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Robby shivered as he sat on a very uncomfortable visitor chair in the NICU. His whole body shook as he clutched his arms around himself.
The steady and soft beeping of monitors filled the room, but he had only eyes for their three day old daughter.
He knew his body was screaming at him to get into his nest, to stay warm with his pup.
But his pup was stuck.
Stuck in an incubator fighting for her life.
A tear slipped out of his eye and slowly ran down his cheek. He quickly wiped it away with his hand.
He had never wanted anything more than to have this baby.
He didn't deserve to call himself an omega.
He couldn't even carry his pup to full term, what kind of omega couldn't carry their pup?
They didn't knew if she were even going to make it through the week.
This was his fault… or at least it felt like it was.
Another tear slipped out.
Something in the air changed that made his nose twitch.
The scent of warm sandalwood filled his nostrils.
Jack.
He turned his head to the right, meeting his alpha's eyes.
Jack looked at him with concern, his brows wound tight. He laid a attentive hand on his omega's shoulder, clicking his tongue disapprovingly.
"Baby, you're way too cold." He said, huffing worryingly as he scented the top of Robby's head.
"I-It's f–fine…" Robby stuttered out, his teeth clattering.
The alpha let out a light scoff.
"C'mon, let's get you warm. You need to get back in bed. I don't have to tell you how dangerous it is to be out of your nest so soon after giving birth." He muttered into Robby's hair.
Robby shook his head, "I–I can't go home… I gotta be close." He whimpered.
Jack hummed, running his hand through Robby's hair softly before muttering, "You won't have to leave the hospital."
The omega scowled in confusion, pulling his body back so he could look up at him.
"W–What?"
Without a word Jack took off his thin jacket and draped it over Robby's shoulders. He leaned his head down and bumped his forehead onto his mate's head with a low purr.
"Trust me." He cooed, rubbing his nose on the side of Robby's temple.
Robby eyed the incubator, his eyes welling up with more tears.
He couldn't leave.
He had to be here.
What if he missed something?
Jack's soothing scent became stronger, clearly sensing Robby's inner turmoil. It calmed him down slightly.
But the thought of leaving his pup here all alone made his inner omega inconsolable. Still he trusted his mate with his life, their pup's life.
He held out his hand, silently asking for assistance. Jack immediately took it into his own, slowly helping him stand up.
Robby leaned on him as Jack moved them towards the exit. He couldn't help but to glance back at their daughter one last time. He quickly pressed his face into his mate's neck, squeezing his eyes close.
Robby tried to focus on Jack's scent the whole time as the smell of the NICU faded away and they stepped into the elevator.
Jack's arms slipped around him as the elevator doors closed, a low purr came from the alpha. Robby buried his face closer, his body still shivering. The cold had seeped so deeply into his bones, Robby had the inane thought he would never be warm again.
The elevator dinged and Jack began to lead him again, Robby just let him.
All he felt was the bone deep chill and a big hole of despair that was growing steadily in the pit of his stomach.
A piece of his soul was left behind in the NICU.
"Here we go." Jack muttered.
Robby opened his eyes, his mouth dropped open in disbelief.
They were in his hospital room but it didn't look the way it did when he left earlier.
Instead of the harsh lights from the ceiling, the room was bathed in a soft warm glow from two small yet familiar table lamps.
The smell of the room filled his nose slowly.
Home.
His brows furrowed as he took in the space until his eyes landed on the bed.
His nest was piled onto the hospital bed, almost exactly how he had left it at home. His soft pillows and blankets posed just how he wanted.
Robby's eyes welled up with tears, he bit his lip as his chin began to quiver. Jack rubbed his arms, trying to warm him up. Robby felt his breath on his neck as he pressed a gentle kiss to his mating mark.
"I brought the nest to you." He mumbled, his stubble slightly tickling the sensitive skin of his neck.
The omega shuddered at the feeling. A soft chirp slipped out of him before a steady purr erupted deep within his chest.
