14. Nova
Nova
I forced her to help Janelle first since she still hadn’t woken up.
My labor was progressing normally, and I wasn’t in any immediate danger, it was only right.
Unfortunately for me she refused to give me an epidural.
I was only six centimeters, but Dr. Gibson feared that if we had an emergency and had to evacuate, I wouldn’t be able to be moved easily.
We already had to deal with moving Janelle if something happened.
Every contraction felt like I was being ripped apart.
The back pain that had been no more than a nuisance a day ago had become intense pressure and sharp cramps that radiated from my lower stomach down to my thighs.
No position was comfortable, I had tried lying on my side, my back, I even sat on the birthing ball. Nothing was working.
“Breathe sweetheart, it won’t be long now.” Pops said
“I’m trying to breathe but your great grandson is trying to bulldoze his way out of me.” I huffed.
Focus Nova. Breathe through the pain.
“Just like a Sanderson man. All brawn and bulk, no finesse.” He said.
“Well, I wouldn’t say that. Crew definitely finessed me into the situation I’m in,” I said attempting to smile through the pain. “What’s happening out there. If you guys are in here, Crew must have been able to negotiate some sort of truce.”
Pops took a deep calming breath and then said. “The only thing you need to be worried about is bringing Peace Keron Sanderson into the world. Everything else will work itself out.”
“At least tell me if he’s ok.”
“He’s fine. I promise. Now focus on the baby.” He sighed, patting my hand.
Out of nowhere chaos erupted again when Janelle's monitor sounded with the tell-tale beep of a flat line.
Del threw herself over her body and screamed, clawing at the gown that was covering her, she begged her to wake up.
My body tightened and tensed so hard at the sight before me that my water broke, followed by an immense sense of pressure.
“Ughhhh.” I groaned, watching the medic, Dr. Gibson and Mecca start CPR on Janelle as Pops held Del back so they could work.
“Nova what’s wrong?” Tyra asked, as I watched the scene unfold.
“My water broke. I think I need to push.” I panted. “I’m ok. I’m ok. Help Janelle.”
Tyra rushed into nurse mode, calling for Kema and getting between my legs to check my cervix again. She instructed Kema on how to help, while she gloved up to check me.
“You’re almost ready to push.” She said “I can’t do this. I need Crew. I need him.” I cried.
What the fuck was going on I couldn’t bring my son into a room where one of my friends, my family was dying.
This was too much for me. I clamped my eyes shut and breathed through my mouth panting and blowing the air out of my lungs.
I clenched my muscles trying not to give in to the urge to push.
When that didn’t help, I held my breath like a petulant child until Tyra slapped me on the cheek hard enough to knock me out of my breakdown.
“Bitch did you just slap me?” I asked staring at her like she had lost her fucking mind. Or maybe it was me that had momentarily lost it.
“Damn right I slapped you. Now snap out of whatever mini melt down yo’ ass is having.
We have a baby to deliver. Forget all the fucked-up shit that is going on around you right now.
You do what Pops said and focus on Peace.
Please Nova focus on your son. We’re gonna help you up on the birthing bar and you are going to deliver our baby okay. ”
They both helped me to get into position, so that my weight was resting on the bar and gravity would take over when I started to push.
I looked over at the other bed and watched as they continued CPR on Janelle.
Her limp body was like a rag doll under their hands as they fought to bring her back.
Now I was about to do the same and fight to bring my baby here.
“Nova, when the next contraction hits, bare down and push.” Tyra said.
I listened, tucking my chin to my chest and pushed with everything I had when the painful contraction rocked my core.
“Ahhhh.” I screamed. It felt like my lower half was being bathed in fire.
But I kept on pushing, Kema and Tyra coaching me through each contraction demanding that I keep going despite Crew not being here and death circling about.
I pushed and panted with all my might, taking short breaks between my contractions to catch my breath.
The pain was almost unbearable, but I kept feeding on the love and encouragement of the people in this room.
“That’s right you’re doing it.” Kema said, wiping sweat from my forehead.
“I can see his head. Look at all that hair. Come on Nova, one more.” Tyra cooed.
