Page 163 of Lost
“Let’s save Damon from having his head bitten off then,” I suggest. “Lead the way.”
I can already hear Adira’s loud groans as she labors, and Kane jogs upstairs with my medical bag as I follow.
“I have to push!” she screams, and Kane and I run into the pack bedroom.
“I’m here,” I say, forcing my voice to sound calm. She’s on her hands and knees on the bed, and there is in fact a head on its way. “Someone is in a hurry. Let me check to make sure that you’re fully effaced and there’s nothing in the way. You don’t need to move at all.”
Adira complains as I check her quickly, but this baby is doing perfectly fine on her or his own.
“Little pushes now,” I remind her. “Do what feels right.”
“Can I stay like this?” she gasps, referring to being on all fours.
“Absolutely,” I say, lifting a blue chuck pad to slide a new one underneath her. Morris changes his gloves and takes the dirty pad to throw away while Jed crouches by Adira’s face.
“You’ve been doing so good,” he says, pushing away damp hair from her forehead.
“We’re going to have a baby,” Damon whispers in awe beside me.
“Yes we are. Glove up and come catch your son or daughter with me,” I instruct. “Kane, you’re on picture duty. Don’t get in her way or she’ll yell at you, okay?”
‘“Yes, ma’am,” Damon and Kane say together, doing as I ask.
Adira is going to want these photos later, even if they’re just on someone’s phone. Damon gets on the bed behind Adira next to me with a pair of gloves, his eyes wide.
“She’s in so much pain,” he whispers, looking sick. “She can’t shield me from it through the bond.”
It reminds me of the odd bond I have with my sister. I may not be able to be anywhere near her when she’s in labor if she ever has kids because of it.
“Are you okay to help? That’s good, Adira. The head is almost out,” I tell her.
“I can do it,” he says, gritting his teeth hard.
“I can’t…It burns,” Adira cries out.
“You can do this,” Jed says. “Breathe, baby.”
Morris watches closely, swallowing hard as the baby’s head approaches its widest part.
“Don’t you pass out on me,” I warn him.
Kane dutifully takes photos with his phone, quieter than a mouse and stoic. No one enjoys watching their loved one in pain, and it is harder when the bond reflects it through to you.
Morris shakes his head as he continues to watch.
“There’s a lot of blood,” he rasps.
“It’s normal. Your job is going to be to change these out for me, okay?” I ask.
“Ahh!” Adira screams, pushing.
“Be as loud as you need to be,” I tell her. “You’re doing great. One more push should do for the head.”
Damon is mesmerized despite the mirrored pain, and I hope Kane manages to take a photo of his face. The awe of his child being born is amazing.
The baby’s head is out and I grab Damon’s hands to help support it.
“Shit,” he breathes.
