Hide and Spy- Gallagher Girls FanFic

One Shot- A. Solomon

Rachel POV

I couldn’t get comfortable in bed, I was too warm and the baby was kicking my ribs. I certainly hadn’t missed this aspect of the pregnancy. Eventually I decided to take a shower, as I climbed out of bed I leant over to kiss Joe’s cheek. 

“Where are you going?” He murmured with his eyes closed.

I smiled, “Just for a shower, I can’t sleep,”

He smiled and reached out for my hand, “Okay,”

I turned the shower on to lukewarm and began to comb my hair out of its messy bun. I gasped and clutched at my stomach as a painful tightening ran through me. Leaning against the sink I closed my eyes and took some deep breaths, this couldn’t be happening now, I wasn’t due for another ten weeks at least. Then again, all the stress I’d been under since Matt had … I didn’t let myself think the word. I groaned as I felt the tightening pain again, “Oh god,” I breathed.

There was a light knock on the door, “Rach?”

No, I couldn’t let him know, he’d only worry and stress out. I swallowed my fear and tried my best to sound calm, “I’m fine,”

I looked in the mirror, I could see the tears brimming in my tired, heavy eyes. The door opened and Joe stepped in, I knew the instant he saw me he would know something was up. 

Our eyes met in the mirror and his face twisted in concern, “Rachel,” Joe held out his hands to me, “Please?”

I swallowed the lump in my throat and slowly turned to face him. I could trust Joe, he always looked after me and knew what to do. I looked from his hands to his face and finally let the tears break free, “I’m in labor Joe,”

He instantly stepped over to me and held me securely in his arms. I caught the split second of dread cross his face before he composed himself.

“Shh,” He stroked my hair, “It’ll be alright,”

“I’m scared,” I choked out, “I’m only 30 weeks!”

“We’ve got the best equipment money can buy,” I told her, “It’ll all be alright.” He repeated.

Let me just point out, I’ve had a full term child before, without pain meds! I didn’t have much option, we were in Joe’s cabin when Cammie was born— no medicine at all!

But even that didn’t hurt as much as this, this was excruciating.

When it was all over I fell back against the bed and closed my eyes. The baby wasn’t crying, It’s dead, I thought in a panic. 

“She’s okay,” Joe kissed my sweaty head, “She’s alive.”

I opened my eyes and looked from him to where two nurses were seeing to the baby, “She?”

Joe nodded with a smile and followed my gaze, “She’ll need some special care but she should be fine,”

I finally broke a smile and sighed in relief, tears stung my eyes and soaked my cheeks. Joe wrapped his arms around my shoulders and kissed the side of my head.

I whispered, “This is all Matt’s fault.”

“Don’t,” Joe told me as he rocked gently from side to side, “Just forget about him.”

I smiled softly with a yawn, that was easier said than done. I was mad at Matt for doing what he did, a small part of me always would be, but there was still a little bit of me that loved him.