He brought out his cell and dialed Nick’s number.
“Casey tells me you’ve gotten yourself into a fucking mess,” Nick said.
“Yeah,” Linc said. “Now that we’ve established I’m an asshole, could you do your friendly duty and get up here and help me figure out how to fix this?”
Nick laughed. “Casey wants to know if she can come, too.”
“If Casey can help me win Bennett back, she can come over anytime she wants.”
Linc hung up and began pacing across the room, but then his cell rang again. He picked it up without looking at the caller, ready to tell Nick to stop messing around and get down there—
“Linc.” The voice was but a whisper.
“Bennett?”
“Something’s wrong,” she whispered, the pain evident in her voice. “Please. I need you.”
Linc was up and out the door. He didn’t dare wait on the elevator. He’d take the stairs.
Nick and Casey were coming out of the elevator as he opened the door to the stairwell.
“Linc,” Nick said. “What the hell are you—”
“Call 911,” he yelled as he ran into the stairwell. “It’s Bennett!”
He ran down the stairs with the phone to his ear. “Are you in the apartment?”
“My bathroom. It hurts so bad. So bad…” Her voice fell off into a pained moan.
His heart was in his throat. “It’s going to be okay. Breathe for me, love. Remember. Pant to help with the pain.”
“Too soon…”
She was right. It was way too early for her to be in labor.
This was his fault. The fight he’d had with her father, then the foolish words he’d said that had driven her away from him. The stress of the day had been too much.
Please, God. Let her be okay. Please.
His hand was shaking so bad he could barely get the key card in the door. He ran for the bathroom and found her curled up on the floor.
“Love,” he said as he scooped her up into his arms.
“Not getting better,” she groaned. “It’s supposed to stop.”
He put his hand on her belly. It was tight and harder than usual. “Breathe. Come on, lass. Take a deep breath.”
“Can’t.”
“Look at me, dammit.” He pulled her chin up. “Open your eyes.” She did. “Breathe with me.” He did the panting thing they’d learned in the class. After a few seconds, she followed him. He let go of her chin and put his hands on her belly. The muscles were loosening ever so slightly.
Tears formed in her eyes.
Dammit, he’d be following her down that road if he didn’t take control.
“No, love, none of that. He’s just a bit early. We can do this. I need you to be strong for all of us. I promise I’m more scared than you could ever be right now. Shaking all the way to my bum.”
She gave him a weak smile.
“Now, deep breaths. In and out, nice and slow.”
Casey skated into the bathroom, nearly slamming into them.
“Jesus, what is it about you two and all the running?” She put her hands on her thighs while she tried to catch her breath. “Nick’s on the phone with Jacinda. She’s three blocks away. She’ll get here before the ambulance, which is also on the way. They need to know if she’s having contractions and how far apart they are.”
“That was the first,” Bennett said hoarsely. “I thought they were supposed to be mild and work their way up. This fucking hurts.”
“Okay.” Casey pulled out her phone. “I’m going to time them. So the last one just stopped. We wait for the next one and see how far apart they are.”
“Fuck no,” Bennett said. “I can’t do it again. Tell Jacinda to get here and give me some fucking drugs. Now. Oh, shit.”
“Two minutes apart,” Casey yelled out to Nick.
Linc grabbed her chin again and pulled her focus to him. “Breathe.” He panted with her. Sweat had formed on her brow. The pain had to be intense. Too much, too fast.
“Love. You look in my eyes. We’re doing this. You and me. Got it?”
“Fucking bossy,” she groaned.
She had him there. But in this, if nothing else, he couldn’t make her choices for her even if he wanted to. He couldn’t give birth to the baby for her, but he could be there for her as the man who loved her, and as her partner.
He shook his head at his own foolishness. This was what she’d wanted all along. He’d just been too blind to see it.
“Oh, fuck!” she screamed.
“Jacinda’s here,” Nick yelled from somewhere. “EMT’s are downstairs.”
Jacinda rounded the corner and very nearly ran over Casey.
