David wakes Erica with a kiss
Setting this in November 1999. I'm not really changing anything with D&E, except there isn't anymore "whatever" this is between us, bull. He loves her. She loves him. They've gone public and are happy together.
Ah, and now on with the show!
Chapter 1
“You don’t have to come with me,” Erica said, shaking her head as David walked along side her.
He shook his head back at her, “I need to be there to make sure that there’s nothing Joe misses.”
“What could you possibly pick up that Joe that and his team would miss?” She asked curiously.
“There could be something in your blood work, one of you test results, that I would connect to a problem with your heart. Joe may not make a connection like that.”
“My heart is fine,” She told him, hoping he’d finally be convinced. It wasn’t that she didn’t want him to come with her, it was the fact that he was so worried about her that she knew he’d ask a million questions, and probably subject her to more tests. She knew he was right in the end, if there was anything at all wrong with her heart he would be the first to find it.
She wished the whole thing would just end already. She’d fainted twice, once a month ago and once two weeks later. David was with her both times, and it had taken every thing she had to convince him not to take her to the hospital. Of course she let him check her out, ranting the whole time that she was just stressed and hadn’t eaten. He didn’t buy it, and had been after her since to let Joe Martin do a series of test on her. Today she got the results. Which she was sure would show nothing life changing.
“I need to be sure of that, Erica,” He told her, casting her a raised eyebrow, “Both times you collapsed your heart beat was beating rapidly. You’re only nine months out of surgery anything that makes your heart rate spike or slow is something that needs to be checked.”
“Fine, but don’t ask a million extra questions,” She told him, trying to sound firm, despite the soft smile that teased at her lips. “You promised me a night on the town tonight.”
“I know,” He said, laughing softly as they stopped in front of Joe’s door, “I’ll keep it to nine hundred ninety nine thousand.”
“Don’t even think about it,” She laughed, as he pushed the door open to the exam room Joe told her to meet him in.
“I only have your best interests at heart, Erica,” He told her with a smile, as she shook her head and they moved to sit down in the chairs opposite Joe’s desk.
She nodded, “I know, and I love you for it.” She smiled back, “But I’m sure there’s nothing to worry about.”
“I’m sure you’re right,” He said, finishing the last of the sentence just as the door opened, and Joe Martin appeared.
He nodded to them from the doorway, “Erica, David,” He greeted with a small smile as he headed into the room.
There was something in the test results Joe didn’t like. David didn’t have to see her file to know that. He could tell by the look on Joe’s face. By the ways he stood. His tense, almost apprehensive posture.
Joe took a seat and laid the file on his desk.
“Joe,” Erica started, offering him a sweet smile, “can you tell David that everything is fine? He owes me a night on the town and I’d like to get started with that.”
“What’s wrong with her?” David pushed out, losing the battle he’d been waging since Joe walked into the room, not to say anything.
Erica shot her eyes from Joe to David, and then back at Joe. “Joe? Is there something wrong?”
Joe drew in a deep breath and turned his eyes on David. “I don’t think wrong, is the word I want to use,” He pushed out, turning his attention back to Erica.
“I don’t understand,” Erica said, shaking her head.
Joe swallowed hard and moved to flip open the file, “You’re….you’re pregnant.”
Erica’s smile faded and she went a pale. “I’m…I’m pregnant?” She repeated, watching Joe nod.
David heard the words. But none of it registered. Not in the face of the still tense and apprehensive way Joe was still looking at them.
“We won’t know for sure how far along you are until Dr. Clader conducts an exam, but I’d say based on your test results between eight and nine weeks.”
David blew out a hard breath and turned his eyes on Joe, “What’s wrong with her?” He asked again, watching Erica’s eyes turn on him. Somewhere in the back of his mind he knew Joe just said Erica was pregnant. That he was going to be a father. But the rational part of his mind, the one that was in doctor mode knew there was more to this.
“I can’t be pregnant, Joe,” Erica started, sliding her eyes back to him, “Are you sure?”
Joe nodded, “Yes, you are pregnant.”
“The pregnancy is what’s stressing her heart, isn’t it?” David blew out, putting it all together in his head. If she was eight or nine weeks, that meant almost from conception her heart wasn’t handling the pregnancy.
Joe nodded, “That’s why you’ve fainted, why your heart rates have fluctuated and you’ve been short of breath.”
“That only happened twice,” She replied, the words jumping out of her mouth. She hadn’t had time to take all of this in, but she knew where this was going.
