Ch 118: Special Delivery
Sheehan and tactical finally get to door 4. Having not yet made the connection that Maria's '7' that came over the coms was the last number of the sequence Sheehan looks at the keypad "Well we know the first 3 numbers…" he states as he starts to punch it in "…last number has to be one of 10 digits so might as well just start trying them…"
…..
"You're okay. I got you." Jamie promises his wife but Eddie shakes her head upset. Her eyes full of tears "No I'm not okay." She rejects "I'm having contractions. I think he induced labor. It's too soon!"
If Jamie thought his fear and apprehension couldn't get any worse he was sorely mistaken because the next second he feels his wife's entire body freeze in his arms and her eyes widen as she feels something wet trickle down her legs "My water just broke." Eddie breathes out in shock before she turns slightly and locks eyes with her husband.
For a moment Jamie and Eddie simply stare at one another in stunned silence but then the next second Jamie's eyes drift down to her lower body then back up again to look at her face "Are you sure?" He presses trying really hard not to panic… "Are you sure it was your water and not…"
"YES I'M SURE!" Eddie barks out on edge before again whimpering in defeat, panic and regret as she drops her head onto her husband's chest and grabs onto Jamie for dear life…
"Okay…" He breathes out as he tries to be supportive of his wife while trying to process what is happening himself "Danny get a bus!" He frantically commands as his eyes dart around the room. "Here..." he begins to suggest as he goes to try to help his wife back up onto the bed but stops when he feels her weight begin to just drop in his arms so he has no choice but to help Eddie down to the floor and sit behind her supporting her up.
Danny looks at Jamie and Eddie then shifts his eyes to Hamilton and then Maria as he finishes cuffing Hamilton.
"Go." Maria prompts knowing her partner is trying to figure out how to juggle everything being thrown at them "I injected him with the syringe so he should be out for a while."
Nodding in slight relief at one problem at least being solved, Danny goes to open the door but finds it locked so he quickly steps back and grabs the swipe card off the floor that he had to put down in order to cuff Hamiliton. He steps back to the door, swipes the card on the pad on the inside of the room and throws the door open "This swipe card thing is getting old." He mutters to himself annoyed before hightailing it out of the room to where he can get a signal.
"Jamie I'm sorry." Eddie cries in worry and despair as the door closes again "I should have listened to you. I can't have the baby yet! I can't."
"Hey none of that okay." Jamie soothes knowing now was not the time to get into all that "I know it's a little early." He gently continues as he desperately tries to remain calm for his wife's sake "But you're just over 8 months, that's doable."
"Doable?" Eddie cries in anguish "I don't want doable I want... ARGH!" She cries again as she grips onto her husband in fear and pain as another contraction hits.
Everything was happening so fast…
"Breathe Eddie." Jamie prompts as he digs down really deep for his own composure "Come on, just like we practiced okay? Focus on me…" He prompts as he shifts himself so Eddie can look at his face "…and breathe."
So again locking eyes with her husband, Eddie begins breathing through her Lamaze training with Jamie coaching her. "That's it there you go." Jamie encourages.
…
Danny heads toward door number 4 to see Sheehan through the door window enter a code and swipe the card but the door beeps in rejection.
"Not that one either." Sheehan mutters.
"It's a 7!" Danny calls.
Hearing a muffled voice, Sheehan looks up and sees Danny approaching "WHAT?" He calls back not really able to hear him on the other side.
"Last number is a 7!" Danny repeats louder but Sheehan enters another wrong code and suddenly a repeated beeping of some kind of alarm is heard "Oh that can't be good." Danny mutters as he sprints the last few feet to try to enter the code from his side but it's too late as the doors double latch in place "Damn it!" Danny swears as he looks at Sheehan on the other side "Just break it down!" he loudly orders in frustration as he gestures to the door "Eddie needs a bus! She's in labor!"
Now able to hear Danny, Sheehan mutters out a "Crap." as he gestures for tactical to advance.
Tactical steps forward with the battering ram, they swing the ram back and then forward into the doors but instead of bursting open, the doors just kind of vibrate in place.
Suddenly a whirling is heard.
"What is that?" Danny questions on high alert.
