I'm ALWAYS here

Chapter 40

FINAL CHAPTER

When we got to the hospital, they took me to the room. My contractions slowed, so I had more time to rest. Rick sat next to me in bed and held me in his arms. We heard a knock on the door and doctor walked into the room. He checked me and smiled.
"You need not worry. Your baby will be fine, although it's still early. You have a strong girl in you. You are dilated for about three centimeters, so it will take a long time. If you'd like, I can tell nurse to give you an epidural and something to sleep. It can take 10 hours or more," he said the doctor and I widened my eyes at him. I did not know I could be in labor that long.

"For that long?!" I screamed and he nodded.
"Kate, let them give you the epidural so you take some rest," Rick said and hugged me.
"I don't want to hurt Johanna," I whispered.
"Now I will not hurt the baby," the doctor said.
"Okay," I said finally. I started to be tired and wanted to sleep. The doctor left and soon a nurse came and gave me an epidural. I thanked her, and I snuggled to Rick.
"Try to take little rest," Rick whispered in my ear and kissed my hair. I nodded and closed my eyes.
I woke up about four hours later when the epidural started to stop work. Martha was sitting in chair and next her was sitting Alexis. Both were smiling. Rick was sitting in the chair next to my bed and holding my hand.

"Hey everyone," I said in a weak voice.
"Hi, mom!" Alexis shouted and hugged me.
"Hi, sweetheart," Martha said to me.
"So, how are you feeling?" Rick asked.
"I'm not that tired as before, but the epidural is not working anymore. I'm starting to feel contractions again," I replied.
"Doctor will be here in a moment and he will check if it's everything okay. We will work together and we will calculate the time between contractions, okay?" Rick said, and squeezed my hand. I nodded, screamed in pain and strongly squeezed his hand. He immediately looked at his watch and waited. The doctor came and checked me.

"You're dilated for 7 cm. That's great. I'll come back in two hours and then we will probably take you to the delivery room," he told me," What is the time between contractions?" he asked Rick.
"We don't know. Kate woke up just a little while ago," said Rick staring at his watch.
Two hours later the doctor came back. Martha and Alexis waited in the hall, so I could have quiet.
"Delay is 2 minutes," said Rick to doctor. I only smiled and I concentrated on breathing. I already was sweaty and tired.
"Good, so now we will take you to the delivery room and get your girl out," the doctor said with a smile. I wanted to nod, but I had another contraction.
About 10 minutes I was lying in the delivery room and I tried to catch my breath. Rick stood beside me and held my hand. He was holding a napkin and wiped the sweat from my forehead.

"When you have the next contraction, I need you to try to push," said the doctor away from my legs. I nodded, and at the next contraction I pushed.
"Push again," doctor shouted at me, "We're running out of time. We have a complication. We have to get the baby out as soon as possible," he added in a whisper, but I heard him and I started to worry.
"You'll make it," Rick whispered in my ear, and wiped my forehead. I strongly pushed five times and I've tried to breathe.
"I can see the head. Three more and she will be out," said the doctor. I did as he said. I felt that Johanna is out, but I did not hear her crying and I looked frightened at Rick.
"Why is she not crying?" I asked barely audibly, before I passed out from lack of oxygen. The doctors gave me an oxygen mask and took me back to my room. Rick waited until he could finally see Johanna. He picked her up and showed her to Lanie, Javi, Ryan, Gates, my dad and Martha. Alexis hasn't seen her little sister yet, because she was asleep on Martha's lap. Castle still held Johanna and walked towards my room.

"Look, mommy is awake," he said to Jo, seeing that I have open eyes and I'm smiling at him.
"Rick," I whispered and reached out my arms to him. Rick gave me Jo in my arms and sat down next to me.
"How are you feeling?" he asked me.
"Sore and tired," I said and I looked at Johanna, "She's so beautiful and so tiny and lightweight," I breathed. Rick nodded and kissed me.
"As soon as she got out, you passed out. But our princess's probably sensed and started to cry. Even she is tiny and lightweight, she is perfectly fine," Rick told me with a smile and tears in his eyes. I nodded and gave my daughter a kiss on the forehead. The door opened and there stood Alexis. As soon as she saw me, she ran over to me and sat down on my bed.

"Alexis, we'd like you to meet your little sister Emily Johanna Beckett Castle," I whispered.
"She's beautiful," Alexis said stroking Johanna's head.
"I love you," Rick said, and kissed me. Then he gave a kiss Alexis on her cheek and one kiss to sleeping Johanna in my arms.
"I love you too," I said as him I gave Alexis kiss on forehead and then another kiss to Johanna. Rick was hugging us all and keep us firmly close to his body. We were family. A huge and happy family. We're always here for each other. Always.

THE END