Joe nodded, “Its only happened twice, thus far. This pregnancy is already putting excess stress on your heart. And your collapsing is the result of your body feeling that excess stress.”
She nodded and turned her eyes on David. He was looking at Joe, his profile was hard and set, and she could see him deep in thought. “David?” She breathed, watching him blow out a hard breath before turning to look at her. “Say something.”
She didn’t want to hear what he had to say. In fact, he didn’t want to hear what he had to say. How was he going to do this without sounding like he didn’t want this child? He did. More then he could put into words. But he didn’t have to see her file to know what this all meant. Her heart couldn’t handle carrying this child to term.
“I want this baby,” She breathed, eyes locking with his. She was in shock, sure, but she wanted this baby. Of that there was no doubt. He didn’t have to say it for her to know what he was thinking. What he and Joe were going to tell her.
“Of course you do,” Joe said, nodding, “but you have to understand that you’re only nine months out of surgery and were just over six months when your child was convinced. Your heart isn’t strong enough to go through a pregnancy.”
“He’s right,” David breathed, not even needing to see her test results to know Joe was telling the truth.
Erica shook her head, blinking back tears that seemed to be sneaking up on her. “You tell me two minutes ago that I’m pregnant, and now you’re telling me to terminate my pregnancy,” She said, her voice cracking, “I haven’t even had time to process all of this.”
“I know this is a shock.” Joe started but she shook her head.
“When is doctor Clader available to conduct an exam?” She asked, watching David shake his head.
“He has time in about an hour if you’d…”
“Yes, I would.” She answered, cutting him off. What did they want from her? She’d come into Joe’s office five minutes ago, expecting to be on her way home to get ready for her night on the town, and instead she was dealing with the fact that not only was pregnant, but that this pregnancy would more then likely kill her. All she could think to do at the moment was see her baby, hear it’s heartbeat.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” David breathed, his own words cracking at the edges.
“I don’t care what you think,” She hissed, “I want to see my baby.”
He winced at her referring to their child as only hers. But he knew what she was doing. He knew she was pulling away. He knew she wasn’t hearing a word they said. He knew, that he was going to have to fight with her about this far longer and harder then he wanted too. He was sure that he loved her, so much sometimes that it hurt. And he was sure he wanted this baby. He just couldn’t have them both.
“Alright, I’ll let him know,” Joe breathed, “I need to see you next week. We need to…”
“Thank you, Joe,” She told hi quickly, “I’ll see you next week”
He nodded and shifted his eyes toward David, before getting up from his chair. He offered them a soft smile before heading for the door.
Erica waited to hear the door close before she spoke, “I’m going to see my baby in an hour. You can come if you want.” She told, her words hard and pointed, though she knew he heard the tears underneath. She pushed herself up from her chair and headed for the door.
He shook his head and moved quickly, so he could follow her out.
“I have nothing to say to you,” She hissed, hoping the door would close in his face after she was through it.
“That is my child you’re carrying,” He reminded her, trying to catch up to her.
“How can you say that and suggest I abort your child at the same time?” She half said, half asked the words stinging her lips.
“Hey,” He pushed out reaching out so that he could grab her arm, stop her, turn her to face him.
Her tears were falling by the time he had her facing him, “Let go.”
He shook his head and took a step toward her, “Listen to me,” He breathed, his voice softer now, her tears tugging at his heart.
She shook her head but made no attempt to move.
He moved his hands up to cup her face, his fingers brushing away a few tears, “I love you,” He told her, softly, his eyes locked with hers, “And I want this baby.”
She let out a hard gasp and shook her head, her tears falling harder now, “I just want to stop and take a breath.”
“I know,” He said back to her, “I know, come here.” He offered, pulling her into his arms. She pressed her cheek against his heart and slid her arms around his back, holding onto him like he was keeping her standing. That wasn’t far from true. She knew what it all meant. She was pregnant with their child. Their son or their daughter. A little person who would change their lives forever. A child whom staying pregnant with could kill her. How was she going to do this? How was she even going to start?
He pulled her close, and closed his eyes, hoping to keep the tears he felt stinging the back of his eyes from welling. He hadn’t even had time to process this. Realize that between them, safe inside of her was their child. They were six months into this relationship, and they were nowhere near ready for marriage. But he knew he’d love her and want her with him for the rest of his life. That just couldn’t happen if she continued with this pregnancy.
How the hell were they going to do this? And the hell did feel like he was going to lose a part of himself no matter which choice they made?
