Chapter 66: Care and Compassion

Author: zeusfluff.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Blue Blood's characters. They belong to CBS. Date Started: 2/25/24. Date Finished: 3/1/24. Enjoy!


"Hi Dara. I'm Doctor Reagan. You must be Mark. Nice to meet you both. Can tell me how long you've been nauseous for Dara?"

Dara Rosal was a new patient Jamie was taking on. He'd never met her before, and he was hoping to gain her trust and confidence just like all the other women he'd helped with their successful pregnancies and deliveries. Jamie shifted on the stool and listened to Dara speak.

"Well, I guess it's been at least a couple of weeks. Mostly at night. The smell of broccoli is awful."

Jamie made a note in Dara's chart and Mara stepped forward and placed a blood pressure cuff around her left arm. Dara stayed quiet as the cuff got tighter around her arm. She felt the pressure around her arm dissipate as the cuff went down. Frowning, Jamie put another note in Dara's chart.

"147/95. That's a little high."

Dara's eyes widened and she looked at Jamie seriously.

"My blood pressure has always been normal. I don't know why it's so high."

Jamie shifted on the stool once more and gave Dara a confident look.

"It's what we like to call White Coat Syndrome. You could have totally normal blood pressure at home. But not in a hospital or doctor's office."

Dara considered Jamie's explanation for a few brief moments before she spoke.

"Hmm. I hadn't thought about that before. I've never been afraid of doctors."

Jamie nodded in understanding and reassured her.

"It's perfectly normal."

Dara nodded.

"I take it you will need a urine sample from me?"

Jamie nodded as Mara handed her a specimen jar.

"Yes."

Dara took the jar from Mara and looked Jamie in the eye.

"Do you need a blood sample from me too?"

Jamie shook his head and spread his hands.

"Just the urine sample for now. We'll get blood samples when and if we need them."

Dara nodded and took a shuddering breath.

"Mark and I had been thinking about starting a family for some time. I hadn't thought about now though."

Jamie gave Dara a smile.

"It may be the right time."

Dara gave a nervous smile and gripped the plastic jar in her hand.

"I don't know whether to be nervous or excited.

Jamie kept giving Dara a confident smile.

"It's normal to be nervous. Let's see what the results of your urine test come up with."

Closing Dara's chart, Jamie left the room with Mara and Sabrina right behind him. He turned to Mara and spoke.

"I want her results back in an hour. I don't want to make her wait in the exam room forever. I'm working on getting the administration to turn the heat up in the exam rooms. Their too cold."

Mara looked at Jamie and gave him an apprehensive look.

"You want the results back on her urine test in an hour. The lab's been backed up for days. Backlog of tests. Shortage of techs and Phlebotomists. I'll see if they can put a rush on it."

Jamie let out a sigh as Sabrina took Dara's chart and placed it into the chart rack while Mara grabbed for another and handed it to him.

"Layla Sarlinson. How long has she been in labor for Mara?"

Mara looked Jamie dead in the eye and gave him a slightly worried look.

"Almost 18 hours. It's her first child remember?"

Jamie nodded and took another silent breath in and let it out.

"I remember. It has been 18 hours hasn't it? I should check her progress."

Mara and Sabrina followed Jamie down the hallway towards Layla's room. Putting on a confident smile, Jamie entered the room and made conversation with Layla.

"How are we doing in here Layla?"

Layla nodded and let out a pained breath as the contraction she was experiencing wound down.

"Very ready to have this baby."

Jamie kept his conversation up as he washed his hands at the sink and dried them. Grabbing for a mask and gloves, he sat down on a stool at the foot of the bed.

"Keeping our fingers crossed here. I'm going to check your progress. Can you scoot down to the bottom of the bed? There you go. Let's get your feet up here. That's it. Ok Layla, deep breath in for me. Another one. Good. I know that's uncomfortable. I'm sorry. Almost done. Ok. Looks like your dilated 4 centimeters. Only about 40% effaced. Your water hasn't broken yet. I promise as soon as it does, we'll go ahead and take the catheter out ok?"

