Kitty's hands shook as she dialed the number she knew would help her. She had been caught, and this time was in more trouble than she could imagine. She leaned against the cold tile wall of the bathroom and sank to her feet, phone pressed to her ear.
It couldn't be happening.
But one swift glance at the little pink plus signs on the three thin white sticks was enough to answer that.
How did it happen?
She didn't know. Everything had been so carefully planned. This wasn't supposed to happen.
The phone rang a couple of times before a voice answered on the other end. "Hey Kitty."
"Quinn?" Kitty murmured into the phone.
"Are you okay?" Quinn's voice was instantly worried.
"No." Kitty was barely able to get the word out and her hands were trembling so much that she was afraid she would drop the phone.
"Kitty, what's wrong?" Quinn's voice rang terrified.
"I'm p-" She could barely get the word out. "I'm pregnant."
There was a silence.
"Have you taken a test?" Quinn broke the silence.
"Three." Kitty whispered. "I'm pregnant."
"Oh crap." Kitty heard Quinn mutter. "I'll be right over."
"Thank you, Quinn."
Quinn hung up and Kitty stood up, staggering out of the bathroom and into her bedroom. She pulled on a top and cardigan over her sports bra and swapped her pajama shorts for denim ones.
Quinn arrived in record time, and Kitty ran down to pull the door open for her, stepping out into the cool evening air. Quinn looked thoroughly freaked out, for good reason as well. "Kitty…" She murmured, holding a hand out." Seeing Quinn look so scared for her, so worried, suddenly brought everything back to reality for Kitty and the lump in her throat that had been threatening for so long finally surfaced and she burst into tears.
"Quinn, I don't know what to do." She cried between sobs and Quinn hastily pulled her into her arms.
"Come on, let's go inside." Quinn said gently. She pushed them two into the hall and guided Kitty up the stairs into her room, slamming the front door shut behind them. They walked up into Kitty's room and Quinn sat her down on the bed, following suit, pulling out a pack of tissues from her pocket and setting them down on the bed. She pulled Kitty into an embrace and Kitty sobbed into her shoulder. "Babe, it's okay. It's all going to be okay." She tried to comfort her, stroking her hair down. She slowly pulled away from Kitty to look her in the eye. "Hunter?"
Kitty nodded.
"When was the last time you two slept together?"
"When he came back for Christmas." Kitty sighed at the memory. "Oh crap…"
"Kitty, I thought I told you always use-"
"But we did! We used them and I was on birth control, we did everything! Quinn, I can't have a baby, I can't, I can't..." She broke down again and Quinn pulled her close.
"Shh." Quinn rocked her back and forth until her sobs and gasps quieted. "You need to tell him, sweetheart. The sooner the better. In fact" Quinn pulled away to reach for the phone that lay neglected on Kitty's bedside table. "You should do it now."
Kitty looked at the phone and took a deep breath before picking it out of her hand and searching around in her contacts. She finally came across Fort Benning Office and pressed the green phone.
"Fort Benning, how may I redirect your call?" Came the stern voice at the end.
"Hello, could I please have Mr Hunter Clarington? I believe he's a private." Kitty's voice shook with every word.
"May I know the reason for this call?"
"It's a… family issue. But it's urgent."
"I understand. Privates are currently having relaxing in their bunk so please allow us ten minutes to find him."
"Thank you."
The phone went absolutely silent. No hold music, no background noise, just silence. She looked over at Quinn who was watching her with raised eyebrows. "This is the main office, they've gone to find him."
"Why couldn't you call his cell?" Quinn frowned.
"He's not allowed to use it during the week." Kitty responded quickly, squeezing her eyes shut. A few minutes passed in this silence, with both of them staring at each other. Slowly, Quinn leaned over and took Kitty's hand into hers.
"It's going to be fine, Kitty." She said, a gentle smile on her face.
Before Kitty could reply, she heard movement on the other end of the line and held her breath.
"Katherine?" Hunter's voice came in loud and clear and her eyes widened.
"Hunter?" She croaked out.
Quinn smiled at her and stood up. "I'll just be outside." She said quietly, walking out of the room.
"Katherine, what's wrong? Why are you calling?" Hunter sounded worried. Of course, it was specified to family that they were only to call in an emergency.
It was now or never. "Hunter, I have to tell you something." She forced out of herself.