2020-12-22 thru 23 Trial By Fire - Melissa's Baby

 2020-12-22 thru 23 Trial By Fire - Melissa's Baby

Melissa Taggart was walking in slow circles around her and Mitch’s apartment. Her back had been killing her all day. She was past her due date but was told that was common with a first child. She had called Michelle and was told to let her know if anything changed because a backache could be a sign of labour. But with no contractions she felt like it was just more long drawn out torture of this endless pregancny from hell. She wanted this baby….and she wanted it out. Mitch had gone to work after offering to stay home with her. Melissa had insisted as he was just hovering and making her more cranky. Then she could smell burning from somewhere else in the building. Probably just someone’s toast got too overdone. 

Anna Wright had taken her kettle off the stove element when it whistled but her phone rang and she forgot to turn the element off. She was on call for various care workers to do with her father now after they’d had to move him to town from the lighthouse. Phoenix had been her rock in all that as her father was so confused now it was agony to make that all happen. She took a call from a meal delivery program for Morgan about him insisting to them he’d already eaten “No….he probably hasn’t.” She sighed “Just set it down near him and sit and talk with him. Eventually the smell will trigger his hunger I hope.”

In the meantime, her and Phoenix’s cats had jumped up on the kitchen counter in a game of full house chase and Ember, the big orange one had clumsily knocked a paper bag onto the still hot and on element. As Anna walked out the door to the rooftop garden to think, it caught fire.  She sat and stewed after her call but then sniffed at the air smelling smoke? Bit early in the day for a backyard bonfire….then she saw flames in her kitchen and ran inside to find the fire extinguisher, just as the whole building’s fire alarms went off. 

Meliissa heard the fire alarm and groaned in annoyance. She was ready to go outside and wait on the sidewalk but as she got to her front door a hug contraction hit her and she doubled over and screamed.

Anna put out the fire but there was so much smoke she almost passed out. She heard the sirens approaching just after she heard a woman scream from the apartment below. “Melissa!” Anna gasped. Melissa was very pregnant. She tore out the door and downstairs to the Taggart apartment and knocked “Mel?”

Melissa staggered and opened the door “Anna……” She was breathing hard and pressed her phone into Anna’s hand “Help me! My baby is coming…..I can feel things happening fast and I’m so scared….call Mitch! Call Michelle!” Another contraction hit her and she moaned loudly. It was so strong.

Anna quickly pulled a face mask from her pocket and slapped it on and then took Melissa’s phone from her and made the calls, assuring both of them there was an ambulance and fire truck on the way to the buildings anyway. Melissa would have help.

Meanwhile at the fire station, the klaxons went off and everyone got to the vehicles. It was one of the apartment buildings down by the water. But as Gareth Dunham turned the key in the ambulance ignition it  just clicked and nothing started. He looked wide eyed at Logan and jumped out to pop the hood and see if they could see the problem. He called out to Nico “We’re stalled. Let me know if we need to get the other ambulance as soon as possible…..fuck…” He dug around inside the engine with a frown.

All emergency staff were already following mask protocols while working with standard issue personal protective equipment.

Hank Stanley was almost to his SUV when Gareth mentioned that the ambulance wasn’t starting.  That could be nothing and that could be a disaster.  But he had other firemen who could serve as EMT in a pinch.  He nodded.  “Keep me informed, Dunham.”  he ordered.

Nico nodded at Gareth as he got in the engine and started the engine fine as you please.  Never had all of their vehicles ever been out at the same time.  He pulled out of the vehicle bay and onto 2nd street.  It was always easy to find the address.  Alexandra wasn’t all that big, at the end of the day.  Hank got there first and looked for anyone who might know what was happening.  People were already pouring out of the building.  He was one of those who would be knocking on doors to help clear the building.

Mitch had just started on a whole side of beef when his phone rang and it was Anna Wright telling him Melissa was in labour and their building had had a small fire so first responders were on their way. He nearly blew a gasket from the stress. “I’ll be right there….” He had a cow carcass in all directions though “Paul!! PAUL!” He screamed.

Mitch and Paul were both wearing face masks as they always did working in front line food services.

Paul McLeod came running from the back in a rush “Mitch, what’s going on?” He didn’t normally bellow like that.

“Where’s Fiona? I gotta go….Mel’s having the baby NOW!”

Paul gulped “She’s not in until 11 but go go!! I got this!”

Mitch ripped off his apron and bolted out the door towards home.

Anna held Melissa up in the doorway of her apartment. She could hear knocking on doors and called out “Up here…..we have a woman in labour!”

