December 25, 2000 - New York

[lvpd_sidle]

Sara smiled politely at various attendees at the Hogswatch party. Normally, the ambiance of the Life Cafe charmed her, but tonight, she found some of the decorations, antics, and general atmosphere taxing.

She wasn't moving very much, lacking the energy. Mark had suggested they leave after an hour of appearances so she could rest. One part of her mind appreciated her husband's thoughtfulness, even as the rest ground out a stubborn, "No, we can stay."

She rubbed her back, feeling a low, dull ache.

It abruptly sharpened and she inhaled, almost hissing through her teeth.

That...wasn't a muscle spasm.

.....oh my god.

"Mark," she said softly to the man sitting next to her, "I think....I think Laura's getting impatient."

Here we go.

Comments

[bohemian-mark.livejournal.com]

Mark turns. "What?" Then it hits him, and he pales. "Oh, fuck. Are you alright, um, we need to... er...."

Roger stands. "Mark, get your ass out of that chair and get your wife moving." He looks around, trying to catch Collins' eye. Odd that Roger's taking charge for once.

[lvpd_sidle]

Collins immediately begins distracting the other patrons--not very difficult, of course. People are easily distracted by crazy antics, even if they're used to his.

Sara takes Mark's arm and let's him pull her to her feet, breathing in sharply again. "Shit. We need to get out of here."

[bohemian-mark.livejournal.com]

"Fuck." Mark stands, holding her up as much as he can. "Hold on, Sara. We'll get you to a doctor. It'll be alright."

It probably says something that he still has enough presance of mind to grab his bag.

[doesmarkscrap.livejournal.com]

"Wait, Mark!" Adam stands, walking over, a concerned look on his face. "What's going on?" And then it hit him. "Oh... great."

[rockstardavis.livejournal.com]

"Yeah. Adam, we need you. Keep people here. I'm going with them because... well, we won't be able to trust him..." He gestures at Mark. "to get anything at all done. Keep things going, and don't tell people we're gone until about fifteen minutes after we are."

[mitanarchist]

"If they want to know where we're going, make something up," Collins says flatly, coming over. "Last thing we need is a goddamned media frenzy--Sara, girl, Mark's gonna need that hand before long."

"Bite me," Sara grounds out, letting go of Mark's hand. Collins supports her from the other side and they start to make their way out.

Collins reaches for the door and opens it. "---and now wouldn't be the time to bring us here," he snarks at the ceiling, recognizing the Inn.

[guppy_sandhu]

Guppy enters just behind them, and notices the party.

"Sara? Are you okay?"

[bohemian-mark.livejournal.com]

"She's in labor!" Mark's still supporting his wife, a worried look on his face, however, behind the worry is a bit of an excited sparkle.

Roger just looks around, a bit protectively. "Yeah, so can this damned place give us... somewhere to give birth?"

[lvpd_sidle]

"I'm fucking peachy," Sara managing to refrain from outright snarling but it is a near thing. "Jane, can we---let's go over there."

'Over there' seems to be an appropriate location. Private room, appropriate medical facilities.

[guppy_sandhu]

Guppy, who has heard, and believes, that labour is one of the most stressful and painful experiences possible, takes no offence at the snapping, but moves with them towards the medical room, putting a pair of rubber gloves on.

"Any other medics in this audience?"

[philotic-jane.livejournal.com]

"Yes." A blonde woman appears out of a door, walking over to the group. "I am not a doctor, but I do have quite a bit of medical knowledge." She walks over to Sara, smiling a bit. "It will be alright."

[bohemian-mark.livejournal.com]

Mark blinks at the woman, about to say something when Roger smacks him. "Don't look a gift medic in the mouth, boy."

He nods to the woman. "Thanks. We'll introduce ourselves later."

Mark nods, eyes fixed on Sara for the present, helping her onto the table.

[mitanarchist]

"---Mark? Put up your camera or Sara's gonna shove it up your ass before the night's out," Collins advises. "I'll be outside," Collins says, heading over to where he can see Angel approaching. "Probably wouldn't be a good thing to have a lot of people crowdin' around her."

"Consider her perspective, darling. I doubt you want people watching you suffer such indignities," Vida chimes in, joining the ones waiting outside. "That goes for you too, Roger."

[lvpd_sidle]

"I think we can rule out false labor," Sara says, looking at a puddle of water beneath her feet before she lets Mark help her up on the table.

[guppy_sandhu]

"I'd agree." Guppy smiles reassuringly, then nods to Jane and Roger. "Dr Guppy Sandhu, nice to meet you." To Jane. "Have you delivered or assisted before?"

[bohemian-mark.livejournal.com]

Roger hugs Mark, then nods to Sara. "I'll keep the wolves at bay. It'll be alright."

He nods to Guppy. "Roger Davis, uncle of the little one. I'll be outside in case Mark needs to be picked up."

Mark cracks a smile, camera back in the bag, the worry still on his face. Yes, it is the Inn, but it's his Sara and his daughter. He's still worried.

[philotic-jane.livejournal.com]

Jane smiles. "I have not assisted, but I have watched more than a few deliveries." She thinks up rubber gloves which she puts on cooly. "Just tell me what you want me to do." At the very least she seems cooly confident. Oddly, she doesn't give her name.

[lvpd_sidle]

"And you are....." Sara hisses in sharply again. "Well, whoever you are, mind helping me into something that's dry?"

Nothing like a labor to blast through walls of pride and self-sufficiency.

[guppy_sandhu]

"That's a good start." Guppy nods to Jane. Probably easier if she deals with clothing. It wouldn't be a good moment for him to materialise something the wrong size.

"How far apart are the contractions?" he asks Sara.

[philotic-jane.livejournal.com]

Jane thinks up a simple hospital gown which she helps Sara into. "You can call me Jane." She pauses. "I promise that I am only here to help." There's a bit of a sheepish look on her face, masking both concern and amusement.

"Jane?" Mark stares. "Uh.... hi."

[lvpd_sidle]

"...........hi," Sara says faintly before wincing again. "Roughly...six minutes apart, I think."

[guppy_sandhu]

Guppy nods.

"Do you mind if I examine you to see how far dilated you are? I'll be gentle, I promise."

He'll understand the significance of who Jane is later, at the moment he's fully focused on remembering how to deliver babies.

[bohemian-mark.livejournal.com]

Mark holds Sara's hand, praying to any diety available that everything will go alright.

Jane stands quietly behind Guppy, crossing her arms and waiting for instructions. Nothing -is- going to go wrong on her watch.

[lvpd_sidle]

"I trust you not to get fresh," she replies, a teasing note briefly returning to her voice. When the next contraction hits, she remains silent, but squeezes Mark's hand hard.

[guppy_sandhu]

Guppy smiles reassuringly and checks her dilation.

"Okay, you're about three and a half centimetres dilated, so you have a little way to go yet."

[lvpd_sidle]

"Wonderful," she sighs, gritting her teeth again. "Mark's carrying the next one."

Never mind that it is currently physically impossible.