Layla nodded and plopped her head back against the pillows behind her, letting out a frustrated and displeased cry. Her husband Haydin kissed the side of her head and stroked some hair out of her face.

"It's ok baby. Just a little longer, ok? You are doing so good. I'm proud of you."

Layla let some tears fall.

"4 centimeters? Are you kidding me Doctor Reagan?"

Jamie calmly reassured her.

"You're doing great Layla. Before you know it, you'll have a beautiful baby in your arms."

Layla gave another frustrated sigh.

"I know. I just wish she would hurry up and come already."

Jamie again did his best to reassure Layla.

"Your daughter is doing just fine. Her heart rate is 160. When you feel another contraction, I want you to bear down on it and breathe through it. I know every fiber in your being is telling you to go against it, but your body knows what it's doing. I'll come check on you in a little while. Get some rest."

Layla swallowed, then nodded and leaned back against her pillows and closed her eyes.

"Thank-you Doctor Reagan. Haydin and I really appreciate everything you've done for us."

Jamie gave a slight nod of his head and a professional and polite smile.

"It's my pleasure Layla. Get some rest and I'll check your progress again in a couple of hours."
Layla was already asleep, so Haydin answered Jamie.

"Thanks Doctor Reagan."

Jamie discarded his mask and gloves in the biohazard bin by the door and exited the room with Mara and Sabrina right behind him. Mara smirked and looked at Jamie.

"You have an excellent bedside manner doctor. You take care and compassion very seriously. You should get an award."

Jamie wanted to roll his eyes.

"Do I look like I need to stroke my ego? You know I'm not that kind of guy. I don't boast about my accomplishments."

Mara let out a small snort.

"Just checking doctor. You never know."

Jamie shook his head and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"I'm not in it for the money, the accolades, the awards. None of that. I'm in it to bring healthy babies into the world. Safely. Although Doctor Rogerson is."

Mara and Sabrina gave Jamie looks of disgust and spoke in unison.

"He likes to preen his feathers a lot."

Jamie had to agree with both nurses. Doctor Rogerson was one that liked his ego stroked. Mara handed Jamie another chart and Jamie looked over the first page.

"Sara Watson. Set of twin baby boys. Let's see if they're ready to greet the world."

Mara and Sabrina followed Jamie into the delivery room. Jamie saw the panicked look on Sara's face.

"Doctor Reagan! I feel like he's between my knees! I need to push!"

Jamie nodded and made quick conversation as he washed his hands and grabbed for a mask and some gloves.

"Ok Sara, let me just have a look here. Sabrina, can you help her scoot down to the bottom of the bed and put her feet up here?"

Sabrina nodded and did helped Sara get situated. Jamie's eyes widened and he looked at Sara over the sheet.

"Looks like your first baby boy is on his way. His head is almost halfway out. I want you to give me a push. Push! That's it. Good. Another one. Ok, the head is out! Here come the shoulders! I want you to give me a hard push. Give me a big hard push. Good! Keep going. Almost there! One more! I've got him! Say hello to your beautiful baby boy!"

Jamie held the screaming newborn up over the sheet and he could see Sara's eyes fill with tears of happiness. Meanwhile her husband Mitch sat in quiet awe as he took the scissors from Mara and gently cut the umbilical cord.

"He's beautiful Doctor Reagan thank you so much. Oh that's gross."

Jamie shook his head as Mara and Mitch went back up by Sara's head.

"Yeah, you might not want to be on this end."

Mitch made a face then marveled at the tiny baby against his wife's chest.

"Look at these perfect little hands and feet."

Jamie smiled behind his mask. Today was turning out great. He wouldn't have had it any other way. Care and compassion were what drove him in this job.

To Be Continued…

A/N: So, what'd you guys think? Let me know! Thanks!