"Resolution"
2 a.m.
I woke up in the early hours of the night with an odd ache in my abdomen. The pain was coming and going , a kind of wave, and it increased with passing hours. At this point, it was 25-30 minutes between one wave and another and I knew it was time to call Holmes, things needed to be done and I could not make it without his support.
Our child was going to leave me. Not to leave in a definite way, that was certain, but SHE (I was so sure about the sex) would became Our child and she would not be with me all the time, inside me. I would not be able to feel her move in my belly, she would be "independent". I was jealous about her. Of course, I loved Holmes very much and I knew he had every right to be part of her life, he would love her more than his life. We both would. But I would soon lose that particular relationship with the child, that physical connection that made me feel so happy and proud. I did not want things to change, however they had to and in a very short time.
I needed to wake up Holmes, even if I would not disturb his peaceful sleep. But the pain was becoming more and more persistent now and I could not suppress a moan as another wave of pain occurred.
"Holmes, you need to wake up" I said, tugging his arm weakly.
"Mmmm…" was his reply.
"Holmes, I need your help. Please, wake up!" I insisted, this time with a more urgent tone in my voice.
"Is something wrong with the baby? Are you in pain?" was his sleepy but more alert reply.
"No, nothing is wrong. I think our child is going to birth."
He was up and around in a flash. He didn't either put his dressing gown on, but sat on the bed beside me and carefully lifted my shirt to put his hand on my abdomen.
"What was that, John? Was it what I think?"
"I think so"
"But it's not time yet. You said it would have happened in two weeks or so. We are not prepared. We can't do this now!"
He was clearly scared and I could not help but laugh at the idea of how strong and stubborn he pretended to be with other people, always hiding his fears and disguising his worries with his professional, calm and sometimes unnerving behaviour. While he was simply human. I was grateful he did not put on the mask of rationality, for once, but I needed him to be calm because, at this point, I really wasn't in any condition to discuss any subject with him.
"Why are you laughing, Watson?" he asked in his agitated state.
"I am laughing at you, old chap. Please, don't be so scared, I need you to calm down and help me here, do you understand?"
"I am not a doctor, we should call a doctor!"
"Not yet. Listen, Holmes, I know what I am talking about. Time between two consecutive contractions is about 25-30 minutes and they last 15-20 seconds each one. That means it will pass another day or so before the baby is born, but I am not sure. It depends on many factors and there is no way to know for certain when it will be. What you do have to do is send a telegram tomorrow morning to your brother, telling him we need him, and go to Dr. Sheppard's home to tell him we need his assistance. In the mean time, we can do nothing but wait. But, please, now call Mrs. Hudson and tell her what I said to you. She should be prepared to assist Dr. Sheppard, in case the baby decides to birth in advance to my previsions."
If Holmes had been scared when I started speaking, now he looked determined and controlled.
"I am sorry, John. I am here to help, you can count on me!" the man said with a mixture of guilt and resolution in his voice.
"I know. I do not want anyone instead of you now."
I shifted in bed to find a more comfortable position when another contraction came and I gripped Holmes' hand fiercely. I saw him wince in sympathy. That was closer than before. About 20 minutes, I calculated. The pain in my abdomen left me without breath. I could only whisper to my lover, again, to call Mrs. Hudson.
"Does she know what to do?" Holmes asked in answer.
"Yes, she knows. Go, Holmes, please!" I pleaded him.
"Will you be alright?"
"It is not that she lives in Australia, it will take you two minutes or less. Go, I will be fine!" I reassured him.
"Alright, if you need me, just call my name." He placed a gentle kiss on my lips and hurried out of the room.
He returned after some minutes with our landlady, who approached the situation with professional mood.
"How are you feeling, doctor?" she asked with a small voice.
"I am quite well, Mrs. Hudson. I do apologize if we woke you in the middle of the night, but we really need your help" and I displayed a little ashamed and shy smile to her.
"There is no need to apologize, doctor. I am more than happy to help you and Mr. Holmes." She replied, gently patting my hand.
She took the control of the whole situation, while Holmes watched her in disbelief.
"I am going to take some extra pillows to make you more comfortable. Do you prefer to sit up-right or half-down?"
"I don't know. May be up- right…"
It was wonderful to have someone around who knew how things needed to be done. I could now finally relax and allowed myself to close my eyes. Holmes was looking uncertain about what to do. He seemed ashamed of Mrs. Hudson's professional care, who entered the room with the pillows, helped me to sit and supported me so I was resting with my back against a soft and fresh cloud of feathers.
"Holmes, come here and sit next to me, please?"
"Of course, my dear." He positioned himself on his side of the bed and took my hand in his.
"Did I ever tell you, Watson, how much I am proud of you? You are a very special person, you are the best man I could have fallen in love with. And look what you are doing now! Do I really deserve you, John?"
"I could make you the same question, you know!"
"Are we arguing about who deserves who?" Holmes' competitive spirit was coming back.
"Not at all, I only want you to hold me now."
"That I can do!" and he placed his right arm on my shoulders and his left one on my belly, softly caressing the tender skin.
I eventually fell asleep a couple of times, to be awoken soon as the contractions came closer one to another.
At some point Holmes left my side to go to the post-office to send the telegram to Mycroft. He returned with Dr. Sheppard, who asked me the usual questions and checked on me. He decided, and I agreed with him, to wait for another day or so, because the contractions were close in time but not as close as they should be. But, assuming that this pregnancy was unique in his genre, he also wanted to make sure that the baby would not suffer.
As long as the hours passed, the pain increased and I would have taken something to ease the pain if I was sure it was not a danger for our soon to be born child. I found myself actually asking for some pain killer to my colleague, who smiled at me and reassured me that I was doing great and it was only a matter of time, but ignoring my request. I was vaguely aware of Holmes' presence, holding my hand and letting me squeeze his mercifully when I was in pain, hushing me as best as he could with tender words or simply caressing me. I was sweating. I felt horrible. I tried to focus on my respiration, as Mrs. Hudson told me, and that helped a little.
"Sorry" I whispered in Holmes direction, since my vision was a little blurred.
"Sorry for what, John?" he asked me with a little voice him too.
"For seeing me like this." I replied, avoiding his gaze.
"You are doing great, John, hold on." He paused and added "I would never change place with anyone in this moment, remember my words Doctor John Watson. I am honored to be here with you. You and our baby, you are my life, I don't care if you don't pretend to be alright, as you usually do when you're ill. Hold on me, everything will be alright."
I could only manage a smile in his direction, then I was only vaguely aware of my surroundings, contractions coming closer than before, and I did not notice that both Holmes and Mrs. Hudson were hurrying in and out of the room to gather the supplies Dr. Sheppard needed to operate on me. I quite didn't understand what was going to happen when Holmes assured me that I would be alright and I did not have to worry. The last thing I remembered was my friend taking my hand again and his words whispered in my ear: "I love you!"
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