Family (Men of Steel #5.5) (4 page)

“You ready?”

“I am--.”

“Mrs. Steel you still have a catheter and IV.”

I smiled and shook my head, “I don’t mind carrying a little baggy of piss around.”

“I’ll take it out,” the nurse looked at me like I was some insolent child and I laughed.

Another nurse came in and was given instruction to grab a wheelchair.

Once she was un-catheterized and her IV bag was hooked to the chair we followed the nurse with Truth, past the doors to the nursery and down the hall to the NICU.

Momma was just coming out.

“He’s beautiful. He looks like you did, only smaller.”

“His eyes are all Tara’s,” I gave her a hug, “Did he tell you he was a fighter?”

Momma laughed, “No he didn’t mention that.”

“He told me.” I walked behind Tara and held up a finger, asking Momma to wait for a minute.

After getting Tara settled in front of Justice, I walked out to see Momma.

“How’s Taelyn and Xavier?”

“They want to admit her and he is fighting it.”

“Why?”

“Well, you remember her ex boyfriend?”

“Harvard guy? What’s he got to do with it?”

“He’s an intern, and he and Xavier just got into it. I cannot believe Xavier, he pushed him against the wall--.”

“He what?”

“Apparently Jase tripped him and Daniel--.”

“Jase what!”

“Your brothers are acting like a couple of Jack asses right now. I am livid with them.”

“Who’s with Taelyn?”

“Bekah.”

“Son of a bitch.”

“Cyrus,” she scolded.

“I’m sorry Momma that’s not what I meant. I just can’t leave my family right now to deal with, well my family.”

“You stay where you are. Carly is dealing with Jase, Zandor is looking after the girls--.”

“Zandor?”

“He’s fine with them Cyrus. Really everything will work out. I wanted to see Justice again. Carly said she was able to see him.”

“Yeah.”

“Get some rest, get Tara to rest and you should tell her that it looks like we will have another Steel in a day or two. Taelyn is spilling protein.”

“I don’t get it?”

“It means she has preeclampsia and that little one and her will be safer the sooner she delivers.”

“Keep me informed?”

“Of course. You probably should tell Tara.”

After giving momma a kiss I headed in. Tara was sitting there looking at Justice.

“You wanna hold him?”

“Of course. I just don’t want to hurt him.”

I squatted in front of her and looked into those green eyes. “You wont.” She smiled. “You look beautiful holding our little ones Birdie, that’s gonna be a problem in the next few weeks you know. I’m gonna be in the shower a lot.”

She laughed and I leaned in and kissed those lips.

I stood up before this chub I was sporting turned to steel. “You make me so fucking happy.”

“You are an incredibly hot Daddy.”

I couldn’t help but smile. “This needs to stop now.”

She grinned and looked down, “We’re still us, plus two.”

The nurses came in and again they each held a tube as they set him on her lap. “Hey Justice, it’s your mommy. I love you so much.” She leaned forward over the tubes and kissed his head. Your sister can’t wait to be near you again. Your family can’t wait to hold you. I can’t wait to feed you, change you, and snuggle you tight.”

“You listen to her Justice. Everything she says is from the heart. Your momma is the most beautiful woman on this planet. Strong too. So damn strong.”

Chapter 6

Xavier

“Listen Doc, I don’t give two fucks what your policy is. My policy is what the fuck matters you dig?”

“Mr. Steel, you assaulted one of our interns.”

“Your fucking intern cornered my motherfucking wife.”

“X, chill for a minute.” Jase said as he bounced Kiki up and down to try getting her to stop fussing.

“Fuck I will!”

“Mr. Steel, um, Jase? Daniel said that you tripped him while he was leaving Mrs. Steels room?”

“Me?” Jase pointed to himself. “I was holding my child.”

Fucking Jase, I had to clench my teeth to stop from laughing my ass off. Danny boy was scrambling out the door after I pinned him to the wall. Fucker snuck into Taelyn’s room when I had stepped out to call her parents.

Jase looked at me, knew I was fucking pissed, and stuck his foot out. Douchebag fell flat on his face. Split his nose open too, motherfucker deserved it.

“You believe who you want. But you either discharge my wife or --.”

“Your wife needs medical attention. She needs to deliver the child.”

“My child.” I snapped.

“We have already started induction--.”