To be continued
Ah, and now on with the show!
Chapter 1
“You don’t have to come with me,” Erica said, shaking her head as David walked along side her.
He shook his head back at her, “I need to be there to make sure that there’s nothing Joe misses.”
“What could you possibly pick up that Joe that and his team would miss?” She asked curiously.
“There could be something in your blood work, one of you test results, that I would connect to a problem with your heart. Joe may not make a connection like that.”
“My heart is fine,” She told him, hoping he’d finally be convinced. It wasn’t that she didn’t want him to come with her, it was the fact that he was so worried about her that she knew he’d ask a million questions, and probably subject her to more tests. She knew he was right in the end, if there was anything at all wrong with her heart he would be the first to find it.
She wished the whole thing would just end already. She’d fainted twice, once a month ago and once two weeks later. David was with her both times, and it had taken every thing she had to convince him not to take her to the hospital. Of course she let him check her out, ranting the whole time that she was just stressed and hadn’t eaten. He didn’t buy it, and had been after her since to let Joe Martin do a series of test on her. Today she got the results. Which she was sure would show nothing life changing.
“I need to be sure of that, Erica,” He told her, casting her a raised eyebrow, “Both times you collapsed your heart beat was beating rapidly. You’re only nine months out of surgery anything that makes your heart rate spike or slow is something that needs to be checked.”
“Fine, but don’t ask a million extra questions,” She told him, trying to sound firm, despite the soft smile that teased at her lips. “You promised me a night on the town tonight.”
“I know,” He said, laughing softly as they stopped in front of Joe’s door, “I’ll keep it to nine hundred ninety nine thousand.”
“Don’t even think about it,” She laughed, as he pushed the door open to the exam room Joe told her to meet him in.
“I only have your best interests at heart, Erica,” He told her with a smile, as she shook her head and they moved to sit down in the chairs opposite Joe’s desk.
She nodded, “I know, and I love you for it.” She smiled back, “But I’m sure there’s nothing to worry about.”
“I’m sure you’re right,” He said, finishing the last of the sentence just as the door opened, and Joe Martin appeared.
He nodded to them from the doorway, “Erica, David,” He greeted with a small smile as he headed into the room.
There was something in the test results Joe didn’t like. David didn’t have to see her file to know that. He could tell by the look on Joe’s face. By the ways he stood. His tense, almost apprehensive posture.
Joe took a seat and laid the file on his desk.
“Joe,” Erica started, offering him a sweet smile, “can you tell David that everything is fine? He owes me a night on the town and I’d like to get started with that.”
“What’s wrong with her?” David pushed out, losing the battle he’d been waging since Joe walked into the room, not to say anything.
Erica shot her eyes from Joe to David, and then back at Joe. “Joe? Is there something wrong?”
Joe drew in a deep breath and turned his eyes on David. “I don’t think wrong, is the word I want to use,” He pushed out, turning his attention back to Erica.
“I don’t understand,” Erica said, shaking her head.
Joe swallowed hard and moved to flip open the file, “You’re….you’re pregnant.”
Erica’s smile faded and she went a pale. “I’m…I’m pregnant?” She repeated, watching Joe nod.
David heard the words. But none of it registered. Not in the face of the still tense and apprehensive way Joe was still looking at them.
“We won’t know for sure how far along you are until Dr. Clader conducts an exam, but I’d say based on your test results between eight and nine weeks.”
David blew out a hard breath and turned his eyes on Joe, “What’s wrong with her?” He asked again, watching Erica’s eyes turn on him. Somewhere in the back of his mind he knew Joe just said Erica was pregnant. That he was going to be a father. But the rational part of his mind, the one that was in doctor mode knew there was more to this.
“I can’t be pregnant, Joe,” Erica started, sliding her eyes back to him, “Are you sure?”
Joe nodded, “Yes, you are pregnant.”
“The pregnancy is what’s stressing her heart, isn’t it?” David blew out, putting it all together in his head. If she was eight or nine weeks, that meant almost from conception her heart wasn’t handling the pregnancy.
Joe nodded, “That’s why you’ve fainted, why your heart rates have fluctuated and you’ve been short of breath.”
“That only happened twice,” She replied, the words jumping out of her mouth. She hadn’t had time to take all of this in, but she knew where this was going.
Joe nodded, “Its only happened twice, thus far. This pregnancy is already putting excess stress on your heart. And your collapsing is the result of your body feeling that excess stress.”