“Get her tights off,” she barked to Casey.
“Hey, you,” Jacinda said to Bennett. “Stop freaking out. You’re thinking it’s too soon. It is early, but from the sonogram, we know his lungs are in good shape. And that’s the main thing that we’re really worried about at this stage.”
“Hurts,” Bennett said.
“Do something,” Linc told Jacinda. “Give her something to make it stop. It’s too hard too fast.”
“Okay, Dad, listen to me good.” Jacinda pointed a finger in his face. “She gets to yell and say whatever she wants. You need to stay calm, or I’ll kick your ass out. Got it?”
That made Casey and, more importantly, Bennett, laugh.
“Yes, ma’am.”
And he had to admit that with the doctor there, a calm had settled over their little group. It was going to be okay. Jacinda was there. This was normal. Early, but the baby and his love would have their best chance.
Bennett giggled. “You said, ma’am. Ouch. Ouch. Don’t make me laugh. Ouch.”
“So, straighten up Bennett. Labor sucks,” Jacinda warned. “You’re going to hate us all by the end, until you hold your son in your arms. That’s your end goal. Get that baby out safely. That’s all we’re trying to do. Casey, you may want to step out for a second and get us a blanket or two. I need to check a few things.”
After taking her blood pressure, Jacinda waited for the next contraction and then stuck her hand up Bennett’s dress. “Okay, we’re at a seven. That gives us some time to get to the hospital. Linc, you want to follow behind?”
As much as he wanted to be right there by Bennett’s side, he was ready to follow behind if that was what she wanted.
But she said, “No, he comes with me. He’s my coach. I need him.” She glanced up at him. “Don’t leave me. Don’t ever leave me.”
“Never, love. I’m here. Always. I love you. I will always love you.”
“Casey told me I should give you another chance. But—trusting is hard for me, Linc.”
“I know, love. We’ll sort it all out. We will.”
She closed her eyes as another contraction hit. “Motherf—”
Everything moved so fast after that, Linc felt he was in the middle of a whirlwind.
They were having a baby.
Chapter Twenty
The birthing room at the hospital was supposed to be calming. It looked like a hotel room, but there was nothing soothing about any of this. “Shit, it hurts!” Bennett screamed at Linc. “This is your fault, you stupid asshole with your stupid super sperm. Knocking me up when I wasn’t ready.”
Her vow to stop swearing had gone right out the door with the first contraction. And if he weren’t supernatural she’d be breaking the bones in his hand.
“I’m sorry, love.”
“No, you aren’t.” She groaned. “I fucking hate you.”
He suppressed a grin. God, he loved her. And somehow, someway, he would convince her that he was worthy of her.
“I know you do,” he said.
“Stop patronizing me with your sexy voice and charming ways, you Irish fucking asshole. How am I supposed to resist that?”
Jacinda smiled at him from behind her facemask. He couldn’t blame her. Bennett was hilarious. Maybe someday he’d tell her about it.
&nb
sp; “I’m going to have to edit a lot of this video if you keep talking like that,” Casey said from behind the camera. “Your poor child will be traumatized.”
“What is wrong with you people?” Bennett snapped. “I’m giving birth here. Until you pull a child out of your crotch, you show some respect. Got it?”
Casey choked back a laugh, and Bennett glared. “You’re supposed to be my best friend. You should be strangling this asshole for doing this to me.”
“Okay. Take a deep breath,” Jacinda said calmly from between Bennett’s legs. “Two more big pushes, and you’ll have your baby in your arms.”
“Thank God you are here,” Bennett said to Jacinda. “You’re the only sane person in this room.”
After taking a deep breath, Bennett squeezed her eyes and groaned loudly.
She was in pain, and there was little Linc could do. Bennett gripped his hand tightly, but it had to be a tenth of what she was feeling. He used his free hand to push her hair back from her face.
“You’re a brave one, love. You can do this.”
She puffed again and pushed. And as she did, she stared at him as if she were drawing strength from him. He held her eyes, trying to show her how much he loved her, that he was there for her, and that together, they were strong enough to make it through anything.
