Just the 3 of Us, Parts 14-16 (till the end)

Sep 26, 2006 07:39


PART 14
For three weeks, Cameron enjoyed life. She shopped for baby clothes, finished up the registry, and did in fact paint the nursery. She went behind their backs, purchased the paint one day, masked off the trim work the next and when they were both stuck late at the hospital, she painted. Light pastels, pink, blue, yellow and white. It turned out perfect.

The wrath she had to face when they walked into the house and smelled the fresh paint was probably the worst ever. She was soaking her tired muscles in the tub when they burst into the bathroom, scowling and then proceeding to browbeat her for about an hour. She told them she was fine, although she really wasn’t that fine, her back was killing her. All in all, however, she didn’t hurt herself or the babies.

Over dinner, they would argue about names. House was more into the traditional names, while Wilson seemed to want to torture the poor children. Finally, after many heated arguments, they settled on the names. Now all there was to do was wait for the babies, (well that and have the shower).

One Friday, Greg called up Allison and asked her to come by the hospital for lunch. He said that everyone missed her and wanted to see how huge she had become. Well really Chase was always the one saying that she would never get her figure back, but before she got pregnant, he always told her she was too skinny. House would gripe, tell him to stop talking about his wife’s body and put him on bed pan duty for a few days. Foreman would laugh, but had enough sense in his head to keep quiet.

When Allison woke up that day, she wasn’t feeling too well. Her back kind of hurt and her head was pounding. She’d told House as much, but after hearing the disappointment in his voice, she’d decided to go ahead and join him for lunch. She had a few Brixton Hicks contractions on the way in (the pain less ones) but as she made her way to his office, they started to hurt. He wasn’t there, but a note one his desk told him that he was in Cuddy’s office and to come and rescue him when she got there. Sighing she made her way to Cuddy’s. She was surprised when she had to stop a few times to catch her breath. A brief thought that she could be in labor crossed her mind, but she quickly dispatched with it. She was only 35 weeks, she still had a little over a month to go, and at her last checkup, she had no signs of early labor.

She knocked on Cuddy’s door and was told to enter, when she did, she found House, Cuddy, Wilson, Chase, Foreman and a few other doctors and nurses’s there. They’d thrown her a surprise shower for the babies. She stood there in shock and started to cry.

House came over and gave her a hug, "Hey, sweetheart, you’re supposed to be happy, Cuddy assured us that women loved this kind of thing." he murmured in her hair.

"I am happy Greg, thank you. How did you keep this from me? I can see you keeping a secret from me, but Wilson? He always caves and gives it away."

"Why do you think I kept him working late this past week?" He teased her.

"Because I’m a huge, fat whale and who would want to look at me, let alone sleep with me? I think I need to move to the guest room so I have some space. You and Jim can have the bed to yourselves." she whispered to him. He snorted at her as if to say, "yeah right".

He felt her tense up, "You ok?" He asked, but before she could reply, Cuddy and everyone else were fighting for hugs and pats to her belly.

Cuddy had her hand on Allison’s belly when she sucked in a quiet breath. Cuddy’s eyes quickly jumped up to meet Cameron’s and she knew what the problem was. "Hey, would one of you big, strong men pull a chair over for Allison and get her a glass of water. She is pregnant you know." She then turned to Allison and said, "How far apart are they?"

"I don’t know, 15 minutes or so."

"How is the pain? On a scale of 1 to 8."

"I’m fine really Lisa."

"How bad?"

"Hum, it varies, maybe like a five."

"Ok, well hang in their kid, we will get this party wrapped up and then you can get checked out. If they get any worse, tell me or one of your men."

Allison just looked at her and whispered, "You know?"

"I know everything that happens in my hospital." Cuddy told her simply.

"Do they know you know?"

She shrugged and said, "I think, but we don’t talk about it. I have suspected for years, but then you came along and it took me a while to figure out what the dynamics were. So who IS the father?"

"I have no idea." Allison laughed.

Wilson brought her over a plate of food and she only nibbled a little bit, she didn’t have an appetite. They opened presents and chatted for a few minutes until Cuddy told everyone to get back to work.

"Any better?" She asked Allison when it was finally only her, House and Wilson.

"Better? What do you mean better?" Wilson started.

"Allison’s having contractions."

"What?" House barked. "And you didn’t say anything. You told Cuddy over your husband!"

"I’m fine really and Lisa figured it out on her own. You know, less self-absorbed." She bit down her pain with sarcasm.

"Ok, that’s it, your going on a monitor. Wilson call up to Labor and Delivery. Tell them we have Allison, 35 weeks plus with contractions. Pregnant with twins." Wilson rolled his eyes at Cuddy’s description, like he didn’t already know the details.

