Off The Clock (First Responders 1)

“Later on you’ll be glad they did this privately.” He gave her a crooked smile, attempting to reassure her. “I’ll be right outside. Can I call someone for you?” As much as the words felt like cotton in his mouth, he had to ask. “Your husband?”

“No,” she replied, looking away. “Not Jason.”

Something about the cold way she said her ex-husband’s name made Gabe want to plough his fist into a wall. He gritted his teeth. “What about your mom? Your mom and dad should be here.”

Tears filled Carly’s eyes. “Yes, my mom. She’s my delivery coach.” Her lip quivered. “Delivery. This is really happening, isn’t it?”

Gabe glanced at the doctor, who nodded, and then at Carly. “Yes, it is. But you’re in the hospital and getting the best care.”

“Oh God, I’m so not ready for this, Gabe.”

“Don’t be scared.” He leaned over and pressed a kiss to her forehead, closing his eyes and feeling a little afraid himself. He hated that she felt so alone. He’d heard about Jason walking out and the subsequent divorce and knew he should have found the time to catch up with her before now. To be there for her, to be the friend he should have been all along. But he hadn’t wanted to face certain things and so he’d let it slide. He’d been a complete coward.

“I’ll be out in the waiting room and Dr. Denning will come for me if you need me.”

He left so that the doctors could do their jobs, but he couldn’t forget her pale skin and how frightened her eyes were when she gripped his hand. As messed up as things were, he knew damned well that if she asked him to, he’d go through the next hours by her side.

But the request never came. Carly was moved to labor and delivery, and when her parents arrived, her mother joined her in the delivery room. Gabe and Carly’s father, David, were left in the waiting room, faces drawn as the sounds of the ward filtered through closed doors and the minutes ticked slowly past.

“You’re pacing, Gabe.”

He stopped his steps and looked at David. “I guess I am. I don’t know how fathers do this. Wait, I mean.” All he could think about was Carly, and if she was in pain, and if everything was okay with the baby. Since moving her to the ward he hadn’t been given any update at all. She was nearly to term, but with the accident…

No, he couldn’t think about that. They’d done everything right.

David smiled. “I expect it’s worse for the moms,” he remarked. “Thank you for everything you did tonight. For being there with her and for calling us.”

“I’m just glad I was behind her,” Gabe replied, looking away. David probably didn’t remember how he’d voiced the same words of gratitude as they’d paced the emergency room years ago, waiting for news of Brandon. Guilt slithered through Gabe each time he thought of that night and the part he’d played in it. David hadn’t known, but Brandon had known exactly where to place the blame—on Gabe’s shoulders. It had ended their friendship. It had ended a lot of things, and seeing the hate in Brandon’s eyes hadn’t been the worst of it. It had been looking in the mirror that had nearly destroyed him.

And now Gabe was waiting for news of Carly. He didn’t want to think of what would have happened if Carly had been all alone on that stretch of road. What might have happened if she’d gone into labor with no one there. Now that she was here at the hospital, he felt a burning anger towards the driver of the other vehicle who had been too much of a coward to stay, to do the right thing and help. If there was any small consolation in the events of the past, it was that Gabe had stayed and tried to help even knowing the consequences. He had accepted those consequences without question, even though it had meant the end of his scholarship and degree. But he had done the right thing. That small bit of knowledge had been what pulled him through afterwards and had prompted him to become a paramedic in the first place. The first responders had saved Brandon’s life that night.

“She asked Cindy to be with her, you know.” David Douglas continued speaking and Gabe pulled himself back to the present and turned his attention back to the man who’d been like a second father to him for years. “When it was clear that…” David paused, licked his lips.

“That he wasn’t coming back?”

“You heard, then.”

“I heard enough.” Gabe bit out the words. “Carly deserved better.”

“On that we agree,” David replied. “For God’s sake, Gabriel, sit down. You’re making me nervous.”

Half an hour later, Cindy came into the room, a victorious smile lighting up her face. “It’s a boy. A little over six pounds, and ten perfect fingers and toes. I think he has the Douglas chin.”

“And Carly?” Gabe stepped forward, clenching his fingers.

Cindy’s face softened. “She’s tired, and I think she’s going to be quite sore once everything settles.” She came over and took Gabe’s hands in hers. Her voice was rough as she kissed his cheek and said, “When I think…alone in that car, with the baby coming…”

She wrapped her arms around him. “Thank you,” she whispered. “Now go. She wants to see you.”

Gabe went to the hospital room door and opened it a few inches, peeking inside. “Is it okay to come in?”

The nurse nodded. “She’s been asking for you.”

He took quiet steps towards the bed. Carly’s face had regained its color but she looked frail in the blue hospital gown and her hair was tangled and damp on the pillow. The back of the bed was raised and she smiled at him, a tired, satisfied smile as he came around the side and reached for her hand.

In Gabe’s eyes, she’d never looked so beautiful.

Carly knew she looked terrible, but this was one of those times in her life that she didn’t care. Her baby was here and he was fine. Her head pounded and her shoulder was starting to ache again, but it ceased to matter. Gabe had saved her tonight. She knew that as sure as she was breathing. She was okay and baby Nathan was okay because of him. They owed him everything.