Abe Sapien and the Witch

Chapter 46

Chapter forty six

"Oof..." she said, leaning forward from her uncomfortable position in the medical bays scanner. "Does this remind you of anything?" Abe asked as he helped her to lean more further forward, rubbing a soothing hand to the small of her back as she took in a few successive deep breaths.

"I remember the first time you held me in this chair, I was so embarrassed..." she whispered, her face reddening at the memory. "I was embarrassed also, you know. I'd never really held a lady so close, and in such slight clothing..."

She laughed then despite her discomfort and Abe leaned down to place a kiss on her cheek.

"I sink it is about time!" Johann spluttered from behind one of the scanner screens, his helmeted head all but twisting on its axis as he circled around to show them the live feed on the monitor. "Keep still now," he added. Abe helped her to sit back so that Johann could give another pass of the scanner over her bulging tummy.

"Ve need to get you into ze birthing unit as soon as ve can." he added, wiping the cold goo from her tummy with a swab of cloth. "Oh, actually, we cleared it with Manning to use one of the small out-of-commission tanks for the birth. Copious amounts of research states having the birth in water is very good for a baby, plus we would all be comfortable in that situation," Abe added, as he helped her to stand, then wrapped a warm robe around her shoulders.

"Ouch..." she muttered, holding on to her stomach now as a deep, low pain seared through her.

"Zen ve must get here zere right now Herr Abe, or she vill haf zis baby on the medical bay floor!"

*****

She sat in the low-sized water tank, which was heated to a comfortable temperature, wearing only the top half of her water suit. Abe knelt beside her in the water, holding her hands as she bit her lip and waited for each painful contraction to end, so that she could breathe easier again.

One medical nurse and Liz were the only two other people allowed in the room. Liz pressed a cool cloth against her forehead and neck every so often and the nurse was keeping a good eye on the proceedings, hopping in and out of the tank to check on the progress of the birth.

"Ow ow ow ow owwww..." she said in succession, clutching Abes hands with great force as another strong contraction forced her muscles to tense up. "It really hurts..." she gasped, while he knelt forward and kissed her fingers.

"You are doing so well, I am so so proud of you darling." The nurse hopped back into the tank, kneeling next to Abe now in the chest high water. "Fully dilated!" she said, and turned to Abe, "The baby is crowning, that means her head is starting to come out."

"Oh my..." Abe said, flustered yet proud as he watched his love go through the excruciating pains during the contractions that were now an almost constant.

"Alright, honey," the nurse chirped, turning back to Her, "we are going to push now, alright? Remember your breathing exercises..." "Owww ow owww..." "Push, darling, that's it just one more!"

She screamed, her head tilting back as she gritted her teeth and pushed, her body taking over for her as nature intended with one powerful, agonising contraction.

Liz was stroking her hair as the nurse helped Abe into position, and within moments his arms came out of the water cradling the tiny child. A sharp, crying sound echoed throughout the room and she tilted her head back in relief, knowing that her baby was safely in the world now.

"She is just beautiful..." she heard Abe say, and when she leaned up she could see him kneeling close to her with the tiny new born held close to his chest.

"Oh..." he added, his smile turning into a wide grin as they both got their first proper look at the child, "Well, we didn't expect this..."