The First of Many
Written for the fanfic100 prompt: Birth
Title: The First of Many
Character(s)/Pairings: Emily/Don
Rating: PG-13
Summary: The newest member of the family...
Author’s Notes: Thus begins the saga of the Eppes Brood.
Spoilers: None
Disclaimer: I don't own anything affiliated with Numb3rs...sad.
Emily was sitting in her favorite chair with her feet propped up as she worked on a crossword puzzle. A commercial came on and she looked over at Don, who was smiling brilliantly at her, "How's it going?"
She beamed, "Almost finished and it looks like the Kings are ahead...that's good news."
His eyes softened, "I know you had your heart set on going to see the game, but I didn't think a hockey rink was the best environment for a beautiful woman who's about to have my baby any day now."
She knew he was right and she agreed with him. It just made her sad that Don had finally gotten the tickets he'd wanted all season and then had ended up giving them to David and Claudia. She smiled, "I probably wouldn't have been able to fit into the seats anyways. Either that, or I would have toppled over when I stood up to cheer -- you know how I get into the game."
He chuckled at her, "I don't know how you do it...when Megan was as far along as you are, she was so cranky all of the time. But you, you're still just as adorable as ever."
She filled in the last answer of her puzzle and wondered if Alan had mastered it as she looked at her watch. "Maybe I just hide it well," she muttered distractedly.
The game was now back on and though she had noticed Don eyeing her curiously, for the moment she was once again concentrating on the paper in front of her. She hadn't wanted to worry him unless something was really happening and his favorite team playing tonight was just enough distraction for him that he wasn't watching her like a hawk as he had been since she'd first gotten pregnant.
Another wave passed over her and she noticed that the dull ache in her back wasn't subsiding. She looked at her watch again and carefully jotted down the time. She'd been having contractions for hours now and she was starting to get anxious as they increased in frequency. She'd waited so long for this and she was nearly giddy with the excitement of it all. However, another part of her was scared. So much could happen -- so much could go wrong.
She waited a little while longer to confirm her suspicions. Four minutes. It was time. "Donnie?"
Without looking over from the television, he sighed, "Yeah?"
She tried to keep her voice calm, "Do you remember that book we were reading together?"
He nodded, "Yeah. What's up?"
She prodded, "Do you remember the part about contractions?"
Now she had his full attention as he sat up straighter in his chair, "Why? Do you think you're having one?"
She calmly replied, "They're four minutes apart now."
His eyes widened and he asked, "Four minutes? Are you sure? Did you write them down like the book said?"
She held up the crossword puzzle that had precise notations of times down the sides. He took it and examined it before gasping, "You've been having contractions for hours....right in front of me? Jesus Em! Why didn't you say anything?"
She motioned for him to help her up and she grimaced as the ache in her back intensified, "Because I know you and you would have been panicking the whole time and while I love you dearly...that would have driven me nuts."
He opened his mouth to argue, but closed it again, knowing that she was absolutely right. He walked with her to the door and helped her as she slipped on her shoes and asked, "How are you feeling?"
She looked at him and realized that even though she could tell him she was good and that would be that, she knew the honesty would help him, "Excited...nervous...scared...."
Instantly, Emily knew that she'd made the right decision. There was resolution in his eyes instead of panic. He had a purpose...to protect her from feeling these things. He opened the door for her and locked it behind them as he sighed, "There's no need to be nervous or scared...we've done everything right and we've read all the books and I'm going to be right there with you the whole time, even when you hate me."
He cast her a genuine smile that made her giggle as she remembered the movies that they'd watched in which the women screamed how they hated their husbands for the pain that they were going through during childbirth. She replied, "Well, I guess I can't hate you too much if we are going to be doing this again so many times, right?"
He looked at her adoringly as he kissed her cheek and helped her into the Suburban. "Let's just worry about this one for now."
He helped her get buckled in and then he lovingly ran his hands over her stomach and reached up to kiss it. He then smiled up at her brightly, before getting in. He backed out of the driveway, surprisingly calm and asked, "Should I turn on the sirens and stuff?"
Emily laughed, "I don't think that's a good idea...you'll get me all excited and Danny will just be born right here in the Suburban."
Don reached over and took her hand and kissed it, trying to distract himself from the fact that he would soon be holding his son. "Does this feel surreal to you?"
She sighed, "I think it might feel a little more surreal if there was a little less pressure right now..."
He risked a glance at her as he asked, "Are you okay? Can I do something? Help you breathe or something?"
