The Rabbit's Den

February Shoot Out

It was the middle of February when Petra went into labor, she was a few weeks early, but nothing abnormal about that with twins. Trixie had been awoke in the wee hours of the morning to Sadie pounding on the door. She didn't have time to get up and answer it before Sadie barreled in, "Trixie, Petra's water broke." She stumbled trying to throw on a pair of sweats, her belly was only slightly swollen looking at this stage in her own pregnancy. "Is she in the infirmary?" Sadie paused, "You don't want her to go to the hutch?" Trixie looked up at her, "We can't risk it until Dr. Mullens is taken care of." Sadie nodded and ran back to the room.

Trixie barged into Kaleb's room flicking on the light, "Go get the Doc, Petra's in labor." Kaleb shot up, slightly irritated, "Why do women always go into labor before sunrise?" She gave him a dirty look, "Don't be a dick, go get the Doc." He waved her away and glanced at his watch, 1:57, God it was so early.

Petra was pacing back and forth in the infirmary, holding her back she was making a low humming sound. Trixie was watching her with a slight panic, this was going to be her in five short months, the idea scared the hell out of her. Dr. Mullens walked in with Kaleb behind him, "How far apart are her contractions?" Petra broke her humming, "Her contractions are three minutes apart." She stated, she was in no mood for any of Dr. Mullens' shit. He straightened up, "You need to be checked, see if you're fully dilated."

Petra gave him a dirty look before climbing up on the table and wincing in pain, she held on to her belly. The exam was very quick before he helped her up and she began to pace again. "She's at ten centimeters, she's ready. Petra when the next one comes you can start pushing." She was humming again, blocking out the doctor. "Petra?" Trixie said. Sadie crossed the room to Petra and stopped her pacing, "You're ready honey it's okay." Petra shook her head, "I don't want to." Dr. Mullens took a step forward, Kaleb tapped him on the shoulder with the barrel of his gun. "Doc you're here to supervise, step in if there's a problem, that's all."

Zach was still trying to gather his thoughts, Kaleb had woke him on his way to getting the Doctor. He needed to be there as well to help control the doctor; he didn't like the Doc at all. When they had returned in the beginning of December from the supply run he had himself wanted to execute the monster. He slowly started to get dressed.

Back in the infirmary Petra was leaning into the seat of a chair on her arms. She had begun pushing, with every push she made painful moaning sounds. Sadie knelt behind her ready to catch the first baby; she had quite the history with midwifing. She was a short heavy woman in her seventies, tonight sporting a very messy bun on top of her head. Rubbing Petra's lower back she instructed her on her breathing and told her when to push. The Doc watched the woman, who in his personal opinion was a much better birthing coach than he ever was. Much more experienced.

The first baby came, Sadie turned handing the baby to Trixie who stood by with a small blanket. She looked over the tiny screaming infant smiling. Petra turned her head to Trixie, "What is it?" Trixie bit her lip as her own heart sank a little, "It's a girl Petra." Petra let out a strained wail.

"Where the hell is Zach?" Kaleb growled. The Doc turned and looked at him, "You want to go get him." Kaleb raised the gun at him.

Petra continued to push, she was tiring. "Petra you have to keep going." Sadie said rolling her fists on her back. Petra shook her head, "Somethings wrong." Sadie shook her head, "You have to keep going." Dr. Mullens didn't move but spoke up, "She's right, she's been pushing far too long. Check the baby's position." Sadie put her hand on Petra's back, "Petra I'm going to check the baby." Petra nodded, her face was red, streaked with tears. Sadie could feel the little foot, "Petra the baby is coming the wrong way, you're going to have to push a little harder this next time. I'm going to try and ease its other leg out." Petra nodded.

Trixie had wrapped and laid the screaming little girl into a tub, she prepared the next blanket. It was clear to the doctor everyone's attention was now on the baby, even Kaleb's. "Good job Petra, I have both feet. Just keep going!" Petra was now panting heavily, she had a death grip on the chair. Kaleb had not notice Dr. Mullens slowly backing up beside him, as Petra gave her all on the last push he struck.

The blow to his arm cause him to fumble the gun, the next blow was just above his stomach, knocking the air from his lungs. Dr. Mullens scrambled to the gun. Trixie had turned in the commotion to see him grab the gun. Kaleb was still bent slightly holding one hand on his stomach the other outstretched in front of him like a shield. Trixie glanced over at Petra, she looked like a cornered animal. Sadie held the second naked baby to her own chest protectively. The entire infirmary stood motionless and silent except for the two newborns. He spoke up, pointing the gun at Sadie, "What is it?" Sadie's eyes were wide in terror as she slowly looked down at the baby, "Another girl."

"Give me one of them." He demanded. "Fuck that." Kaleb said, still trying to breath right. As he turned to face Kaleb, Trixie made several steps toward him. He snapped back, pointing the gun at her, "Don't make me shoot you." She stopped. "You wouldn't shoot her!" Kaleb said. He turned the gun back to Kaleb, "I wouldn't want to, but I will shoot you. Now give me one of the babies." Petra screamed, "You can't have my babies."

Zach heard the screaming from down the hall, he began to run, pulling his side arm out. He hugged the wall, as he rounded the door. Dr. Mullens saw him and fired first. The bullet hit the door frame causing Zach to flinch and fire. Petra's screams pierced Trixie's ears, the gun fire wasn't stopping. She ran and laid over the top of the first of the twins tub, shielding the baby, closing her eyes. She couldn't see what was going on, but the gun fire subsided, and she could hear struggling. Then it was quite.

"Zach?" Sadie shouted, still shielding Petra and the baby. Zach didn't answer. Trixie turned, Kaleb was bringing his knees up, it looked like he had been knocked out. His face was a mess of blood from where the Doc had hit him in the face with the gun. He turned grabbing Zach's boot and jerking on it. "Zach?" He didn't move, Kaleb moved to his side. Blood pooled around Zach's head in a grim halo, the bullet had entered his eye and he was dead.

"Trixie, is the baby okay?" Petra asked, panic in her voice. She looked down into the tub, the blanket was soaked in blood. She pulled it open and franticly checked the newborn over, the baby cried as she moved her around trying to find the source of the blood. "Trixie?" Kaleb had left Zach's side and was walking to her. "I can't find where the blood is coming from," Trixie cried, "Where is it coming from?" The she looked down at herself, the stain was growing bigger. Kaleb pulled her back, and lifted her shirt. To the left of her swollen belly was a bullet wound, pumping out blood. She looked up in shock at Kaleb, "It's me." She felt herself going limp, he legs crumbled under her.

Before she lost consciousness she could hear Kaleb yelling for help.