She stares at the bright red newborn, as if it's an alien creature from another planet. It is covered in slime, and goo, and screams at the top of it's lungs. With all the commotion, noise, and medical personnel surrounding her all she can hear is the sound of a crying baby. All she can see is a tiny newborn. She watches as the nurse rubs the baby's back. The newborn's chest rises, and falls. It's as if she has tunnel vision. The newborn is quickly wrapped up, and lifted off her chest. As one nurse whisks the baby off to the corner of the room she snaps back into reality.
"Olivia I need you to push again," the doctor coaches her.
She looks up at him, and nods. She catches her deep breath, and waits for the next contraction. As she pushes her mind races. The crying has nearly ceased from the corner of the room.
"Again," the doctor instructs her.
She grips the side rail as she pushes. The pain rips through her body like a harpoon.
"You're doing great," Nick reassures her.
She looks over at him, and then looks down again. She watches every move the doctor makes. She doesn't take his eyes off of him. She sees another head.
"Whoa! Whoa! Stop!" The doctor insists.
She stops pushing, and the sudden wave of panic hits her. She watches in disbelief as he carefully slips the cord from around the baby's neck. He removes the cord, and then looks up to make eye contact with Olivia.
"You're doing great. I need a couple more really good pushes."
She nods. With two more pushes the baby is out. The cord is quickly clamped, and cut. The doctor places the baby onto her chest. There is silence. The second baby is a blue hue of grey instead of pink. The nurse vigorously attempts to assist the baby's breathing.
"Why isn't it crying?" Olivia questions.
Without another word the nurse lifts the baby off her chest.
"Olivia? Liv are you okay?" Nick questions.
She turns to him feeling as if the room is spinning, "What?" Nick stares at his partner with a look of terror. She's suddenly gone pale.
Everything fades to black.
Her eyes are closed, and the first sense to reinitiate is her hearing. She hears the sound of beeping. She tries to make sense of her surroundings, but she feels groggy. She tries to open her eyes, but her eyelids feel heavy. Finally she is able to open them. She looks around the room, trying to make sense of everything.
It is a different room than she started out in. She can feel oxygen tubing in her nose. There is a pulse oximetry monitor taped to her finger. She is hooked to an IV, and a heart monitor. She looks to her right, and finds a curtain. She looks to her right, and finds her partner. He sits in a chair beside her bed, in silence. He is leaned forward, his head is bowed, and his hands are clasped as if he's praying. As things become clearer she can hear the sound of a clock ticking nearby.
"Nick," she says just above a whisper.
He doesn't look up. Her throat feels dry, and her voice is shaky.
"Nick," this time she's louder.
He looks up at her, and smiles, "Liv," he springs from his chair. Without a second thought he plants a kiss on her forehead.
"Can I have a drink?"
He nods, and hands her the water pitcher. After whetting her whistle she continues.
"Where am I?"
"The hospital," he explains.
"I know that. Why am I in a different room?"
"You're in the ICU," he begins.
"ICU? What happened?"
"What do you remember?"
"You asking me if I was okay, and then everything went black."
"You started to hemorrhage. They had to take you to the O.R."
"The O.R.?"
"They had to give you blood."
"What did they do in the O.R.?" She probes, reaching for her blankets.
"Don't," he warns.
"Why not?"
"Please," he begs.
"What happened?"
"Your uterus ruptured."
"It ruptured?"
"Yes."
"What does that mean?"
"They had to perform surgery."
"What kind of surgery? If it ruptured does that mean that they removed it?"
"No, they were able to repair it. You're just going to have a scar."
"Why didn't they just take it out?"
"They thought they were going to have to, but they got a handle on the bleeding."
"How long are they going to keep me?"
"At least a few days."
"I just want to go home."
"I know, but they have to keep you for three days."
"I don't want to stay here."
"I get that, but I don't think you have any choice. Are you in pain?"
"No. What did they give me? I still feel groggy."
"Something pretty strong, obviously."
"What makes you say that?"
"You've been out cold for hours."
"How many?"
"Four hours."
"Oh," she takes a moment to let things sink in.
"Is there anything I can get for you? Are you hungry?"
"No."
"You want some magazines?"
"No."
"You want me to shut up so you can go back to sleep?"
"No!" She growls in frustration.
"Is there anything I can do for you?"
"What happened?"
"To you?"
She shakes her head, "To the baby. It wasn't breathing. Will you go check..."
"Everything is fine," he reassures her.
"How do you know?"
"You were in the O.R. for a while. I've already gone to check on them."