Saved By The Firefighter
Chapter 105

Ben's Point of View.

"Okay... well, I'm not getting a good image of the foetus, I just need to call my colleague. Try not to worry," the ultrasound technician said, before standing up and heading out of the room.

I looked over to Lucy, and squeezed her hand, trying not to think the worst, but my heart beating so hard, I could hear the pulsing blood flow in my ears.

"Ben," Lucy let out a harrowed whisper.

"Try not to worry just yet baby," I tell her, but it is hard not to, as the sense of foreboding floods my mind.

We are left, almost abandoned, for what feels like forever, both of us sat lost in our own thoughts, terrified out of our wits. A single tear falls onto Lucy's cheek, as I lean over and wipe it away with my thumb, whilst swallowing down the lump that has formed in my own throat.

The door opens, and a doctor walks in, offering us a small smiled.

"Okay, let me take a look," he says, then proceeds to grab the wand and push it down hard on Lucy's stomach.

I see her grimace and resist the urge to punch him in the face for hurting her. I'm not a violent man, but I'm at the end of my tether. I take a breath, because right now I need to let him do his thing, as we both need an answer, the waiting is just pure t*****e. "Ahh, there you are. Your baby was playing hide and seek." The doctor smiles. Then switches the monitor on over the bed.

Both Lucy and I let out an audible sigh of relief as our anxious expressions change to shear joy.

"That is your baby there, and for all it looks just like a blob at the moment, there is a heartbeat, see that black and white pulsing dot right there." He points to the centre of the small white mass inside Lucy's tummy.

"That is the heart pounding away. Now, let me see if I can get some measurements," the doctor continues, looking intently at the grainy screen, as he twists the wand pushing deeper into Lucy's stomach as she lets out a hiss.

"I'm sorry, I know the pressure is uncomfortable," he states, but never lets up.

"It's just, I feel like I'm going to wet myself each time you push down hard," Lucy states, her eyes wide and full of concentration trying not to wet herself.

"You wouldn't be the first." The technician laughs, as the Doctor nods his head with a wry smile.

"Okay, so we're looking at seven weeks, give or take a couple of days. However, your womb is tilted back, Lucy. It's not a problem, as baby will bring it forward during the pregnancy, but we'll keep an eye on it all the same." The doctor smiles. "Is that what is causing her sickness?" I ask him.

"No, we're unsure why some women suffer this way. Sometimes it's hereditary, sometimes and indicator of a multiple pregnancy. But other times there is just no real explanation. Just one of those things." The Doctor smiles at Lucy. "Multiple pregnancy?" Lucy asks, wide-eyed.

"There is just the one baby here," the doctor quickly confirms.

I don't know if I'm relieved or sad by that, but still, our little bundle of blob is safe and healthy, and that's all I care about right now.

I reach over and kiss Lucy on her lips as she smiles at the monitor, her tears falling from sheer joy and relief.

"That's the cutest blob I've ever seen, well done you." I grin with happiness at Lucy.

"It is, isn't it," Lucy agrees, nodding her head, both our eyes back on the screen.

"I normally offer a picture, but as baby is enjoying playing hide-and-seek the image will not show anything, so we can get one next time which will be in five weeks or so." The doctor smiles.

I feel slightly disappointed at not getting a picture, but he's right, it's difficult to make out on the screen, and now we know blob is healthy, there will be plenty more opportunities to take a picture for the mantle piece. Unfortunately looking at our beautiful blob comes to an end, as the Doctor switches off the machine.

"We'll get you back to the ward. I've ordered you anti-sickness tablets today, see how you go." He smiles at Lucy.

"If I'm okay on them, can I go home tomorrow?" Lucy asks, her eyes bright for the first time in days.

"We shall see, I'm not promising anything." The doctor smiles.

I help Lucy off the bed and get her settled into the wheelchair.

"I can take her, save a porter coming," I tell them.

