Prompt: Arrival
Rating: T

It took another forty minutes.

Jess pushed when she was directed to, panting in between contractions. She held onto Becker's hand as he lingered beside her, murmuring encouragement and reassurances, telling her over and over how proud he was, how great she was doing and how it would all be worth it as soon as they got to hold their baby for the first time.

Despite her own pain and the fear she felt at the thought that something might go wrong, Jess saw the worry and concern on his face, saw the way he flinched every time she cried out and tried to reassure him, in between contractions and large gulps of the gas and air that the nurse instructed her to inhale, that everything was going to be okay, that she was okay, just a little bit sore.

She didn't insult him, though Becker wouldn't have blamed her if she had.

She didn't yell at him, blame him for her situation or threaten to castrate him with a dulled knife like her sister-in-law had threatened her brother during labour with her first child.

Becker kissed her forehead, wiped her brow with the cool cloth the nurse had provided. He held onto her as she trembled with the effort of bringing their child into the world and he made no attempt at hiding the tears in his eyes when Doctor Ellis announced she could see the head.

He stayed with Jess, coaching her as best as he could, as their baby was delivered.

When the child's cry pierced the air of the room and Jess slumped against him, an exhausted but happy smile on her face, a tear slid down his cheek and he made no attempt at wiping it away.

"Congratulations, Captain, Mrs Becker," Doctor Ellis beamed at them, any and all traces of exhaustion gone as the nurse took their baby to the other side of the room to be weighed and measured. "You have a healthy baby girl."

"A girl." Jess smiled tiredly, leaning back against Becker when he settled behind her again. She closed her eyes but opened them when she sensed movement, her eyes beginning to shimmer as the nurse returned with their baby, and set her down gently in Jess's arms. "Oh, Hil. She's perfect."

"Like her mother," Becker murmured, his voice hoarse. He gazed down at the baby in her arms, smiling when he noticed the wide blue eyes staring back at him. Oh, logically he knew his daughter couldn't see him but he liked to think she could, her little wrinkled brow furrowing as she stared up at her parents for the first time. "Hello, darling." He reached out and touched the back of her clenched hand with the tip of one finger. "I'm your Daddy."

They stared at her in awe and wonder for several moments, until Jess started to shift uncomfortably. "I think it's time for you to hold her," she murmured. "Why don't you go and introduce her to the others?"

Carefully taking his daughter in his arms for the first time, Becker gazed at the tiny person in his arms incredulously. "Are you sure...?"

"I'm sure." Jess smiled at him when he was able to tear his gaze away from their daughter. She grimaced a little and moved her hand to her stomach. "I need to get cleaned up. Go, introduce our girl to the rest of the team and then bring her back to me for mummy-daughter cuddles, okay?"

Becker grinned and carefully leaned down to kiss her forehead before straightening, their daughter cradled to his chest. "I'll be right back."

Despite the late hour, it didn't surprise him that the rest of the team were still waiting in the hallway outside. Since Jess had gone into labour at the ARC, their families weren't able to be there but he knew Abby and Emily, with Lester's help, had been keeping both the Beckers and Parkers informed every step of the way.

The two women were the first to look up when the door opened, their faces lighting up in identical smiles when they saw what – who – he was holding so carefully in his arms.

"Oh my god," Abby was the first to move, her eyes suspiciously bright as she looked from Becker to the baby he held. "Oh, Becker."

"I'd like you all to meet Lillian Sophia Becker," he announced, keeping his voice quiet so not to disturb the little girl in his arms. "She's beautiful, just like her mother."

"Oh, she is." Emily gazed at the baby, her grip on Matt's arm tightening as Lily stared up at the strange faces around her. "Oh, she's absolutely gorgeous."

"How's Jess?" Lester asked, keeping his voice quiet, too.

"Amazing," Becker answered immediately, unable to take his gaze off his daughter. "She's exhausted, obviously, but she was brilliant."

"Of course she was." Connor grinned like a proud brother and Becker thought he would've clapped him on the back if not for the precious bundle he still held. "It's Jess; she's always brilliant."

Matt grinned his agreement. "You did well, Mate. She's gorgeous. Definitely takes after her mum."

He didn't offer to let them hold her, finding that he didn't want to let her go. It was only after a few minutes when he realised he had some phone calls to make and couldn't do that while still holding onto his daughter that Becker reluctantly relinquished control of her to Abby, who moved to sit down with Emily beside her, both of them cooing over the new addition to their family.

Becker called his parents first, speaking to his teary mother, his proud father and his over-excited sister. He promised all of them they'd get to see their granddaughter/niece the following day as Doctor Ellis had assured him his wife and daughter could be released barring any complications overnight.

After speaking to his family, he called Jess's, making the same reassurances and promises to her brother and sister-in-law.

Finally, phone calls done, Becker was able to retake possession of his daughter and, after assuring his teammates that both mother and child really were doing well, told the others to go home and get some sleep before he turned to take his daughter back to her mother.

Jess was sleeping when he made it back to her bedside but Becker didn't mind. He sat down on the chair beside her bed, his daughter still cradled protectively to his chest, and settled in for the rest of the night.

To be finished in 'Beautiful'.