Jed Bailey (jokerandthief) wrote in the_colony, @ 2010-03-23 22:48:00 |
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Entry tags: | ^ week 05, jed bailey |
Week Five - Saturday
Characters: Kathleen Forbes and Jed Bailey
Location: Siena Suites, Lobby
Summary: At Jack's birthday party, a slightly drunk Jed flirts with Kathleen and gets her dancing, only to have her go into labor.
Rating: P for PANIC
There hadn't been booze around when the party started. But then things started to go a bit long. Someone'd brought a stereo, and people were taking the chance to hang out and get a feel for each other. The kids seemed pretty well distracted with each other, and Jed decided it wouldn't be too hard to keep an eye on a couple dozen cans of beer. As the evening got later, Jed found he was the one most partaking in the drinks. Didn't bother him much, though.
When ZoƩ left, whispering something pleasant in his ear and promising to see him later, Jed looked around the room to try to figure out what to do next. Alice hadn't come to the party. Not that he was surprised. She practically had that kid on an umbilical cord, so she wouldn't have left him behind. And even Alice wouldn't have been mean enough to bring Jared to Jack's birthday.
Speaking of umbilical cords... Jed's eyes fell on Kathleen. She was looking very nice, actually, in a pretty sort of dress. The watermelon under it was a bit conspicuous, though. Smiling, beer in hand, he went over to her.
"That thing ain't popped yet?" he said, grinning.
From the couch, Kathleen looked up at the Texan. "What do you think?" Her hands rested on top of her belly. "You know, he's not a thing or some kind of alien, which is going to pop out and eat your face." Her mouth then formed a smile, and she shook her head. "You're silly."
"Not arguin' there. Though you been wearin' that pretty dress all night but sittin' down so no one can see it. That's silly, too," he said, taking a thoughtful sip. "Is it 'cause of the baby? It make you sit down a lot? I heard of women who had to lie down, 'specially when it was close to poppin'."
"Thank you for noticing," she smooth out the black fabric of the maternity evening dress around the belly. "It's something I picked up last week." She then tapped the space next to her on the couch. "Sit down next to me, and keep me company for a little bit if you pity the pregnant woman, and I can tell you about what its like to be expecting a child, if you like. Or you can look stand there looking at my cleavage for the rest of night." She teased.
"Second part sounds good to me," he said with a grin. Then his expression suddenly drooped, his eyes concerned. "It ain't that bad, is it? Or you really gotta sit around all day, not havin' any fun?"
She laughed, and then shook her head again. "No, I can walk, I just felt like sitting." The truth was her stomach felt uneasy most of the day, since her bout of nausea that morning. "Why?"
"'Cause you should get up then," Jed said, holding out his hand. "You gotta baby comin', and there's gonna be no time for fun then, so you gotta have it more. Gotta do stuff. Like dance!" His mind flitted back to Alice. The music wasn't half bad. "We should dance."
"Dance?" she thought about it for exactly one second, and then grabbed his hand. "Help me up, cowboy."
Pulling her up with grunt, Jed quickly realized he hadn't really accounted for the baby bump until now. "Y'know, I'm used to dancin' a bit closer with women. Ain't had a basketball between me and a girl since seventh grade," he teased, settling for holding her hand and guiding her with the beat that way, his beer occupying the second hand.
She did not find the comment about the basketball all that funny. "That's not very nice, you know." Kathleen was not angry but a little sad that he thought that way.
"Aw, don't be that way, darlin'," he said, pulling her into a twirl. "You got a baby under your skirt, 'course things get bigger. But then it comes out and you get back to normal."
Kathleen followed his lead. He did have a point, other than the few extra pounds and her larger belly, she still remained fit. In the post-Apocalypse world there was a limit of fatty foods available. If a Cold Stone Creamery store was still open, she absolutely would have had ice cream once or twice a day, and then add a seven-layer-burrito a day from Taco Bell, she would have surely gain a lot more weight.
