Part 245
Nick followed the nurses to the nursery, peering over their shoulders as they took all the necessary measurements for the baby's birth records.
"How is he?" Nick asked anxiously as they jotted down the vital statistics in his chart.
"Considering the shape your wife was in, he's doing just fine. Because of all the medications she had to have, we'll keep a closer eye on him for the first few days, but don’t worry, that's standard procedure in high risk births."
"He' so small," Nick said with awe.
"Not really," the charge nurse laughed. "You should see some of the preemies we get. Tiny little one and two pounders," she sighed.
"But Becca was so big-" he stopped mid-thought, realizing just how insensitive that sounded.
"Hard to believe, isn't it? Really, most of that weight gain is fluid; especially in your wife's case. The pre-eclampsia did a number on her system. Here," she said, thrusting the baby into his arms.
"Whoa! I can't-"
"Yes, you can. No time like the present. Bring him over here; you can give him his first bath."
Nick carried the infant over to where a tub had been filled with warm water. As Nick took his blanket off, he began to howl indignantly at the cool air in the room. Nick lowered him into the warm water, watching the nurse for help in how to hold him, and his cries ceased almost instantly.
The tiny boy opened his eyes and looked right into his father's matching blue ones, seeming to assess the situation. He sighed once and relaxed into Nick's hands as he scooped the warm water over him, rinsing away the last remnants of birth.
"Well, hey now," Nick said softly. "That's better, huh? Can't have you freezing, can we. Your mom'd never let me hear the end of it. Nope, first lesson: don't piss off your mom. She's pretty special. You and me, well, we have to take care of her, okay?"
He talked to the baby as he bathed him, completely unaware of the pictures the nurses were taking until they handed him the camera much later. As he dried him off, they showed him how to deal with diapers and the impossible little gowns that all hospitals insist on dressing newborns in.
"We need some information for the birth records, Mr. Carter."
Nick was able to rattle off all the necessary facts until it came to the baby's name. He was stumped. They never really had settled on a name, but he knew something that would make Becca very happy. Smiling, he supplied the information as his son began to wail once more.
"Time to get this little one back to his mother. Would you like to do the honors?"
"Sure! Isn't Becca still in recovery?"
"No," she smiled, "you've been in here over an hour. We just got word that she's in her room. Come on, I'll show you the way."
* * * * * * *
Peering through the nursery windows, Sarah and Howie watched Nick wrap the baby in his blanket and then cradle him next to his chest. Tears streamed down Sarah’s cheeks at the sight.
Nick met the couple at the door grinning. "Hey! Thought you two would have BEEN gone by now."
"Not yet! I wanted one more look at this beautiful boy and to see Bec," said Sarah as she pulled the blanket back to see the sleeping infant.
Howie looked over Sarah’s shoulder as he said, "The others are waiting to see this little guy and Becca if you three are up to it."
"SURE!" gushed Nick eager to show off his son.
Sarah brushed the baby’s cheek and noticed him instinctively searching for something to eat. She laughed, "Little guy’s hungry, Nick. We’ll give Becca time to feed him. She DEFINITELY doesn’t need all of the guys in there the first time she breastfeeds."
"I hadn’t thought about that," Nick blushed.
"Go on and take him to Becca," said Howie. "By the way, have you named him?"
"Garrett Thomas."
Sarah gasped, realizing that had been Mr. Morgan’s name. Tearfully she asked, "Does Bec know?"
"Not yet. Do you think she’ll mind?"
Sarah looked up into Nick’s blue eyes and suddenly saw the man he’d become. She whispered, "She’ll love it, Nick."
Nick smiled softly, "Thanks, Sarah."
"Go on. Bec’s waiting for you."