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Now matter how many times she looked at the test it did not change the result. The little plus sign was not going anywhere. Jo was pregnant. Jo had just got a divorce. Alex just threw her away like she’s nothing a week ago. So, of course she was now pregnant.
All he could think about was that day he met Jo. How she had started out the day as just being another hot intern he wanted to get with and ended up earning his respect by the end.
Jo was his everything. She had been the first person to truly love him for him. Never tried to change him once and he threw it all away for what? Yes, his kids, but he could have had both. Why did he screw up everything? Why couldn’t he just let himself have something good?
It was odd how unfamiliar everything is with Alex not around. Her home is no longer her home without him joking around or snoring beside her. The misshaped trash can in her car had to be removed and now gum wrappers littered the floor of Jo’s car.
By far the worst part was the looks from everyone around the hospital. Why was her life constantly going wrong in front of her coworkers?
Jo’s working alone in a lab when Link comes in with two coffees. “I thought you could use this.”
She gladly takes it. “Thanks. How are things with Amelia?”
A plops down on the stool beside her. “I don’t want to talk about that. How are you?”
“I don’t want to talk about it,” she grumbles back. The last thing she wanted to think about was the ending of her marriage. Jo was reminded of that fact by the lack of cereal in the loft, how cold the bed was, and the tan line on her left ring finger.
“We don’t need to talk about him ,” Link says “him” as if Alex’s name is poisons, “But I do need to make sure that you’re not going to hurt yourself. So, how are you doing?”
Jo smiles at him. “I’m okay. I’ve upped my therapy to about three times a week. Honestly, I’ve been way too tired and nauseous to think about everything.”
“Are you sick?” Link asks concerned.
“Um, no. Don’t worry about it.” Jo tries to change the subject. She didn’t feel like telling Link she was pregnant which is why she was tired and nauseous. Jo would tell him later when they weren’t at work.
He furrowed his eyebrows. “Josephine…”
“Lincoln…” She monks him. “I. Am. Fine.”
Link’s pager goes off. “Fine, for now. But I’m coming over to your place tonight to drink and eat pizza.”
“Sounds good.”
The pain had just started out as uncomfortable. At first Jo just thought it was just her body getting used to the baby. She just laid down in bed with a hot water bottle and slept. Later when Link got to the loft it got worse.
“Are you okay?” Link asks as they sit on the couch. There was a movie on movie on but Jo had no clue what it was. Jo could not pay attention to anything other than the pain. The pain was a thousand times worse. “Yeah. My stomach and back are killing me,” she groans out.
Link looks over and gives her a concerned look. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I don’t know,” she confesses.
“I’ll get you some Advil and then if it gets worse maybe we should go to the hospital.” Link goes to get up and get the medication when Jo all the sudden caves in on herself and lets out a cry. “Okay, let’s go to the hospital now.”
Jo’s blood freezes when she feels something gush at her legs. “I-I think I’m bleeding.” Something was wrong with the baby and she had no clue what it was. Everything feels clammy and overwhelming.
Link cups her face in his hands. “Where are you bleeding? Jo, what’s going on?”
“I’m pregnant and I think I’m losing the baby.” A tear slips down her cheek. “It hurts so bad.”
“Okay.” Link keeps his hands on her face and wipes away her tears. “I’m going to need to check you, is that okay?” Jo nods her head with no thought. Everything hurt so much she didn’t care.
Link pulls down her sweats and underwear. He was pretty sure Jo was correct. There was blood and what appeared to be amniotic fluid down her thighs. What Link wasn’t expecting was being able to see the very top of a baby’s head. He spreads her legs more to make sure. There was no changing the fact that there was a baby coming now. Jo wasn’t miscarrying, she was in labor. “Jo, you’re in labor.”
“What?” She tries to lean forward to look but Link gently pushes her back to the couch.
“You’re going to need to trust me. I can see the head.” He checks with his finger. “You’re fully dilated and the baby’s starting to crown.”
Jo was in shock. “You’ve delivered a baby before, right?”
“Of course I’ve delivered a baby before.” He decided to leave out the fact that it had been years ago since he had. “I’m going to wash my hands then we’re going to have a baby.”
“This is happening?” He nods his head yes at her and goes to wash her hands. Another contraction hits. “Link, hurry!”
They decide to not move Jo. So, she sits on the couch with her feet on the coffee table and her legs spread apart. Link sits on the coffee table in between her legs. She had been pushing for what felt like forever when finally Link announced, “The head’s out! You’re doing so well.”
It burns when Jo pushes the shoulders out and she knows she’s probably tearing. That doesn’t matter. All she can do is think about the baby. What if they weren’t okay? What if they weren’t alive? “Come on, Jo. The baby’s almost here!”
“Ow,” she groans when the contraction starts and pushes.
“Just one more push and the baby should be here.” Link tells her encouraging her to keep going. “Got it? Just one more push.”
Jo just nods her head and then starts pushing again as the most intense pain washes over her. All she could think about was how badly she wanted to be done with this. There was no doubt in Jo’s mind that she was about to deliver a dead baby. She was probably only twenty or so weeks along. The baby most likely was dead. Jo just wanted to get this over with.
A few seconds later the pain is relieved. In its the loud cry of a baby. Her baby. Her baby was alive. “It’s a girl!” Link announces through misty eyes. He was an uncle now.
Without a thought Jo reaches forward for the baby and pulls her close to her chest. Link leans them both back to the couch. “Just relax, I’m going to cover you both with a blanket and get something to cut the umbilical cord. Oh, crap I need to call 911.”
Jo barely hears any of it. All she could focus on was the perfect baby cuddling into her chest. “Hi, baby girl.” They were covered by a soft red blanket that Jo hoped was keeping her warm enough. “I’m your mommy and I love you so much. I’m sorry that I didn’t take better care of you. I had no clue you were in me. You could have taken up more room, you know?” The baby settled more into Jo’s chest. Jo smiles down at them and starts to trace their face. The baby had her mouth and nose but she had Alex’s ears. And head. She had definitely gotten her big head from her dad.
Link returns with his phone awkwardly pressed against his left ear and shoulder. “I’m back. For now I’m just going to tie off the cord. Luckily there's an ambulance close by that should be here any second. Are you doing okay?” Link asks and moves the blanket back so that he can tie off the umbilical cord.
“I’m fine. Just glad that she’s okay.” Once Link is done she pulls the blanket back over the baby.
Link smiles at them. “Let me get a picture before the ambulance gets here because no one is going to believe this.”
Jo smiles for the picture then looks back down at her daughter laying on her chest. Jo lightly rubs the baby’s back. “She’s so perfect.” Jo kisses the baby’s head then turns her attention to Link. “Do you think Willow’s a good name? I’ve always thought it was pretty.”
He nods his head. “I like it. I think she looks like a Willow.”
Jo looks back to the baby. “Welcome to the world, Willow.”
“Josephine Wilson!” Instantly Jo recognizes Warren’s voice. She sees Link wave him closer. Warren comes into view with a coworker and a stretcher. “Of course you would unexpectedly give birth.”
“I’ve got to keep you on your toes, Pops.” She jokes.
He rolls his eyes. “Come on. Let’s get you to the hospital. Link, you want to come with?”
“Of course. Gotta make sure these two make it to the hospital without any more excitement.”
It’s now Jo’s turn to roll her eyes. “Shut up.”
That was it. Alex was done with mobbing around like Lex and Eli did whenever Izzie or him told them no. He was going back to Seattle and getting the love of his life back.
He was throwing random things into his suitcase when he got the text from Mer. Jo’s not okay. Come to Seattle NOW!
Alex’s blood ran cold. What if he was too late?