Page 66 of Devin
She watched for a minute and figured out the space in her head. The doctor needed room. “Zenik. Move to the left side of Jane, close to the wall. Goru, move in between Jane and Meadow. And Kave! Put Humility down over there for a minute.”
To her surprise, the Mahdfel shifted and the doctor now had room to work.
“Now, doc. Who do you think is first?” At that moment, Jane let out a grunt that was definitely not a scream, but loud enough to signal that now she held Zenik’s hand, she was ready to push. Scrubs immediately switched his attention to Jane and Val headed to Humility.
“Are you okay? Can I get you anything?” She smoothed back the hair out of Humility’s eyes and smiled reassuringly.
“Pain killers? And my pants. I gotta get my pants off!”
“Right. Doc, can we get an epidural over here?”
“Wait, that’s an option?” Meadow shouted.
“Epidurals are Terran in nature and not recommended for Mahdfel birth. There are many more effective ways to-”
“Can you safely knock their pain down a few levels?” Val said as she tried to modestly remove Humility’s pants. She was wearing a longer shirt but still, the room was full of people and this baby was coming.
“Certainly,” Scrubs said, sounding insulted.
“Then do it. All three of them.”
Scrubs loaded up a cylinder device and pressed it against Jane’s neck.
“Holy shit, that’s the good stuff,” Jane said. “Let’s get this baby out!”
Scrubs distributed the rest of the pain meds and then got to work with Jane. Val flitted between the other two, checking in and making them as comfortable as possible, offering advice that she’d gleaned after watching some old Earth vids and learned in sex ed class. It seemed to be more than the big guys could offer. For all intents and purposes, she appeared to be the only nurse on this side of the planet.
Thankfully it didn’t take long for Jane to bear down, and soon a bald green head slid out of Jane and let out a healthy cry. Scrubs didn’t spend long cleaning the infant off, because he assessed the progress and determined that Humility was next.
Val switched over and stood between Jane and Meadow, handing out wipes to clean off the baby and checking in on Meadow’s progress. Meadow looked flush, but calm as she tried to look over at the baby, and then at Humility and then over at her own belly.
“I think it’s coming out, I really think so,” Meadow said. Meadow groaned again and was clearly pushing. Goru’s eyes widened with every push.
Val looked at Scrubs who had his hands full with Humility.
“Let me just see,” Val said as she bent a bit to take a look. It didn’t take an expert to know that the baby was coming, doctor or no. Val did the only thing she could think of. She put her hands out and marveled as it slowly emerged. A moment later, she was holding a green screaming baby in her arms.
This was definitely not how she saw her day going. She handed off the baby to the waiting mother who was blubbering with joy. Another cry sounded behind her as Humility swore in French and Kave offered himself as a punching bag.
After satisfying himself that Humility and her baby were healthy, Scrubs turned his attention to Meadow and worked some of that Mahdfel miracle magical medicine that she’d heard about. No wearing diapers after birth here, apparently.
“Three hours of rest here, and then your mates can be carried home to bathe and rest,” Scrubs announced.
“I am not carrying Zenik home,” Jane announced. Meadow snorted.
“I meant that Zenik should carry you home,” Scrubs said.
“I have two legs. I am perfectly capable of walking,” Jane said.
“Yes, but until the pain killers leave your system, you should be assisted.”
“I’ll be fine on my own,” Jane said. She patted Zenik on the arm. “No offense, sweetie.”
“Speak for yourself,” Meadow said. “I’m definitely being carried home. I’m saving my energy to hold this guy.”
“Okay, proud papas, you heard the man,” Val said. “Time to go. Be back in three hours to escort your ladies home.” Again, there was no complaint or questioning of her authority and with affectionate goodbyes, the mates left, clearing enough space that the place didn’t seem entirely overcrowded.
“I still can’t believe he came out of me,” Humility remarked, as she stroked a finger down the nose of her newborn.
