Title: Parasitic

A/N- Cestoda is a tapeworm for anyone who was left unaware, and the pecs are the pectoral muscles. If you still don't know where those are located, make flex the muscles the make you boobs bob. Congatulations, you've found them (though that is not their primary function :P)-Andi

Chapter Two: Now What?

Unlike with planning their wedding, Greg and Allison felt a bit more secure with planning for a baby. The medical aspect of it at least.

Even though Greg was well aware that Allison was perfectly capable of making breakfast for herself, he couldn't help rolling out of bed before her to get their morning meal made.

Blinking her eyes open, Allison laughed at the sight of her husband carrying a bowl of cereal and a glass of apple juice for her. "Aww, you brought me breakfast!" She cooed, patting the bed and having him sit down by her as she ate the food he'd brought her.

"Wanted to make you something more filling, but I wasn't sure if the little guy could fight off potential food poisoning so early." Greg smiled. "No queasiness, or acid reflux this morning?" He checked.

Allison shook her head, "Nope, not yet." She laughed, "But it hits me whenever it wants. We need to seriously consider marking a petition for it to be written into all medical books as "whenever sickness" instead of that lie of it only being in the morning."

"It doesn't say only in the morning, it says typically in the morning." Greg tapped her nose as she finished the cereal and he took the bowl from her.

"What, did you read up on it last night while I was asleep? Brushing up on your Pre-natal?" She laughed, but at the look he shot her; one that said "how did you know that!?"; she quickly stopped laughing. "You really did start reading up on it while I was sleeping, didn't you?"

She padded across the floor, following him into the kitchen, "I just thought, we should probably be as prepared as possible, and as doctors, we have an upper hand." He smirked, setting the bowl in the sink and leaning against the counter to look at his wife, before reaching out a hand to circle around her waist. However, he failed to tell her that before rolling out of bed that morning, he had placed a chaste kiss on her still flat, firm tummy and greeted his child with a "good morning".

"You're adorable." Allison sighed, wrapping her arms around her husband and burying her face into the crook of his neck. "I love you."

"Mm, love you too." House nipped her earlobe. "I'm going to enjoy watching you get fat."

Allison pulled away, jaw agape, "What a thing to say!" She gave him a little shove.

"All big and round with my love child." He continued to tease relentlessly.

"I'm not going to get that big!" Allison pouted, though she rubbed her stomach self-consciously.

Pulling her back to him, Greg kissed her throat now, "We're going to have to tell Cuddy today. You can't go anywhere near radiology, you can't do a lot of things actually." His brow furrowed slightly. "Hmm..."

"I don't like your "hmm" face. "Hmm" face means my life is about to end as I know it." Allison looked at her husband with slight trepidation.

"Rachel is your lead 'gal in the department right?" Greg checked with his wife.

"... Yeah... Why?" Her eyes narrowed, suspicious of her husband's plot for the next, roughly, 36 weeks.

Sitting down on the couch, Greg thought for another moment, "I was just thinking that... Maybe you should just stick with the desk work that accompanies being a department head. You know? Decrease the amount of patience you see, and just take it easy."

"Honey, I'm pregnant, not in cancer remission." Allison pointed out, sitting next to him on the couch as Kane came trotting in.

Smiling slightly, Greg pulled her closer, "I know, but working in a hospital can be stressful, and I don't want you over doing yourself. You're going to be tired enough as it is, and I don't want you wearing yourself out."

Allison's eyes narrowed, "Mmhmm, this coming from the guy who puts his life on the line every chance he can get?"

"I'm not the one growing a person inside of me."

"No, you're not, but I need you to stay healthy so that you can take care of me." She put on her big, doe eyes, melting his heart immediately, "Just don't do anything stupid." She cuddled close to him, knowing that she'd already convinced him to take it easy himself. "I need you." Her eyes shut, and Greg watched an expression of concentration consume her features.

