vulnerable made him sick.
He didn't believe in God or anything else, but still he found himself praying to whatever was up there. He was bargaining, promising to do anything, everything, just as long as Andy and their baby would be okay. Just as long as he would be able to see her smile again. To hear their son's cries. He would do anything. He would give up everything he owned.
Of course the world didn't work like that. He knew that, but it was the only thing he could do.
Half an hour later Tommy rushed into the room. Oliver had picked him up and told him everything he knew. ''How is she?'' Tommy asked.
''Same,'' Sam answered. He ran his hand over his face again and shook his head. ''Nothing has changed, they're not doing a damn thing about it.''
He felt himself getting angry again, but there wasn't anyone to get angry at. Of course there was the person that ran that red light, but he would deal with that person later. ''I'll leave you for a minute,'' he softly said.
When he turned around and walked out of the room he rested his head against the closed door for a moment. He had never felt more tired and drained in his life. Not knowing how this would end was killing him. It had only been a few hours, but it felt like it was days ago that Oliver had called him.
Oliver came to find him minutes later. ''Any news?'' Oliver asked.
''Nothing,'' Sam answered. ''Nobody's doing anything.''
''They're watching them closely,'' Oliver said. ''You heard the doctor.''
Sam sat down with a sigh and closed his eyes. He shrugged and opened them again. ''What do I do?'' he asked. ''Just tell me what to do, because I don't know.''
''You can't do anything right now,'' Oliver said. ''We'll just have to wait.''
XX
More time passed without any new information. Everybody slowly left the hospital to go to their own families. Only Tommy, Oliver, Sarah and Andy's close friends stayed.
''Sir?'' Dov asked after a few silent moments. ''I know this isn't a perfect time, but can I have a word?''
Traci was sitting with Andy for a moment. Sam had told her that she needed to go home to Leo and Jerry. They needed their mother and there wasn't much she could do in the hospital. After a while Traci agreed, but she did want to say goodbye to Andy before she left.
Just in case.
Sam knew that Dov wouldn't ask him that question unless it was urgent, so he stood up and walked with him. ''What is it Epstein?''
''I was the responding officer together with Oliver,'' Dov explained. ''When we got there I recognized someone that was helping Andy.''
''Who was it?'' Sam asked. He didn't see where Dov was going and he wanted to go back to Andy.
''Your father,'' Dov softly said.
''What?'' Sam practically yelled. ''What the hell was he doing near her? Have you brought him in?''
Dov saw this reactions coming, so he stayed completely silent. ''At first I was suspicious too,'' he said. ''But bystanders confirmed that he actually was a great help. He kept pressure on her wound and helped the firemen get her out.''
Sam swallowed and looked away. ''He was a firemen before we were born,'' he softly admitted. Sometimes it was hard to think of William as a person who ever had a normal life, but before he started working for the wrong people he had been a normal guy.
''I just thought you had to know.''
''Did you talk to him?'' Sam asked.
''He told me he wanted to try to see you one last time when he saw the car accident,'' Dov answered. ''It would explain why he was in that area.''
''Thanks Epstein,'' Sam said after a moment. He gave Dov a short nod and went back to where everybody else was seated.
When Dov joined them he spoke up again. ''Frank just called me. The guy who hit her passed away a few hours ago. Apparently he was drunk and not in the possession of a driver's license.''
''Son of a bitch,'' Oliver muttered under his breath.
Sam couldn't feel sorry for the guy. All he felt was anger.
When Traci walked out of Andy's room she was crying. She quickly hugged Sam goodbye and left the hospital in tears. Being in that place brought back a lot of memories for her and none of them were good.
Just when Sam was about to sit with Andy again a doctor interrupted him. ''Mr. Swarek?'' When Sam looked at the doctor he continued. ''We just got some more text results back and it shows us that we need to get your baby now.''
''What?'' Sam asked. Hours of nothing and then they tell him this. ''What do you mean?''
''The babies heartbeat is going up, showing us that he's in distress. We'll move your wife into surgery right now. Someone will be with you in a moment with some papers you need to sign.''
''Wait,'' Sam said when the doctor moved into Andy's room. ''Can't I be there?''
He didn't have much experience with childbirth, but he knew that with a c-section the father was always allowed in the OR. He wanted to stay as close to his family as possible.
''Sorry,'' the doctor answered. ''Normally we would allow that, but the chance of complications is too big right now. I'm sorry, I have to go.''
Sam only had a minute to say goodbye to Andy before they took her towards the OR. Sam stood in her room a little blindsided until a nurse came in. ''I have some papers you need to sign.''
He signed everything they needed. When that was done the nurse took back all the papers. ''Someone will find you when they know more.''
''What will happen now?'' Sam asked. ''I mean, what will they do?''
''I'm not a doctor, but from what I can tell they'll perform a c-section. Because your wife wasn't due yet for another few weeks they'll move the baby into the NICU. They'll probably continue surgery on your wife after that, depending on how everything goes.''
The nurse left and Sam decided to go sit with his friends again. He never thought he would be the kind of guy that needed support, but now he was.
Sam had never felt more useless in his entire life. His wife and son were both fighting for their lives and all he could do was sit on a stupid plastic chair.
''Why is it taking so long?'' he asked after only ten minutes.
''They've only been gone for a few minutes,'' Sarah softly said. She squeezed Sam's knee. ''They're doing what they can. We've got to give them time.''
Another twenty minutes later someone came to find them. Sam didn't recognize the doctor, but when she introduced herself she said that she was the OB.
''The surgeon is still operating on your wife,'' she informed Sam. ''They are repairing some damage, but so for she's doing good.'' Then she smiled carefully. ''And I think congratulations are in order, because you have a baby boy.''
Even though he just had the crappiest day of his life and things were still unsure, Sam couldn't help but smile for a small second. ''Is he okay?'' he asked.
''He's going to need some help for the next few weeks, but I have good hopes,'' the doctor said. ''He is almost four pounds, which is quit heavy for a baby born at this term. Right now he'll need oxygen and we're giving him some help to breath, but he's a strong little guy.''
''He's okay?'' Sam summed up.
''He's okay,'' the doctor confirmed. ''He'll have to stay in the NICU for a while, but like I said, I'm very hopeful.''
Sam could hear people congratulate him, but he didn't register who was saying what. He felt people touching him, but all he could think about was that he was a father.
A father.
And his wife was still fighting for her life. Everything was messed up, but the fact that his son was doing good made him feel some hope too. Some hope that everything would be okay.
When everybody calmed down a little the doctor looked at him again. ''What do you say dad, are you ready to meet your son?''
XX
I am highly insecure about this chapter, but decided to post it anyway..
Let me know what you guys think..