Chapter 48
Briggs
We’re less than a mile from the hospital when the front wheel gives out.
Col and I become intimately acquainted with the unforgiving pavement as the tire bounces across the street, the impact rattling my goddamn brain around my skull like a pinball.
I lay there for several seconds, breathing heavily as the storm continues to batter us from every direction.
A passing car blares its horn, narrowly missing us from the sheet of rain concealing our bodies from oncoming traffic.
“You alive?” I grunt, rolling to my hands and knees so I can pry my sorry ass off the road.
“Unfortunately.” Col makes a hissing sound as he climbs to his feet. “I thought the days of having skinned knees were behind me.”
“I don’t know how, but this is her fault,” I grit out as agony flares through every joint in my body.
“Who’s?” Col asks distractedly, glancing around to get his bearings.
“The Wicked Witch of Chaplain,” I answer with certainty. “She must’ve hexed the bike before handing it over.”
“There’s a story there, and I’m very interested in hearing about it, but that’ll have to wait. Start runnin’, Forrest,” Col instructs, taking off at a jog and forcing me to lengthen my strides to catch up with him.
“It wasn’t supposed to be like this,” I huff.
“I was supposed to be right next to Andi, through every step of her labor. What if she’s already had the baby, Col?
Fuck, I’m pretty sure I blurted out the gender.
” I groan in misery, thinking back to the myriad of shit that left my mouth in the heat of the moment.
“You definitely did,” he deadpans. “But I doubt Andi cares as much as you do. That’s probably the least of her worries right now.”
“Not helping,” I snap, thinking of all the things that could go wrong during Andi’s delivery.
Having a medical background is both a blessing and a curse when it comes to those you love being the patient.
By some miracle, the rain becomes a steady drizzle just as the hospital comes into view.
I run harder, determined to get to our girl as quickly as possible.
When we barrel through the entrance, every head in the waiting area turns to stare at us, their mouths falling open at how haggard we look.
“Can you point me in the direction of labor and delivery?” Col asks the receptionist, panting like a dog as he attempts to catch his breath.
“I’ll show them the way, Kathy.” I spin around at the familiar voice, coming face-to-face with Dr. Baker.
“Why are you here?!” I question rudely. “You’re supposed to be with Andi!”
“And I’m assuming you are, too, yet here you are.
” She meets my accusation with a lift of her eyebrow.
“Now, if we’re done placing blame, let’s get a move on.
” I scurry after her, grateful the badge around her neck grants us clearance through every door standing between Andi and us.
Once we’re enclosed in the elevator, Dr. Baker stands on the opposite side, humor lighting up her face as she runs her gaze over both of us. “Well, aren’t you two a sight.”
“I don’t wanna talk about it,” Col and I answer in unison, making her snort.
“Very well,” she accepts, striding forward when the doors open and spit us out on the maternity ward.
“But you need to clean up before entering Andi’s delivery room.
Bathroom is that way.” She points a finger down the hallway to the right.
“When you’re finished, head to room 2280.
” Col and I don’t wait around a second longer, speed-walking to the men’s restroom a few feet away.
When faced with our reflections, we both flinch.
There’s a gash near my hairline, not deep enough to need stitches, but a bleeder all the same.
I hastily scrub my face clean, then pay extra attention to the dirt and debris embedded in my palms. By the time we’ve finished and exited into the main corridor, we spot Dayton pacing the worn linoleum floor, his fingers repeatedly opening and closing as he clenches them into fists.
“D!” Col shouts, rushing to reach our clearly stressed-out friend. He snaps his head in our direction, but the anger he levels at me makes my steps falter.
“You selfish fucking prick!” he whisper-shouts, slamming me against the wall as soon as I’m within grabbing distance. I groan as my already battered body takes another round of abuse. “She’s been begging for you for the past hour! Where the fuck have you been?”
“Let me go, D. I can’t get to her if you kill me,” I plead, my eyes filling with tears from hearing that Andi needed me and I wasn’t here.
“Help her,” he chokes out, stumbling back as devastation contorts his face.