"Allison, you are only 35 weeks, the babies aren’t ready to be born yet." House told her.

"Well, Greg, perhaps you could tell them that, because they seem to want to come out, ready or not."

"NOT!" He stressed. "Not today." he said, then hunched down on his knees in front of her, "Do you hear that kids? Listen to your father, not today. You need to bake longer. You will be all wrinkly and covered in that white cheese stuff. Yuck, no thank you, that stuff is gross. Everyone will be talking about how ugly House’s babies were. No, I’m too pretty to have ugly babies, you will listen to me or I will smack your butts when you come out, like they use to do."

Allison and Lisa were laughing at him, Wilson was just rubbing his hands through his hair, he wasn’t taking this well.

"Jim, are you ok? You look a little frazzled." Allison giggled.

"Yes. Don’t you think it’s time we got her to L & D now? I have a wheelchair."

"I don’t need a wheelchair James. I can walk."

"You should stay off your feet, to help stop the labor."

"Walking 15 feet to the elevator will not change anything Besides, I don’t like to be wheeled around. It makes me feel, vulnerable." This awarded her with a nod from House as he helped her to stand up. Her back was now starting to really ache.

They made their way to L & D and got her hooked up to all the monitors. She was indeed having contractions and upon exam, was 2 cm dilated. If they didn’t stop the labor soon, the babies would come today, no matter what House had to say about it.

***

PART 15

They made their way to L & D and got her hooked up to all the monitors. She was indeed having contractions and upon exam, was 2 cm dilated. If they didn’t stop the labor soon, the babies would come today, no matter what House had to say about it.

The next few hours were hell on Allison. House sat in the corner, quiet except for the constant, incisive tapping of his cane. Wilson would get up every few minutes and check the monitor, offer her some ice or try to touch her. She so didn’t want to be touched.

They managed to slow the labor down and she had stopped dilating. Still they sat. Tap, tap, tap. She was ready to scream. "Hey, why don’t you guys go down and get something to eat. It looks like everything is ok here. Besides, I could use the rest." From both of you, she added in her head. Silence. The tapping had stopped and now he was scowling at her with that piercing blue gaze of his. "Greg, I’m fine. Please, go. I’m sure your leg is killing you from sitting so long."

"Fine, but you page me the second there is a change." he said to her and Wilson nodded in approval.

"Ok, go, the both of you. And I will expect some small token of appreciation for doing this for both of you." She smiled sweetly at them as they left her room, closing the door behind them. Yes, silence. Just me and the babies, heaven. Allison closed her eyes and let the whoosh and dueling heartbeat of the babies lull her to sleep. Just as she drifted off, she heard the door open and muttered a curse. "Come on guys, give me a break."

"It’s Lisa."

"Oh, thank God. They were driving me insane."

"They’re worried about you." Cuddy told her simply.

"I know, but they don’t show it well. House is all quiet and tapping his cane, Wilson’s all skiddish. Anytime I move or the babies move, he’s repositioning the amplifiers on my stomach. I sent them away, told them to get something to eat, and that I expected a gift." she told Lisa, laughing.

"When was the last time they checked you? It seems like the contractions have pretty much stopped. A few little ones."

"I don’t know, maybe two hours ago."

"Do you mind?"

Allison hesitated for a moment. This was Cuddy after all. She was her boss, the head of the hospital. Would she be able to look at her the same again? Then she realized that if Cuddy didn’t check her, and if one of the nurses didn’t soon, Wilson would insist on it, and that was just plain weird. She still felt the rush of excitement anytime either one of them touched her.

"No, go ahead. Better you than Wilson."

Cuddy laughed, "That bad?"

"Yeah, but it’s cute on some level. I love to watch House’s mind work, and it has been busy."

"Ok. It feels like you are still only 2 cm. I think we are in the clear. I want to keep you a day or two, just to monitor you. If you do go, I have a feeling it will go quickly."

"Ok. Man that sucks. I don’t even have my bag or anything. I wasn’t ready for this." she said as a silent tear slipped down her face.

"Allison, you know twins are born early all the time. Everything will be fine. Besides, I can’t wait to see who they look like. Foreman, Dr. Rock, and I have a bet, but don’t tell them." She laughed.

"Nice. I can’t believe my OB-GYN would do that." she giggled. "I can’t wait either. Who ever the father is, I know they will be beautiful. And spoiled by both of them. Have you ever seen House talk about the babies?" Cuddy shook her head no, "He melts. He tries to hide it, but it’s there in his eyes. You know, I don’t think he ever thought he would be a father, especially not after the leg. Wilson was the only thing keeping him going." She sighed. "Dear, sweet James. He shoulders so much, and never complains. His job alone is heartbreaking for him. But the good days, that’s what he lives for and it changes him. He shines even brighter those days." Allison said breathlessly.

