Bones FF by Akarana: Life changing moments (chapter 6)

[akarana]

This is the, at least I think so, long awaited chapter. Ut's an early Christmas gift and I hope you all like it.

Give me something back by reviewing for once, please.

Merry Christmas!

Chapter 6: A son

"Good morning. You're up pretty early," Michelle greeted them when she came down that morning, her eyes barely open yet, and sat down at the table.

"We've been up for about two hours," Jack informed her and handed her the thermostat with hot water for her tea.

"Are you nuts, it's Saturday," Michelle shook her head in disbelief. "If I didn't have to go to dance practice today, I would still be sleeping."

"Wasn't like I had a choice," Cam admitted. "Your little brother seems to have decided that today is a good day to be born."

"What?" Michelle shrieked. "You're not in labor, are you?" she asked disbelievingly.

"Have been since three this morning," Cam confirmed.

"Then why are you still here and not in the hospital? I thought we all agreed that we don't want a home birth?" Michelle was getting upset and suddenly wide awake.

"The contractions are still fifteen minutes apart, so it will take a while, calm down," Cam chuckled, amused by her daughter's panic.

"Why am I panicking and you're not?" Michelle asked stunned.

"Because you're 17 and I'm the one who will finally be able to see her toes again?" Cam grinned, but then flinched when another contraction hit her. Quietly she breathed through it and was relieved when it was over.

"When will you go to the hospital?" Michelle asked them.

"Not before the contractions are ten minutes apart or my water breaks," she was told.

"Ok, I have to go now. Please call me when there's something new, ok?" she demanded.

"We will," Hodgins assured her.

"I love you. Don't die, ok?" Michelle said and hugged Cam, before she hurried out of the room.

"Don't die? What was that?" Jack asked surprised.

"Her mother died giving birth to her," Cam knew.

"Just the info I needed today," he grumped, but Cam took his hand in hers.

"I'm fine and so is he. Nothing will happen or go wrong, ok?" she reassured him.

"Pep talk or intuition?" he smiled knowingly.

"Intuition. I somehow just know that it'll be fine," Cam grinned back at him.

"So what do you want to do? You being in labor somewhat limits our options today."

"How about we go for a walk? It helps progress the birth and we wouldn't have to go far," Cam suggested.

"Ok," Jack nodded and kissed her, then got up and started clearing the breakfast table, while Cam went upstairs to change into something warmer.

"I don't think I've ever been here before," Cam said as they walked the premises of Jack's house. They were pretty far away from the house already, past the pond, basically already in the park. They had both huddled up in thick winter coats, scarves, gloves and caps and Cam had joked that she looked like the Michelin man, just with a more prominent middle.

"I used to hide out here as a kid, collected worms, took soil samples," he replied and looked around. "I think I had a tree house somewhere over there."

"And knowing you, you'll do it all again a few years from now," Cam grinned knowingly and moved closer to him.

"I can't wait," he grinned back and confirmed her suspicions. "But for now I'm looking forward to the baby phase. The crying, the diaper changes, the spit up," he went on and actually sounded dreamy.

"You make it sound so great," she chuckled and lay her head on his shoulder for a moment while they kept walking. "If I really breastfeed there won't be much you can do at first," she pointed out apologetically.

"Ha, there's so much I can do," he protested. "I can burp him and change him and bathe him and rock him to sleep. And if you pump I can even feed him at night."

"Ok, that last part really sounded weird," Cam admitted. She suddenly stopped walking, gripping his hand tighter and placed the other hand on her stomach.

"Ok, there weren't fifteen minutes in between this time," he knew, while she still focused on simply breathing and couldn't reply immediately.

"No," Cam said and breathed out slowly. "Only ten... if the next ones are also only ten minutes apart we're getting closer to D-day."

"I think the book said to go to the hospital once the time in between contractions is down to under ten minutes, or when the water breaks," he recited what he had learned.

"You really memorized that book, huh?" Cam teased him with a smile.

"With a crazy doctor as a girlfriend, who always downplays everything, one has to," he nodded matter of factly.

"Hey watch it! Better not be mean to me while I'm in labor. I can get away with everything right now," she threatened jokingly.

"So you will yell at me later," he knew.

"Maybe, I don't know. A friend of mine said that you're just in so much pain that you don't care anymore what you're saying. Just know whatever it is, I love you and that won't change," she comforted him.

"I love you, too, babe," he replied warmly and kissed her gently. "You wanna walk back?"

"Might be better. This contraction was pretty strong and I feel like lying down for a bit," Cam admitted.

"We've been wandering around for two hours and you should save your strength for later," Jack agreed and wrapped his arm around her shoulders again. "Are you scared?" he asked when they had taken the path back to the house and away from the park.

"Yeah, a bit of the pain," she admitted.

"If it gets too bad you can always get something for it," he said calmly and with conviction. He was amazed himself how calm they both still were, despite the fact that she was definitely in labor. He had always thought he'd run around like a headless chicken and wouldn't know what to do first, but here he was, calm, collected and encouraging. He hoped that he would be able to keep it up when the actual birth came closer and closer and his excitement grew.