"Then things will get interesting," she smirked now. Kathleen twirl right up next to him, her body against his. "You're not afraid, are you?"
He raised an eyebrow, though he took the move in stride. "What, of a baby? Why'd I be afraid of a baby," he said with a laugh.
His laugh was contagious, and Kathleen followed with a giggle. Her hand rested on his shoulder. "You crack me up," she looked up in to his eyes. "I can't imagine you being afraid of a baby."
"'Course not. I ain't afraid of anythin'," he said, raising his chin, though a grin still lingered. "Yer the one who was askin' crazy questions."
"Maybe I am?" In one turn she twirled away but still held his hand. "Hormones," she nodded. "They make me a tinsy-winsy nutty." She giggled again.
"Sound a tinsy-winsy drunk t'me, but I guess that's the kettle callin' you black," he said, his grin widening. Her good humor reverberated off of his and only seemed to get stronger.
"I wish. I haven't had a drop of alcohol in over a year. Two beers and you probably can have your way with me." She let go of his hand and lifted both of her hands up into the air, as her body moved to the rhythm of the music. She glanced at him with a wry smile and then looked away as she continued to dance.
Kathleen enjoyed flirting with Jed, it made her feel attractive. The last few days were like a bouncy and bumping hormonal ride. She experienced an entire range of feelings and moods, from anger to sadness, to contentedness to joy. It was the latter that she wanted to hold on to, the world was too depressing.
Laughing, Jed settled his hand on her hip, or in that general vicinity. Even if the shape was different, it was nice to dance close to the heat of another body, letting the blur of music and alcohol seep into your core until you were just movement and sensation. It was also a nice prelude to what awaited him later.
For a moment, she forgot that she was nine months pregnant. When he placed his hand on her hips, she leaned into him with her hands on his broad shoulders. Her eyes closed to absorb the music and his presence. It was so long since she had been in the arms of another man. She could feel his strong hands, even the one with the beer bottle against her.
Her green eyes open to find his. A wave desire came over her that made her blush. She craved more than food at that moment. She could feel something change inside her and it began to hurt. Kathleen looked away from his eyes and rested her head against his shoulder, and her hands moved down to grip his arms. She whimpered.
Even in his state, Jed soon noticed that Kathleen had stopped dancing and that her grip was too tight.
"Hey, hey, Kath?" he said, looking down at her. "You alright?"
"Ouch! It hurts," she buried her face into his chest trying to manage the pain on a contraction.
Helpfully, Jed set a hand on her shoulder, trying to push her back enough so he could see her. "What? What hurts?"
It hurt too much at first for her say any words to reply. She grimaced and took short breaths until the pain began to fade. "Fuck me!"
Jed blinked. "I--what?"
She started to giggle with a joyful smile. "I'm going to have a baby." It all made sense to her now, the nausea in the morning, the mild cramping and soul stomach, all of them signs of the impending labor. "The baby..."
It was a couple seconds before the words sank in. Then Jed's eyes went wide. "Jesus Christ. I, I, I." He looked around helplessly. "I'm gonna get Alice."
"No wait, the baby isn't about to 'pop' out," she used his description. "It's going to be hours, but I know the baby is coming soon." The music started to change to a slow song. "Just hold me."
"What? Jesus, yer drunk, yer havin' a baby," Jed said, his hand holding her shoulder fast. "I got no idea what we do. We need Alice."
"I'm not drunk," her face glowed. "And I should know when I'm in starting labor, I'm a doctor." She shook her head and then lightly punched him on the chest. "You're the drunk one, mister." Kathleen then backed off. "Go ahead, run to Alice, but there is little she can do right now."
Jed didn't really care what could be done; all he knew was that there were some things that just weren't his area, and this was pretty high on the list. "Yeah, yeah, okay, you stay here," he said, patting her shoulder before turning around to try to remember where Alice's suite was.
She smiled at him and wanted to laugh at his panicked behavior. "I'm going to be okay, Jed." She said after he turned away. Her hands rested above her tummy.