I know, I know. I suck! Having a job kinda stinks sometimes. Plus, every time I've sat down to work on this I have to fight off plot bunnies for way in the future on this story. But for points in my favor…this update more than doubles the total length of the story! (I have a master file of all the chapters as I get them written, without beginning/end notes, so I can keep track of just the story by itself. That file was at a little over 1700 words. This is 700 words more than that.)

I swear, I'm not abandoning this story. I know too much about where it's going to go, little things and big things that are going to happen. Hopefully I'll be able to get another update together before I take a few days to go home to Indiana.

Thanks to everyone who has R&R'd the other chapters. And also thanks to everyone for patiently waiting for this update. You guys are the best.

August 17

Union Station - Washington DC

10:45 a.m.

"Liv!" Casey shouted through the crowd as she saw Olivia reading a magazine at the café where they had arranged to meet.

Olivia looked up and smiled as Casey made her way through the mid-morning crowd. "It's about time." She stood and the two hugged.

"Look at you! You look great."

"I feel pretty good."

"How's work?"

"Different, but it's good so far." There was an awkward pause. "So, the white elephant in the room…"

"He said to tell you he hopes that you're happy here." Olivia nodded silently. After another short pause Casey smiled. "So what are we doing today?"

"Funny you should ask."

- - - - - - - - - -

George Washington University Medical Center

12:00 p.m.

"Liv, you're my best friend and I love you to death but you're a lousy date."

"I had the appointment before you said you wanted to come down this weekend. And it's not something I could really change, considering." She smiled. "Lunch after we leave. Anywhere you want."

"Deal."

"Miss Benson?" They both looked toward the hallway to the exam rooms.

"I have a friend here. Is it okay if she comes back with me?"

"Not a problem. This way, please." They followed her down a brightly painted hallway to, in Casey's opinion, the most well-furnished exam room imaginable. Casey walked around the room looking at the pregnancy posters and displays around the room while the nurse weighed Olivia, took her vitals, and asked general health questions. "Change into the gown and have a seat. Dr. Allison will be here in a few minutes."

"So are you really happy?" Casey asked once Olivia had changed and was seated on the exam table.

"I'm making myself be happy. 'A happy mother means a healthier, happier baby,' according to every pregnancy book I've read. And really, mostly I'm okay." Casey narrowed her eyes. "I said mostly."

"Okay. So what all is this appointment for?"

"Hopefully to find out if it's a boy or a girl." She smiled at Casey's excited squeal. "How's everyone else?"

There was a knock and the door opened before Casey could start any stories.

"Olivia?" They both looked up as the doctor came in. "And we have company this visit. Is this your birthing partner?" She smiled kindly at Casey.

"A friend visiting from New York."

"You're welcome to stay for the ultrasound, as long as Ms. Benson doesn't object." Olivia smiled and nodded. "Any problems or concerns in the last 4 weeks?"

"I think my morning sickness phase is finally over."

The doctor smiled. "Have you felt any movement yet?"

"Maybe? I've felt…something. I'm not positive if it was the baby or something else."

"It probably was the baby. Hopefully we'll be able to get some of that in the ultrasound today." She looked through notes in Olivia's chart and continued, "Your multiple marker screening was negative, which means we don't need to do an amnio, which is a very good thing for both of you. I need to do a quick exam then we can do the fun part." Casey again busied herself on the other side of the exam room during the exam, coming back to the table after doctor said she was finished. "Any questions for today?"

"None I can think of."

"Then I'll give you the same instructions as last time. Vitamins, good diet, exercise, rest when you can get it. You know the drill by now. Everything looks good so far. Gregg will be in for your ultrasound in…right now apparently," she corrected herself as the door opened after a polite knock. "And we'll make an appointment in four more weeks."

"Thank you." Casey grinned excitedly as the doctor left and the technician started setting up the ultrasound equipment.

"I see you're almost at 19 weeks, is that right?" Olivia nodded. "If I can get a good enough picture do you want to know what you're having?"

"Definitely." Casey stifled a giggle as Olivia pulled the paper gown up past her stomach. "What?" Olivia gave her an exasperated smile.

"You have a little belly. It's so cute! I just couldn't help it. Sorry. I'm being serious now." She pressed her lips together and stared at the monitor.

"Let me know if this is too cold." She tensed in anticipation as the tech squeezed a small amount of gel onto her skin. "Cold?"

"No, it's okay."

"You ready?" he asked as he placed the transducer on her belly. Olivia smiled as she heard her baby's heartbeat fill the room.

"Is that the heart?" Casey asked, awed.

"That's the heart," said Gregg, pointing to the screen with his free hand as he continued to move the transducer, "and here is the face." He pointed out facial features to them and printed out a couple of pictures.