"What suddenly bugs me more are the things we've had months to think about and never did," Cam revealed what was going on in her head.

"Like?"

"I'm not on maternity leave yet. Strictly speaking that means I have to go to work on Monday," she pointed out, regretting that she hadn't listened and had insisted on going on maternity leave after Christmas.

"Don't be ridiculous," Jack snorted and shook his head.

"And what about two weeks from now? Or two months? I can't be a stay at home mom; I need to work to keep my sanity. But who will look after him?" she asked and started to sound more and more panicked.

"Hey, calm down. I've been thinking about this for a while and decided that the Cantilever Group could make another donation for a daycare center at the Jeffersonian. I already checked with our personal office and they say that female employees have been requesting something like that for years, but there's never been enough money. Now there is," he shrugged.

"I can't believe you did that," Cam said with a toneless voice, her eyes large and round, staring disbelievingly at him.

"It will still take a while to set everything up, but I think when we really need it, by the time he can crawl, it should be ready," he shrugged unimpressed as if it was the most natural thing to do, to build a day care center when you needed one nearby.

"You have no idea how much I love you right now," Cam laughed teary eyed and truly touched. It was moments like this, when he did something so nice completely out of the blue, that she sometimes still couldn't believe that he was in love with her and doing them just to make her happy.

"Oh, more than usual? Give it a few more hours and you'll hate my guts," he tried to lighten the mood with humor, but kissed her softly anyway.

"I don't think it's your guts I'm gonna hate," she deadpanned with a raised eyebrow, her eyes focusing on his groin for a few seconds, which made him laugh.

"You think you'll be able to sleep when we get back?" he asked her, still chuckling a bit.

"I doubt it, but I'll at least lie down and relax for a while… as long as I still can," she replied and was a bit relieved when they walked up the driveway to the house. These last few hours of contractions had already worn her out a bit, especially since they had woke her up in the middle of the night. She knew that what she had been dealing with so far was mild compared to what would come later, but then again there was always the option of an epidural.

"You're lying down in the living room or upstairs?" he asked as he unlocked the door and led her in, with one hand on the small of her back.

"Upstairs, I want to lie down on the bed. And no matter what, before we go to the hospital I want to take another shower," Cam let him know.

"Wait up, I'm going with you," he said when she started climbing the stairs without him, while he was taking off his shoes.

"You're not gonna let me out of your sight until this is over, are you?" Cam sighed, but smiled when he caught up to her.

"Live with it," he didn't take her attempt at grumbling too serious. A few seconds later she was actually glad that he was with her, because another contraction hit her, stronger again than the last one.

"Oh God," she groaned and held on to him, using his shoulders to steady herself, while she felt him holding her close with a hand on her back so she couldn't fall down the stairs. Together they waited until the contraction was over and then resumed their way upstairs.

"You want me to get you some clothes to change into?" he asked her after he had helped her sit down on the bed.

"No, I don't want to change again. Would be the third time today. I'll change after I shower," she replied. "But you could untie my shoelaces for me, that would really help," she pointed out. It was hard getting shoes on and off these days, but ones with laces were impossible without help.

"Sure, baby," he simply said and kneeled down on the floor in front of her and took her shoes off for her. "You need anything else? Something to drink, to eat? Another pillow?" He made sure she had everything she needed.

"No, I'm good, but I thought you were staying here," Cam replied a bit confused.

"I just want to check your bag again, make sure I really didn't forget anything for junior," he shrugged.

"Jack, we checked that bag at least ten times," she pointed out while she slowly lay down on the bed, her belly resting on the comfortable pregnancy pillow he had bought for her.

"Can't check it often enough. Better safe than sorry," he replied and hurried out of the room before she could protest again.

"Guess Daddy is more nervous than he tries to let on. He always needs to work when he's nervous," Cam told her belly and stroked over it. "As much as I was cursing these last few weeks, I somehow think I'm gonna miss you being in there once you're on the outside," she went on. "Pregnancy wasn't that bad with you, you know? From what I've heard you went really easy on me. Now it's just one more hurdle and then we can finally see you." Her speech was rewarded with a strong kick directly in her hand and she rubbed over the spot and then tried to catch the foot, and rub over it hard enough so she'd get a reaction. Her efforts weren't successful though, because another contraction made her body go rigid. When it was over this time she moved over to the night stand where the notepad and the watch from last night were still lying. She wrote down the time of her last contraction and decided to time them from now on, so she'd know when it was time to go to the hospital.

Another hour later, shortly before three Cam nudged Jack, who sat beside her on the bed and read a book, while she dozed between contractions and monitoring them.

"Mmh?" he made and looked at her and away from his book.

"I'm down to seven minutes apart and they're getting really strong and painful. I'd feel better if we drove to the hospital," Cam admitted, still rubbing her stomach from the last painful contraction.

"I can tell, you're squeezing my hand so hard I lost feeling in my fingers," he said with a smile and closed the book. "You're ready?" he asked then and held out his hands to her to help her up.

"It's not like I have a choice," she muttered as she let him pull her up. "You get the bag?"

"Already downstairs," he grinned and held her hand while they walked downstairs, still afraid she could slip and fall.

