Gift Wrapped
By: G. Barton

Parker screamed. She opened her eyes expecting to see Jarod but was surprised by Angelo. He jumped.

"You scared me. What are you doing in here?"

Jarod hearing the screams went running to their bedroom. He rushed in, finding Angelo laying on the bed staring up at his wife.

"What's wrong?" He was trying to catch his breath.

"It's okay. I wasn't expecting Angelo, that's all."

"Oh. You scared me when I heard screaming."

"Angelo sorry."

"It's okay." Parker touched his shoulder.

"Angelo just wanted to check on you."

"I'm glad you did."

Jarod watched them talk and decided it was safe so he went back to what he was doing.

"Angelo had a bad feeling."

"It's okay. I'm fine."

"Angelo knows. Baby." He reached out to touch her stomach but pulled his hand back.

"The babies are fine." Parker took his hand and placed it on her stomach. "See."

"Kick."

"Yeah, one of them is kicking."

He smiled. "Angelo feels better now."

******

Seven weeks later

Parker woke in the middle of the night. Something didn't feel right. She sat up and rubbed her stomach, hoping whatever it was would go away. She felt a baby move over and it eased the pain some. After a while she was able to lay back down and go back to sleep. 6:00 AM

Parker woke again this time the pain was sharper. She reached for Jarod's arm. "Jarod!" She said in loud whisper.

He didn't move.

"Jarod!" This time it was a normal voice.

He grunted.

"Forget it." She eased out of bed holding her stomach. She made her way toward the door when Jarod opened his eyes.

"Where are you going?"

She leaned back against the wall. "It's time to go to the hospital."

"What? You have at least four more weeks to go."

"Tell that to them."

He jumped up and got dressed. "I'm coming."

"I guess it's a good thing the kids went to your folks."

"Come on." He grabbed a suit case in one hand and her with the other. "Easy."

"I know, Jarod. It's not like I am going to go running." She snapped.

"This isn't good."

"What?" She took a deep breath.

"You are already starting with the smart remarks."

"Oh, sue me."

"See."

"Shut up and help me down the stairs."

On their way down they met Angelo heading up. "Melissa not good."

"That's right. Melissa is not doing good."

Angelo took hold of her hand and helped her down the rest of the stairs.

"I better call the doctor. Angelo, can you help her to the car?"

"Yes, Angelo can."

She put an arm around him as they made their way to car. He got her in car and sat in the back seat with her. Jarod came running out. He opened the driver's door and saw Angelo.

"Angelo go too."

"Are you sure?"

"Damn it. Let's go."

Jarod slammed the car door and they took off. "Breathe honey." He watched her from the rear view mirror.

"Angelo breathe too."

She held his hand as they took another deep breath.

******

Angelo sat next to Parker's bed. "Angelo here." He held out his hand.

"Thanks. Where's Jarod?" She looked around the room.

"Phone."

"I heard you were in labor." A female doctor entered the room.

"You heard right."

"I need to take a look, okay."

Parker nodded her head.

"Have you seen your husband?"

"He's out making a phone call."

"I will be back in a minute."

She exited out and found Jarod. They entered together.

"Here is what we are going to do. Your labor has advance to far to stop it. I am going to order an epidural."

"Will they be okay?" Parker asked.

"I'm sure they will be fine. Nothing to worry about."

"Will I be able to have them naturally?"

"We will see, that's why I'm ordering the epidural. In case we have to do a C-section. I'm going to find the anesthesiologist."

Parker looked up at Jarod. "What is really going on?"

"Nothing. Why?"

"Jarod, I'm not stupid. I know she talked to you first."

"She told me what she just told you."

"You better not be lying to me."

"I'm not."

A nurse entered the room. "Mr. Russell, there is someone in the waiting room to see you."

"I'll be right there."

The nurse left.

"I wonder who that is."

"I don't know. Probably someone I called."

"How many people did you call?"

"Everyone." He went to the door. "Angelo, do you want to come with me?"

"No. Angelo staying."

******

Jarod went out the double doors into the waiting area. Simone stood there with Broots.

"How is she doing?"

"Fine right now."

"Can I go in and see her?" Simone asked.

"Yeah. Go through the doors and she's in the room that is the second door on the right."

Simone left the men to talk.

"Have you seen my mom or dad?" Jarod asked Broots.

"No but I talked to Emily. She is on her way."

******

Simone walked in. "How is our little mommy doing?"

"Not so good." Parker grunted through contractions. "You want to change places?"

"No."

The anesthesiologist and Jarod came in at the same time. "I'm doctor Doss, the anesthesiologist."

"I better get." Simone walked around the bed.

"You can stay." The doctor replied as he got ready. "I'm going to need some help. I need two of you to help hold her."

Parker wasn't liking this idea.

"I going to need you to sit up and lean into them."

Jarod helped her up. Simone stood the right of Parker as Parker leaned into them. Jarod held her hand. Angelo sat behind them, facing Parker.

"Melissa in pain."

"Keep talking to her, Angelo."

"Okay. Ready. Whatever you do don't move."

"That's easy for you to say because you aren't having contractions." Parker snapped.

"Honey."

