A/N: Here's the next installment. Thanks for the reviews. The feedback is very helpful. I'm glad to see that people are still enjoying this story. I hope I don't disappoint with this chapter. Like always, let me know what you think.

Chapter 30: When a cliché isn't just a cliché

Alex had heard the cliché. 'I saw my entire life flash before my eyes.' She'd heard people use that phrase a thousand times, but she had never given it much thought. Even when she had been gunned down years before, she didn't remember much about those terrifying moments. The only thing she could remember was the look on Olivia's face and the tone of her voice as she begged Alex to hang on. This time was different. She really did see her entire life flashing before her eyes because her entire life was Olivia and their son. The loving memory of Olivia standing in the doorway waving goodbye as she left for the conference had been Alex's last image before impact and suddenly… everything went blank.

'Female… Caucasian… Approximately thirty-six years old… Vehicular Impact on driver's side… She was in and out on the way over… '

The strident voice of the paramedic caused Alex's eyes to flutter open. She blinked at the bright lights and loud noises ringing in her ears. Everything seemed to be moving around her. There were several voices all speaking over one another; the stream of words flowing together in confusion.

'Call in Neuro and Orthopedics…'

'Chest CT… EKG… Five units…'

'Patient's ID says Cabot, Alexandra…'

'BP dropping…. Prepare the OR… STAT…'

She felt like she was in a trance. Her eyes couldn't focus. She couldn't move her body. The last thing she could remember was talking to John. Olivia was in labor. She had been driving, trying to get back to Olivia. Fragmented memories of flying glass and screeching metal catapulted her in and out of consciousness. Then there was pain, unbelievable pain.

A bright light was flashed into her eyes as she came awake again. "Ms. Cabot? Alexandra? Is that your name?" Came a warm female voice.

Alex tried to turn her head towards the voice, but quickly realized something was around her neck. She tried to speak, but the words wouldn't come. She could taste blood in her mouth. It hurt to breathe. The owner of the voice finally leaned over into Alex's line of vision.

"I want you to blink if Alexandra Cabot is your name. Can you do that for me?"

Alex concentrated as hard as she could and blinked. She wanted to sit up. She wanted to move but realized her arms were restrained.

The doctor gently placed her hand on her shoulder and stared into her eyes. "Alexandra, you need to stay calm. You were in an accident. You are at Bellevue Hospital. My name is Dr. Avery Livingston. I'm going to take good care of you, alright?"

Alex tried again to speak. "O…liv…. Liv…"

"I know you want to live. I'm going to make sure that happens. You're going to be fine."

Blinded by a curtain of pain, Alex fell back into unconsciousness.

"Olivia, you have to stay in bed. You're in labor. You can't go anywhere!" John pleaded trying to keep Olivia in the small hospital bed.

"I have to get to Alex. She could be hurt or…" She choked back a sob.

John held her in place. "Fin is down there. He's going to find out everything you need to know, but you can't leave this bed."

"John, my fiancé… the woman I love… could be down there fighting for her life. I need to be with her!"

"No! You don't!" He yelled. "You have to stay here and give birth to your child. That is your first priority. That's what Cabot would want and you know it."

Olivia was about to protest when another contraction hit. She groaned loudly and tried to breathe. John sat with her and guided her through it. A few minutes later, Fin came through the door. John could read his old partner's face before he even said a word. He knew it wasn't good. He slipped out the door for a moment to talk to him.

"Alex is in surgery. It looks pretty bad. I spoke to the officers on the scene. Apparently, the driver of a sixteen-wheeler fell asleep at the wheel and T-boned Cabot at an intersection. Cabot's tiny Mercedes didn't stand a chance. The state trooper said it was a mangled mess and they had to cut her out."

"Fuck!" John sighed heavily and rubbed his face. "She doesn't need this now."

"How's Liv doing in there?"

"In labor and worried sick about Alex. This is so fucked up, Fin."

"Don't I know it." Fin nodded solemnly. "You better get back in there. I'll let you know as soon as I hear anything more."

John turned and went back into the room. Olivia was crying. He went to her and took her hand in his. "John, please tell me that Alex is okay."

"They just took Alex down to surgery. She has some… injuries. Fin is going to stay there and update you as soon as he hears something."

"I have to be with her, John." Olivia said trying to pull herself out of bed again.

"Olivia, you get back into that bed this instant!"

John and Olivia turned and saw Julia Harriman rushing into the room. John let out a sigh of relief. He didn't know if he would be able to handle Olivia all by himself for much longer.

"But Julia, you don't understand. Alex is hurt and she needs me."

Julia gently caressed her head. "Shh. It's alright, dear. Bill is with Alexandra. She's strong and she has a team of the best surgeons working to care for her. Alexandra would want you to concentrate on your son. You know that. Please do that for her."

