[bhdire8]

"Her heartrate is a little high, but with how active she is that is quite understandable." Martin pressed a button to broadcast the heartbeat. "Do you see her making those dance moves right there?" He pointed to the screen. "Usually they stop after awhile but seem like this little girl has quite some energy to vent. Now can you do some deep breathes? The bearer's emotion has a lot to do with her movements so you have to stay calm yourself first."

[lxcttrll]

Alex watched his daughter intently, seeing her little movements, trying to take deep breaths to calm himself. He hated that it was probably his own fault that he was so sick, that his baby was in distress.

[bhdire8]

Seeing guilt written all over his face, the doctor grabbed Alex's hand and said sternly. "Stop blaming yourself Alexander.  You are doing everything you can for the baby. You made the right decision to call me at the right time, you have been nothing but a great father to your girl. You have nothing to blame yourself for."

[lxcttrll]

"Just don't want her to be hurt 'cause of me," Alex shrugged. "She's depending on me, y'know? If she gets hurt, it's on me."

[bhdire8]

"There are always things that are out of our control. Your morning sickness is one, and even as a doctor I can't control all diseases too. I see lives come and go everyday, I think I have experienced enough to have a say in this.  Don't force yourself so much. What we all can do is try our hardest and wish for the best." Martin said with great sincerity. 

[lxcttrll]

Alex sighed and nodded, knowing that Martin was right. "Goes call my parents, tell 'em where I am. They'll probably wanna get here early. How long d'you think I'll be here?"

[bhdire8]

"I will hook you up to the fetal monitor. So far I am keeping my prediction of one overnight observation. We'll see when we got a pattern of how the girl's doing." Martin said. "I would encourage you to maybe rub your belly a litte. It should help calm down the baby too. Alert the nurse if you feel any discomfort, I would leave now to let you make the call."

[lxcttrll]

Alex took the doctor's intructions, rubbing his stomach after he was hooked up to a fetal monitor. He called his mom, nervously waiting for her to pick up.

[bhdire8]

As he was here already, Martin decided he could go to his office to clear some piled up paperwork that he couldnt quite find the time to get them done. 

[lxcttrll]

Alex called his mother, telling her what had happened and where he was. Of course, she replied that she and Alex's father would be there as soon as possible.

[bhdire8]

The paperwork marathon had dragged on longer than Martin had thought. He lookrd at the clock and realised it was almost dinner time. Figuring he could as well have it with Alex who was basicallg stranded in the room, he started his way to visit his patient.

[lxcttrll]

Alex was asleep when Martin came back in, a hand on his belly while the other covered his phone, as though waiting for a call. He was, waiting to see if his mother would call and say she was in town with his father.

[bhdire8]

Martin gently lifted the phone from his hand and placed it on the desk. He knew Alex needed this sleep to recover so he let him slept in until the nurse came in with 2 trays of food. He would have let him sleep if Alex was not equally in need of food too. 

Getting  a warm towel ready, Martin woke Alex up. Nudging him gently, he whispered "Alex, time for dinner." He lifted the still sleeping man's upper body to lay on his shoulder, shuffled the pillows to support his back and then laid him back to a sitting position. He then used the warm towel to wipe his face, gently coaxed him from his sleep.

[lxcttrll]

Alex cracked open his eyes when he felt the warm towel on his face, smiling at the doctor. He sat himself up, letting Martin stack pillows behind him. "What am I eating?" he asked softly, not so excited because of how sick he still felt.

[bhdire8]

"Some simple toasts with chicken soup. We would see how this meal goes. I got you some of the tea as this morning. Here drink it first to prepare your stomach." Martin handed him the hot tea. "I could rub your stomach a bit first if you find that helpful."

[lxcttrll]

"It'd be nice if you did. You don't have to, of course," Alex blushed softly. It'd feel nice to have someone but himself rub his belly, taking the tea and sipping on it quietly.

[bhdire8]

"Let me go find some lotion real quick." The doctor returned with a tube. "I see you finished the tea. So far so good?" Seeing a nod from Alex he continued. " I hope you are fine with ginger? That's the scent of the lotion. I.could sit behind you if you want when I am doing the rub."

[lxcttrll]

"Ginger's fine*" Alex murmured, scooting forward slightly so Martin could sit behind him. He began to eat the soup, doing so hesitantly in case he got sick again.

[bhdire8]

Martin also eyed him carefully. Theres a bucket ready nearby. Sinc Alex seem to be find, he decided maybe he should let him finish the meal before starting the rub, the ginger lotion would heat up a little to help settlr the stomach. He was hoping the rub would lure both the baby amd the parent to sleep after the meal.

[lxcttrll]

Alex soon finished his soup, allowing himself to relax against Martin. "Need to think of names for her," he thought aloud.