Chapter 48 #2
Dr. Baker and I race to OR 3 without a word spoken between us.
It’s chaos when we step inside, the anesthesiologist following a few seconds later.
There’s no time to do this the easy way, so I know without it needing to be said aloud that Andi has to be put completely under.
As they prep the medication to send through the IV catheter in her arm, I press my lips to Andi’s.
I kiss her reverently, pouring every ounce of love into it, needing her to know she’s not alone–that she’ll never be alone ever again.
“You’re gonna fall asleep, Angel.” I touch my forehead to hers, feeling every shaky breath she takes as it skates across my skin.
“When you wake up, we’re going to have a beautiful daughter who’s eager to meet you.
So don’t take too long, okay?” A single tear breaks free from my eye and lands on Andi’s cheek.
“I’ll do my best,” she slurs, a faint smile gracing her lips as unconsciousness claims her.
My breaths are choppy as I step away so an oxygen mask can be placed over her nose and mouth.
Dr. Baker gives me a reassuring nod before I’m ushered to a chair by Andi’s head.
I stroke my fingers through her hair, praying to whoever’s listening that both of them make it through this unscathed.
Surely life wouldn’t be cruel enough to take them from me.
Haven’t I experienced enough pain for one lifetime?
Dr. Baker’s curse has my head snapping up.
I stand, not giving a flying fuck if I’m supposed to stay behind the blue curtain concealing Andi’s flayed-open abdomen.
“Sit down, Briggs.” Her command stops me in my tracks. “I’ll give you a play-by-play, but you are not risking the career I’ve worked extremely hard for because you think you can do my job better than I can.”
“Start talking then,” I demand, refusing to sit but not moving closer either.
“The baby’s a little stuck, but I’m actively wedging my hand alongside her head. I just need a few more seconds to get her free.” My heart thumps painfully as I bend in half, another dip in the monitor’s readings letting us know that we’re out of seconds.
“Get her out,” I plead. “Right fucking now!” For what feels like an eternity, nothing but the erratic beeping of the baby’s plummeting heart rate can be heard.
“Got her!” Dr. Baker shrills, passing my baby girl to the waiting hands of a nurse.
My knees hit the floor, but the pain doesn’t register.
I’m too busy weeping with relief. Finally, her sweet little cries fill the air, and I swear I’ve never heard anything so precious in my entire fucking life.
I force myself to stand, moving back to Andi’s side.
“You did it, baby.” I kiss her forehead. “I love you beyond comprehension, Angel.” A throat clears behind me, and I turn to find a nurse holding a tiny pink bundle.
“Would Dad like to meet his little girl?” she offers with a smile. I run my suddenly sweaty palms down my thighs, but it’s pointless, considering they’re still damp from the rainstorm we were caught in. I swallow thickly as my baby girl is placed in my waiting arms.
“Her Apgar score?” I question, cataloging every inch of her. Her cute button nose. The dark head of hair. Her tiny fingers and toes. All of it absolute perfection.
“Seven,” the nurse responds. “Her tone was a little off, as well as her heart rate, but that’s to be expected after the ordeal she just went through.” I nod in agreement.
“Height and weight?” I ask, stroking my finger down the bridge of her nose.
“Five pounds, eleven ounces, and eighteen inches long.”
“My tiny little fighter,” I whisper, pressing my lips to her cheek.
“We’re all finished, Briggs,” Dr. Baker comments, grabbing my attention. “Andi did great. Her vitals look good, and it shouldn’t take too long for her to come around.”
“Thank you,” I croak. It doesn’t adequately portray how grateful I am, but it’s the best I’ve got. She smiles and nods, then turns to leave. I move closer to Andi, resting our daughter’s head against hers. “You need to wake up, baby, so you can meet this perfect little girl you made.”
The following minutes seem to pass in an instant as Andi is moved to a recovery room.
I follow behind them, refusing to leave her side until I know she’s situated.
A nurse comes in and places a tag around the baby’s ankle that matches the one on Andi’s wrist, ensuring no one can leave the floor with our daughter.
I’m loath to part from either of them, but I told the guys I’d fill them in as soon as I could, so I gently place her in the bassinet provided by the hospital.