"Breakfast coming up?" He asked, and grimaced at her nod as she placed her hand over her stomach and tried to quell the rising contents of her digestive tract.

Standing up quickly, Allison bolted for the bathroom and quickly relieved herself of her morning meal. Greg was by her side in moments, pulling her hair from her face.

"Thanks." She spit into the toilet and closed her eyes. Straightening up, she leaned against him slightly before making absolutely certain that she was through before flushing the basin clean. Brushing her teeth, Allison looked at her husband, "I'm not going to enjoy this part very much." She said weakly, scrubbing her tongue, and effectively triggering her overactive gag reflex. Hunching over over the sink, she heaved up a bit of residue stomach acid and brushed her teeth again. Gargling some mouthwash, Allison looked at her husband in the mirror.

"It'll be okay." Greg tried to reassure, but being just as new to the real life experience of pregnancy, he wasn't quite sure. The doctor in him knew that women varied in their symptoms. Some had it easy, while others went through hell, and his heart ached, hoping that she'd be one of the lucky ones and that he wouldn't have to witness her turmoil.

Closing her eyes, Allison took a deep breath before lacing her fingers with his and tugging him back towards the living room. "I'm so tired..." She commented, flopping down and letting Greg's arms wrap around her as he sidled up behind her on the sofa.

"Do you want to stay home today?" He asked, running his fingers through Allison's hair.

"No, I'm gonna need to save my sick days for when I really need them."

"Ally-"

"I'm fine." She insisted.

"Okay." He sighed, shaking his head, "We need to start getting ready for work then."

"In a minute." Allison let her eyes close, just enjoying the comfort of being held in such a fatigued status.

"Just remember, anytime you need a break, or a nap or anything; just come to my office and catch some rest on the couch." Greg continued to stroke her hair.

"Okay." She mumbled, already falling back asleep.

As his wife lulled between wakefulness and sleep, Greg began to consider letting her pass out and sneaking off to work without her. Unfortunately, he was all to aware of the fact that she could catch a cab and still come into work, and all that would have been accomplished would be himself earning a spot on the couch to sleep that night. With a sigh, Greg gave her a little jostle, waking her entirely from her catnap.

"Mmm, that extra couple of minutes really helped." She stretched. Greg laughed and stood up, helping Allison to her own feet. Making their way to the bathroom, they showered together, hands wandering ever so slightly over damp skin. "Taking advantage of me in my weakened state." Allison mumbled as Greg's hands drifted southward, tickling sensitive flesh and feigning innocence.

"Better believe it." He gave her a slight hug as his hands drifted across the rest of her body.

"I hope this is what I have to look forward to for the next eight months." She laughed as he turned off the water and they clambered out of the shower.

"Eight?"

"I did the math in my head. I should be at about four weeks."

"Hooray for period math." Greg toweled her off after wrapping his own towel around his waist.

"I don't want to wait another month to get my first ultrasound!" He could hear the giddiness of his wife's voice.

With a bit of a laugh in his voice, Greg laced an arm around her waist, "I'll write you out a prescription for your prenatal vitamins when we get to the hospital." He changed the subject, already plotting in his head.

Biting her lip, Allison thought for a moment, "Greg... I don't want to tell anybody yet... I mean, I know we have to tell Lisa, but..."

"That's unusual." Greg said as he pulled on his boxers and scanned the floor for a somewhat clean pair of jeans. "You not wanting to announce our life status at the soonest possible moment."

Flushing slightly, Allison went through her own drawers to dress for work, "It's just that..."

"You don't want people treating you differently." Her husband pointed out as he found his jeans at last.

"I knew you'd understand that."

"Oh no, I absolutely, loved when people tried to hold doors for me when I walked around with my cane." Kane's head shot up from her new spot on the bed, "Not you." Kane settled her head back down.

Allison laughed, "You're so in tune with me." She sighed, as she walked over to her husband, her half naked body enticing him more than he would like for so early in the morning.

