Slugger (Sequel to 'The Jet') Benny Rodriguez

Chapter 31

Passing out on a plane is scary, but passing out on a plane because you went into labor during the flight is even scarier. The flight attendants crowded around you as you dozed in and out of conciousness, trying to keep you steady while the plane landed.

Normally it was advised against to travel a lot in the third trimester of pregnancy, but due to the fact that your tour was over, you really needed to get home to your family. It had been practically agonizing to half to go about this whole thing without Benny. He always made everything worth while. Doing it without him was hard, and stressful. The most stressful thing was being pregnant on top of everything else.

When the plane landed, you remembered being conscious for only a few minutes on the way to the hospital. When you got there you were jerked awake by the pain of a contraction rolling through your body  like a freight train, reaking havoc on every muscle it could get to.

Now the pain of everything was brought to fruition when realizing that you were here, and in pain.... and Benny was no where to be found. He should he right here, holding your hand, but he isn't.

You lean over to Cece who is by your bedside through all of this, squeezing her arm as another contraction hit it's peek before coming down.

"Did you call-"

"He's on his way." She assured tou, pushing you to lean back so you could be in a more relaxed state... as if any of this was relaxing to anyone.

"He better be. He seems to like making close calls when it comes to these..." you let out, remembering the day Evangeline was born. He didn't show up until right before she popped out.

Just then the doctor came in, whispering something to the nurse at the foot of your bed.

"Ma'am, you can't wait too much longer to start pushing." The nurse relayed the message to you that you assumed came from the doctor.

"Well can we push him back in? My husband isn't here, yet." You said in a rather irritated tone. Cece had to supress laughter at the comment, knowing if she laughed now, she'd be lectured about it later.

"I understand he's not here, but this baby is coming, now." The nurse said, confirming your fears. You were not about to do this without the man that inflicted your suffering. If you had to do this, he sure as hell better be here to witness it.

"Nope, I can't do it." You shook your head, your lower body writhing in pain as they adjusted you to start the most painful part of the process.
"I can come back tomorrow."

"You can do this, you're going to be fine." Cece tried to help, but all you did was glare at her until she lifted her hands in surrender and backed off.

"If Benny is not standing where you are now in sixty seconds, I will get out of this bed and go home until he's available." I said through clenched teeth. My hands were turning white from how hard they gripped the bed railing.

"Ma'am that's not an option, if we wait too long, he could get stuck." The nurse was maybe your least favorite person in the world, and had no idea of how bad of am idea it was to test your patience right now.

"Cece, if you would be so kind as to find out what is taking him so damn long, I would much appreciate it." You mocked an endearing tone, and she got the message of how soon you were about to bust, both physically and mentally.

"Alright, it's getting very close, the contractions are right where they need to be, so we need you to start pushing, now." The nurse came to the side of the bed, while the doctor sat at the foot. I knew I couldn't hold this kid inside of me a moment more, even if I wanted to, which I did. Benny has yet to miss the actual event, but you had an eerie feeling he wouldn't make it.

You squeezed your eyes shut, throwing your head back as the first push took place. You heard the door open and following was the sound of Cece's low heeled shoes on the tile. You reached out for her when your hand came in contact with a hand what was all too familiar to mistake.
Your eyes shot open as you looked directly to the side to find a nervously smiling Benny. He made it.

"I swear, Rodriguez, if you ever cut it this close again, I'm divorcing you." Though your tone was serious and full of a threat, he laughed, leaning down to kiss the space behind your ear.

"I missed you, my love." His voice wasn't as solid as one might think, and held so much emotion. Your heart would be melting if a human child wasn't falling out the other end of you.

"We need another big push, mom." The doctor spoke so calmly, he probably did this twenty times a day.

"I missed you t- ah shit..." you cursed, your eyes going shut once more to try and work through the pain. You knew you were getting close, you could feel it... but it made me tired to think you still weren't done yet. You'd had a rather stressful day.

Benny ran his other hand through your matted and sweaty hair, doing his best to keep you calm through the last stages of this painful, yet wonderful event.

"Last one, mom, be nice and strong." The doctor said, his voice still steady and somehow uncomforting to the uneasy situation. Giving birth was something you'd already done twice, and somehow this time it was ten times worse. Probably because the kid was a lot bigger than the previous times.

You pushed as hard as you could, and the only thing Benny heard from beside your was your heavy breathing. Your focus could not be broken, not now. Not when you were so close to bringing another life into this world. Benny was in awe of you every time you managed to accomplish this feat, for he knew how strong you were and how pain resistant you were. To see you go through this every time and still be just as strong after.... he was amazed. Surely he couldn't endure that kind of pain, time and time again.

"There he is, mom. You did it." The doctor said, and momentarily after you felt a giant relief wash over you. The tiniest cry was the best thing that you had heard all day, and made your eyes fill to the brim with tears. When my son was placed in your arms for the first time I felt so happy. Another perfect little addition to your beautiful family. What a wonder to behold.

The baby kept crying his little eyes out, even while resting in your arms, and you couldn't help but smile down at the pitiful little thing, with his tiny little arms outstretched to the sky.
"Shhhh, it's okay Benny... it's okay."

Your husband leaned down to see the little angel for himself, and marveled at his little features.

"He's perfect...." He said, his big hand coming down to ungulf the baby's with only a finger.

"You lucked out, man. Three outta three, they look exactly like you."

A/n: anyway....