Melissa reeled and held onto Anna and the doorframe and then screamed and screamed. “It’s coming! I can feel the head…….oh my god this is so fast…” She was near hysterical. She wasn’t even thinking about a face mask for herself with everything happening in her body.

Anna looked at Melissa “Oh god...try and hold it in….I don’t know what to do…” She called down again “UP HERE!!!!”

Tom O’Leary had been in the truck with Nico and hopped out. As they started knocking on doors at opposite ends of the hallways there was a woman trying to corral all her cats into a shopping cart and get them out and Tom tried to deal with her. She was a known entity. “Lorna, come with me please…..no we’ll come back for them…...it’s ok…..you need to go outside….” He got pulled into a hell of an argument about it.

Nico took the opposite end of the hallway from Tom and so he heard and saw Anna Wright with Melissa.  He bolted up the last of the stairs and stopped in front of them.  The EMT’s weren’t available and he at least knew Melissa.  He kept his voice professionally calm.  “Thanks Anna.  I got this.  Please exit the building.  We’ll be right behind you.”  and then he got on his radio.  “Cato here.  I have a woman in labor at the scene.  Third floor.  I’ll stay with her until the EMT’s arrive.”  which shouldn’t be too long.  He looks at Melissa and smiles.  “Hey there.  Long time, no see.”  he keeps his voice light.  “Let’s get you in the couch for now, alright?”  he leads her in that direction and if she sits, will go open the windows in the living room to deal with the smoke.

From the street, Hank gave orders.  He heard Nico on the radio and replied.  “Ten four Cato.  Ambulance 1, retrieve ambulance 2.  Woman in labor on the scene.”

Michelle was trying to rush out of the clinic after getting the call about Melissa. She was half running out of one of the rooms when Tarek Nadir was turning out of the adjacent room with a medical cart and careened right into her sending her flying and everything on the top of the cart in all directions.

“Sorry! Oh my god I’m so sorry!” He exclaimed. He reached for Michelle to help her up. They were both in medical issie face masks as always.

Michelle shook her head around “I’m fine…..don’t worry about it.” She had cotton swabs and medical supplies dumped on her. There was a tongue depressor lodged in her hair but she just got up and kept going “I have to go….” Now she was running slower than she wanted to be.

Anna looked nervously at Nico and then Melissa “I could stay……” He was a professional but he was also seemingly alone? And it was smoky. She had ignored her own struggle with it.

Melissa tries to move to the couch but stalls “I can’t…….there’s a head….it’s coming!” She sort of squat stands gripping Nico “Long time no see indeed. Help me get my pants off...this baby is coming!” She’s in sweats and a tshirt so it’s not going to be tough.

Mitch flies past the people coming out of the building and ignores the protests of Hank and the other fireman.

Tom had finally gotten the damn cat lady out and then the town butcher is running into the building. But he heard woman in labour and it dawned on him who the woman was. He was about to run after Mitch when Lorna grips him by his overalls and starts ranting about some cat who’s on medication. “Let go Lorna…….go stand with the others please.” 

Anna reluctantly exits as she’s been instructed to but nearly runs into Mitch at the bottom of the stairs. “She’s ok...Nico is helping her. Michelle is on her way…”

Nico considered and decided that the couch was unattainable, so he helped Melissa lay literally in the doorway of her apartment.  Quickly pulling off his bulky gloves he put on the surgical gloves he always had in his pocket just in case.  Then with one hand, he pulled out his medical scissors and sliced meatly out the outside legs of her sweatpants, then unceremoniously ripped them off and tossed them into the apartment behind him.  “OK Melissa.”  he took a peek and the laboring mother of course was absolutely right.  “Baby on the way … push, alright.  You're mostly there.”

Melissa was crowning, maybe even partway through it. She was aware her pants came off but she was too distracted to care how. Nico said push and she was now laying, half sitting because being flat was too uncomfortable so she propped herself a little on her arms but on her next contraction she did push. She couldn’t do anything but push and she screamed bloody murder as everything happened at once. Her water broke as she pushed and the baby , now having a waterslide, which is ideal in many ways, literally flew out of her body like a superhero.

Mitch was on the last landing as he heard Melissa scream and yelled back “MEL!” as he ran on. He could see Nico in the hallway and Mel’s legs. She was having the baby with now? And Nico was catching it?! 

Michelle ran at top speed towards the buildings by the docks and had to work her way through a small crowd “Scuse me….sorry can I get by…” And finally she yelled “Let me through I’m a midwife with a baby to catch.”

Anna was near the door still and yelled “Michelle! Hurry!”

And Michelle took the stairs two at a  time with her bag held tight to her shoulder.

