Jack's hands were shaking as he did so, wiping the muck of birth from his son's little body. Mel was straining up to see him, her fingers reaching toward him to touch him. For a moment Jack was paralyzed. Transfixed. Before he could close the blanket around him, he stared at him in sheer wonder. His son. Brought right out of his wife's body. Naked, covered with muck, squalling, and the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen.