Pulling her upright, he tugged her nightshirt off of her and made love to her until she passed out from a surfeit of bliss.
* * * *
"Don't tell me we're back to this bullshit!” Con growled, his mood already foul from waking up face down in the dirt in the middle of the woods.
"I don't think anybody will object if you choose to remain aloof,” Balin said coldly. “Dr. Billings said no more than twice a week. Pick a fucking straw or use your hand."
Con snatched a straw. “As if that isn't what I'll be doing ninety-fucking-percent of the time anyway!"
"Too much information!” Dakota snapped, grabbing another straw. “Why the hell don't you have a fucking straw?"
Balin eyed him coldly. “Because I took my turn last night."
"So you admit it, you son-of-a-bitch!” Jared gritted out through clenched teeth.
"This is the order of things until the doctor calls a halt to any sexual relations,” Balin said coolly when they'd all drawn. “The fighting is upsetting Dani. We're not going to upset her anymore."
"We could always pick a spot a little further off."
"And she'd still know,” Balin said coldly.
"So ... you've appointed yourself lead,” Con said grimly.
Balin made a sound of impatience. “If I was alpha of this motley fucking crew, I wouldn't be letting anybody choose straws or taking one position out of five for myself. I'd tell you all to go jack-off and keep her to myself—at least until she whelps the pups. Dani's comfort and their safety is my only concern at the moment. The rest will have to wait. Anybody that doesn't agree with me on that doesn't care enough about her or the pups to even be here."
The comment silenced them. They glanced at one another after a moment and compared straws. Con felt a good bit better upon discovering he'd drawn the longest. That made him next.
After Balin, the fucking bastard!
"If you're so worried about it, why the straws at all?” Dakota asked after a moment.
"She thinks we don't want her,” Balin growled. “She needs reassurance, and she needs a distraction. She's scared—she's never had a baby before. We need to keep her occupied since she can't occupy herself. I'm sure she isn't used to not working, and that's part of her problem. She's probably worried about her finances, too, although she didn't mention it."
"I think we can handle that easily enough,” Xavier said complacently. “I'm just about ready to get my new place up and running."
"Sure of yourself, ain't you?” Jared growled.
Xavier gave him a look. “I'm sure I'm staying—whatever happens."
"Even if you have to yield your place as alpha?” Dakota asked in disbelief.
Xavier shrugged. “I'm tired of settling disputes any fucking way. I love her. I know she doesn't love me as much as I love her, but I can live with it."
No one was completely satisfied with the arrangement—except Danika—and they were all able to at least agree that
they
were happier when Dani was happy. They managed to keep her happy, well occupied, and satisfied until she reached a point where she was ordered to stay in bed for the remainder of her pregnancy.
She tried everyone's patience to the limit then. Not only were they suffering blue balls again when they'd almost gotten a hang to the rhythm of two weeks without, one night of blissful relief, but it was harder to juggle their business enterprises and watch Danika like a hawk at the same time. She
hated
having to stay in the bed and slipped out every time she got the opportunity.
Her temper was shorter than theirs and that was saying something. Fortunately, just about the time they reached the point where they'd begun sneaking out of the house to relieve their frustrations on each other again, her water broke.
Balin, who'd given up trying to convince her to use a bedpan and was trying to lever her gently out of the bed to escort her to the bathroom, stared down at the gush of fluids in horror.
Danika was equally horrified. “It's not me! It won't stop!"
Balin jerked his head up and stared at her ashen face just as she doubled over, grabbing her belly. “Jesus fucking Christ! Sit down! No! Stand up and let me take those wet things off! Con! Dakota! Any—fucking—body!"
Drawn by the panic in his voice, Con and Dakota raced to the door and came to a skidding halt. “Oh shit!"
"Fuck!"
"How close are the pains?"
Danika glared at Con. “I don't know! I've only had one!” She ended the sentence on a groan, doubling over again and wrapping her arms around her belly.
"Alright,” Balin said a little more calmly. “We need to get organized here. Con! Go call the doctor and tell him we're on the way. Dakota, go get the truck and bring it around."
"What are you doing?” Dakota demanded.
"Watching her!” Balin snarled. “You want to stay with her?"
Dakota turned white, shook his head, and departed.
"Where were we?” Balin asked distractedly when Dakota had left.
"I still have to pee,” Danika reminded him.