Nico was glad that Melissa had decided against panties, as there was no time to cut them off anyway.  Her water broke and all Nico could do was literally catch the baby, who began screaming immediately.  Looking at the little baby, he smiled.  “Hello young lady.”  he crooned.  “I was just thinking about you.”

Mitch walks up just as Nico catches his daughter and says what only Nico would say. After all they’ve fought about in the last year he just laughs “Caito you motherfucker…….” Then he really looks at the baby and at Melissa and uncharacteristically bursts into tears “She’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen…” He drops to a knee and reaches for the baby, looking for a moment at Melissa “We made this Mel……I love you…...I love you both….” He sniffs “Thanks Nico...for being here.”

Michelle runs up breathlessly and sees the group in the doorway. The baby’s been born and Nico caught it. “Congratulations everyone…..Nico’s clearly trying to steal my job.” She jokes and grins at him.

Melissa sits up a bit and looks down at her baby and had laughed at Nico’s line. She knew it of course as he was notorious. “Oh my goodness….” Then Mitch comes up and he’s cussing at Nico but kindly and then he’s a ball of emotion and she can’t help but cry along with him “We did…..god she came out so fast. Thanks Nico. I love you too Mitch.”

Nico keeps holding the baby until Mitch takes her.  “Congratulations, you two.”  he looks at Mitch and his tears and sighs softly.  It’s been a rough few months for him and his bestie.  He pulls off his gloves and thumbs his radio.  “Caito here.  Delivery successful.  Bring in the ambulance whenever you’re ready.”  and then he looks at Michelle.  “Your job is safe.”  he assures her.  As if to prove it, he stands back and gives the midwife and father space.  Through his radio he hears one of his co-workers.  “Chief, this fire is out.”

Mitch moves up to Melissa with their baby and the two cocoon over her a bit with their heads together just staring as their world stands still.

Melissa finally says “Can someone grab me something to cover my scary lady parts before more people show up and look between my legs? No offense Nico, you’re forgiven and appreciated. He did good Michelle.” She smiles and then looks at Mitch “What are we calling her?” She laughs “You mom? My mom? Oh shit I need a face mask...I’m safe...I’ve been isolated in the apartment for fuckin ever.”

Michelle swoops ,gloves up and starts all her usual post delivery checks on the mother and then clamps the chord and waits for it to stop pulsing as she smiles “Course he did.” She pulls out a sort of disposable sheet and covers Melissa’s lower parts “Don’t get too comfy, we still need to move you and you need to birth the placenta.” She looks under the sheet “I don’t see it at the door so to speak so we shall wait.” Michelle pulls a face mask from her supplies and gives it to Melissa “I know you’re safe but let’s keep you safe too.”

Mitch sniffs with his hand gently on the baby’s head after passing it to Melissa. He looks at Nico and tears up “Nicole. I wanna call her Nicole. For my buddy who helped her come to us.”

Nico has moved out into the hallway to give the parents privacy and the midwife room to take over.  He was looking for the EMT’s with the stretcher and suddenly realizes Michelle was there.  “Should I cancel the EMT’s?”  he asks.  Before he can answer Mitch says he wants to name the baby Nicole after him.  He turns his head towards Mitch and Melissa so fast he cracks it loudly.  “What?  Oh ….  Fuck …  Man Mitch ….”  he sniffs, but manages to avoid the tears.

Michelle was about to consider the cancellation when all of a sudden Melissa bled out like crazy “Oh shit….no Nico get them the hell up here.” She looks at Melissa who can clearly feel it happening and has a look of panic “It’s ok...it’s ok….”

Melissa was happily holding her baby when all of a sudden there was westness beneath her and a feeling of things being not right. Then Michelle said oh shit get the EMTs here and she knew it was bad “Am I bleeding? Like a lot…….” Her breath got faster.

Mitch had been looking sweetly at his old friend when suddenly Melissa was bleeding. He could see the pool forming under her and he gasped “Mel…..oh god Mel….”

Michelle takes charge “Mitch take your baby please. Go get a clean towel to wrap her in or a blanket. You’ll both come with us. Nico help him please.” The stretcher came up the stairs with the EMTs and Michelle turned to Gareth and Logan “She’s hemorrhaging. We need to move.”

Gareth nodded and looked at Logan as they worked to get Melissa on the stretcher “OK on three……”

Mitch ran in and got a blanket and grabbed the diaper bag they already had ready. He looked terrified.

Logan lifts with Gareth and secures the patient.  Then they are off.

Nico looks at Mitch, his own professional calm snapping back in place with help from Michelle’s voice.  Mitch got the blanket and diaper bag and then Nico helped him wrap the tiny baby girl.  “Go!”  he tells him.  “I’ll check in as soon as I can.”  he promises without promising that Melissa would be alright, because he had no idea what was happening.

