Chapter 1

Since coming home alone Rita had managed to avoid going out to buy some alcohol, knowing that being drunk would only make her situation worse than it already was. She knew from experience that alcohol never solved anything and that it didn't help to numb the pain, it only prolonged it.

Not only was Rita experiencing a very harsh and dramatic emotional turmoil, but she was also suffering from bad abdominal cramps, they had started about an hour before her shift ended.

The cramps that Rita was experiencing were getting progressively worse, and she had taken painkillers that had proven to be ineffective.

Rita had no idea what to do. The pain was worsening every minute or so and every 4 or 5 minutes there would be a really bad pain, worse than the rest, lasting no longer than a minute.

10 minutes had passed and the pain was almost unbearable now and Rita was stuck for what to do. She didn't want to call an ambulance since she wasn't sure what was wrong and she didn't want to be taken to the ED where she worked, and where everyone now hated her, so she decided to call one of her friends instead.

Louise was the first person to come to her mind, although she hadn't forgotten the dirty look she had received from Louise in the car park a mere few hours previously. She decided to pick up the phone and try anyway; it wasn't like she had anything less to lose.

After ringing twice and getting no answer, Rita decided to try Robyn. Although Robyn was not the kind of person who easily forgave people, Rita hoped that he would at least be able to explain to Robyn what was happening and get some help.

Robyn didn't pick up either.

Rita couldn't call Iain – there was no question about that.

Could she call Connie? The two weren't friends, but as far as Rita was aware Connie knew nothing about Rita's lies. But the logical part of Rita's brain knew not to call Connie.

She'd have to call an ambulance. At least Iain and Jez were both off shift.

"This is Rita Freeman, 38 years old, severe abdominal cramps lasting a few hours, unknown cause, no loss of consciousness, pulse is a little high, resps are fine, BP is also a little high." The paramedic, Sasha, struggled to be heard over Rita's pain-filled screams.

"But how?" Rita was still in pain, although she had been given painkillers she was still wincing at the pain in her abdomen every few minutes or so and breathing on gas and air that she had been given, she was now also very scared at what the future would hold for herself.

"Rita, I don't think I need to explain to you how babies are made." Connie stood at the side of Rita's bed, not too close but not too far away, hoping that Rita was going to be able to safely deliver her baby, most likely within the next few hours.

"But…I can't be."

"Rita, you are pregnant."

This idea came to me pretty quickly and I thought it would make such an interesting story, since Rita currently has no-one and obviously she would need support with a baby.

I'm going on holiday today and, even though there is internet access, I won't have my laptop to write or upload anything. I'll have a notebook with me and more pens than I could ever need, so I'll hand-write everything before typing it up and uploading it. I'll be back on Sunday afternoon, but it's not likely that anything will be uploaded before Monday or Tuesday.