“Get him the fuck outta here. I see him one more fucking time and --.”

“Mr. Steel. Dr.--.”

“He’s a fucking intern.” I snapped.

“He has reason to believe--.”

“Dr. White,” Jase interrupted, “I strongly advise you to stop right there.”

“My wife--.”

The door to Taelyn’s room swung open and Bekah walked out. “Her water broke.”

I looked at Jase, “You fix this shit. Doc, the motherfucker is a junky who beat the shit out of his ex girlfriend.  The baby is mine. He steps foot near this room, this floor, and you signed his death warrant. You got me? My wife gets treated like a princess or so help me God I bring my wrath and Gods down on every mother--.”

“Go,” Jase grabbed my shirt, “I got this shit.”

I walked in the room and Taelyn had tears running down her face. “It hurts.”

“Wish I could take your place Irish,” I sat next to her and held her hand.

She wrapped her arms around me and squeezed tight.

“The baby’s small Xavier.”

“He’s--.”

“Or she,” she looked up and I wiped the tears away.

“Either way, our kid is gonna be just fine.”

“I hate Daniel,” she huffed. “I hate him.”

“Well you’re not alone but this is us time. Me and you Irish, and this little one.”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I know. I just can’t believe he had the audacity--.”

I had to laugh, “He got his.”

“Meaning?”

“Meaning he won’t be bugging us.”

“Promise?”

“Of course.”

The doctor came in and he wanted to check her. “Whoa, whoa, whoa, isn’t there a female--.”

“Xavier,” she whispered a plea.

“No Mr. Steel, there isn’t.”

I glared at him and she elbowed me.

“We’re fine,” Taelyn told him.

She was fine. I was a fucking caged animal ready to pounce on the motherfucker who was pulling out the damn stirrups and positioning himself between MY WIFE'S legs!

“Xavier?” I looked at Taelyn and she whispered, “Please.”

He pulled the chair up and she stuck her foot in the stirrups. I was ready to come off the fucking bed when she gripped my chin, turned my head to her and hissed, “I need you.”

“I’m right here Irish.”

“No you’re not. If you were mine, you would not be so damn--.”

“I am yours.”

“Then stop being an --.”

“We table this shit for later. I’m here and I’m yours.”

“Mrs. Steel, you are five centimeters with only an hour and a half of the medications. You’re progressing very nicely,” he patted her knee when he stood. “By tomorrow morning you should be holding your child.”

“Tomorrow morning?” She gasped.

“We’ll give you something to rest and turn down the drip.”

“Now why would you do that? If she’s going to have our baby--.”

“So she can rest.” He explained.

“So you made me feel like this just to slow it down?” She asked looking awfully pissed off.

“To see your response. To see your --.”

“Uh uh,” She looked at me. “Make him --.”

I laughed, “She says nu uh Doc. Lets just do this now. Turn up that bitch,” I pointed to the baggy of meds, “and lets get this show on the road.”

“The longer the baby is in --.”

“Yeah, cause ten hours is gonna make a bit of difference.” Fuckers face turned red and he walked out.

“Xavier,” she whispered.

“Irish, I could take your place,” I was serious too. I didn’t want her to go through this. She was strong but she shouldn’t have to be damn it.

“I’m not gonna lie, Irish, you could too.”

She smiled and leaned against me. We sat there all snuggled up like we do after sex, except we didn’t just have sex, hell I hadn’t gotten off in four days. Apparently I should have taken notice. My girl liked to fuck, she liked to fuck porn style, and over the past month she was kind of—cold. I was pissed at myself for not catching on.

“I’ve fucked up lately huh?” I asked as I stroked her hair. And hell if she didn’t say, ‘
No Xavier you’ve been perfect’,
cause she didn’t. “Sorry Taelyn.” She still didn’t say a damn thing. Fuck!

I was a tool, a big giant tool at that. I really needed her to forgive me. Hell I wanted to demand she did. But she just tensed up in my arms. And like a little pussy whipped bitch I took it. Five minutes passed and she tensed up again. Boy was I fucked.

Something happen and she sat straight up and yelled out. I swear to fuck I jumped the hell up and outta that bed.

“I want drugs!”

I tore ass out of that room and yelled towards the nurse’s station, “We need some drugs up in here!”

I ran back in and she was lying on her side gritting her teeth.

