Ignoring the increasing feeling of panic in the pit of her stomach she instead focussed on the task at hand, trying to convince her stubborn two and a half year old to come over to her and put his shoes on. Instead he was running around the hall crying "no!" with so much energy she just didn't have today. Her patience was unusually thin causing her to snap at the difficult toddler just as her partner came round the corner into the hall. His face creased in confusion, it wasn't like her to snap at Paul if anyone it was him who'd crack. Her head was bowed, eyes shut, as she used two of her fingers to massage her forehead in frustration, he wasn't sure she'd even seen him. He manages to grab the energetic toddler just as he makes a bolt for the kitchen before sitting him forcefully down on the stairs and finally succeeding in getting his darn shoes on. Duffy on the other hand simply forces herself up off the floor before attempting to leave Ryan to it, as if he'd left her off that easily.

"Lisa?" She stopped dead, not up to this conversation at all. "Is everything alright?" Bundling the toddler into his arms he jumps back on his feet before placing a worried hand on his partners shoulder.

She flinches despite trying her hardest not too and simply shakes her head desperately trying to keep her emotions at bay. "I just don't feel very well." she begins to leave the room before adding "and I'm going to be late."
Calling after her, Paul still in his arms, he doesn't buy it for a second but knew better than to question her now. "I'll get the kids sorted, you head."

A "Are you sure?" was called back before a "Okay thanks, See you later." and the door shutting. No goodbye to the kids, the other were still attempting to get up, and no goodbye kiss. He hadn't a clue what was wrong with her but it was beginning to worry him. She'd been off for the past few weeks and it was only getting worse. They'd been happy since moving to New Zealand a year ago now but maybe she was regretting it.

Driving to work, a maternity hospital not far from home, it was the last place she wanted to be right now to the point where she'd considered phoning in sick but simply couldn't do it knowing how short staffed they were right now. The job was part time but recently she'd been doing more and more hours thanks to lack of staff. This wasn't the plan. Plus her boss Darcy wouldn't buy it. Maybe a busy shift would distract her? She didn't hold out much hope though. She was just about to get out her car when she realised she hadn't said bye to the kids setting off a completely irrational set of tears she just couldn't stop. She was definitely going to be late now.

Some hours later she was hunched over a desk attempting to catch up on paperwork since for once it wasn't a busy shift but unbeknown to her there was eyes on her. Darcy wouldn't say she knew Duffy terribly well, there was a lot about her home life she simply didn't discuss but she could tell a mile of that her head was not here today and when Duffy was distracted something was wrong. If she were to be honest with herself she'd noticed Duffy was off for the past week or two but it was getting obvious now. Thankfully all the other staff were busy elsewhere leaving just Darcy and Duffy in the office, a rare occurrence, walking forward she shuts the door over to stop anyone disturbing them before taking a seat to Duffy.

Her head shot up on hearing the door close over but on seeing a determined looking Darcy heading for her she could only let out a heavy sigh. She was a good boss by all accounts, fair understanding and strict in the right areas. She was about 5 or so years older than Duffy and probably the person she identified most with in this place but right now she didn't want to talk and obviously Darcy did.

"Something wrong?" She lets out a small smile, enough to let Duffy know exactly what was wrong before she says a word.

"You tell me." Rolling her eyes she turns away from her boss, going back to her paperwork grumbling an answer. Hoping to be left alone.
"I don't know what you are talking about." She laughs, rolling her eyes in reply too now and only moves closer to her obviously stressed out staff member.
"Oh yeah? Then how come you have avoided every patient in this place as if they are carrying the plague? Not to mention the staff." Protesting, slightly too much, she spins round the chair too fast making her feel sick.

"I have not! You were the one complaining we'd got behind on paperwork." Giving her a simple look she sighs, this wasn't going to be easy and was obviously more serious than she'd expected.

"Come on Duffy. It's not that and you know it." Her head was firmly back in the paperwork, signifying the conversation was over as far as she was concerned.

"As I said I'm just catching up on paperwork." It was Duffy's turn to sigh now, telling herself not to get upset or she really would guess.
"Okay that's today. What about the past few weeks?" Ignorance was the only card she had left now, whilst screaming drop it in her head.

"I don't know what you mean." Sighing this wasn't going anywhere, she couldn't make her open up even if it would help her. Plus it really was none of her business as it hadn't really affected her work. Yet. Yes she was avoiding the patients but she was right paperwork did really need caught up on and when you had a ward of babies to coo over or woman in agony it rarely got focussed on.

"Duffy...If something is going on you can talk to me. You don't need to keep it bottled up you know." She could feel her emotions rising to the surface something she couldn't handle right now.. Trying to keep them in check she completely turns her back on Darcy once more hoping to pass the blame onto her youngest.
"I'm not. I'm just tired and Paul has really reached the terrible twos. He's driving us all mad." Giving in she shrugs her shoulders, unsure if she was been honest or not. Toddlers were a nightmare and she certainly wouldn't have wanted to still be fighting with them in her early forties. But something was stuck in her head and she just had to say it.

Okay if you insist. But if I didn't know any better I'd say you were pregnant." as soon as the words were out she seen the change in her body language. Her whole body stiffened as the room went deadly quiet. She'd expected an instant answer of "As if" or "not funny" but no answer at all was worrying. She felt the instant regret of her words.

"You're not are you?" no answer still. Placing her hands on her shoulder she twists Duffy's chair round to face her. "Duffy?" There were tears in her eyes and she knew if she opened her mouth she wouldn't be able to keep them at bay any longer so instead she just shrugs before burying her face into her hands as she finally cracks.