Budapest [Chapter Four]
Monday, October 31st, 2011 11:23 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sectioneightentertainment
CHAPTER FOUR
"What?" A startled Aretha asked Alex. "What do you mean the baby's coming now? I thought you said the baby's not due for at least three more weeks!" Aretha's usual cool, calm and collected demeanor was gone and in her face now showed fear and panic.
Alex had to laugh at that. Her friend Aretha, who's had her share of dangerous encounters. This is the same woman who had participated in a high-speed pursuit while escaping the clutches of the Dublin Metropolitan Police, the same one who single-handedly fought off the Royal guards of the Verdala Palace in Malta with a cutlass and a smile, the same one who laughed and spat in the faces of her torturers when she got nabbed in Myanmar, all that and countless of other sticky situations from jobs she had done in the past. This brave woman is now standing in front of her, panicking and not knowing what to do.
One baby about to be born, and now she's scared! Alex chuckled. "Well, obviously the baby can't tell time yet!" Alex joked just to ease the tension.
Jakob helped her get inside the car."Let's just get me to the hospital! I would hate it if I had to give birth to my child in a Bentley!"
The drive to the hospital was torturous for Alex. When they arrived at the hospital, Alex was ushered into a room, and Aretha was sent to register her. By the time Aretha returned, Alex was already gowned, examined, hooked up to monitors, and was now arguing with the nurse. Alex turned to Aretha,
"Can you please tell them to find me a God damn anesthesiologist!" she yelled.
"Don't curse! The baby can hear you now!" It was Aretha's turn to joke now to keep Alex calm.
The nurse told them it was too early to give Alex anything for the pain. Then the nurse left to fetch the doctor. The doctor arrived later and examined Alex again. He said that Alex would probably deliver within the next 3-4 hours, and to try to relax as much as possible. He would be around to check on her in another hour or so.
Try to relax? Alex wanted to hit the doctor.
"Is there anything I can do for you right now, sweetie?" Aretha asked.
"Yes, actually, there is." Alex replied.
"Name it." said Aretha.
"Find Neal Caffrey and castrate him! Make him a eunuch! Make sure that he doesn't do this to another woman ever again!" Alex was yelling really loud now.
"Uhm, I was thinking more in the lines of ice chips and a cool rag for your forehead, dear." Aretha said as she wiped the sweat from Alex's brow.
Between contractions and the pain, Alex was angry and hurting and sick and was rather rude to anyone who entered the room. Jakob and Edina walked in, and when they tried to greet her, she yelled "Shut Up! Don't talk to me!" She did asked for forgiveness shortly after and was forgiven by the couple.
After a while, the pain started to get worse. Where was the nurse? I want those meds now! The nurse came back and gave her an IV. The nurse had trouble finding a vein. Another nurse checked the internal contraction monitor and found out that Alex was at 8cm. The nurse said it was too late to give her drugs. Boy, did Alex complain. They called the doctor in a hurry.
They then moved Alex to the labor and delivery room. Two doctors arrived and Alex was maneuvered into 'position'. She was fully dilated and was told to push. After several attempts at pushing, Alex almost gave up. For her, it was one of the hardest part of the labor. It took her awhile, but the delivery room nurse was great in helping her. She told Alex how to focus and how to push.
"Okay, Alex, push with the next contraction." she was instructed by one of the doctors.
Alex held her breath, put her chin to her chest and pushed. With each contraction, she pushed three or four times. Between each contraction came the terrible cramping. Sometimes she whimpered, but mostly Alex was silent. She no longer had the energy to yell, curse, or cry, or do any of the things she did earlier. Finally, after one last push, Alex felt the baby slide into this world and saw the doctor lift him up.
"It's a boy!" the doctor said as he cut the umbilical cord.
Alex began to shake uncontrollably and cry. She then laughed with amazement. Her son was born at 12:25 AM, December 25th. The other doctor gave her son a check up. He weighed 9lbs 15oz. and was 19.5 inches long.
Later, back in the recovery room of the maternity ward, Alex stared in awe of baby in her arms. There was no doubt that the boy was Neal Caffrey's son. He had dark brown hair and bright blue eyes. He is the best Christmas present she could ever have. My beautiful baby boy! Alex knew exactly what to name him. Just then, Aretha entered the room after she was told it was okay to go see Alex and the baby.
"Aretha, come here and meet my son!" she said as Aretha moved closer.
"Margaretha Deveraux, I'd like to formally introduce you to Nicholas Leopold Hunter." she said.
"Oh my God, Alex! He's so beautiful!" Aretha gushed.
"Isn't he just? I made him from scratch!" Alex beamed with pride. Aretha arched an eyebrow
"With a little help from the father." she said.
"Nope, I'm fairly certain that I did all the work!" Alex boasted.
And they both laughed. Outside, they heard the hospital staff singing Silent Night.
"Merry Christmas, Alex!" Aretha greeted her.
Merry Christmas, Aretha!" Alex replied.
Then, Nicholas opened his eyes. Alex gave him a gentle kiss on his fore head. She then tearfully whispered to him, "Hello, Nicholas! I'm your Mama. Welcome to the world, my little darling! I am glad you were born. You are healthy, you are safe, and you are loved! "
~FINI~
Footnotes :
***A short but sweet ending to this story, I think. Thank you to all who had read this roller coaster storyline .***
*Originally wrote that Aretha was in the delivery room with Alex, but changed my mind. I didn't think it would be fair to Neal.
*The details from the delivery scene was based on the experiences of my older sister and my sister-in-law.
*The name Nicholas has a double meaning...after St. Nicholas because the baby was born on Christmas Day, and as you may all know, after Nick Halden, one of Neal Caffrey's favourite aliases.
