Author: Melissa Larkin
Disclaimer: I do not own ER or any of the characters portrayed in this story.
Married Life
Mark Greene exited the bathroom of the house he shared with his wife of four months, Susan Lewis. Mark smiled at the sight of his wife, still sound asleep. With a glance at the clock, followed by a slight frown on his face, Mark went to wake Susan. He hated to interrupt whatever dream she was having, especially since she had a smile on her sleeping face.
"Sus, wake up," Mark said gently. Susan stirred in her sleep and slightly opened her eyes. "Morning, sleepyhead." Mark kissed his wife and pushed her hair away from her eyes. "Were you having a good dream?"
"Mhmm," Susan yawned. "I dreamt we were able to sleep in for as long as we wanted."
"Don't I wish!" Mark laughed. "I saved you some hot water in the shower."
"Thanks," Susan replied as she returned Mark's earlier kiss. She got out of bed and padded into the bathroom. She exited a few minutes later and went to the desk in the corner of their bedroom. Susan opened a drawer and took out a small calendar. "Hmm."
"What?" Mark asked as he looked up from tying his shoes.
"I'm late," Susan said, not turning around to look at Mark.
"No, we have plenty of time," Mark said. He walked over to Susan and wrapped his arms around her waist.
"No, not that type of late," Susan replied with a laugh. "I'm three days late with my period." She turned around and looked at Mark. "I might be pregnant."
"Pregnant?" Mark said, a look of surprise across his face.
"Yeah," Susan said quietly. "I know we haven't been married long, but we also haven't used protection much lately."
"Wow," Mark responded, then broke out into a huge grin. "We're pregnant!"
"I don't know for sure," Susan said, her own face the picture of joy. "I've been a couple of days late before, but we haven't used any kind of birth control since the wedding. It's possible."
"I love you," Mark declared, and kissed Susan passionately. He took her face in his hands and stared into her eyes. "Even if we're not having a baby yet, I want you to know how much I love you."
"I do know," Susan replied. "You show me every day."
Later that morning, at County General Hospital, Susan approached Dr. Abby Lockhart. Not only was Abby Susan's best friend, she was also a former OB/GYN nurse. Susan figured she was the best person to talk to on both parts.
"I need a favor," Susan said quietly after both doctors were in the lounge.
"Sure, what is it?" Abby asked.
"I want you to draw some blood and run a pregnancy test," Susan responded.
Abby appeared surprised and then grinned. "Really?"
"I'm not one hundred percent sure," Susan admitted. "I'm only three days late, but Mark and I haven't used any sort of birth control since we were married."
"Of course I'll do it," Abby promised. "When's a good time for you?"
"Now?" Susan said with a small laugh. "I really want to know if I'm pregnant or not."
"Sure, now's fine. It's pretty quiet out there."
"Don't say that," Susan laughed, "or we'll end up with multiple traumas!"
Abby grinned and escorted Susan to an empty exam room. She quickly drew the blood and sent it up to the lab. The results would be faxed to the ER within a couple of hours.
Abby glanced at the fax machine a couple of hours later as she finished working on her patients' charts. She sighed impatiently and returned to her work.
"Staring at it won't make the fax work any faster," her boyfriend, Luka Kovac, gently chided. "Waiting for something important?"
"Just some blood work on a patient," Abby replied. Luka wrapped his arms around Abby and kissed her. "Is this a distraction, Dr. Kovac?"
"Yes," Luka responded. "Would you like to have dinner with me tonight?"
"Definitely," Abby said, and kissed Luka. "And every night."
"Hearing that makes me happy," Luka said and grinned. "Very, very happy." The couple kissed again and then the fax machine beeped, signaling an incoming fax. Abby pulled away from the kiss and waited impatiently.
"Come on," she said. The paper exited the machine and Abby checked the name. It was Susan's test result. Abby folded the paper, not wanting to invade her friend's privacy. She kissed Luka again quickly and ran off towards the trauma room.
Mark and Susan were exiting a successful trauma when Abby ran up to them.
"The results you wanted just arrived," she said, trying to appear nonchalant.
Susan took the paper and looked around. "Is the lounge free?"
"I didn't see anyone go in for the past ten minutes," Abby replied.
"Thanks," Mark said, and he and Susan quickly walked off.
"Good luck," Abby said softly.
Mark closed the door of the doctor's lounge and walked over to Susan.
"Are you ready?" he asked.
"As ready as I'll ever be," Susan answered. She unfolded the paper and read the results. As her face fell, Mark instantly knew that his wife wasn't pregnant.
"Negative?" he asked quietly.
"Yeah," Susan said tensely. She crumpled the paper into a ball and tossed it into the trash can. "It's just as well. We're newlyweds, we want time to ourselves first, right?" Mark noticed the shakiness in Susan's voice.
"Come here," he said gently, and wrapped his arms around Susan. "I wanted us to be pregnant," he whispered into her ear. Susan began to shake as the tears fell. "I did too." Mark stroked her hair as Susan sobbed. Susan looked at Mark a few moments later, her face streaked with tears. "Mark, what if I can't get pregnant? What then?"
"Don't think that way" he replied. "If you're concerned, make an appointment with Janet Coburn. But don't immediately give up, Susan." Mark guided Susan to the sofa. They sat down, Mark still holding Susan.
"But what if I can't give you a child, Mark?" Susan inquired.
"I don't want you to think negatively," Mark answered.
"Mark, please, just answer me," Susan said, a tone of desperation in her voice.
Mark sighed. "Susan, I married you because you are not only my best friend, but you are my life. I'd like us to have a child together, but if we don't, as long as I get to wake up next to you each morning, to hold you in my arms, then I'm happy." He leaned in and kissed Susan. "But please don't let this one negative result get you down, okay?" Susan nodded and rested her head on Mark's shoulder.
"We should get back," she said quietly.
"They can wait a few minutes for us," Mark replied. He kissed Susan's head and gently stroked her hair. They sat in silence together for a while.
