Shelagh was so much happier at work, her health was completely back to normal and Patrick was so happy to have us wife back.
A young first-time mother - Lillian, was due to deliver any day and Shelagh had taken a special liking to her, the two had bonded over singing.
Shelagh finished writing some notes on a chart and placed it on a side table, as she did she heard soft moans from a bed in the maternity home next door, she rushed in and to the bedside of Lillian, she was sat up in bed, groaning and rocking in her place.
"Nurse! We was just chatting and all of a sudden she started yelling" Lillian's husband gasped.
"How long have you been having contractions now Lillian?" Shelagh asked, picking up a pinard and pressing it against the young woman's stomach, listening quietly.
"They only just started" Lillian groaned, Shelagh nodded, smiling widely.
"Well baby clearly isn't hanging around! Mr Jones if you would go through to the waiting room we'll fetch you when there's a change" Shelagh told the concerned husband who nodded in agreement, doing as he was told to. Shelagh began to adjust the wheels so she could push the bed into the delivery room. Lillian sobbed softly and reached to Shelagh's hand.
"Don't leave me" She whispered, Shelagh smiled and nodded her head, they began to move and Lillian groaned again, gripping the sheets tightly.
"Just breathe through it Lillian, it will pass." Shelagh reassured, Lillian nodded and breathed deeply, rocking forward and back, gritting her teeth. A while later and they were getting down to the sharp end of it all, Another contraction began and Lillian tensed up.
"Okay here we go dear, one big push and I think we'll have the head! Shelagh gasped, Valarie re-entered the room with some fresh towels, she took Lillian's hand and allowed her to squeeze tightly with the pain. Shelagh gritted her teeth along with her patient's contraction, she finally understood the pain the mothers felt.
"Try singing Lillian, it'll help I promise!" Shelagh reassured, Lillian nodded and began singing a soft tune.
"Well done Mrs' Jones!" Valarie gasped as the head entered the world, Shelagh huffed out air and glanced up at Valarie who's smile faded as she saw her friend's face, she walked over and looked down at the babies head, the cord was wrapped tightly around babies neck.
"Nurse? What's going on?" Lillian gasped, Valarie sighed and returned to the girl's side.
"Don't worry, Baby just got himself into a little pickle, Nurse Turner will get everything ship shape again, just try not to push" Valarie reassured, Lillian groaned and rolled her head back in annoyance, Shelagh clamped and cut the cord and looked up at Lillian.
"Okay dear, I need this baby out as quickly as possible, I need you to push now." She tells her, Lillian sobbed a little and pushed with all her might. The baby slid into Shelagh's hands but was silent, she sighed and wrapped the baby tightly, lifting him into her arms and rubbing his back.
"Come on little one" She whispered, Lillian sighed and threw her head back onto her pillow, the pain was no more - or so she thought.
"Boy or girl nurse?" She asked joyfully.
"You have a little boy Lillian!" Valarie told her happily, she looked up at her fellow midwife's grim face and left the girl's side to join Shelagh.
"What's the matter?" She asked, Shelagh began performing CPR on the infant. Lillian sat up a little and concern creased her brow.
"What's wrong? Why isn't he crying!? My little brother screamed the house down when he was born!" She gasped, Shelagh continued attempting to resuscitate the baby.
"He's just having some trouble breathing, don't worry" Valarie said kindly, she looked back at Shelagh who's eyes were filled with tears. The pair looked down at the small blue face.
"He's gone, Shelagh." Valarie whispered.
"Whats going on!? You both look awfully sad" Lillian sobbed, Valarie took the body out of Shelagh's arms and returned to the young mother's bedside. Valarie was probably explaining what had happened but Shelagh couldn't hear, her ears were ringing too loudly. She removed her gloves and pushed the door open, Mr Jones stood immediately and beamed.
"Give me the good news then! Boy or girl?" He asked, Shelagh wiped her eyes and took a steady breath, the young man noticed her tears and began to worry.
"Mr Jones I- I'm so sorry" She started.
"What? What happened?" He asked stepping forward.
"You had a baby boy but- there was a complication with the cord, I couldn't help him" Shelagh said sadly, Mr Jones balled his hands into fists and straightened up.
"You couldn't help him? So it's your fault?" He growled, Shelagh's heart started to beat faster,
"No Mr Jones - Douglas, I simply meant-" She began, he lunged forward and grabbed her at the throat, Shelagh gasped and screamed hoarsely, Patrick ran into the room and another expectant father jumped up, grabbing Mr Jones and heaving him away. Patrick wrapped his arms around his wife and helped her into a chair, tears were streaming down her face. Patrick turned to Douglas and grabbed him by the collar, rage bubbling inside.
"How dare you lay so much as a finger on my wife?" Patrick snarled, Shelagh tried to call her husbands name but sound would not leave her sore throat.
"I'll kill you do you understand!?" He shouted, Shelagh stood and pulled her husband's shoulder, Patrick allowed his grip to loosen and immediately turned to his wife who sobbed into his chest. He cradled Shelagh tightly in his arms, a police officer entered and took Douglas by the arm, escorting him out of the small waiting room. Patrick rubbed Shelagh's back soothingly, she sobbed into his chest.
He hushed softly as she gripped tightly onto his shoulders, onlookers whispered and watched the pair stand together.
YOU ARE READING
Suddenly x-Turnadette-x
RomanceA few things to note; I started writing this during Shelagh's pregnancy in the real show, it was originally a one shot but I made it into a longer story. The baby is the wrong gender but aside from that basically everything is the same. Mae is just...
