“Move your asses!” Nancy screamed as Mike charged the work crew, still picking up speed. Bruce glanced ahead at the heavy machinery, knowing there was no way it could move out of the way. He grimaced as Stephanie somehow squeezed his pectoral muscle harder.
As Nancy aimed her pistol up in the air and started squeezing off rounds, Mike jerked the wheel, driving into the ditch. Holding Stephanie, Bruce used his arms like shock absorbers, holding her steady as the Suburban bounced into the ditch, throwing up showers of dirt and the work crew dove for cover, clearing them a path.
Buffy rolled down her window as they drove past the work crew, “I’m coming back to kick your ass!” she yelled as Mike sped past them.
A loud roar sounded and Bruce glanced out his window to see a Stryker speed past them. “Mike, you’re driving like Miss Daisy, fucking step on the gas,” Nancy said, rolling up her window and changing magazines.
Hurtling through the ditch, Mike eased the Suburban back to the road then stomped the gas, but the Stryker sped off, cutting across the field the old runway was on. “Damn it, Stephanie, breathe,” Angela snapped.
Letting out her breath like a bellow, Stephanie’s eyes looked weary and Bruce felt his lap get soaked. “Mike, not to sound like a bitch, but you need to hurry, my lap is wet now,” Bruce said, wincing as Stephanie held the death grip on his chest.
Bruce’s truck zoomed past them like they were standing still and Nancy glanced at Mike. “I’m not delivering a baby in this truck so move it, or I’ll throw away the ruby slippers,” Nancy said calmly. “You have been passed by a Stryker and a truck full of our kids, move your ass.”
The engine let out a roar as Mike put his foot through the floorboard, but Bruce’s truck was still pulling away. “It won’t do them no good to get there before us, we have the patients!” Mike yelled.
A line of dump trucks were ahead of them and Bruce’s truck passed them then locked up the brakes and power slid, taking a road to the left. “That’s Jake driving,” Buffy grinned, rubbing Stephanie’s head.
“Oh my God, it’s a watermelon!” Stephanie screeched and Bruce almost passed out. Not from Stephanie squeezing his chest, but from the statement.
Grabbing the shifter, Mike down shifted and tapped the brakes, power sliding to take the turn. “This is bullshit!” Stephanie grunted, holding her breath.
“Don’t push,” Bruce groaned, wishing she would let go of his chest.
“Fuck that! I want them out!” Stephanie yelled as Mike passed Bruce’s truck, still picking up speed.
Ahead of them, the Stryker busted out of the trees driving into the ditch and actually going airborne, bouncing on the road. A tall tree complete with branches and roots was caught underneath and being dragged along. “Very good, Mike,” Nancy said as they passed the Stryker and glanced back at Stephanie’s purple face. “Stephanie, quit pushing!” she snapped.
“It hurts,” Stephanie panted, going limp in Bruce’s arms.
“Bruce, is she crowning?” Nancy asked.
“Have no idea and I’m not going to check,” Bruce said, holding his chin up. Stephanie was still holding his chest, but not as tight now.
Tapping the brakes, Mike slowed and power slid into New Hope, aiming the Suburban at the front entrance of the hospital. “Hold on,” Mike snapped and stomped on the brakes and jerked the steering wheel. The Suburban jerked to the left and slid sideways across the loading zone for the hospital with a squeal of tires. Skidding to a stop a few yards from the ramp, Mike jerked the shifter into park.
“Nancy, run in and get a stretcher!” he shouted, jumping out. Opening Bruce’s door, Mike stepped back as Bruce climbed out and Stephanie sucked in a breath through pursed lips with wide eyes as the pain hit again. Mike looked at Stephanie’s face then at Bruce’s and noticed he had the same expression as he took off running.
Reaching in, Mike picked up Angela in his arms and took off after Bruce. “Stephanie, breathe,” Angela yelled as Mike followed Bruce. Behind them, Bruce’s truck skidded to a halt and the rest of the kids piled out and the Stryker roared up, stopping with Ted and Carl jumping out.
Buffy was holding the door open and waving Bruce inside. “Give me that fucking stretcher!” Nancy yelled from inside. Bruce skidded to a stop as Nancy came running at him, pushing a stretcher.
Putting Stephanie on the stretcher, Bruce looked at Stephanie. “Let go of my chest,” he begged and Stephanie shook her head with a grimace on her face.