Emily's heart swelled with love for him as she smiled softly, "You're so sweet...but getting us safely to the hospital will do just fine. It's nothing I can't handle over here."
Mostly due to the nervous energy in the car, it seemed to take forever before they finally pulled into the parking lot of the hospital. Don had called ahead to Emily's doctor and let him know that they were coming in, so there was a wheelchair waiting for her when she arrived. She looked to them gratefully as she sat down, the contractions getting stronger now. Don wheeled her inside and they filled out the necessary paperwork and after what seemed like hours, she was given a bed.
12 Hours Later...
People were buzzing all around the room, medical jargon was being thrown around and Emily was trying hard to focus on what they were saying...trying to translate it. She was exhausted and even with the epidural, she was in pain. It wasn't an intolerable pain...but it washed over her in waves that made her feel like she was going to pass out at times. This was one of those times and she closed her eyes against it, thankful when Don placed the cool cloth on her forehead and then dabbed her face and neck with it. "I love you," she nearly whispered.
Don's eyes met hers as he brushed her sweat-laden hair back from her face, "I love you too, Em. You're doing great..."
She offered a smile as the pain receded and she looked down, slightly disturbed that she couldn't see the doctor who was now in position and ready to begin. Truth be told, she was ready too. She'd been here for hours and she knew Don had to be exhausted too. More than anything right now, she wanted to hold her son in her arms and she wanted to see Don hold him too. The voice coming from the bottom of the bed stated, "All right, Mrs. Eppes...you're good to go. So...just try to concentrate and push when I tell you and before you know it, you'll be holding your son. Are you ready?"
She hoarsely replied, "Yes....I'm ready."
Ice chips...didn't they know she wanted to chug about a gallon of water right now and all they would give her was ice chips? She looked to Don and could see that he was anxious. This made her forget about her annoyance over something so small as she squeezed his hand and asked, "Are you ready?"
Over his mask, she could see his eyes crinkling the way she loved when he smiled and nodded, "I can't wait..."
"All right Emily...here we go....on three....one....two...three...."
Everything that she'd ever read or seen about pregnancy rushed through her mind as she gave it her all and pushed with all she had. Her face was red from exertion when the doctor told her that she could stop. "Good...that's very good...you're doing great. Keep pushing just like that, you're a natural."
This distracted her a bit from what she was going through as she looked up at Don with a proud smile. A natural...she only hoped that she were a natural at being a mom too. "Ok...let's go again...on three...."
He counted down and just like before, Emily pushed, but this time the pain was immense and tears rolled down her face as she cried out, but never once did she stop pushing until the doctor instructed her to do so. As soon as she'd relaxed, Don moved to comfort her and she could see in his eyes that it was killing him to see her in pain. She tried to get herself together as she reassured him, "I'm okay Donnie..."
The doctor stated, "All right...we just need to do this a couple more times and then I promise that you can rest, ok? Again, on three...you're doing great mom...."
Hearing that word...someone actually referring to her as someone's mother, Emily found new resolve and new strength. When he counted down this time, she took a deep breath and yelled out as she pushed, but this time it was more like a battle cry...a determined woman ready to see her child for the first time....
Everyone in the room seemed genuinely surprised when that was all it took. Emily looked up at Don, urging him to go and make sure that everything was all right -- that their baby was safe. Before he even got down to where the doctor was however, a loud cry sounded out in the room...a powerful cry that could only come from a healthy baby boy. Emily laughed aloud and cried all at the same time, glad to know with certainty that everything was all right.
The doctor urged Don to cut the cord and then Emily made a sound of protest as they took the baby away, but she was assured that they only wanted to clean him up a little. In less than a minute, the nurse gently placed the baby in her arms and Emily wasn't quite sure that she'd ever felt anything in the world like she did the moment she looked into his little face. She smiled at him and reached out to touch his tiny hands, as Don did the same. Tears were streaming down her face again as she whispered, "Hello Danny....welcome to the world, sweet boy..."
She brought him closer to her and kissed his forehead before looking to Don who was in complete awe. "Here Daddy....meet your son..."
She then handed him over to Don and felt her heart completely melt as he was oh-so-careful with him, being sure to do everything just as Emily had instructed him over the last few months. But then, she saw a transformation right before her eyes. As he looked down into the face of his son...something in him changed and the nervousness vanished. Even though he was just born and barely a few moments old, she saw the two connect as they looked at one another, and she knew that this was just the beginning of the rest of her life...
