Learning Curve- Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Two
Barbara Brand rifled through the black sports bag, seizing a pair of grey denim skinny jeans and holding them up, wordlessly waiting for the excuse. Russell shurgged.
“I've gotta have something to wear when I get papped coming out of hospital.”
She sighed, putting one hand over his.
“Russell. You will feel and look an awful lot thinner after you've had this baby, but I'm not sure if you'll quite be able to get into those jeans, just yet.”
He groaned, taking the jeans and absent-mindedly folding them over his forearm.
“I know, I know... I just want to be able to kid myself that I'll snap right back.”
“There's no saying you won't, darling... but it might take a good few weeks of you being back in your normal routine.”
He sunk down onto the bed.
“I just...” He trailed off, frowning as he tried to find the words, “I know that the way my body looks is utterly meaningless. I know that it is just a form, just a vehicle for my personality, and that it'll still work fine... but, Mum... I don't want to be fat. Never again.”
Barbara said nothing, enveloping her son in a hug. He grabbed at her arm and shut his eyes, resting his head against her.
* * *
Noel stepped into the dimly lit bedroom, paused for a moment and then rushed to Russell, who was sat in the middle of the bed, his head bent over his spherical stomach, sobbing heavily.
“Russell, what's wrong? Are you in pain?!” Noel asked frantically, lifting Russell's face. His fiancee's eyes were wide with horror.
“Tell me that nothing's going to happen, Noel... tell me things'll just go on the way they are, it'll just be you and me living here and this baby can just stay inside me... I can't do this, I can't, we'll lose the baby and it'll all be my fault, Noel!”
“You have been so brave, you can do it, you're not going to give up now. I'm so proud of you. You're so unbelievably strong- I wouldn't have been able to go through with this!”
Russell's confused and frightened expression darkened.
“Wouldn't you go through this for me? If you'd been the one who'd become pregnant, would you have gotten rid of my baby?!”
“Oh, Christ, Russell, no-”
“Oh, Christ, Russell, no- you have got the wrong end of the stick, yet again, because you are an idiot!” Russell spat, “I'm Noel and I am always right, I make other people have the babies because I cannot be arsed to do a day's hard work!”
“Russell, I think you ought to get some rest,” Noel murmured patiently, “Shall we get you out of these clothes?”
Russell nodded with a sniff, starting to unbutton his shirt. He suddenly yelled out, doubling over and clutching his stomach.
“Russ?” Noel squeaked, taking hold of the other man's shoulders.
“Shit. Oh, SHIT, Noel, it's started, it's- MY GOD!”
“But it's not 'til next week!” Noel shouted. Russell stared at him.
“Doesn't look like next week, does it! Fucking do something!” His breathing was laboured, each rise and fall of his chest evidently agonising. Noel broke his stare and grabbed his phone, dialling 999.
“This is Noel Fielding, follow the instructions provided by Doctor Robert Fielding of Los Angeles, it's the Aphrodite Industries case. Thanks.” He hung up and turn back to Russell, who was shaking with fear and pain, deathly white, looking desperately at the older man. “Russell, the ambulance is on its way. I'll get your bag. Just do your breathing like we practised, would you like a drink?”
Russell nodded jerkily. When Noel was in the kitchen, he hastily dialled a number and held the phone under his ear as he got Russell a glass of water.
“Ju? It's time. What do I do?”
Julian didn't waste a second.
“It's going to be fine, Noel, trust me. Calm yourself down, shake it off, have you called the ambulance?”
“Of course I have!” Noel hissed, trying to turn the tap off with his elbow, “It's the first thing I did, you utter prick!”
“I'm going to take the insults as I understand how you are feeling. I was almost hyper-ventilating when Julia went into labour.”
“Sorry,” Noel said thickly, feeling as though something was lodged beneath his Adam's apple.
“Noel. Come on,” Julian said softly, sensing the tears in his friend's voice, “Go back to Russell. Try and calm him down a bit, ease his pain. Don't think about anything but now, and helping him. Now go.”
Noel opened his mouth to reply, but realised Julian had gone before he could thank him. He swallowed, then dashed pack to Russell. He was sat on the floor, head thrown back, legs spread, mouth stretched a moan of agony. Noel crouched hastily beside him, bringing Russell's head forwards and raising the glass to his dry lips.
“Russell, come on, it's okay, the ambulance will be here really soon.” Noel murmured, seizing the overnight bag from the wardrobe before helping Russell to his feet and then scooping him into his arms.
“Bag?” Russell muttered weakly.
“Got it.”
“I love you.”
“I love you too, Russell. So much.”
What followed passed in a blur to Noel. The paramedics hoisted Russell onto the wheeled bed and into the ambulance, and Noel sat with him through the swift journey, holding his hand and trying to talk but being unable to find the words, caught somewhere between laughing and crying. Russell doubled the grip he had on Noel's fingers and as he was swept down a hospital corridor, a la every cheesy soap he'd ever seen, and Noel ran alongside.
“Mr Fielding,” a Doctor asked, “I understand this may be difficult, but who is priority?”
“I beg your fucking pardon?” Noel gagged.
“If we can only save Mr. Brand or the baby, who is priority?”
“You can't ask me that!” He squealed, horrified.
“Baby!” Russell roared, “I haven't done all this for nothing, Noel, you're getting this sodding baby one way or the other, like it or not!”
Noel stared as a nurse held him back in the doorway, and Russell looked back, his eyes wide with terror as the mask was placed over his face, and everything went black.
* * *
Dial tone.
Three rings.
Four rings.
Five rings.
About to give up, when:
“Hello?”
“Dee?”
“Noel! Is everything okay?”
“He went into labour.”
“Oh-!”
“He's under. They've started the caesarean.”
“Noel, it's gonna be fine, you know that?”
“Yes. I know. I'm just so fucking scared.”
“Oh, Noel. I know. I know.”
“Is Matt with you?”
“Yes, he's- Matt?”
Noel swallowed, twisting the ring on his finger- it was Russell's, he had begun wearing it for him when Russell's fingers became too swollen.
“Noel?”
“Matt. Hey.”
“He started?”
“Yeah... they wouldn't let me stay with him. Because it's the first case of its kind they just...”
“Are you okay, mate?”
“I'll be fine, yeah... thanks.”
“No... thank you, Noel.”
“What for?”
“For giving this to Russell. You've done something for him that no one else can do. I hope you realise how much you mean to him.”
Noel smiled, tears pouring from his tired eyes.
“Noel!” Dee yelled, “We're coming to the hospital!”
Dead line.
Contacts, dial.
“Babs? It's Noel here- Russell has- yes- okay, see you soon.”
Then the last call he needed to make:
“Mum,” He sobbed, “Mum, please come to the hospital. I need you.”
Everyone seemed to arrive at the same time. Dee flung herself at him and hugged him fiercely. Matt gave him an awkward pat on the back, and then pulled him in for a hug anyway. Barbara kissed his cheek and briefly took one of his hands, giving it a squeeze. Diane rocked him liked a child, stroking his hair and soothing him gently.
“Noel Fielding?”
He spun around to meet the solemn eyes of the male nurse.
"Can you come with me, sir?"
* * *
To be continued...