I'll Fight Hell to Hold You

Early Labor Pains

In the hospital, Tommy was gripping the bedrails tightly. He hardly felt the nurse giving him a sedative or the I.V. being hooked up. He could barely make out the doctor examining him or the hurried rush to get him into a room.

"I want Paul!" he cried over and over. "I want Paul!" He finally felt Paul's familiar grip as he rushed in. "Baby, I'm here. Let's try to calm down. I'm going to slip your sweats on under the covers. " 

Tommy could feel Paul slipping his shorts off and his sweats on. "Your stomach is so tight. " Paul felt him wince as he touched his stomach. "Do you want me to slip a pillow under your knees?"

Tommy closed his eyes as the sedative started to take effect. He fought to keep his eyes open. "I wanna go home." he whispered. 

A few minutes after Tommy fell asleep, the doctor came in. "Hello Mr. Stanley. " "Your spouse is in the early labor stages. If I could ask you to let me examine him further, I would appreciate it."

"He's asleep." 

"I just need to check his stomach and a few other things. Could you please slide his clothing down below his belt line?" 

Paul did as he was asked. He could see the discomfort on Tommy's face even though he was asleep. After the exam was over, Paul gently rubbed Tommy's stomach before pulling the sweats back up. 

"I believe he's in the first hour or so of early labor." "We can stop them temporarily but your daughter may come early." "Do you want us to keep him on sedatives for 48 hours?"

"Yes."

"Alright, I'll have a nurse return in about six hours to check on him."

After the doctor left, Paul unpacked Tommy's bag and  covered him with his favorite blanket. 

The sedative wore off around noon, causing Tommy to groan as he tried sitting up. "What happened? Where am I?"

Paul filled him in. "You're in a lot of pain at the moment." 

"Is Mady coming early?"

"I hope not, but I don't know." "Do you want me to stay until visiting hours are over?"

"Yes."

Paul laid next to Tommy as he stroked his hair. 

"Paul?" "I 'm scared. " "What if Mady is deaf like Rory? What if she doesn't look like her sisters? What if you leave us? What if-"

"Sh. You're stressing yourself out." "If Mady is then we'll teach her to sign too. If Mady's appearance is different then it is. I'm not leaving so stop worrying."

Paul finally quieted Tommy by holding him close and rubbing his back. "Just rest."

As Tommy drifted off again, Paul sighed. "Good lord, he worries too much."

In his sleep, Tommy's mind was working way too much for him to relax.