“I’ll be back in just a minute, baby girl.
” I peck her cheek, then drop a kiss to Andi’s as well.
With hurried steps, I breeze down the hallway like a man on a mission.
I tap the button for the elevator at least a hundred times before it finally arrives.
When I make it to the waiting room, I’m panting heavily, and sweat dots my brow.
The moment the guys catch sight of me, they practically run to greet me.
“How is she?” Dayton questions.
“What about the baby?” Col tacks on.
“They’re fine, right?” Raiden asks, his worry evident from how frazzled he looks. I don't bother giving them shit, ‘cause there’s not a chance in hell I’d be faring any better if I had been the one waiting on pins and needles for an update.
“They’re both good.” I grin, knowing the three of them are about to have their hearts stolen when they meet our daughter. “But why don’t you see for yourselves?”
“Fuck yes,” Dayton exclaims, cracking his neck to relieve some pressure. “I need to lay eyes on my goddamn woman before I start putting my fists through the hospital’s drywall.”
“Again,” Col adds with a roll of his eyes. My eyes widen, glancing around for a hole in the wall.
“It’s in the stairwell,” Raiden explains. “So let’s get a move on before we’re saddled with the bill for Hulk’s anger issues.”
“I don’t do stressful situations, Detective,” Dayton snarks, shoving his hands in his pockets. I shake my head, growing rather fond of the family we’ve built.
When we make it back to Andi’s room, I’m disappointed she’s still not awake yet.
As I’m lifting the baby from the bassinet, the guys check in with Andi, sating the need to touch her and see for themselves that she’s alive and breathing.
Stepping closer so I can introduce them, I note the varying emotions they cycle through.
It’s a bit awkward, seeing as she doesn’t have a name yet, but she’s ours, and that’s all that truly matters.
“This,” I start, smiling as her eyes begin to open. Beautiful, deep blue orbs stare back at me. “Is our gorgeous little girl.” Raiden moves to stand beside me, his eyes filled with tears as I hand him our daughter for the first time.
“She’s perfect,” he comments.
“Of course she is,” I retort. “She’s a part of Andi. Did you expect anything less?” He laughs lightly, shaking his head in response.
“My turn,” Dayton insists, carefully taking her from Raiden.
“Oh, fuck.” He tilts his head back, rapidly blinking in an attempt to stem the flow of tears.
“I never thought I’d have kids of my own.
I’d pretty much given up on the idea, and now we have a son and a daughter.
We hit the fucking jackpot.” He sniffles, but none of us draw attention to it.
After several minutes of him hogging her, Dayton finally relents and passes her to Col.
Drawing her tiny body close to his chest, he breathes in deeply, his eyes closing in contentment.
Tilting her backward so he can see her face, Col stares in awe at what we’ve been given.
“Hey, sweet girl. I’m your Daddy Col,” he introduces himself.
“I’m sorry we’re not dressed appropriately for such an important meeting.
They say first impressions are everything, but your Daddy Briggs and I had ourselves a bit of a journey to get here, so I’m hoping you’ll forgive us just this once. ” I grunt in agreement.
“She’s a baby, you moron,” Dayton jokes. “She can only see shapes right now anyway. You’re nothing more than a blurry blob.” He’s not wrong.
“That might be so,” Col agrees, flashing Dayton a sugary sweet smile. “But I bet she’ll know my voice before she knows yours. You didn’t even tell her who you are, ya big dumb lug. Did your baby books forget to tell you to do that?” he taunts in a whiny voice.
“Give her back,” Dayton orders. “I want a fucking redo.” Raiden and I share a look, a smile slowly forming on both of our faces as we listen to the two of them bicker back and forth.
From across the room, a tinny voice says, “Language.” That scolding tone causes us all to freeze, giving our attention to the love of our lives as she fights to open her eyes.
I exhale roughly; the worry I’ve been carrying since Col listened to Dayton’s voicemail and found out Andi was in labor finally begins to abate.
I make a beeline for my girl, dropping my head to hers.
“I told you that you’d both be okay, Angel,” I whisper against her ear. “Nothing could ever take you from me. I refuse to let it.”