"We have to text Michelle and tell her we're going to the hospital now," she remembered.

"Why don't you do that on the ride? And which shoes? Sneakers?" he replied.

"Yeah, the blue Nike's, at least they match my shirt," she nodded and sat down on the chair they had placed in the hallway simply so she could sit down to put on her shoes.

"Ok, then I think we got everything. I'll go and warm up the car while you put on your shoes," he informed her and handed them to her. It was already really cold out, a typical December in DC and even though the car was parked in the garage it would still be cold.

He didn't take the door from the basement to the garage, instead choosing to walk the few meters over to it. He opened the car, put the bag in and turned on the engine. Before he drove outside he took out his phone though and searched his phonebook for a number. When he had found it he pressed call and waited for someone to pick up. Phone pressed between shoulder and cheek he backed out of the garage while he waited for the person he wanted to talk to.

"Zack Addy," his friend answered.

"Zack, it's me, Hodgins," he said excitedly while he drove over to the house.

"That's what the nurse told me. Why are you calling? You never call," Zack pointed out.

"I just wanted to let you know that Cam's in labor and we're going to the hospital now," Hodgins said excitedly.

"Then why are you on the phone and not with her, letting her yell at you?" his friend replied.

"I'm just getting the car out of the garage," Hodgins rolled his eyes and stopped the car in front of the door. "Ok, here she comes, I have to go. I'll call you later when he's here," he hurried to say and then hung up again before Zack could reply.

"Who were you talking to?" Cam asked suspiciously, already fearing that he had called her father.

"Zack," he replied truthfully and waited until she had buckled her seatbelt before he set the car in motion again.

"Wouldn't it make more sense to call him once this is over?" she asked.

"Oh not you, too," he groaned in mock annoyance. " Can't I just call my best friend for the sole reason that I'm excited?"

"Of course you can." Cam patted his arm before she dug her cell phone out of her bag to send a text to Michelle. Another contraction stopped her a minute later though and all she could do was grip the door handle and wait for it to pass. "Epidural sounds better and better," she groaned once it was over.

"There'll be about three more of those before we reach the hospital. Then they can help you," Jack replied compassionately and took her left hand in his right.

"I better get the text message to Michelle, before another one hits me," she replied and gave his hand a light squeeze.

"You think she'll come to the hospital?" he wanted to know.

"I don't think so. I think she's still scared that something could go wrong. Maybe you can give her updates from time to time," Cam suggested while she was typing her message.

"Sure, I will. Anyone else you want me to call?"

"No, not really. We will call the rest after everything is over and we can call them together," she decided.

"Ok, I'll follow your lead," he grinned, knowing he didn't have another choice anyway.

"Good to know you'll do what you're told for once," she teased him. He didn't reply with words, but just grinned. "Jack, we should have taken my car," she said suddenly and the smile on her face was gone.

"Why? You forgot something?" he was confused and looked at her for a moment, before concentrating back on the traffic. She didn't answer his question though and instead jumped to the next concern she had. Any other time he would have dug deeper, but this wasn't the time it.

"I just thought of all those movies where the woman has the kid in the car in a traffic jam or something," she admitted and he knew this was her way of freaking out... or the pre-stages to it.

"There are no traffic jams at this time of day. And even if there were there are exits we could pull off and take another route," he tried to calm her.

"It would be such a mess just from my water breaking in here," she said and her eyes got wider with her rising panic.

"Baby, don't worry. Everything will be fine and there's nothing that can't be cleaned up, ok?" he said insistently. "You just concentrate on breathing through your contractions and let me worry about the rest." When she simply nodded and didn't protest, he knew that she was more scared and nervous than she tried to let him see. She might be the doctor in the car, but at the moment, that meant nothing. At the moment she was simply a mother giving birth for the first time in her life- and he was her partner and had to be there for her.

After they had checked Cam in and filled out the necessary paper work they were lead into an examination room. The nervousness they had both felt while being in the car had disappeared as soon as the nurse had taken the lead and had told them what to do and where to go.

"Please take off your shirt and lie down. I will hook you up to the tocograph and the phonocardiograph. The doctor will be with you in a few minutes," the nurse instructed. Cam pulled her green long sleeved shirt over her head and handed it to Jack, who already held the bag and her jacket, scarf and handbag.

Cam lay down on the examination table and waited as the nurse placed the contacts on her stomach. She already knew the process from her own gynecologist. As soon as Nurse Richards switched on the machines the sound of the baby's heartbeat filled the room, fast but steady.

Jack walked over to his girlfriend, placed the several items he held on a chair beside the table and took her hand. He knew that she was counting the heart beats per minute, because she always did.

"And?" he asked her with a smile once he knew she was done and her face showed that everything was just fine.

"Everything's alright. He doesn't seem too stressed yet," she knew from the heartbeat.

"You're a doctor?" the nurse asked Cam curiously, because Hodgins had left out their titles in the paperwork, just as he always did when he wasn't somewhere for business.

"Yes, I'm an M.E.," Cam nodded and then scrunched up her face and tightly squeezed Jack's hand as her stomach became hard again. She gave a groan halfway through it, which led Jack to the right conclusion that she had just hit another pain level.

