Safety Net

25

"Are you almost ready to go?" Alex asked, standing with their packed bag "How long does it take to put mascara on?"

She looked in the mirror, coating her eyelashes with black as her jaw dangled open "Just give me a minute." She stalled "Are you sure Hazel is ready to leave?" She asked, closing the mascara bottle.

"Yes, Jo. She passed all her tests with flying colours. She's a warrior." He said "We have to pick her up from the NICU, but her car seat is ready."

Jo walked out, putting her makeup in her purse "Okay, lets go."

He picked up the car seat and walked out with her, smiling. He couldn't believe they got to take Hazel home today.

///

They walked into the NICU. Jo kept her head down, overwhelmed by her emotions. Looking at all the sick babies made her feel horrible- usually. Usually they would make her feel awful- that's why she planned on going into Ortho- however, right now, she was scared and nervous. She was taking home a baby. Her baby. She was totally, completely, and utterly responsible for whatever happened to her. Making her terrified. She already felt like she failed by giving birth before she was full term.

Alex tugged on her hand "Jo? Do you want to carry her out?" He asked.

She looked up, a hitch in her breath when she saw her child. She cracked an unnerving smile, picking her up "Hey..." She laid her on her chest.

"Everything okay?" He asked, looking into her eyes.

She nodded "Yeah, I'm okay. Just nervous. We won't have the nurses around incase something goes wrong. She's a premie, whether we want to admit it or not. She's going to have problems. Her lungs are a bit underdeveloped- I know her breathing is fine, but, things can change like" -she snapped her fingers quietly- "That."

He took her hand to stop her panicked rambling "Babe, it's okay.We're both surgeons. She's in great hands, plus she has weekly checkups. If she has a problem, we will know. Right now, let's take our 6 lb 1 oz bundle of joy home, okay? If hell breaks loose, we know how to deal with it."

She nodded, flattening Hazels hair "You're right.". She laid Hazel down in her car seat, buckling her in and covering her up with her pink blanket with the tassels at the edges. She laid her stuffed duck, the one that matched her onesie, next to her "Look how cute!" She grinned, grabbing her phone and snapping a few photos.

Alex smirked, crouching down. He lifted her hands over the blanket. He slid her little gloves on them, to stop her from scratching her delicate skin. He picked up the carseat and walked out with Jo's hand laced with his.