Olivia jumped as they watched the baby stretch and kick on the screen. "I definitely felt that one."

"Let me see if I can get the right angle." He worked silently for a minute. "Here we go. You're sure you want to know?"

"Yes."

"Congratulations Ms. Benson. You have a very healthy 18-week-old baby girl."

"You're sure it's a girl?" Olivia was fighting her emotions.

"As sure as I can be. The ultrasound isn't 100 accurate, but I think I've got a pretty good angle. You want two pictures of this also?" Olivia nodded, smiling. He took all of the printed pictures and put them in a small folder and handed them to her. "Everything looks really good. You can clean up and get changed."

- - - - - - - - - -

Olivia's Apartment

Alexandria, VA

2:17 a.m.

Casey woke when she heard the noise. It was strange enough staying in the suburbs, without the noises of the city to lull her to sleep. The air mattress meant that she slept lightly enough that the slightest noise woke her. And this noise wasn't slight.

She silently walked to the kitchen, pulled the skillet used from dinner, sitting on the dish rack to dry, and made her way toward the bedroom door. Pushing the door open, she looked in to be sure it was clear to enter. She walked in the room, around the corner, and saw Olivia, sound asleep, moaning not in pain, as she'd originally thought.

"Elliot…El, please…"

Grinning, Casey made her way back out of the room as quietly as possible.

- - - - - - - - - -

August 19

9:30 a.m.

"So…good dream last night?" Casey hid her smile as she drank her orange juice.

"I guess. I don't really remember."

"You don't remember? That's very unflattering for him."

"What are you…"

"You woke me up. Moaning. I thought someone was in the room with you." At Olivia's blank look, Casey went on. "I never knew you talked in your sleep." Now blushing, Olivia busied herself with clearing the dishes from breakfast. "There's a history of this?"

"Once, when I was in Oregon. I thought I'd blown my cover."

Casey started to speak but thought better of her joke and closed her mouth for a second. "Any plans for today?"

"A little shopping, a few quick errands. Dana wanted me to bring you by this morning. She's in her office working on a few things."

"I can't believe you're a Fed now."

"How's Munch taking that news?"

"I actually don't think anyone's told him yet. His conspiracy mill is busy enough without you being brainwashed into becoming the enemy."

"So he thinks…what exactly?" She left the dishes to soak while they were gone for the day.

"I don't know. Lateral transfer to another city's department probably."

"Ready to go?" Olivia pulled her keys off the hook and followed Casey out of the apartment.

- - - - - - - - - -

Alexandria, VA

3:00 p.m.

"I never thought I would need this much stuff. I have no idea where I'm going to put it all."

"You haven't found a new apartment yet?"

"I'm on a couple hundred waiting lists. Hopefully I'll be able to go to a different apartment in my building. And stop it!" Olivia wrestled control of the scanner for the gift registry from Casey. "When you have a kid, you can pick out and scan all the pretty stuff you want to buy."

"You have to get sleep sacks."

"Why are you such an expert?"

"The Girlfriend's Guide to Pregnancy, plus five nieces and nephews in the last four years." The two fell into silence as they walked around Babies R Us. "Crib sheets." Casey pointed at a shelf as the walked down another aisle, then was silent again for a moment. "I swear this is the last time I'm bringing this up…"

"Casey." She faced her, gave her a warning look.

"I promised you I wouldn't tell him and I won't. But you don't know how hard it is to look him in the eye when he asks me about you, then lie."

"I'm sorry."

"No…I didn't mean to upset you. I know that this is twice as hard on you. I just…I don't know. I'm just worried about when it all comes out."

"So am I."

"So…you get doubles of all your ultrasound photos?"

"Yeah, for a book I'm keeping for him." She looked at her checklist. "I think we're done here."

- - - - - - - - - -

Union Station

Washington, DC

August 19

They sat at a coffee shop at the train station, waiting for boarding to start for Casey's train back to New York. "I wish you would have let me get the crib for you."

"I don't even know what crib I want to get yet. Besides, you got me a ton of stuff already. Between you and Simon I may not have to buy anything for this kid."

Casey's answer was interrupted by the announcement for her train. "Guess it's time. Any messages for anyone?"

"Casey."

"I mean anyone. Munch, Fin. Even Huang asks about you."

"Just let everyone know that I'm fine. I miss you guys so much." Casey puller her into a hug as another boarding call was made for her train.

"I have to go."

"Call me when you get there." Casey pulled back a little from the embrace.

"Yes mom."

"Hey, that maternal instinct is no joke." Olivia smiled through tear-filled eyes.

"Call me every week. Let me know what our girl is up to." She took Olivia's hand and stood back before she walked away.

"I will."

"Bye, Liv."

"Bye, Casey."