"Just stay put, keep breathing and the doctor will be with you soon," the nurse told her once it was over and gave her an encouraging smile.

"Honestly, I wouldn't mind if he stayed in there," Cam sighed once they were alone.

"You should ask the doctor for the epidural," he replied and sat down next to her.

"If it doesn't get much worse then I think I'll make it like this. The less drugs and crap I need the earlier we can go home," she pointed out.

"I don't want you to suffer unnecessarily, simply because you have your mind set on going home today," he protested. Cam only pouted, but didn't reply so he chose to change the topic. "Can I get you anything? Something to drink maybe?"

"A glass of water would be nice," she nodded.

"I packed two water bottles with that sports top, thought maybe they could come in handy," he replied and pulled a bottle of water out of the side pocket of the bag.

"You really thought of everything," she smiled appreciatively.

"Every time I checked the bag something else came to mind," he admitted.

"I'm glad you didn't use the complete Luis Vuitton travel set," she mocked him.

"Hey, I don't even own one. You on the other hand... totally different story," he replied and hoped that their teasing banter would help her to relax. She took small sips of water and then handed the bottle back to him.

"Could you hand me the pillow over there?" she asked him and pointed to a neck roll which was lying on another chair.

"Sure," he replied and got it for her. He helped her adjust it under her head and just as they were done another contraction hit. This time it seemed to her as if it took forever. The 30 second ones were definitely over.

"Dr. Saroyan. I hear we have a colleague in the house," the doctor who entered said and to Hodgins big relief it was a woman in her fifties. He still wasn't over the fact that Paul had asked Cam out and although he had become a friend, that made him suspicious of all male gynecologists. "My name is Dr. Edelstein," she introduced herself and they shook hands.

"I can't really say I know what I'm doing here," Cam replied with a smile that still showed that she was uncomfortable.

"I've had women in here who have just given birth to their sixth or seventh child and they said the same. It's different every time. I understand this is your first child," the doctor replied and looked at the print outs from the machines.

"Yes," Cam only confirmed.

"Everything looks great, don't worry. And I don't have to send you home again - you're definitely in labor. Contractions are about 5 minutes apart and your baby is doing fine. When did you have the first contractions?"

"I woke up around three this morning."

"Twelve hours, that's not too bad. If you'll go ahead and take off your pants for me, I'll check your dilation," Dr. Edelstein told them and Jack helped Cam sit up. He placed her pants and panties on the pile with her other clothes while the doctor put the stirrups into place and electrically propped up the table so it looked like an ob-gyn chair.

"Is it ok if I go to the bathroom after we're done here?" Cam asked while the doctor got ready and put on her gloves.

"I'd even advise you to. Once you're in active labor, there won't be a chance anymore, because the risk of infection is too high," Dr. Edelstein answered. "Ok, this might be cold and uncomfortable for a moment," she said then, but Cam wasn't really feeling much, after the last painful contraction. "You might know this, but until maybe five years ago it was common to give women enemas right before the birth. It turned out to be unnecessary stress for the woman and the unborn child, though, so we stopped that practice," the doctor went on while she examined Cam.

When Jack felt Cam pressing her forehead against his arm he thought she was in pain, but once he saw the blush on her cheeks he knew she was fine for the moment.

"If I didn't know what you do for work, I'd be truly embarrassed right now," she said, although it was obvious she still was.

Chuckling he pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Silly woman."

"May I ask what it is you do Mr. Hodgins?" the doctor asked him and he was impressed that she remembered his name.

"I'm an entomologist at the Jeffersonian," Jack replied, still holding Cam's hand.

"Oh now I know where I know your name from," the doctor said with a smile. "You're the head of the forensics department, Dr. Saroyan. A while ago I read an article about your team and your work with the FBI," she knew.

"Yes, that would be me. Although our anthropologist Dr. Brennan is more responsible for that co-operation than me," Cam admitted.

"But you're the boss," the older woman shrugged unimpressed and then went back to the topic at hand. "You're five centimeters dilated, which means it should go a lot quicker now that you're in active labor." She took off her gloves and helped Cam get her feet out of the stirrups again. "I will take these off now and have a nurse show you the delivery room. A midwife will check on you and we probably won't see each other again until after the birth. I wish you all the best," she said warmly and shook their hands again.

"Panties?" Hodgins knew when he saw Cam's look once the doctor had taken off the monitoring devices and had left the room.

"Please, and my shirt," Cam nodded. "Not that it'll help much. Decency goes out the window once you have I don't know how many people staring at your privates during labor and birth," she grumbled while she dressed.

"I somehow doubt you'll care later about how many people there are," he had the guts to point out and only the next contraction saved him from some angry comment.

Once Cam had visited the bathroom and the nurse had shown them the way over in the delivery room and the midwife had given them some final instructions, they were left alone and to Hodgins big surprise Cam wrapped her arms around his neck, leaned her forehead against his shoulder and melted into him - as much as she could.

"Anything I can do?" he asked her quietly and hugged her to him, his fingers playing with the loose strands of her hair that had escaped her ponytail.