"Thank you." His voice wavered, the tears slipping down his cheek as he closed his eyes. He leaned back against Jack.
The alpha nuzzled his nose right behind his ear, letting out a soft rumble to try to sooth him. He lightly nudged Robby's side.
"C'mon… let's get you warm."
Robby sniffed and faintly nodded, he felt Jack put his arm around him for support. They made their way to the bed without hurry, moving steadily in his pace.
As soon as Robby was in arms length of the nest he started to make a few adjustments, moving a pillow or two slightly so they were perfect. He tried to hop up on the bed by himself but only got his butt up before he felt too fatigued, a low whine escaping before he could stop himself.
Jack chuffed and bended down, pulling his legs up. He swiftly removed Robby's hospital slippers and socks and somehow retrieved a pair of wool socks from his go-bag.
Robby made a confused sound, but the alpha just put the socks on and tucked his legs under a blanket. He laid another even thicker blanket over him before huffing and moving to the other side of the bed.
He climbed into the nest and slipped under the covers, scooping the omega into his arms, Robby squirmed and weakly pushed against him.
"No, no… you need to leave." Robby uttered out, he was absolutely spent, there wasn't an ounce of energy left in whole body. But still he tried to get the alpha out of the nest. "You need to be with our pup…" He whined.
Jack sighed softly, his arms gripping Robby tighter as he shook his head.
"She's fine, she has excellent nurses and doctors looking out for her." Jack tucked Robby's head into his neck, "You on the other hand need to get warmer." He muttered and pressed a kiss to his temple, running his fingers though the omega's hair, scratching his scalp lovingly.
Robby whimpered, jerking his head again.
Jack shushed him as his hand slipped down Robby's back and rubbed intensely, trying to get some warmth back into him.
"I promise as soon as you're warm enough I'll go and check on her." He said and placed another kiss to the side of Robby's head.
A soft whine slipped out of Robby as he reluctantly pressed closer to his mate. Jack's tender embrace gradually warmed his icy skin, the coldness in his bones easing a little. But he still itched to hold his baby.
The painful sensation of something missing, as if a part of himself was violently ripped out of him, ached vigorously inside his chest.
Robby whined again, nuzzling his face right onto the mating mark on Jack's neck, breathing in the alpha's familiar and comforting scent. He felt the exhaustion taking over, his whole body heavy and his head foggy.
With the very last of his energy, he muttered out a tired, "Okay…"
Jack's chest vibrated lowly as he let out a purr, Robby couldn't help but to reciprocate. Their purrs mixing together made the room feel heavenly.
Robby's eyelids grew heavier and heavier by the second.
It wasn't long til sleep pulled him under.
…
The faint and delicate scent of his new born made his nose twitch awake.
His heart jumped to his throat as he snapped his eyes open. Jack stood by his bed with a worried look on his face, a soft pink baby blanket in his hands. Without thinking he slipped his hand out from the covers, his fingers itching to hold his baby.
Robby let out a whine as he realized their pup wasn't there.
His mate chuffed, quickly moving closer and putting the piece of cloth next to Robby's face before leaning down to press a kiss onto the top of his hair. Robby gripped the blanket fiercely afraid it would disappear.
"She's okay…" Jack muttered, his voice a little muffled by the hair, "I just thought you would like to scent her."
Jack rubbed his shoulder through the covers as he pressed more kisses to the side of his head.
A lump began to form in Robby's throat, his eyes burning as he looked at the pink baby blanket. The sweet and soft scent of their newborn daughter filled his nose.
As he blinked the tears broke loose and he pressed his face into the blanket.
A broken sob ripped it's way out of his throat.
"Shh…shh…" Jack softly shushed as he laid his hand on Robby's head, muttering soft word of comfort in his ear.
But Robby didn't care.
All he wanted was to hold his pup
But he couldn't…
They didn't even know if she would live through.