xp_logs | Hank, Maddie, Saturday ungodly early

Hank bolts down to the medlab, barely coherent, as soon as he learns that Dani's labour has started. Maddie intercepts him, and he is calmed down by rational discussion and some kisses.

Hank barrelled into the medlab, running on all four limbs to speed things up. He'd stopped to put on pants - well, slowed down to put on pants, on his way down the hall - but that was it. He was sleep-ruffled, and still not quite awake, and thanks to not slowing down in time nearly ran right into Maddie. He swerved at the last minute, and ran into a bank of equipment instead. Ow. Stubbed toes. Stubbed nose, too. Rubbing it, he turned back to Maddie, who looked a bit startled. "When baby now is what!?" he blurted, then blushed. "I mean... the baby's coming now?"

"Breathe, Hank," Madelyn reminded him, and then nodded. "She's having contractions about eight minutes apart, and her waters broke about fifteen minutes ago," she said, unable to help a small smile at the sight of him, fur sticking out in every direction.

"...gyah..." Hank tried to take a deep breath, nearly sucked his own lungs up into his sinuses, and remembered to open his mouth. "Ah... I... now. Right now. The baby." He smiled a little. "I... knew I was going to be nervous, but I never imagined I'd be THIS nervous. And excited."

"Everything's going fine so far," Madelyn reassured him, taking his arm to start leading him down the hall. "I've put her in one of the isolation rooms as far as humanly possible from Paige, and Forge is with her right now. This early in we probably don't have to bother Charles, but he's on standby if we need him to shield for her. Considering the state Paige is in, that's probably more a when." She kept up the flow of calm, reassuring doctor-speak, knowing Hank would probably find more comfort in that than anything else, but she walked close to him, brushing his shoulder with hers. "Just think, at some time tomorrow, you're going to be a father," she couldn't help adding."It's a good thing you got the nursery finished, isn't it?"

"I... yeah, it is. And it is finished. Even the clothes are bought." Hank took a deep breath, trying to collect himself. Taking Maddie's small hand in his helped a little. "I should go up and get them... later. Maybe later. Right now, I should see Dani, reassure her that I'm here... this is likely to go on for quite a while."

"She's probably just as nervous as you are, maybe more. But Forge is helping," Madelyn said, squeezing his hand. Hank's dimensions always made her feel tiny, almost delicate - it was an odd feeling, considering she'd always been fairly tall, at least by non-mansion standards. "Don't worry, hon, she's in good hands."

Hank nodded, smiling down at her. "I know. Between the two of us, I'm sure we can handle anything that comes along." He paused, and looked down at her. "Maddie... this is likely to go on for quite some time, and it's nearly the end of your shift already. Maybe you should nap for a while... now, or a little later, whichever you prefer. I'll be here, and I can wake you as soon as you're needed." He touched her cheek lightly - he loved to do that, feeling the petal-soft skin warm against his fingertips. "As much as I want you by my side just now, to be reassuring and sensible as you usually are, you must be tired... and, as I said, this is going to go on for a while."

"But it's so much fun when I hallucinate!" she protested, not at all seriously, nuzzling into his touch just a little, like a cat. "My office couch is comfy enough for sleeping on - wake me in a couple of hours? As long as one of us is on deck, things should be fine. And you're right, this could go on for a while - first baby, and she's so young... Poor kid's looking at a long haul."

"I will. Two or three hours, and I'll wake you up for a status report at least." He kissed her, gently but lingeringly. "And, hey, a chance at another goodnight kiss. And only a day after the last one. I could get used to that."

"There can never be too many goodnight kisses," she told him with a smile, sneaking another just because. "Go on, I know you're dying to check on her. Send Forge to wake me if anything happens? You might need the second set of hands."

He nodded, smiling, the kisses having settled his shaken nerves a great deal. "I promise, you'll be called for the very instant I even suspect that you might be needed soon." He smiled ruefully. "Or if I faint. Which would be catastrophic, since none of you can actually move me." He kissed her one more time, then shooed her in the direction of her office. "Off you go. I'll make official announcements, keep an eye on the children, and do all things necessary." He shook his head, smiling ruefully. "Paige, and now this... it never rains but it pours."

"It wouldn't be the same place without events ganging up and mugging us," Madelyn told him with a grin and a smothered yawn. "All right, all right, I'm going. See you soon, hon."