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her life. We’re taking her to the
hospital. We will be waiting for anyone who shows up to harm her.
    With a wave of his hand he removed
Kara’s dress and covered her body with a sheet to examine her. “Can you get
behind her and hold her up? She needs to start pushing with the next contraction.”
    Mia nodded. She moved slowly and lifted
Kara gently to get behind her. “Your baby is coming now.” She held Kara in a
half sitting position. “You need to push with the next contraction.”
    “No!” She tilted her head back to look
up at Mia. “It’s not time! I can’t have the baby now! It’s too early!”
Violently arching her body, slamming Mia’s head against the headboard she
clutched her belly as another contraction began to escalate.
     It wasn’t going to work. Kara was
far too distressed and experiencing too much pain. Mia wasn’t big enough to
comfortably hold Kara down. He got up and lifted Mia out from behind
Kara. 
    “What are you doing?”
    “We’re trading. You need to deliver the
baby. I’ll hold her,” he explained.
    “I can’t. I’ve never delivered a baby.”
    “There is no other choice. Trust me.
Stay merged with me. Everything you will need to know will be available.”
Joseph knew the thought of delivering, of holding a deceased baby disturbed Mia
like nothing else could. The instant the baby is born I will be able to put
her to sleep, and I will take care of the baby.
    Getting in position to deliver the baby,
she nodded. 
    “I need to hold your legs.” She was such
a small woman that Joseph was easily able to use his body to support her weight
as he reached around her and grabbed her legs. He found his center, his calm
and then he shared it with both women. He reached for his power and strength
and filled them with it.
    I see the baby’s head, Joseph.
    “I know you’re in a hell of lot of pain.
I can’t imagine it. I know you’re tired and you’re afraid, but you need to push
now, Kara,” he whispered.
    She started to push, but she stopped
within a matter of seconds. “I can’t.” She struggled to catch her breath. “I
can’t do it.” 
    “You need to steady your breathing,”
Joseph instructed. “Wait for the next contraction. We are here with you. You’re
not alone. We can all do this together, Kara. The baby is coming whether we’re
ready or not. You know we don’t have a choice. The next time you feel a
contraction I wantyou
to remember to breathe. I know it’s hard, but you have to do it. And when you
push, use me, push against me.”  
    ***
    Being
in hiding for months Kara had never been able to attend any birthing classes. She
wasn’t ready at all. Of course it didn’t help that she’d been shot and the
labor had started and progressed so quickly. She knew her baby was dying and it
was her fault. 
    A new contraction began. Its intensity
elevated quickly. Unable to catch her breath, she started to panic, but Joseph
and Mia were right there, whispering words of encouragement and keeping her
centered, refusing to allow her to give up. 
    She was gripping Joseph’s hands that
were holding her legs. She realized her finger nails were digging deep into his
skin as she pushed. She almost let go, and she almost stopped pushing
altogether. “No. Don’t stop. You’re not hurting me. Keep pushing until the
contraction is over. That’s it. You’re doing great.” Her head started feel
strange. “Your head feels funny because you aren’t breathing. Don’t forget to
breathe.”
    The contraction slowly subsided. He’d
heard her thoughts? No. It was coincidence. Her eyes started to feel so heavy.
She felt so tired. “Come on now, stay with us, Kara.”
    Startled, she snapped her head up.
“Sorry.”
    “Don’t be sorry. It’s okay.”  No it
wasn’t. Another contraction started. It seemed worse than before. She pushed
through it. “That’s wonderful. Keep breathing. You’re doing wonderful.” Her
chest felt heavy. It felt like there was a weight