I'll Fight Hell to Hold You

Going Home

Eric was now 12 weeks along. He had been given the okay to go home but with limitations. He was to get as much rest as possible and do no lifting. "Gene, I feel helpless. Please let me do something." 

"You can fold laundry when I bring it to you. I know you want to help but I'm not going to risk anything. You scared me half to death in the hospital because you wouldn't wake up." "I spent most of the days crying because I thought you were dead."

Eric felt awful for complaining so he said folding laundry would be fine. "I'll just put it in individual baskets and you can take them upstairs." Draco climbed up in Eric's lap and hugged him. "Mama!" 

"Hey, baby. Did you like your flamingo?" 

"Yeth! Tank 'oo!""'oo got sc'red by 'nake?"

"Yes, I was scared by a snake." Eric told Draco not to worry about it coming back. "Daddy chased it off."

"Daddy? 'Oo sc're de 'nake off?"

Gene nodded as he handed Eric the first load. "Yes, I did." He had already finished the laundry earlier. He set it down in the living room in front of the couch. "Eric, what do you want for supper?"

"It doesn't really matter. Anything you make is fine."

Draco stayed with Eric and helped him fold laundry. Delilah helped Gene with dinner while the twins went back and forth between the two of them.  Jenny noticed later that Eric was asleep so she went to find Gene. They had just finished dinner and Gene was washing dishes.

He went to cover him up and noticed Draco asleep next to him. Covering both of them up, Gene picked up the neatly folded laundry and took it all upstairs. After putting it away, he went back to finish getting dinner ready. Eric was hugging Draco in his sleep. 

Reaching down to rub Eric's stomach, Gene felt him flinch. "It's okay, babe. It's okay." 

Eric reached for Gene and sat up, his eyes still closed. "It hurts!" he cried. "It hurts!" "Take me to the doctor!"

Gene called 911 as the kids clung to him. Draco was still half asleep in Gene's arms. "Mama!"

The ambulance pulled up and the EMT's came inside. "Mr. Mensinger, can you take some deep breaths?" 

Eric was given oxygen as he was strapped onto the stretcher. Gene followed with the kids. They were all quiet as Gene drove to the hospital. He parked and took the kids inside. "Stay right here, okay?" "I'm going to check on mama."

The five of them were allowed to go back into the room about an hour later. Eric was half awake. He reached out for the kids as Gene sat them on the bed. "Hi, babies." "I'll be fine. Sorry to scare you." 

"Eric, babe, has the doctor seen you yet?"

"Yes, it's just cramping. Sorry."

Gene leaned in and kissed Eric gently. "I want you to get better." "Are you feeling okay?"

Eric responded that he was, just hurting a little.