Not waiting for anything, Nancy pushed the stretcher down the hall as Bruce ran along the side and Stephanie held a death grip on his chest. An aide stepped out in the hall, hearing the commotion, and dove back in the door he’d stepped out of as Nancy sped down the hall.
“I need a labor team now!” Nancy yelled, turning down the next hallway.
“I want morphine!” Stephanie screamed then collapsed back on the stretcher, panting. “Just shoot me,” she moaned.
Bursting into the labor room, Nancy skidded to a halt as Stance came running in with other nurses. “Stephanie, let go of Bruce, so we can get you on the table,” she said, dropping the side rails on the stretcher.
Stephanie sat up, sucking in a breath and gripping Bruce’s chest hard again. Bruce picked her up off the stretcher and carried her over to the labor bed. “Somebody get some God damn drugs!” he bellowed as Mike busted in with Angela in his arms.
Nurses ran over with scissors cutting Stephanie’s clothes off as Mike put Angela down. “Stephanie, breathe and stop pushing,” Angela said, moving over and grabbing Stephanie’s wrist, prying her hand off Bruce’s chest.
When her hand came off, Bruce stepped back, dropping to his knees as Angela winced when Stephanie squeezed her hand. “Shit,” Bruce moaned getting up as Mike came over, shoving scrubs in his chest.
“Change,” Mike yelled and started yanking his clothes off. Letting the scrubs drop, Bruce started stripping.
“Give me an IV and I’ll put the damn thing in!” Stephanie yelled.
Mike looked up as Bruce stripped and saw his left pec was red in the shape of a hand print, “Damn,” he mumbled then saw a nurse looking at Stephanie’s arm, but not doing anything. In his underwear and boots, Bruce ran over, pushing the nurse out of the way that was working on an IV. Grabbing the needle, Bruce wiped Stephanie’s arm with alcohol, plunging the needle in.
“IV, left forearm,” Bruce yelled and taped the catheter down. “Somebody give her something before I do.”
With a syringe in her hand, Stance pushed him out of the way and hooked the syringe up. “Breathe, Stephanie,” she said calmly, pushing the plunger down.
“Fu-,” Stephanie started then got a lopsided grin of relief, collapsing back with a sigh.
A nurse ran over handing Angela some scrubs as Nancy came over, taking Stephanie’s hand. “Some people in here need to leave,” Stance yelled as the stirrups were put up and Stephanie’s legs were put in them.
“Stance, you stay down there and catch the baby,” Angela snapped, pulling the scrub top on. Bruce came over and helped her put on the bottoms. “We’ll stay up here.”
Bruce stood up as Angela tied the pants and he moved over to the head of the bed. “I’m here,” Bruce said, rubbing Stephanie’s head.
“Where’s Angela?” Stephanie panted. Nancy let go of Stephanie’s hand as Angela grabbed it.
“I’m here,” Angela said and Stephanie’s eyes grew big as she sucked in a breath. Moving from the head of the bed to the right side, Bruce pried Stephanie’s hand off the bed and let her squeeze his hand as he held hers.
“Stephanie, quit pushing,” Stance said, sitting down on a stool between her legs.
Letting out a gasp of air, Stephanie collapsed back on the stretcher. “Get them out,” Stephanie panted.
“You’re doing good, Little Red,” Bruce said, rubbing her head.
“Stephanie, don’t push, I have to turn your baby,” Stance said and Bruce gave a shudder.
“Fuck!” Stephani
e screamed, trying to sit up. “Bruce, make them be good!”
Bruce looked down at Stance as she worked and started feeling lightheaded. “Bruce!” Angela snapped. “You don’t look down there!”
Jerking his eyes back to Stephanie, Bruce started breathing, “Breathe with me, Little Red.”
Falling back on the stretcher, Stephanie panted as Angela leaned over, “You can do this,” she said and started breathing with Bruce.
“I’m a pussy, just get them out,” Stephanie panted then started breathing with them as Mike came in, pushing two newborn tables.
“Okay Stephanie, on the next one, push,” Stance said.
Taking a deep breath, Stephanie’s body became ridged. “Good girl,” Bruce said.
“I have the head,” Stance said proudly as Stephanie let out a grunt and a small cry filled the room. “It’s a boy! Bruce, do you want to cut the cord?”
