Page 3 of Rebel

Taz giggles at his attempt to do what she wants. I hear Atlas tell Enforcer they need to get her undressed and Enforcer loses his mind. The doc never flinches, just calmly explains that for him to help deliver the baby, she can’t be wearing yoga pants and drawers. Taz is giggling so hard she passes wind again. The room immediately empties pretty quickly. Well, except for Doc Atlas, Enforcer, Shadow, Tink, Glory, and me. Taz’s face is as red as an apple, but Atlas just keeps explaining the ABCs of labor and delivery to Enforcer. Finally, he agrees and very carefully the two men slowly start to remove Taz’s clothes. I just saw her the other day when I helped her take a shower but, man, her belly seems even bigger than that day, though now it’s really dropped down low. It’s huge when they get her to shift to remove her yoga pants, undies, and socks. Once she’s naked from the waist down, Atlas puts her feet flat on the table and he flips the blanket on top of her tummy for privacy and so he can see underneath to examine her.

“Well, Miss Taz, you’re right, this little one is on their way. Don’t push until I tell you to. Can someone get me a clean sheet, preferably white? Also, that tray in the corner, push it next to thebed. Enforcer, before we get too involved, pull that T-shirt off of her. Bra too. Once the baby comes, we will need to put the child on her belly and chest. On second thought, take your shirt off too. No, don’t argue, man, just do it. You’ll thank me later.”

Watching Atlas, you can tell the man knows exactly what he’s doing. The confidence he has in himself is pretty damn sexy. So is every movement as he whispers words to Taz, trying to keep her calm and in the moment. The room now has crystals all over on the counters, floor, and even on the table she’s lying on. Enforcer will do whatever she wants.

“Doctor, do we have time before the baby arrives for my sisters to set up the water bath so I can deliver my little one in there? I’ve researched it, and they say it’s a better experience for the baby.”

Before Atlas can even respond, Enforcer loses it.

“Que, goddamn it, woman, told you that shit ain’t gonna happen. Not having my kid drown before it takes its first breath. Let that shit go, please. I let you have the rocks and that smelly shit blown all over, let’s be happy with that, woman.”

I know it’s coming, but damn, when it does, we all watch with our mouths open wide. With tears running down her face, Taz looks at her ol’ man and lets loose. Probably all of her stress and worrying about this pregnancy. I’m totally shocked, as are all of our club sisters ’cause Taz is the calm one of the bunch.

“Travis, get the hell out of here. I don’t want your negative energy around me or my baby. Yeah, you donated the sperm, but that’s it. I’ve been growing and nurturing this child for nine months, so I should be able to decide how it makes its journey out into this fucked-up world we live in. My job as this baby’s mother is to protect it, even from you if I have too. I said get out, until you can keep your bad energy down. Right now, I don’t want to see or have you in here. Please go.”

Enforcer’s mouth is open, eyes huge. Taz is now sobbing, trying to hide her face. He leans down, grabbing her hands and again shocks the shit outta all of us in the room.

“Que, shit, I’m so sorry. Please, Raquel, don’t cry. You don’t want our baby being born with you having what do you call that shit… yeah, sad energy. I’ll personally go get that tub. Doc, what type of water should be in it?”

“Enforcer, usually lukewarm, not too cold or hot. If that’s the plan, I suggest you move your ass. This baby isn’t going to wait too long. Taz is dilated to just about eight centimeters, so I’d get moving.”

At this moment more boots are hitting the floor as the rest of the Intruders make their presence known. Tank is the first in, followed by Yoggie with a huge black bag. Yeah, always a medic.

In no time at all, between the Intruders and Devil’s Handmaidens, the tub is cleaned and almost filled by the assembly line Duchess started. The room is now almost empty. Atlas said he wanted it to be calm for Taz, so it’s just Enforcer, Tink, Shadow, and me. Glory stepped out when she got a call from Momma Diane.

Shadow and I help Taz off the bed after we lowered it as far down as we could. Next, between all of us, we get her into the tub. She smiles when she’s sitting in there looking at Enforcer.

“Come on, Travis, you know what I want.”

He looks around at us with a scowl.

“If any of you say a word, I’ll kill you with my own two hands, swear to Christ.

Then he takes his kutte off, placing it on one of the robe hooks, and then empties his pockets. Boots and socks are next. With his T-shirt already off, by the time his jeans hit the table Taz is panting through another contraction. Atlas is reaching in, trying to gauge how far along she is.

“Is there someone here who has some medical background? How about that man who brought in the bag? I could use a hand, no, actually two.”

Tink walks to the door and yells for Yoggie. When he walks to the door, she tells him he’s needed.

Time seems to go by quickly, as each contraction gets closer and closer. Enforcer is now behind Taz in the tub, holding her up. Atlas is scrunched down at the other end of the tub, doing what baby doctors do, I guess. He took his socks and gym shoes off. He was already in workout shorts, showing off his muscular calves. No, I didn’t just think that. Yoggie is on the outside of the pool, right across from the doctor.

“Rebel, come here, I need you close.”

Shit, just what I don’t need, never done anything like this before. When I walk toward the tub, Enforcer smirks, so I flip him off.

“Keep it up, Dad, and you’ll be sorry. Shadow, snap a picture of the Intruder’s Enforcer in his boxers.”

Just as Shadow snaps the pic, Taz screams and squeezes my hand so tight I think she might break it.

“That’s it, Taz, doing great. Breathe, in and out. Come on, follow me. Take a deep breath, hold it for five, four, three, two, and one, release. Again, take your time and hold. Okay, we are there, so on the next contraction I need you to bear down and push as hard as you can.”

We all wait for maybe thirty seconds when she lifts up a bit and bears down, moaning the whole time, sweat running down her cheeks. Travis is holding her up and I’m letting her break one hand as the other is pushing her hair out of her face. When she leans back, I see Atlas and Yoggie looking at each other.

“What? Is there a problem? Come on, tell us so we can fix it, and let this little one celebrate their birthday.”

“I think the cord is around the baby’s neck, so just want Yoggie to be ready when the baby arrives. That’s it, Auntie Rebel, so calm down. Shit, I mean, here we go. This time when she starts to push, Enforcer, lean down, push her forward so she bends more, which will help with pressure so the baby comes out. Everyone, get ready, it’s go time.”

In my entire life I’ve never experienced anything like this. Taz breathing hard, face red, body tight, muscles all popping. Enforcer sweating as he helps Taz push their child out. Shadow is on the other side of Atlas, helping Yoggie out. Tink is the only one standing back and I know why. This has to hurt because she and Noodles have been trying to have their own baby.And damn it, after all she’s been through, she deserves it, I think right before hell breaks loose.

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