Happy Little Accidents

anchor me back down

He was missing it. 

The love of his life was bringing their child into the world and he was missing it.

Was she scared? Was someone there to hold her hand?

Bob chewed on the inside of his cheek and drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. Mira was on the phone with one of her sisters, filling her in on the canceled shower and how they were now headed to the hospital instead. 

Only they were stuck in traffic.

And he was missing the birth of his child.

Granted, he didn’t know exactly how much time passed between Zak’s water breaking, Payback taking her to the hospital, and Phoenix calling him. And really they were only stuck in stop and go traffic for about five minutes. It was just five minutes too long in his book. 

Really, he had no idea how quickly things might progress. All the books and articles said it was different for everyone. 

Maybe he wasn’t going to miss the whole thing. Maybe it would be fine. 

Zak was probably getting comfortable in a birthing suit while a nurse administered the epidural and Penny gave her ice chips. 

Traffic finally cleared and Bob felt himself breathe a little easier. He felt an odd itch at the back of his throat and wondered if he still had an inhaler in his gym bag. For as put together as he usually was, his inhaler was the one thing he was never totally sure he could find if he needed it. He hadn’t had an asthma attack since the fourth grade. Zak was always reminding him to make sure he had one on him and that they weren’t expired. 

They’d been together less than a year and he had absolutely no idea what he would do without her. 

“Robert?” Mira patted his arm to get his attention, “We’re at the hospital, dear.”

He must have been on autopilot and parked near the emergency room entrance without realizing it. He took the deepest breath he could muster and cut the engine. His heart was still in his stomach and he wasn’t sure if he needed to throw up or not. He felt so many things at once; nervous, fearful, hopeful, frustrated. 

His hands were shaky and clammy as he jogged towards the entrance, Mira a few steps behind him, still on a call. 

Phoenix and Payback met him at the door.

“What’s going on? Where’s Zak? Is she okay?” Bob asked, panic evident in his voice. His heart felt like it might beat right out of his chest at any moment.

“Take a deep breath.” Phoenix said, putting her hands on his shoulders and squeezing. She’d never seen her WSO so out of sorts. 

“When I brought her in, her pulse was thready and breathing shallow.” Payback explained, “We think when Lydia hit her it caused an arrhythmia. They took her upstairs but ‘cause we’re not technically family they won’t tell us anything. Mav’s talking to a nurse now trying to get answers.” 

“Wait, go back.” Bob shook his head, he couldn’t keep up, “Lydia hit her? Where’s Rooster? I gotta… I gotta -”

“He’s not here.” Phoenix told him, “Check your priorities, Bob.”

“Is there a Robert Floyd here?” Someone called from the nurse’s station.

Bob rushed forward, “That’s me! I’m here. My fiance was brought in, Zak Thompson. Is she okay? Is our baby okay?”

“Miss Thompson is still in surgery and we’ll update you as soon as we can. In the meantime, would you like to meet your son?”

“I have a… it’s… it’s a… I have a son?” He squeaked and looked back at his friends gathered behind him. His vision was blurry. Was he crying?