Title: The First of Many
Character(s)/Pairings: Emily/Don
Rating: PG-13
Summary: The newest member of the family...
Author’s Notes: Thus begins the saga of the Eppes Brood.
Spoilers: None
Disclaimer: I don't own anything affiliated with Numb3rs...sad.
Emily was sitting in her favorite chair with her feet propped up as she worked on a crossword puzzle. A commercial came on and she looked over at Don, who was smiling brilliantly at her, "How's it going?"
She beamed, "Almost finished and it looks like the Kings are ahead...that's good news."
His eyes softened, "I know you had your heart set on going to see the game, but I didn't think a hockey rink was the best environment for a beautiful woman who's about to have my baby any day now."
She knew he was right and she agreed with him. It just made her sad that Don had finally gotten the tickets he'd wanted all season and then had ended up giving them to David and Claudia. She smiled, "I probably wouldn't have been able to fit into the seats anyways. Either that, or I would have toppled over when I stood up to cheer -- you know how I get into the game."
He chuckled at her, "I don't know how you do it...when Megan was as far along as you are, she was so cranky all of the time. But you, you're still just as adorable as ever."
She filled in the last answer of her puzzle and wondered if Alan had mastered it as she looked at her watch. "Maybe I just hide it well," she muttered distractedly.
The game was now back on and though she had noticed Don eyeing her curiously, for the moment she was once again concentrating on the paper in front of her. She hadn't wanted to worry him unless something was really happening and his favorite team playing tonight was just enough distraction for him that he wasn't watching her like a hawk as he had been since she'd first gotten pregnant.
Another wave passed over her and she noticed that the dull ache in her back wasn't subsiding. She looked at her watch again and carefully jotted down the time. She'd been having contractions for hours now and she was starting to get anxious as they increased in frequency. She'd waited so long for this and she was nearly giddy with the excitement of it all. However, another part of her was scared. So much could happen -- so much could go wrong.
She waited a little while longer to confirm her suspicions. Four minutes. It was time. "Donnie?"
Without looking over from the television, he sighed, "Yeah?"
She tried to keep her voice calm, "Do you remember that book we were reading together?"
He nodded, "Yeah. What's up?"
She prodded, "Do you remember the part about contractions?"
Now she had his full attention as he sat up straighter in his chair, "Why? Do you think you're having one?"
She calmly replied, "They're four minutes apart now."
His eyes widened and he asked, "Four minutes? Are you sure? Did you write them down like the book said?"
She held up the crossword puzzle that had precise notations of times down the sides. He took it and examined it before gasping, "You've been having contractions for hours....right in front of me? Jesus Em! Why didn't you say anything?"
She motioned for him to help her up and she grimaced as the ache in her back intensified, "Because I know you and you would have been panicking the whole time and while I love you dearly...that would have driven me nuts."
He opened his mouth to argue, but closed it again, knowing that she was absolutely right. He walked with her to the door and helped her as she slipped on her shoes and asked, "How are you feeling?"
She looked at him and realized that even though she could tell him she was good and that would be that, she knew the honesty would help him, "Excited...nervous...scared...."
Instantly, Emily knew that she'd made the right decision. There was resolution in his eyes instead of panic. He had a purpose...to protect her from feeling these things. He opened the door for her and locked it behind them as he sighed, "There's no need to be nervous or scared...we've done everything right and we've read all the books and I'm going to be right there with you the whole time, even when you hate me."
He cast her a genuine smile that made her giggle as she remembered the movies that they'd watched in which the women screamed how they hated their husbands for the pain that they were going through during childbirth. She replied, "Well, I guess I can't hate you too much if we are going to be doing this again so many times, right?"
He looked at her adoringly as he kissed her cheek and helped her into the Suburban. "Let's just worry about this one for now."
He helped her get buckled in and then he lovingly ran his hands over her stomach and reached up to kiss it. He then smiled up at her brightly, before getting in. He backed out of the driveway, surprisingly calm and asked, "Should I turn on the sirens and stuff?"
Emily laughed, "I don't think that's a good idea...you'll get me all excited and Danny will just be born right here in the Suburban."
Don reached over and took her hand and kissed it, trying to distract himself from the fact that he would soon be holding his son. "Does this feel surreal to you?"
She sighed, "I think it might feel a little more surreal if there was a little less pressure right now..."
He risked a glance at her as he asked, "Are you okay? Can I do something? Help you breathe or something?"
