Whatever Happens - Chapter 13

To say Danny was playing badly was an understatement. He was just too worried about Riley to focus on the game.

"Wheeler." he heard his coach call from across the locker room.

"What is with you tonight Danny. You're playing like your head isn't attached to your body. Missing passes and not making shots that are wide open."

"I'm sorry coach. You see my wife is home and she's about to have a baby anytime now."

"Well calm down Wheeler, and try to get your head in the game. Oh and congratulations."

Just as his coach walked away, Danny's cell phone rang. It was Ben.

"Hello Ben? Is everything okay? Did you check on Riley?"

"Yeah and she's going into early labor man, you've got to get to the hospital, now!"

"I'm on my way." He hung up the phone and threw off his skates. With no time to lose he ran out in his socks, but not before yelling to everyone of his teammates in the locker room,

"Sorry to leave you guys in the middle of a game, but I'm gonna be a dad!"

Danny ran out so fast he felt like he was flying. It took him a little while to flag down a cab, and if that wasn't enough of a delay, his cab hit every traffic jam and red light in Manhattan.

"Come on, come on. I need to get to the hospital, Riley needs me."

After about 20 minutes Danny had enough. He paid the cabby and got out in the middle of the street, and started running. He looked like a red and blue blur, running through the streets still in his hockey gear.

"Please don't let me miss my baby being born. Please, please, please."

He didn't know who he was talking to exactly, but they must've heard him, because the hospital finally came into view. He ran into the lobby and found out the room number Riley was in. He burst through the door to see riley cringing on the hospital bed, her legs in stirrups, Ben holding her hand and the doctor putting gloves on. Riley finally opened her eyes and couldn't have looked more relieved.

"Danny! You made it, you're here."

"Of course I am baby. Where else am I gonna be." He took over Bens position as hand holder as Ben went out to the waiting room.

"Danny you have no shoes on." Riley noticed.

"Yeah well I guess I was in a bit of a hurry, I ran the last 20 blocks cause traffic was horrible. But I'm here now so lets do this. Are we ready to do this?"

"Yes we are." the doctor answered. "You're just in time. Okay Riley, sweetie, I'm gonna need you to push."

Riley started pushing and Danny felt his hand go numb, but he didn't care. His son was almost here.