Stay With Me - A KathNiel Story

Chapter 50

"N-No... no!" Kath sobbed and Karla shushed her.

"Don't panic, sweetheart, it isn't going to help anything. You're going to be perfectly fine - babies know how to be born and I'm here for you." Karla said softly, but Kath couldn't stop shaking.

"Junior..."

"That's not gonna happen again! I promise you, I won't let that happen again." DJ kissed the back of Kath's head and he turned to Miles. "There has to be more than one door out of this place - there are a billion keys!" DJ exclaimed and Miles nodded, rushing off with DJ into the lobby area to try and find another exit whilst Karla helped Kath to sit down on the bench and she sat beside her, rubbing her lower back to try and help her with the pain.

"Breathe as deep as you can, sweetheart... this isn't ideal, but it'll be okay! She's a healthy little girl, you're healthy... we've got this." Karla said comfortingly, rubbing her back still and Kath tried to breathe as Karla told her to, but it was hard when all she could picture when she closed her eyes was the public bathroom her son was born in. It was like she was reliving what happened six years ago - she couldn't lose another baby, she couldn't cope.

"I w-want DJ." She choked out.

"He'll be right back, sweetheart, you just focus on your breathing," Karla said softly, shushing her as Kath cried. "Do you have any names in mind for her?" Karla asked, trying to change the subject to something more positive and Kath nodded her head, tears running slowly down her cheeks.

"We want to keep it a surprise." Kath choked out and Karla leaned over, kissing her head and Kath leaned against her, desperate for the comfort. She was living her worst nightmare.

DJ tried every key in the front door, but the automatic doors still wouldn't open. "For fuck sake!" DJ growled. "My daughter can't be born here!" He urged and Miles shushed him, not wanting Kath to overhear him.

"Panicking about this isn't going to help her! You think you're scared? Double it and you might get close to what she feels... she was scared of labor because of Junior for her entire pregnancy and now she's stuck in here and might have to give birth here without real help the way she did with Junior. Mom can only do so much without any equipment and I doubt this place is anywhere close to sanitary... you have to calm the fuck down and get a grip because Kath and your daughter need you. Find another door, there has to be another one!" Miles urged and DJ nodded his head, kissing her hair before they both started to rush around the lobby area, searching for another door. DJ didn't care what he had to do to get Kath out of the warehouse, he wasn't going to let her give birth in the middle of an industrial estate without any help.

"If we can't get her out in five minutes, we call the fire department," DJ said and Miles nodded her head quickly, both of them going through the doors leading off from the lobby area in the search of another exit but they were met with closets and storerooms, bathrooms. It tore DJ and Miles apart as they heard Kath cry out with pain - it made them more determined to try and find a way out.

"You can squeeze as hard as you damn well want - I was a midwife for so long, I lost all feeling in this hand." Karla joked, smiling when it got her to laugh even though she was having a contraction. "The good news is that your contractions are still quite far apart, okay? It means we have time... I'm gonna try and find you some water-" Karla started, but Kath refused to let her go.

"No! No! Don't leave me... please, don't go." Kath sobbed and Karla shushed her, sitting back down on the bench beside her and she kissed Kath's head, holding her close.

"Okay, sweetheart, shh... I'm not going anywhere, I'm right here." Karla said softly, kissing her head again but they both looked in the direction of the archway when there was a loud and wordless yell followed by thundering footsteps as both DJ and Miles came running back into the warehouse.

"There's a fire door! We can get out!" DJ exclaimed, falling to his knees in front of her, and Kath sobbed impossibly harder out of pure relief and she locked her arms around DJ as he locked his around her. "I love you so much, baby girl." DJ breathed.

"W-We love you too." Kath choked out and she kissed him back when he kissed her first.

"Let's get you to the hospital, beautiful," DJ said softly. "Can you walk?"

"Y-Yeah, I can walk."

"Take your time, sweetheart, we're in no rush," Karla said comfortingly, but she felt numb with relief that DJ and Miles had found another way out. She'd have loved to have delivered her granddaughter, but in no way would she ever want to do that under the current circumstances.

DJ and Karla both helped Kath to walk towards the fire door, Miles leading the way and holding the door open for them all. Even though they were all instantly drenched as they stepped outside, it was the best feeling.

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