Michelle knows how many can fit in the ambulance and she won’t be on it so she does the fastest clean up she can and then shuts the door to the taggart apartment and gets ready to jog to the clinic. It’s not far. But she briefly passes Nico and grabs him, giving him a kiss full on the lips. “You’re amazing.” and before she even thinks about it she adds on “I love you.” they hadn’t exchanged those words before and as she flies back down the stairs she realizes what she’s said out loud and bites her lip. She does love Nico but she hadn’t planned on just blurting it out in a  moment of random work related adrenaline. She runs to the clinic hoping she hasn’t scared him off forever.

Nico freezes in the halfway when Michelle not only kisses him full on the lips but also says that she loves him before running off.  He  blinks in the empty space she’s left behind thinking that this might be the strangest dream he had ever had.  He loved Michelle … but those words hadn’t been spoken yet.  He was also faithful to Michelle.  Nico is well aware that he hasn’t been out with, flirted with or had sex with another woman since he and Michelle had first gotten together.  He just has been partly afraid the feeling was’t mutual.  There had been fear of commitment as well, but he had committed .. that first night.

Logan rills the gurney to the ambulance and loads the patient in as quickly as he can.  He climbs in after her and motions to Mitch.  “Lay her in the incubator and buckle in.  The moment they are secure, he pounds on the window between his compartment and Gareths.  This is a lights and sirens situation.

Mitch is in the back of the ambulance with Melissa who’s starting to look sleepy. He clutches little Nicole as gently as he can and holds his wife’s hand “Stay with us Mel. She needs you.” He did as Logan instructed though.

Melissa feels so tired and she's fighting to stay “Mitch…..Nicole…” Her eyes flutter and then close just as they pull up to the clinic.

Gareth had heard the knock and had the lights and sirens full on as they drove and then parked and jumped  out to get the patient with Logan. She looks like she’s lost consciousness so they work faster.

The trip to the clinic was barely a minute and Logan is bringing out Melissa on the gurney and bringing her inside.  “Dr. McKinney?”  he calls as he wheels the patient in.  The doctor sees him and motions.  “Three.”  she calls and he rolls her in there.

Susan McKinney follows the gurney into the room and checks Michelle out externally, even as she puts oxygen on her.  “Very minor smoke inhalation ….  Melissa…”  she calls to the unconscious woman.  “Can you hear me?  I’m going to take a look, oky?”  and even thought she gets no answer, she puts Melissa’s legs in stirrup, covers her then looked under it at the bleeding, while waiting on Michelle.

Logan stops Mitch in the halfway and turns him towards the back a bit.  “Let them examine her, OK?”

Mitch looks for a moment like he might charge right through Logan like a bull but the baby now in his arms stirs and she calms him by her very existence. He looks pained in the direction they took Melissa and nods “Fuck…...fuck fuck fuck…” He mutters with total anxiety still in his voice. But he’ll comply.

Michelle bursts in the doors at a full run and doesn’t stop until she sees Logan and Mitch “Which room?” She’s basically going to wash up and reglove and then get right back into it.

Gareth was after Logan looking at Mitch and he nods at the baby “They may want to take her for a bit but maybe get her into a diaper. There’s a change table in the washroom.” Michelle flies by and demands a room number. “Three Chelle.” She and Susan might be awhile. 

Melissa is still out while the oxygen does it’s thing. She does have some smoke inhalation but her blood loss is contributing to her consciousness as well.

Logan takes Mitch by the elbow.  “COme on.  Let’s see about getting this young lady some clothes.”  he looks around.  “Mom…”

Colleen Reinhardt steps up with a smile, as if their ER is not chaos.  “Oh look at you.”  she isn’t talking to Mitch, but to his daughter.  “Let's get you something to wear besides that, alright?”  she now does look at Mitch.  “Come on, you can watch as we clean her up, weigh her and get a diaper and fresh blanket on her.”  she heads for the elevators and waves happily at her son and Gareth, who have as always done their job well.

Susan glances at Michelle.  “The placenta is being difficult.”  she tells her.  “She’s going to need cauterization…”

Michelle nods “I wondered since it didn’t just birth out after. Damn Melissa had the toughest pregnancy and now this shit.” She starts gathering things and helping Susan set up. “She’s out but let me make doubly sure with some anesthetic.” Michelle initiates that and then checks her chart briefly “We need blood. She’s lost a lot on the way here.”

Mitch follows Colleen Reinhardt like he’s in a trance. He’s so afraid for Melissa he can barely make conversation even though he knows Colleen from town and two of her kids working with him. He’s uncommonly quiet for Mitch.