The babe’s cry tore their attention from one another.
“Well, much like his mother, he has a set of lungs on him,” Jacinda said.
“We did it.” Bennett collapsed back on the bed.
“You did it,” Linc said, beaming at his tiny son as the nurses cleaned him up and swaddled him.
His son. Joy clogged his throat, and his chest tightened with love. In a heartbeat, his love for his little family was all encompassing. He couldn’t breathe. Tears burned his eyes.
Casey and Bennett were sobbing. He turned to smile at them, and that’s when he noticed Bennett’s face.
“Love, are you feeling all right?”
“I just had a baby, moron. I’m kind of tired.” The nurse put the child in her arms. She touched the babe’s cheek lightly. “I’m so glad you’re here. That’s your daddy. He’s not as scary as he looks. And that’s your auntie Casey. She’s going to spoil you rotten.” A flash of pain crossed her face. “Um, ow. I thought the hard part was over. My head hurts really…” Then her eyes fluttered closed.
“Jacinda?” Linc said.
The doctor frowned. “Her pressure’s high.” She checked Bennett’s vital signs and gasped, and the exposed emotion, so raw it couldn’t be hidden, made Linc terrified. “Nurse,” she said. “Get them out. Now!”
In a rush, a nurse lifted the baby out of Bennett’s arms. Her face had paled even more, and her breathing was shallow.
“What the hell is going on?” Linc demanded.
“Get out,” Jacinda ordered. “I need CT scan stat, and get the neurologist. Not Cawley. Call Branson. He was upstairs prepping for surgery. Move, people. Move.”
The bed was wheeled out of the room before he could process what was happening. He looked from his son to Casey, who was bawling.
“I’ll stay with the baby,” Casey said. “Go. Go find out what’s happening.” She waved him away.
He glanced one more time at the babe as if to assure himself his son was fine.
“His Apgar score is great,” the nurse said. “Go, be with your wife.”
Linc ran down the hall just in time to see the elevators close. “What floor?” he yelled at the woman at the desk.
“They’re taking her to four, but they won’t let you in.”
Like hell they wouldn’t. He raced up the stairs, grateful for his supernatural speed.
The team had paused just outside one of the surgical units. He raced to grab Bennett’s hand. She was so cold, where she’d been so warm before.
“Love, can you hear me?”
“She’s out,” Jacinda said. “Her pressure is really high. We’ve given her meds, but she’s not out of the woods yet.”
“What is it?”
Jacinda shook her head. “We don’t know. I just checked her eyes. Possible stroke. Has she had headaches? Dizziness?”
“Yes to both,” he said. “But isn’t that normal?”
“Yes, but not in this case. We’re scanning her, and if she needs surgery I’ve got the best man for the job ready to take her on. But time is of the essence. I can’t stand here and explain it to you.”
“Save her. Do you understand me? She is my reason for breathing. Save her.”
Jacinda put a hand on his arm. “I’m doing my best.”
“Should I call a mage?” He knew he should have called one of the healers to be on hand for something like this. Dammit.
“That’s why I called for Branson. He’s one of the best neurological surgeons in the world, and he’s a healer. He’s her best chance. But we’ve got to go now.”
Linc let go of Bennett’s hand, and they wheeled the woman who owned his heart away.
“Let’s go.” Nick’s arm wrapped around his shoulders. Linc hadn’t noticed him following him up the stairs. “Come on. Let’s check on your son. I talked to the nurses. They’ll call us soon as they know something.”
“I don’t want to leave her.” Linc’s voice was a whisper. Numb with fear, he wanted to crawl onto the gurney with her. Hold her until he knew she was all right.
“You aren’t leaving her. She’s getting the best care possible. But that baby needs you right now. You don’t want his first moments to be staring at strangers. He should at least be able to look at your ugly mug.”
“The baby…” Linc’s mind was a fog.
You must always protect our son. He comes first.
Her words tore at him.
Bennett was dying.
He hit his knees.
