It actually makes him stumble, like he was physically hit by something flying through the air and hit him square in the chest. But his feet are quickly steady beneath him, and Ramon's already running at an unnatural pace to be by Hippolyta's side. Hallways echo with rapid footfalls, the scrabbling of him going on all fours over statues, and the clanking and jingling of chandeliers being swung across in desperate bids to shave off just a few seconds of his approach.
It's less than a minute before he's bursting through the bedroom door. He already smells that something is very, very different in this room.
She's still lying on her side, and the look on her face is sheer, cussed, stubborn concentration, mixed in with mild alarm and fluttering excitement for good measure.
So that's what that scent was. The bottom of his own stomach feels like it just dropped out, and his parasite does a massive, nervous twist.
"O-Oh! Oh dios, oh dios, oh dios..." He's scurrying across the room, muttering the spanish equivalent of 'oh god' under his breath the whole way, searching frantically for his PINpoint. Not under the sheets, or in the dresser, or in the end table, or-...
...Right. It's in his coat pocket. Like it always is. Gads. He's fumbling through names, contacts, and locations, until he gets one that's only a series of question marks.
"Sharpe? Sharpe! Get someone here! Get someone here quick! Hippolyta's-...Yes, she's-...! Right now! It's happening right now! Hurry!" He turns off the communication function with a shaking thumb, then is immediately by Hippolyta.
"H-Has it been nine months?" Time flew by so quickly, but he wasn't sure it went this quickly...
That's where the worry finally sneaks in. She bites down on her lower lip and closes her eyes. Well, it's worry...and it's also a healthy dollop of annoyance with Ramon. He should know this, damn it...!
"No, Ramon. It hasn't been. He's early."
She suddenly wonders if this runs in the family; if Ramon was a premature baby, and that's what ended up killing Isobelita. Of course, he would have no way of knowing that, so it's an idle thought, leading nowhere.
She starts breathing as certain muscles clench and relax suddenly. A contraction. A very early contraction, so it feels mild. For a given value of mild. She hasn't felt like this since...well, since ever. Maybe on curry night back on the 'Bug, and Lister went even more overboard than usual with the sauces.
It is indeed about three to four hours later that the door finally, finally opens, and the doctor pokes his head out.
"Señor Salazar? You can come in now."
Just as he says that, there's a weak but insistent invitation from Hippolyta, as well. A silent one, just for him, reassuring her husband that she's still alive and kicking.
Ramon scrambles past the doctor, possibly even shoving the man aside in his haste if the doctor is foolish enough to continue standing even remotely in his way.
"Hippolyta!" He's at the side of her bed, clasping her hand again (carefully, because only after he reaches for it does he notice the IV) and kissing her fingers.
She's quiet for a moment, just looking up at him with a small, prideful smile on her face, like she's going to begin crying herself at any moment. She also looks exhausted. Oh, and still fat as hell, naturally. It's probably going to take her the better part of a year to lose all this baby weight.
"I feel good," she answers simply, letting those three words encompass everything.
"I love you too!" is his immediate, desperate response, his hands starting to tremble a little as the hold hers. It feels like it's been days since he saw her last.
And now to account for this brand, new third party in their midst...
"...Our baby. Where's our baby? Can't we see him yet?"
Comments 41
It's less than a minute before he's bursting through the bedroom door. He already smells that something is very, very different in this room.
"Hippolyta!"
Reply
She's still lying on her side, and the look on her face is sheer, cussed, stubborn concentration, mixed in with mild alarm and fluttering excitement for good measure.
"My water just broke."
Reply
"O-Oh! Oh dios, oh dios, oh dios..." He's scurrying across the room, muttering the spanish equivalent of 'oh god' under his breath the whole way, searching frantically for his PINpoint. Not under the sheets, or in the dresser, or in the end table, or-...
...Right. It's in his coat pocket. Like it always is. Gads. He's fumbling through names, contacts, and locations, until he gets one that's only a series of question marks.
"Sharpe? Sharpe! Get someone here! Get someone here quick! Hippolyta's-...Yes, she's-...! Right now! It's happening right now! Hurry!" He turns off the communication function with a shaking thumb, then is immediately by Hippolyta.
"H-Has it been nine months?" Time flew by so quickly, but he wasn't sure it went this quickly...
Reply
"No, Ramon. It hasn't been. He's early."
She suddenly wonders if this runs in the family; if Ramon was a premature baby, and that's what ended up killing Isobelita. Of course, he would have no way of knowing that, so it's an idle thought, leading nowhere.
She starts breathing as certain muscles clench and relax suddenly. A contraction. A very early contraction, so it feels mild. For a given value of mild. She hasn't felt like this since...well, since ever. Maybe on curry night back on the 'Bug, and Lister went even more overboard than usual with the sauces.
Reply
"Señor Salazar? You can come in now."
Just as he says that, there's a weak but insistent invitation from Hippolyta, as well. A silent one, just for him, reassuring her husband that she's still alive and kicking.
Reply
"Hippolyta!" He's at the side of her bed, clasping her hand again (carefully, because only after he reaches for it does he notice the IV) and kissing her fingers.
"Hippolyta...H-How do you feel?"
Reply
"I feel good," she answers simply, letting those three words encompass everything.
"And I love you."
Reply
And now to account for this brand, new third party in their midst...
"...Our baby. Where's our baby? Can't we see him yet?"
Reply
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