Emily's heart swelled with love for him as she smiled softly, "You're so sweet...but getting us safely to the hospital will do just fine. It's nothing I can't handle over here."
Mostly due to the nervous energy in the car, it seemed to take forever before they finally pulled into the parking lot of the hospital. Don had called ahead to Emily's doctor and let him know that they were coming in, so there was a wheelchair waiting for her when she arrived. She looked to them gratefully as she sat down, the contractions getting stronger now. Don wheeled her inside and they filled out the necessary paperwork and after what seemed like hours, she was given a bed.
12 Hours Later...
People were buzzing all around the room, medical jargon was being thrown around and Emily was trying hard to focus on what they were saying...trying to translate it. She was exhausted and even with the epidural, she was in pain. It wasn't an intolerable pain...but it washed over her in waves that made her feel like she was going to pass out at times. This was one of those times and she closed her eyes against it, thankful when Don placed the cool cloth on her forehead and then dabbed her face and neck with it. "I love you," she nearly whispered.
Don's eyes met hers as he brushed her sweat-laden hair back from her face, "I love you too, Em. You're doing great..."
She offered a smile as the pain receded and she looked down, slightly disturbed that she couldn't see the doctor who was now in position and ready to begin. Truth be told, she was ready too. She'd been here for hours and she knew Don had to be exhausted too. More than anything right now, she wanted to hold her son in her arms and she wanted to see Don hold him too. The voice coming from the bottom of the bed stated, "All right, Mrs. Eppes...you're good to go. So...just try to concentrate and push when I tell you and before you know it, you'll be holding your son. Are you ready?"
She hoarsely replied, "Yes....I'm ready."
Ice chips...didn't they know she wanted to chug about a gallon of water right now and all they would give her was ice chips? She looked to Don and could see that he was anxious. This made her forget about her annoyance over something so small as she squeezed his hand and asked, "Are you ready?"
Over his mask, she could see his eyes crinkling the way she loved when he smiled and nodded, "I can't wait..."
"All right Emily...here we go....on three....one....two...three...."
Everything that she'd ever read or seen about pregnancy rushed through her mind as she gave it her all and pushed with all she had. Her face was red from exertion when the doctor told her that she could stop. "Good...that's very good...you're doing great. Keep pushing just like that, you're a natural."
This distracted her a bit from what she was going through as she looked up at Don with a proud smile. A natural...she only hoped that she were a natural at being a mom too. "Ok...let's go again...on three...."
He counted down and just like before, Emily pushed, but this time the pain was immense and tears rolled down her face as she cried out, but never once did she stop pushing until the doctor instructed her to do so. As soon as she'd relaxed, Don moved to comfort her and she could see in his eyes that it was killing him to see her in pain. She tried to get herself together as she reassured him, "I'm okay Donnie..."
The doctor stated, "All right...we just need to do this a couple more times and then I promise that you can rest, ok? Again, on three...you're doing great mom...."
Hearing that word...someone actually referring to her as someone's mother, Emily found new resolve and new strength. When he counted down this time, she took a deep breath and yelled out as she pushed, but this time it was more like a battle cry...a determined woman ready to see her child for the first time....
Everyone in the room seemed genuinely surprised when that was all it took. Emily looked up at Don, urging him to go and make sure that everything was all right -- that their baby was safe. Before he even got down to where the doctor was however, a loud cry sounded out in the room...a powerful cry that could only come from a healthy baby boy. Emily laughed aloud and cried all at the same time, glad to know with certainty that everything was all right.
The doctor urged Don to cut the cord and then Emily made a sound of protest as they took the baby away, but she was assured that they only wanted to clean him up a little. In less than a minute, the nurse gently placed the baby in her arms and Emily wasn't quite sure that she'd ever felt anything in the world like she did the moment she looked into his little face. She smiled at him and reached out to touch his tiny hands, as Don did the same. Tears were streaming down her face again as she whispered, "Hello Danny....welcome to the world, sweet boy..."
She brought him closer to her and kissed his forehead before looking to Don who was in complete awe. "Here Daddy....meet your son..."
She then handed him over to Don and felt her heart completely melt as he was oh-so-careful with him, being sure to do everything just as Emily had instructed him over the last few months. But then, she saw a transformation right before her eyes. As he looked down into the face of his son...something in him changed and the nervousness vanished. Even though he was just born and barely a few moments old, she saw the two connect as they looked at one another, and she knew that this was just the beginning of the rest of her life...