Chapter Text
Conrad and Nic are enjoying a relaxing Saturday at home. Both of them finally have a few days in a row off together. It’s a bright sunny day in Atlanta and they’re out enjoying the backyard and feeding the chickens. Conrad walks up behind Nic wrapping his arms around her and gently rubbing her stomach.
“What a perfect afternoon feeding the chickens with my two best girls.” he says with a grin, placing his head in the crook of Nic’s neck and shoulder.
Nic stops feeding the chickens and turns around to face Conrad, placing her arms over his shoulders “wouldn't want to spend this Saturday any other way. I think it's time for some lunch though. Baby and I are getting hungry” she says as she walks towards the house, Conrad following behind.
Once inside Nic starts washing her hands as Conrad heads towards the fridge to start collecting ingredients for their sandwiches. As he grabs the sandwich meat and closes the door he glances over to Nic. She is bent over by the sink clutching her stomach.
“Nic!” Conrad exclaims, setting down the food on the counter and rushing over to his wife. “What’s going on?” he asks as he gently guides her body to face his.
“I think...I think I am having contractions and my water just broke…” she explains. “I've been having pains all day but I thought they were braxton hicks as I'm not due for two more weeks.”
“Looks like our girl really wants to meet the chickens.” Conrad chuckles gaining him a playful swat from Nic. He guides his wife to the couch and helps her sit down before grabbing a towel to clean up the floor in the kitchen.
Once the kitchen is cleaned up, Conrad rolls up the sleeves of his black sweater to above his elbows and scrubs his hands like they were taught in med school. He then heads back to his wife. “God you are literally the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.” Conrad tells his wife as he sits on the coffee table in front of her, gently rubbing her thigh as she works her way through another contraction. When it’s over, Nic opens her eyes to look back at him and Conrad says “Let’s do this, I can't wait to meet our baby girl. Remember you’re in charge here, just tell me what you need.”
Conrad and Nic had decided to have a home birth after the attack. Nic was still dealing with medical and personal trauma from the attack, which also caused a rise in her panic attacks.
Holding eye contact with her husband, Nic nods reaching out her hand to him for help up “let’s head up stairs, I want to get into the tub for a little while.” Nic explains as Conrad helps her stand and they head to their ensuite together.
After hours of dealing with contractions by alternating between being in the bath, pacing their house, bouncing on their exercise ball and resting in their bed, Nic is doing another round on the exercise ball when she announces to her husband “Conrad I think I really need to start pushing.”
Conrad who’s been crouched in front of his wife as a support she can lean on while bouncing moves straight into action. “Ok” he says softly “ let’s move to the bed so I can check what’s going on and see if you can start pushing.”
He helps Nic move into a comfortable position on their bed, pillows propped behind her before putting on a pair of gloves and making sure it’s ok for his wife to start pushing. Within a few seconds he stops, takes off the gloves and walks towards his wife on their bed. Discreetly he sends a few text messages before climbing on the bed and facing his wife. “Nic you’re doing so incredibly well, you’re about 7cm but I need you not to push” he says firmly.
Nic’s eyes light up like fire with fear as she stares down her husband.
Cupping her face in his hand and gently rubbing a thumb across her check in hopes of keeping her calm Conrad explains “I can feel our girl’s feet, so I need you not to push. I’ve text Gabbi and Jess and Chu and they’re all going to meet us at Chastian.”
Nic looks at Conrad with tears and panic welling in her eyes “Conrad… no I...I cant have a c-section, I….” Nic tries to explain herself coherently as a million thoughts race through her mind.
“You are so strong Nic and you're being the bravest mom for our girl. I know this isn't what you wanted but I also know you’re going to do great. You’ve done so much for our little girl and she’s so ready to meet you. Let’s take this next step in order to do so the safest way for both you and her. I am here with you all the way.” Conrad explains as he helps Nic off the bed and they start moving towards their car.
Nic clutches her husband for dear life, leaning all her weight into him. She can feel his hand clutching hers, the other around her back supporting her. She can hear his words of encouragement and feel her body moving but she cant take any of it in. Her rational and nurse practitioner mind knows she needs a c-section and that her friends are all incredible at their jobs and she will be fine. Her irrational, traumatized, patient mind though is screaming danger and cannot get on board with what is happening. Those thoughts are so loud and her mind is so fuzzy as she tries to rationalize her irrational thoughts.
She’s not sure how but Conrad has continuously coached her through her contractions and panic while safely driving them to Chastian. It is a flurry of commotion and the next thing Nic is able to fully take in, is that she is in a hallway being pushed on a gurney by her OB and her husband. All of a sudden Nic realizes this is the same hallway she was being pushed down for her surgery by her husband before she fell unconscious from the attack. She has vivid flashes of that night as her heart rate begins to rise. All she can hear is her heart pounding in her ears and all she can feel is her rapid breathing she cannot seem to get under control. Why am I like this she wonders to herself. As an NP she coaches her patient through scary times like these all the time and yet she cant even control her own thoughts and fears in a similar situation. This is so silly. I am a medical professional and I need to get a grip. I am an NP. I know this is what’s best for me, why am I such a mess. She berates herself in her thoughts.
Nic finally fights the fog enough to herself trying to explain to Conrad how she’s feeling “Conrad...I got stabbed… and then...I wasn't ok...our baby wasn’t ok...I need our baby to be ok…” she spills her thoughts out to her husband as the race through her mind.
They’re just outside the O.R now as Conrad once again cups her face in his hands trying to bring her back to him with the gentle touch of his thumb rubbing across her cheek. “I know Nic...it was so much for you and I cannot begin to imagine the thoughts and past experiences you’re having to fight through right now but soon our baby girl will be here. She will be safe and she’ll finally be here, with us. I have to go scrub in but Jess is here and she’ll go in with you. Gabbi and Chu are ready and waiting. I'll be right back. We’ve got this. Just keep focused on our girl ok? She’s almost here.”
Nic nods as Conrad pulls her forehead to his in their silent sign of love they often use to comfort each other. As they stay like that for a few moments Nic finally feels herself pulled from her own thoughts and coming back down to reality. When they pull away from each other Nic gives Conrad a reassuring smile as he switches places with Jess. Jess starts to move the gurney into the OR as Conrad quickly goes to scrub in.