A Delicate Light

Part 21

Birth Part 1
February 9, 2010 - 3:00pm
    Hotch figured he'd find her in the nursery. It's where he's found her everyday since they got the news a few days ago that she'd be induced. Her due date was two weeks ago, but the baby hadn't arrived and still shows no sign of coming out soon. At her appointment three days ago, they found out she was only two centimeters dilated. Her doctor immediately advised her to go in tonight to be induced. Emily wasn't thrilled with the news. She was adamant on going natural, at most using nitrous oxide gas for the pain.
  When they got in the car after her appointment, she burst into tears. After getting home, she retreated to the nursery and sat in the rocking chair, staring out the window for hours. He knew this was her way of processing everything. They had an appointment this morning to get some lab work done as well as go through the induction process with her doctor before given the order to go back to the hospital at 5:30 this evening to check in for her to be induced. Since their appointment, she's been in the nursery.
     He hated disturbing her, but Jessica just arrived to take Jack for the new few days while they were in the hospital with the baby, and he knows she'd be upset if she didn't get to say goodbye to the little boy before all of their lives changed. So, he takes a deep breath and walks into the nursery, "Hey." He whispers. "Hey." She finally tears her gaze from the window to look up at him. "Jess is here to take Jack. I figured you'd want to see him before he left." He says softly as he crouches down beside her.
    She clears her throat and nods. He helps her stand and then pulls her into his arms before she can leave the room. "Everything's gonna be alright, Em." He whispers before pressing a kiss to her forehead. She nods and sniffles. When she pulls back, she wipes away the few tears that have escaped before they go downstairs to say goodbye to Jack. The minute her foot hits the landing and she sees the boy, her demeanor changes. "Emily, Daddy says I have to go with Aunt Jess while you go and have the baby." Jack informs her.
   She chuckles and sits on the couch, patting the space next to her so that he'll sit down beside her. Once he does, she rests a hand on his back, "Yes, Buddy, you are but it's just for a little while." She assures him. "But why can't I go with you and Daddy while you have the baby?" "Because, Jack, it might take awhile for the baby to actually come out and it could happen really early in the morning or really late at night when you need to be sleeping so that you can wake up strong enough to meet them."
    He seems to take Emily's reasoning as enough. The young boy sighs and stands before kissing Emily's bump, "Okay. You'll be okay?" He asks her. She cups both of his cheeks and kisses his forehead, "We're all gonna be alright. Now, go have fun with Aunt Jess." She says. Jack wraps his arms around Emily's neck, "I love you, Emily." Jack whispers, "I love you too, Sweet Boy." She replies and presses one final kiss to his cheek. Jack says goodbye to Hotch before they stand in the doorway and watch him leave with Jessica. "It's all gonna be okay." Hotch whispers in her ear and kisses her temple.

February 9, 2010 - 5:00pm
    "We have everything?" Prentiss asks as they stand by the front door with their bags and pillows for the hospital, "Yes, Honey, and even if we didn't, the hospital is fifteen minutes from the house so I can run back and grab it once the baby is here." He assures her. She nods and looks back at the house. The next time they walk through these doors, they'll have a baby with them. Hotch loads the car while she settles into the passenger seat.
    Once he climbs into the driver side, he holds her hand in his, "You ready?" He asks her. She bites her lip and nods, "Let's go have a baby." She whispers. He leans in and kisses her with a smile on his lips. The whole car ride, he's got one hand on the wheel and the other resting on her bump. When they get to the hospital, he parks the car and helps her out before grabbing their stuff. Once they walk in, she checks herself in. "Hi, my name is Emily Prentiss. I have a 5:30 induction scheduled with Dr. Moore."
    The nurse at the front desk nods, "Yes, Ms. Prentiss, I have you down. Will someone be accompanying you in the room?" Emily nods, "Yeah, my boyfriend." She answers and nods towards Hotch, "And your full name, Sir?" "Aaron Hotchner." He answers. The nurse prints labels with their names on it before attaching them to wristbands and securing them around each of their wrists, "These will be your access to and from the labor and delivery ward while you're here. Nurse Irene will take you back to your room to get you ready for the induction."
   Back in an exam room, Hotch drops their stuff on the small couch that will become his bed for the foreseeable future while Nurse Irene gives Emily a hospital gown to change into. "Do you want help with the back?" Hotch asks Prentiss as she moves towards the bathroom. Emily nods, "Yeah, I'll call you in once I'm changed." She insists. He's giving her the space she needs right now, only being able to imagine how overwhelming everything has been for her the last few days. Once she's settled in the hospital bed, Nurse Irene attaches two fetal monitors to her bump before informing her that Dr. Moore is on her way to begin the induction.
   "Did you tell the team?" She asks. He shakes his head, "I didn't know if you wanted them to know." He reasons. She nods, "You can tell them, but make sure to let them know what we'll tell them when we're ready for them to come visit." Emily says. Hotch pulls out his phone and texts Rossi to let him know to let the rest of the team know that Emily is in the hospital and they're getting ready to meet their little one.
    At the BAU, Rossi exits his office to find Garcia, JJ, and Reid surrounding Derek's desk, all with smiles on their faces and laughing at something. "Ladies and gentlemen, I just got word from Hotch that Emily is in the hospital and Baby Hotchner will be arriving soon." Rossi announces. The team cheers, "How's Emily?" Garcia asks, "According to Hotch, everything is going good so far. They'll let us know when they're ready for visitors." Rossi says. The smiles stay on their faces as Dave turns and walks back into his office, sending Hotch a text back that they're all hoping for a safe delivery and healthy mother and baby.