Sheehan gestures with his hands "I don't know."
"Just break it down." Danny urgently repeats "NOW!" he demands before suddenly he watches a metal accordion style security door descend from the ceiling on the other side of the door causing Sheehan and the tactical team to have to quickly step back out of its way.
"Oh what the hell?" Danny breathes out as he watches the door slam to the ground locking into place just as he hears Eddie's muffled scream of pain comes from inside the room.
"Great." He mutters out in defeat before stepping back to look up and down the secluded hall for any other sign of an exit but he doesn't see one "Right." He again mutters out "Why would there be another exit in a secret, illegal medical facility." so he steps back up to his side of the door "Sheehan if you can still hear me…" he calls "…do whatever it takes to open this door you hear me? WHATEVER IT TAKES! Blow the damn thing up if you have too!" He adds before turning and hurrying back in his team's direction and the second he gets to the door he forgets himself and tries to open the door. "Argh!" he grunts out as he steps back, again swipes his card and impatiently waits the second it takes for the door to unlock so the moment he enters the room he grabs the first thing he sees – a chair and jams it in the doorway "Yeah we're just going to prop this open now…" he explains before plastering an air of confidence on his face. "Bus is on the way. How far apart are the contractions?"
"They're close." Maria states from her position now at Eddie's feet "But exactly how long? Not sure. Was a little busy fighting off the bad guy. What's that noise?" she then questions now hearing the beeping alarm coming from out in the hall.
Danny turns his head to his partner so only she can see his face and shoots her a look telling her to drop it – there was enough going on in the room right now without adding to it "Don't worry about it." He easily dismisses before turning his attention to Eddie and smiling "You're doing great Eddie." He praises as he looks at his watch and starts timing.
"I am not having my baby here." Eddie suddenly and very stubbornly decides as she goes to try to get up "Jamie, help me up."
"Whoa Eddie." Jamie breathes out as another contraction hits and he immediately has to help Eddie back down to the ground as she whimpers in pain and defeat.
"Breathe." Jamie prompts again to his wife.
Eddie breathes through the contraction.
"Yeah I don't think you are going anywhere." Danny states "Literally." He mutters to himself completely under his breath as he glances back out the door while taking his NYPD jacket off and rolling up his sleeves "And I don't think we have time to wait for a bus."
Eddie looks at her brother in law with wide eyes as the contraction subsides "Oh no. No, no, NO!"
"Eddie, we've all delivered babies before." Danny calmly reminds her.
"Well not my baby you haven't!"
"Eddie if he induced labor, things are going to happen fast okay?" Danny tries to explain "Really fast and we don't have time to wait besides, who is the veteran Detective and Father to two outstanding young sons here huh?" Danny prompts as he gets down on the floor in front of his sister in law "Me alright plus she's the Mother of an actual baby right now." He adds as he gestures at Maria next to him. "So do you really think either one of us is going to drop your baby – my niece by the way? Of course not so she'll be right here beside me okay? You couldn't be in better hands alright." He assures her "We're doing this as a team. The four of us okay? You, Jamie, me and Baez."
"He's right." Maria reassuringly chimes in as she reaches for Eddie's arm and gives it a quick gentle rub "We've got this." She promises.
Feeling emotional, all Eddie can do is nod her head yes.
"Okay." Maria accepts before quickly standing up to gather whatever medical supplies and towels she can find in the room.
"Okay Eddie." Danny prompts as he leans down "I'm just going to take a look and…okay…" he breathes out in surprise himself at truly how fast things are progressing before lifting his head back up and looking at Eddie "On the next contraction I want you to push okay?"
Eddie's eyes go as wide as saucers "What?" She breathes out in shock and alarm.
Danny nods and gives her a reassuring look "Yup, you're ready." He announces before briefly glancing at his brother to see Jamie give him the same stunned "What? Already?" look.
Danny gives his brother a slight nod of his head in confirmation so Jamie takes a deep breath…
"You've got this." Jamie promises as he plasters on nothing but a calm and reassuring façade for his wife.
Again, nodding in understanding, Eddie removes her hand from Jamie's so she can adjust herself but the second she finishes she immediately searches out his hand again, griping onto it tight for comfort and support and Jamie is right there to provide it.
