Yes Please || c.g. {complete}

Off We Go

83

.Carl.

My shift was really kicking my ass. My stint as "Carlito" had sucked all the energy out of me, and I really needed it, because a lot of shit was going down. Halfway through my shift, I'd responded to a drive-by, an armed robbery, and a call about a shooting, although that turned out to be kids playing with fireworks.

I had a minute to breathe back at the station, and I had just sat down to eat something when my work phone buzzed.

"Christ, what now?" I muttered under my breath, pulling it out. My expression quickly changed as I realized it was Layla.

"Baby? What's wrong?" I answered, suddenly feeling very concerned.

"Carl, it's Fiona."

What? Why was she calling me on Layla's phone? "Fi? Where's Layla? What's wrong?"

"Layla's having contractions."

"She...what? As in...the baby is..." I couldn't even say it. I couldn't believe it.

"He's on his way, Carl!"

Holy shit. "Where are you? Are you at the hospital?"

"We're still at home. They're not coming fast enough yet. But she needs you."

"Of course. Oh my god," I breathed. "I'll be right there."

I hung up and grabbed my stuff out of my locker. I left my food uneaten as I ran to find my supervisor.

"My wife is having a baby!" I exclaimed, running through the station.

The men and women I worked with were cheering and slapping me on the back. My boss sent me home, and I couldn't get to Layla fast enough. I couldn't fucking believe our son was going to be here soon.

I burst through the door to our house. "Layla?" I called.

She was right on the couch in the living room, with Fiona and Debbie by her side.

"Carl," she smiled.

I ran to her and dropped down to hug her. "Oh my god, we're having a baby!"

"I know," she sighed. "I can't believe- ah!" she yelped, tensing up.

"Fuck, what's wrong?" I panicked.

Fiona wrapped her arm around me. "Contractions. Just hold her hand."

Debbie was trying to coach Layla through breathing.

I grabbed Layla's hand. "Squeeze it as hard as you need to," I told her, leaning forward to kiss it.

She had a pained expression on her face, but she gave me a little smile.

"How far apart are her contractions?" I asked my sisters.

"About seven minutes," Fiona replied.

"It's almost time to go, then!" I said with a mixture of excitement and terror.

"Right, once they're five minutes apart," Debbie chimed in, dabbing Layla's forehead with a damp washcloth.

"Baby, do you need anything before we go?" I asked her. "Do you have your bag packed?"

Layla's eyes got huge. "Shit!" Tears welled up in her eyes. "Carl, I forgot. I'm already so bad at this!"

"No, no!" I soothed. Fuck, I hadn't meant for her to react that way. "It's okay, baby. I'll go do it right now, okay?"