"Breathe! Breathe Suze"
John shouted over the sound of the rain hammering on the car roof. His wife sat on the back seat gripping the head rests in front. He caught a glimpse of her in the rearview mirror.
"Not long now babes" he said, hoping that was true.
"Ten minutes and we'll be there."
In the mirror Susans face was contorted with pain, her hair, soaked in sweat, stuck to her forehead.
John pressed the accelerator a little harder, ninety-five shaking on the dial.
"Bloody rain" he cursed under his breath. The wipers could barely keep up with the lashing on the windscreen.
"How...long...John?"
Susan was breathing heavy now, panic in her voice. John could feel how tight she was gripping the head rest. She's going to rip that off in a minute, he thought.
"Not long Suze, not long" he repeated, as much to reassure himself as his pain stricken wife.
In truth he had no idea how long.
In truth he had no bloody idea where they were.

The clock on the dashboard glowed 3:02 am.
That can't be right John thought, gripping the steering wheel until his knuckles ached white. We've been on this motorway for ages, "Shit, why did I take this road?"
"Please...HURRY...John!"
Desperation in her voice now.
This is not good, do something, say something. John checked the mirror and for a split second he didn't recognize who that was in the reflection, someone in a hell of a lot of pain, he thought wincing. Shit!
"I am Suze, I am. Deep breaths babe, just like we practised, okay?" Well that was feeble John boy.
The rain was falling so hard John could barely see anything in the blackness that surrounded them.
When will this road end?
John checked the clock, 3:07 am. Shit! I'm an architect for christs sake. I design buildings for a living, and I can't even find a goddamn hospital. Should have done medicine, should have become a doctor, should have...
"IT'S COMING JOHN!!"
Johns heart stopped, his mind numb. It seemed an age to him before he realised what she had said. It's coming. What? The hospital, the daylight, the b...?
"Are you sure?"
"YES I'M FRIGGING SURE!! STOP THE CAR"
The voice seemed alien to him, but the command was not. In the mirror Susan's eyes were pleading for him to help her. The sound of erratic breathing, the wild terrified expression, the steam rising from her like a devils mist, all led John to the same conclusion.
In that fleeting second he knew.
This is bad!