Echos of a Genius | Spencer Reid

Nameless

Stephie

I've had Braxton Hicks for days, and each time I think, "Maybe this is it," but nothing happens. I finally dropped like a week ago, and when I say drop, holy shit I have dropped. My body feels like it's playing tricks on me, teasing the inevitable.

Then, as if the universe decides to get the last laugh, it happens.

I'm standing in the middle of the BAU when a line of pain shoots through me, more intense than any before.

The pain hits me again like a bolt of lightning, so sharp it takes my breath away. A second later, I feel the wetness soaking through my pants, and my heart jumps into my throat. No. Not here. Not now. My hand instinctively moves to my belly, the weight of the moment sinking in.

My water just broke.

I glance around the bullpen, trying not to panic. The agents are all busy at their desks, oblivious to the fact that I'm about to go into labor in the middle of the office. My breath comes faster, and I feel another sharp stab of pain, so intense I have to grab onto a nearby chair for support.

"Uh.." I look around helping to see someone from the team walk by. Hotch walks out of his office and instantly makes eye contact with me as I awkwardly stand here.

"Stephie? What are you doing?"

Another contraction rips through me, and I squeeze my eyes shut, biting back a scream.

"Um, so I think-" I have to pause to breath through this pain. "Yeah never mind, so my water just broke."

"Let's get you to the hospital. Dave, can you call Reid. Stephie is in labor." Hotch looks to Rossi who is now walking towards us.

I'm barely able to form a coherent sentence as another contraction slams into me. I feel like my body's tearing itself apart from the inside. The pain is sharp and constant, so much worse than I thought it would be.

Hotch wraps a steady arm around me, guiding me toward the elevator. "Just breathe."

I try to nod, but all I can focus on is the pain. My breath comes in ragged bursts, and the contractions feel like they're coming way too fast. Something's wrong. I know it. This isn't how it's supposed to feel.

By the time we get to the hospital, I'm barely holding it together. Spencer's already there, pacing near the entrance with wide, frantic eyes. The second he sees me, he rushes over, wrapping his arm around my waist, his hand shaking as he takes mine. I know he means well but I seriously cannot deal with it right now

"Stephie, it's going to be okay," he whispers, though his voice is trembling. "I'm here. I'm right here."

"Spencer, I love you so much. But I swear to God if you touch me right now I might fucking kill you."

The nurses rush me into a room, moving quickly as they check my vitals and hook me up to monitors. But all I can focus on is the pain. It's constant, sharp, overwhelming, like my body is betraying me with every second that passes.

"I can't," I gasp, gripping the bedrail so hard my knuckles turn white. "Something's wrong. It hurts too much. Please, it's too much."

One of the nurses, an older woman with a no-nonsense expression, barely glances at me as she adjusts the IV. "That's labor, honey. It hurts. You'll be fine."

"But it's—" I can barely form the words as another contraction rips through me. "This isn't normal. Please, it's too much. Something's wrong."

She looks up from her chart, her expression hard. "Labor's not supposed to be comfortable. You'll just have to push through it."