Jess Givens - dated to April 20th

[sluttylyingliar]

It's really, really not supposed to happen this way. Rachel has tried (sort of) to cut down the whining about this Wild Westcrap because it's about the happiest she's seen Raylan in pretty much ever but still. Birth? Without electricity? In the DESERT or whatever this is supposed to be? There are like, rattlesnakes around. And ghosts...maybe. And that clniic is not sterile and there aren't any modern drugs and these dresses are ridiculous and heavy and she can't breathe she's so pregnant.

Honestly, she should have known this would happen in the four seconds a day Raylan and Danny leave her by herself. Her back had been hurting all night but she had written it off to the lumpy mattress and somehow also forgot to mention the shooting pains that in restrospect were coming every ten minutes or so. She'd sent Raylan on with an assurance she was fine and all she needed was a soak in the bath (iron tub thing) and that she didn't need Danny to supervise. It's clear to her, now, that she should never be allowed to make the decisions every again because the second she stepped out of that tub, her water broke and it was very clear what was happening. And that is what happening very quickly.

She'd managed to scramble into one of those weird underdresses, not giving two shits how much the world was seeing and carefully made her way outside, her guts writhing and back not too painful to straigten. She squints against the bright, hot sun and pads barefoot out into the path.

"Help," she croaks out, arm firm around her belly like maybe she can catch the kid if he falls out right here in the dirt. "Shit, someone help!"

Another wave of pain sends her stumbling down to her knees, cursing loudly and creatively as she tries and fails not to panic. Two seconds in and she's already screwed this up.

Comments

[dr_robchase]

Chase tried to keep apprised of the population of the island. He'd been there for so long that he felt like he had to get to know people or he'd go insane when the friends he did have were lost. He gave extra care to knowing his patients, so when he heard a shout from a very familiar voice, he was sprinting with only one goal in mind: help her. "Rachel," he called over, skidding to her side and getting one arm around her to support her. "Rachel, what happened?"

[angriestman]

He's gotten into the habit of not being too far from her. The changes to the island make her nervous. He's only out back, chopping firewood and, when he hears her shout, the axe drops from his hand.

"Rachel?" he jogs around the edge of house. "Rach?"

[uncanny_aim]

Andrea's been meaning to introduce herself to Rachel about a dozen times now, but she's always been a little wary. Being that pregnant can't be comfortable, she imagines, and being stuck in a desert while one is that pregnant has to make it even worse. But she would call Raylan a friend now, even someone she trusts and she's headed to his place today to finally introduce herself to Rachel.

This is not what she expected to find.

"Shit," she says, having sudden flashbacks of Lori going into labour. She's careful not to drop the rifle, but it gets set down pretty damn fast before she goes to Rachel's side. "Hey, here, take my arm."

[renaissanceman]

It's not that Priestly's been lurking. He's not one of those creepy guys and, anyway, it's not like it's easy to hide him. He's even less camoflaged in the desert than he was in the jungle. It's just, you know, it's Rachel.

So he's not very far away when he hears Rachel shouting. And in spite of the fact that she's very, very pregnant, the first thing he thinks is, like, head wound or snake bite. He's not sure what he thinks he's going to do, racing to help her, but he knows he has to try.

"Rachel! Rachel! What is it?"

[red_ponytail]

He'd been stopping by every once in a while, not enough to be hovering - Merlin knew she had Raylan and Danny enough for that - but enough to at least be satisfied he was keeping an eye on her. Between himself and Helen, they kept each other apprised of Rachel's current state.

So he was on his way there when he heard her call out, and immediately he broke into a run, skidding to a stop at Rachel's side. "Merlin's beard," he exclaimed, his eyes going wide as he got an arm around her to support her. He remembered well enough from seeing his mum do this a few times. "You're in labour, and please don't beat me about the head for pointing out the obvious."

[zuckered]

This is... no. This is not okay. Because when Mark hears someone letting out a cry of pain, it's bad enough— he's never really been one for first aid, and even in fencing club, there's always been a nearby clinic to drag someone to. But when it's Rachel, when he sees where her arm is wrapped, when he's reminded sharply of the fact that her due date has been impending for quite some time, he freaks. He doesn't know where the new clinic is here in the Old West, he doesn't know where to take her, he doesn't know how to help a person through labor or how to birth a baby and he's pretty damn sure it's not as quick as Lost makes it seem.

Eyes wide, he shakes his head almost imperceptibly, then quickly gets down to his knees to try and help her up, because that much, he should be able to manage, at least.

"Shit, Rachel. Are you okay?"

He's pretty sure the answer to that will be a resounding no.