As the twenty-sixth week passed Joel was feeling exceptionally big. The baby was constantly moving and kicking was now starting to hit his ribs which of course hurt and knocked the wind out of him from time to time. To make matters worse he was starting to feel ill again.
Gypsy spent as much of her free time as possible with Joel, tending to his needs and in general keeping an eye on him because she was a natural worrier.
"Joel?" Mike walked into Joel's cabin with a bottle of water. "How you feeling bud?"
"Huge."
Mike didn't want to say anything but from his perspective it looked like Joel somehow managed to swallow a basketball. "You look great. Here's some water."
"Thanks." Joel looked at the water a smirked. "Just what I need, more trips to the bathroom."
"That often, huh?"
"Yeah. My score is six times in one hour."
"Is that your highest score or lowest?"
"Lowest."
"That's not bad. Reminds me of high school."
Joel laughed. "That's not how I remember high school."
"That's a good thing, too. You can still remember what you did in high school!"
Joel wanted to laugh again but his ribs were hurting him too much. "Thanks for stopping by, but don't make me laugh."
"Which reminds me..." Mike pulled a stethoscope out of his pocket. "I read that by this time you should be able to hear the baby's heartbeat with a stethoscope. And since you don't have the energy to walk to medical..."
"Really?" Joel took the offered item. "Thanks. Let's find out." He put the ear pieces in place and ran the bell over his stomach. "Wow, you're right."
"Everything sound okay?"
"Sounds great." Joel beamed.
Crow and Servo walked into the room after Mike. "Hi Joel."
"Hi Crow. Hi Servo."
"When're you going to get back on the bridge? It's boring with just Mike!"
"Hey!" Mike teased.
"Soon, I promise." Joel replied. "I'm just too tired and too big to move right now."
"Well, hurry up and have that baby!"
Mike put his hand over Crow's mouth.
"I wish I could." Joel confessed as he put the stethoscope aside. "I don't know how much more my body can take!"
-next chapter-
