DISCLAIMER:
I own NOTHING!
You guys, I am so sorry! There has been a lot going on in my life the last several months. I've suffered from serious depression and anxiety for years, and things have been super hard in that department for a while now. I had a huge breakdown a while back, and I've been fighting to get my life back, and get everything back on track since then. Things are just really tough and I haven't been in the best frame of mind. I actually haven't written at all since I posted my last update. I've also been dealing with long haul Covid symptoms since my family and I got sick back in January. I swear, I literally got every single side effect possible. It's been completely ridiculous! Then, on top of all of that, both of my kids, and my husband all ended up going into surgery; my son the end of June and then my daughter and husband both in one week back in September. We've had a lot going on, and it's just been one thing after another, which hasn't helped my mental health at all. I've just needed a break.
I've got several chapters already completed, so I'll post those whenever I get the chance. I just don't know how often that will be. There is so much going on lately, and I just haven't felt up to doing much of anything. I am really sorry you guys. I am fighting to get back to my normal self, but it's been really hard. I appreciate all of you who have been reading, and leaving me reviews. It really means a lot to me. I hope you enjoy this new chapter. Please let me know what you like, don't like, anything that you would like to see, etc. I love reading all of your thoughts! :-)
If I don't get anything new posted before the end of the holiday season, I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season, and I'll see you all again soon.
Columbia Presbyterian Hospital
May 23, 2017
4:15am
"Logan, I am so proud of you! I can't believe that you delivered a baby with zero experience." Rory said as she sat in bed, nursing Ayribella.
"I know. It was completely crazy, and I have to admit that I was scared to death about screwing up. Thank God Paris came in minutes after the birth, to finish everything up, because I was flying completely blind."
"What did Paris say about it?"
"Amazingly enough, she actually congratulated me, and told me that I did a good job."
"Wait, what?!"
"I know. It's completely insane! Paris never says anything nice to me! And she even said that if I ever decide that I don't want to run my clinic anymore, that she would be willing to add me to her team."
"Paris said that?"
"Yeah." Logan chuckled.
"Paris Gellar, angry Paris who hates you."
"I know."
"Did you drug her?"
"Nope, but maybe it's sleep deprivation talking because she's been awake for over 22 hours now."
"It's gotta be sleep deprivation, because I just can't picture Paris saying that to you."
"I know. I'm surprised too."
"How is Honor doing?"
"She's alright. Her contractions have gotten stronger, and closer together. She's at about 5 centimeters, and 5 minutes apart. I'm guessing she will be delivering sometime this morning. We are waiting for Anesthesiology to come up to give her an epidural."
"Thank God for drugs!"
"I know. The poor woman whose baby I delivered was completely miserable. The baby's head was already crowning when she got here. We didn't even have time to get her into the computer, or get her up on the monitors. It was completely insane!"
"You sound exhausted."
"I am."
"What time does the next shift come in?"
"7:30, but I am probably going to stay until Honor delivers. I may try to take a nap on the couch in her room when Josh wakes up. I'm on my second cup of coffee. Well, not full cup, Honor stole my last cup after I drank half of it. Things are at least peaceful at the moment, so I'm taking a quick break before I need to go check on everyone."
"Have you eaten anything?"
"I ate some of the snacks you put in my bag, and Paris just went to find us some food. I almost wish I knew of a pizza place that would deliver right now."
"Wait, Logan Huntzberger doesn't know of a pizza place that he can bribe to bring him fresh pizza at 4am?"
"I haven't done that in years."
"You've always been the kind of random middle of the night food delivery."
"Yeah, but I'm old now, and I'm out of practice. The only other person who I know is probably up right now, is Finn."
"He's probably finally getting ready to go to bed." Rory chuckled.
"Too bad I know that he doesn't keep any food at his place, or I would have him bring me something."
"There are plenty of 24 hour taco shops in town."
"That's true. But Paris is already grabbing us food, so I won't bug Finn today."
"At least not yet anyway."
"That's true." Logan chuckled.
"I miss you. This is the first night that I've spent alone since we got married."
"I know. I'm so sorry. I wanted to be there with you. I just couldn't leave Honor here with no one to take care of her."
"I know. You are an amazing brother, and an even better doctor. I don't blame you at all. I'm glad that you are there with Honor. She needs you more than I do right now."
"I will come home as soon as she delivers, and we can take a nap together."
"That sounds really nice."
"I love you, Ace. Try to get some more sleep, alright?"
"I will. I love you too. I'll call you when I wake up for the day."
"Ok. Sweet dreams baby."
"Good night." Rory smiled as she disconnected the call.
