029. Birth


"Oh my God!"

David Baines had been minding his own business, putting together a change table for his niece Lorraine.

He had been at the most difficult part, which probably would have been easier to do if he'd had an extra pair of hands, in fact he had been just about to call Lorraine in to help out.

"Lor?" Dave got to his feet. "You OK?"

The only response he got was a groan of pain.

"Lorraine?" Dave had a very bad feeling about this and hurried out of the bedroom to the main room of the apartment.

He found his niece on the couch trying to stand, but having a fair bit of trouble.

"Err...are you OK?" Dave asked her stupidly.

Lorraine gave a whimper, one hand was gripping her stomach.

"It's the baby, isn't it?" Dave prompted.

"Owwwww!" Lorraine shrieked.

"Crap," Dave swore, he couldn't believe this, of all the luck, just the other day the apartment had been full of Lorraine's friends and her mother, who certainly would know what to do in this situation.

"Uncle Dave!" Lorraine wailed. "Help me!"

"Right, right, of course..." He hurried across the room to the couch and helped her get to her feet. "Maybe it's just a...a cramp or something..."

At that moment Lorraine shrieked again. "N-n-no, it's a contraction, I know it is."

"Oh crap, crap, crap, damn." Dave had an arm around her shoulders to help keep her steady, and he looked around the room desperately, as if someone more knowledgeable about this sort of thing would just jump out.

"Ughh!" Lorraine cried again, almost doubling over.

"Hospital!" Dave shouted. "We go to the hospital, right?"

Lorraine nodded.

"All right, then, let's go!"

That was easier said than done, Lorraine seemed to be unable to walk for more than a few steps before being hit by another contraction. Is this supposed to happen? Doesn't it take ages for babies to be born?

He really didn't have time to think about that, there was no way he could allow his niece to have her first child right here! This was a job for a doctor.

In fits and starts he got himself and Lorraine out of the apartment and to the elevator, where he was greeted by a sign.

Out of Order.

"God damnit!"

This would have to happen, the apartment was six levels up and there was only one elevator.

Lorraine was whimpering.

"Right, it looks like we'll have to take the stairs."

"The stairs?" Lorraine wailed.

"It'll take no time at all..." Dave told her encouragingly, even though he sure as Hell didn't believe it.

Somehow, he managed to get Lorraine to the stairs and they began the long descent. It was like a nightmare, except Dave never would have thought to dream up something this horrible.

Finally, they reached street level and his car, which thankfully decided to start on the first go.

Tires squealing, Dave peeled out of the parking lot heading for…

"Which hospital is it? Where am I goin' here?"

Lorraine was trying to breathe slowly, which wasn't working very well at all and he had to ask her again before she answered.

"Mercy."

Which wasn't very helpful, because he had no idea where that even was...luckily he had a street directory on hand (always prepared - the good old Scout Oath...).

It was a bit of a juggling act, balancing the directory on his knees as he drove, but he could hardly ask Lorraine to give him directions.

There were a few wrong turns, but he got her there, the white building an answer to his prayers and Lorraine's.

"Lorraine McFly!" He shouted as he helped her through the doors, catching the attention of just about everyone.

"Excuse me?" The woman behind the desk stared at him as if were crazy.

"She's having a baby," Dave pointed at Lorraine, thinking it was pretty obvious. "Do something."

To prove his point Lorraine groaned. "My water..."

"Oh dear," the woman behind the desk grabbed up the phone next to her and dialled.

It seemed forever before a nurse arrived to take over, wheelchair and all.

Dave was hoping he could just step back and make the necessary phone calls, but Lorraine grabbed his hand.

"Don't leave me, Uncle Dave!" She begged.

He forced a smile. "Of course not..."

As he followed his niece towards the Birth Unit, he felt a wave of deja vu... twenty-five years ago his twin had had almost the exact same experience with their sister-in-law, Stella and her first child, none other than Lorraine.

Remind me never to tease Laurence about that, ever again.


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