"Oh my days, oh my days, oh my days" Hannah panicked as she managed to stand up from the stool and look over at Jess whose eyes were just staring intently at the puddle on the floor between her.

"I'll call an ambulance" Hannah said "it'll be fine…an ambulance and then dad…ambulance…dad" Hannah went about the kitchen in search of the phone whilst Jess moved around and sat down on the stool, clutching onto her stomach as she did so and watched Hannah hobble around the kitchen, the young woman also holding onto her stomach until she found the phone and began to dial for the ambulance, giving them her address and details of what had happened.

"Dad!" Hannah called into the phone as soon as he picked it up, rolling his eyes after some jerk he had just interviewed;

"Hey baby" Don said, wondering why she sounded panicked "you okay? What is it? Your stomach?"

"No, no, no" Hannah rushed to informed her father "my stomach's okay…it's Jess dad…her water broke"

"What?" Don suddenly snapped and began to leave the scene, juggling his phone and keys as he hastily moved from the building.

"Yeah…about three minutes ago…or something like that. I called an ambulance because obviously I'm not allowed to drive yet and you're the other side of town and for once in his life Mark isn't around and so they're on the way" Hannah hastily explained.

"How is she?" Don asked and Hannah looked at Jess who looked cool and calm.

"She's…well…she's okay…are you supposed to be okay?" Hannah asked and Don rolled his eyes down the phone;

"Can you put her on baby?" he asked and Hannah handed Jess the phone.

"You had best be getting your arse to that hospital Donald Flack" she warned him "because I'm not doing this alone"

"I'm on my way there as we speak" he promised her, sitting in his car for a moment "you okay?"

"The contractions haven't started yet" Jess whispered "not really bad anyway"

"Alright…you stay safe okay Jess?" he made her promise "I know you're early but it will be okay…it will all be okay"

"I know Don" Jess greed "just get over to the hospital, okay?"

"Do you have a bag Jess?" Hannah worried "Like an overnight one…you're supposed to have one packed aren't you? In case this happens? I don't know…I never got that far…are you?"

"Yes Hannah" Jess said "it's upstairs in my wardrobe…bottom shelf"

"I'm on it" Hannah said and she took one step without her crutches and winced in pain.

"Don't worry sweetie" Jess gasped as she felt her breath deepen with the pain "it doesn't matter"

"But you need it" Hannah said and continued walking "I'll be fine"

"No" Jess said sternly "ask Mark later if he'll fetch it or something…or I can get my parents…you're not climbing those stairs in a rush"

"Okay, okay" Hannah agreed quickly "I'll stay"

…..

"Hey" Don grabbed onto Jess' hand as he saw her enter the hospital in a wheelchair, Hannah struggling to keep on the crutches she had to use, scowling as she went behind.

"Hi" Jess said.

"How are you feeling?"

"Okay" she agreed and they moved into an elevator, going up several floors until Don was told that Jess had to be taken for tests before he could enter the room.

"You okay darling?" he checked with Hannah when she collapsed into a seat and Don kissed her on the top of the head.

"Yeah" she said "just…I was worried for Jess…what with her being early"

"She'll be fine" Don assured his daughter and began pacing, not entirely believing it himself. He was a complete and utter worrier when it came to Jess and Hannah, and now his unborn child.

"I phoned Mark telling him" Hannah said "he's picking up her night bag on the way"

"Okay…okay…" Don said and ran a hand through his hair, begging for Jess not to be too long away.

"Dad" Hannah drawled lightly "pacing won't help them hurry up"

"You're right" Don agreed "but I can't sit still…drove your mother mad"

"I bed it did" Hannah agreed "she'll be back soon"

Three hours later

"You sure I can't get you anything else?" Hannah asked her father when she saw him walk back out into the corridor and quickly drink the piping hot coffee she had and Mark had just fetched. Suddenly they heard a loud scream come from Jess' room and they all looked at the door and then Don handed Hannah his coffee back;

"She'll be after someone's hand to squeeze again" he replied "the contractions are coming sooner and sooner"

"Is she okay?" Hannah checked.

"Apart from being determined from cutting off the circulation to my hand?" Don said "she's fine"