Saved By The Firefighter
Chapter 103

Ben's Point of View.

"Ben why don't you go get some rest, or something to eat. I will stay with Lucy. You need sleep son." The mother tells me, a look of concern etched on her face.

Although I know she is right, and that I should go get my head down, maybe get some clothes and stuff for Lucy, I just cannot bring myself to leave her, even though she is sleeping.

The orderly walks round the small ward of the Maternity block, there is one other woman residing in one of the six beds, who is currently reading a magazine, so Lucy practically has the ward to herself.

"I will put her a cup of tea beside her bed. Now, I am not normally allowed to give visitors one, but I recognise your uniform. I know you are a firefighter; would you like a tea or coffee?" She smiles at me. "Coffee would be great, thank you so much." I smile back at her.

I forgot I was still dressed in my work stuff, maybe I should have changed, but to be honest, all I wanted was to get Lucy here, my clothes were the last thing on my mind.

She looked at the mother, who smiled and asked for a tea, thanking her. Then passed the boss his own coffee. The orderly smiled at us all and placed a finger on her lips. "SHSHSHSH" she dramatically said then giggled slightly before wheeling her tea trolley out of the room.

"That was nice of her." The mother said with a smile sipping on her hot tea.

I respond with a nod, not really wanting to talk about the gesture, although it was lovely, don't get me wrong, but my mind is only able to focus on Lucy.

The boss stifles a big yawn, and I look over to him. He needs to sleep just as much as I do. I know he will not leave either; guess us firefighters are stubborn like that.

I glance at the clock on the wall, the minute hand ticks over, it is 11 am, five hours since we got to the hospital, he must be knackered, I am running on adrenaline.

I sigh then yield slightly, knowing the boss needs his bed.

"When Lucy wakes up, I will ask her if she is okay with you staying and me going to get her some stuff and get my head down for a couple of hours." I tell the mother, who looks relieved that I am going to go home and get some rest.

"I will take you Ben, then come back for your mam around teatime." The boss nods.

"s**t, I need to call Anders." I announce, realising I have yet to call him. It is a conversation I am not looking forward to, but it needs to be done.

I take my phone out of my pocket and ring his number.

"Anders." His voice rings out.

"Hi, its Ben." I sigh.

"How is Lucy?" he asks.

"She is in hospital, will be for a few days." I simply tell him.

"s**t, is she okay?" Anders asked, and I can hear genuine concern in his voice.

"Yes and no. Anders, we just found out she is pregnant and has a sever form of morning sickness. They have her on a drip and are debating what medication they can give her that will not harm the baby to try and control her sickness." I tell him, cutting straight to the point.

"Oh, well congratulations first off, secondly, that is s**t mate I hope they can get it under control for her." Ander's replies.

"Look, this information is confidential at the moment, but you can tell Josie if you want. The other issue is work. I am not going to bull s**t you. She may need lots of time off, then there is her maternity time. I know she doesn't want to leave, but we both understand you are a new business, and so if you need to let her go, there will be no hard feelings." I tell him.

The guy is a friend, and I want him to know if he makes a business decision it will not impact our friendship with him, or of course Josie.

"Ben, mate, don't worry about that. Seriously, Lucy has brought in so many big deals, she has covered her wage for three years, and still giving me profit. Is it ideal? not going to lie, it isn't, but at the end of the day, she has covered herself in the time she has worked here with so many great deals. I will not let her go. However, she will just get the statuary sick pay allowance that we get from the government, but she has commissions due which will boost that for her. After two years, I was going to move out and start another company and ask her to take over as the Managing Director. If she wants to come back during her pregnancy, or even after the baby is born, I will keep that offer on the table for her. But that is not important right now, she is, and the baby. Just don't worry yourselves about this place, that is what I am trying to say." Anders rambles a little.

"f**k mate, that is amazing, more than we could ever ask." I tell him.

"Hey, it is not a friend thing, it is me trying to keep hold of the best member of staff I have ever employed in any of my businesses. I cannot afford to let the competition get their hands on her." Anders chuckles.

I cannot help but chuckle back, I have no doubt he is being truthful, because the man is ruthless in business, so I know he would cut her if she was not producing what he expected. At least when Lucy wakes up, I can give her some good news, and take some of the worry off her shoulders.