"You can do this." He gently encourages his wife "Bravest most kick ass woman I know."
Suddenly Eddie tenses up as she feels another contraction start.
"Okay Eddie push." Danny prompts.
"AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!" Eddie screams out as she bares down and pushes.
"Keep going!" Danny prompts "Come on that's it! Keep pushing!"
"I AM!" Eddie grunts out.
"You're doing great Babe." Jamie softly encourages.
"I hate you!" Eddie growls out through the pain.
"Yup. Understood." Jamie calmly agrees.
"Okay that's it Eddie." Danny prompts as the contraction subsides "And relax. Okay good job." He praises as he leans down checking their progress...
…..
"Keep going, keep going." Danny prompts his sister in law as she yet again pushes through the pain before falling back against Jamie spent.
"I want my happy drugs." She whimpers in complete exhaustion.
"I know Babe." Jamie tries to sooth as he wipes some of her damp hair off her forehead out of her eyes before again planting a light and hopefully comforting kiss on her forehead "I know you do but we're on our own here okay and you're doing amazing."
"I am NOT doing amazing!" Eddie snaps back "I'm in pain and having my baby on the floor!"
"Okay I see the head." Danny interrupts "If we can get the shoulders out on the next push we should be home free."
"WE?" Eddie challenges in disbelief at her brother in law.
"Figure of speech?" Danny apologizes "Told you I didn't have people skills." He adds causing Eddie to unexpectedly huff out a small laugh.
Danny glances at his brother to see Jamie nod his head gratefully at his brother's attempt to add some levity to the situation for Eddie.
"Okay the next one is the big one." Maria adds as she gets down beside Danny with clean towels in her arms.
"You ready Babe?" Jamie prompts as he helps her back up into position.
"No but do I have a choice?" Eddie tosses back.
"Not really no." Jamie replies.
"Then let's do this and get it over with already." Eddie grumbles before she starts taking deep calming breathes ready to face the contraction the second it starts.
"That's my girl." Jamie praise as he again kisses the side of her head.
"We are never having sex again." Eddie mutters.
"Whatever you say." Jamie again agrees.
"Linda said the same thing when she had Jack." Danny points out "But then we had Sean."
"Danny!" Maria admonishes as she turns to look at her partner with wide eyes, silently telling him to shut up.
"Oh sorry." Danny apologizes again.
"You're right." Eddie growls out "You have sucky people skills. I should have stayed a Detective just so I could totally kick your ass to the curb as the best Detective Reagan there ever was."
"Oh you wish." Danny encourages "But none of that matters because right now you have to finish pushing mini Harvard out of you so let's go."
"Really Danny?" Jamie admonishes in disbelief "Even now you have to throw in a Harvard jab?"
"It's not a jab..." Danny begins "...it's…"
"Shut up!" Eddie demands as the next contraction hits and she starts pushing again "AAAAAHHHHHHHHH!"
"That's it Eddie, come on!" Maria prompts as she gets ready with the towel.
"Almost there! Keep going!" Danny instructs. "One more big push Eddie! That's it! And… here we go!" Danny announces as reaches for the baby "It's a girl!"
Maria immediately scoops the baby up and into a towel.
"We knew it was a girl." Eddie tiredly huffs out as she again falls back against her husband "Let me see her. Jamie is she okay?" She prompts as she watches Danny and Maria work together to clean her daughter up.
"She's beautiful Eddie." Jamie replies as he leans over and kisses his wife's head "I'm so proud of you."
"Why isn't she crying?" Eddie begins to panic just as Danny clears the baby's airway and a strong loud wail fills the air. "Oh!" Eddie cries in joy as tears roll down her face.
"Oh yeah, she's a Reagan." Danny laughs as approaching sirens can be heard "Dad…" He then states to Jamie "You want to cut the cord?"
Emotional himself, Jamie reaches to take the scissors and snips the cord.
Maria finishes bundling the baby up then moves to hand her to Eddie "Here you go Mom."
"Oh Jamie look at her!" Eddie cries as she takes her new daughter into her arms and looks at her "She's so beautiful!"
"Just like her Mom." Jamie emotionally states as he offers his daughter one finger and she grips her tiny fingers around it.