"My back is killing me," she admitted and tried swaying from side to side, but stopped after a moment. "And my legs, too."

"I could try some of the massage moves we learned in Lamaze class," he proposed and nuzzled his nose against her ear.

"Try it, I'll tell you if it helps," she muttered. "But don't make me move," she added and lay her cheek against his shoulder, hiding her face in his neck.

"How about this?" he asked and let his fingers glide down along her spine in the middle of her back.

"No, I hate that," she grumbled and he was taken aback by her reaction for a moment until he felt her gripping him and knew that another contraction had set in. They were barely 4 minutes apart now and seemed to last longer as well.

"How's that?" he asked once it was over and she relaxed again. He pressed the heels of his hands into her lower back with just enough pressure so that she wouldn't be pushed down onto the floor.

"Oh yes, right there," she moaned into his neck and any other day he would have made a joke about how that had just sounded. This day however he just kept the pressure steady and dug the heels of his hands deeper into her back, trying to ease her pain. They stayed that way for a while and by the time she stood back up straight he had helped her through five more contractions and was kind of proud of it.

"Ok, Miss Saroyan, let's see if there's progress," the midwife interrupted Cam from whatever she had wanted to do. Cam just sighed, and let him help her waddle over to the chair.

"Jack, can you text Michelle again?" Cam asked him while she stepped out of her pants again.

"Sure, babe," he nodded and took his cell out of his jeans pocket.

"Seven centimeters, this is coming along great," the midwife said while she was still checking her. "The baby is doing fine, too. You want something for the pain, dear?" she asked Cam.

"No, I'm good for now," Cam declined the treatment she had wished for earlier that day.

"Ok, doll, I leave you again, but if you need anything don't hesitate to ring for me. I'll be back in half an hour tops," she smiled at Cam, who didn't have the energy to smile back.

"You want to stay on there or stand back up?" Hodgins asked her and put his cell back in his jeans pocket.

"Stand... walk... this is uncomfortable," she admitted. "And can you help me change into your shirt I put in the bag?" she asked him.

"You put one of my shirts in?" he asked surprised, but found the plaid shirt on the bottom of the bag once he looked.

"It doesn't make much sense anymore to take my pants on and off all the time, but I refuse to wear one of those hospital gowns. Especially while I'm walking around here and every five minutes someone else comes in wanting something," she complained and he decided it was wisest to remain silent. Her mood had darkened with every contraction and her exhaustion and soreness were rising. Quietly he helped her change, for what felt like the hundredth time that day.

For the next half hour they kept walking around the room, only stopping whenever another painful contraction came - by now they were only 3 minutes apart and she gritted her teeth so she wouldn't scream out in pain. Hodgins was sure he would have bruises on his shoulders, arms and hands, because she gripped them to steady herself every time. She tried the ball, but found that sitting down didn't help and the rope was useless to her, because it was more comfortable to hold on to Jack than to a rope hanging from the ceiling. The tub looked inviting, but something kept her from trying it.

Every three minutes she felt her whole middle tightening up. It was like a horrible menstrual cramp and a back spasm combined and from time to time she wanted to scream out, but simply couldn't find the energy to do it. They were at the hospital for nearly three hours when she asked Jack for the time, which meant she had been in labor for close to fifteen hours - she'd really had enough at that point.

"Jack, do something, make it stop," she whined uncharacteristically and buried her sweaty face in his shoulder once again.

"I would if I could, baby," he replied and sounded apologetic.

"If you ever talk about another baby, I'll make sure you go through this same pain before we talk again," she threatened.

"Duly noted," he nodded and kissed her forehead.

"Shit, here it comes again," she sobbed and tried to breathe through the pain. What had seemed ridiculous during the childbirth class now really helped her through the pain. "Oh no," she said once the pain lessened and she became aware of a wetness between her thighs and on her legs.

"I think your water just broke," Hodgins knew and looked down at the small puddle Cam was standing in.

"It keeps coming," Cam noticed bluntly, feeling herself still 'leaking'.

"Can you step over it, I'll get you a towel," he offered and with just a nod she accepted, knowing it would make her feel at least a bit better. Gently he led her over back to the bed, which she used to lean her arms down on. She didn't even care anymore that her boyfriend was drying her feet and legs from the amniotic fluid or that he then pressed the towel between her legs. What she didn't know was that he had rang for the nurse in the meantime.

"Her water broke," he said and pointed to the puddle when the nurse entered then went back to applying pressure to her lower back with one hand, while he held the towel in place with the other.

"I'll get the midwife and clean up, don't worry," the nurse smiled and he was reminded that they saw this several times a day and for them it was probably as normal as maggots were for him.

"Jack, I need to lie down," Cam said once the nurse had gone again.

"Ok, come here, I'll help you," he told her and carefully helped her stand back up straight and then get on the bed. They had just managed that task when the midwife came back in.

"I hear your water broke. Let's see how far you're dilated and what your son is doing," she said and Cam was glad that she didn't have to lift her legs into the stirrups this time.