"You really love them don’t you?"

"More than you can imagine."

"The three of you are perfect together. I see that now, understand it. You complement each other and bring out the good while dimming the bad. I can only hope that I find someone who loves me like that one day." Cuddy said wistfully.

"You will." Allison assured her as she heard the door open up. Her two men walked in and her heart fluttered. Her earlier annoyed state vanished, replaced with joy and love. "Hi," she said smiling at them. House and Wilson exchanged glances. Cuddy looked misty while Allison was radiating. What ever had passed most definitely was a woman thing.

"So, what did you get me?" Allison asked with the joy of a child on Christmas.

"Well, House wanted to get you a teddy, and I don’t mean the little stuffed kind." Wilson told her causing her to laugh at the expression House shot at him.

"James wanted to get you a breast pump." House snipped back.

"What? It’s practical and about to come in really handy." James defended.

"And the teddy wouldn’t have?" They both stopped and got a far away look in their eyes.

"Ok men, get that thought out of your heads. You can’t touch her for at least two weeks, and I would prefer six." Cuddy told them.

"SIX!" They both exclaimed at the same time.

Cuddy shrugged and said, "What’s the big deal? You got each other."

"Yeah, but he snores, and she smells better." House said as he bent down to give Allison a kiss. "How you feeling?"

"Better."

"The contractions have stopped." Wilson said, looking at the sheet."

"For now yeah. Cuddy said I need to stay a day or two, just to be sure."

"Yuck, I hate staying at the hospital." House mumbled.

"Too bad, pull up a cot and settle down. Now about my present," she asked, her eyes glittering.

***

Part 16

For three days they kept Allison in the hospital. Three days of poking and prodding and constant influx of people in her room. She was ready to scream. When House came to take her home, she fell even more in love with him. Wilson met them as the elevator doors opened in the lobby. He had brought the Escalade around and was waiting to drive them all home.

Upon arriving, the first thing she did was go and take a nap. She didn’t get any sleep in the hospital and she was so tired carrying around all the extra weight of the babies. She woke up to the scent of dinner. Chicken Marcella, House was cooking. Her stomach rumbled as she tried to roll out of bed. Sighing she almost broke into tears.

She was huge, huger than huge. A beached whale. She waddled, and shuffled. If she had to run to save her live, she would just stand there and tell them to kill her because there was NO way she could move any faster than a 90 year old lady.

She shuffled out into the living room and both House and Wilson jumped up to help her. "How did you know Greg?" She asked him.

"Well, you have been eating hospital poison for the last few days, I figured you would like something that tasted better than road kill." he told her simply, but she knew it was more than that. Chicken Marcella was her all time favorite and she had never tasted any better than House’s. She just smiled at him and let him pamper her.

James poured her some juice and got her some caffeine free tea, what she would do for some caffeine, but it was useless to argue, they would win, they always did. While they ate their meals, they discussed their day. House’s had a big case come in and Wilson got to tell another person that they were in remission. It had been a good day.

They moved their way into the living room and all spread out in front of the TV. Allison sat, her hand on her aching stomach, (she had eaten entirely too much), while Wilson rubbed her swollen feet. She couldn’t stay in one position too long and needed to get up and go pee anyway so she stood, stretched her aching back and shuffled down the hall. She had just got to the bathroom, off the carpet when she felt it.

The warm gush of her waters running down her legs. She gripped the door jam and waited till the wave of panic receded. This was it. She was going to be a mother, to two babies at once. She couldn’t do it. This wasn’t happening, she wasn’t fit to be a mother. She didn’t even know who the father was. She could hardly take care of them, let alone two babies on top of it, she told herself. It was then, the first real contraction hit her and she let out a small cry of alarm.

James was there before she realized and he was shouting at House to get the car. She found herself in the front seat as they sped toward the hospital. It was a good thing it was late in the evening and traffic was light. They made the 20 minute drive in about 8. As she walked into the ER, she had to stop every few minutes as the contraction consumed her. She was shaking, sweating and cursing her so called lovers. If they loved her so much, they would have never gotten her pregnant in the first place.

Her room was beautiful, tiny flowered wallpaper, vases of flowers, it was made to look like a bedroom, complete with a whirlpool bathtub that she wasn’t allowed to go into. Her water had already broken and the risk of infection was too high, and she wasn’t having a water birth.

When they checked her, she had finally hit 4 cm and she was asking for the pain medication. House grumbled about it. "It is better for the baby to go drug free." He told her.

