John and Marlena (Finally) Get a Q!

Chapter 138 - Delivery Sweet

"All *right* Marlena!" David looked up with a wide smile. "Looks like we're in business. Time to move you down to a delivery suite. I have one with your name on it. We'll have you in and out of there in no time."

"Oh," Marlena closed her eyes and leaned back against the pillows, her face wan with exhaustion. "Not... soon... enough." The words were soft and uttered between soft sighs.

"You're doing really well Marlena," David assured her. "I know it hasn't been easy, but you're really doing wonderfully. And I promise you it won't be too much longer."

"Hear that Doc?" John leaned towards the bed, smoothing his thumb over her damp cheek. "Everything is going just *fine*. And you're going to be a mom again real soon."

She didn't move as he smoothed the damp hair away from her cheeks and brow and he felt a twinge of anxiety. She really was totally drained. She'd dealt first with the incident with Kristen and now with the first stage of labor, which had lasted almost ten hours. He didn't even want to consider what the next hour or so was going to take out of her.

He looked up at Dr. Robbins and the obstetrician nodded reassuringly.

"She's really doing just fine. The next stage should be a breeze." Marlena opened one eye at that comment and fixed the doctor with what passed for a glare in her weary state.

"Easy for you to say."

"I may not have been through it, Marlena, but I think I've attended enough births to know what I'm talking about," he assured her with an easy smile. "But I take your point."

He turned to the nurse behind him and started to make arrangements for Marlena's transfer to the delivery suite. John took the opportunity to press a gentle kiss to Marlena's forehead.

"I know you're tired baby," he whispered, "and it's so hard for me to see you in this much pain. But I'm here with you and we *will* do this."

"I know we will." She took a deep breath, opened her eyes, and searched out John's with her dark almond gaze. "I meant what I said earlier. I couldn't do this without you."

"Well then it's good you don't have to," he grinned as he picked up the washcloth and dipped it in the cool water again. Dabbing it tenderly across her heated skin, he smiled again. "Do you realize that we got it right this time? This time we're doing it in the hospital with doctors present." He laughed and Marlena managed a smile in return.

"Brady wasn't born in the hospital either," she pointed out as she gritted her teeth at the feeling of the oncoming contraction. "Oh G*d John, I want to push."

"Just hold off on the pushing until we get you down to delivery Marlena," Dr. Robbins interrupted the conversation. "You're almost fully dilated but I don't want you expending any extra energy when it's only going to be wasted."

"You think I... h... have energy... to *spare*?" Marlena managed between the panting breaths she took. "What color is the... sky... in your... world?"

"Blue, Marlena," David Robbins looked amused. "Definitely blue."

"Good.... It'll go with... the black... you'll be sp.... Ohhh..." she was interrupted by an intensifying of the contraction. Closing her eyes tightly, she concentrated on her breathing for a moment. When she felt like she was back in control, she opened her eyes and looked at the obstetrician. "You'll be sporting... if you don't... get me down to that delivery suite... real soon."

"Point taken, Doctor," he grinned broadly before turning back to the nurse.

"Where were we?" Marlena was breathless as she dropped back against the damp pillow. John shook his head in confusion. "Oh, that's right," she nodded as though she hadn't even and the intervening conversation. "Brady."