Page 41 of Mistletoe Omega
“His blood pressure is too high,” the young nurse said.
Pulling his brows together, Graham said, “Really?” He took my hand, and I squeezed hard.
“Yes. We need to get it down.” The older nurse’s voice was gruff. She went to a cupboard and pulled out a needle and a small vial of medicine. “I’m going to give him something to lower his blood pressure.”
The younger nurse looked uneasy. “Nurse Slate, don’t you think we should wait and see what Doctor Agatha says first?”
I glanced at Graham, feeling uneasy. “We should check with the doctor, right? Anything they give me affects the baby.”
He nodded and faced the nurses. “I’m not comfortable with you injecting him with medicine, until we’ve had a chance to talk to our doctor.”
Nurse Slate looked annoyed. “Doctor Agatha is busy with another patient.”
“So we wait a second. Or you go tell her we need her opinion.” Graham’s shoulders were hunched, as if he was ready for a fight.
I groaned and pushed my heels into the bed as a painful contraction shuddered through me. “Guys, seriously. This baby wants out.Now,” I hissed, as sweat trickled down my throbbing temples.
Nurse Slate approached. “You should let the professionals do their jobs.” She tried to walk around him, and he blocked her.
“You’re not giving him that until we talk to the doctor.”
She scowled. “Honey, I do this all the time.”
The other nurse chimed in, “Nurse Slate, maybe he’s right.”
Nurse Slate gave the other woman a dirty look. “Be quiet. I’ve been here way longer than you. The baby might be in danger if the father’s pressure doesn’t come down right away.”
“A few minutes isn’t going to matter,” Graham growled. He pointed at the more reasonable nurse. “Go get Doctor Agatha, please.”
“Don’t you dare,” Nurse Slate said angrily. “I know what I’m doing.” She gave Graham a surly look, her face red and her mouth pinched. “Move out of the way.”
“No way,” Graham snapped back. He glanced down at the blood pressure cuff wrapped around my arm, and his expression changed. “Wait.” He squinted and bent over, peering closely at the device. “There’s a tear in this cuff.” He looked up impatiently. “Don’t you check your equipment?”
“What?” The younger nurse said, walking toward him.
“See. Right there.” He pointed.
She widened her eyes. “Oh, geez.” She grimaced and met her co-workers gaze. “He… he’s right.”
Nurse slate scowled. “No way.”
The younger nurse swallowed loudly. “No. He’s correct. There’s definitely a rip in the cuff.”
I gripped Graham’s arm, digging my fingers into his flesh. “For God’s sake, please get the baby out.” I squirmed and panted, the pains shooting through my abdomen. “It’s time. I know it’s time.”
Nurse Slate moved near to look at the cuff. The blood drained from her face, and she moved her lips without speaking.
Just then, Doctor Agatha raced into the room. She went straight to the beeping machines. “Why didn’t you come and get me?” She scowled at the nurses. “This omega needed to be in the operating room twenty minutes ago.”
“His blood pressure was high,” Nurse Slate said weakly.
“It wasn’t high,” grumbled Graham, moving toward the doctor. “It’s your equipment. It’s faulty.”
Doctor Agatha looked confused as she wrinkled her brow. “What?”
“The cuff is torn on the blood pressure machine.” The younger nurse looked sick to her stomach.
Turning to look at Nurse Slate, Doctor Agatha noticed the needle the woman held. “What is that?”
