Closing Costs by Liz Crowe

center of attention. Now get some rest. I'll be here."

 
     
    Chapter Seven
     
    Craig's arms shook but when the baby opened her eyes and stared at him, he had never felt stronger in his life. She yawned, her tiny features wrinkled as she let out a small cry. Jack stayed parked by Sara's head, murmuring to her, brushing tears from her face. If Craig were a betting man he'd lay even odds on the fact that Mr. Gordon had shed a few tears himself. His whole body tensed when an alarm sounded near Sara's bed. A nurse rushed in, flipped a switch, stuck something in her IV.
    Another nurse tapped him on shoulder, and took the baby from him.
    "God, I feel like I've beaten with a Buick." Sara's voice sounded weak, scary.
    Blake and Rob stood in the doorway. Blake had a hand clenched around Rob's arm but as soon Sara saw him, she burst into tears, making alarms sound and a flurry of medical types rush in.
    "All right, seriously you guys, let's give her some space, shall we?' A large black nurse started bossing everyone around, eyeballing the collection of people in the room. "We're getting ready to move her up to ICU for observation. Only Dad stays with her, got it?" The woman seemed confused when Jack stood up.
    "Ah, I'll stay," Blake declared. "These guys probably need a break. And you," he pointed at Craig. "You need a shower and a change of clothes."
    "And a drink," he said, noting the shaking in his hands. The whole scene had been wild, intense, and amazing. It had set his nerve endings ringing, and he didn't want to leave. He wanted to stay, watch, and listen to the doctors and nurses as they did their daily business of saving lives. He looked up and saw Suzanne walking down the corridor. Relief shot threw him like an ice-cold splash of water but the adrenaline rush whooshed out with it, leaving him dizzy and weak.
    "Hey, sit down before you fall down." She took his hand and drew him out to a chair in the hall. He caught a look between Blake and Rob at the sight of her but was too exhausted to deal with it. He let her tug him down into a seat. "I hear you were quite the hero." Craig put his head in his hands, trying to quell the nausea that rose at the memory of Sara, lying in all that blood. "C'mon, let me run you home."
    He looked up at her, surprised, but not at all unhappy with the suggestion. For six weeks he'd avoided her, embarrassed at how quickly he'd left her behind in favor of Sara's latest medical crisis. But the sight of her now nearly made him weep with relief. They both stood when an orderly rolled Sara's bed out, still attached to various machines that came along with her. Blake walked alongside her, his hand clutched in hers. Jack slumped against the wall next to Craig, Suzanne and Rob. Sara's parents followed behind her, only after Matt had shot sufficient eyeball daggers at Jack. Craig smiled to himself and then started when Suzanne put a hand on his leg.
    "Let's go." His chest tightened at the sight of the small clear plastic bassinette now rolling past them. He stood, put a hand on it to stop the nurse.
    "Wait. I…," he looked down at the now sleeping infant. "She's okay, right?" The nurse glanced at him, then at Jack, obviously wondering if she was authorized to say anything to anyone not "dad," but not quite sure which man that would be. The ER doctor who'd delivered the baby appeared around the corner and put a hand on Craig's shoulder.
    "Yes, she is." Jack shook the man's hand.
    "Thank you." The doctor looked around at the three men and shrugged.
    "It's my job. Now you should all get some rest. The fun, with regard to baby, has just begun. Trust me; I have twins at home myself." He clapped Jack on the back and started running down the hall to his next crisis. Craig stared after him.
    "Does she have a name?" Suzanne stood and smiled at the group.
    "Uh, don't know. Not yet, I don't guess. It was pretty traumatic." Craig tried not collapse from residual stress.
    "Kate." Jack said, as he sunk into the seat