The moment I’m freed from his grip, Andi’s pain-fueled scream breaches the cracked doorway a few feet away.
My heart freefalls as Col and I surge forward.
I shove the door open, finding our girl drenched in sweat, her feet braced in the stirrups as Dr. Baker preps to deliver our baby girl.
Raiden catches sight of us first, his shoulders slumping in relief.
I stride across the room with purpose, my gaze clashing with Andi’s two-toned irises as a sob claws its way up her throat.
“You came,” she cries, her exhausted body crumbling.
“Of course I came, baby.” I press my forehead to hers, then pepper every inch of her face with kisses. “I’m so fucking sorry, Angel.” She shakes her head, another contraction stealing her breath before she can utter a single word.
“I can’t do this,” she wails, her hand fisting mine so tightly that my bones start to creak.
She can break the damn thing for all I care.
“It hurts so bad, Briggs. I was too far along by the time we got here to get an epidural.” Tears streak down her face in rivulets.
I want to punch something. I fucking hate that even her goddamn birth is going to be traumatizing and painful.
“Listen to me, Angel.” I frame her beautiful face with my hands, forcing her to focus.
“You can absolutely do this. Your body was designed to endure labor. Women are forces of nature. This entire world consists of nothing but mothers and their children. I know it’s not going to be what you envisioned, but I’m right here, baby.
Raiden is too, and so are Col and Dayton.
I’ve never met anyone stronger than you, Andilyn Adams. So whatever you need to do to get through this–scream, cry, or cuss us out–you do it.
” Andi takes a deep breath, then nods her head.
It’s hesitant, at best, but it’s better than nothing.
“Alright, Andi,” Dr. Baker interrupts, taking a seat on the stool positioned at the end of the bed.
“When I tell you to, I need you to bear down and push until I tell you to stop. Okay?” Andi nods, her fingers flexing around mine as the guys crowd around her.
“Now, sweetheart.” I watch the monitor and the crest of Andi’s contraction, my jaw clenching as she screams in agony.
“Keep going. That’s it,” Dr. Baker encourages.
Andi slumps against the bed as soon as it passes, her strength evaporated at this point.
Over and over, Andi’s instructed to push, and each time she gives it everything she’s got.
I glance at the clock when her body starts to tremble, her muscles overworked and exhausted.
Nearly forty minutes have passed. I glance at Dr. Baker, but her gaze is already fixated on me, her lips pressed together in resignation.
A barely perceptible shake of her head is the only communication that passes between us.
I swear beneath my breath, my own worry beginning to mount.
Before I’ve even had time to process what this means, the baby’s heart monitor goes haywire.
Everyone panics, both Andi and the guys asking a million questions, but the next few seconds are crucial.
“Get her on her side, Briggs!” Dr. Baker shouts. “I need an OR, stat!” I flip Andi to her left side, splitting my attention between her and the monitor. The baby’s heart rate comes up a bit, but it’s still too low.
“What’s happening?” Andi sobs.
“The baby’s in distress, Angel. They have to do an emergency C-section,” I quickly explain.
Her breath catches, her fear-filled eyes holding mine.
“Everything’s going to be okay. Do you trust me?
” Andi nods, not needing time to think about it.
My chest swells with pride. “Then believe me when I tell you that you’re both going to be just fine.
I won’t accept any other outcome, Angel.
” Her watery smile makes me think she’d like nothing more than to remind me that I’m a mere mortal who has no say in life-or-death situations, but she refrains.
“Things are going to move quickly, Andi,” Dr. Baker states, giving her a rundown of what’s about to happen as two nurses move in to wheel her to the operating room.
I brief the guys, knowing they’re just as panicked as I am, but for Andi’s sake, they’re trying their absolute hardest to hold it together.
They each give her a kiss before she’s taken away, whispering reassurances while fighting back tears.
As the room empties, Dr. Baker addresses the four of us.
“I’m sorry, but only one of you can come. It’s hospital policy.”
“You, Briggs,” Raiden croaks. “It needs to be you.” The others nod in agreement, and I give them a quick hug, promising to update everyone as soon as I can.