"You're nearly there, sweetheart. Nine centimeters, just one more. I'll get everything ready and then you should be able to push," she gave Cam the necessary prep talk while Hodgins used the time to wipe Cam's face with a cool wash cloth.

The next minutes passed for Cam in a blur. The contractions became even stronger and she felt the need to push already, but knew she shouldn't. She somehow registered that nurses came in and placed several items around the bed, placed towels and cloths underneath her, put on gloves, placed towels on the cart close to her bed... she focused on these small things and on Jack's hand in hers while the pain became excruciating during the transition.

"Start pushing now, honey." The midwife's words reached her through a fog of pain and with a scream that gave her a small burst of energy she started pushing her son out of her body.

"Oh God, when will this be over?" Cam cursed and let herself fall back onto the bed. She was exhausted, sweaty and in constant pain. The contractions felt like they weren't stopping anymore and she wished she had taken the painkillers. She didn't care anymore if she was screaming in pain - she just wanted it to be over.

"He's crowning, love, I can already see his head," her midwife, whose name was Rosie as it turned out, told her.

"Just get him out, I don't want to anymore," she whined in the few seconds she could rest between the contractions.

"Now, you wait for the next contraction and give a big push and we're nearly there," Rosie encouraged.

"Jack," she sobbed like he could make it stop.

"I'm right here, babe. You're doing great," he told her and gave her hands a squeeze, hoping he didn't squeeze too hard because she had pressed out all feelings by now and his hands were just numb.

"And push, sweetie," Rosie said when the next contraction came. With one hand on her back Jack helped Cam lean forward, which seemed to help her, and held her hand with his other. Again she gritted her teeth, leaned forward and pushed with all her might while feeling like her lower body was being ripped apart.

"The head's here, the worst part is over," Rosie encouraged her. "Take another deep breath and push again," she instructed, while the contraction was still going strong. With another groan and the energy that came from sheer desperation she pushed again. She felt the midwife pulling as well and after what seemed like another eternity to her it was finally over and she had made it. "December 11th 2010, 6:05 pm and he's here." Their son was born.

They both craned their necks to see him while the midwife cleared his airways. Just a second later his first cry could be heard loud and clear.

"You don't like that, honey," the midwife chuckled when the baby scrunched up his face and wailed angrily. "This belongs to you. Congratulations," she turned to his parents, pushed Cam's shirt up to her chin and placed her wet, bloody and screaming son on her chest.

Immediately their eyes were drawn to the screaming bundle and both smiled without realizing it.

"He's here," Jack said in wonder and placed his hand on top of hers on the back of their son, then placed a loving kiss on her forehead, then her lips.

Cam looked down to her chest where her squirming son was lying. Carefully she placed another hand on his back and held him against her while his cries got quieter and finally died down to a soft whimpering. The nurse placed a towel over him and Cam wrapped it loosely around him and dried him off as much as she could.

"Oh wow," she whispered overwhelmed while she stared at him, the feeling of a love so intense rushing through her that it took her breath away for a moment. Jack was equally stunned and pressed his lips to her forehead again.

"You want to cut the umbilical cord?" the midwife asked Hodgins, who only nodded.

"Hey, baby, can you look up, honey and let me see you?" Cam cooed at her son, who still had his face buried in her chest. "Joshua," she called him softly and carefully held him up in front of her when they were done with the umbilical cord, so they could add the clip. When she turned him around she was finally able to see her son's face for the first time. Cam studied him carefully taking in all the wrinkles, the rosy skin, his large blue eyes and small nose. Slowly a smile formed on her face before she started chuckling and finally broke out in laughter, still holding her son up in front of her. She was shaking with unfiltered laughter as she placed him on her chest again and held him against her while she laughed loudly. She barely registered that she was going through the afterbirth meanwhile and the birth was finally over.

"What?" Jack asked confused, but had to laugh with her, although he didn't know what this was all about.

"Look at him." Cam just couldn't stop and wiped the tears of joy, love and amusement away with one hand, then turned him around so he was cradled sideways against her chest and Jack could see him. He looked at his son, trying to find out what was amusing her so, but he couldn't find anything.

"What? He doesn't have two noses or anything," he shrugged and lovingly stroked over Joshua's cheek with a finger.

"Jack, he looks just like you," she pointed out and started laughing again. He had his eyes, his mouth, his chin and even the shape of his face was like his. The only thing he might have inherited from her, besides her dark hair and the slightly darker skin, was his nose, but that was yet to be determined. Even his forehead, his long lashes and the bows of his eyebrows were all Jack Hodgins.

"You're right," one of the nurses agreed with her and had to laugh as well.

"I don't see it," Hodgins shrugged helplessly and tried to see the similarities between him and his son. Fact of the matter was, while he was the cutest baby he had ever seen, he couldn't say that he thought he really resembled anyone, besides having Cam's hair color. "He has your dark hair," he pointed out just to disagree. "You have one crazy mommy," he told his son then and placed a kiss on his tiny cheek.

"We're gonna clean him up and check him and then bring him right back," the nurse interrupted before Cam could say anything. "Don't worry, it's not like we could confuse him with some other baby," the nurse smiled and grinned at Cam, who started laughing again. As soon as they lifted him out of her arms he made his discontentment known by first whimpering and then crying again.