Olivia laid back and started to sob. "She has to be okay, Julia. She just has to be okay."

Julia held her close and offered as much comfort as she could.

Fin Tutuola and Bill Harriman must have looked like the oddest pair as they paced the length of the waiting room together. Two men from completely different worlds were brought together in this moment because they both loved the same woman. They both loved Alexandra Cabot.

Bill couldn't help but think of his headstrong niece. He loved her and she was a daughter to him in every sense of the word. Alex had always held a special place in his heart. Grieving for her the first time had nearly broken him and his wife. He didn't want to even think of how heartbreaking it would be if they were to lose her again.

Fin was lost in his own thoughts as well. He couldn't believe how unfair life could be. Alex and Olivia were two of the best people he knew. They were honest to goodness good people. He didn't understand why something like this would happen to them. If Alex didn't pull through this, he knew that Olivia wouldn't survive the heartbreak. She would bring her son into the world the same day she lost the love of her life. It would be like trading one love for another. Surely, life wouldn't be so cruel.

"Is there someone here for Alexandra Cabot?" A young nurse asked.

Bill and Fin both walked up. "I'm her uncle. This is a close friend of hers. How is she?"

"Her surgeon asked me to come out and let you know that we have her stabilized at the moment, but she has some extensive internal injuries. I will be coming out to give you updates as the surgery proceeds."

Bill and Fin nodded and sat down. They both knew it was going to be a long wait.

"Come on Liv, push!" Julia said wiping her brow.

Olivia clenched her teeth and pushed, bearing down on John's hand. Once Julia counted to ten, she fell back against the pillow in exhaustion.

"You're doing great, Olivia." Dr. Powell said looking up. "You're almost there. Just one more hard push and you'll be meeting your son."

"Did you hear that, Liv? You're kid is almost here. Just push a little more." John encouraged.

Olivia was a sweaty mess and exhausted beyond imagination. "I can't. I'm too tired."

"Yes, you can. You can do this, Olivia." Julia tried.

Olivia shook her head. "I can't do this. I can't… not without Alex."

Dr. Powell gave John a strong look. "You have to get her to push… now. We have to get this baby out."

"Don't you dare give up like this, Liv! Alex wouldn't want that."

"How would you know what Alex would want?" She said pitifully. All she wanted was Alex right now, but Alex wasn't there.

John grabbed her chin and got right into her face. "I know that Cabot is going to be okay. She's Teflon! That woman took on one of the toughest drug cartels and survived years of witness protection before clawing her way back to her life… back to you. She would move heaven and earth to be here with you if she could. I know that she's down there fighting with everything that she's got to get back to you and your son. Don't you get that?! She never gives up so you do not get to give up either, Olivia! Do you have any idea how pissed Cabot will be when she wakes up and realizes that something has happened to you or her kid? I promise you that it won't be pleasant and I don't want to be around when she starts shoving her four inch Manolo Blahniks up everyone's asses. Now god-damn it push!"

Olivia conjured the very last ounce of strength she had and pushed; she pushed for Alex. After the longest ten seconds of her life, she sagged back on the bed. The room was eerily silent until out of nowhere came this loud, high-pitched screaming. It had to be the sweetest sound Olivia had ever heard.

"Congratulations Olivia. You're the proud mother of a baby boy." Dr. Powell said lifting the crying baby from her body.

John and Julia both took a quick peak and grinned.

"Well I'll be damned. Would you look at that? I don't believe it." John said breathlessly.

"What? What is it?" Olivia asked a little worried.

"Take a look for yourself, Mommy." He said as the doctor placed the baby on her chest.

Olivia looked down into the face of her son for the first time and wept.

"Well what do you know? Alex somehow managed to give this kid her eyes." John said smiling.

Olivia grinned through her tears as she saw her son looking at her with the most radiant blue eyes. He had a head full of brown hair; skin a beautiful olive tone. When he opened his mouth to yawn, Olivia saw the hint of tiny dimples in his cheeks. He was perfect.

"Hi there. I'm your Mommy." She whispered.

Julia wiped her own tears away and gently touched the baby's cheek. "He's beautiful, Olivia… just beautiful."

Olivia took a few moments to examine her son's fingers and toes. They stared into each other's eyes as if they had known one another a lifetime.

"Olivia, the nurse wanted to know if you had decided on a name already or if you'd like to wait?" Julia said.

"No, Alex and I chose a name a few weeks ago. It's James Alexander Benson-Cabot."

Julia smiled and relayed the information to the nurse.

"You've got quite a name to live up to kid." John said touching the baby's tiny hand.

Olivia smiled sadly, still worried about Alex. "His mother is Alexandra Cabot… nothing else would ever do."

TBC...

Coming Soon... Olivia has decisions to make.