Adjusting her askew bra strap, Greg gave her lips a gentle caress with his own, "Can't hide it forever though."

"Just for a little bit." She pleaded, "We don't need an OB right now anyway."

"I'm not going to lie, prenatal is not really my expertise." Greg pointed out as they finished dressing and headed out to walk Kane before work.

"Do you think she'll be okay with a baby?" Allison bit her lip as Kane walked around with them towards the park.

"I don't see why not, she loves your nephew." Greg looked at his wife.

"Yeah, but Danny doesn't keep Kane awake at all hours of the night with high pitched wails, and he doesn't distract our attention from her constantly." Allison seemed to become more and more uneasy as she thought about it, "I don't want to.. To have to..."

"NO!" Greg stopped walking, "You are not going to make yourself emotional, now stop it." He said firmly. "Kane will be fine."

The dog watched her owners, the whole time through her walk and when they left her at the apartment before disappearing to work, the dog sat at the door for a long moment. Finally, Kane went about catching her morning nap.

-------------------------------

Walking into PPTH, Allison self-consciously wrapped her coat tighter around her body. She knew that she shouldn't feel so paranoid, and that no one would know just by looking at her. After all, she'd have to say something for anyone to know, and that was the last thing she planned on doing. Still, her hands clamped the coat tighter.

"Relax." Greg murmured to her, noticing her actions. "I'm going to talk to Cuddy, I'll drop by your department after you're done in the clinic." He gave her a small, brief kiss before disappearing.

Making his way to his nemesis's office, Greg didn't bother knocking, merely flinging the door open, "I need to talk to you." He said, flopping into the chair across from Lisa's desk, completely disregarding the fact that she was on the phone. She held up a finger and finished talking before hanging up.

"I know!" Cuddy slammed down the phone.

"You do?"

"Yes, I know you're going to kick and scream after what happened last time I brought you along for a lecture, but this is really important." Cuddy assured, "After Ca-... Allison got sick on your last out of town trip; I know that you don't want to-"

"Quiet... Wait... Out of town trip?" Greg's mouth went agape, "I can't go out of town right now. Ally's-"

"She's not sick again is she?" Cuddy's eyes narrowed, ready to do a thorough exam of Greg's wife if he claimed that she was.

"Not persa..." Greg tapped his finger.

"Then-"

"She's pregnant." He said.

Cuddy was quiet for a long moment, "Then you came here to tell me that... Not because Wilson gave you a head's up on the lecture again?"

"Yeah, pretty much." His eyes narrowed, "And I'm not going anywhere-"

"House, this is important." Lisa pleaded, "We're looking for a new sponsor, after the disaster with Volgler." She explained, "It's non-pharmaceutical, and-"

"I'm not going." Greg said firmly. "She needs me here."

"I'm sure Allison can manage a week without you." Cuddy growled, already knowing that she was probably going to lose this argument.

"A WEEK!" House stood up quickly, "I'm NOT going to be away from her for a week!" He began to pace.

"Greg," Lisa began calmly, finding it strangely cute how protective he was, "the first trimester isn't-"

"But she's been so sick." He said weakly, not caring that he couldn't be his normal, bastard self when it came to matters involving his wife. Greg would be nice if it meant his love's comfort.

Lisa tapped her finger as she thought, "We'll be leaving January 27th." She said once more, in a firmer tone.

"But..." House drooped back into his chair, "Then I'll be gone the week of her first ultrasound."

Lisa's heart clenched. She couldn't... Shaking her head, she reminded herself that it was her obligation to not show favoritism towards her employees, especially Dr. Gregory House. "I can't change the date." It hurt her to say it.

"But-"

The door burst open and Cuddy's secretary squealed, "Dr. House fainted in the clinic!"

Lisa couldn't say anything before Greg jumped around his chair and bolted out of the door. Taken aback, merely by the fact that a year ago there would have been no way that her star doctor could have done that; Lisa stood and followed him as quickly, and with as much dignity as she could muster.