"Oh shit! Can't you.... Never mind,” he amended at the look on her face. “That's a good idea, actually. We can get you bathed off while we're at it."
"Oh no ‘we’ won't!” Danika snapped. “You're not standing over me while I tinkle."
"Oh for gods’ sake, Dani! Be reasonable—for once! What if you faint or something?"
"Something like
what
?” she asked suspiciously.
He flicked a glance between her face and her crotch and thought better of voicing the fear uppermost in his mind. Fuck it! If she dropped one in the toilet they could fish him out again. It'd be a hell of a rude beginning, but he'd never know if they didn't tell him.
He could tell by Danika's expression that she knew what was running through his mind. He could also tell she wanted to fight with him about it. He debated giving her the opportunity and decided against it. It might make her feel better, but he didn't think he could handle getting bit at the moment.
Dakota was back before they made their agonizingly slow progress toward the bathroom. “I can't find the gods damned keys!"
"
Look
for them!” Balin roared. “We can't take her on a fucking bike!"
"I couldn't get the doctor,” Con announced, coming up behind Dakota and stopping in the doorway as if there was an invisible barrier there. “Can you believe it? The fucking office is closed!"
Balin rounded on him with fire in his eyes. “Go call again and wait till you get the fucking emergency number!"
Danika breathed a sigh of relief when she finally reached the toilet. “Ok. Now go away so I can tinkle."
Balin ground his teeth, stared at her helplessly, and finally backed out the door.
"I can hear you breathing at the door,” Danika growled. “Find me some clothes."
Relieved to have something useful to do, Balin strode across the room, and started yanking drawers out, searching for something to put on her. After tossing a dozen articles over his shoulder he bellowed in the direction of the bathroom. “I can't find anything."
"Laundry room!"
"What about Jared and Xavier?” Con asked, peering into the laundry room and watching while Balin waded through the clothes—dirty and clean—of six adults.
"What about them?” Balin growled, tamping his frustration with an effort.
"Should I call them?"
"Did you get the gods damned doctor?"
"Yeah—forgot! He's going to be waiting for us at the clinic."
"Call them or don't. I don't give a fuck!” Balin muttered, relieved when he finally found one of the tent like gowns Danika had had to wear when she'd outgrown everything else.
"Balin!” Danika called in a voice shaking on the edge of hysteria.
Balin rushed to the bathroom door, nearly flattening his nose on it when he discovered she'd lock it.
"Balin!"
He broke the door down. “What?"
"There's blood."
Balin felt a wave of dizziness wash over him. “Isn't there supposed to be?"
She looked at him with rounded eyes. “Is there?"
"Con!” Balin bellowed. “Call the doctor back and ask him if there's supposed be blood—wait! Never mind! Let's just go!"
Balin drove the truck. Con and Dakota took one look at Danika when Balin carried her out to the truck and headed for their bikes.
"Fucking cowards!” Balin snarled, stalking around the truck and climbing in. He was sweating so profusely from every moan and grunt Danika uttered that he had to keep prying his hands off the wheel and drying his palms on his jeans. It took an effort to keep from driving the gas pedal to the floor and holding it there.
"Are you alright, baby?"
"
No
! I'm not fucking alright, baby!” Danika snarled at him. “I'm dying over here!"
Hunching his shoulders, he focused on the road. It was with a sense of profound relief that he pulled into the clinic parking lot and parked the truck. He discovered as he climbed out on shaking legs that they'd picked up Jared and Xavier somewhere along the way.
Xavier beat him to the passenger door and yanked it open. “My poor baby,” he said soothingly, reaching for her.
Danika sniffed tearfully and reached for him, Balin thought indignantly, as if
he
had beat her all the way over.
"The gang's all here, I see,” Dr. Billings observed with cheerful sarcasm as they piled into the waiting room. “Bring her back and let me have a look at her."
"Give me drugs!” Danika demanded as soon as Xavier had settled her on the delivery table.
"You allergic to anything?” Dr. Billings asked, studying her chart.
"Pain."
He gave her a look and patted her hand. “Let me check your progress,” he said, flipping the gown they'd put on her up to her waist and looking her over.
Xavier, still holding her hand, craned his neck for a look. She pinched him.
"Looking good. Won't be long now,” he assured her. “Let the nurse get an IV in you, and I'll give you something."
"Are you her coach?” the nurse asked while she worked on getting her supplies out and setting up.