Page 46 of Be With Me
“They’re on the couch, Danny,” she told him as she gasped and looked at her watch. “I need the hospital. I’m only ten minutes apart right now but they were closer when I called.”
“Whether they’re ten, five or twenty minutes, you need the hospital. We’re taking you there. Got the bags, Danny?”
Danny walked out of the living room with the diaper bag over one shoulder, Debbie’s bag on the other. “Got them.”
Debbie slid her feet into the flip flops and moved toward the door. Mackey came up behind her and picked her up. “Mackey! I can walk.”
“Faster to carry you,” he answered, and moved quickly to his car. Debbie watched Danny closed the house up over Mackey’s shoulder then lowered her head. Luny’s guys had her. She was safe.
§ § §
Mooney’s leg wouldn’t stop bouncing. Mallory had been totally agreeable about leaving as soon as they could. The instructors had let them take the test instead of doing PT and they were on the road by eight. Mallory sped down I-95; he’d told Mooney there was no way in hell that he was allowing him to drive, he shouldn’t be behind the wheel in his condition. They were about an hour and a half out. Mooney pulled out his phone and tried calling Debbie. When it went straight to voicemail, he called Mackey.
“Sergeant MacNamara’s phone,” a voice answered. He thought he recognized it.
“Spook?”
“Mooney? Where the hell are you?” Spook shot back.
“About an hour and a half out. Debbie’s not answering her phone. Is she okay?” Mooney looked over and saw the needle on the speedometer go higher.Thank you, Mallory.
“She’s fine. Mackey and Danny are with her. He answered a call and when it wasn’t you, Debbie ripped him a new one, hence I’ve got his phone. Danny stepped out about ten minutes ago and gave us an update. She’s not dilated all the way. Whatever that means,” Spook told him.
“Means that the birth—” Mooney started to explain. They’d learned all that in the birth classes they took.
“La la la, not listening.”
Mooney started laughing, releasing some of the tension he’d been holding, just imagining the big, bad SF guy covering his ears.
“If one of them comes out, tell them I’m almost there,” Mooney said.
“I will. Tell Mallory to drive safe. You’ve got some special people waiting for you.” Spook hung up.
§ § §
Debbie laid back on the bed, exhausted. Her contractions were coming about four minutes apart now but last check, she wasn’t dilated completely. Mackey and Danny were troopers. Neither had left her side for more than five minutes since they’d gotten to Womack.
“Where’s Luny? Do you know?” She licked her lips and Danny held a spoon of ice chips to her mouth.
“I’ll go see if he’s called. Be right back,” Mackey said, tapping her hand before letting go. Debbie winced. She’d been a bit nasty to him when he’d answered his phone. Maybe she owed him an apology but first these little ones needed to come out.
“You’re doing great, Debbie,” Danny coached as she gritted her teeth through another contraction. She looked up as she heard the door open. Dr. Brandson walked in the room. Surprisingly, he’d been her doctor the entire pregnancy which wasn’t normal in a military hospital.
“Let’s see how you’re doing, Debbie.” He sounded way too chipper. She might have to kill him or have the guys do it. He sat down pulling on gloves and went to move the sheet up to her waist. Danny turned his back to the doctor so fast, she was shocked he didn’t fall over.
“Nice balance, Danny.” She focused on him to distract her from the doctor.
The doctor did something for a minute then tapped her on her leg. “Okay, I don’t see any progress. What do you think of Pitocin?” he suggested.
Debbie breathed through a contraction before answering, “I’d rather not.” She’d heard nasty things about Pitocin.
“If there’s not progress in the next thirty minutes, I want to do an ultrasound to see how the boys are doing. I’m not overly concerned if they come today, but I want to check on them,” Brandson said as he stood up, flicking the gloves into the trash. “Do you know where dad is?”
“Mackey just went to check,” Danny told him before asking, “is it safe to turnaround?”
“How about you go to the waiting room instead?” Luny recommended as he stepped up to the side of the bed and gave her a short kiss.
“Luny!” Debbie exclaimed which turned into a scream as another contraction hit.