"WHICH ROOM?" Greg shouted as he ran through the clinic.

"Exam room two!" The nurse at the station called back. He could see a patient standing outside the door.

"Were you in there with her?" Greg demanded, making the shaky older woman blanch.

"Y-yes."

"What happened when she fainted?" His voice was harsh.

"She just stood up from her chair, wobbled and fell down."

Turning into the door, Greg found a nurse fanning Allison while another took her blood pressure. "Out."

"But-" Both nurses saw the look in Dr. House's eyes and quickly made themselves scarce.

"I'm okay." Allison mumbled from her spot on the floor as her husband dipped down to sit next to her.

"I know, but..." Greg kissed her hairline, "Scare me to death." He murmured, letting his eyes shut softly. "Can you stand?"

Allison nodded, and with his help the rose together slowly, "I can't believe-"

"You stood up too quickly."

"I know but-"

"Ectopic." Greg nodded, thinking the same thing. "Come on. We're doing an ultrasound right now."

"But-"

"I'll do it. If everything is clear, we can stay quiet." He assured, walking with her out the door and out of the clinic, drawing a few stares as they made their way towards the elevators. Cuddy was just rounding the corner and caught up with them.

"Where are you going?" She asked quietly.

"We're doing an ultrasound. I want... Need to make sure nothing happened when she fell or that we don't have an ectopic pregnancy." He whispered just loud enough for Lisa to hear.

"I'll come with." She saw the glare Greg gave her and quickly amended, "Just to guarantee your privacy. I won't be in the room." She assured. "Go to your office and draw the blinds. I'll bring the machine there."

"People will notice you coming to my office with an ultrasound." Greg leered.

"Don't worry." Cuddy ran off.

For once, doing what he was told to by Cuddy, Greg did what she asked, and just lay on the couch with his wife in the darkness as they waited.

"You haven't been feeling any sharp pains right?" He was trying to assure himself that he was making a big deal over nothing.

"I don't think so, I've only known I was pregnant for a day now... But I don't remember any pain before either." Allison shook her head, trying to quel her own fears.

The door opened and Lisa came in, pushing a cart with a white sheet drawn over it.

"I'm sure that didn't draw any stares." Greg rolled his eyes, accepting the tube of lubricant that Cuddy pulled from her pocket. "Thanks for remembering the lube-"

"Finish that statement, and I'll shove this machine up your ass without lube." Cuddy glared and quickly turned around and left the office.

With a sigh, Greg turned to look at his wife who sat anxiously on the couch. Pushing the machine towards her, he set it up before pulling his desk chair over along with a box of kleenex. "Ready?" He asked gently, smiling when Allison nodded and pulled the tail of her shirt up. Opening the bottle and squeezing a healthy portion of lubricant over her belly, Greg saw her skin goosepimple from the coldness of it. Sliding the wand around, he found his destination and turned the screen so that only he could to look at. He knew that she would recognize and ectopic pregnancy, and if that was the case, he wanted to tell her gently, rather than have her recognize the fate in black and white.

"Well," Greg took a deep breath, "your tubes look clear."

"That sounds so weird. I feel like I'm getting my car tuned up when you say that."

"Cars don't have incubators." He pointed out, swivelling a bit further down, "Now let's check on the little one. Make sure you didn't traumatize the poor thing." Allison rolled her eyes.

"I probably just fainted 'cause my blood sugar dropped. I haven't been able to hold anything down." She pointed out.

"Or..." Greg's jaw had gone slacken.

"Oh GOD!" Allison cried, "If you say twins, I'll KILL YOU."

Shaking his head, Greg just looked at her, "No, you're not carrying twins." He assured, "But it this could very well explain why you're having trouble holding things down."

TBC

A/N- Ectopic is when a fertilized egg attaches to tissues outside the wall of the uterus. Usually in the fallopian tubes. It's dangerous, and is usually aborted very early in pregnancy. (Just for anyone who didn't know.)-Andi