Episode 22

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Episode 22

Scene 1:

Jamie finished his breakfast and looked at his watch. The appointment was set for 9 am and his nerves were fairly shot just at the thought of it. By this time tomorrow, there would be a new baby in the Mason household. He wasn't sure if he were nervous, scared or excited. Chris and Jesse ate their cereal quietly for a change, knowing today was an important day. Michaela walked into the kitchen and looked at him.

"Ready?" He asked giving her a small nervous smile.

Michaela sighed deeply, wishing for the last time that this baby would just come rather than being forced out. For some reason that seemed so unnatural, and she almost felt guilty, as though the baby had some reason as to why did didn't want to be born. She knew it was foolishness, and smiled at her husband's greeting, although her smile was tight and forced.

"Ready as I'll ever be," she replied. "You boys ready to have your new brother or sister?"

"I don't want her to be loud," Jesse declared, shoveling another spoonful of cereal in his mouth.

"Well, you're out of luck on that one, bub," Michaela laughed. "But I'm sure if you play with the baby and help out, it won't be as loud." In some ways Michaela was trying to comfort herself. It had been over four years since she had dealt with a baby, and it had been a completely different life. Everything was different now.

"Will you be home tonight?" Chris asked jumping up and running over to Michaela. "Will you bring the baby home with you?" He wrapped his thin arms around Michaela as best as he could, looking up into her face. Jamie felt sorry for him for a moment.

"I'm afraid she won't be home tonight, Chris," he said standing.

"Tomorrow?" Chris asked hopefully turning his back to Jamie.

Michaela wanted to pick her son up and cuddle him, but it was impossible in her condition. Instead she knelt wobbly and kissed him, holding him tightly. "I should be home tomorrow, sweetie, but if I'm not, you'll be able to come up and see me and the baby. I promise." She then held her arm out for Jesse as well, and he scampered over to join the hug. Michaela savored the feel and scent of her sons, her only children, for as long as she could because she knew the next time she came home, she wouldn't be able to give them all of her attention. Again, guilt washed over her, and she looked up into Jamie's eyes for reassurance. She wasn't sure what she would have done without him through all of this. He was her rock.

Jamie nodded slightly and put a hand on the boys' heads turning them towards him. "Okay you two hooligans. Dinah is here to baby-sit while we're gone. I want you both to behave. If everything goes well, I'll come home and take you back to see the new baby. Okay?" They had purposely not told the boys, Chris especially, that all of this would be happening in the hospital. Chris' fear of hospitals was still very real and Jesse was afraid of everything Chris was.

"Okay," Chris said letting go of Michaela's hand. "Bring us another boy to play with, 'k Mommy?"

Michaela laughed. "I'll do my best, Chris, but I think God already made his choice." She then leaned down to whisper, "And I don't think arguing with God is a good idea." She giggled at the thought, then stiffly straightened up, with some help from Jamie. "Whatever the case, you two will be terrific big brothers. And when the baby comes home we'll all have ice cream to celebrate!" She threw out that clincher, knowing with ice cream, nothing -- even a baby sister -- could be that bad.

Chris nodded and smiled bravely. He didn't like this at all. Dad hadn't told him, but Cameron Fincher at school had said that babies come from hospitals and Chris knew all about hospitals. They were bad, so babies must be bad too. He wrapped an arm around Jesse's shoulders and put on a brave face. "I'll make sure Jesse doesn't make a mess," he said as adult as he could.

Jamie, trying not to smile, rumpled Chris' hair before moving by him to open the door for Michaela. "Just remember, Mom said ice cream if you're good!" He nodded at Dinah, who had been waiting outside. "Thanks again, Dinah."

"Sure, Mr. Mason, anytime," the girl replied stepping past Jamie to where Chris and Jesse stood. "We're going to have a great time. Good luck Mrs. Mason!"

"Thanks!" Michaela's voice was incredibly chipper -- she was amazed herself. "I hope they do okay with this," she said quietly to Jamie as they headed out to the car. "I'm so scared that this is somehow going to set Chris back."

"I think it'll be fine," Jamie said as he helped her into the passenger side of the car. "Chris has matured a lot since Colorado. Give him a chance to get used to the idea and it'll be fine. Besides, it isn't like he has much of a choice," Jamie added, closing the door. They had packed her overnight bag and put it in the car the night before. He had even arranged for a private birthing room filled with flowers for her. Everything was ready.

Michaela nodded, breathing deeply, although her hard-learned (or re-learned as it were) Lamaze classes now an apparent waste. "I just hope they don't have to do a c-section," she said, squeezing Jamie's hand. "The last thing I need is to be cut open."

"Well, the doctor said you were doing fine. Everything is going to be fine, Mick. No worries, okay? In fact in a couple of hours this will all be over and we'll have our first child together. And in case, I haven't told you lately, I love you."

"I love you too," Michaela breathed the words out, more terrified than ever. Come on, Micki, she told herself. You've done this before... "Well, here we are... let's get our baby out." She gritted her teeth and tried to think happy, calming thoughts as she climbed out of the car. Most certainly different from Jesse's birth. She'd gone into labor 3 1/2 weeks early, while walking around outside the shelter for wayward girls that she had been staying. It had been panicked and rushed. Nothing like this. This was surreal.

Jamie filled out the necessary paperwork while Michaela was whisked away from him and taken to the birthing room. He had no idea what was involved with inducing labor, but he hoped she could manage. She'd been a bit anxious lately though she denied it. He knew she was as nervous as he was. He'd never been through the baby part, having been denied that part of Chris' life. She had that over him at least. The paperwork took twenty minutes total and he shook his head as he made his way to Michaela, thinking how easy it was to forget about the red tape of hospital drudgery.

Michaela was led up to the birthing room, which looked very comfortable and home-like. She changed into her nightgown and got comfortable, waiting for the doctor to come and examine her. She wished that Jamie were there for the initial examination, but he was apparently still caught up in paperwork. The doctor was pleasant, but direct, feeling Michaela's stomach, her smile fading slightly as she continued her examination. "I'll be right back, Mrs. Mason," she said, brushing past Jamie as she walked out, scribbling on her chart.

Jamie glanced over his shoulder at the doctor before entering the room. "Hey baby," he said easing onto the bed next to her. "How's it going so far? What did I miss?"

"I don't know," Michaela frowned. "The doctor didn't look too happy..." Jamie squeezed her shoulder reassuringly.

"It's going to be okay, Micki. Everything is going to be just fine," he told her, hoping that his own worry hadn't crept into his voice. Everything had to be all right.