Gareth waves back and looks at Logan “Your mom’s an extra pro after triplet duty I’m guessing.” And once they’re gone he’s basically ready to go. “Let’s go see if anyone else got a face full of smoke…”

Melissa is out but as the anesthetic sets in her head rolls to one side a bit and she’s limp.

Susan nods and gets on the phone, ordering the blood and preparing for the procedure.

Logan nods.  “Yea … granted, she had Irish riplets and I bet if she had to she could feed, dress and entertain three babies while rubbing her belly and patting her head.”  granted he was a little biased hen it came to his mother.

Colleen led Mitch into the little nursery and double checked the cord which was perfect.  Then she gave the baby a little bath and put a diaper on her, all the while speaking in a soothing tone to Mitch.  “What is this beautiful girls name, Mitch?”  she asks,knowing the look of a panicked loved one when she sees it.

Mitch gruffly croaks out “Nicole….” He looks down at her “God she’s fuckin perfect. Mel only got about a minute of her before….” His voice cracks and he looks away. “Maybe Nicole Katherine Taggart.” Colleen would know Mitch’s parents Katherine (Kathy) and Scott “I’ll have to ask Mel.”

Gareth chuckles as he gets in the ambulance again “Course she could….alrighty then” And they’re off back to the post fire scene.

Michelle works diligently with Susan on Melissa. It’s touch and go for a while but they stabilize her and the bleeding is stopped. Washing up Michelle confides in Susan “I told Nico I love him…...just randomly. I’m kinda freaking out…” She laughs awkwardly.

Colleen finishes everything she needs to do, and even prints out the baby’s little bracelet.  She puts her in a blanket.  “Oh I think Kathy would like that.  You do that, as soon as Mom is ready.”

Susan nods as they work and clean Melissa up.  When Michelle mentions talling Nico she loved him she turns her head to look at her completely.  “Well …”  Susan considers her words.  “Do you love him?  And for that matter .. does he love you?”  she asks just before calling for an orderly to take Melissa up to a room to recover.

Michelle nodded slowly “I do love him. He didn’t say it back but I had to run...literally.” As Melissa is wheeled away she sighs “I really have no idea. Leave it to me to finally fall for someone and then fuck it all up by telling him.” She dries her hands and shakes her head “We should check in on Mitch and the baby.”

Mitch smiles a bit. Colleen was helping him. He’ll reach for Nicole as soon as he can “She’s here…...it’s a bit unreal. Can we find out how Mel’s doing?”

Susan washes her hands while Michelle explains that she does love Nico.  Melissa is wheeled away and she dries them, then uses some hand sanitizer on top of that.  “Well, I can’t read Nico’s mind, and neither can you.  He gets off his shift at 7 in the morning.  Talk to him then?”  she nods about checking on Mitch and the baby and heads out of the exam room, leaving it to be cleaned by the janitorial staff.

Colleen hands the baby over to her father.  “It feels like that no matter how many you have.”  she tells him with a soft smile.  “Sometimes I look at my own grown children and just feel floored.”  she nods.  “Sure, we can.”  she hears an elevator chime.  “That’s probably them now…”

Mitch cradles Nicole like a natural and then smiles “Well that’s good to know.” He laughs, knowing two of hers from work and then he nods. He looks hopeful when she suggests the elevator chime might be Michelle and Dr. McKinney and possibly Melissa. 

Michelle knows Susan is right “Yeah….all I can do.” She walks with Susan to the elevator and then steps off and asks Tarek Nadir where they took Mitch and the baby. He points to the room and she opens the door and then holds it for Susan. “Mitch, it went well. She’s in recovery.”

Mitch looks taken aback “Recovery? As in from surgery? Holy shit….”

Susan walks through the door as Michelle holds it.  Aware she looks mildly alarming, she still wants to get the good news to the husband as soon as possible.  She holds up her hand.  “Nothi that major.”  she assures him.  “Just some problems with the placenta.  She is upstairs now.  Second floor.  I’ve got her on a little blood to replenish what she lost, but she should be awake very soon, if you would like to take the baby to her.  Once she’s awake, I think it might be time for Colleen to oversee the nursing?”  she looks between Colleen and Michelle.  “One of you, anyway.”

Colleen smiles and nods.  “I would, and Michele can of course come also, since she is the midwife.”

Michelle nods at Mitch and then smiles at Colleen “Depending on how busy we are. We can both.” She looks at Mitch with the baby “Nicole right?” She had heard that touching conversation.

Mitch nods vigorously at Susan “I wanna see her. And yeah Nicole. After Nico who caught her. No offence Michelle. I know you ran.” He smiles a bit and looks at Colleen “Can we go right now?”