"Okay, go straight to the ward, but when you have seen them, if you want to go for a little walk out into the garden, you can, just let them know where you are." The doctor smiles holding the door open for us.

"Thank you," I say earnestly to him, I've never been so grateful to anyone before in my life. Including Davey and Josie when they pulled me from that blaze that almost took me off this earthly plain.

I wheel Lucy back to the ward and see it's almost visiting time already. I know that as soon as 10 am comes, the mother and Whip-Me will be straight through those doors. As I push Lucy down the long corridor, sure enough, stood at the double doors at the bottom, looking through the long thin glass, I can see her peaking in, waiting impatiently for visiting hours to begin.

"Joanne is here." Lucy giggles.

"Yeah, but today we can give her good news, so she can enjoy Whip-Me's time off." I laugh, wanting my mother to enjoy her time with her new boyfriend, and hopefully keep their s****l activities out of the station.

The next day, I wake up early, excited to get Lucy home. She was only sick a couple of times yesterday, and the doctors said she was doing well. I'm beyond hopeful they will let her out, but sad that I'm back on shift tomorrow. I look through my calendar on my phone, and see I have two weeks holiday still owed to me this year. Maybe I can take this dayshift off. Granted it means going back for nights, but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. I hope Whip-Me agrees and can find cover at late notice.

My phone pings, that I have a text and I grab it off the bedside table.

The Mother - Any news if she can come home today? Xxx

Ben - Not yet. Give them a chance, it is only 8 am lol xxx

The Mother - Well, Whip-Me said he'll bring me to yours before nine, I'll cook you both some meals and put them in the freezer, whilst you go get her, or are at the hospital. He is going to spend some time with Moses. Xxx Ben Are you at his? Xxx

The Mother - No we stayed at mine last night. Why? Xxx

Ben - I want to speak with him about my next shift. Xxx

My phone rings in my hand as soon as I see the message is read.

"Ben," the Boss's voice booms down the phone.

"Hi, yeah, I was wondering if it's too late to take next week off from my holiday entitlement?" I ask. "Yeah, it is," he states.

I resist the urge to let out an audible sigh, the poor bloke does his best for all of us on his team.

"However, I've already authorised with Head Office two-weeks compassionate leave. I had to tell them the reason, I hope you don't mind. Obviously, they'll keep it confidential," the Boss informs me.

"Wow, really? No, that's great, but will it affect the promotion opportunity?" I ask him, now that Lucy is pregnant, the Station Officer's job is more than a little appealing, as you do less running into fires and more behind the desk or giving the instructions to the teams when at a fire.

"No, not at all. You and Davey have both been selected for final interviews, I was going to tell you both tomorrow morning," the Boss states.

"When are they?" I ask.

"Not until you get back from work, they are interviewing the candidates from Marley Potts station first," the Boss informs me.

I nod my head, realising that he cannot see me, then offer him my thanks.

Looking at the clock, I need to get ready and get to the hospital.

"Hey, I have to go get ready for the hospital. Enjoy your day with Moses," I tell him.

"I will, and good luck for today," the Boss replies.

If I was like Davey and superstitious, I would've read the Sunderland Echo ten times over, but as I'm not, I'm resolved to pretending I'm not crossing my fingers as I pull up into the carpark, getting out and pressing for an all-day ticket which costs a small fortune, but hopeful it's a waste of money. I'm playing the odds of sod's law, hoping, for once, it's on my side.

I make my way over to the maternity unit, taking the stairs to the top floor two at a time, before buzzing into the ward.

"Hey Ben, she is waiting for you," Edith the orderly tells me, as she opens the door.

"Thanks Edith." I smile at the woman who keeps me in secret teas and coffees whilst I'm visiting.

I head down the corridor, taking a left into the small ward, and see that there are two new patients, as Lucy sits in the chair by her bed, her bag already packed and on her bed.

"You can go home?" I ask

"Yes, I can go home," she tells me, the smile bright on her face.

I grab hold of her pulling her to my chest, happiness filling my soul.

"Let's get you home."