Logan dropped his phone back into his pocket, got up from the table he was sitting at in the small 4th floor break area, and headed back to the labor and delivery unit to check up on his patients. Logan smiled at a passing nurse in the hallway, before rounding the corner, and scanning his hospital ID badge to enter the Labor and Delivery Unit.
"Did you have a nice break?" Veronica asked as she saw Logan walk in the door.
"If I drink much more coffee today, I think I might morph into Lorelai."
"I'm not sure if that would be a good or bad thing."
"It would be really traumatizing for your wife." Paris chimed in from behind him. "Here is a sandwich and a soda. Anesthesiology is here for your sister's epidural. You eat while I go get her settled. She will probably be delivering soon, and you are going to need your strength if you are going to keep going."
"Thanks Paris." Logan smiled, taking the bottle of Mountain Dew, and the Styrofoam box that Paris held out toward him.
"Veronica, you need a break too. Make sure you get one when Logan is done eating."
"Will do." Veronica agreed as she headed toward a patient room.
"You've got about ten minutes. I'll be back for you once your sister is medicated."
"You don't need my help?"
"Nope! Brothers aren't needed for this one. Even if they are doctors. Enjoy your food. You can help with the next one."
"Ok. Just yell if you need me." Logan agreed as he grabbed one of the chairs sitting behind the counter of the nurses station, seating himself in it, as he placed the food and soda down on the counter in front of him.
As Logan began to eat, he logged into the computer, and began to go over his patients' charts for the night, making sure that he input all the correct notes for each person. Next, he checked the monitor reports, making sure that everyone's stats looked normal, and that no one was any kind of emergency situation where they needed immediate care. It was hard for him to sit still and focus on eating. His mind was always working away, racing with thoughts about everything going on around him, and everything that he needed to get done. He was exhausted. Adjusting to being a new parent with a baby that wakes up every few hours was tough. Logan was already sleep deprived, but now throw in a 22 hour day, mixed with a stressful night of work, and you definitely got a recipe for disaster. It wasn't Logan's first time pulling an all-nighter at the hospital, and it probably wouldn't be the last either. But at least Logan had his own clinic now, and wasn't expected to pull long shifts all the time. He was really grateful for the flexible schedule he had at HPG, that allowed him to split his time between both his patients, and his family. He missed the long hours that he used to work in the Emergency Room, downstairs, but he knew that he could always go back to help out, whenever he felt up to it, or they needed help. Being a doctor, there were always extra hours to pick up somewhere.
An Hour and A Half Later
"Honor, he's perfect." Logan smiled as he stood next to Honor's bed, gazing down at the baby in his sister's arms.
"He looks like Logan." Josh chuckled.
"Damn Huntzberger genes!"
"Let's just hope that he doesn't act like Logan. Or at least not like teenage Logan." Honor commented.
"Look at all that blonde hair." Josh said as he gently stroked the baby's head. "I've never seen a baby with this much hair."
"Logan had a ton of hair too."
"I still do." Logan told them. "At least if he is going to have my name, he got my good looks too."
"Oh shush! You only got his middle name. Maxwell does NOT have to live in your shadow. Don't be like Dad."
"I wouldn't dream of it. He's going to grow up and go to clown college, just like Ayribella."
"We can get them matching red noses." Josh agreed. "That make a honking sound when you squeeze them."
"They will be the best dang clowns in the school."
"Logan, Honey, you should head home to your family." Donna, Josh's mother spoke up.
"The next shift doesn't come in for about another two hours."
"You've been awake for what, going on 24 hours now?"
"Just about."
"I can't believe that this hospital was so short staffed."
"I know. Someone screwed up. I'm sure there will be a come to Jesus meeting pretty soon."
"Thank God you were able to step in to help out."
"Did Honor and Josh tell you that I delivered my first baby?"
"They did not."
"It was just me and Veronica. Both Doctor Gellar and Doctor Jolley were doing other deliveries. I was scared as hell, but that baby was coming whether we liked it or not."
"I am really proud of you today, Logan. You have been so incredible." Honor told him.
"Thanks Honor. I appreciate it."
"Hey, you, blondie, beat it!" Paris' voice boomed through the room as the door opened and she walked in with Doctor Greenlee behind her.
"Which blonde?" Josh asked.
"The doofus you call a brother. Get out! Go home!"
"Don't I wish! The next shift doesn't come on until 7:30." Logan told them.
"They are all coming in early." Doctor Greenlee spoke up. "You've done a great job today. It's time for you to go home to your family. I am going to help out up here until the next shift comes in. Doctor Swartz is going to take care of the clinic patients tomorrow. There are only two appointments, so I blocked out the rest of the day on the calendar. And I left a message for security to let him in. You, Bianca, Veronica and I are all going to spend the day resting, and I'll go back in Wednesday morning."