"I'll go meet the bus." Maria offers as Jamie nods in approval.
"Well first you'll have to see if tactical has broken the door down." Danny reveals.
At hearing his words, slowly all adult eyes in the room turn to look questioningly at Danny when suddenly a loud bang is heard and while Maria, Jamie and Eddie instinctually flinch and Jamie leans over practically throwing his upper body over his wife and new daughter in an attempt to protect them, the baby starts to cry all over again and Danny smiles "Oh they're they go." He knowingly notes "Bus should be here momentarily – you're okay!" He then happily coos to his new niece as he watches Jamie pull back and Eddie and Jamie try to calm their daughter down.
"You're okay! You're okay!" Eddie repeatedly soothes while Maria, still staring at Danny questions "What?"
"Just go meet them at door 4." Danny dismissively instructs his partner "Or what's left of it." He adds as an after thought as he never once takes his eyes off his new niece so shaking her head, Maria simply and silents turns to leave.
"She's precious for sure." Danny admits as he looks at his younger brother and can't help but proudly smile at the picture he, his wife and new daughter make but a moment later he can't help but let out a chuckle in realization.
"What?" Jamie absently prompts as he only briefly glances up at his brother, his focus mostly on his new daughter before him.
"I called it." Danny giddily explains "I totally held her first above anyone…" He points out "…even you!"
Jamie and Eddie both lift their heads to look at Danny.
Danny smiles brightly and happily at them.
Jamie slightly shakes his head at the true pride on his brother's face and can't help but smile too "I guess you did." He relents "Thank you." he sincerely offers his brother for all his help.
Danny gives his brother a slight emotional nod of his head in return.
"You got a name for her yet?" Danny inquires as he leans over and makes a funny face as his new niece.
"What do you think Jamie?" Eddie inquires "Does it suit her?"
Jamie smiles as he looks at his newborn daughter "I think it does. You?"
Eddie nods in agreement.
"Danny…" Jamie begins "…meet your niece Jessica Mary May Reagan."
"Jessie for short." Eddie proudly adds on.
"Jessie Reagan." Danny notes with a smile "I like it." But then Danny's smile turns into a grin "Oh wait I see what you both did there." He laughs "Nice!"
"What?" Jamie questions.
"Jay-mee..." Danny points out "Edd-iee…" He adds "Jess-iee." He concludes "They all end in 'ee'."
"They are also all unisex names." Eddie giggles out as she makes happy fun little faces at her new daughter "Yes they are!" She coos to her.
At that moment Baez returns with the paramedics, Sheehan and tactical.
"Oh wow." Sheehan breathes out in surprise at the sight of the new baby.
"Jamie, take her." Eddie instructs.
Nodding Jamie moves to take the baby from his wife but one of the paramedics offers "That's okay Sir. We need to take both mother and child to the hospital so..."
"Yeah, well my daughter." Jamie protectively interrupts as he continues to gently takes Jessie from Eddie "So I'll take her while you help my wife."
"Oh. Right." The paramedic relents not initially realizing his connection. "Of course Sir."
Jamie smiles at his daughter in his arms "Hey Jessie I'm your Dad." He softly greets but his eyes immediately dart to his wife when he hears her let out a hiss of pain.
"Just take it slow." A paramedic instructs as they help Eddie onto the gurney they've lowered to the ground for her.
"Don't think I could go any other speed right now." Eddie admits as she carefully settles down then nods at the paramedic that she is ready.
"Okay. Let's go." A paramedic instructs before looking over at Jamie "Sir?"
"Right behind you." Jamie promises as he sways his daughter in his arms a bit and moves to follow his wife's gurney out of the room "Danny you're in charge here." He instructs "By the book please."
"You got it Boss!" Danny reassuringly accepts "See you at the hospital later!" he calls before looking proudly around the room at all the other officers "I'm an Uncle again!" he adds before clearing his throat and turning completely professional "Alright now we've got grounds so let's sweep this place from top to bottom. Leave no medical cart unturned." so as most officers turn to head out to get started, Sheehan pauses and looks at Maria "Do you have my jacket?"
Maria gives him a sheepish look "Ummmmm, no…"
...