I bore down hard and groaned as the burning in my vagina turned to a blazing ring of fire and popping sensation and then sweet relief when Tyra and Dr. Gibson yelled at the same time.
“Wait Nova, don’t push. The cord is around his neck. Kema, hold this right here while I get it off.” She said.
“Clear.” Dr. Gibson shouted.
I watched in horror as Janelle’s Body arched off the bed from the jolt of electric current that was sent into her body. Once, twice and then nothing.
“Nova, did you hear me? I said push.” Tyra screamed.
“Ughhhhh.” I groaned, feeling every bone in my pelvis separate to make way for his body to slip through and then he was here.
“Oh my God, Nova. Look at my nephew. He’s so handsome.” Tyra sniffled and suctioned his airway. “He’s perfect.”
Just as she spoke his praise, he let out a loud cry, strong and clear from his tiny chest. And when his eyes opened my heart melted.
He had stormy gray eyes like his father, like thunder clouds at sea.
Tears rolled down my cheeks as Kema helped me into a lying position on the bed and opened my gown so that Tyra could place Peace on my chest. The skin-to-skin contact, instantly soothed him, his little mouth opening and closing in a yawn like he was the one that did all the work to get him here.
“She’s in sinus.” Dr. Gibson shouted as she pushed something into Janelle’s IV.
The monitors showed a strong, steady rhythm that made the tears I had cried for my son that much sweeter.
Once she gave Tyra and the medic instruction she came over and assessed me and Peace while Kema got us both cleaned up.
When she was done, she left my side to talk to Mecca.
Their hushed tones couldn’t be heard over Dr. Gibson’s question.
The adrenaline that had been pumping through me during the birth and Janelle’s resuscitation was quickly waning, making my body shudder with a wave of exhaustion.
I felt as though I had run a marathon in the last 30 minutes.
I felt someone grip my hand and look over to see Pops smiling at me and the baby.
“You did a good job, Nova. Thank you so much for taking a chance on my grandson.” He said, placing a kiss on both of our foreheads before stepping back.
Mecca and Tyra’s voices grew louder until they both turned to me with sad eyes before Mecca spoke. “Nova, we need to move to another location not far from here. Pops, can you get the kids. It's time to move.”
Pops left out of the door without a word and then everyone else went to work.
It seemed as if each person had been given a job already and they were determined to finish it.
When they had completed their task and there was no one left but me, the large guard and my son, things became real.
Too real if I was being exact. It hit me that we wouldn't be waiting for Crew and the twins.
This is what he had asked of me before he left.
The thing that I had promised, but I wanted to say no.
To demand that the guards still in the building go out and bring him back.
I wouldn't do that though. I had given Crew my word and he had given me his.
He would come back to us and when he did his family would be safe.
“We’re ready. I think I'll be able to walk with the baby. There's not that much pain now that he's out of me. I’m only a little sore.” I said as the sound of shifting metal and the quake of an explosion snapped my head towards the monitors showing the scene outside but they’re all black.
Crew intentionally turned them off when he left. He didn’t want me to see, to worry.
“We have to go, now.” Kema said, helping me off the bed and out of the door.
There were no flames or the scent of smoke, so the explosion had to be outside but close enough for it to rock this building. I say a quick prayer to protect us from any and all enemies.
“Where are we going?” I asked as we descended the stairs to the command center with the baby clutched to my chest.
“There’s a panic room right under us, sitting directly under the medical suite.
The room is twice the size, soundproof and fireproof.
Once the door is closed it can only be opened from the inside.
If needed, we would be good for a month, but we’ll only need it for two days or however long it takes for Crew and my brothers to get here. ” Mecca said.
Stepping over the threshold to the panic room was like stepping into another world.
The room was exactly like Mecca said, large, spacious and equipped with everything we would need to survive for days down here.
As soon as I came into view with the baby Timberly and DJ burst from the couch and rushed over to see him.
I sat the baby in the bassinet by the sofa and took in the room as they cooed at him.
The quiet in the room amongst the adults was a careful balance between exhaustion and relief.
We had all gone through so much in a short amount of time and came out on the other side changed.
Crew had made sure we would be safe while he was out there defending us and all we could do now was trust and believe that they would come back to us in one piece.