Stronger Together

Part 8

Buck’s breathing hitched suddenly, his hand gripping the bedrail with white-knuckled intensity as another contraction rippled through his body. This one was different, stronger, and there was something about the pressure deep in his abdomen that made his entire body tense in anticipation. He could feel it, something shifting, something giving way inside him, and then—

“My water—oh God, it’s breaking!” Buck gasped, his voice cracking with panic.

Eddie’s eyes went wide, his heart leaping into his throat as Buck cried out, his body jerking forward. Buck’s free hand shot down to his belly, his fingers trembling as he grasped at the heavy swell of his abdomen. The sensation was strange, like a sudden rush of warmth spreading beneath his skin, and then there was a gush—warm liquid pooling beneath him, soaking through the sheets with startling speed.

Buck’s entire body shook as the contraction reached its peak, his breath coming in sharp, ragged pants. “Eddie,” he whimpered, his voice barely audible, “I can’t—I can’t—”

“You’re okay, Buck. I’m right here,” Eddie said quickly, his voice firm but soothing as he leaned closer, his hand still clutching Buck’s tightly. He could feel Buck trembling under his touch, his body wracked with pain and the overwhelming intensity of labor, and Eddie’s heart ached with helplessness.

The lead nurse, who had been monitoring Buck’s vitals, snapped into action at the mention of his water breaking. “Okay, let’s get him repositioned,” she instructed the other nurses, her voice calm and authoritative. “We need to check his dilation now.”

Buck groaned as the nurses moved around him, gently helping him shift on the bed so they could assess the situation. His body felt like it was on fire, each contraction building in intensity until it became almost unbearable. Every movement seemed to send another ripple of pain through his body, and Buck had to bite down hard on his lip to keep from crying out again.

Eddie pressed a kiss to Buck’s forehead, his fingers brushing away the strands of damp hair that clung to his skin. “You’re so strong, Buck. You’re doing amazing,” Eddie whispered, his voice filled with admiration and love. But inside, he was terrified. He could see how exhausted Buck was, the dark circles under his eyes and the way his entire body trembled with each wave of pain. How much more could Buck endure?

Buck’s lip trembled, his eyes squeezing shut as he tried to focus on Eddie’s voice, on the feeling of Eddie’s hand holding his, grounding him in the midst of the chaos. But it was getting harder to concentrate, the pain coming so quickly now, so relentlessly, that he barely had time to breathe between contractions.

The lead nurse gently placed her hand on Buck’s leg, offering a small, reassuring smile. “You’re doing great, Buck. I just need to check your progress, okay?”

Buck nodded weakly, his breath hitching as another contraction started to build. His entire body tensed, and Eddie could feel the strain in Buck’s hand as his grip tightened once more.

The nurse quickly and efficiently checked Buck’s dilation, her expression focused as she assessed the situation. After a few moments, she looked up at Buck and Eddie with a serious expression, though there was a glint of encouragement in her eyes.

“You’re at ten centimeters, Buck. The baby’s on its way.”

Buck let out a sob, his entire body sagging against the bed as the news hit him like a tidal wave. “Oh God,” he gasped, his voice cracking as fresh tears welled up in his eyes. “It’s happening… It’s really happening.”

Eddie swallowed hard, his heart racing. He had known this moment was coming, but hearing it out loud made everything feel so much more real. The weight of it settled over him, heavy and urgent, but he didn’t let his panic show. Buck needed him calm, steady.

“You’re almost there,” Eddie said softly, his voice unwavering despite the storm of emotions inside him. He squeezed Buck’s hand, leaning in to press another gentle kiss to his forehead. “You’ve got this, Buck. We’re going to meet our baby soon.”

Buck let out a shuddering breath, nodding weakly as another contraction tore through him, stealing his breath and leaving him gasping. The pain was so intense now, so overwhelming, that it felt like his body was being ripped apart from the inside. He gripped Eddie’s hand like a lifeline, his knuckles white as he fought to stay grounded in the midst of the agony.

The nurses moved quickly, adjusting the bed and preparing the room for the delivery. One of them grabbed a fresh pair of gloves and moved to stand near the foot of the bed, while the lead nurse helped guide Buck into a more upright position to ease the pressure.

“We’re going to need you to start pushing soon, Buck,” the lead nurse said gently, her eyes filled with encouragement. “I know you’re tired, but you’re almost there. Just a few more pushes, and you’ll be holding your baby.”

Buck whimpered, his eyes wide with fear and exhaustion. “I don’t know if I can…” His voice was barely above a whisper, and Eddie could hear the uncertainty, the doubt creeping in. The weight of everything—the pain, the exhaustion, the fear—was pressing down on him, threatening to crush him.

But Eddie wasn’t going to let that happen.

“Look at me, Buck,” Eddie said firmly, cupping Buck’s face in his hands and forcing him to meet his gaze. “You can do this. You’ve come this far, and I know you’ve got the strength to get through this. I’m right here with you, every step of the way.”

Buck stared at Eddie for a long moment, his chest heaving with shallow, rapid breaths. Tears shimmered in his eyes, and for a brief second, Eddie thought Buck might break—but then something shifted. Buck’s gaze hardened, his jaw clenching as he nodded, determination flickering in his eyes.

“Okay,” Buck whispered, his voice still shaky but filled with resolve. “Okay. I can do this.”

Eddie smiled softly, his heart swelling with pride. “That’s my Buck.”

Buck took a deep, steadying breath, bracing himself as another contraction built. The pressure was unbearable now, the urge to push almost instinctual, and Buck could feel his body preparing for the final stretch. His entire body tensed as the contraction peaked, and with a guttural cry, he bore down, pushing with every ounce of strength he had left.

The nurses guided him through it, their voices calm and encouraging as they coached him on how to push. Eddie stayed by Buck’s side, his hand never leaving Buck’s, offering constant reassurance and love as Buck battled through the pain.

The world around them seemed to blur, time stretching and warping as Buck pushed, the sound of his labored breathing and soft cries filling the room. Eddie’s heart pounded in his chest, each moment feeling like an eternity, but he stayed focused on Buck, grounding him with his presence.

And then, after what felt like both an instant and an eternity, the sound they had been waiting for broke through the haze of pain and exhaustion—a tiny, wailing cry that filled the room with life and joy.

Eddie’s breath caught in his throat, his eyes widening as he looked down at Buck, who was panting and trembling, tears streaming down his face.