“Hell, no. I’m not coming down there,” he snapped, not taking his eyes off Stephanie’s face as she collapsed back, panting.
“I have him,” Nancy said, moving over and taking the baby as Stance cut the cord.
With a weary look, Stephanie turned to Bruce. “I want to name that one Joshua,” she panted and Bruce grinned.
“You can name it whatever you like,” he said caressing her face. “Like I told Debbie, you did the work. But I do like the name.”
“Stephanie, on the next one, push again,” Stance said.
Rolling her eyes, Stephanie nodded, “I thought twins would be easier,” she panted.
“You’re doing good, Stephanie,” Angela said, wiping her eyes as she held Stephanie’s hand.
“Oh shit,” Stephanie moaned with a grunt and Bruce winced in referred pain, seeing the grimace on her face.
Collapsing back, Stephanie panted, “Stephanie, you have to push harder,” Stance said.
“Just reach in and get it,” Stephanie whimpered, rolling her head side to side. “I don’t want to do this anymore.”
“Come on, Stephanie, one more time,” Angela said softly, reaching up and caressing Stephanie’s head.
Gritting her teeth, Stephanie grunted hard. “Good, here comes the head,” Stance said proudly.
Another cry filled the room as Stephanie collapsed back, panting. “Finally,” she panted.
Leaning over, Bruce kissed her head as Stance announced it was a boy and passed the baby to Nancy. “What’s this one’s name?” Bruce asked.
“Isaac,” Stephanie said groggily.
“You didn’t have to use the names Debbie picked out, you know,” he said then kissed her forehead.
“I liked the names,” she grinned as Bruce looked over at Angela. She looked up at Bruce with a smile, then gave a little wince.
“You okay?” he asked.
“I just peed on myself,” she huffed.
“Stephanie, I need you to push one more time,” Stance said.
“There’s another one?” Stephanie cried out.
“No baby,” Bruce grinned. “You have to push out the placenta.”
“Just leave it and the next one can use it,” Stephanie panted.
Angela gave a snort, “Stephanie, one more time,” she chuckled.
Bruce looked over at Angela grinning and saw Nancy inspecting the babies over in the corner. Before turning back to Stephanie, Bruce saw Mike walk over and tap Nancy on the shoulder. When Nancy looked at him, Mike pointed at Angela as Stephanie gave a grunt.
Looking back at Stephanie, Bruce held his breath as Stephanie’s face turned red with her effort. “Very good, Stephanie,” Stance said and Stephanie collapsed back on the bed.
Leaning over, Bruce kissed Stephanie as Mike ran out of the room. Looking over at Angela, he saw her wincing. Leaning further over, Bruce looked down and saw her scrubs between her legs were soaked. “Angela,” he said.
“I just peed,” she snapped, grimacing with her eyes closed.
“You haven’t peed that much at one time in a month,” Bruce said, moving around the head of the bed never letting Stephanie’s hand go.
“I’m not leaving her till she’s done,” Angela said with a grunt.
The doors busted in with Mike pushing another labor table. “Angela, she only had two babies in there. She’s done,” Bruce said, touching Angela’s belly and jerked his hand back feeling it was hard as a rock.
“The other delivery room is full,” Mike said, stopping the table and locking the wheels.
“I’m not leaving,” Angela said, sucking in a breath.
Stephanie looked at Angela’s face and let go of Bruce’s hand. “Bruce, grab her,” she shouted.
Scooping Angela up in his arms as she started to fall, Bruce went to turn, but Angela didn’t let go of Stephanie’s hand. “I’m not leaving her!” Angela shouted.
Before he could answer, the doors swung open and Carroll walked in, wearing scrubs. A nurse ran over blocking her path. Raising her hand, Carroll pointed at the young man. “I’ve been birthing babies long before yo’ momma and daddy been born,” she snapped. “You best be movin’ before I gets a switch.”
The young man jumped out of her way and Carroll moved over beside Bruce. “Angela, you ain’t goin’ nowhere,” she said calmly, grabbing Angela’s hand and prying her grip off Stephanie. “She will be here with ya,” Carroll said as Bruce carried her over to the other table, setting her down.
Carroll moved down to Stance. “I be havin’ this. You gonna have to take that young un from her,” she said, pushing Stance out of the way with her hips.
“Prep for C-section,” Stance yelled and started ripping off her OR gown.