"I’ll go drug free if YOU go drug free!" She snapped at him, finally shutting him up. They all remembered the debacle that was his detox. Ten minutes she was resting comfortably, a cathrater pumping the pain medicine straight into her spine. Ahhh sweet bliss.

"Can I get you anything Allie?" James asked her.

"Yeah, double fudge brownie ice cream with chocolate syrup and a mound of whipped cream that would be shameful to say the least."

"You can’t eat while you are in labor." Jim informed her calmly while House rolled his eyes.

"I think she knows that Doctor Wilson." He snipped.

"Shut up House, your just pissed off about the drugs." Jim snipped back.

"Oh and your not? You know that added risks."

"And I also know what stress can do to a laboring woman."

"Do either of you know what kind of violence a laboring woman is capable of?" She growled out, quieting both of them. House resumed his place in the corner of the room, his jaw twitching every few seconds, while James stared out into the darkening sky, scowling. "MEN!" Allison said, almost as a plea for understanding.

Time passed slowly, the nurses coming in and checking her every half hour to an hour or so. Both of the men were dosing when she finally started to feel the urge to push. She hit the call button for the nurse.

"Yes Allison, what can we get you?" The voice answered back.

"I think I need to push." She told them, fear lacing her voice.

Both men bolted upright and blinked the sleep from their eyes. All three of them just stopped and looked at each other. Their hearts pounding as one. They were all about to become parents, and they were equally scared to death.

House moved first. He tossed his cane aside and started to dig in the drawers for a gown and mask.

"What are you doing?" Allison and Jim asked him at the same time.

"Delivering my babies." He told them calmly as he continued to suit up.

"I don’t think so." she told him. He turned and looked at her. The full power of his eyes meeting hers and she knew she could never refuse him. She sighed and laid back and waited for him.

"Fine, then I get the second one." James stated as he followed House’s lead and began to dress. They had never talked about this moment. She had an OBGYN, the topic had never come up, but at this moment, at three in the morning, it seemed only right that they bring their new family into this world.

House placed her in the stir ups and Wilson assumed his place up by the head of the bed, her support. When the doctor came in, he almost looked like he was going to protest, but decided against it. If House wanted to deliver his own baby, then let him. He hung back, ready to jump in if any problem arouse.

"Ok sweetheart, with the next contraction, push." Greg told her.

She took a deep breath as she felt it starting and bared down. "1, 2, 3...." James counted off to ten, and she released it. They repeated the process about 4 times."

"Ok, stop Allie, just breath while I clear it’s nose and mouth. Alright, one more push for the shoulders. Go." She pushed and out popped a small squirmy little boy. The nurse grabbed him in a blanket and started to dry him off as House cleared the placenta.

Allison only had a minute to glance at him before she had to felt the urge to push again. This time, it was James that took the chair and House at the head of the bed. The procedure was repeated again as Allison’s strength started to fade. She was so tired, all she wanted to do was sleep.

"Allison, open your eyes, come on, one last push and then you can sleep. Lets go baby, one more. You can do this." James told her, never taking his eyes from the small head in his hands. Pouring all her remaining energy into it, she pushed their daughter free, and heard again, the most amazing sound in the world. The sound of her child crying, taking her first breaths of life.

Allison laid back and closed her eyes for a moment, too weak to do anything else. She must have dosed off for a few minutes until she heard a murmur, she opened her eyes to find House with a small blue bundle and James with a small pink bundle walking toward her, cooing softly. Both men had tears in their eyes as they looked at her in awe.

"Allison meet your son, Gabriel." House said, placing the small angelic child in her arms. Gabriel opened his eyes and looked at his mother. A sob lodged in her throat, she was looking at a tiny House. He had the same intense blue eyes and a thatch of chestnut hair. Most babies were born with a foggy blue, but he had a deep clear blue, just like his father.

"Here is your daughter, Kayleen." She turned to gaze at the tiny girl. Her face was a picture of her mothers, tiny, delicate, perfect. Kayleen opened her eyes, revealing there chocolate color that complemented the light brown of her hair, just like her father’s.

"Oh my God. Look at them." she said, sobbing openly now. "They are so beautiful. One of each of you. Look at them. You can see it right away."

"Yes, our son is going to be a heartbreaker, just like his father." House boasted.

"What about our daughter? They will be lining up around the block for her." Allison informed them.

Both men shifted uncomfortably and Wilson said, "Over my dead body."

"Right. Mine and yours." Greg agreed.

Allison laughed, tears streaming down her face as she looked from one man to the other. "I love you two so much. Thank you for the beautiful children."

"No, Allison, thank you." Jim replied and they hugged her, one from each side, the babies in between. One big, perfectly odd family.

Previous post Next post
Up
[]