Subj: New Arrival, ch 1
Date: 7/24/01 12:01:54 AM Central Daylight Time
From: Karen

Kate gingerly lowered herself into the brown leather armchair in the faculty staff room at Acadia College. She felt like a beached whale. In her 34th week of pregnancy, Kate felt she had been pregnant for years. Everything seemed more difficult to her. Putting on her clothes, sitting down, standing up, laying down, bending over, sleeping, getting behind the wheel of her van, having to pee constantly due to the pressure on her bladder; all nothing but a hassle.

"God! I am so ready for this baby to arrive!" Kate exclaimed to no one in particular.

Eliot Stokes sat in the deep armchair next to her and smiled. "By my calculations, the child is due to arrive soon." he said.

Kate snorted. "Well, I am ready now. I have lost my patience with the whole business. My ankles are swollen, I waddle when I walk, I look like I swallowed ten watermelons. Barnabas looks at me pityingly everytime I come into the room. I can not stand it another minute. I just want to slap him!"

Eliot looked alarmed. Kate, seeing his face, reassured him with a slight smile.

"I wouldn't really slap him, Eliot. I am just tired of being pregnant. Humor me, okay?"

He patted her arm. "You are one of the few women I know who I am willing to humor, my dear."

"Thanks, Eliot. I knew I could count on y......" Kate stopped as a sharp pain assaulted her abdomen. She breathed slowly and deeply to help ease the pain. Eliot watched her nervously as she did so.

After a few moments, he asked, "Should I call the doctor?"

'Yes!" Kate gasped as the contraction eased. She was pale and sweating, but otherwise felt all right.

Eliot rushed to the telephone and dialed a number. Kate could hear him talking to Julia's nurse. As he was telling the nurse about Kate's contraction, she felt her water break. She stood up and was immediately wracked with another contraction. She could see Eliot's panic growing as he watched her. He quickly put down the phone and ran to her side.

"Do you think you will make it to the hospital?" he asked. Kate nodded her head, but didn't feel very sure. She was not certain how Eliot would react if he suddenly had to become a midwife. She would just will the baby to wait until they reached the Collinsport Hospital.

"Call Barnabas. Tell him what's happening and to meet us at the hospital, okay?" Kate asked urgently. "Then let's get out of here. I don't want to have this baby without my husband. He got me into this mess in the first place!"

Eliot hurried to make the call while Kate walked slowly to the door. Eliot followed her as she made her way down the hallway to the parking lot.

At a glance from Kate, he said, "I left a message with Willie. He said he would find Barnabas and give him the message." He gently took her arm and led her to his car. Easing her into the seat, he said, "Willie said to tell you everything will be fine. Just remember your breathing."

Kate had to laugh. Willie had been practicing Lamaze with her and Barnabas; just in case Barnabas wouldn't be able to help Kate during childbirth. Barnabas had scoffed at Willie's concerns, but Kate knew they both owed a debt of gratitude to Willie for helping them get back together. If he wanted to help with her breathing, she would let him.

As Eliot's car screamed out of the parking lot, Kate held on to the dashboard. Luckily, it was early in the afternoon; so there weren't many cars on the road. Kate felt as if childbirth didn't kill her, the ride to the hospital would. Eliot drove like a madman, weaving in and out of traffic, blaring his horn at drivers who wouldn't get out of his way; while Kate caught her breath as the contractions came more quickly.

By the time, they reached Collinsport, Kate's contractions were about 2 minutes apart. Eliot slammed on the brakes as he came to the emergency room entrance. He jumped out of the car and ran inside, yelling for help.

Kate opened the door and got out. It felt good to stand up for a bit. She walked to the doors just as Eliot came bursting through, a nurse and orderly on his heels. He almost knocked her down in his hurry to get to the car.

Saying, "Pardon me, madam," he ran to the car and threw open the door. He stood there with his mouth open in shock. What happened to her? She was just there a second ago, he thought.

As he turned to say something to the nurse, he saw Kate being put into a wheelchair and wheeled into the hospital. Eliot felt very sheepish as he closed the car door and followed the trio into the emergency room.

Dark Shadows is a Dan Curtis Production.