“Mike, move that table closer to Stephanie,” Carroll said, sitting down on the stool and moving between Stephanie’s legs.
“How’s my babies?” Stephanie yelled out.
“They are good, Stephanie,” Nancy called out. “All APGARs were over 8. Joshua weighs five pounds, one ounce and Isaac weighs four pounds, fifteen ounces.”
Leaning over, Bruce kissed Stephanie, “I’m going to check on Angela,” he said then moved over as nurse put the monitor across Angela’s belly.
“This doesn’t feel right, Bruce,” she said with tears in her eyes.
“You’re not dilated, Angela,” Stance said between her legs.
“Doctor, we have late decels with very little variability,” a nurse called out.
“Where is the anesthesiologist?” Stance asked, putting on a new gown.
“Crash C-section next door,” someone yelled.
Nancy moved over to Angela. “Baby, I need you to roll over on your side,” Nancy said, patting her cheek. “Get me an epidural set up,” she said, moving over to the sink.
“Ow,” Angela cried out and everyone looked at her to see a nurse attempting to get an IV. When he pulled the needle out and put gauze over the area, Angela raised her head up. “You get one more damn chance, then it’s someone else’s turn,” she snapped.
Moving around the table, Bruce hit the nurse with his hips, grabbing another needle. “Just because you’re my husband, doesn’t mean you get more chances,” Angela said, closing her eyes.
Smiling, Bruce popped the IV in, “Tape, please,” he said and Angela opened her eyes.
“You haven’t lost your touch,” Angela said with a smile then winced.
“Stephanie, we have to move you and the babies out,” Stance said as Nancy came over, putting on a gown.
“Bullshit, bitch,” Stephanie snapped.
“Hey!” Bruce snapped and everyone looked at him. “I’m the motherfucker in charge of this shit show and she stays put.”
The staff looked at him with wide eyes as he turned to the door. “Ted! Carl!” he shouted and the door opened and the two poked their heads in. “Ted, find a room and have two beds put in there for Angela and Stephanie. Any resistance, you will stomp someone’s ass. Carl, anyone attempts to come in that door to move Stephanie without me, you are to view it as a kidnapping. Do you understand your orders?”
/> “Yes, sir,” they snapped and let the doors close.
Feeling someone grab his arm, he looked down to see Angela smiling up at him. “Thank you,” she said with a grimace.
Bruce smiled, leaning over and kissing her. “Angela,” Nancy said, wiping Angela’s back down. “It’s been a while, so bear with me.”
“Okay,” Angela winced. “Go check on Stephanie,” she said, closing her eyes. Kissing her, Bruce walked around the bed as Mike moved up beside Nancy.
“Whatcha’ need?” he asked.
Holding her finger on Angela’s spine, Nancy grabbed the catheter.
“Nothing. Angela, take a breath and hold still,” she said then pushed the needle in. “I’m in,” Nancy said, putting the needle on the table.
“Nice,” Mike said, handing Nancy supplies.
“Hey, hitting an adult is easy,” Nancy said. “I’ve done many of these infusing chemo on kids and it’s really hard to explain to a three-year-old why they have to stay still while you shove a needle in their back.”
Leaning over, Mike kissed Nancy on the head, “You did good, baby,” he said softly then helped Angela roll back over.
Rolling the babies over, Bruce stopped beside the bed and picked up one bundle. “Here is Joshua,” he said, passing the baby to Stephanie.
“Were you the one kicking me in the back?” she cried, taking the bundle.
Picking up the other baby, “Here is Isaac,” Bruce said, snuggling the baby then passing it to Stephanie.
“My little boys,” she said, crying. An alarm sounded from across the room and Bruce turned around. “What’s that?” Stephanie asked.
“The baby monitor,” he said then kissed Stephanie and the babies.
“I know that, but what does it mean?” she huffed.
“Hey, I’m not a baby nurse, I have no idea,” he said, turning back around.
Stance moved beside the table, “Can you feel this, Angela?” she asked, touching Angela’s belly.
“No,” Angela said, sniffling.
“I’m here, Angela,” Stephanie called out. “Bruce, move your ass get over there with her,” she snapped and Bruce moved beside Angela, grabbing her hand.
Looking down at Angela, he wiped her tears off and the alarm quit. “We have variability and baby’s heartrate is picking up. What did you do, Stance?” someone called out.
Blue Plague (Book 7): Hope Page 50