“Hell.” Nick knelt beside him. “Look, she’s going to make it. Let’s take care of your son. They’ve got him cleaned up. Casey just texted me. She hasn’t let him out of her sight. I’m supposed to bring you down to the nursery. I know it’s hard right now, but you need to be there for your kid. He’s counting on you.”
That’s right. He had to be there for his son. He wouldn’t be like his father.
“And they’ll call about Bennett? I can see her as soon as she’s out of surgery? In recovery?” He glanced up to find his friend frowning.
“Yes. Jacinda or Branson will call as soon as they know something. They won’t let you down, and there aren’t two people in the world who are better at this sort of thing.”
Linc followed Nick down the hall, a hollow feeling in his gut. What should have been the happiest moment in his life had gone horribly, horribly wrong.
She hadn’t been strong enough to carry their child.
She was going to die alone in that room, and it was his fault.
He’d never forgive himself.
Chapter Twenty-One
Bennett tried to open her eyes, but the light was too bright.
“Nick, turn out the lights,” Linc ordered. “They’re causing her pain.”
Wow. Mr. Bossy was back. Ordering everyone around. She tried to think what had happened, but her brain hurt. The baby.
“Where’s the baby?”
“He’s fine. Nick’s holding him right now. Open your eyes and you can hold him yourself.”
She squinted, but it took her a bit to focus. Just as she saw Linc, the nurse came in the room and pushed him away. Jacinda and another guy followed the nurse.
“What’s with all the drama?” Damn her throat hurt. “Why are you guys staring at me?” she croaked. “What happened?” She glanced around the room. It was a regular hospital room, not…
Wait. Hadn’t she been in the birthing room? How had she gotten here?
“You scared the hell out of us,” Jacinda said. “Nurse, give her some water.”
The nurse held a straw to her lips, and the cool water slid down her throat. She sighed a breath of relief. That was so much better.
&nbs
p; “Why didn’t you tell us you’ve had headaches the last few weeks?” Jacinda asked, and it wasn’t in her usually friendly tone.
Bennett frowned. “Jesus. What’s with the third degree? Did I pass out and hit my head? I can’t remember.”
“Your blood pressure went through the roof, and you passed out,” the guy who’d come with Jacinda said.
Holy hell.
“I’m Dr. Carlin Branson, a neurologist. Look at the light, please.” She followed his light. “Now, my finger.” She followed it.
“The headaches?” Bennett asked.
Jacinda crossed her arms over her chest. “You should have told us. Linc said you’d been having them off and on. It’s a sign of preeclampsia. ”
“I’d read that women get headaches all the time in the last trimester, because of changes in hormones,” Bennett said. “I didn’t want drugs for them, so I didn’t see any sense in complaining.”
“They weren’t hormonal,” Dr. Branson said. “Your pressure must have been high off and on. You could have had a stroke.” He held up his hand as she opened her mouth. “You didn’t, but you could have. You’ll have to take it easy for a few months.”
“Jesus. Can nothing ever go right for me?”
“Well, you did a pretty good job with this guy.” Linc placed their son in her arms and beamed at her.
“Is it just me, or does he have my mouth and hair? Though the rest is all you.” She put a gentle finger in her son’s tiny hand. “He’s perfect.” Her eyes watered. Stupid hormones.
“That he is.” Linc stared down at their son with loving eyes. She couldn’t blame him. He was the most adorable baby ever.
It hit her. Shit. “God, I would have been the worst of mothers if I’d died.”
“Was never going to happen.” Linc said it as if it were a forgone conclusion. “I wouldn’t have allowed it.”
“If you could have been saved on sheer will alone, Linc would have done it,” Casey said. “He refused to believe you wouldn’t wake up.”
“Yeah, he was a right pain in the, uh…” Branson began, but then seemed to remember he had his professional reputation to uphold. “But he loves you, so that’s expected.”
Branson was right about that. She could see in the way Linc looked at her, and the way he held their son, that yes, he loved her. But there was also something different in his eyes. Something that made her now feel safe and secure.
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