"We won't need the baby monitor. Not a chance that we won't hear him," Jack grinned proudly and took her hands in his. "I'm so proud of you... I doubt I could love you more than right this moment," he told her quietly and leaned his forehead against Cam's.

"After what I just went through you better," she laughed.

"I love you," he just replied and kissed her. This time it wasn't just a peck on the lips or a brush against her cheek. This time he made it last and poured the happiness he felt into the kiss, while still keeping it chaste for the sake of their audience.

"Little Joshua here is 50 cm long and weighs 3070 grams, that's a lot considering he's a bit early," the nurse let them know.

"That's what? 6.7 pounds and 19.7 inches?" Hodgins calculated in his head and nodded appreciatively.

"Actually, I would have preferred it if he'd been a bit smaller," Cam rolled her eyes at his pride.

"Be happy he didn't make it to full term," he reminded her.

"Here you go," the nurse smiled at their exchange and handed Cam their son back. She hadn't dressed him yet; just had him wrapped in another towel and a blanket and had cleaned him up a little. Again he quieted once she held him.

"Everything is fine, he is healthy, the reflexes are all there," the midwife went on. "If you want you can give him a bath in a few minutes when he has calmed down a bit," she turned to Hodgins.

"Sure... absolutely," he stuttered, but beamed happily.

"And I will give you a condom filled with ice cubes now. It might be a bit uncomfortable at first, but it will help with the swelling and the healing. Just take it out if it gets too uncomfortable, ok?" she turned to Cam, who only nodded. "If you want you can try getting him to nurse while you're still here," she proposed.

"He's already hungry?" Cam asked surprised.

"Maybe. Some kids are. But we can try and if he's not we can just try again later. Only if you want," Rosie smiled.

"No, it's a good idea. New mom here," Cam smiled back gratefully.

"Ok, you can hold him whatever way is the most comfortable for you, you just have to make sure he opens wide and latches on completely. If he gets too much air he'll have gestational problems," Rosie explained and held Joshua's head with one hand while she brought him closer. "He knows what to do. See, he opens when he gets close and now you just push him forward a bit," she showed her. Joshua did what she said, but after he had barely started suckling and hadn't got anything yet, he yawned widely and the contact was lost.

"Seems he's more interested in sleep than in food at the moment," Cam grinned.

"Dad, I think you should bathe him then, before he falls asleep and we have to wake him up. That usually makes for a really grouchy kid, you might want to remember that," Rosie smiled and watched as Jack carefully took his son from Cam and cradled him in his arms.

"Is it ok if I take a shower once I'm in my normal room?" Cam asked the nurse who was cleaning up around her.

"Sure. Just don't apply any strong smelling lotions to your breasts if you want to nurse. The kids don't like the taste," she nodded.

"Thanks," Cam said relieved and then relaxed against the bed and watched Hodgins bathe Joshua at the other end of the room.

"How did you do that?" Cam asked Jack after she was settled in her own room and had taken a shower and Joshua was lying in Jack's arms, who sat next to her on her bed. With one finger she traced the features of her son, grinning when he wrinkled his nose whenever her finger ran over the bridge.

"If I remember correctly you were there as well," Hodgins just grinned and stroked over his son's fuzzy black hair.

"He'll have curls, I'm sure of that," Cam commented. "And I really can't believe how much he looks like you. Add some stubble and take away the chubby cheeks and you could look into a mirror," she pointed out again.

"I still don't see it. And I like his chubby cheeks," Jack grinned. Quietly they kept watching their son for a while, Cam resting her head against Jack's shoulder. "How's the pain?" he asked her and broke the silence.

"Better. I'm just sore and exhausted, but nothing compared to before. The ice chips helped a lot," she replied and grinned when she saw that her son was smacking his lips and seemed to suckle in his sleep.

"He's dreaming of food, it seems," Jack smiled as well when he saw it.

"Oh, I could eat as well," Cam sighed. "When the nurse brought him to me earlier after his bath, while you were calling Michelle, we tried to get him to nurse again, but he just fell asleep."

"I'm sure he'll be hungry when he wakes up this time. I'll get you something or do you want to wait for the hospital food?" he asked her.

"No, I could definitely eat. You think you can get those fruit cups somewhere nearby?" she replied. "And I was meaning to talk to you about the hospital. I haven't talked to the doctor yet, but if everything's alright I don't see a point in staying here. Josh is fine, I am sore, but otherwise ok and I'd like to have him and you close all night and not leave him in the nursery and have to send you home," she said.

"I'd like that, too, but don't you think it's a bit dangerous? What if there are complications?" he wondered.

"Then we or you will notice that much sooner than if I stay here. There's one nurse for all the babies at night and another one for all the patients. It's not like they are monitoring me or Josh," Cam shook her head and giggled as Joshua scrunched up his face in his sleep and seemed to cry without making a sound, his eyes still closed.