Susan smiles at the baby’s name.  “Lovely name.”  she looks between them all.  “And sometimes you can't catch them all, but in the end it all worked out.”  she jokes.   “Well, I am going to my office.  The staff will know where to find me if you need me.  You two take care and congratulations Mitch.”  and she heads for her office where paperwork patiently awaited her.

Colleen smiles at the eagerness of Mitch.  He wasn’t the first man to soften because of their child, but it was always good to see in her mind.  “Of course we can.”  the baby was in her diaper and blanked … nice and clean and probably starting to get hungry.  “Right this way…”  she pushes the elevator button and it opens for them immediately.

Mitch looks appreciatively at Susan “Thanks Dr. McKinney. For everything.” He follows Colleen and Michelle.

Michelle looks at Susan with gratitude “What Mitch said.” She chuckles. When they get to the room she gently speaks to Melissa, who stirs a bit as they come in “Hey how are you feeling Mel. Brought some important folks here.” She makes way for Mitch with the baby.

Melissa blinks and tries to sit and then falls back “Ugh...” But then she smiles lovingly at Mitch “Look at you two thick as theives.” She glances at Colleen and Michelle and requests “Can we bumped up the head of this bed?”

Colleen comes in and holds a hand up as Melissa immediately tries to sit up.  “Let me.”  she lifts the bed a bit.  “But don’t be in TOO big a hurry go get up, Mom.”  she teases.  “You get a good day or even two in bed, being waited on hand and foot ….”  she glances at Mitch.  “And maybe more.”

Melissa looks happy for Colleen’s help but still a bit out of it. “Well that’s good to know...” She laughs a bit “Mitch can you help me hold Nicole again please?”

Michelle nods at Colleen “That’s right. Lots of resting for mom and baby. Do you feel like you’re ready to try feeding her? We want that good collostrum in there.”

Mitch helps ease the baby into Melissa’s arms “They nurse that fast.”

Michelle nods “Hopefully. It can take a bit of practice.” 

Melissa nodded “Yeah I want to try. This gown is a pain for that....”

Michelle laughs “Yeah the gowns suck. Let me grab you a pillow for under the baby. Colleen can you free her from the evil gown ties please?”

Colleen chuckles.  “We all have to eat, sooner or later, Mitch.”  she moves to Melissa and helps her with the gown.   “In the morning, Mitch can bring you your own clothes.  If you have something that makes for easier nursing.”  she steps back.  If Melissa has trouble nursing, she and Michelle can help.

Mitch gives Colleen a wry smile and chuckles and then tries to sort of stay out of the way because he had no idea how to help Mel with nursing.

Michelle comes back with the pillow and says “OK...up a bit little Nicole..” She lifted her onto the pillow and then holds her steady while Melissa pulls down the gown.

Melissa had taken the prenatal classes and read the books but this was her first experience. So she does what she thinks is the right thing and eases her baby into the breast and then grimaces “Ow…..ow ow…”

Michelle leans over and looks “Not quite the latch….gently tug her chin down…”

Melissa does that and then shifts a bit, nodding “Ok that’s better.”

Mitch looks a little baffled “You mean they don’t just know?”

Colleen watches the experience and grins at Mitch.  “Well they DO just know.  It’s instinct.  But mother and child have to get to know each other.  Nicole almost got it … lets just say she missed on her very first time trying to nurse.”  she winks.

The new family were resting with Mitch sleeping in a chair by Melissa and the bassinet. Nursing was going well and they had bonded. At home Michelle was sleepless. She had declared her love for Nico and then ran off. He often came over after this shift and crawled into bed with her but it was 7:30 and he wasn’t there yet. Michelle had heard Gareth come in and head to bed. So she took the initiative, first popping into the Perkatory for two take out coffees in now just a  regular everyday black cotton face mask. Then she stopped into the fire station. Maybe he was still briefing the next crew person taking his task on the shift change? She walked in through the open ambulance and fire truck bay doors and looked around.

Tara Munroe stepped back out of the ambulance and noticed Michelle “Oh hey there Michelle.” She had on the standard issue first responders PPE mask.

“Hi Tara...have you seen Nico?” Michelle asked a little timidly.

Tara had been focussed on restocking some kits so she hadn’t been paying attention to the shift change as it ebbed “He might still be here….let me check for you.” Tara dashed upstairs and called out “Is Caito still here?”

Cameron Arbogast was upstairs, mopping the floor in the same mask as Tara.  The A shift had the excitement and he hoped for a nice calm B shift.  He hears Tara’s voice and looks around to where he stood.  “He said something about going to the clinic.  Maybe a double check for smoke inhalation?”  he offered and got back to work.