"I can take care of the appointments tomorrow. I don't mind."
"No way! You are still on paternity leave. We appreciate you helping out, but you are still on leave, and you need to spend time with your wife and new baby. So go home. Get some rest."
"He's right Logan. You should head out." Honor agreed. "You've done more than enough here. Go give Ayribella a kiss for me. Tell her that Auntie Honor will be home to see her tomorrow."
"Ok. Are you sure that you don't need me to stay?"
"I am positive. Go home. I don't want to see your face again until I get home. I appreciate you driving me here, and staying all night, but it's time for you to go. Rory needs you."
"Ok. Call me if you need anything."
"Not a chance." Honor chuckled.
"Whatever. Love you."
"Love you too." Logan said kissing his sister on the cheek, then placing a gentle kiss on his nephew's head. "Love you, little man."
"Thanks for everything Logan." Josh spoke up.
"Any time. You know that there is nothing that I wouldn't do for you guys."
"Bye Honey." Donna said, giving Logan a hug as he stepped away from Honor's bed. "I'll see you tomorrow when Honor is released, alright?"
"Sounds great."
"Give Rory and the baby my love."
"I will." Logan agreed.
"Thanks for being here tonight. I wouldn't have survived without you." Paris said, stepping up and giving Logan a one armed hug.
"It's been a crazy night!"
"Yeah it has. I'll see you later. Be safe going home, alright?"
"Same goes for you. Tell Rory that I'll call her when I eventually wake up."
"Will do." Logan said as he moved across the room, and grabbed his medical bag, then headed for the door. "Bye guys."
"Bye. Text me when you get home, so I know that you didn't crash my car somewhere." Honor called out as Logan walked out the door, waving to acknowledge her comment.
* ~ * Huntzberger Home * ~ *
Logan walked in the door to his house at 6:30. He quietly walked into the kitchen and set the bread and cookies that he had grabbed from Honor's house on the counter, then went to his home office to leave his medical bag on his desk before heading up the stairs.
"Good morning." Richard smiled, walking out of one of the spare rooms.
"Hey."
"You look exhausted."
"I'm on hour 23."
"Well you go get some rest. Emily and I will take care of Ayribella when she wakes up. You deserve some sleep. You've worked hard."
"I delivered my first baby, with only Veronica to help me."
"Wow! Congratulations, young man! That is quite the accomplishment."
"Thank you."
"You go to bed. We can talk later."
"Thanks Richard. I appreciate it." Logan said with a yawn, then continued down the hall, carefully opening the door to his bedroom.
"Hey Babe." Rory smiled; her voice soft.
"Hey, I'm sorry, I was trying to not wake you up."
"That's ok. I heard voices out in the hall. Every sound wakes me up now."
"I'm sorry, I was trying to be quiet."
"It's fine. How is Honor?"
"Maxwell was born a few minutes after 5. 7 pounds 2 ounces. He's got a ton of blonde hair. Josh says that he looks like me."
"That's awesome." Rory said with a sleepy smile.
"Do you have pictures?"
"I do. Give me a second to get out of these clothes." Logan said, dropping his phone on the bed, before moving to take his clothes off, tossing them into the corner to be washed later. Once he was down to just his boxer shorts, he climbed into bed next to Rory, and pulled her into his arms.
"I've missed you."
"I know. I missed you too." Logan agreed, giving her a soft kiss. "Do you want to see the pictures right now?"
"I can wait until later. Is Honor doing ok?"
"Honor is amazing. She is doing great."
"Good, I'm glad."
"She told me that she doesn't want to see me again until she comes home tomorrow. Josh and Donna are with her."
"I love Donna. I'm glad that Honor has her there. She is going to need the extra help."
"She made fresh bread and cookies. They are on the kitchen counter."
"Your sister is the best!"
"Tell me about it. I wish that I had half of her energy."
"Says the Energizer Bunny." Rory chuckled.
"Not after tonight, I'm not."
"You've had a really long day."
"You can definitely say that again." Logan said with a yawn. "Your Grandpa said that him and Emily will take care of Ayribella when she wakes up, so we can sleep."
"Is Paris still at the hospital?"
"Probably. She kicked me out. Doctor Greenlee came upstairs to take over for me. He's been in the ER all night. I guess he talked to Doctor Schultz because the next shift is coming in early, and Doctor Schultz is going to take care of the patients at the clinic tomorrow."
"That sounds like a good plan. You need to get some sleep Baby." Rory said, her voice softer as her eyes closed again.
"Go back to sleep, Ace." Logan smiled, tightening his arms around her, as Rory fell back asleep, her head on his chest, and the sound of his beating heart luring her back to dream land.