Sweet Creature (jemily)

Chapter Twenty Five

Emily made it to the hospital only 10 minutes after JJ got there. She got the room number and quickly found the room.

She knocked on the door before opening it and saw JJ and Penelope inside. JJ was lying next to the hospital bed on a small couch.

"Emily?" She sat up quickly when she heard her come in. "Hey, how're you feeling?" Emily smiled, sitting down on the couch next to her. She was in a hospital gown but had no heart rate monitor, IV, or anything else.

"I want to go home," JJ said, hugging Emily tightly. "We can't go home right now," Emily told her. "Why? I'm not having the baby today," she said, her hands holding her stomach.

"JJ," Emily sighed, brushing some hair away from her face. JJ shook her head and pushed Emily away. "I'm not having the baby today. It's too early."

Emily got up and walked over to where Penelope was standing. "I didn't know what to do before you got here. She won't let the doctors do anything and the only reason she changed into a hospital gown was because her water broke the second she got here. She won't even lay in the bed," said Penelope.

"She just doesn't want to believe it because she's scared. The baby's going to be premature which has risks. Why don't you go wait with the rest of the team? I'll- I'll talk to her. I think she just needs time," Emily said, running her fingers through her hair.

Penelope nodded and said bye to JJ before leaving the room. Emily went back over to the couch and sat down behind JJ.

JJ leaned back into her arms and Emily gently stroked her hair. "I know you're scared, I know," she said softly. "But the baby is coming now. She's not waiting any longer."

"No," JJ murmured, tears streaking down her face. "It's too early. I can't do this."

"You can do it. I know you can. There are lots of good doctors here and she's going to be okay," Emily told her.

"She's coming now?" JJ asked, burying her head into Emily's shoulder. "Soon. Your contractions are about 5 minutes apart. It'll probably be a few more hours at least," said Emily. "Will you lie down in the hospital bed? It's a lot more comfortable."

JJ finally agreed and Emily helped her stand up. She laid down in the bed and Emily called over one of the nurses who put in an IV and connected her to a heart rate monitor. She placed wires on JJ's belly to monitor the baby.

Dr. Montgomery came in to check how far along she was. She was 5 cm dilated and the baby was in the correct position. JJ got an epidural which hadn't kicked in yet.

After everything was done, Emily and JJ were alone again. "I'm scared," JJ whispered. Emily sat down on the bed next to her and held her hand. "Don't be scared. Nothing is going to happen to you," Emily said. It wasn't something she could promise but she said it anyways.

"But it's going to hurt a lot," JJ sighed. There was nothing Emily could say that would downplay the pain of childbirth, so she just had to admit it. "That's true, but it's going to be worth it when the baby gets here. You'll get to hold her and kiss her and you won't be thinking about the pain."

"She shouldn't be coming out yet. It's too early. She's supposed to be safe inside me and now she's not going to be," JJ said, wiping her eyes. "I'm supposed to protect her and I can't even keep her safe inside of me for 40 weeks!"

"This isn't your fault. There are so many reasons this could've happened, but none of them are your fault. A baby at 34 weeks has over a 99% survival chance. She's going to be okay." Emily pressed a kiss to the top of her head.

Over the next few hours, there were doctors and nurses in and out of the room to check on JJ as she continued to progress. Emily sat with her the whole time because it made JJ feel better about everything. JJ walked around the halls and bounced on a yoga ball for a little while, but ultimately just wanted to lay down.