Tara was about to relay that to Michelle but she waved a hand in acknowledgment "I heard him...thanks. Have a good one Tara." And she walked back into work a few minutes later and looked around and then wondered if Nico had gone to see Mitch and Melissa. She curiously headed back to their room saying his to a few staff en route since she was known in her workplace.

Nico had showered and changed into civilian clothes, opting to go straight to the clinic to see how Melissa was doing.  He’d been torn all night by Michelle's words and thought that he would stop by her place after seeing Michelle and Mitch in  the clinic.  He asked at the reception area off the ER entrance, and got Melissa’s room number, then walked up the stairs to it.  He knocked twice, but waited for a reply before he entered, of course in a face mask since it was a hospital.

Melissa had been feeding on and off through the night and by the early morning she was out like a light and would be until the baby needed her again and someone woke her up.

Mitch was holding little Nicole and watching both her and Melissa sleep. He couldn't bring himself to put his baby down. The attachment was solid. But she was fed, changed and sleeping peacefully in his arms. But respectfully he wore a hospital issue face mask.  He heard a knock at the door and figured it was a nurse as they'd had a few check ins. "Come in." He half whispered and half spoke.

Nico walked in the room and took in the scene.  Everyone looked happy and healthy.  Melissa was asleep, which made sense.  Even though he wasn't a father, he’d seen laboring women and could imagine how much energy it took out of them.  Mitch was holding the baby … Nicole if he kept to his plan all night.  He looked … different.  But the spring and summer had changed both of them.  “Hey …”  Nico stepped in. and glances at the sleeping baby.  He could keep his voice down and now did.  “She’s still beautiful.  More now that she isn’t a bloody mess.”

Mitch is still full on in new baby bliss, calmer and truly more content than he’s ever been. He grins at Nico “Hey...and yeah she is. Nicole Katherine Taggart.” He offers the full name “Oh man Nico.... this is something else. She won me, even more than Mel, in a different way. She makes me want to be a better man.” He looks up from her again “I’m sorry for all the shit between us...”

Nico watches his long time friend.  Once his best friend with his daughter.  The Nicole as a name was staying?  He nods and watches them again.  He can’t remember seeing Mitch so … serene… Then he apologizes and all of the bullshit.  Nico shrugs and hesitates a little bit.  “Well … that wasn’t really your fault.”  he begins.  “She … it … I’ll take that blame.”  the issue was gone … but the damage .. Nico just hoped it wasn't really irreversible.

Mitch holds up a hand at Nico taking all the blame “I should never have stuck my big nose in any of it. And our friendship...I’ve missed it. And you and Michelle... I mean fuck what’s up with that. I have never seen you out so much with one woman.” He laughs and the baby stirs so he takes a deep breath “Let mama sleep a little longer little bug...”

Nico sighs deeply.  “I should have known better.  So you take half and I’ll take half, cause no one else will be accountable.”  he nods.  “I missed you too.  I don’t think I’ve regretted anything more than losing that.”  Then he blinks when Michelle is brought up.  “Michelle is ...”  he watches the baby stir and then settle, lowering his voice a bit.  “I’ve never spent this much time with a woman.  She’s smart and can hold a conversation.  Being pretty is only the tip of the iceberg with her.  The others in my life.  Well you know.  They weren’t worth any respect. But Michelle ….  I can’t explain it.”

Mitch has softened but being Mitch still he chastises a little “They’re all worth respect Nico...but if Michelle made you see it with her, then she’s something special.” Having a daughter only cements some of his ideals but the softness remains. But then he looks his old friend in the eye and challenges him a bit “So commit. Tell her. Get off your ass Caito.” He teases.

Nico shrugs.  He just does not believe that, but he won’t argue.  He’ll just stay mum.  Mitch then calls him on the carpet and tells him to commit to Michelle.  “Well … I have committed.  I haven’t been with another woman or even THOUGHT about another woman since my first night with Michelle.”  he admits.  “And … yea … I will.  I just wanted to stop by and see how you guys were doing.  Little Nicole will keep you on your toes if her birth is any hint.”

Mitch looks down at his baby girl “Yeah she will...but I’m good with that. Very good with it.” He smiles at Nico “It’s good to hear either way.” Then there’s a soft knock at the door and he looks up seeing Michelle peeking in and gives Nico a little eyebrow wiggle “Well speak of the devil. Hi Michelle.”

Michelle steps in and she’s holding two take out coffees “Shit I should have brought 4…..I was dropping in at the fire station.” She hands one to Nico with a  guilty look and looks down at the other “I haven’t sipped this yet. Do you like the dark roast with dark chocolate Mitch?”