"Seriously, I know she will be so happy. She loves her job." I gush slightly.

Well gush for me anyway.

"Okay, well you get back to her, send her our love. Don't worry, I will tell Josie, but we will keep everything confidential." Anders reassures me.

"Thanks again Anders, despite my first impression, you turned out alright." I chuckle at him.

"Don't tell anyone else I am a good guy; I have worked hard for my arsehole reputation. Bye Ben" Anders laughs.

"Bye." I smile and hang up the call.

Lucy blinks open her eyes, and looks at me, a small smile on her lips, until her face pales, and I quickly reach over and get one of the sick bowls for her, placing it under her chin.

The mother strokes her hair, as I hold the bowl in place for her. When she is all done, I ring for the nurse, placing the full bowl on the bedside cabinet. The nurse arrives and smiling.

"You are back with us. I will just get rid of this then be back" the nurse says as she takes the bowl and wanders off out of the ward.

"Hey." I smile at Lucy, as she looks at me her eyes glistening, and I wonder if she is going to get upset again.

"Hey." She whispers back to me.

"Listen, next time you fall asleep, I was wondering if you would mind me heading home, I need to get you some clothes and toiletries, plus I think I need a couple of hours sleep. The mother will stay with you." I tell her.

"No, you should go, get some rest, you were on night shift." Lucy gives me a small smile.

"Thanks baby." I smile at her, taking hold of her hand, as the mother continues to stroke her hair lovingly.

"I have a little bit of good news. I spoke with Anders; he said you have more than covered your wage for three years and cannot let the competition get their hands on you. He will keep your job open, no matter if you need all the pregnancy off, but it will be statutory sick pay, not full pay. He will also honour you full maternity leave as well." I grin at her.

"Really, wow." Lucy looks shocked at me.

I smile and nod, as she lays her head back down against the pillow.

"Has anyone told Cal I am in here?" Lucy asks.

"No, not yet. I will call him if you like." The mother offers.

"Not yet, maybe when we find out more, I don't want him worrying about me, he has the final stage of his firefighter stuff today, let's not worry him." Lucy tells her. "s**t, who has the kids?" I ask.

"They went for a trial day with Mel, the child minder Kathline recommended. It was already sorted out last week." The mother tells me.

Lucy smiles and nods at me. I think she told me, but not sure, if I am being honest, my mind is in a daze at the moment, I can hardly remember my own name.

The nurse comes back with a big syringe thing, without a needle in it, then smiles at Lucy.

"Okay, so we are going to give you some anti-sickness medication, that is safe for both baby and you. Now, the quickest way to get this into your system is via your rectum as you will not keep tablets down, and the drip will take a while to work. So, if your visitors could just step outside for me, please." She says giving us all a pointed look.

I nod, when Lucy weakly squeezes my hand.

"Go home and get some sleep Ben. I need some fresh PJ's." Lucy attempts a smile.

"Okay, the mother will stay though." I tell her, then bend over to place a kiss on her lips, but she moves her head out of the way.

"Nope, my mouth is horrid at the moment." Lucy attempts a small giggle.

I shake my head, then kiss her of the forehead.

"I will be back in a couple of hours or so. I love you." Then I bend down placing my hand on her abdomen.

"I love you as well little one, try and give mammy a break please." I tell my unborn child.

"We love you too daddy." Lucy grins, and I can see the mischievous look in her eye, for all she is still really sick, the fluids are clearly helping her feel a little better, and my heart leaps with joy inside my chest.

I let out a chuckle, I guess that little, fetish, or what ever you want to call it, is over with, because being called daddy no longer has the appeal it had. Now that I am going to be a real daddy it makes my heart swell with pride, and I instantly think of our little bundle. God willing our baby will be okay.

"I will drop you off Ben." The boss smiles, slapping his large hand on my back.

"Cheers boss." I nod at him.

"Are you ever going to call me by my name, after all, I am only you boss at work." He asks with a low chuckle.

"Sorry, cheers whip-me." I half grin at him, as he throws his head back and laughs.

"Joanne, you are going to pay for that nickname." He shouts over his shoulder, then winks at her.

The mother giggles, shrugging one should.

"I bloody well hope so." She grins. As Lucy shakes her head giggling slightly and I let out a groan.

"Time for me to go." I announce, then leave the ward to head home and get some sleep.