Sacrifice of Love
Page 87
became more painful and closer together. Cynthia told her to find a focal point, to grab onto a thought and hold it in her mind, and to see it with clarity. She had no problem picking a focal point because he had been her focus since the day he had growled at her in that hospital room. He had claimed her and even when there were no signs other than what he felt, he had made it clear that she was his.
She pictured his face in her mind, his amber eyes, and the secrets they held. She envisioned his high cheek bones, straight nose, and firm lips that often stayed in a permanent scowl aimed at her, but could quirk up in an amused smile at a moments notice. She pushed all of her focus into that picture of him and finally the pain subsided from the contraction. She knew she wouldnt have a respite for very long.
Okay, Cynthia said as she pushed the blanket over Jens knees so she could see how far dilated she was, that was a strong one.
No offense doc, but you stating the obvious isnt really an indication that you know what youre doing.
Cynthia chuckled. Yes well, between the two of us, I think Im just a tad more qualified. Cynthia felt what she was looking for as she did her exam on Jen, Okay its time to start pushing.
Jen went still. What?
Jen, I know you didnt really get a chance to take the classes you needed to for giving birth, but surely you knew that this was the way she would come into the world.
If I didnt need you right now, I just might knock you senseless, Jen growled as she felt another contraction coming on.
Okay here we go Jen, Cynthia coached. As soon as you feel it hit, I want you to bear down and push, okay?
Jen nodded and curled her fingers into the blanket as the contraction ripped through her. She tightened her stomach and pushed just as Cynthia told her.
Picture your focal point, Jen. Breathe...okay, good job, she patted her thigh gently.
The contraction passed and Jen was left breathless and dripping with even more sweat. She wanted to cry. She wanted her momma and she wanted her mate; hell, she just wanted someone to tell her she could do this, but there was no one and she was giving birth in a damn cave.
She felt a tear slide from her eye and she gritted her teeth to hold them back, but as another contraction built, she couldnt contain them any longer. They poured from her eyes, blurring her vision, as she heard the docs voice once again telling her to push. She did. She pulled her legs up and pushed with all her might and when the contraction was gone, she knew it wasnt enough.
I cant do this, she said as she panted. She reached up to wipe away the tears but her arms were so weak that she couldnt even do that. Cynthia I cant do this without him, I cant.
Cynthia looked up at Jen and her eyes were glowing. You can do this and you will do this, she said firmly. This is your child, Jennifer. A miracle that you and Decebel created out of loveand you will not let your mate or your little girl down. You are going to suck it up and do what needs to be done.
Jen heard Cynthia; she felt the truth in her words and she tried to grab on to that truth. She had to do this. There was no out clause when in labor. She listened to the sound of the doctors voice as another contraction came and she pushed hard. She felt a stabbing pain and gasped. Immediately, she stopped pushing, and when she looked down at Cynthias face, she knew something was very wrong.
Cynthias eyes widened at the sight of the gush of blood that flowed from Jens body. The blood was bright red and there was so much. She flipped through her mind, quickly trying to remember all the things that could cause that much blood. She grabbed another blanket she had laid out and placed beneath Jen, attempting so soak up the fluid. Finally it hit her, an abruption, a placental abruption could cause this much blood, and was also extremely dangerous.
Jen we have to get her out, I need you to push as hard as you can when this next contraction comes, do you hear me? Cynthia looked into Jens panicked eye. You can do this.
Jen knew from the sound of Cynthias voice and the fear in her eyes that something was seriously wrong. She tried to take some slow deep breaths to get herself under control. She needed to be strong and as much as she wanted to curl up in a ball and cry her eyes out, she couldnt. Her child needed her and she would not let her down.
The contraction started and Jen took a deep breath. She pulled Decebels face up in her mind and imagined him there beside her telling her she was strong, telling her he wouldnt leave her side and that everything would be alright. She pictured him so clearly that she swore she could hear his voice. Then he was saying Cynthias name. Why on earth would he be saying Cynthias name in her little illusion. She opened her eyes and turned her head to see him there at the entrance to the cave. She saw her mate, strong and tall, and by the look on his face, royally pissed off. He was pounding on the invisible barrier that kept him from her side and she wanted to tell him she would be okay, to somehow ease the panic in his eyes. But the contraction hit and she couldnt think about that anymore.
PUSH JEN! Cynthia yelled. Come on thats it...breathe... okay, and push again! Youre doing great! Cynthia could feel the babys head and knew they had to hurry, Jen was losing too much blood much too quickly. She heard Decebel yelling at them and asking her if Jen was okay. The anger and rage in his voice was tangible and sent chills down her spine. Another contraction followed immediately after that one ended, and she was yelling at Jen again. Her attention was divided though, and she finally answered Decebel. Shes had a placental abruption. I dont have time to explain what it is so dont ask. The baby seems to be doing well. I hear her heart rate and its normal. Jen, however, has lost a lot of blood. We need Sally if you can get her.