She nodded and turned her eyes on David. He was looking at Joe, his profile was hard and set, and she could see him deep in thought. “David?” She breathed, watching him blow out a hard breath before turning to look at her. “Say something.”
She didn’t want to hear what he had to say. In fact, he didn’t want to hear what he had to say. How was he going to do this without sounding like he didn’t want this child? He did. More then he could put into words. But he didn’t have to see her file to know what this all meant. Her heart couldn’t handle carrying this child to term.
“I want this baby,” She breathed, eyes locking with his. She was in shock, sure, but she wanted this baby. Of that there was no doubt. He didn’t have to say it for her to know what he was thinking. What he and Joe were going to tell her.
“Of course you do,” Joe said, nodding, “but you have to understand that you’re only nine months out of surgery and were just over six months when your child was convinced. Your heart isn’t strong enough to go through a pregnancy.”
“He’s right,” David breathed, not even needing to see her test results to know Joe was telling the truth.
Erica shook her head, blinking back tears that seemed to be sneaking up on her. “You tell me two minutes ago that I’m pregnant, and now you’re telling me to terminate my pregnancy,” She said, her voice cracking, “I haven’t even had time to process all of this.”
“I know this is a shock.” Joe started but she shook her head.
“When is doctor Clader available to conduct an exam?” She asked, watching David shake his head.
“He has time in about an hour if you’d…”
“Yes, I would.” She answered, cutting him off. What did they want from her? She’d come into Joe’s office five minutes ago, expecting to be on her way home to get ready for her night on the town, and instead she was dealing with the fact that not only was pregnant, but that this pregnancy would more then likely kill her. All she could think to do at the moment was see her baby, hear it’s heartbeat.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” David breathed, his own words cracking at the edges.
“I don’t care what you think,” She hissed, “I want to see my baby.”
He winced at her referring to their child as only hers. But he knew what she was doing. He knew she was pulling away. He knew she wasn’t hearing a word they said. He knew, that he was going to have to fight with her about this far longer and harder then he wanted too. He was sure that he loved her, so much sometimes that it hurt. And he was sure he wanted this baby. He just couldn’t have them both.
“Alright, I’ll let him know,” Joe breathed, “I need to see you next week. We need to…”
“Thank you, Joe,” She told hi quickly, “I’ll see you next week”
He nodded and shifted his eyes toward David, before getting up from his chair. He offered them a soft smile before heading for the door.
Erica waited to hear the door close before she spoke, “I’m going to see my baby in an hour. You can come if you want.” She told, her words hard and pointed, though she knew he heard the tears underneath. She pushed herself up from her chair and headed for the door.
He shook his head and moved quickly, so he could follow her out.
“I have nothing to say to you,” She hissed, hoping the door would close in his face after she was through it.
“That is my child you’re carrying,” He reminded her, trying to catch up to her.
“How can you say that and suggest I abort your child at the same time?” She half said, half asked the words stinging her lips.
“Hey,” He pushed out reaching out so that he could grab her arm, stop her, turn her to face him.
Her tears were falling by the time he had her facing him, “Let go.”
He shook his head and took a step toward her, “Listen to me,” He breathed, his voice softer now, her tears tugging at his heart.
She shook her head but made no attempt to move.
He moved his hands up to cup her face, his fingers brushing away a few tears, “I love you,” He told her, softly, his eyes locked with hers, “And I want this baby.”
She let out a hard gasp and shook her head, her tears falling harder now, “I just want to stop and take a breath.”
“I know,” He said back to her, “I know, come here.” He offered, pulling her into his arms. She pressed her cheek against his heart and slid her arms around his back, holding onto him like he was keeping her standing. That wasn’t far from true. She knew what it all meant. She was pregnant with their child. Their son or their daughter. A little person who would change their lives forever. A child whom staying pregnant with could kill her. How was she going to do this? How was she even going to start?
He pulled her close, and closed his eyes, hoping to keep the tears he felt stinging the back of his eyes from welling. He hadn’t even had time to process this. Realize that between them, safe inside of her was their child. They were six months into this relationship, and they were nowhere near ready for marriage. But he knew he’d love her and want her with him for the rest of his life. That just couldn’t happen if she continued with this pregnancy.
How the hell were they going to do this? And the hell did feel like he was going to lose a part of himself no matter which choice they made?
To be continued
it might be the same for him as it is her but I think she might actually tell him how it's gonna be 
and I want that baby too!
Cliff caught her trying to escape. It was so very Erica.
