Rick Rodgers has been awake long before his radio alarm clock has the audacity of going off. Looking at the clock it tells him that his internal clock is still working fine. It's just about 5:30 am. He then starts to think about his last shift at the 12th precinct. It was a horrible one. He was assigned a double homicide by his captain and was told to keep a lid on the entire investigation due to the fact that the two victims had somewhat of a celebrity status. Yeah, he thought to himself since when had anyone who was on American Gladiator been a celebrity? But he kept his cool and did not speak with the 4 or 5 reporters that were at the crime scene yesterday. He hated those vultures, always trying to get under anyone's skin for some bit of information.

Lying on his bed just staring at the ceiling, he notices that his ceiling could use a another coat of off white. Another item to add to the ever growing list of things that he needs to do. Being drawn out of his thoughts by the thing he did not want to happen, had. The radio alarm went into it's blaring of some top 40 song he knew the words to but the bands name escaped him. Quickly hitting the snooze button to silence the noise that came from the speaker he hoped this alarm did not wake either of his daughters. That, he would not be able to deal with this early in the morning. And of course his luck had just gone from better to worse

"Dad, what's got you up so early?" Rick heard in unison.

"Girls, please go back to sleep. I will wake you both up so your in time for the bus."

"But dad we never see you. You told us to have dinner with the sitter which for the record we really can't stand!"

"Olivia, Alyssa, that is your aunt, my sister your talking about." Rick gave a hurt look as he told them they actually did not like his sister.

All he heard was a giggling fit that he joined in on all too soon. "Dad we're just yanking your chain. If it was not for Pam we would be latch key kids in every sense of the word."

This was true. Pamela was a godsend for him and the girls. It was hard to believe that they had been on their own now for the last 15 years. There is not a day that goes by that he doesn't miss her. The girls only have family pictures and a couple of digital videos left of Coleen's life. If he only took the time to record her for the girls sake things could be just a little bit better. Fifteen years ago they were expecting twins. All was going according to plan. The babies were at the 34 month mark and they were healthy. Exactly the same in weight, length. They could be delivered early and they would both survive the birth. Coleen went full term and was induced on the seventh day of October. While they were waiting for the drugs to completely take effect they talked about their future and what great plans they had for their family. They had talked about Rick trying to take the Lieutenant's test and take charge of his career. Colleen would ask for more responsibility at her advertising firm. The world was theirs for the taking. Nothing could stop them! The L&D nurse entered and checked on Coleen.

"Hey Coleen, how are you feeling?"

"Well actually pretty good. Although I am feeling more pressure in my abdominal area."

The nurse checks how far Coleen has dilated since her last check. She is at 8.5 centimeters. Almost time she thinks.

"Coleen your just about 9 centimeters on a scale from 1 to 10. The abdominal discomfort is to be expected, nothing to worry about. Now, I think that it is time to get you to a labor room so we can bring these girls into the world."

They both are now more than ready. All of their families have arrived at the hospital and are waiting for some news. Rick asks Coleen if he can give them a quick update and she tells him to hurry back. She doesn't want him to miss the birth of his daughters. He is bombarded by questions from her and his families. Being as polite as he can he answers them as quickly as he is able to and makes a bee line back to the labor room. He hears the cries first. It's music to his ears. His daughters are here and he could not be happier, knowing that they are safe and sound. He quickly dons a paper gown and mask and turns the corner. Then what he hears next rocks him to his core.

"Get me 50cc's of eppy, NOW!"

"Starting chest compressions now doctor Johnson."

"Nurse Mills, get the patient out of the stirrups and try to control the bleeding. The doctor takes over when the first nurse sees him approaching.

"Doctor why is she showing a heart rate on the monitor when I can't find a pulse?"

"Nurse I am at a loss." The doctor scrambles to find out why his patient has now gone from a perfect birth to a catastrophic event in less than 5 minutes.

"DOCTOR, what about an embolism? Either amniotic or blood?"

"Damn Mills How could I have missed that, quick check to see if the placenta has any signs of trauma from either a rupture or maybe an abruption!"

"Doctor Johnson the placenta looks like it has separated from the uterine wall and it is partially covering the cervix. This might have caused the amniotic fluid to enter her blood stream. Thus causing a blood clot in her lungs or possibly he heart or brain."

"Mills I don't understand she is under 35, she did not show signs of preeclampsia. Okay let's get a scan of her lungs and brain so we can get a handle on this. Just as the portable MRI machine arrives Coleen's heart rate drops once again. She has now been medically dead for 5 minutes. This time there is no way to get her heart started again. Rick had been pushed back to the wall just inside the door. He heard everything. He was in shock. Nurse Mills walked by on her way out of the room, giving him an apologetic look.

Other staff followed and then before he could leave doctor Johnson turned to see Rick standing there leaning against the wall, a look of disbelief written all over his face. He knew that he needed the truth so he gently drew Rick out of his daze. He places a hand on Rick's shoulder and starts to explain what happened to his wife.

"Mr. Rodgers, It turns out your wife had suffered from a Amniotic fluid embolism. It is rare, however the conditions that your wife was presented with had us fighting the wrong diagnosis. We wasted precious seconds trying to get the proper treatment for what we thought was heart failure."

Rick just stares at his wife's lifeless body lying on the OB delivery bed. How could things go so wrong in less than 15 minutes. He had only explained to their families what was going on and he was right back in there with her.

Dr. Johnson, can I see my daughters?"

"By all means Mr. Rodgers. I'll have a nurse bring you to the nursery. You will have forms to fill out for the birth certificates and other hospital information...the doctor hesitates because Rick is giving Dr. Johnson a look that could kill.

"Well maybe we can put those forms on the back burner for now. But we will need to fill out the paperwork for their names. Please tell the nurse and we will note it in the file for the girls."

"I will, and thanks Dr. Johnson."

Rick makes his way to the nursery and peeks though the glass searching. Before long he spots his girls. A seasoned nursing supervisor raises her hand up towards the glass and gives Rick the come hither motion with her index finger. He moves to the door that leads to the entry way for the nursery. His wrist ID is scanned as he enters the room by another nurse. He then walks up to the nurse who told him to come in.

"Mr. Rodgers, first let me say that I'm so sorry for your loss."

"I'm sorry what was your name?"

"My apologies Mr. Rodgers, I'm Jennifer Groh. I am in charge of the nursery."

"Thank-You Jennifer for your kind words. I'm here to fill out the forms for the birth certificates and maybe hold them for a minute or two."

"That's a great idea. I'll roll one over. Right over there we have a couple of rocking chairs for the patients to use while they are here.

"That will be fine, thanks.

As Rick rolls the baby's bassinet over to the rocking chair, he notices that this twin was the first twin to be born. This makes his decision easier. He names her Olivia. The second twin he will name Alyssa. Jennifer brings the second bassinet to him and he settles them both into his arms and rocks them gently back and fourth, as a lone tear glides down his cheek one day he will tell them what happened the day they were born and how their mom had made the ultimate sacrifice.

Thoughts? Please review. Continue or not?