Learning to Live

10. Hospital

"Wil, what's happening?" Sally asked in between groans of pain.

"I don't know, just hang on, we're almost there." He was struggling to hold both her and the hospital stuff.

Just then, Tommy ran around the corner. His smile faded as he saw his favorite almost-family member doubled over in pain.

"Wilbur, what's happening?" He asked. He ran over and let Sally lean on him. Even being so young, he was tall and strong. He took the burden off of his brother, who was internally freaking out.

"We don't know, help me get her to the hospital wing." Wilbur said, leading the way quickly down the hall.

They finally, finally, reached the hospital wing. Doctors immediately ran over and whisked her away. They left Wilbur and Tommy standing in the hallway, holding the hospital bag.

"She'll be okay, right?" Tommy asked.

~•~

Sally woke up in the same hospital bed she had fallen unconscious in. There were wires and tubes running all around her body. A band was wrapped around her stomach, playing a heartbeat throughout the room.

There was no one here, not Wilbur, not the doctors, not even a nurse.

She looked around and saw nothing but hospital equipment and grey walls.

"Wil?" She called into the silent room. "Wilbur?"

Nothing.

A nurse walked in then.

"Oh, Sally, you're awake. That's good." She said, messing with something on the machine.

"What's happening?" She asked.

"Well, we're not sure yet. We know that your body tried to go into labor, but we're not quite sure. We believe it would be best to keep you here so we can monitor your health, as well as the babies." She explained.

"Where's Wilbur?"

"He's outside talking to the doctor. As well as his little brother, Thomas." Sally nodded.

"Will you tell them I'm awake?" She requested.

"Of course." 

The nurse walked out of the room, and she heard her talking. And then two set of footsteps ran into the room.

"Sally, thank god." Wilbur said, pushing his way past the machines and wires to get to his fiancé. He planted a kiss on her forehead, holding her cheeks in his hands.

"Are you okay?" Tommy asked from the other side of her bed.

"Yeah, I'm alright, Tommy." She nodded. She looked up at Wil. "Is everything alright with the baby?" She asked.

Wilbur nodded. "Yeah, just your body trying to go into labor early." He said. "They're gonna keep you here under watch. The goal is to get to 37 weeks." He explained. She nodded.

"How many weeks are you right now?" Tommy wondered.

"30." Sally answered, smiling at him. "Thank you, Toms, for being there for your brother. And helping me."

"Of course. I mean... uh, yeah." Tommy smiled. "You're pretty cool, Sally."

"You're pretty cool yourself, Tommy."

~•~

The next few weeks in the hospital were calmer than how she had arrived. All in all, it was an uneventful experience. Which, all things considered, she was incredibly thankful for.

With a pregnancy, you never wanted things to be exciting.

They celebrated when she finally reached 34 weeks. They were more than halfway to the goal. As long as they could make it to 37 weeks, then the chances that the baby would be healthy were much much higher.

Well, unfortunately things don't always go to plan.

~•~

Sally woke in immense pain. It felt the way that it had four weeks ago.

"Wil." Sally said, hitting the 'call nurse' button that was installed on her bed. "Wil, wake up."

He was by her bed in an instant.

"What, what's going on?" He asked, frantic.

"Baby's coming." She groaned out, feeling a pull in her stomach. "Like, right now." She grabbed his shirt sleeve, trying to gain a bit of control again.

"Breathe, baby, breathe." Wilbur said, looking at the door. "We need a doctor!" He yelled. There was no sound from the hallway.

"Go get someone, Wil." She leaned her head back against the pillow as the contraction ended. "Go, I'm okay. Promise."

He ran to the door instantly, heading down the hallway.

It felt like he was gone for hours.

In the meantime, Sally was trying her best to breathe through the intense contractions she was feeling. They were ten times worse than the last time.

"Sally?" She heard from the doorway. Tommy was standing there, looking exhausted.

"Tommy, why are you awake?" She asked, trying to seem normal.

"I couldn't sleep." He shrugged. "Heard noise so I wanted to see what was happening. Where's Wilbur?"

"Getting the doctor."

"Do you want me to look for him?"

"No, that's okay, Tommy. You can stay until he gets here." She said, groaning as another contraction washed over her.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Toms." She felt this need to push and had no choice, her body started doing it on its own. "The baby's coming, that's all."

"What do you want me to do?"

"Nothing, nothing, you stay over there." She cursed at the incredible pain. "I'm fine."

"You don't look fine."

"Damn you, Wilbur, you fucking idiot." She muttered, glancing at the door. "Go find your brother, please. Now."

Tommy was sprinting out of the room before she even finished her sentence.

After one more contraction, more of that same feeling, she finally heard the brothers talking as they ran down the hallway. There were two more voices with them.

Thankfully, it was a doctor and a nurse.

After another half an hour, they heard the baby cry.

And then he was whisked away.