I rubbed her back and she growled at me. I stepped back and raised my hands in the air, “Irish?”

She hissed out a long deep breath and then looked up at me. “Sorry.”

I don’t know what the fuck that was but my Irish was acting like she was possessed or something. So what do I say? “It’s okay. Tell me what I can do for you.”

The doctor came in with two of the biggest nurses I had ever seen in my fucking life. Pussy. I looked at Taelyn and she knew exactly what I was thinking. She sucked her lips in, holding back a laugh. See that’s my girl, we’re a fucking team.

I leaned down and took the opportunity to give her a kiss before she turned into a crazed lunatic again.

“Love you.” I whispered before leaning back.

“You too.”

The douchebag checked her again and the nurse, Attila-the-fucking-hun, shot her up with something that made her eyes immediately glass over.

“You okay?” I pushed the hair out of her eyes.

She nodded and looked up at me, “You know I am. Even if I haven’t put out--.”

“Irish,” my eyes were buggy as hell I could feel it. “We’re good okay?”

The doc stood up and took off his gloves. “She’s eight centimeters.”

“And?”

“Progressing fast.”

“I want more drugs when I have to push this thing out. I don’t want my crotch to tear,” she closed her eyes and laid her head back against the pillow and rubbed her head against it until she seemed comfortable.

“We don’t give epidurals after seven centimeters that window has closed.”

“Well maybe you ought to open it,” I wanted to smash his head off the wall.

“If we do that she may not be able to push your child out. Then we would end up in the OR delivering him or her cesarean section.”

Attila pressed it, “Is that something you want?”

“You are a bunch of fuck ups. What I want--.”

“Xavier?” Mrs. Patrick walked in the room.

“Mom,” Taelyn said with a little whimper in her voice that made my fucking chest ache.

“Dad and your brothers are in the waiting room. I wanted to make sure you felt up to them saying hello.”

“They can come in,” she slurred.

Oh that was just fucking what I did NOT want to hear. She looked out of the corner of her eye, “Can you go get them?”

I smiled and nodded, like a good little bitch.

“Mrs. Steel, you’re very close to delivery,” Attila said, “Maybe they should wait.”

A contraction hit and she whimpered through it. Her eyes widened and she looked at me, “I think I have to use the bathroom.”

“Okay I will--.”

“You have a catheter in, Mrs. Steel. If you feel like you need to push that’s your body telling you things are progressing,” The doc told her.

“Oh God, I’m so tired. “She said as she squeezed her eyes shut.

“It’s the medication, it’ll wear off soon.”

~

An hour and a half of feeling like ripping my ears off of my head cause it would have been far less painful than hearing my girl, my Irish, go through a hell they called back labor and I was holding a four and a half pound blue eyed, bald little guy, while my wife was getting stitched up from asshole to fucking elbow.

He was big for being eight weeks early. They said he was breathing well and his heart was strong, then they whisked him away. I didn’t want to leave Taelyn but she kept looking at the door.

“You want me to go?”

She nodded, “I have my mom.”

“Right,” I felt my eyes well and she looked at me, “You did real good Irish. God you did so damn good.” I leaned down and rested my forehead to hers as we stared in each others eyes, “Sorry. Jesus I am so sorry you had to go through that.”

“It’s worth it. Go,” she smiled. “Patrick needs you.”

Her mom laughed, covered her mouth, and laughed some more, “Patrick?”

She nodded and smiled at her, “Patrick Jonathon Steel.”

“PJ,” Mrs. Patrick smiled.

“No,” Taelyn and I said at the same time and she laughed.

“Go, go see our little peanut. As soon as they’re done checking me out I’ll be there too.”

I walked out and leaned against the wall and allowed all the emotions to fuck with me. I don’t think I could ever make her go through that hell again, not ever. Fucking crushed me. My guy was so damn tiny. No joke he looked a little like a starving kid, big head, distended belly, and scrawny limbs. He was still the most beautiful baby I had ever seen. He was a fucking Steel, no way he couldn’t be.

I walked by the waiting room, her brothers, and father stood up and rushed the door.

“Come on, I want you all to meet Patrick. He looks tiny and weak right now, but his heart is Steel, he’ll be alright.”

And yes, that was a dick thing to say to her brothers, but it was true. My little guy was gonna be just fucking fine. Forever Steel.