We Belong Together

Chapter 18

Beth was trying hard to concentrate on what the officers were saying. Watching one officer place handcuffs on Daryl and lead him out of the apartment door as the officer read him his Miranda rights, She was trying hard to fight the urge to panic. Beth stood there, frozen to the floor, unable to move or utter a sound, as the officers spoke to her. Their words were fuzzy. Jumbled almost. She tried to listen more carefully but she could not. Something about her husband was dead, that they had evidence connecting Daryl to the crime and that several people had heard Daryl threaten Zach earlier in the day. There were several people in her face as they peppered her with questions. She could hardly respond to one when another officer would ask something else. Beth's mind was reeling as they ransacked her home looking for God only knows what but was listed on the search warrant. She felt alone, scared and totally out of control, trying very hard to keep her composure, when a pain hit her in her abdomen area. Just then she felt wetness in between her thighs as thin trickle of liquid slowly started to run down her legs and onto the floor. "Oh, my God!" she said. "I think my water just broke." One of the cops that was standing beside her helped her to the couch and radioed in for an ambulance. "It's ok, Ms. Greene we have an ambulance on its way here to take you to the hospital," the female cop named Lerner said. Beth tried to remember her breathing exercises as another contraction hit her. Finally the ambulance arrived and Beth was laid out on a stretcher as the paramedics wheeled her out of the apartment and into the waiting ambulance. "Can someone call my sister and brother in-law please?" she asked as yet another contraction began. When Beth got to the hospital, the contractions were becoming closer together and lasting only a few minutes apart. She was helped into a hospital gown and hooked up to an IV when she heard her sister's voice. "Bethy, are you ok?" Maggie said, racing into the room. Beth hugged her sister. "They arrested Daryl for Zach's murder," she said trying hard not to cry as she was hooked up to fetal monitors. The baby's heartbeat could be heard in the distance. "I know, Rick called us and said that you were in labor and they had arrested Daryl." "I know it wasn't him, Mags, he was at the shop this afternoon. I talked to him on the phone once when he called to check on me. I had been having some Braxton Hicks and he was worried about me. There's no way he could've done it. I don't know what to do. I don't have the money to get a lawyer and I'm going to have the baby," Beth said as emotion started to overwhelm her and tears began to roll down her cheeks. "Bethy, everything is going to be ok. We'll work this out somehow. I'm going to make a few phone calls and see what I can do. I'll be right back," Maggie said and started to leave the room. "Maggie, please don't leave me. I'm scared." Maggie turned to look back at her sister when their father's voice could be heard. "I'll stay with her while you make those phone calls, Maggie." Beth's face lit up when she saw her father standing in the doorway. Herschel came in and sat beside his youngest daughter as he held her hand. "Everything is going to be ok, Bethy", he said. "We're going to try to help get Daryl out and we'll be here to help you with the baby." Beth let out a sigh of relief as her father hugged her. "Oh daddy, I know he didn't do this and he loves me and the baby. I wish he could be here right now." "I know, Bethy. We all know Daryl didn't do it and someone is setting him up. It's going to be alright. Just concentrate on having the baby," he assured her. The nurse entered into the room just then to check her vitals and how far she was progressing. "You're 5 centimeters dilated," she said. Beth knew that she was halfway there. "Is the baby ok?" Beth asked. "The baby is fine. Everything is as it should be. Can I get you anything?" the nurse asked. "No, I'm fine," as Beth began to cry again. "We're having a little family crisis right now," Herschel said to the young nurse. "It's ok, I can give her some Demerol which will knock the edge off of those contractions and also might make her more calm," she replied. Beth nodded. "Yes, please," she gasped as she began another contraction. "Ohhhhhhhh," she cried out. "Breathe, Bethy," Herschel instructed her. A few minutes later the nurse came in again and added Demerol to her IV bag. After a few minutes, Beth began to relax. Just then the doctor came in followed by Maggie. "Ms. Greene, I'm Dr. Stooky. Dr. Williams isn't on duty today but I'll be delivering your baby. The baby seems to be fine and you're currently at 5 centimeters. We'll keep checking on you periodically and please let us know if there's anything you need." Beth nodded. Her words were a little more than a mere whisper as she spoke "I need drugs....epidural...something....pain." "We can do that. I'll send the anesthesiologist in to give you that epidural. I'll need you to sign some papers though before he comes in. "Fine", she said as she looked over at her sister who was looking like she had something to tell her. When the doctor left, Maggie came and sat down on the side of the bed opposite their father. "Ok, I've contacted Andrea, she's going to go down to the jail to find out what's going on with Daryl and to see if she can straighten this out. Glenn's on his way here, he talked to Rick and asked if he could stop by the apartment and pick up your bag with all your clothes in it for the hospital. They're still looking for evidence so they're going to have to check your suitcase but then he will be able to bring it down here for you," Maggie said as he patted her sister's arm. 

"Push, Bethy," Maggie said as another contraction hit Beth. Panting, Beth tried to push her little one out but laid back on the bed, exhausted. "You're almost there Ms. Greene. Just another push or two and he'll be out." Beth looked at her sister as Maggie wiped her face with a damp cloth. "It's...too...hard....I...can't.." Beth said to her sister. "No, c'mon Bethy, you can do this. Now push!" Beth gave another push. She was extremely tired but knew that with every push she was that much closer to seeing her and Daryl's baby. "Almost there. One more push, Bethy," Beth pushed again. A few seconds later she heard the cry of her newborn son. "Congratulations, it's a boy!" Maggie started to cry as she looked at her sister. "You did it, Bethy. You did it! I'm so proud of you!" her sister exclaimed. The nurse wrapped the baby up tightly in a towel after weighing the infant. "Wow, strong healthy boy, 8 pounds, 7 ounces", the nurse said as she came over with the bundle and handed him to Beth. Beth took the bundle and gently moved the material so that she could see the baby's hands and feet. Silently she counted his toes and fingers to make sure that he had 5 on each foot and hand. The baby looked right up at her as she caressed his face. "He's got Daryl's nose and my mouth," she said looking over at her sister. "He's perfect!" Maggie said. She was a proud Aunt. "I wish Daryl was here to see him." Beth looked like she was going to cry again as Maggie patted her hand. "We're working on it, Beth. Don't think about it right now. Everybody's got a job to do. Yours is taking care of this little one right here", she assured her sister. Beth stared at the little bundle in her arms before the nurse came over and said that she had to take him to get him cleaned up and run some tests. "I'll bring him back soon after we get you cleaned up," she said to Beth. Reluctantly, Beth handed her son over to the nurse. "What are you going to name him, Bethy?" Maggie asked. "Jayden Michael Dixon," she said. "Oh, I like that name. " Maggie said as her sister closed her eyes and passed out, partly from exhaustion and partly from the emotional trauma of the day.