Brian shifted uncomfortably on the couch, his hand pressing against his lower stomach as another wave of pain hit. His breath caught, and he squeezed his eyes shut, trying to push through it. "Izzy, Abby..." he murmured, his voice strained, cracking under the tension. "These pains... feel like contractions."
Izzy immediately turned from the kitchen, her eyes wide with concern. "Dad, are you sure?" Her voice was small but urgent, searching his face for any sign of reassurance.
Abby sprang to her feet at the sound of those words, her heart racing. She gripped her father's arm tightly, panic creeping into her voice. "Dad? You're not joking, are you?"
Brian didn't answer right away; another sharp pain twisted through him, and he winced, sucking in a breath. His mind raced, confusion clouding his thoughts. He was only eight months along—too early, right? It couldn't be real labor. Could it?
Dom, noticing the sudden shift in the room's atmosphere, took a step closer, his expression hardening with concern. "Brian, you okay?" His voice was rough, the worry barely hidden.
Brian forced his eyes open, trying to give them a reassuring smile, but it was clear to everyone that he was far from fine. He let out a shaky breath and reached for Izzy's hand as another contraction hit. "I don't know..." he admitted, his voice weak. "It hurts. More than I expected."
Izzy knelt beside him, her hand rubbing his shoulder gently, trying to comfort him despite her own fear. "Do you want me to call the doctor?" Her voice trembled slightly, glancing up at Abby, looking for guidance.
Abby, already pulling out her phone, didn't wait for confirmation. "I'm calling right now, Dad," she said, her tone tight with urgency. "You shouldn't be feeling like this. We need someone to check on you." She bit her lip, fighting back the wave of fear rising in her chest.
Brian managed a weak smile, though the pain made it difficult to focus. He nodded weakly, gritting his teeth as the next wave of pain hit him. "Yeah… call… call someone."
Mia, standing off to the side, exchanged a glance with Letty. "Do you need anything?" she asked softly, her voice filled with concern. "I can grab a warm towel, or help get you comfortable—"
"No," Brian replied firmly, though his voice cracked, betraying his attempt at bravado. "I just… need to breathe. It's probably nothing. Just… Braxton Hicks or something." But the shakiness in his voice spoke volumes.
Izzy leaned in, brushing a lock of hair from his face, her eyes never leaving his. "You're sure this isn't something to worry about, right?" she asked, her voice tight, trying to stay strong for him, though she could feel the fear gnawing at her insides.
Brian took a shaky breath, doing his best to stay calm. "I don't know," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "It feels different. I just want to make sure I'm not going into labor too early."
Abby's voice cut through the tension as she relayed the information from the doctor. "Dad, the doctor says we need to come in as soon as possible," she said, her words sharp, controlled. "They're expecting us."
Brian groaned softly, pushing himself upright with Izzy's help, though his body protested with another sharp wave of pain. His grip tightened on her shoulder as he paused, trying to steady his breath. "I'll be okay," he said, but his voice lacked the conviction he was hoping for. "I just need to… get through this."
Dom stepped forward, his concern thick in his voice. "If you need a ride, I'll take you to the hospital," he offered. "No need to wait. The doctor can help."
Brian shook his head gently, still clutching his stomach. "No, I… I don't want to make a big fuss. Let's just make sure I'm not overreacting." His voice cracked slightly, his attempt to sound calm faltering under the weight of the situation.
Izzy moved closer, her face set with determination. "Dad, let us help. We can't just sit around. You've been in pain for too long already." She exchanged a look with Abby, and Abby nodded, fear painted on her face, but there was no hesitation in her eyes.
Abby wrapped her arm around her father's waist, supporting him as she guided him toward the door. "Come on, let's get you up. We can't just sit here."
Brian mumbled in protest, though his body swayed dangerously. "Fine, fine," he muttered, fighting back a wave of dizziness. "But no hospital unless it's absolutely necessary."
"Let's get you checked out first," Abby insisted, her voice steady and firm.
As they made their way to the door, Mia stepped in behind them, ready to offer any extra support. "We're here for you, Dad," she reassured him, her voice gentle but unwavering.
The car ride to the hospital felt like an eternity. Each passing minute stretched out as the contractions hit, pulling the air from Brian's lungs, making him grip the door handle with white-knuckled intensity. Izzy's voice was a steady, calming presence in the chaos, guiding them through the traffic as fast as she could.
When they finally arrived, Izzy threw the car into park and jumped out, rushing to help her father out of the car. Abby was right behind, her arm around his waist as they carefully helped him out. Brian's breath was shallow, his face pale as he leaned heavily on them.
"I can't believe this is happening," he muttered, his voice cracking. "I'm supposed to be the one helping everyone else."
Izzy gave him a soft but firm smile. "You're still helping us, Dad," she said, her voice unwavering. "Now, let's get you inside."
The doors of the hospital whooshed open, and within moments, nurses rushed to their side, guiding Brian into a room. The sterile scent of the hospital clung to him, the flickering lights overhead only adding to the disorienting haze.
"Stay with me, Dad," Izzy said, her hand gripping his tightly, her voice a calming rhythm amidst the chaos.
Abby was right beside them, her eyes wide with worry, but there was no question in her tone. "You're going to be okay, Dad," she whispered, glancing at the nurses as they prepared the room.
Brian's vision blurred, the pain mounting, but he clung to the comfort of his daughters' hands, their presence anchoring him. Despite everything, despite the fear racing through him, he knew he wasn't alone. They were here. They'd get through this together.