Chapter 25: A Father's Return
The heavy metal side door of the depot creaked open, and Thomas limped inside, his jacket torn, blood staining his left shoulder, but holding his service revolver firmly in his hand. He scanned the cavernous room before rushing toward the car.
"Dad!" Rebecca cried out weakly.
Thomas dropped to his knees beside the back door, taking his daughter's cold, trembling hand in his own. "I'm here, Becca. I'm right here."
"She's crowning, Tom! You have to help!" Marcus panicked, stepping back to give the veteran room.
Thomas didn't hesitate for a second. Decades of field crises, emergency responses, and sheer paternal instinct took over. He stripped off his bloodied outer jacket, rolled up his sleeves, and positioned himself beside the car seat. "I've got you, sweetheart. Just look at me. Take a deep breath and push."
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With a final, earth-shattering cry that echoed off the concrete walls of the railway depot, Rebecca bore down with every ounce of strength left in her broken, exhausted body.
And then, cutting through the sound of the rain, the sharp, beautiful cry of a newborn infant rang out into the cold air.