She pictured his face in her mind, his amber eyes, and the secrets they held. She envisioned his high cheek bones, straight nose, and firm lips that often stayed in a permanent scowl aimed at her, but could quirk up in an amused smile at a moments notice. She pushed all of her focus into that picture of him and finally the pain subsided from the contraction. She knew she wouldnt have a respite for very long.
Okay, Cynthia said as she pushed the blanket over Jens knees so she could see how far dilated she was, that was a strong one.
No offense doc, but you stating the obvious isnt really an indication that you know what youre doing.
Cynthia chuckled. Yes well, between the two of us, I think Im just a tad more qualified. Cynthia felt what she was looking for as she did her exam on Jen, Okay its time to start pushing.
Jen went still. What?
Jen, I know you didnt really get a chance to take the classes you needed to for giving birth, but surely you knew that this was the way she would come into the world.
If I didnt need you right now, I just might knock you senseless, Jen growled as she felt another contraction coming on.
Okay here we go Jen, Cynthia coached. As soon as you feel it hit, I want you to bear down and push, okay?
Jen nodded and curled her fingers into the blanket as the contraction ripped through her. She tightened her stomach and pushed just as Cynthia told her.
Picture your focal point, Jen. Breathe...okay, good job, she patted her thigh gently.
The contraction passed and Jen was left breathless and dripping with even more sweat. She wanted to cry. She wanted her momma and she wanted her mate; hell, she just wanted someone to tell her she could do this, but there was no one and she was giving birth in a damn cave.
She felt a tear slide from her eye and she gritted her teeth to hold them back, but as another contraction built, she couldnt contain them any longer. They poured from her eyes, blurring her vision, as she heard the docs voice once again telling her to push. She did. She pulled her legs up and pushed with all her might and when the contraction was gone, she knew it wasnt enough.
I cant do this, she said as she panted. She reached up to wipe away the tears but her arms were so weak that she couldnt even do that. Cynthia I cant do this without him, I cant.
Cynthia looked up at Jen and her eyes were glowing. You can do this and you will do this, she said firmly. This is your child, Jennifer. A miracle that you and Decebel created out of loveand you will not let your mate or your little girl down. You are going to suck it up and do what needs to be done.
Jen heard Cynthia; she felt the truth in her words and she tried to grab on to that truth. She had to do this. There was no out clause when in labor. She listened to the sound of the doctors voice as another contraction came and she pushed hard. She felt a stabbing pain and gasped. Immediately, she stopped pushing, and when she looked down at Cynthias face, she knew something was very wrong.
Cynthias eyes widened at the sight of the gush of blood that flowed from Jens body. The blood was bright red and there was so much. She flipped through her mind, quickly trying to remember all the things that could cause that much blood. She grabbed another blanket she had laid out and placed beneath Jen, attempting so soak up the fluid. Finally it hit her, an abruption, a placental abruption could cause this much blood, and was also extremely dangerous.
Jen we have to get her out, I need you to push as hard as you can when this next contraction comes, do you hear me? Cynthia looked into Jens panicked eye. You can do this.
Jen knew from the sound of Cynthias voice and the fear in her eyes that something was seriously wrong. She tried to take some slow deep breaths to get herself under control. She needed to be strong and as much as she wanted to curl up in a ball and cry her eyes out, she couldnt. Her child needed her and she would not let her down.
The contraction started and Jen took a deep breath. She pulled Decebels face up in her mind and imagined him there beside her telling her she was strong, telling her he wouldnt leave her side and that everything would be alright. She pictured him so clearly that she swore she could hear his voice. Then he was saying Cynthias name. Why on earth would he be saying Cynthias name in her little illusion. She opened her eyes and turned her head to see him there at the entrance to the cave. She saw her mate, strong and tall, and by the look on his face, royally pissed off. He was pounding on the invisible barrier that kept him from her side and she wanted to tell him she would be okay, to somehow ease the panic in his eyes. But the contraction hit and she couldnt think about that anymore.
PUSH JEN! Cynthia yelled. Come on thats it...breathe... okay, and push again! Youre doing great! Cynthia could feel the babys head and knew they had to hurry, Jen was losing too much blood much too quickly. She heard Decebel yelling at them and asking her if Jen was okay. The anger and rage in his voice was tangible and sent chills down her spine. Another contraction followed immediately after that one ended, and she was yelling at Jen again. Her attention was divided though, and she finally answered Decebel. Shes had a placental abruption. I dont have time to explain what it is so dont ask. The baby seems to be doing well. I hear her heart rate and its normal. Jen, however, has lost a lot of blood. We need Sally if you can get her.