Mitch beams and whispers “Fuck yeah...I’ll take it. I was going to brave that machine down the hall.” He reaches for it and just as it’s in his hand Melissa’s eyes open.

Melissa has heard soft voices talking but was determined to keep sleeping, male voices, Mitch and Nico? Yes Nico…..that was nice. They needed to connect. But then she drifted back to wakefulness at a female voice and a scent she lined for...coffee. Mitch had coffee. Her hand shot out and she stares him down “I need a sip of that Babe….” And she sat up a bit and stole the coffee from him. She had a mask on the little table beside her but coffee first.

Michelle laughed “I should have brought one of those take out carafes…….don’t use the machines...ever.” She smiles at Nico.

Little Nicole still slept on in her father’s arms.

Nico nods and is about to say more when the knock comes and Michelle enters.  He grins a bit as he is handed a coffee and told she was looking for him at the station.  “But I’ve been off shift a good half an hour…”  he mentions, but he’s pretty sure he knows why she was looking for him.  He watches as Melissa steals Mitch's coffee before he can even claim it good and then looks back to Michelle.  “Unless you wanted to talk about what you said to me at work.  Well mine and yours, actually.”  he grins a little, clearly in a good and even playful mood.

Michelle smiled sheepishly at Nico and then cleared her throat and looked at Melissa and Mitch “Unless these folks need me…..Hi Mel, how’s breastfeeding going?”

Melissa takes a long drink of coffee “Oh yeah…” she breathes out and hands it back to Mitch and then slips on her own face mask. “I feel like a pro now. Seriously it was Mom’s all night cafe in here. We got this.” And it seems the sound of her voice triggers the baby.

Mitch looks down as Nicole is rooting on him “You had to say it…..I think she wants the breakfast special now.” And he sets down the coffee and moves with the baby as Melissa drops her gown with no shame and gets her baby on the breast to feed.

“Nico’s seen the lower half of me in great detail….honestly who gives a shit about the jugs right?” she laughs and looks at her baby “You do...I know…..” Melissa comfortably nurses and looks at Michelle “We’re cool. Do what you do. But thank you….both of you...for everything.”

Michelle smiles “Hey it’s my job. But you’re doing amazing. The latch is good. She’s clearly responding and hungry. Stay hydrated….not just coffee but lots of water ok?” she looks at Nico “Do you want to take a walk?”

Nico chuckles.  “Just doing my job, ma’am.”  he intones a little melodramatically.  While he had gotten an eyeful, it was quite different.  Definitely professional.  When Michelle asks about the walk, he nods.  “Yea … I think we’d better…”  he agrees and then looks at Melissa, Mitch and Nicole.  “We’ll see you guys around.  Maybe we can have a drink when the ladies let you out again.”  he winks and will head out with Michelle and down the back steps towards the helicopter pad if no one stops them. Since they’re outside he takes off his face mask.

Michelle walks with Nico out the back and then when they’re stopped she says “I’m sorry i just blurted that out. I understand if….I mean you don’t have to…..there’s no pressure…” She’s stammering like she thinks she’s messed things up by telling him she loves him. She takes off her mask too since they’re in the outdoors now.

Nico stops with Michelle and watches her stammer.  He takes her by the shoulders.  “Hush.  I love you, too.  But you just left me stunned in the smoky hallway so I couldn’t reply.”  he chuckles and moves to kiss her.

Michelle looks immensely relieved and kisses Nico back, wrapping her arms around him. She eventually breaks apart and then sighs “Well thank god….I figured I fucked it all up. But I do love you. I didn’t plan on it…”

Nico puts his arms around her.  “I didn’t plan on it, either.”  he admits.  “But … ever since our first night … I haven’t flirted, asked anyone out or even just … fucked for the sake of fucking.”  he sounds a bit amazed at it all.  “There’s only been you … and I’ve never been happier.”

Michelle settles into Nico’s embrace “Well we can fuck for the sake of fucking anytime,” She teases a bit and then nods in agreement “You make me happy too. Who knew...one bar night…” She laughs and then kisses him again.

Nico laughs.  “Sorry.  Still rough around the edges?  Politically correct, sometimes?  Willfully ignorant at others?”  he nods.  “I wasn’t even going to pick someone up.  I really just wanted a drink.”  he kisses her deeply.  He’s gotten so much more.

Michelle had laughed with him “I wouldn’t have you any other way Nico Caito.” She kisses him back just as deeply and then takes him by the hand “Come home with me? You politically ambiguous willfully ignorant baby catching loose cannon love of my life...because I AM picking you up.” She promises.