"If the doctor's ok with it, then I'm happy to take you home with me," Jack nodded and kissed her softly. "Little mister here is getting fussy," he said when he pulled back and looked down at the baby, who still had his eyes closed, but was moving more. Cam reached over and stroked with her index finger over his small lips and grinned when he opened his mouth and started sucking on her finger.

"He'll be up and hungry soon," she laughed and let him suckle on her finger some more.

"You're such a natural," Hodgins said softly and kissed her cheek after watching her for a moment.

"I've had some experience with all my nieces and nephews. And he suits you, too," she grinned and kissed him for real. Just as they deepened their kiss Joshua decided that he wasn't ok with his mother's finger anymore and woke up, starting to wail loudly instantly.

"He's not hungry, he's starving," Jack laughed as he watched his son squirming in his arms, his cries getting louder and louder.

"Ok, then let's try this nursing thing again," Cam laughed and pulled up her shirt before she took the baby from Jack. After the birth she hadn't put on a bra yet, the shirt and wide sweatpants all she could tolerate on her sore body for now. "You know, screamy, we tried to feed you twice before, you chose sleep," she lectured her son gently and positioned him as the nurse had shown her. Like before with her finger it only took a second until he opened his mouth wide and then latched on, starting to nurse hungrily. "See, now that's better," she smiled when she felt him sucking for real this time.

"Seems like he knows what to do," Hodgins commented and watched curiously as his son sucked away, a serious expression on his tiny face.

"That makes one of us," Cam chuckled and caressed her son's cheek.

"Does it hurt?" Hodgins asked curiously, seeing how strongly the infant sucked on his mother's breast.

"No, it's just… strange," she shook her head.

"Ok, while you two are busy, I'm gonna go and see what I can do about your food. Anything you can't eat now?" he asked and got off the bed and put his shoes back on.

"Fruit should be ok," she replied and looked up at him.

"Then see you in a few," Hodgins nodded and kissed her, then placed a kiss on his son's hair before he left.

When he came back he found Cam out of bed, moving slowly around the room with Joshua on her arm, making her way over to the small changing table in the corner of the room.

"Supper over?" he asked her as she placed the boy on the table.

"Yup, nothing left, he needs to wait or take formula if he's still hungry," Cam replied and opened the onesie slowly.

"Shouldn't there be enough milk for him?" Hodgins wondered, placing her cup with fruit on her night stand.

"There will be. It's a question of demand. And judging by his appetite today I'd say I'll have to buy bigger nursing bras if he keeps it up. They'll be huge," she shook her head and opened the diaper.

"You surely won't hear me complain," Hodgins chuckled and came up beside her. "You want me to take over so you can eat?" he asked.

"Oh yeah, I won't let that chance pass," she nodded and stepped aside. "Just pay attention, he got the nurse earlier," she warned him before she slowly made her way back to her bed and sat down with a groan.

"You peed on the mean, old nurse? Now, that's my son, not caring about authorities," Jack grinned proudly.

"She wasn't mean and she's about ten years younger than me," Cam rolled her eyes and started eating her fruit. "She said that we should keep him covered as much as possible while changing him, so he won't be as lethal. Something to do with cold air," Cam said after swallowing the first piece of water melon.

"Oh yeah, cold air is bad," Hodgins nodded sympathetically and expertly closed the fresh diaper. "There you go, son," he said and picked him up. He placed him so the baby's back was resting against his forearm, his head in the palm of his hand. He held him like this for a while, his eyes roaming over the baby, taking in every detail. Joshua was looking back, so it seemed, his eyes wide open, blinking from time to time. Cam watched the scene with a smile from her bed as she kept eating. Once he had sufficiently analyzed his son Jack took him up in his arms, letting his head rest against his shoulder. He nuzzled his nose against his son's head, placing kisses on his tiny cheek and head and took in the baby smell with closed eyes. He opened them when he heard a noise from the bed and found Cam with the camera in her hand, with which she had just taken a picture of father and son.

"So cute," she said to tease him and went back to her fruit.

"Let's get you dressed again before you fall asleep," Hodgins told the baby and brushed Cam's comment off, which made her grin again. He slowly dressed him, careful not to hurt him. When he was finally done Joshua had decided that he had enough and started whimpering. While Cam finished her meal Hodgins tried to calm him, but the whimpers got louder and after a few minutes he started crying. "You think he's hungry again?" Jack asked Cam and hurried over to her.

"I don't know, but I doubt it," she said and placed Joshua against her, so his head was resting on her chest. It only took a few seconds and he calmed down, moving his tiny fist against the skin of her chest.

"He wanted his mommy," Jack smiled softly and rubbed his back.

"He knows the sound of my heartbeat and my scent, that's what calms him," Cam replied.

"I know the feeling," he smiled and kissed her again.

"He seems to like it when you rub his back," Cam said quietly after they broke the kiss. She saw that Joshua's eyes were closed. After another moment the boy sighed softly and seemed to surrender to sleep. Jack and Cam just smiled at each other, both so in love with their son.

TBC

I have read a lot of baby stories and sadly the ones that are somewhat realistic are rare. I did my best to make it better, even if that means that it's graphic and messy for some parts. I hope you don't mind.

So, please welcome the new addition: Joshua Samuel Hodgins.