Found Along The Way

Chapter sixteen

"I'm not comfortable at all. You'd think car seats were more comfy than this, but not right now." Lina laughed, trying to readjust her posture in the cramped car.

"I know Lina, we're gonna get you home and comfy though in no time." Joey responded, trying to hide his worry. He'd texted Anya and Lucas that they were going home early when Lina decided the back pain was getting too much. The road home was becoming tricky to navigate, rain poured and cars blocked lanes. To say Joey was worrying would have been an understatement, Lina's discomfort was increasing and he feared it wasn't just back pain. But he also knew that showing any panic would not be good for Lina, he had to stay calm. Which he did, until 10 minutes later Lina got a striking pain that she hadn't felt before. She winced, trying to breathe through it, until she couldn't take it and admitted to Joey,

"This- This really hurts..." Panic was woven into her voice as she gripped the handle above the car door.

"Ok, yeah, that seems like a definite contraction." He spoke in a calming voice and held her hand, still focusing on the road.

When the pain seemed to subside after a minute he let go, changed the GPS route, and called Anya. "Change of plan guys, I'm taking Lina to the hospital, ninety-nine percent sure she's in labour."

"Oh my god, seriously?!" Anya gasped, looking at Lucas in shock and excitement. "We'll meet you there Joey, and Lina remember to stay calm and breathe lady. And no having that baby without me" She announced before hearing a series of swear words intertwined into a groan, and the phone cut off.

Lucas and Anya quickly said goodbye to the host, and ran for the car, setting off for one of the most exciting and terrifying nights yet.

The road ahead of Joey was filled up with cars as his concern grew. He tried his best to keep it together but seeing Lina in pain was killing him. This was the girl who he'd watched grow as such a strong woman in the past 3 years, who had got him through his final year of med school, and who was such a kickass in every situation.

He wanted to cry, to take the pain for her, and let her feel okay again. It didn't seem fair.

"Not long now Lina, we're about twenty minutes away."

"That's too long Joe, this is unbearable and I HATE this car." She spat through her pained state.

"We'll make it I promise" He said, not knowing what else to say, worrying that his promise would fall through. Everything was moving too fast, and despite being a doctor he couldn't have felt less prepared. The traffic seemed endless, and he knew that babies don't wait, they come on their own time and all the training in the world doesn't prepare you for a situation like the one Joey was praying wouldn't happen. So of course those next 20 minutes felt like 2 hours.

But suddenly, when it seemed like they wouldn't make it, he saw the sign approaching. Bright, blurry lights in the rain that spelt out 'E.R.' and a wave of relief rushed over him.

Anya desperately didn't want Lina to go through this without her, they faced everything together and she promised to be there. She knew Joey would handle it perfectly, but it didn't make not being there any easier.

"Lucas is the GPS even going to the right hospital?"

"They just arrived at St. Mark's right?"

"Yeah, But I don't recognise where we are because of the damn rain." She mumbled, concentrating on trying to recognise even the smallest detail of the street they were on.

"I'm sure we're going the right way, maybe call Joe to see how things are going over there?"

Anya picked up her phone and dialled for Joe who was calmly comforting Lina in her cosy hospital room.

He answered in a whisper "Hey Anya, where are you?"

"We're coming, the traffic is just dreadful. Why are you whispering?"

"because she's managed to fall asleep, and it won't last long but she's been doing so well and she's real tired."

"How long is it now until-"

Interrupted by the sound of Lina groaning and Joey comforting her, Anya cringed, it didn't sound like it would be long. She looked at Lucas and shook her head, "We need to hurry." And he agreed.

Joey stroked her hair, whispering words of support and love. Her makeup had been mostly sweat and cried off, and her hair was pulled back into a truly messy ponytail to keep it off of her face, not even the cute kind, but Joey still saw her as the most beautiful girl he'd ever seen.

She tried to speak through shaky breaths, grabbing Joey's hand and tensing up her face

"Anya, I really need you. Please get here."

"Lina stay strong, I'm on my way and Joey has you."

She heard Lina sob, and it caused Anya to tear up herself.

"You've got this Lina, you've so got this. I'll be there-"

But the phone cut off with a notification, 'No service.'

"FUCK. Goddammit." she shouted, dropping her phone in frustration. "Are we even close?"

Lucas shook his head and Anya came to the gradual realisation that she wasn't going to make it in time. It had been almost 15 minutes and the traffic hadn't moved an inch. She had come to accept the fact that she couldn't be there, but she breathed a tiny bit easier knowing Joey was.

He was there the whole time, holding Lina's hand when they moved to the delivery room, keeping her sat up through every single push, wiping away each tear as it fell, making sure to go through every single step of the process with her.

Making sure to keep the promises he'd made at her bedside so early on in the pregnancy,

"We're gonna be great parents and I'm staying by your side through it all."

He kept his word, and he kept her safe. Just like he'd keep their child safe from the whole world as long as he was there.

"I'm so tired Joey..." Lina cried with exhaustion

"I know sweetie, but we are so, so close."

The pain, tears, and screams seemed endless. Until at last, a cry swept over it all.

A cry of innocence, one so deeply associated with new life, one that brought Joey to tears himself.

The doctor announced through joyful laughter "She's here lovelies."

This sentence would replay in his mind over and over again.

"She? Oh my god Lina... we have a daughter..." He said through his tears, watching this new beautiful life be wrapped up and handed into Lina's arms. She cried along, exhausted and overcome with joy.

"We have our Rosie, Joey we have our Rosie."

"We do. You're incredible baby, you and our daughter are incredible."

This whole day would seem like such a haze when they'd think back 20 years later, to the time that began their journey as a family. This one tiny soul would be the thing that united Joey and Lina forever, more than any papers or rings ever might. And Rosie would never truly be able to comprehend how much she meant to them both, and how much that moment changed their lives for the better. She was and would always be their miracle.

Their miracle who was beyond perfect to them, with how she opened her beautiful brown eyes, grabbed hold of Joey's thumb, and yelled at the top of her tiny lungs.

They held her and watched this new little person discover the first things she'd ever see.

"Hi Baby" Lina laughed tearfully.

"Lina she's perfect."

"She is. I love her so much, I love you so much."

And in their new bubble, they relaxed. Laughing, holding each-other, and not caring about anything else in the world.