"It's okay. I get this a lot. It comes with the job." He stuck the needle into her lower back. "They usually love me after the pain goes away." He smiled.

"My wife usually loves me, again after the pain goes away too." Jarod agreed.

He stroked the back of her head with his hand while the doctor was finishing up.

"We're done. You can lay back down." He left.

Parker laid back down on her side. Jarod brushed her hair away from her face. "I love you." He whispered.

She glared over at him.

"Okay." He stepped a side.

Parker began focusing on a coke can that Jarod left on the table. He sat down next to Angelo and watched TV. "What are you watching?"

"Not sure. Angelo just turned it on."

Jarod reached for the can for a drink when Parker hit him. "What?"

"I was counting." She said through gritted teeth.

"Count."

"The. Can!"

He placed the can back on the table. "I'm going outside." He turned to Angelo, "Comin'." Angelo followed.

******

"How is she doing?" The Major asked.

"Grumpy." Jarod took a seat next to him.

"That's to be expected."

"I know. When did you get here?"

"About half an hour ago."

"Daddy." The kids jumped into his lap.

"Hey, guys." He gave them a kiss.

Simone came out. "Jarod, her water broke. I think you better get in here."

He went running.

******

"Honey, how are you doing?"

"Just fine. How in the hell do you think I'm doing?!" She hissed.

"Alright." He went to her side. "I know you are probably mad at me..."

"Probably? Try I am!"

"Now that we have settled that."

She grabbed his arm. "Jarod, don't leave me."

"I'm not going anywhere." He held her tight.

Simone entered her room again. "The kids are asking about you."

"I'm fine." She answered.

"Jarod, I feel like I have to push."

"You had an epidural. You shouldn't be feeling anything."

"Well, I am telling you I feel like I have to push."

"I want you to tell me if you feel this." He ran his hand from her toes up to her thigh.

"Yes. I felt it. Now, can I push?"

"Let me get someone." He went to the door and yelled out. "Can someone get in here? She's having a baby!"

Two nurses and a doctor came running.

"I'm doctor Allen."

"Where is Dr. Powell?" Parker asked.

"She is delivering another baby right now." He turned to a nurse. "Let's get this show on the road."

She helped Parker get her feet in stirrups.

"I want to push." Parker stated again.

"Push." The doctor gloved up as the other nurse got Jarod and Simone gowned up.

She grabbed the bed rails and pushed.

"That's good. Push again."

Parker took a deep breath and pushed.

"Good. One more and this baby is out."

She grabbed Jarod's arm while he brushed her hair out of her face. "You can do it." He whispered. He kissed the end of her nose.

She let out a soft grunt as she pushed again.

They heard crying. "It's a boy." The doctor replied. The nurse lifted up the baby before she took him off. "You can sit back and rest now. You have a few minutes before it time to deliver the next one."

Parker leaned against the pillows.

"I'm going to check and see if the baby is in the right position." Dr. Allen felt on her stomach.

"I'm going to have turn it so, you can have it."

Parker shook her head. Simone and Jarod held her hand while he talked to her softly.

"Okay, the baby is in position."

Parker felt the contractions getting stronger again.

"You can push when you feel like you need to."

"Jarod."

"Mmm."

"Get Dr. Powell." She whispered.

"She is busy right now."

"Then you deliver this baby!" She stared into his eyes without make a move.

"Shh...you are doing good."

"Jarod!"

"Mrs. Russell, why don't you try to push again?"

"I don't feel like I have to."

"Try." Dr. Allen said.

Parker pushed but nothing.

"I'm going to use the forceps to get a hold of the baby."

Parker's muscles tighten.

"Relax, Mrs. Russell."

She could feel the pain of the forceps as he inserted them. "Push for me." She didn't feel like having an argument so she obeyed his words. After a while, she turned to Jarod. "Make him stop!" She demanded.

"It's not working. Let do something else."

"I almost have the baby."

"I said stop!" Jarod screamed.

"Look, I'm the doctor."

He grabbed the doctor by the shirt collar. "I don't care who you are. Get Dr. Powell in here now!"

The door opened and Dr. Powell entered. "Jarod let him go. Dr. Allen I want to talk to you later."

Jarod dropped the man and he exited.

"What's going on?"

"She delivered one and he was having a hard time getting the other one to deliver. The epidural didn't work."

"Let me see." She walked over to her. "Move your toes." Parker wiggled them. "Can you feel this?" She touch her upper leg.

"Yes."

"I'm going to see if the baby is turned."

Parker raised an eyebrow.

"Tell me if it hurts."

Jarod's head rested against hers. "I'm proud of you."

Dr. Powell whispered to a nurse.

"Jarod, what's happening?"

"Melissa, we are going to do a C-section. I will have to knock you out for this since the epidural didn't work." She looked up at the two that stood at the head of the bed. "Both of you will have to leave."

"No!" Jarod exclaimed. "I'm staying."

"It's okay, I will be fine." She whispered to him as they wheeled her out.

Simone left while Jarod stayed to talk to the doctor. "I'm staying."

"Jarod...please."

He glared at her.

"You can stay but if I tell you to leave, YOU WILL LEAVE. Got it."

"Yes." He smiled.

"Get ready." She walked out.

Part 2